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California politicians weigh in on Trump’s conviction, but Garvey remains notably mum

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California politicians weigh in on Trump’s conviction, but Garvey remains notably mum


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Former President Donald Trump’s conviction Thursday spurred an avalanche of reactions from some of California’s leading political figures in the hours following the jury’s historic announcement.

As the most populous state in the nation and a Democratic stronghold, the Golden State has brandished itself a cradle of Democrat-led MAGA opposition ever since the 2016 election. Though the state has a Democratic super-majority, a handful of Republican-held districts are expected to be among the tightest and most consequential races in the bid for House control. Any impacts of Trump’s conviction in these districts are unclear at this point, but a steady trickle of comments from Republican and Democratic party leaders may offer a glimpse into how the verdict will play into in campaign messaging aimed at undecided and moderate voters.

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More: Trump guilty, now what? Why the verdict isn’t the most shocking part of the trial

California GOP, Democratic party leaders weigh in on Trump verdict

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson called the decision a “dark day,” alleging a “politically-motivated case brought by a far-left district attorney” in a statement released a few hours after Trump’s 32-count guilty verdict was read.

“Despite Democrat-led efforts to interfere with the presidential election, Americans will have the final say this November when they re-elect President Trump and send him back to the White House to fix the many failures of the Biden administration and put our nation on a pathway to success,” Patterson said.

Claims popularized by Trump and his allies in the Republican Party of election interference, rigging and other types of fraud have been repeatedly disproven by independent experts and election officials.

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More: Don’t be fooled: 5 types of misinformation we expect this election season

The state’s Democratic party chair Rusty Hicks released his own statement on the verdict as well, striking a jubilant tone in stark contrast to Patterson’s “dark day.”

“Today, the People of New York have returned a guilty verdict and rendered Donald Trump a convicted felon,” Hicks said in a statement on X. “In November, the American People will render him a two-time loser for President. And California Democrats are going to do our part to make it so.”

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Candidates for California’s U.S. Senate seat Schiff and Garvey

In California’s race to fill the late-Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, Trump’s shadow looms large over Republican candidate Steve Garvey, who has repeatedly refused to clarify his level of support for the former president. While Trump is a potential poison pill for the Republican candidate in deep-blue California, it’s long been a political rallying cry for his opponent.

Congressman Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, catapulted onto the national stage for leading the prosecution in Trump’s first impeachment trial. In debates before the March 5 primary, he often brought up Trump’s name, echoing many other leading Democrats in positioning himself as a bulwark against Trump an MAGA Republicanism.

More: Trump found guilty in hush money trial ahead of convention, November election. What’s next?

More: How will Donald Trump’s guilty verdict hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?

Schiff celebrated the Manhattan jury’s decision in a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, minutes after the verdict.

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“Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies,” Schiff said in the Thursday post. “Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny — justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Garvey has not released public comment on the verdict.

California’s House members take to social media

Republican Tom McClintock, representing the 5th Congressional District in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Foothills, said the verdict “perverts the rule of law.” In his post on X, he calls the prosecutor “poisonously partisan” and the jury pool “contaminated.”

Republican Doug LaMalfa called it a “miscarriage of justice,” mirroring McClintock and Patterson in claiming the prosecution was partisan. He went one step further, claiming the judge “purposely rigged the entire process” to ensure a guilty verdict.

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Democrat Eric Swallwell said on the social media platform Thursday that Trump’s conviction is a win for the rule of law and for “the idea that we all follow the same rules.”

One of California’s two ranking House Democrats, Rep. Ted Lieu, said on X: “In America, no one is above the law: not the rich, not the powerful, and certainly not any former President of the United States.”

Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.





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California College Data and Policy Project Awarded $200,000 Grant from College Futures Foundation to Study CalFresh Use by Students – California Policy Lab

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California College Data and Policy Project Awarded 0,000 Grant from College Futures Foundation to Study CalFresh Use by Students – California Policy Lab


January 28, 2025, Berkeley, California — A new grant from College Futures Foundation will support research to improve the take-up of CalFresh benefits by students in the state’s three main systems of higher education, including the University of California, the California Community College System, and the California State University.

This is the first external support for the research of the new California College Data and Policy Project. The Project is a joint initiative of the California Policy Lab and the Center for Studies in Higher Education, and is led by Professor Jesse Rothstein, the Carmel Friesen Chair in Public Policy and David Gardner Chair in Higher Education and a Professor of Public Policy and Economics at UC Berkeley.

“We’re thrilled to receive this grant, which will support our work with our partners to use enrollment, financial aid, and safety-net data to identify students who are eligible for these supports, and then target outreach with a goal of increasing the number of students who enroll,” explains Professor Rothstein. “We’re grateful to College Futures Foundation because this grant will also support our longer-term work to better measure if receiving CalFresh has an impact on student success outcomes like staying enrolled and graduating.”

CalFresh is California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and it provides a monthly benefit amount that can be used to purchase food. Research by the California Policy Lab has shown that among students who are likely eligible for CalFresh, only about 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 students enroll in the program.

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Additional background

Student Supports Initiative
Across the country, many college students struggle to meet their basic needs while attending school. Public higher education institutions are well-situated to connect students to safety-net benefits, but data limitations have hampered previous efforts to quantify eligibility and take-up.

To address this, the California Policy Lab has partnered with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the California State University Office of the Chancellor (CSUOC), and the California Department of Education (CDE) to link anonymized data across these six agencies in order to help get more students the support they need to thrive at college.

