Yue Stella Yu
@bystellayu.bsky.social
Name’s “Yu-eh Stella Yu.” Politics reporter @calmatters.org | Alum @BridgeMichigan @Tennessean @OpenSecretsDC | Fight lies. | #Mizzou #GoPackGo
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Yue Stella Yu
@bystellayu.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Yue Stella Yu
Yue Stella Yu covers politics for CalMatters, with a particular focus on campaigns, elections and voters.
calmatters.org
Welcome, readers! I cover politics and campaigns for @calmatters.org. Although I've been promoting my work on Twitter, today I decided to transition to bluesky.
You can see my most recent work here: calmatters.org/author/yue-yu/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stella-yoo/
Twitter: x.com/bystellayu
You can see my most recent work here: calmatters.org/author/yue-yu/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stella-yoo/
Twitter: x.com/bystellayu
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
same as it ever was. lawmakers (this time in California) closing their decision-making to the press and thus the public. via @bystellayu.bsky.social
California’s top Democrats rush key policies in secret talks
Major climate and energy reforms hang in the balance as California leaders talk in private to reach last-minute deals. The secrecy leaves little time for the public to weigh in.
calmatters.org
September 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
same as it ever was. lawmakers (this time in California) closing their decision-making to the press and thus the public. via @bystellayu.bsky.social
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
It’s hard to trace Google’s full influence when it does not publicly share its position on some bills, instead paying groups like the California Chamber of Commerce to influence legislators on its behalf. Good story by @khari.bsky.social and @bystellayu.bsky.social.
The behind-the-scenes campaign offers a glimpse into how Google is working to preserve its grip on the online advertising market and how it attempts, without being seen, to shape policies in a state with one of the nation’s strictest privacy protection laws. https://cal.news/4gjjXNS
📸 Jeff Chiu, AP
📸 Jeff Chiu, AP
September 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It’s hard to trace Google’s full influence when it does not publicly share its position on some bills, instead paying groups like the California Chamber of Commerce to influence legislators on its behalf. Good story by @khari.bsky.social and @bystellayu.bsky.social.
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Updated the story with a statement from the company that is developing the project that seems have been the subject of this legislation.
September 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Updated the story with a statement from the company that is developing the project that seems have been the subject of this legislation.
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Kamala Harris calls the fall of Roe "a huge issue on which the president was not seeking to lead," and says Biden"struggled to talk about reproductive rights in a way that met the gravity of the moment." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Constant Battle
The first excerpt from 107 Days
www.theatlantic.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Kamala Harris calls the fall of Roe "a huge issue on which the president was not seeking to lead," and says Biden"struggled to talk about reproductive rights in a way that met the gravity of the moment." www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
A bill proposed Monday night, just days before the end of the legislative session, would punch a very small hole in a landmark housing law passed earlier this year that appears to apply to one (1) proposed apartment building in the incoming Senate leader's district.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
calmatters.org/politics/202...
This last-minute deal could stymie a new Santa Barbara apartment building
The 270-unit is proposed behind the city’s historic Mission, and in the district of incoming Senate president Monique Limón.
calmatters.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
A bill proposed Monday night, just days before the end of the legislative session, would punch a very small hole in a landmark housing law passed earlier this year that appears to apply to one (1) proposed apartment building in the incoming Senate leader's district.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
To be clear, last minute, behind-closed-doors policy switcheroos are a storied tradition in California.
My colleague @bystellayu.bsky.social has been busy tracking them all down:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
My colleague @bystellayu.bsky.social has been busy tracking them all down:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
California’s top Democrats rush key policies in secret talks
Major climate and energy reforms hang in the balance as California leaders talk in private to reach last-minute deals. The secrecy leaves little time for the public to weigh in.
calmatters.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
To be clear, last minute, behind-closed-doors policy switcheroos are a storied tradition in California.
My colleague @bystellayu.bsky.social has been busy tracking them all down:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
My colleague @bystellayu.bsky.social has been busy tracking them all down:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
It's the most secretive time of year in Sacramento, where 3 Democrats privately negotiate final terms of hugely consequential bills.
This isn't what voters pictured when they OK'd Prop. 54 in 2016 and Newsom & Munger Jr. were on the same side @bystellayu.bsky.social calmatters.org/politics/202...
This isn't what voters pictured when they OK'd Prop. 54 in 2016 and Newsom & Munger Jr. were on the same side @bystellayu.bsky.social calmatters.org/politics/202...
California’s top Democrats rush key policies in secret talks
Major climate and energy reforms hang in the balance as California leaders talk in private to reach last-minute deals. The secrecy leaves little time for the public to weigh in.
calmatters.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
It's the most secretive time of year in Sacramento, where 3 Democrats privately negotiate final terms of hugely consequential bills.
This isn't what voters pictured when they OK'd Prop. 54 in 2016 and Newsom & Munger Jr. were on the same side @bystellayu.bsky.social calmatters.org/politics/202...
