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Conservative California professor reaches multimillion-dollar settlement after free speech lawsuit

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Conservative California professor reaches multimillion-dollar settlement after free speech lawsuit


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A California community college district agreed to pay $2.4 million to a conservative professor in a recent settlement agreement after years of legal battles between the two parties.

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“After five years of administrative misconduct, a decisive courtroom display exonerated me of all allegations and exposed that Kern Community College District engaged in flagrant retaliation for my questioning of partisan policies and wasteful expenditures,” Matthew Garrett reacted in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Facing an imminent ruling in my favor and the prospect of paying millions of dollars in damages, KCCD had only one viable option: settlement.” 

Garrett, previously a tenured history professor at Bakersfield College in southern California, filed a federal lawsuit against the Kern Community College District (KCCD) in 2021. In the lawsuit, Garrett claimed school officials retaliated against him and a colleague for questioning if grant money was being improperly used to fund social justice initiatives on campus. 

Garrett also claimed that he and other faculty members of a free speech coalition on campus were targeted with false allegations after they asked questions during a campus diversity meeting in October of 2022. 

PROFESSOR WHO WAS FIRED AFTER REPORTING ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS WINS $1M IN SETTLEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY

Bakersfield College history professor Matthew Garrett recently reached a settlement agreement with the district over his suspension. (YouTube/The Bakersfield Californian)

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The district Board of Trustees voted to fire him in April of 2023, alleging he had engaged in multiple instances of “immoral and unprofessional conduct,” which Garrett adamantly denied.

The professor contested his suspension in court. The two parties agreed to a settlement last month to end all disputes and claims surrounding Garrett’s employment after Garrett’s lawyers argued his case before an administrative law judge in May.

The district pledged to deliver a $2.4-million payment to Garrett as part of the settlement agreement that was obtained by Fox News Digital. The agreement covers “alleged general and emotional distress damages,” as well as attorney fees. The total payment includes a one-time payment of $154,520.00 for back wages and medical benefits since his dismissal.

Under the settlement, Garrett agreed to resign from his position in the district. Administrators also agreed to withdraw its reports and accusations of unprofessional conduct from Garrett’s record and seal documents related to punitive action it took against him from his personnel file.

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE TRUSTEE APOLOGIZES AFTER ‘THREATENING’ REMARKS ABOUT FACULTY WHO OPPOSE EQUITY INITIATIVES

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The settlement agreement isn’t an admission of wrongdoing for either party, it says. (Getty Images )

The settlement says the agreement isn’t “an admission of any wrongdoing or liability by either the District or Garrett.”

A district spokesman for KCCD provided the following statement to Fox News Digital.

“The Kern Community College District (KCCD) has settled all issues with Matthew Garrett. Matthew Garrett has voluntarily resigned from his employment and all litigation on this matter has been resolved. KCCD believes the settlement is in the best interest of the District and allows us to focus on the future and continue to deliver quality higher education for students of Kern County without any further legal distractions. To be clear, the dispute with Matthew Garrett was a disciplinary matter due to his disruptive actions on campus, none of which concerned freedom of speech. Kern Community College District unequivocally supports the right for our students and faculty to share their views and opinions on campus and elsewhere. As a District, we create an environment that provides our diverse students and communities with the opportunity to professionally engage with new ideas.”

“As this is a confidential personnel matter, we will not comment further.”

Garrett said he was grateful for the support he’s received and declared the settlement a victory.

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“I am grateful to the many who stood by my side during this difficult time and invite them to join in our triumph. To my colleagues at Bakersfield College and nationwide, I say: Keep the faith; we are winning the battle, one case at a time,” his statement continued.

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California

Daily Briefing: Active-duty troops deployed to California

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Daily Briefing: Active-duty troops deployed to California


Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert. Can you guess Chipotle’s new dip?

Quick look at Tuesday’s news:

  • Anti-ICE protests continued in Los Angeles for a fourth night.
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all 17 members of a panel that advises the CDC on the safety, efficacy and clinical needs of vaccines.
  • The man at the center of the Supreme Court case that changed gay marriage is worried about equality.

700 Marines are heading to Los Angeles

Anti-immigration raid protests continued last night as the Pentagon is set to send hundreds of Marines to support the National Guard in California as state officials say they will sue the Trump administration’s decision to “trample over” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authority.

