California
California overtakes Japan to become fourth largest economy in world

The Californian economy has overtaken Japan’s to become the fourth-largest in the world by gross domestic product (GDP).
That is according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), a fact highlighted by the California governor’s office as it battles President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
The IMF put Japan’s GDP at $4.02 trillion in 2024. That compares to California’s GDP of $4.1 trillion for the same year, according to the BEA’s figures. It places the state behind only the United States, China, and Germany in global rankings.
“California isn’t just keeping pace with the world—we’re setting the pace,” Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement released Wednesday.
Why It Matters
California’s import-reliant economy is projected to be hit hardest by Trump’s tariffs, and Governor Newsom has been among the state leaders most vocal in criticism of the president’s trade policy. The governor has framed the new data highlighting California’s position as the nation’s principal economic powerhouse as evidence of the progress that could be jeopardized if Trump refuses to roll back his trade policies.
What to Know
Newsom has been heavily critical of Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs, in which the president announced “reciprocal” taxes on imports for other countries alongside a baseline tax of 10 percent on all global imports. The reciprocal tariffs have since largely been paused, with the notable exception of China.
According to recent analysis by the policy research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide, California is set feel the worst effects of the tariffs so-far announced by Trump. Estimates suggest the state could pay over $170 billion in import taxes in 2025, assuming that import demand remains flat from 2024.
Newsom said previously that California would seek to build new trading opportunities around the world to dampen the worst impacts of Trump’s trade policies.
“On behalf of 40 million Americans that live in the great state of California—the tentpole of the U.S. economy … our state of mind is around supporting stable trading relationships around the globe,” the governor said in a video message posted April 4.
California would be pursuing its own trading agreements with foreign partners, Newsom added, and seeking exemptions for California-made products.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit against Trump on April 16 over the president’s use of emergency powers to carry out his tariff plans, which accused Trump bypassing Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policies. The suit cited Trump’s invocation of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act—a law granting the president broad authority to deal with foreign-born threats to national security through economic means.
“The IEEPA gives the President authority to take certain actions if he declares a national emergency in response to a foreign national security, foreign policy, or economic threat,” the governor’s office said in a press release. “The law, which was enacted by Congress in 1977, specifies many different actions the President can take, but tariffs aren’t one of them. In fact, this is the first time a president has attempted to rely on this law to impose tariffs.”
The allegedly unconstitutional implementation of the tariffs has been at the center of much of the criticism, including from Republican lawmakers, some of whom have decried these as de facto tax hikes for American consumers and producers.
On Wednesday, a dozen more states filed a suit with the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City, challenging the president’s use of the IEEPA to impose tariffs. Listed as plaintiffs in the new suit are Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.
The lawsuit was spearheaded by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, who has frequently clashed with the administration over tariffs and various other policies.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement Wednesday: “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world—we’re setting the pace. Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation. And, while we celebrate this success, we recognize that our progress is threatened by the reckless tariff policies of the current federal administration. California’s economy powers the nation, and it must be protected.”
Governor Newsom’s office posted to its website: “California’s economy is growing at a faster rate than the world’s top three economies. In 2024, California’s growth rate of 6% outpaced the top three economies: U.S. (5.3%), China (2.6%) and Germany (2.9%). California’s success is long-term –the state’s economy grew strongly over the last four years, with an average nominal GDP growth of 7.5% from 2021 to 2024. Preliminary data indicates India is projected to surpass California by 2026.”
White House spokesman Kush Desai, quoted by the BBC, said in response to the latest lawsuit, that the “administration remains committed to using its full legal authority to confront the distinct national emergencies our country is currently facing—both the scourge of illegal migration and fentanyl flows across our border and the exploding annual U.S. goods trade deficit.”
Desai told NBC News: “Once again, Democrats like Letitia James are prioritizing a witch hunt against President Trump over protecting the safety and wellbeing of their constituents.”
What Happens Next?
Most “Reciprocal” tariffs have been postponed, with the exception of China, for 90 days, a window the administration has said will allow nations to approach the U.S. for trading negotiations. A new minimum 10 percent tariff rate, which came into effect April 5, is still in place for goods coming from all countries.
President Trump on Tuesday said that the “very high” tariffs on Chinese goods would “come down substantially,” in the future, “but it won’t be zero.”