This initiative has made it possible to link together data that had not previously been linked, which in turn allows the research team to unlock new insights about CalFresh and college students. This includes analysis showing how many students are eligible and enrolled in the UC and California Community College systems, testing outreach methods with partners, and more recently, showing the impact that temporary, COVID-era policy changes had on making more students eligible for CalFresh, and making benefits more generous. All of the research is available on the CCDPP web page.

The California College Data and Policy Project
The CCDPP is a new research initiative that brings together University of California researchers and government partners to advance equity and improve California’s world class higher education system.

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CCDPP will generate new insights and research on what works to better support California students and their families as they transition through the education system. Initial CCDPP research will focus on student supports, college admissions, and transfer students.



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Trio helps UCLA hold on down stretch to beat USC 82-76

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Trio helps UCLA hold on down stretch to beat USC 82-76


Eric Dailey Jr. had 16 points, Sebastian Mack came off the bench to score 14 and Aday Mara blocked five shots on his way to a double-double as UCLA beat USC 82-76 on Monday night.

UCLA took the lead three minutes into the game and never trailed again. USC fell behind by double digits at the start of the second half. The Trojans battled back and had a chance to take the lead before missing 3 of 4 free throws. Wesley Yates III hit the second of two foul shots with 1:54 left to get USC within a point. Saint Thomas missed twice with 1:37 left and a chance for the lead.

Mack answered with a 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer and followed with two free throws to help UCLA prevail.

Dailey added six rebounds for the Bruins (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten Conference), who have won four in a row following a four-game losing streak. Dylan Andrews totaled 12 points and six assists. Aday Mara finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double this season.

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Rashaun Agee led the Trojans (12-8, 4-5) with 21 points off the bench on 8-for-12 shooting. Yates made four 3-pointers and scored 19. Thomas totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Desmond Claude pitched in with 12 points and six assists.

The Bruins played without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau (13.9 points per game), who injured his ankle three minutes into a 65-60 road win over the Washington Huskies last time out.

UCLA will host No. 16 Oregon on Thursday in the first of three straight games at home. USC will host No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday.

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What Southern California wildfire victims can expect from their insurance adjuster

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What Southern California wildfire victims can expect from their insurance adjuster


LOS ANGELES — Even with flames still burning in parts of Los Angeles County, total insured losses from the wildfires this month are already estimated at more than $30 billion, according to Goldman Sachs.

Note: The video above is from related coverage.

The massive amount of damage dwarfs the previous record of $12 billion in insured losses caused by Northern California’s Camp Fire in 2018.

With over 15,000 structures already destroyed in the Palisades, Eaton and spate of smaller fires, according to state officials, some public insurance claim adjusters are warning that it may take years for claims to be resolved, and in some instances, homeowners may not have the coverage they thought they had.

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A recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder of a 2021 wildfire in the state found that three-quarters of those who lost their homes were not fully covered for total losses.

MORE: Experts – How to get the most out of your insurance coverage after fire

Trying to figure out what to do next after surviving a disaster, contacting your insurance company should be one of the first things you do. But then what? United Policyholders is a non-profit whose mission is to assist you in getting the most out of your coverage.

As thousands of homeowners in Southern California file insurance claims to start the recovery process, they are meeting the one person who will determine how much the insurance company should pay for their loss — the insurance adjuster.

Each claimant is assigned an adjuster by the insurance company. It is the adjuster’s job to assess the damage, and in the case of the LA wildfires, prioritize the destroyed and severely damaged homes over those with minor damage.

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California law requires that insurers immediately pay policyholders one-third of the estimated value of their belongings and a minimum of four months’ rent in the event they are completely displaced.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently issued a one-year moratorium preventing insurance companies from canceling or issuing non-renewals for homeowners in the neighborhoods or adjoining ZIP codes affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

After the adjuster assesses the damage, they will determine how much the insurance company pays out for the claim.

Those who file may be given a settlement offer on the spot, but Amy Bach, executive director of the non-profit consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, tells ABC News that homeowners should resist the temptation to sign on the dotted line right away.

She recommends asking insurers for a copy of the policy and studying it for details about what level of coverage can apply.

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“Give your insurance company a chance to do the right thing, but don’t be a pushover,” Bach said. “Understand reality — your insurer is a for-profit business, and you need to be pro-active to recover what you’re owed in full. Get informed on your rights and your insurer’s obligations and be politely assertive.”

MORE: These 2 types of insurance coverage will help rebuild after disaster

Most fire victims say they want to rebuild. They might have insurance, but is it going to be enough? Here are two types of coverage that experts say are key to help the rebuilding process.

Experts say if an insurer tells a homeowner that something is not covered, they should get a second opinion, including getting independent valuations of the replacement cost of the home and possessions.

“Chances are the insurer’s adjuster will use a software program to calculate what they owe you,” Bach said. “Computers don’t repair and rebuild homes — contractors and subcontractors do. So, it’s what they will charge that matters.”

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If the homeowner disagrees with the insurance company’s assessment, they can appeal the decision and hire a public adjuster for a fee, according to Bach.

The public adjuster’s second opinion may help when negotiating with the insurance company, Bach added.

Public adjusters can be found through the California Department of Insurance website, and if homeowners are not being treated fairly — they can file a complaint for free with the same department.

Bach suggests keeping detailed notes of all conversations with the insurance company and adjuster including the dates and times of speaking, the names of those representatives, and a summary of what was said.

She also recommends sending a follow-up email after every conversation to document the progress.

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Even if affected homeowners are insured, experts also recommend applying for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Copyright © 2025 ABC News Internet Ventures.



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