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The Business of Immigration: Ethics, Economics, and the Future of Our Region
About this Program: Immigration has long shaped the identity, economy, and culture of the San Diego–Baja California region. Today, it remains one of the most significant—and often most debated—public policy issues facing our communities. As employers grapple with workforce shortages, governments respond to evolving immigration policies, and families pursue opportunity and security, important questions arise about the economic, ethical, and practical implications of immigration for our region's future. As part of the Engage San Diego: Tough Topics, Real Discussion series, moderator Andrew Blum will lead a thoughtful conversation with community leaders to examine these issues from multiple perspectives. Together, the panel will explore how immigration and immigration policy influence regional economic growth, workforce development, cross-border commerce, public services, and community well-being. The discussion will consider both the opportunities and the challenges immigration presents for employers, policymakers, and the broader San Diego economy, while also examining the ethical considerations that inform business and public policy decisions. Rather than advocating for a single viewpoint, this program is designed to foster informed, respectful dialogue and deepen public understanding of one of the defining issues of our time. Through a balanced exchange of ideas, panelists will explore practical approaches to strengthening our region while recognizing the diverse perspectives that shape this complex conversation. Join us for an engaging discussion that reflects the spirit of the Engage San Diego series—bringing together diverse voices to tackle difficult topics through civil discourse, informed analysis, and constructive community engagement. What We’ll Explore Immigration and the Regional Economy How does immigration influence San Diego's workforce, economic growth, business competitiveness, and cross-border prosperity? Ethics, Policy, and Public Responsibility How can communities balance economic needs, humanitarian values, public safety, and the rule of law in shaping immigration policy? The Business and Government Perspective What roles do employers, local government, and community leaders play in addressing workforce challenges and creating opportunities for shared prosperity? The Future of Our Region As immigration policy continues to evolve, what practical solutions can help strengthen our economy, support our communities, and ensure the long-term success of the San Diego–Baja California region?
Law and science collide in federal lawsuit over social media addiction
Attorneys for Meta and other companies have argued that because social media addiction has not been formally recognized by the medical community, they cannot be held liable when sued over it. But the standard for a diagnosis is changing, and judges have been skeptical of those arguments.
California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics
States are debating whether to crack down on social media influencers making political advertisements without disclosing that they were paid
California May Fine Content Creators Who Don't Disclose They Were Paid to Post About Politics
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Weeks before voting ended in California's primary for governor, Los Angeles-based influencer Shaka Smith took to Instagram to tell his more than 700,000 followers whom he was voting for and why. “Healthcare shouldn't bankrupt you, housing should not feel impossible,
'Bad rap': Midwest burger giant defies California business doom narrative
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers CEO Chris Dull defends California's business climate, telling Fox News Digital it gets a 'bad rap' while detailing the Midwest burger giant's expansion plans in the Golden State.
Newsom slammed as a 'chameleon of politics' ahead of Michigan visit
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blasts California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a 'chameleon of politics' ahead of an upcoming visit to Michigan amid 2028 speculation.
Loretta Carpio Carr: An Emerging Young Voice in Politics
With the upcoming Governor’s election in California, I watch with curiosity who will vote and who they will vote for. California’s population is comparatively young, with the median age range of 37.9 to 38.4 years. That’s younger than the overall United States, according to World Population Review. The Public Policy Institute of California shows that
Medicaid cuts stand to hit everyone (yes, even you). Here’s why
Even privately insured Californians could see longer ER waits and rising premiums as hospitals absorb Medi-Cal cuts.
The Sports Report: A look at USC’s new football training center
A look at one of college football’s finest facilities, a $225-million capital project at USC that includes a new baseball stadium and a women’s soccer and lacrosse field.
Burger chain bucks California trend, doubles down on Golden State despite rising costs
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers CEO says California gets a "bad rap" as competitors close doors, planning 60 new locations nationwide this year with a Northern California focus.
How Burbank found a solution to downtown doom
Burbank is betting big on housing, nerd culture and free parking to revive its downtown scene.
Trump-backed incumbent loses primary after super PAC bankrolled by Dems meddled in race
A super PAC bankrolled by a California billionaire and frequent Democratic donor spent $2 million to unseat Andy Ogles over renewable energy policy.
California's cyclosporiasis cases are 'higher than expected,' but officials aren't sure why
There are no known cyclosporiasis outbreaks in California, but officials say case numbers are higher than they expected for this point in the season.
'Bad Rap': Freddy's CEO defends California business climate as rivals retreat
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers CEO Chris Dull defends California's business climate, telling Fox News Digital it gets a 'bad rap' while detailing the Midwest burger giant's expansion plans in the Golden State.
What's Behind Steve Hilton's Quick Ascension in California Politics?
The Republican gubernatorial candidate has a long history as a political consultant.
Column: Don't let Abdul El-Sayed's identity eclipse his actual politics
Questions about his electability have little to do with his résumé and more to do with him being the son of Egyptian immigrants who prays five times a day.