The addition of active-duty troops marks a significant escalation. It comes as California officials say they will sue the Trump administration after the president ordered National Guardsmen to Los Angeles without the governor’s consent and after the president even suggested Newsom should be arrested.

Get more coverage on the situation in Los Angeles with USA TODAY:

New Jersey governor’s race will signal Democrats next move

New Jersey’s gubernatorial primary Tuesday is considered one of the best litmus tests for the type of candidate Democrats have an appetite for going forward. There are six Democrats seeking to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy (a fellow Democrat who is term limited). Electability remains an issue in the primary that could hobble progressives with a more aggressive approach, and give more centrist-minded contenders an opening. And many New Jersey Democrats have openly expressed concern in recent reports that their state, which tends to lean blue in presidential elections, might be turning red. Experts have warned how close — and unpredictable this race will be.

More news to know now

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What’s the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

RFK Jr. fires entire CDC vaccine advisory panel

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all 17 members of a committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety and will replace them with new members, a move that the Trump administration’s critics warned would create public distrust around the government’s role in promoting public health. Kennedy Jr.’s decision marks a reversal from what a key Republican senator said the Trump Cabinet member had promised during his confirmation hearings earlier this year. One medical expert told USA TODAY that Kennedy was “fixing a problem that doesn’t exist.”

Travelers caught off guard as travel ban rules come into effect

‘It’s scary. It makes me worried. It affects my decisions to go home to visit my family.’

~ Randy Wicaksana, 33, an Indonesian national who has lived in the U.S. for about three years. Wicaksana said he is preparing to return home later this month to renew his visa but is increasingly uncertain about what might await him when he comes to the U.S. again.

Today’s talkers

He was at the center of a Supreme Court case that changed gay marriage. Now, he’s worried.

When Jim Obergefell was sitting in the gallery at the Supreme Court on June 26, 2015, he was waiting to hear his name. The justices were preparing to rule on Obergefell v. Hodges, a case that became a landmark in the progress toward LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. The case, which considered the rights of same-sex couples to marry, ultimately won favor with a majority of the justices, but for Obergefell, the moment wasn’t, and could never be, totally complete. His husband, John Arthur, died years before the ruling was announced. Now, 10 years on, Obergefell sat down with USA TODAY to reflect on how their love for each other helped shape the fight for marriage equality in the U.S., and what progress there is to still be made in the fight for equality. 

Photo of the day: Ed soars

If you’ve missed Ed the zebra’s escapades this past week, the rogue zoo animal was finally caught and given an aerial trip home. He just wanted to see the world from a different point of view!

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Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.





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California Lt. Governor says Los Angeles riots are 'generated by Donald Trump'

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California Lt. Governor says Los Angeles riots are 'generated by Donald Trump'


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California Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis insisted the ongoing anti-ICE riots happening in Los Angeles on Sunday were a direct result of President Donald Trump’s actions.

Riots broke out in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday as immigration officials carried out raids to remove individuals illegally residing in the city. On Saturday, Trump deployed the National Guard to quell the violence, though California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the president of simply wanting a “spectacle.”

Kounalakis, a Democrat, echoed Newsom’s sentiment on “CNN Newsroom” by suggesting the demonstrations were peaceful and manageable before Trump was involved.

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SEN. CORY BOOKER CALLS LOS ANGELES RIOTS ‘PEACEFUL,’ SLAMS TRUMP FOR DEPLOYING NATIONAL GUARD

California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis described the state of affairs in Los Angeles on CNN as anti-ICE riots continued for the third day in a row. (Screenshot/CNN)

“What started yesterday was about 400 protesters in two separate locations. 400 altogether, and local law enforcement was absolutely capable of managing those kinds of protests,” Kounalakis said. “So bringing in the National Guard, threatening now to bring in the Marines, this is a crisis that is being ginned up and generated by Donald Trump for more of his political theater. It‘s deeply concerning that he is attempting to rile people up in this way.” 

Kounalakis added that the “biggest concern” was the ongoing raids conducted by the Trump administration in major cities like Los Angeles. She claimed people who are only being “profiled” as undocumented immigrants were “being swept up in them.”

“It is not what I think most people thought when the president said that he was going to go after violent criminals, going into kitchens and rounding people up and asking for their papers, detaining them. That’s really the precursor to it all.”

