stretch

USC football vs. Nebraska: Trojans enter critical stretch of games

With the second bye behind them and USC’s season at a crossroads, Lincoln Riley has spent the better part of two weeks focusing his team on what’s in front of them — a stretch of three winnable games — and not behind them — a demoralizing defeat at Notre Dame.

In doing so, the Trojans coach borrowed a well-worn rallying cry, one that traces back 2,000 years. Riley told his team, they had to “burn the boats.”

“We’ve put ourselves in great position, and we’ve got to be a really forward-focused team right now,” Riley said. “Things can get pretty fun from here if you really get on a run. This team is capable of that. They know it. We know it.”

Considering the stakes, it’s an apt enough metaphor. Any hope of USC staying alive in the College Football Playoff conversation hinges on leaving Lincoln, Neb., with a win. And that will, at the very least, require presenting a much better product than before the bye, when USC’s defense gave up over 300 yards on the ground to Notre Dame.

That loss has left a notably bitter taste with the Trojans — especially on defense. This week, sophomore linebacker Jadyn Walker said he felt the group “didn’t come out ready to play” and wasn’t “hungry” enough against Notre Dame. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said fixing USC’s issues on defense meant “having our minds right.” For the second time in three weeks, USC returned to the basics on defense during the bye in an effort to iron out those issues.

“You study for a test, you’re not gonna be nervous,” Abasiri said. “Just keep studying, I guess.”

The time for studying is over. The final exam for USC and its defense is a five-game gauntlet, starting on the road in one of the Big Ten’s more hostile environments. It’s just as much a critical test for the team as its coach, who has won just two true road games — at Purdue and at UCLA — during the last two calendar years.

“We continue to put ourselves in position to win these, and I feel like we’re doing the things on a daily basis that ultimately lead to winning,” Riley said. “We’re here and we’re pushing that notion, and I just see us getting closer and closer to that as we go on. That’s where my confidence is.”

Here’s what you should watch for when No. 23 USC (5-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) faces Nebraska (6-2, 3-2) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PDT (NBC, Peacock).

A heavy dose of Emmett Johnson

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson carries the ball against Northwestern on Oct. 25.

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson carries the ball against Northwestern on Oct. 25.

(Bonnie Ryan / Associated Press)

After watching Notre Dame’s duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price steamroll USC’s defensive front, Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen surely smells blood in the water. In Emmett Johnson, he has one of the Big Ten’s best backs, a bruising tackle-breaker who has become a bigger part of the Husker offense as the season has worn on.

He’ll no doubt be a huge part of the plans for Holgorsen, who knows Riley better than most any other coach in college football, save maybe his brother, Garrett, at Clemson. Presumably, Holgorsen will hope to keep the ball out of USC’s hands, grinding out long drives with Johnson.

“We set ourselves up the rest of the season to see a lot of run game,” safety Bishop Fitzgerald said. “This week, making sure we can stop that will be huge for us.”

Johnson isn’t easy to bring down. His 44 missed tackles forced, per PFF, ranks third in the Power Four among running backs.

“He runs really hard,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s usually always going to break the first tackle. He just plays with an edge. He’s not necessarily a blazer, but once he hits that edge, he can make a guy miss and he can get a lot of yards. So I think it’s about stopping him and surrounding the ball.”

It’s just that easy. Or maybe not.

Pick up the pressure

USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn stands on the sideline during the third quarter of a win.

USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn stands on the sideline during the third quarter of a win over Michigan State on Sept. 20.

(Luke Hales / Getty Images)

USC led the nation in sacks through the first month of the season. But in both of the Trojans’ losses, the pass rush — or lack thereof — was part of the problem. After producing 24 pressures in a win over Michigan State, USC tallied just 25 in its next three games combined.

Nebraska offers a golden opportunity to get that right. The Huskers have allowed 26 sacks, second-most in the Big Ten.

“I do think we’ve shown growth and we’ve gotten better,” defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn said of the pass rush. “But we’re not satisfied.”