This isn't what voters pictured when they OK'd Prop. 54 in 2016 and Newsom & Munger Jr. were on the same side @bystellayu.bsky.social calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Californians deserve to know what government is doing in their name. Too many legislative proposals would keep the public in the dark. calmatters.org/politics/202...
Lawmakers backtrack on plan to keep infrastructure agency's business secretive
A plan to create a secretive infrastructure entity glided through the state Senate. Lawmakers are now backtracking after transparency advocates sounded the alarm.
calmatters.org
July 2, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Californians deserve to know what government is doing in their name. Too many legislative proposals would keep the public in the dark. calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Taken: What happens after an LA immigration raid
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
'It's not your country:' Stories from men who were taken in the LA immigration raids
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org
June 26, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Taken: What happens after an LA immigration raid
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Newsom sues Fox News for defamation over coverage of his recent phone call with Trump.
It's a move out of the Trump playbook, and some First Amendment groups immediately urged him to drop the case, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
It's a move out of the Trump playbook, and some First Amendment groups immediately urged him to drop the case, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for defamation over Trump call
Newsom argues that the network deliberately misled its viewers on the timing of his call with the president and accused the governor of lying.
calmatters.org
June 27, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Newsom sues Fox News for defamation over coverage of his recent phone call with Trump.
It's a move out of the Trump playbook, and some First Amendment groups immediately urged him to drop the case, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
It's a move out of the Trump playbook, and some First Amendment groups immediately urged him to drop the case, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
"When is it OK for a president to use military forces on civilians in a state over the objections of their governor?
"When that governor is Gavin Newsom, California Republican leaders say."
Are you hooked? I'm hooked. Read more of @bystellayu.bsky.social's enterprising piece!
"When that governor is Gavin Newsom, California Republican leaders say."
Are you hooked? I'm hooked. Read more of @bystellayu.bsky.social's enterprising piece!
California Republicans hate government ‘overreach’ but are quiet on Trump’s troops
CalMatters asked all Republicans in the state Legislature about the president overriding California’s governor. Most wouldn’t talk. The rest are on Team Trump.
calmatters.org
June 18, 2025 at 7:15 PM
"When is it OK for a president to use military forces on civilians in a state over the objections of their governor?
"When that governor is Gavin Newsom, California Republican leaders say."
Are you hooked? I'm hooked. Read more of @bystellayu.bsky.social's enterprising piece!
"When that governor is Gavin Newsom, California Republican leaders say."
Are you hooked? I'm hooked. Read more of @bystellayu.bsky.social's enterprising piece!
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat who led the state's expansion of MediCal access to undocumented immigrants, said on the floor just now he won't support the legislative budget deal, because it would still require undocumented immigrants to pay a premium to enroll in MediCal.
June 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat who led the state's expansion of MediCal access to undocumented immigrants, said on the floor just now he won't support the legislative budget deal, because it would still require undocumented immigrants to pay a premium to enroll in MediCal.
Court pauses Trump deployment of the National Guards, not yet on the Marines calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom's case today
Gov. Newsom argues Los Angeles does not need the military to keep the peace: "To put it bluntly, there is no invasion or rebellion in Los Angeles; there is civil unrest that is no different from episo...
calmatters.org
June 13, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Court pauses Trump deployment of the National Guards, not yet on the Marines calmatters.org/justice/2025...
The Assembly Democrats who spoke in support of the bill used the term "weaponize" quite a lot, arguing the decades-old CEQA has been used for "lining pockets or advancing agendas" and that the environmentalist groups have "abused" the law as they sue to stop developments.
One of the major housing proposals this year by @buffywicks.bsky.social is up for a floor vote. The bill would exempt most urban housing projects from CEQA.
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Will this bill be the end of California’s housing vs environment wars?
The final showdown in that long-standing battle may have just arrived.
calmatters.org
May 19, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The Assembly Democrats who spoke in support of the bill used the term "weaponize" quite a lot, arguing the decades-old CEQA has been used for "lining pockets or advancing agendas" and that the environmentalist groups have "abused" the law as they sue to stop developments.
One of the major housing proposals this year by @buffywicks.bsky.social is up for a floor vote. The bill would exempt most urban housing projects from CEQA.
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Will this bill be the end of California’s housing vs environment wars?
The final showdown in that long-standing battle may have just arrived.
calmatters.org
May 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
One of the major housing proposals this year by @buffywicks.bsky.social is up for a floor vote. The bill would exempt most urban housing projects from CEQA.
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
It represents "one of the biggest, most important seismic changes" on housing, she said.
Background: calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Legislative leaders said this session would all about making California more affordable, but they've been slow to pull together any concrete plans, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports calmatters.org/politics/202...
Five months later, California's 'urgent' affordability push moves at a snail's pace
In December, California’s Democratic legislative leaders deemed affordability an “urgent” issue this year. So far they have little to show for it.
calmatters.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Legislative leaders said this session would all about making California more affordable, but they've been slow to pull together any concrete plans, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports calmatters.org/politics/202...
