california news

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assembly member, has been elected mayor of New York City, defeating independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and becoming the city's youngest leader in over a century as well as its first South Asian and Muslim mayor. The Ugandan-born Democrat centered his campaign on affordability issues, proposing expanded social programs funded through increased taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. His victory has intensified debates within the Democratic Party about its ideological direction, with President Trump threatening to withhold federal funds and Republicans characterizing the win as evidence of the party's leftward shift. Meanwhile, centrist Democrats won gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, and California voters approved redistricting measures favoring Democrats ahead of midterm elections. # Key Takeaways

California voters have passed Proposition 50, a redistricting measure designed to redraw the state's voting maps to give Democrats an electoral advantage in five Congressional seats during the 2026 midterm elections. This initiative is a direct response to similar redistricting efforts led by Republican-controlled states following pressure from President Trump, who has encouraged conservative states to redraw their districts after his 2024 presidential victory. The nationwide redistricting battle involves over a dozen states considering map changes, with four Republican-led states already completing new maps favoring their party in nine districts. While Democrats heavily outraised Republicans in supporting California's measure, experts warn this tit-for-tat gerrymandering threatens democratic norms, erodes public trust, eliminates competitive districts, and worsens political polarization regardless of which party benefits. # Key Takeaways

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, a local news publication, received eight journalism awards last week recognizing excellence in both print and digital media. Reporter Macy Meinhardt earned six print awards and two video honors for her investigative work covering topics including governance issues, a charter school crisis at Harriet Tubman Village, and disputes over park space development. Video journalist Tihut Tamrat collaborated with Meinhardt on two award-winning video pieces about housing development concerns in the Encanto neighborhood. The publication views these accolades as validation of their commitment to community-focused reporting that serves San Diego's Black community. # Key Takeaways

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook delivered her first public remarks since President Trump's August attempt to fire her, stating that current interest rates are appropriately positioned to address ongoing inflation concerns. Cook, who is the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor and the first central banker to face a firing attempt, is currently involved in a Supreme Court case challenging Trump's authority to remove her. In her Monday speech, she emphasized her commitment to reaching the Fed's 2% inflation target while acknowledging risks to both employment and price stability. Despite voting for rate cuts at recent meetings, Cook maintained that monetary policy should remain moderately restrictive given inflation still exceeds the target, though she expressed confidence inflation will continue declining once tariff effects subside.

This article traces the history of Veterans Day from its origins as Armistice Day in 1918 through its transformation into a holiday honoring all American veterans in 1954. The author emphasizes that current celebrations fail to adequately recognize the contributions and sacrifices of African American service members who fought for their country despite facing systemic racism, segregation, and violence at home. The piece highlights numerous Black military heroes throughout American history, from Crispus Attucks in the Revolutionary War through modern generals like Colin Powell, documenting their extraordinary service and the injustices they endured. The author calls for African Americans to take special pride in remembering their community's military legacy on Veterans Day, ensuring these heroes are not forgotten amid parades and commercial activities.

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, appeared on a radio program to criticize the Trump Administration's failure to follow federal court orders requiring the immediate distribution of SNAP benefits to families. She explained that these benefit interruptions directly harm schools by affecting meal programs, and that hungry students cannot learn effectively in classrooms. In response to the crisis, educators have created food pantries and other resources to support struggling families. Pringle urged Americans to engage civically through voting and various forms of activism, promoting the NEA's online resources for protecting public education. # Key Takeaways

The Justice Department has launched a federal investigation into whether Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation leaders misused the tens of millions of dollars donated during the 2020 racial justice protests following George Floyd's murder. Federal investigators have recently issued subpoenas and executed at least one search warrant targeting the foundation and related Black-led organizations, though the probe began under the Biden administration before gaining renewed momentum under Trump. The foundation, which received over $90 million in donations in 2020, has faced ongoing criticism for lack of transparency, particularly after purchasing a $6 million Los Angeles property in 2022, though no previous investigations have proven wrongdoing. The investigation is being led from the Central District of California by Bill Essayli, a former Republican state assemblyman who previously called BLM a "radical organization" while in private practice. Civil rights groups have expressed concern that the Trump administration may be targeting progressive organizations critical of the president. # Key Takeaways