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has been sharper this season than when he came to the Coliseum in 2024. His completion rate is up almost 6%, and he already has 17 passing touchdowns, compared to just 13 last season.

But Raiola has a tendency to hold the ball too long. At times, that has paid off with big plays. Other times, it has derailed drives.

“It puts a lot of pressure on us,” Lynn said. “When he’s holding onto the ball, he’s not looking to scramble. He’s keeping his eyes downfield.”

The key to counteracting that for USC? Putting as much pressure on him as possible.

Something has gotta give

USC has the top passing offense in the nation, averaging 10 yards per attempt and 326 yards per game. Nebraska boasts one of the nation’s best pass defenses, with just one opposing quarterback even reaching the 160-yard mark against them.

The Huskers have yet to face a quarterback quite like Jayden Maiava. Maiava’s first start at USC came last season against Nebraska, and he has improved leaps and bounds since — notably in his ability to avoid crippling mistakes.

That’ll be at a premium against a Nebraska defense that has swallowed up quarterbacks this season.

“He’s making a lot of right decisions right now,” Riley said this week of Maiava. “If he keeps doing that, we’re going to have a chance to win every game.”

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Heathrow flight delays stretch into second day amid cyber attack

Passengers wait at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, 21 in March 2025. The airport is dealing with a second day of flight delays after a cyber attack led to a shutdown of its passenger check-in and baggage handing system. File photo by EPA-EFE/TOLGA AKMEN

Sept. 21 (UPI) — Officials at London’s Heathrow airport are warning of a second day of delays for travelers after a cyber attack disabled a passenger check-in and baggage system.

The problem resulted in hundreds of delayed flights at several European airports on Saturday and left workers using pen and paper to check passengers in for their flights.

At least 90% of the 350 scheduled departures at Heathrow had been delayed, most by at least 15 minutes. Six had been delayed as of Sunday afternoon, according to Flightradar24, which tracks air traffic. Thirteen flights were canceled on Saturday, but most of the hundreds of scheduled flights were delayed.

A Heathrow spokesperson said the “underlying problem was outside our influence” and added that the airport brought on additional staff to help manage the situation.

“We apologize to those who have faced delays, but by working together with airlines, the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” the spokesperson said.

There was no timeline for a return to a fully functional system, officials at Brussels Airport said, where authorities asked several air carriers to cancel at least half of their flights scheduled to depart on Monday.

RTX, owner of the software provider Collins Aerospace, said it was “aware of a cyber-related disruption” to its system in some airports, and that it was working to resolve the situation, the BBC reported.

The company has not disclosed the error in its software that caused the system to shut down, or how long the outage could last, but added that the disruption would stretch into at least until Monday because Collins has yet to provide a secure software update or any recommendations on a solution, airport officials said.

Airports urged travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and recommended they arrive at their selected airport no earlier than three hours prior to long flights and at least two hours before shorter ones.

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Best hidden gem UK beach is a stretch of powdery white sand overlooking a castle

The outdoor enthusiasts at Millets have compiled a list of the UK’s best free hidden gems, based on ratings on TripAdvisor and Google, and the results are in

Sunsetting over Dunstanburgh castle on Embleton beach
This beach has been named England’s top free hidden gem(Image: Getty)

England is brimming with hidden treasures, from quaint, untouched coves in Cornwall to breathtaking woodland strolls in Lancashire. Embleton Bay, a beach tucked away in the north of England, has been crowned the country’s top free hidden gem.

This pristine and dramatic beach in Northumberland has won the hearts of visitors from far and wide. The outdoor experts at Millets have curated a list of England’s top free hidden gems, based on TripAdvisor and Google ratings, with this stunning beach clinching the top spot.

Porth Joke in Cornwall, another beautiful and untouched beach, came in second, while Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean secured third place.

The top pick of Embleton Bay is an unspoilt stretch of coastline, flanked by low dunes and overseen by the imposing ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. It’s also a stone’s throw away from the historic town of Embleton, which boasts the UK’s largest village hall.