As AI 'therapists' dish out advice, California lawmakers try to set some limits
A new bill would stop companies from marketing chatbots as therapy and force stricter oversight of AI in mental health care — as a labor union wages a parallel fight against Kaiser Permanente.
The Sports Report: Dodgers drop their sixth in a row
After learning catcher Dalton Rushing will be sidelined by a torn UCL, the Dodgers fall to the Cubs for their sixth straight loss.
Catalina Island’s only hospital fights for its future amid dire financial outlook
Catalina Island Health is a vital resource for the island's approximately 4,000 residents and 1 million annual visitors.
Matt Damon's stunt double in 'The Odyssey' is a 4-foot-6 woman
Matt Damon said Devyn Dalton, his stunt double in 'The Odyssey,' has 'the greatest arms' he's ever seen.
Unregulated use of peptides raises alarm among researchers
Driven by social media hype and a growing distrust of public health guidance, consumer demand for experimental peptides has exploded over the last decade.
Christina Pazsitzky details 'extremely sad' divorce from Tom Segura
Comedian Christina Pazsitzky addresses her divorce from Tom Segura and reassures longtime listeners that the former power couple are still 'cool, dude.'
Perez Hilton's family offers health update after disturbing TikTok
Perez Hilton's family has asked for privacy and confirmed he is receiving medical care after a TikTok livestream frightened fans and triggered a law enforcement response.
Advocates celebrate as California's first cardiac ablation is performed in ASC
Medicare is looking to reduce healthcare costs, and EPs believe outpatient procedures are more convenient for patients.
Court says defamation suit raises First Amendment questions
A federal appeals court has signaled that it might not allow a lawsuit brought by New England fishing businesses and industry groups against a California aquarium to proceed because of the case's potential impact on free speech.
Video Game Giant Electronic Arts Closes $55 Billion Go-Private Sale of Its Business
CHICAGO (AP) — Video game giant Electronic Arts officially has new owners. The California-based maker of popular titles like “Battlefield” and “The Sims” announced Tuesday that it closed the $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake ...
WHO chief: Ebola outbreak outpacing response as aid workers strike over pay
The world’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, the head of the World Health Organization said during a visit to Congo, where some health workers are striking over a lack of pay.
Saudi Arabia's PIF completes acquisition of Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, the gaming company known for franchises like "The Sims" and "Battlefield," has officially been acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners for $55 billion.
From Westwood to the Valley: How ‘The Shards’ recreates 1981 L.A.
Ryan Murphy's FX adaptation of 'The Shards' brings Bret Easton Ellis' coming-of-age thriller to life with meticulous production design, costumes and iconic L.A. locations.
Chipotle pulls jalapeños from some restaurants as health officials investigate salmonella outbreak
Chipotle Mexican Grill says it has removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants after determining the peppers could potentially be tied to a salmonella outbreak public health officials are investigating
California Republicans tried to cut him off. Then he beat them from the right
The conservative group Reform California promotes candidates to the right of the California GOP. They won in several key primary races
The Sports Report: Tarik Skubal pitches well, but Dodgers lose
Tarik Skubal pitches six strong innings in his debut for the Dodgers, who lose their fifth straight game.
'Iran War Participation Trophy' for Trump is on tour, joins Instagram
A 10-foot sculpture of a golden trophy made for President Trump by the anonymous arts activist group Secret Handshake is officially on tour, with an Instagram page and appearances in D.C., New York and Minneapolis.
What to expect if the Protect College Sports Act passes
Hurdles remain in the House of Representatives after the Senate recess, but the possibility of passing something is closer ever.
Mountain West, Pac-12 finalize settlement over 'poaching' and exit fees
The Pac-12 and some of new the schools joining the conference filed a lawsuit in California in 2024, claiming the poaching clause the league agreed to when it signed a
California Democrats defy Newsom, back billionaire tax
The state’s Democratic Party voted to support California’s billionaire tax, siding with a growing populist movement seeking accountability for the rich
Powerful California Labor Federation endorses billionaire tax
A proposed one-time tax on California’s billionaires got a huge boost Tuesday when the California Labor Federation, which represents 2.3 million union members, endorsed the measure.
Paramount's David Ellison says critics don't get his politics
In an op-ed, Ellison tries to allay worries that he can be trusted to run CNN
One of California's Biggest $5B Entertainment Projects Just Crossed a Major Milestone
Construction is progressing on OCVIBE's Anaheim concert hall, with seats, backstage areas, and new amenities taking shape.
CIM welcomes Between the Lines for special sports event
The Between the Lines foundation brought “Beyond the Lines Travel Beyond the Walls” to California Institution for Men (CIM) at Chino.
CA is dismantling its healthcare system
In a new documentary, CalMatters goes inside a Los Angeles clinic to examine how Californians are being forced to choose between medicine and food.
