Few consumers of news worry that the California Coastal Commission’s concerns are ruining 4th of July celebrations, or preventing homeowners from restoring after a disaster, or creating environmental hazards for Seagulls and others. James Freeman of the WSJ explains to readers in today’s column how SpaceX CEO Elon Musk received a well-deserved apology before he returns to his important work of colonizing Mars.

From Christopher Weber of the Associated Press:

California regulators apologized to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk this week as they settled a lawsuit that claimed a state agency showed political bias against the rocket company and its chief executive.

As part of the settlement, the California Coastal Commission acknowledged its members made “improper” statements about Musk’s political beliefs at a 2024 hearing on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch program.

“The commission agrees that it may not consider irrelevant factors in performing its function and specifically agrees that it will not take into account the perceived political beliefs, political speech or labor practices of SpaceX or its officers in considering any regulatory action concerning SpaceX,” the commission said in federal court documents filed Tuesday… The commission also agreed it wouldn’t require a coastal development permit pertaining to SpaceX’s launch program in the state.

Mr. Freeman sends kudos to Elon Musk for taking the power-crazed California crew to court and forcing them to withdraw and apologize.

Astounding as it is in today’s upside-down world that one has to sue regulators just to get them to agree not to “consider irrelevant factors” when exercising their vast authority.

We can only hope that this is the beginning of a trend.