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She continued, “But even as people are voicing their disagreement with that, calling in the National Guard in the way that he did was not necessary. Absolutely overkill and seems to now be escalating the problem because of Donald Trump‘s actions.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

LA riot

Police officers stand amid tear gas during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole (REUTERS/Daniel Cole)

Kounalakis also revealed a lawsuit will likely be filed against the Trump administration for the deployment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president sending in the National Guard in an X post on Monday, saying, “Gavin Newsom did nothing as violent riots erupted in Los Angeles for days.” She went on to say that the governor “was too weak to protect the city.”

The riots entered their third day in California on Sunday, forcing officials to shut down the 101 Freeway.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said 500 Marines are on a “prepared to deploy” status and 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control. There are currently 300 members of the California Army National Guard’s combat team deployed in several locations.



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Trump's border czar threatens arrest for immigration interference, warns Newsom and Bass not to 'cross that line'

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Trump's border czar threatens arrest for immigration interference, warns Newsom and Bass not to 'cross that line'


LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration’s border czar warned that immigration enforcement will continue “every day” in Los Angeles, hinting that even elected officials could face arrest if they interfere with agents on the ground.

Tom Homan, appointed by President Donald Trump, appeared undeterred by the volatile protests against federal agents in Los Angeles who were carrying out immigration raids. Enforcement would be a daily occurrence, he said in a late-Saturday interview with NBC News.

“I’m telling you what, we’re going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A.,” Homan said. “Every day in L.A., we’re going to enforce immigration law. I don’t care if they like it or not.”

Follow along for live coverage

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Parts of Los Angeles County erupted in wide-scale protests on Saturday after residents learned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were happening in the area. Demonstrations descended into chaos, with videos showing protesters surrounding federal law enforcement on the ground and in vehicles. At least one person was hit by a car they were trying to stop from moving.

While many protests around the city remained peaceful, some escalated into clashes where authorities deployed tear gas and officers fired what appeared to be less-lethal ammunition at demonstrators.

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 11 people Saturday night for failure to disperse, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the situation.

Trump made good on his threat to deploy the National Guard against protesters, as Guardsmen arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday morning. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned it would escalate tensions.

Homan has previously threatened arrest for anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement. When asked whether that would include Newsom or Bass, Homan did not rule it out.

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“I’ll say it about anybody,” Homan said. “You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”

He did not accuse any politician of impeding enforcement, and when asked about Bass specifically, he said that he doesn’t believe “she’s crossed the line yet.” A spokesperson for Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ongoing enforcement concerns

Protests are expected to continue in Los Angeles on Sunday, as many residents take issue with the way ICE has been operating on the ground.

Homan told NBC News that ICE was “prioritizing” threats to public safety. He cited a raid on a business in downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District, saying agents were executing warrants as part of a criminal investigation.

But Homan also implied that the government does not differentiate between violent criminals and those who commit civil immigration violations when enforcing deportation laws.

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“I’ve said a thousand times that aperture will open,” Homan said. “And I said, if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table.”

Immigration raids have targeted workplaces and Home Depots, where many day laborers often gather to find manual labor jobs. Homan told NBC News that ICE agents at Home Depots were looking for “final orders,” which is a final order of removal.

Individuals have also been taken into ICE custody while attending immigration interviews, causing fear among those going through the legal immigration process.

Homan denied some of the allegations that ICE has been operating at schools, hospitals and churches, calling it misinformation. He criticized the overt hostility toward ICE agents, saying they’re unfairly compared to terrorists and Nazis.

Homan had harsh words for Newsom, calling the governor an “embarrassment for the state” and denouncing California’s “Sanctuary State” law. Sanctuary laws prevent local authorities from being compelled to participate in federal immigration enforcement.

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“If he cared about public safety in the state of California, he would not have a sanctuary for criminals, where criminals get released to the street in this state every day because of his policy,” Homan said of Newsom.

In reality, California state prisons regularly cooperate with ICE, as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is required by law to identify individuals subject to deportation within 90 days. However, if ICE fails pick up the individual prior to release, the department does not hold anyone past their release date.

A spokesperson for Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The rhetoric keeps rising and rising and rising — someone’s gonna get hurt,” Homan said. “If this violence isn’t tamped down, someone’s gonna die, and that’s just that’s just a cold fact of life.”



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