Big Questions and Breakthrough Science: Top Takeaways from the 2025–26 Watson Lecture Season at Caltech
Daily Newsmagazine and City Guide to Pasadena, California featuring local news, breaking news, events, weather, sports news, schools news, shopping, restaurants and more from Pasadena Now
California nearly achieved universal healthcare. Now, millions are losing coverage
State and federal cuts could push California's uninsured rate to nearly 15% by 2030 — hitting immigrants and low-income families hardest. Watch the new CalMatters documentary.
The Sports Report: Dodgers lose fourth in a row
Dodgers make a couple more deals before the trade deadline, then fall to the Cubs for their fourth loss in a row.
State Fair Brought Food, Entertainment, Education and Job Opportunities
“Wish You Were Here” was the theme of the 2026 California State Fair. Despite the heat, many attendees came out to enjoy the traditional “must do” activities at the fair like heading for the hot cinnamon rolls or checking out all the animals and t...
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' fights superhero fatigue with love
The web-swinging and villain foiling is great fun, but 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is, above all, a multilayered love story.
Why Farmers' California business filing is a signal to go back to clients on the FAIR Plan
While US commercial rates ease nationally, California's wildfire-exposed segment is moving the other way, and brokers need to be ready to explain both stories
Jackie the eagle faces health complications as anemia worsens despite transfusion
KMPH Fox 26 is the Central Valley's news leader, covering Fresno, California and the surrounding area, including Clovis, Madera, Hanford, Visalia, Biola, Kerman, Tranquillity, San Joaquin, Reedley, Coalinga, Avenal, Lemoore, Tulare, Selma, Caruthers, Tollhouse, Three Rivers, Porterville, and Merced.
California sues Trump to block latest tariffs, sharing of needy families' data with ICE
California sued the Trump administration twice Monday, to block President Trump’s latest round of tariffs and to block his administration from sharing needy families’ personal data with immigration officials.
Nurses deliver petition opposing CommonSpirit Health’s planned layoffs of frontline health care workers
RNs delivered a petition to their employer opposing CommonSpirit Health’s planned layoffs of more than 175 frontline health care workers signed by more than 5,000 nurses. The nurses held a rally and press conference to protest the proposed layoffs at 17 hospitals in California and their impact on patient safety. The nurses are demanding that CommonSpirit Health immediately rescind the layoffs.
Democratic states urge Supreme Court to block Trump's new limits on mail ballots
President Trump's executive order required the U.S. Postal Service to use state-by-state lists of eligible voters who may send a ballot by mail.
Valkryies coach addresses Sophie Cunningham's trans athletes comments
Valkryies coach Natalie Nakase on Sunday addressed Sophie Cunningham's stance about trans athletes in women's sports with reporters. Caitlin Clark mostly avoided doing so.
Flag football continues ‘remarkable’ growth, leading California high school sports’ increase in participation
Girls sports keyed another record-setting year for high school athletics, while football participation saw a significant drop on the boys side
USC, Notre Dame renew rivalry series with a key adjustment
USC coach Lincoln Riley said the Trojans could not compromise on scheduling all future games against Notre Dame to early in the season.
As computer science enrollments drop, artificial intelligence classes fill up
Hiring for entry-level software developers has slowed, and college enrollment in computer science is declining
Whole Foods tries to change its ‘Whole Paycheck’ reputation with cheaper staples
Whole Foods wages war on its ‘Whole Paycheck’ past with cheaper staples
The Sports Report: Dodgers have Skubal, but are swept by Red Sox
The Dodgers finalize their trade for pitcher Tarik Skubal, then get swept by Red Sox after bad start by Emmet Sheehan.
How the World Cup became great 'dry run' for 2028 Olympics
The success of the FIFA World Cup in Southern California provided valuable lessons for LA28 as it continues its preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Marmots got money troubles: UCLA scientists turn to OnlyFans
A UCLA marmot lab has opened an OnlyFans account called OnlyMarms to raise funding for its research. So far, it's raised about $4,000.
Will California voters 'orphaned' in top-two primary be strategic in November House races?
California voters left without a candidate from their own party after the top-two primary could still hold strategic sway in key congressional contests.
The top theme parks in California and beyond for 2026
Maybe you love theme parks and are willing to cross state lines just to ride the most thrilling roller coaster. Or maybe you want to know where they are so
Heat wave prompts health experts to urge checks on seniors and pets
Experts are urging people to check in on sensitive groups as high heat continues to impact millions of Californians.
California Democratic Party endorses Prop. 40 billionaire tax
The California Democratic Party backed Prop. 40, a 5% billionaire tax for healthcare, despite heavy pushback from Newsom and labor leaders.
California Democratic Party endorses billionaire wealth tax in narrow vote
The close vote exposed deep schisms within the party over how to cope with healthcare cuts passed by Congressional Republicans.
