Eliminating state and local taxes was a long time coming. Why should the no-tax states subsidize the bloated bureaucracy of CA/NY? It would be quite amazing if CA got rid of state income taxes though.
We have a progressive tax system, so rich states should be paying more than they receive in federal funds.
The more relevant question is how do the Atlantic's charts look once you correct for income levels? Given that CA's returns are barely less than 1, I suspect that CA is in a situation where the tax deduction is effectively allowing the federal government to subsidize the state.
If you are tired of paying state tax WA/TX/FL all have large liberal cities that have a good amount of STEM jobs...
If $10000 is your tax liability, then a $10000 deduction is worth only your marginal rate * amount of the deduction, because a deduction reduces your taxable income prior to figuring out liability. (A tax credit is a dollar for dollar reduction of a tax liability.) Assuming 25% bracket, then a $10000 deduction for SALT is worth $2500 off your federal taxes.
This is a "soak everybody not wealthy enough to make substantial donations to us" plan, basically.