Over the past two legislative sessions, Governor Gavin Newsom has approved only 11 out of 30 reparations-focused bills proposed by California's Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), recently vetoing five significant bills from their "Road to Repair" package. Reparations advocates, already dissatisfied with the CLBC's bill selection, are urging caucus members to engage more directly with community voices when drafting future legislation. Some activists view the vetoes as unsurprising and argue the rejected bills would not have meaningfully benefited descendants of enslaved people. While the governor did sign legislation creating California's Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, advocates like Chad Brown and Cheryce Cryer are developing their own strategies to influence the 2026 legislative session with community-centered proposals.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries displayed a notably sharper and more forceful leadership style during his recent CBS "Face the Nation" appearance, addressing criticism that he had been too cautious in recent months. He directly blamed President Trump and Republicans for the ongoing government shutdown and rising costs affecting American families, including inflation and expensive tariffs. Jeffries also highlighted healthcare concerns, warning of potential massive Medicare cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits that help millions afford coverage. His combative yet focused performance demonstrated the assertive leadership style that Democrats had hoped for when they elevated him to lead the caucus, as he characterized Trump as an existential threat to American values and way of life.

The San Diego Office of the City Clerk is organizing a Community Listening Session to gather public input on improving resident access to City Council agendas, notices, and municipal information. The event aims to identify barriers and opportunities for enhancing communication and civic participation in local government decision-making processes. During the session, attendees will learn about the City Clerk's responsibilities and available engagement tools like online agendas and virtual meeting options. City Clerk Fuentes emphasized that effective resources are meaningless if residents don't understand how to utilize them, making direct community feedback essential for improvement. # Key Takeaways

Following a federal government shutdown that threatened to halt SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million Americans, the Trump administration announced it would provide partial funding for November after federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ordered the government to maintain the program. The USDA will use $4.65 billion from an emergency fund, covering roughly half of the normal $8 billion monthly cost, though the exact amounts beneficiaries will receive and timing remain unclear. Multiple states have responded by increasing food bank funding and creating emergency programs to supplement benefits, while Democratic officials criticize the administration for not fully funding the program despite having the authority to do so. The partial funding solution potentially sets up a similar crisis for December if the shutdown continues, leaving millions of low-income Americans uncertain about their ability to afford groceries.

The Trump administration's suspension of SNAP benefits during a government shutdown is creating severe hardship for millions of Americans, particularly affecting Black communities who represent over 25% of recipients despite being only 12.6% of the population. Although two federal judges ruled that the administration must continue funding SNAP, officials indicated benefits lost on Saturday could take at least a week to restore. The disparity in SNAP usage reflects systemic racism stemming from centuries of discriminatory policies that have prevented Black families from accumulating generational wealth, with current data showing Black households earn approximately $36,000 less annually than white households. For Native American communities, the SNAP suspension violates treaty obligations and has prompted multiple tribal nations to declare states of emergency, while food assistance organizations across the country scramble to meet increased demand from families choosing between food and other essential expenses.

The United States is holding off-year elections featuring several critical state and local races that could signal voter sentiment ahead of next year's congressional midterms. New York City's mayoral contest pits progressive Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani against independent Andrew Cuomo, with the winner potentially becoming either the city's youngest or most experienced leader in generations. Gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey are closely watched, with Virginia poised to elect its first female governor regardless of outcome. California voters are deciding whether to allow mid-decade redistricting of congressional maps, a Democratic response to Republican redistricting efforts in other states. President Trump's influence permeates multiple races through his criticisms, endorsements, and the ongoing national debate over redistricting strategies. # Key Takeaways

Diane Ladd, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in films like Wild at Heart and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, has passed away at age 89 at her California home with her daughter Laura Dern by her side. Throughout her multi-decade career, Ladd earned three Academy Award nominations and became part of Hollywood history as the first mother-daughter pair to receive Oscar nominations for the same film, Rambling Rose, alongside Laura Dern. Her career breakthrough came in 1974 with Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and she continued working until 2022. Despite initially discouraging her daughter from pursuing acting, Ladd frequently collaborated with Dern on screen and co-authored a book with her in 2023 about their relationship. # Key Takeaways

Russell Vought, who controls the Office of Management and Budget, has systematically frozen or canceled billions of dollars in federally funded programs, disproportionately targeting Democratic-led cities and vulnerable communities. Under the guise of efficiency and fiscal restraint, he has eliminated funding for public transit, disease research, public health programs, and social services while overseeing the removal of over 200,000 federal employees. Congressional leaders and courts have found his actions to be illegal impoundments of funds that Congress had legally appropriated, characterizing them as partisan political attacks rather than legitimate budget decisions. His policies, which he frames within a Christian nationalist ideology, have particularly devastated Black and low-income communities by eliminating over $400 billion in critical programs including housing, education, and medical research funding. # Key Takeaways