The lightbulb that's burned for 120 years draws four watts
The Phoebus cartel capped bulbs at 1,000 hours in 1925. The 120-year-old Livermore bulb draws just 4 watts.
Opinion: Taxing billionaires will help Californians keep their health coverage
California voters have the chance to vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 40, which will make billionaires pay to keep hospitals open and healthcare affordable.
Why Congressman Vince Fong is urging the Trump administration to reject a health tax in California
Congressman Vince Fong has voiced strong opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed changes to California’s Managed Care Organization tax, arguing that the plan misuses resources and worsens the state’s affordability crisis.
Why Congressman Vince Fong is urging the Trump administration to reject a health tax in California
Congressman Vince Fong has voiced strong opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed changes to California’s Managed Care Organization tax, arguing that the plan misuses resources and worsens the state’s affordability crisis.
Michael Gates explains why he should be California's next Attorney General
Michael Gates, a Republican attorney from Huntington Beach, is running for California attorney general, emphasizing his extensive legal experience and a commitment to addressing crime, corruption, and what he calls compliance with federal laws.
California voters could make it harder to increase taxes with Prop 43
California voters will decide in November whether to approve Proposition 43, a measure that would make it more difficult to pass new special taxes in cities and counties.
California Politics 360 full episode | Governor, First Partner release tax returns
The move comes as the Department of Justice is apparently investigating them and their nonprofits.
Experts say Newsom's tax returns don't show full picture of his wealth
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom released their tax returns this week, covering the years 2021 to 2024, as federal investigations reportedly focus on their nonprofits.
Inside California Politics: Hilton challenges Becerra to debate
(Inside California Politics) — Steve Hilton is challenging his Democratic rival to a debate, calling on Xavier Becerra to “man up and show up” to a televised showdown. This week, the Re…
📚 The Inoculation Project 8/2/2026: Science in Sacramento and Youngstown
This week, we’re helping a California fifth grade do a balloon car project, and an Ohio high school science class do a variety of cool labs. We hope that readers who support quality public school…
Dodgers acquiring pitcher Tarik Skubal in blockbuster trade
The Dodgers swing a deal for Detroit Tigers ace left-hander Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline, bolstering their hopes for a third straight World Series title.
Gavin Newsom Reportedly Concerned About Paramount, WB Merger State Suit
In a Friday report, sources told The Wall Street Journal that California's governor has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer, and that "Newsom’s office has encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which has independent authority to file such suits, to find a resolution out of court."
Letters: Is UCLA doomed with Bill Plaschke's bold prediction?
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thoughts on the Times columnists jumping on the Bruins bandwagon, LeBron James' departure and more.
Rising costs push Northern California food entrepreneurs to rethink traditional business model
Rising costs drive more California food entrepreneurs to launch businesses from home
Why an electric fan can make you hotter in extreme heat — and what to do instead
The CDC warns that electric fans can actually raise your body temperature in extreme heat. Learn the safe temperature limits and expert-backed ways to beat the heat.
Long-closed former West LA mall has nearby business dying
What was once a thriving West Los Angeles mall featured in hit movies and music videos has been closed since 2019, crushing numerous nearby businesses, and leaving neighbors frustrated. “The...
CDFW News | Del Norte County Razor Clam Fishery Closes Due to Public Health Hazard; Monterey Bay Anchovy and Sardine Restrictions Lifted as Health Concern Alleviated
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County today following a recommendation from state health agencies that consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant human health threat for domoic acid exposure.
Registered nurses to protest layoffs at 17 CommonSpirit Health hospitals in California
Registered nurses will hold a press conference and rally at California Hospital Medical Center, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 3, to protest owner and operator CommonSpirit Health’s planned layoffs at 17 hospitals in California. Nurses say layoffs will jeopardize patient care and harm communities.
California school dashboard adds science as a full metric
Short of dropping a dead weight copy of the state Education Code on your foot, a State Board of Education agenda item on the California School Dashboard normally wouldn’t evoke
Watchdog unleashes database to expose 'loopholes' as $5B in foreign cash floods US nonprofits
A new database tracks over $5 billion in foreign spending flowing into 523 politically active U.S. nonprofits not required to disclose donors.
Utah joins FTC in lawsuit accusing Hims & Hers of sharing sensitive health information
Utah has joined the Federal Trade Commission and California in a lawsuit accusing telehealth company Hims & Hers of sharing consumers’ sensitive health informat
The IAC and California-based Predictive Science Inc Predict the Solar Corona for the August 12 Eclipse Using the La Palma Supercomputer
Ahead of the upcoming solar eclipse on August 12, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), in collaboration with the research group Predictive Science Inc. (PSI, San Diego, California), has successfully simulated in high detail the structure of the solar corona that will be visible during totality along the path of totality, including Palencia, where the IAC will gather more than 40 spanish, moroccan, and american astronomers.