Dunstanburgh castle on Northumberlands coast near Craster.
The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle can be seen from the beach(Image: Getty)

Dunstanburgh Castle, whose remnants are visible from the beach, was erected in the 1300s by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, a cousin and adversary of Edward II. By the late 1800s, the castle had deteriorated into ruins, and the remains of Dunstanburgh became a favourite subject for artists and poets.

And it’s not just the outdoor specialists at Millets who rave about Embleton. One visitor took to TripAdvisor to write: “Beautiful, quiet dog friendly beach with great views. A castle at one end of the bay and a pub at the far end up at Low Newton By The Sea.

“Embleton Beach is pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to be staying in a cottage overlooking the bay and walked the dog on the sands every morning, often with nobody else in sight!”.

Meanwhile, another visitor gushed: “Embleton bay is a hidden gem on the Northumberland coast. The beach is powdery white sand and the sea is clear and safe for bathing. Dunstanburgh castle makes a dramatic backdrop and it is a pleasant walk along the coast to Craster.”

Embleton Bay, near Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland
Embleton offers a peaceful escape from the crowds drawn to other beaches(Image: Getty)

A third raved: “Beautiful beach and coastline. Water very clear, and looked clean. Great views of Dunstanburgh Castle, sandy and rocks, great for dogs and children.”

One more holidaymaker remarked: “This is a delightful and peaceful beach with wonderful views of the nearby castle. Wonderful to watch the birdlife. It is very peaceful and calming, but unfortunately that depends on how many dogs are around at the time.”

Revealing the findings of their study into England’s finest free hidden treasures, Millets blog writer Sam Chadwick explained: “The UK is full of beautiful locations, and in recent years, more people have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors. We have collated our ultimate hidden gems list, revealing the highest rated hidden gems that are completely free to enjoy.”

England’s best free hidden gems:

  1. Embleton Bay, Northumberland
  2. Porth Joke, Cornwall
  3. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
  4. Kingley Vale, West Sussex
  5. Portheras Cove, Cornwall
  6. Barricane Beach, Devon
  7. Norsey Wood, Essex
  8. Lantic Bay, Cornwall
  9. Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
  10. Warburg Nature Reserve, Oxfordshire
  11. Covehithe Beach, Suffolk
  12. Cardinham Woods, Cornwall
  13. Box Hill, Surrey
  14. Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire

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Four major questions Dodgers face in the second half of the season

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It’s an age-old question when it comes to the Dodgers, cast upon a new-look roster battling familiar injury-related headaches.

In a best-case scenario, the Dodgers could end the season with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani (in some capacity) headlining their rotation.

In the bullpen, they could have Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol bolstering more heavily-used arms like Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Kirby Yates — plus wild card options in Ben Casparius, Emmet Sheehan and Jack Dreyer to serve in more versatile roles on the mound.

But best-case pitching scenarios, of course, have often been unrealized fantasies with the franchise in recent years.

Thus, down the stretch this season, the Dodgers’ top priority (after winning the division and securing a first-round bye) will be keeping their arms as healthy as possible.

That will be most important with Glasnow (who just returned from a shoulder injury) and Snell (who should be back from his own shoulder problem in the next couple of weeks). To this point, the Dodgers have signaled a reluctance to urgently pursue a starter at the trade deadline. And even if they did, the lack of available front-line options means it’d be difficult to insure against either (or, in a nightmare world) both going down again.

The Dodgers have been interested in adding to the bullpen, and might set their sights on a legitimate closer given Scott’s season-long struggles. But still, much of their depth will depend on Treinen (who is also nearing a return from a forearm injury), Kopech (who went on the 60-day IL after a knee surgery, but is still expected back this season) and Graterol (who is also still expected to return after missing the first half recovering from offseason shoulder surgery).

The Dodgers also have their fingers crossed on Roki Sasaki (hoping he can return in late August from his own shoulder issue) and haven’t yet ruled out Tony Gonsolin (though he has remained shut down since suffering an elbow injury). But for now, their primary hope is to keep Glasnow and Snell upright, and replenish an overworked bullpen with late-season reinforcements.