A South African court has overturned the official 1967 finding that anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli died accidentally after being struck by a train. The new inquest, conducted more than fifty years after his death, determined that Luthuli was actually beaten to death, with evidence pointing to the apartheid government's notorious Special Branch police unit as likely responsible. This ruling is part of a broader government initiative to reexamine high-profile apartheid-era deaths that may have been covered up by authorities during white minority rule. The decision brings long-sought answers to a case that had been viewed with suspicion for decades, as Luthuli was a prominent ANC leader who advocated nonviolent resistance against apartheid. # Key Takeaways

Two federal judges have mandated that the Trump administration release $5.3 billion in emergency contingency funds to partially sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November, as an ongoing government shutdown threatens food assistance for approximately 42 million Americans. The emergency funds fall significantly short of SNAP's $9 billion monthly requirement, prompting states like California—where 5.4 million residents depend on CalFresh—to implement stopgap measures including deploying the National Guard and allocating millions to food banks. The crisis marks an unprecedented failure to fund SNAP and disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations already struggling with food insecurity, housing costs, and economic instability. Advocates emphasize that approximately 25 states have filed lawsuits to force fund releases, while warning that current emergency measures provide only temporary, inadequate relief for families facing heightened anxiety and toxic stress over their basic survival needs.

A report from the Center for Progressive Reform indicates that 251 out of 532 actions outlined in Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda developed by the Heritage Foundation, have been implemented under the Trump administration. The implemented measures have significantly altered federal agencies, including rolling back civil rights protections at the Department of Justice, eliminating Title IX safeguards at the Department of Education, restricting abortion access through Health and Human Services, and repealing fair housing regulations at HUD. The article characterizes these changes as deliberately targeting marginalized communities, particularly Black Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and low-income families, through policy reversals that erode decades of civil rights progress. Key administration figures Russell Vought and Stephen Miller are identified as the primary architects implementing this agenda across federal government operations. # Key Takeaways

Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated federal court victories requiring the Trump Administration to release withheld SNAP nutrition assistance funds during the government shutdown, affecting millions of Americans including 5.5 million Californians who depend on the program. Separately, California is intensifying its legal fight to regain control of 4,000 National Guard members federalized by Trump in June for domestic law enforcement, arguing the action violates federal law and pulls troops from critical state duties like wildfire response. Newsom also indicated he would consider running for president after the 2026 midterm elections, while currently focusing on California's Proposition 50 ballot measure regarding congressional redistricting. Additionally, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom launched the California Women's Wealth Advisory Council to address systemic barriers women face in accessing capital and wealth creation opportunities. # Key Takeaways

The Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California chapter has selected Kevin Epps, Executive Editor of the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper, to receive the Silver Heart Award at their 40th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony. Epps is being recognized for rescuing the Bay Area's last Black-owned newspaper from potential closure by modernizing its operations, introducing digital innovation and multimedia storytelling, and reconnecting it with the community it serves. Beyond his editorial work, Epps has created impactful documentary films like "Straight Outta Hunters Point" and serves as a mentor to emerging writers and artists. The awards ceremony is scheduled for November 13, 2025, at the Ruth Williams Opera House in San Francisco, with the Bay View encouraging supporters to attend.

Misty Copeland, the groundbreaking ballerina who became American Ballet Theatre's first Black woman principal dancer, is retiring after a distinguished career marked by both artistic excellence and social advocacy. Her final performance at a Fall Gala will feature tributes from Oprah Winfrey and Debbie Allen, with ABT offering free tickets to a simulcast for those unable to afford the $5,000 gala admission. Copeland's career, which began unusually late at age 13, broke numerous barriers as she rose through ABT's ranks while simultaneously becoming a cultural icon through collaborations with Prince, a bestselling memoir, and television appearances. Her visibility during a critical period when Black representation in ballet had diminished sparked important conversations about diversity and accessibility in the art form. Though significant progress has been made, with more Black ballerinas now achieving prominence in major companies, Copeland and others acknowledge that substantial work remains to eliminate barriers and "firsts" in professional ballet. # Key Takeaways

The Trump administration's refusal to release $6 billion in federal contingency funds for SNAP food assistance during a government shutdown has created what advocates are calling a manufactured hunger crisis affecting 42 million Americans. At least 25 states have notified recipients that benefits will end, while governors respond in sharply different ways—some allocating state emergency funds, others declaring emergencies but offering no concrete plans, and some refusing to spend money without federal reimbursement guarantees. Food banks across the country are warning they cannot handle the anticipated surge in demand, especially after the administration previously canceled 94 million pounds of promised food aid. Though some private companies like DoorDash have stepped in with stopgap measures, officials and advocates emphasize that state and charitable efforts cannot replace federal assistance at this scale.