"Hundreds of drivers’ DMV records simply don’t list convictions for manslaughter or another crime related to a fatal crash...The apparent error means some drivers who should have their driving privileges suspended instead show up ... as having a valid license."
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
License to Kill
The California DMV routinely allows deadly drivers to operate on our roadways, a CalMatters investigation has found.
calmatters.org
April 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"Hundreds of drivers’ DMV records simply don’t list convictions for manslaughter or another crime related to a fatal crash...The apparent error means some drivers who should have their driving privileges suspended instead show up ... as having a valid license."
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Lawmakers have introduced at least a dozen bills that would make it harder to confront local officials at public meetings, shield more information from the public and relax rules on financial reports, @sameeakamal.bsky.social and @bystellayu.bsky.social report calmatters.org/politics/202...
California politicians try to shield business from the public
Transparency alert: While Californians confront officials at town halls, politicians are pushing bills to shield themselves from public view.
calmatters.org
April 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Lawmakers have introduced at least a dozen bills that would make it harder to confront local officials at public meetings, shield more information from the public and relax rules on financial reports, @sameeakamal.bsky.social and @bystellayu.bsky.social report calmatters.org/politics/202...
NEW from me: Former Assm. Evan Low concealed payments to Alec Baldwin to appear at his Lunar New Year fundraiser in 2020. His tech nonprofit picked up the tab.
Low is facing a $106k fine pending final approval from the state’s campaign finance watchdog.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Low is facing a $106k fine pending final approval from the state’s campaign finance watchdog.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
California lawmaker fined $106,000 for hiding Alec Baldwin payments
Investigators find that Assemblymember Evan Low's tech nonprofit paid Alec Baldwin $227,000 to appear at two events, then deliberately tried to conceal part of it
calmatters.org
March 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
NEW from me: Former Assm. Evan Low concealed payments to Alec Baldwin to appear at his Lunar New Year fundraiser in 2020. His tech nonprofit picked up the tab.
Low is facing a $106k fine pending final approval from the state’s campaign finance watchdog.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Low is facing a $106k fine pending final approval from the state’s campaign finance watchdog.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
BREAKING: A federal judge rules the dismantling of USAID likely violated the Constitution and blocks Elon Musk's DOGE from further cuts.
Judge rules DOGE's USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the Constitution and blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from further cuts to the agency.
bit.ly
March 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge rules the dismantling of USAID likely violated the Constitution and blocks Elon Musk's DOGE from further cuts.
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
In California, towing companies, storage yards and repair shops can sell your car to recoup their costs if you don’t settle your debts. Unclaimed profits go to the DMV, which has received millions of dollars over the past decade, @calireporter.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/california-d...
Towing companies can sell your car — and the DMV gets to keep the profit without telling you
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has collected more than $8 million from about 5,000 car sales since 2016.
calmatters.org
March 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
In California, towing companies, storage yards and repair shops can sell your car to recoup their costs if you don’t settle your debts. Unclaimed profits go to the DMV, which has received millions of dollars over the past decade, @calireporter.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/california-d...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Newsom is among many prominent California Democrats taking a more muted tone on immigration while working to preserve existing protections for immigrants in the state without legal authorization calmatters.org/politics/202...
📝 @bystellayu.bsky.social
📸 Fred Greaves
📝 @bystellayu.bsky.social
📸 Fred Greaves
February 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Newsom is among many prominent California Democrats taking a more muted tone on immigration while working to preserve existing protections for immigrants in the state without legal authorization calmatters.org/politics/202...
📝 @bystellayu.bsky.social
📸 Fred Greaves
📝 @bystellayu.bsky.social
📸 Fred Greaves
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
Eight years ago, during the first Trump term, California leaders publicly pushed for "sanctuary" policies. This time around, many of them won't even say the word, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
California Democrats grow quieter on ‘sanctuary’ for immigrants as Trump promises mass deportation
As President Trump ramps up threats against sanctuary states and cities, California's Democratic leaders no longer trumpet the concept.
calmatters.org
February 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Eight years ago, during the first Trump term, California leaders publicly pushed for "sanctuary" policies. This time around, many of them won't even say the word, @bystellayu.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Yue Stella Yu
NEW: It's not just coders.
DOGE is filled with lawyers, elite attorneys with conservative credentials.
We have new names:
www.propublica.org/article/elon...
DOGE is filled with lawyers, elite attorneys with conservative credentials.
We have new names:
www.propublica.org/article/elon...
The Elite Lawyers Working for Elon Musk’s DOGE Include Former Supreme Court Clerks
Much attention has been paid to the young Silicon Valley engineers working for Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, but the group has also hired high-powered legal talent.
www.propublica.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
NEW: It's not just coders.
DOGE is filled with lawyers, elite attorneys with conservative credentials.
We have new names:
www.propublica.org/article/elon...
DOGE is filled with lawyers, elite attorneys with conservative credentials.
We have new names:
www.propublica.org/article/elon...