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UK’s most dog-friendly beach is sandy stretch with rock pools and dunes

Ranking top of the list for overall dog-friendliness is the beautiful Perranporth Beach, located on the North Cornwall stretch of coast. It offers plenty of rock pools to nose about in and waves to splash in

The beach
The beach and park are all dog friendly(Image: Getty)

Perranporth Beach in Cornwall has been named the best dog-friendly beach in the country.

In pursuit of helping dog owners finding the best beach destinations to visit ahead of the summer, the Canine Cottages team looked into beaches across the nation to reveal the UK’s most dog-friendly beaches based on factors such as traveller reviews, dog-friendly activities, car park accessibility and terrain.

Ranking top of the list for overall dog-friendliness is the beautiful Perranporth Beach, located on the North Cornwall stretch of coast. It offers plenty of rock pools to nose about in and waves to splash in. It is a haven for dogs and their seaside-loving owners, the beach is dog-friendly all year round. However, dogs are required to be on leads in July and August on the main beach area, but this still leaves a wide expanse of dunes and beach where they can be let off, particularly at low tide.

There are also plenty of dog-friendly eateries for owners to choose from, including The Watering Hole for handmade burgers and Cornish craft ales. Or, if you fancy a spot of afternoon tea, head to The Tea Room, where you’ll even find pup-friendly ice cream.

READ MORE: Abandoned UK airport step closer to reopening after TUI and Ryanair talks

Perranporth beach
Perranporth beach has been named one of the best beaches in the UK(Image: Getty )

Perranporth Beach also recorded the highest average temperatures of the beaches analysed, at 11.5 degrees, perfect for catching some Vitamin D. However, make sure you keep your pup hydrated and allow enough time in the shade when the weather heats up.

Perranporth is a favourite amongst UK beachgoers, renowned for its breathtaking Atlantic vistas, three-mile stretch of golden sands, and superb surfing conditions. It was named the sixth most beautiful beach in the UK by Iglu Cruise, based on Tripadvisor reviews, and offers a variety of activities from swimming and snorkelling to horse riding.

Haven Holidays provides family-friendly escapes at picturesque UK coastal spots, offering a plethora of activities and entertainment. One of its most frequented parks, Perran Sands, is just a stone’s throw away from Perranporth Beach.

Perran Sands boasts a wide array of activities, including two heated swimming pools and a private beach that’s perfect for surfing. There’s also an activity hub brimming with sports and leisure options to keep everyone amused.

In close proximity, you’ll discover some of Cornwall’s top attractions, such as the Eden Project, home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest, and Paradise Park, a popular wildlife sanctuary housing tropical birds and animals.

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On location, guests can relax at the Surf Bay restaurant with a traditional Cornish cream tea, savour chicken accompanied by blues music at Slim Chickens, or enjoy beverages at the Coast Sports Bar.

With various lodging options available, a four-day midweek getaway begins at £170 for a budget caravan in June. Guests can alternatively embrace glamping in a safari tent, yurt, or geodome for £119, or opt for chalet accommodation at £175.

As another option, Sykes Cottages offers an extensive range of self-catering holiday properties situated along the Heritage Coast, featuring delightful dog-friendly retreats near the shoreline.

For travellers seeking luxury treatment, the renowned Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa serves as an exclusive adults-only sanctuary beside the ocean. Located just 20 minutes down the coast, visitors have described it as “an amazing place” in a “beautiful location.”

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Sign up to the Money Saving Club for tips to stretch your summer holidays budget

The Money Saving Club team are on hand to bring you all the latest news, tips and deals that can help parents stretch their budget for the summer holidays

Girl looking at coins
There are plenty of easy tricks to help you stretch that budget this summer(Image: Getty)

The school summer holidays are nearly upon us, and while that means plenty of quality time with the kids, it also means having to come up with plenty of ways to enjoy that quality time with the kids.

Any parent will know the pressure of trying to navigate hiked up prices during the holidays, trying to find days out, alternatives for rainy days and generally trying to keep the kids entertained for six to seven weeks.