A coalition called America's History SOS presented over 70,000 signatures to Congressional members of the Smithsonian Board of Regents during their October 27th meeting, advocating to protect more than a million artifacts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The effort comes amid concerns about a Trump administration executive order requiring itemization of museum specimens and artifacts within a specific timeframe, which has created tension among museum workers who reportedly fear email monitoring. While Democratic Representatives Nikema Williams and Ayanna Pressley have led congressional efforts to protect the museum and investigate the executive order's implementation, the Congressional Black Caucus reports receiving cautionary guidance from museum leadership about how to offer support. The situation has intensified scrutiny of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch's performance, with concerns heightened by the lack of official conversations between Black federal lawmakers and Bunch this year.

The Black Women for Wellness Action Project (BWWAP), a California-based organization, advocates for policy changes to address healthcare disparities that disproportionately harm Black women, including elevated maternal mortality rates and barriers to accessing quality care. The group works by sponsoring state legislation, collaborating with activists and elected officials, and holding leaders accountable while challenging systemic racism and sexism embedded in health policies. BWWAP is currently supporting California's Proposition 50, which would redraw congressional district lines potentially giving Democrats additional House seats to counter what they describe as Republican attempts to manipulate representation. The organization views this proposition as critical because it could help Democrats preserve the Affordable Care Act, which has significantly expanded healthcare access for Black women by reducing their uninsured rate by 36 percent between 2010 and 2014. # Key Takeaways

The government shutdown has resulted in the suspension of food stamp benefits through SNAP, threatening 40 million Americans who rely on the program for basic nutrition. The article argues that SNAP exists primarily because major corporations refuse to pay living wages to their employees, forcing taxpayers to subsidize these workers while the wealth gap widens dramatically. The author criticizes the administration for prioritizing foreign aid and personal projects over domestic welfare, while simultaneously accusing major media outlets of self-censoring their coverage. The piece contends that working Americans are trapped in a system where full-time employment no longer guarantees the ability to afford basic necessities like food and housing. # Key Takeaways

A new poll commissioned by the California Wellness Foundation reveals that Californians are deeply worried about healthcare affordability and accessibility, with nearly 90% wanting the next governor to prioritize caps on out-of-pocket medical expenses. The survey of 2,000 residents found that 72% fear they cannot afford to live in California long-term, while 57% express concern about how federal immigration enforcement is affecting healthcare decisions in their communities. Immigration-related fears are particularly acute among Latino communities in Los Angeles, where 60% report knowing someone facing financial hardship linked to immigration actions. Eleven philanthropic organizations have scheduled a November forum where gubernatorial candidates will discuss their healthcare priorities, with voters clearly seeking solutions for affordable housing, accessible mental health services, and manageable healthcare costs.

Twenty-five state attorneys general and three governors have filed a federal lawsuit against the USDA and Secretary Brooke Rollins for suspending SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to over 40 million Americans. The coalition argues the suspension is unlawful because Congress has already allocated $3 billion in contingency reserves specifically for emergencies like the current government shutdown, and the USDA has billions more in unused funds. Filed in Massachusetts federal court, the lawsuit contends this marks the first interruption of SNAP benefits since the program began in 1964, despite the agency continuing the program through all previous shutdowns. The suspension threatens devastating consequences for vulnerable populations and local economies, particularly affecting 141,000 District of Columbia residents monthly, including children and elderly individuals, while also risking closure of over 420 local retailers who depend on SNAP revenue.

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Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 62, legislation that would have created a pathway for Black families to seek compensation for property seized through racially motivated eminent domain in California. The bill, part of the California Legislative Black Caucus's reparations package, had passed both legislative chambers with strong support before reaching the governor's desk in September. Newsom justified his veto by claiming the state's Civil Rights Department lacks sufficient resources and expertise to handle property dispute adjudication. While families like the Fonzas and Bascianos expressed deep disappointment, some remain cautiously optimistic about recently passed Senate Bill 518, which establishes a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to address systemic discrimination. # Key Takeaways

A podcast episode titled "Shared Chains" featured an Asian American speaker emphasizing that civil rights won by Black Americans through immense sacrifice created opportunities for all marginalized communities in the United States. The 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, achieved through Black activism and suffering, opened doors for Latino, Asian, immigrant, LGBTQ, and disabled communities who subsequently built their own movements on this foundation. Despite this legacy, the article argues that America persistently forgets Black Americans' foundational role in securing freedoms for all, while recent political actions under Trump's second administration have systematically dismantled diversity protections and erased Black history from institutions. The central message warns that preserving these hard-won rights will require other communities to actively fight alongside Black Americans rather than leaving them to bear the burden alone. # Key Takeaways