What is a brand extension? 'Jeopardy!' attempts to answer TV's questionable future
"Jeopardy!" is TV's most-watched entertainment show — and its median viewer is 70. Inside Sony's push onto ESPN, Netflix and YouTube to find a younger audience.
Geyserville pushing for SMART train station to drive business into community
US economic growth slows unexpectedly in second quarter
U.S. economic growth slowed unexpectedly in the second quarter, with the Commerce Department's advance estimate showing a 1.5% annual growth rate.
The new "science golden age" looks suspiciously like a grift
This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers. Become one ⬇️ 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 The Trump regime is trying to usher in a “Golden Age in Science” where scientific research is run like a Trump family business, artificial intelligence is all that matters, profit is everything, and expertise is for chumps. Or at least that’s the vision emerging from a new 123-page “Report to the President” from Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In a normal administration, you could probably skip over learning about a science policy document — but this is no normal administration, and this is no normal science policy document. Instead, it’s Trump’s attempt to end the actual golden age of science that was kicked off in 1945 with the publication of '“The Endless Frontier” by Vannevar Bush. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) [ Harmeet Dhillon demonstrates danger of posting through it ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Liz Dye · Jul 29 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Bush, at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s request, laid out a vision of federal support for science that centered on funding universities to do basic research, saying that as long as those institutions were “vigorous and healthy and their scientists are free to pursue the truth wherever it may lead, there will be a flow of new scientific knowledge to those who can apply it to practical problems in Government, in industry, or elsewhere.” Kratsios’s report is supposed to be the successor to Bush’s, and even apes the format, but this isn’t really a document about science policy. It’s one about ending science research as we know it in favor of shoveling cash at big tech companies. While it might be temping to wave this away as an aspirational policy document, Trump has already begun to shift billions in research funds to AI projects and has taken a hatchet to science funding across the board. He’s teed up the shift Kratsios proposes here, and since neither Congress nor the Supreme Court seem inclined to stop him from doing whatever he wants with taxpayer money, it isn’t doomering or hyperbole to say we are staring down the barrel of a world where the only “science” the government intends to support is for-profit tech and defense advancements. Science for dummies Part of how you can tell this isn’t a document about science is that you are immediately faced with an absolute wall of business-speak of the worst sort. Did you know we must “tightly couple our science and technology enterprises to ensure that groundbreaking ideas invented in the United States are rapidly prototyped, tested, manufactured, and scaled domestically”? You do now! That tone isn’t surprising, because Kratsios has no background in science or research. He has a bachelor’s in political science and spent most of his career working for Peter Thiel at Thiel Capital. After a stint in the first Trump administration as Chief Technology Officer, where he also did not do any science, Kratsios was tasked in 2020 with overseeing the Pentagon’s research budget for a brief time, a position that, as the Wall Street Journal put it, “carries a great deal of power in terms of dictating investment allocations.” He spent the Biden years at Scale AI as “head of strategy,” which you will also note is neither a science nor a research job. But Scale AI has contracts with the Department of Defense and, as the Washington Post wrote in 2023, “has been aggressively pitching itself as the company that will help the US military in its existential battle with China.” And now you have the necessary background for our new golden age, which is going to be a golden age of taking money away from scientists and universities and giving it to companies like Scale AI. A note from Aaron: Working with brilliant contributors like Lisa takes resources. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, please become one to support our work. 👇 Subscribe In a genuinely galling move, Katsios spends a lot of time slamming universities because of “administrative burdens on researchers” and the “well-documented inefficiencies” in academia, the message being that those damn universities waste the time of amazing researchers with paperwork. Except it’s the administration that is attempting to impose inefficient, unnecessary burdens on those researchers with a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule that would require senior political appointees to approve every science grant and ensure it aligns with Trump’s personal priorities. Researchers would also have to seek prior government approval to attend conferences or publicize their research. And political appointees could terminate any grant at any time if they feel like it. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) [ The murder of expertise ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) Lisa Needham · Jun 11 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) But when it comes to AI, we’re going to “restore permissionless innovation.” The report proposes to give lucky ducky innovators a pile of cash up front for grants lasting five years or longer, saying “awards should be fully-funded in year one, with all resources earmarked upfront, to minimize administrative burdens and reduce pressure for researchers to generate intermediate results to secure continued funding.” Yeah, wouldn’t want to have to make the Very Special Tech Bros show results or get money parceled out year by year like the plebes at universities. The report also proposes that we should have “fast grants” with “simplified applications requiring just a few pages of writing” because that is definitely how science works, just writing a bit off the dome and getting some cash. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) [ Tech elites are turning AI into ChatGPTrump ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Paul Waldman · July 29, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Oh, and we should have prizes and challenges, where multiple teams compete. The proposed prizes include incentives like “advance procurement commitments,” which means the federal government agrees to buy whatever is being developed. There’s also “regulatory fast-tracking,” making sure all those great AI thingies don’t have to wait too long to be unleashed on a market. These aren’t incentives to do science. These are incentives to develop things with tax dollars that you can then sell to the government for more tax dollars. In the suggestion that might be the most unhinged, the most very opposite of how both government and research work, our new age will include “golden tickets.” That’s where an individual reviewer in an agency — yes, just one person — can “recommend unconventional proposals that may not pass consensus-driven review panels” because somehow this will “surface valuable ideas too divisive for committees and attract higher quality reviewers by empowering them to exercise independent scientific judgment.” Yes, that’s saying that a random person in an agency should be able to shovel money at some idea even if it can’t pass a review panel, and that the opportunity to do so will attract better employees because apparently all the best minds in science are chomping at the bit to be allowed to unilaterally fund AI research based on their personal vibes. But that isn’t at all how actual science works, and actual scientists aren’t unhappy about review panels. They work collaboratively, not siloed in some secret race to create the next AI chatbot. A 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research examined whether peer review panels succeed in helping agencies predict which research ideas will best advance science. Peer review was better at finding “diamond in the rough” applicants than a single government program official. How about that. Trump always wants a taste It’s painfully clear that what Katsios is trying to do here is turn the whole of government science research and funding into the sort of “move fast and break things” paradigm that is the hallmark of big tech. That method works to line the pockets of tech executives, but it isn’t science. There’s a reason the government funds different kinds of research than private tech companies do. What Katsios either fails to understand or deliberately ignores is that the federal government is the main funder of basic research precisely because it can take a long time for it to bear fruit and is not intended to be profitable as such. “Basic” here does not mean rudimentary or simple, but rather research that is designed to advance scientific knowledge instead of achieving a specific outcome or product. Big tech companies don’t widely fund that sort of research, because it doesn’t make them money. Industry dollars account for only about 20 percent of basic research funding, while the government contributes around 60 percent. Big tech companies and startups do, however, rely on and benefit from that basic research. A 2019 study found that 35 percent of all patents obtained by venture-backed startups from 1976 to 2016 cited federally supported research. Basic research funded by the NIH contributed to every single drug the FDA approved from 2010 to 2016. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) [ The Saudi nuclear farce and governance by whim and meme ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Noah Berlatsky · Jul 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Unlike inventing the next ChatGPT, actual science is slow and iterative. Government funding of research that, on its face, would not appear to lead to any big new invention is actually what underpins those big new inventions. If the government hadn’t funded research into desert lizard venom, we wouldn’t know about semaglutide, and we wouldn’t have Ozempic. If research scientists hadn’t studied how bees optimize nectar foraging within a colony, we wouldn’t have the algorithm that assigns internet traffic across computer servers. The report assiduously ignores that a symbiotic, profitable relationship between the federal government, universities, and private companies already exists. Each federal research dollar generates about $1.50 to $3.00 in long-term economic benefits. The $36 billion the government awarded in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2025 generated $94 billion in new economic activity. Trump’s proposed new golden age is intended to strip those billions from universities, resulting in the dismantling of departments and the shuttering of labs. But Katsios has a plan for that: Universities should just become trade schools to churn out no-show STEM degrees! “Require universities and community colleges to embed practical technical training and externships into STEM curricula. Let hands-on experience and industry credentials count toward degrees.” It’s quite the feat to, on the one hand, strip schools of funding for scientific research while simultaneously demanding to control what is taught and, oh, also, colleges need to give degrees to employees at big tech companies just for being employees at big tech companies. The new golden age would also exacerbate the brain drain Trump’s policies have already caused. Nature found that in the first quarter of 2025, US scientists submitted 32 percent more job applications abroad than in 2024. A March 2025 poll by Nature of roughly 1,600 scientists found that over 1,200 said they were considering leaving the country. Europe is investing $565 million to make it a “magnet for researchers” and provide funding for scientists who relocate. The new golden age is also about embedding Trump’s xenophobia into the fabric of American science. The report complains of an “over-reliance on foreign students” that “creates a security challenge our institutions are ill-equipped to address” and that a “reliance on foreign talent sidelines American students.” This is, to put it mildly, nonsense. International students pay far higher tuition and often receive no financial aid. Their tuition dollars are what make it possible for American students to get financial aid. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. Those 1.1 million international students accounted for only six percent of the total number of students in higher education that year, but were such an economic engine that for every three international students, one job was created or supported. It’s impossible not to wonder whether part of Trump’s loathing for universities and their leading role in scientific research is that there is no way for him to corrupt the process and make money off it in the same way he can by giving millions and billions to Silicon Valley types who, in turn, give him millions in cash. There’s no way for his children to invest in universities that the government then gives no-bid contracts to, fattening the family’s bottom line, which is pretty much the Trump sons’ current venture capital practice. Trump and Katsios’s view of science is narrow, cramped, and wrong. We’re not in a crisis, we’re not a failed state. We’ve been a science superpower for decades, and the only thing that threatens that is Donald Trump. Tech bros are already living high off the hog in this administration. They don’t need any more of our tax dollars. Hopefully this new golden age never comes to pass. Thanks for reading Public Notice. This post is public so feel free to share it. Share We’ll be back with more tomorrow. If you appreciate today’s PN, please do your part to keep us free by signing up for a paid subscription. 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 Thanks for reading, and for your support.