California
‘More than we can bear’: Missing California student found dead in Big Bear Lake

A Southern California college student who went missing in a popular mountain town over the weekend has been found dead in Big Bear Lake.
Tanner Prentiss, 22, was last seen on May 17 at around 12:30 a.m. in Big Bear Lake, California, according to the city’s sheriff station. Search crews located his body in the water Monday shortly before 10:30 a.m. near the city’s Pine Knot Marina.
CBS News reported that deputies searching the lake from a helicopter spotted Prentiss’ body, which was then recovered by a dive team. Deputies are investigating how Prentiss ended up in the water, the outlet reported.
No foul play is suspected and his cause of death is under investigation by the coroner’s office, the Big Bear Sheriff Station confirmed on Facebook.
The University of California at Santa Barbara student visited the lake with a group of friends, who reported him missing after he failed to return to their rental cabin, according to local stations KTLA and KABC.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tanner’s family, friends and all those who are affected by his loss. The family is requesting privacy as they navigate through this tragic incident,” the sheriff station wrote.
‘This loss is more than we can bear’
Prentiss’ grandmother, Marilyn Taylor, wrote on Facebook that her family is devastated by Tanner’s passing and thanked everyone who supported their family during this time.
“Tanner was the funny guy, always smiling, tons of friends, charismatic, responsible and a really good person. This loss is more than we can bear at this time,” she wrote.
In a statement, UC Santa Barbara called Tanner’s death “heartbreaking” for the entire university community and expressed condolences to his friends and families.
“We understand the impact and stress surrounding this tragedy and are committed to supporting our campus community who may be impacted,” the school said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. “Our campus offers resources to students, staff, and faculty who are in need of support.”
California
Heat wave is coming to Southern California, with triple-digit temps in San Fernando Valley
Meteorologists are projecting unusually high temperatures in Southern California this week, with the heat predicted to climb above 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley and reach the 90s elsewhere.
After a balmy weekend, temperatures are expected to start rising Monday. “We’re looking at pretty widespread 80 to 90 degrees for highs” Monday across the Valley, said David Gomberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, which covers Los Angeles County.
Temperatures will soar by midweek, hitting 103 degrees in Woodland Hills on Wednesday and 101 degrees on Thursday, the National Weather Service predicted.
Read more: Commentary: Nuclear reactors help power Los Angeles. Should we panic, or be grateful?
In downtown Los Angeles, meanwhile, temperatures are expected to climb from the low 80s on Monday to the mid-80s on Tuesday and finally to the low 90s on Wednesday, before dropping back to the high-80s on Thursday.
“I’d say Wednesday and Thursday are going to be the two hottest days,” Gomberg said. “Saturday is when things should get back to normal.”
People enjoy the warm weather at Echo Park Lake. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
The weather service expects to issue heat advisories, warning people to think twice if considering strenuous midday activity such as hiking.
“Also, the very old and little children are always going to be vulnerable to those heat events,” Gomberg said.
Read more: Missing camper ‘miraculously’ found alive after surviving weeks in snowy High Sierra
Temperatures in the Inland Empire, meanwhile, are expected to reach the mid- to upper 90s on Wednesday and Thursday. In inland Orange County cities such as Irvine and Anaheim, temperatures will hit the upper 80s and low 90s by midweek.
“Our highs will get back to the mid-80s by Saturday, which is pretty close to the climatological norm for late May,” said Dave Munyan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in San Diego, which covers Orange County and the Inland Empire. “It’s not going to be as hot as the mini heat wave we had two weeks ago.”
He characterized the coming week as “abnormally warm, not record-breaking heat, but definitely something that could take some folks off guard because it’s May and they expect it to be cooler and cloudier.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California
A deadly explosion outside a California fertility clinic is investigated as terrorism

A damaged building is seen after an explosion in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday.
Eric Thayer/AP
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Eric Thayer/AP
A fatal explosion outside a California fertility clinic Saturday morning is being investigated as an act of terrorism, according to an FBI official.
One person was killed and four were injured in the weekend blast that sent debris flying across multiple blocks in all directions, said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
“Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism,” he said during a Saturday news conference.
Investigators were “not actively out searching for a suspect” but had identified a person of interest, Davis added. He did not say if that person was the one killed in the explosion.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills said the public was not in any more danger. “I also want to make sure that our community understands this is an isolated incident. I am confident that the community is not at risk any longer,” he said.
American Reproductive Centers said Saturday in a post on Facebook that a vehicle had exploded in the parking lot near its Palm Springs facility earlier in the day. The clinic said no staff members were hurt and there was no damage to any of its eggs, embryos and reproductive material.
“This moment has shaken us—but it has not stopped us,” the post reads. “We will continue to serve with strength, love, and the hope that brings new life into the world.”

A firefighter stands at the scene of an explosion in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday.
Eric Thayer/AP
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Eric Thayer/AP
Davis said the FBI believes the fertility clinic was targeted.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday evening that she had been briefed on the explosion. “We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America,” she said in a post on X. “Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”
Bomb technicians were scouring the blast scene Saturday as part of the ongoing investigation, which was being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
First responders arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. local time Saturday morning to find a debris field stretching over 250 yards, Davis said. He added that investigators were looking into the possibility that the bombing was live streamed.
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