Blue tsunami puts Californians atop key Washington committees Play

There are other consequences of the blue tsunami. Several Californians stand to become the chairpeople of committees in Washington with significant investigative and oversight authority. Some of them have Malibu connections.

Congressman Ted Lieu now represents the Santa Monica Bay area, but until the recent redistricting he represented Malibu. He's likely to become chairman of the immensely powerful Senate Rules Committee, which includes oversight of election procedures.

Senator Adam Schiff of California will be sitting as the senior member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. That panel will control the selection and confirmation of the next Supreme Court nominee from the president. One justice is close to retiring, Samuel Alito, and he just told people close to him he does not intend to retire before the new Senate comes in. As a result, Republicans are going to miss the window for President Trump to name a fourth justice to the U.S. Supreme Court quickly, while the Republicans still hold control of the Senate.

In the executive branch, some Californians with Malibu connections are clearly in trouble. Former Malibu resident Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely going to be the target of congressional probes into his behavior as the director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That could result in criminal charges or a resignation.

Former California resident Elon Musk, who oversaw DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, used his government office to rearrange the federal government to benefit himself, his companies, and his cronies. That may become a major issue of investigation as well.

California's newly re-elected Attorney General Rob Bonta has just filed his 100th lawsuit against the Trump administration. Bonta won re-election in a 64 percent landslide this week.