•U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) issued a statement on March 27 after the Senate passed funding for all elements of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) border security operations. “For months, we’ve been clear: no blank checks for Trump’s lawless ICE and Border Patrol,” Padilla stated. “Senate Democrats stood united and have successfully blocked additional funding for Trump’s mass deportation effort. … We have all seen the harm and the fear that this administration has inflicted on communities across this country—rogue, masked agents terrorizing communities, detaining and deporting children and veterans, and even killing United States citizens.” In response, people across the country are demanding accountability through peaceful protests, Padilla continued, while adding that “the fight is far from over.” On March 23, Padilla voted against U.S. Sen Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Oklahoma) confirmation to serve as secretary of the DHS. “Over the past year, we have witnessed a lawless ICE and CBP—agencies that have operated without accountability or restraint. It’s one thing to change the name at the top of the agency; it’s another thing to change the agency’s practices and policies,” Padilla stated. “We need real change. We need reform. And we need leaders who will push back against Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s cruel and destructive mass deportation agenda.”
•Gov. Gavin Newsom convened national and state leaders in Sacramento on March 26 “to advance solutions for boys and young men,” specifically to address challenges ranging from disconnection and declining workforce participation to worsening mental health outcomes, according to Newsom’s office. “At a time when too many boys feel isolated and without direction, California is creating opportunities for connection and clear pathways to succeed,” Newsom stated. Supporting boys early in school and at home “is key to reducing this mental health crisis,” State Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) said in a March 26 statement. Since 2019, more than 667,000 new apprenticeships for young Californians were created—exceeding Newsom’s goal of creating 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029, according to his office.
•On March 27, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) joined U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Todd Young (R-Indiana), and John Curtis (R-Utah) to introduce the bipartisan Public Integrity in Financial Markets Act of 2026. The bill prohibits federally elected officials and government employees from using insider information to bet on a prediction market contract. “The prediction markets industry can’t be left alone to self-police,” Schiff said in a March 27 release. “That’s why we need strong rules to protect against elected officials exploiting insider information to profit on prediction markets. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to crack down on this insidious form of insider trading.” Schiff’s office stated in its release that, “as noted in multiple news reports around the Iran war strikes,” elected and government officials at all levels are privy to confidential information that could appear on a prediction market. The proposed legislation would ban them from using material nonpublic information of any kind on any event contract. “Recent activity in prediction markets has raised real concerns that individuals with access to sensitive, nonpublic information could exploit that advantage for financial gain,” Sen. Young said in a March 27 statement. “Our bill will prohibit elected officials, staff, and executive branch employees from trading prediction market event contracts based on information acquired as part of their official duties. This is a sensible step to protect taxpayers and promote integrity in government.”
This article appears in April 2 – April 9, 2026.