Empowering the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
Young Californians often feel disconnected from the political process. A recent event focused on inspiring civic engagement among California’s youth and highlighted the importance of civic education.
After Hobbes vs Rousseau: Politics must move beyond human nature
Since the great debate between Hobbes and Rousseau, our political theory has been organised around a single question: is human nature essentially good or essentially corrupt? Graham Harman, the philosopher behind object-oriented ontology, argues that this is simply the wrong question to be asking. The real forces governing our collective fate - climate change, artificial intelligence, geography, and pandemics - are non-human; therefore, questions about human nature are not the central ones. Instead, Harman proposes a politics reorganised around our relationship to non-human objects and environments, in which quasi-government institutions incentivise and deter actions with the aim of extending the survival of the human race. “It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” This has become one of the most popular phrases among twenty-first-century intellectuals. Often misattributed to Fredric Jameson, it has been warmly embraced by such influential authors as Slavoj Žižek and the tragically departed Mark Fisher, and has fueled the notion that the major problem with the political Left is that it simply needs to become more speculative and creative. Naturally, this is never a bad idea in any human pursuit. But what if the political distinction between Left, Right, and Center itself results from a failure of imagination? SUGGESTED READING Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil? By Robin Douglass This particular division has been with us only since the summer of 1789. During the simmering prelude to the French Revolution, it referred originally to the physical position in the National Assembly of radical figures on one side and loyal monarchists on the other. These positions are linked with two entirely different camps of modern political theory. On the Left we find a series of authors ranging from the moderate (Locke) to the supercharged (Rousseau) to the truly radical (Marx), all of them contending that exploitation of the many by the few justifies revolutionary overthrow of the existing order. On the Right they are countered by the likes of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Schmitt, a group of thinkers convinced that corrupt human nature can be tamed only by force. In the words of the Nazi supporter Schmitt: “One could test all theories of nature and state and political ideas according to their anthropology and classify these as to whether they consciously or unconsciously presuppose [humans] to be by nature evil or by nature good.” This is the division we continue to face today, even in the daily retail politics of Western democracies.___Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims.___The most refreshing feature of David Graeber and David Wengrow’s 2021 book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity was their awareness that the forced choice between Rousseau and Hobbes (as they put it) is no longer sufficient. Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims. Far from being stationed “beyond good and evil,” we seem to be fully entangled with both. We are not naturally good or evil, Graeber and Wengrow contend, but naturally experimental and imaginative. They rest their case on the archaeological record, which seems to bear witness to numerous episodes of seasonally shifting governments and festivals, which vacillate in the same society (even in the same year) between the egalitarian and the dictatorial. Such praise of political experiment makes a good fit with the generally anarchist position defended by these authors. Yet it is also what I find most disappointing in their position. Although they are right that the forced choice between Hobbes and Rousseau falls short of what our new situation requires, the authors simply replace it with praise for the human being as a political tinkerer and performer. In other words, they give us just another theory of human nature, one that would not have been out of place in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. What other options might we have?___The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature… We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them___One fresh approach would be to treat politics within a broader framework than human nature, given that the polis does not exist in a vacuum filled exclusively with people. When Bruno Latour went to observe the baboons of Kenya with the San Diego anthropologist Shirley Strum, they jointly concluded that these primates were more socially interdependent than our own species. Each baboon is so reliant on the dynamics of the group that they find themselves locked into constant surveillance of their potentially dangerous peers. The group structure turns out to be inherently volatile. Humans, by contrast, are able to stabilize their societies to a large degree through the mediation of inanimate objects. Although one’s position in society may seem to fluctuate over time, considerable stability is produced through such items as apartment keys, wedding rings, and identification cards, all of them serving to secure us a place distinct from that of our fellows. The Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris has written at length about the crucial role of documents in establishing social relations, making him a hero among notaries in his country. Proper names and license plates cement our position amidst other humans, as do symbolic achievements such as graduation from a top university or distinguished wartime service with its various medals and ribbons. None of this is found among baboons, despite their closeness to us on the evolutionary tree: after all, we did share a common ancestor just 25 to 30 million years ago. SUGGESTED VIEWING The goodness paradox With Richard Wrangham The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature, whether understood in the manner of the Left or of the Right. We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them. But initially, it is true, we face non-human things primarily in the form of constraints. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to form a human civilization underwater, deep underground, atop Mount Everest, or in outer space. Human dependence on the non-social background takes on subtler form in discussions of political geography, especially unloved on the more idealistic Left. Consider the luckless position of Poland during World War II, sandwiched between Hitler on one side and Stalin on the other. By contrast, note the good fortune of the United States in not having a military peer positioned on any land border. Anglo-American geopolitics, since the writings of the American naval commander Alfred Thayer Mahan and the British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder, has been wedded to the notion that one or more liberal offshore naval powers should prevent any authoritarian “heartland” regime from gaining effective control of Eurasia. That remains the case whether the opponent is the impatient Napoleon, the swashbuckling German Kaiser, the villainous Hitler, the murderous Stalin, or the industrial juggernaut Chinese. In their current Foreign Affairs article “Heartland vs. Rimland,” Michael Beckley and Hal Brands analyze the current and coming state of the world on the basis of these same rather durable principles. In recent years a similar outlook has been embraced, in inverted form, by the Putin-loving Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, an icon of the Rightist intellectual underworld. For Dugin, the Anglo-Saxons are an evil force bent on destroying the spiritually superior people of the land: much like Athens in its failed war with Sparta, or Carthage in its eventual collapse against Rome. But the shared notion on both sides is that any strategy that fails to take geography into account is likely to end up as a defeated form of excessive optimism.___When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole.___More striking for us today than geography is the non-human object called climate, which threatens rimland and heartland equally. Even if we contend that humans are one hundred percent responsible for triggering the climate crisis, it remains non-human in the sense of being an independent force beyond our effective control. In a major work published just before his death in 2002, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, the American paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould noted the tendency of evolutionary theorists to focus too closely on the fate of individuals in view of their successful or failed adaptation to circumstances. With climate change, however, we confront a force that goes well beyond the scope of any individual life. Whereas Richard Dawkins extended evolutionary questions downward from individuals to the sub-individual gene, Gould pushed it upward, speaking of entire species or clades as impacted by environmental change. The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago is only the most famous example of this sort. In the wake of that catastrophe, large animals needing abundant supplies of food were at a fatal disadvantage by contrast with the smaller birds and mammals of the planet. When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole. The effect is to shift our attention away from individual beings towards the survival of the group.In the United States in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked considerable backlash among those who asserted a nearly absolute degree of individual freedom. In California I encountered those who demanded that their businesses be allowed to reopen, that it was enough to cover their mouths but not their noses, or that they should have the right to enter any public area despite refusing vaccination. Yet public health is probably the clearest argument against libertarianism, which often merely asserts the autonomy of individuals against any claims of the commons. In normal times the individual is worth defending; under conditions that threaten the survival of part or all of our species, compulsion may be our only resort, as with perfectly reasonable blackouts and rations in wartime. To rebuild human society under the constraints of climate change will be one of the great challenges of the century to come, as will our improvised grappling with artificial intelligence. Such phenomena pose existential risks for humanity, and leave far less room for tolerance of individual brattiness. Cases are mounting of devastating wildfires caused by arson. Recently it was reported that there is even a website where one can bet on the location of coming wildfires, raising the specter of deliberate blazes set to collect on wagers. The death penalty has steadily lost support in a world where many stress the infinite value of human life. But if we focus instead on entire ecosystems, those who purposely burn the forests may begin to look worse than serial murderers.___The politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere.___So far I have spoken of force, authority, and punishment: measures sure to have greater appeal to those who identify with what we know as the Right. But other implications of the post-anthropocentric world are likely to have different backers. If non-human objects are seen as structuring political space, it stands to reason that they can no longer be introduced solely by the pace of technical breakthrough. Fields ranging from cybernetics to energy will demand increased politicization once they are reconceived not just as products of individual human investment, but as renovations of collective political geography. This need not involve world government, with its inherent risk of tyranny, but may involve quasi-governmental enforcers of prestige along the lines of a less corrupt FIFA or International Olympic Committee, punishing deviant states not with violence but with less tangible incentives.Politics will never lose its historic links with conflict and faction. But rather than factions aligned by differing theories of human nature, the politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere. This will prove just as incommensurable with the modern Left/Right spectrum as a globe is with a two-dimensional map.
Meet & Greet with Laura Galloway
Laura Galloway began her new role as dean of Whitworth University’s School of Business on July 1 after relocating to Spokane from San Diego, where she previously worked for University of Massachusetts Global, a California-based online institution, most recently as associate vice chancellor for institutional curriculum, assessment, and academic policy.
'Children of Blood and Bone' film drama continues with a new claim
After the 'Children of Blood and Bone' trailer dropped, author Tomi Adeyemi claimed a behind-the-scenes ordeal was so painful she can never see the movie.
Science demos, stellar suds: Brewsology to pour at California Science Center
The evening event will feature fine foams and the after-hours opportunity to roam the educational museum.
Business News: Independent Watch Retailer Collective Horology Sues Trump And Administration Over New Tariffs
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Climate extremes are becoming more extreme, worrying scientists
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Harvard-Westlake's River Park sports complex nears completion
A January opening looks possible for Harvard-Westlake's new 16-acre sports complex in Studio City.