Santa Clarita Weekly | August 19, 2026

This week, we examine two major stories about power, wealth and accountability. Senator Jon Ossoff’s viral remarks have placed Natalie Harp—Donald Trump’s fiercely loyal executive assistant—under national scrutiny. We look beyond the palace gossip to examine Harp’s extraordinary access to the president, her influence over the information reaching him and what her role reveals about a White House built around loyalty and flattery. Then, we break down California’s Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time tax on approximately 200 billionaires to protect healthcare, education and food assistance from federal cuts. We examine Mark Cuban’s warning about driving investment out of California, the measure’s economic and constitutional risks, and the enormous sums billionaires are spending to defeat—or potentially override—it.