As well as having to get creative, that all comes with plenty of costs and it can feel like your summer budget quickly disappears even if you’re minding the pennies and trying to limit how often you end up eating out or dashing to the cinema when the British weather doesn’t play nicely.

That’s where the Money Saving Club can step in to help. The dedicated team seek out all of the best deals, money-saving tricks and latest news that they hand pick and send in a weekly newsletter, to help you stretch that holiday budget.

Family in the pool
There’s something for everyone with a holiday planned this summer(Image: Getty Images)

It’s free and easy to sign up – simply click here, enter your email address and then select the topics that are most relevant for you. Each week you’ll receive an email direct in your inbox with a round-up of the latest news and tips that have caught the team’s eye, whether it’s a warning from an expert over changes to government schemes, or an easy trick a fellow mum or dad has discovered that has been a game-changer for their household bills.

Although you can choose from a wide array of topics, this summer you may want to closely follow their round-up of all the latest travel and shopping news, especially if you’re trying to stick to a tighter budget due to the cost of living.

The Money Saving Club team round-up the latest news and tips they think you’ll love, with something for everyone whether you’re opting for a staycation or taking the kids abroad.

We’re talking discounted days out, free activities for the families, and simple money-saving hacks shared by fellow parents. If you’re heading abroad, they offer plenty of tips including how to cut costs on holidays and swerve fines or hidden costs, how to save before you head abroad and even how to get the best value for your money while you’re away.

Of course alongside that there are plenty of day-to-day tips and tricks including cheap and cheerful ways to stay cool in those pesky heatwaves, or the latest money news and deadlines you’ll want to be aware of whether it’s to cut your bills or sign up to a government scheme that can help you with your finances.

You can sign up to the Money Saving Club here to receive your weekly dose of money tips direct in your inbox, with topics including travel, shopping and discounts, utilities and plenty more.

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Super League: Hull KR 34-10 Wakefield Trinity – Robins stretch lead at top

The hosts opened the scoring in the 20th minute when returning Rhyse Martin offloaded to Davies who gathered the ball well on the bounce and pirouetted away from Wakefield centre Johnstone to dive over.

Three minutes later, Wakefield were level thanks to a wonderful flowing move which ended with a pass over the top from Jake Trueman who found Johnstone to score his seventh try of the Super League season.

Wakefield then went ahead when, on the last tackle, they patiently created an overload on the right and Max Jowitt found Hall to score a try for a side which at that stage was dripping with confidence following their victory against Wigan last time out.

Hull KR put their foot down at the end of the first half when Burgess catapulted himself towards the line to score a trademark try before Mourgue nailed the extras to give the hosts a 12-10 half-time lead.

Five minutes after the break, Lewis’ opportunistic linebreak caught Wakefield out and he managed to extend his arm to score on the line and move past 500 career points.

Moments later, Davies’ superb dummy deceived three Wakefield players before diving over to score his second of the match and put the Robins in cruise control.

In the 54th minute, the all-action Lewis was then sent to the sin-bin for preventing a try-scoring opportunity when he hauled down Cameron Scott who had kicked the ball past him.

Despite being down to 12 men, Davies completed his third career hat-trick against Wakefield when he collected Hiku’s simple pass to dot down.

After returning to the field, Lewis then darted through and outrageously offloaded to Hiku to score a try underlining his true star quality.

In the closing stages, Burgess raced to the line and thought he grabbed his second which would have even bettered his first-half effort but his left knee was adjudged to have been out of bounds by the TMO.

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Far from their best, Dodgers still find a way to beat Royals

Dave Roberts has a high bar for his $400 million baseball team.

Sure, the Dodgers entered Friday winners of 13 of their 17, tied for the best overall record in baseball and leading the National League West by six games.

Sure, they already have one guaranteed All-Star in Shohei Ohtani, and seven other finalists who advanced to the second stage of fan voting that will begin next week.

But, in the eyes of their manager, “I still just don’t believe we’re playing our best baseball,” Roberts said Friday afternoon. “I don’t think we’ve played complete baseball for a stretch.”

On Friday night, the Dodgers still weren’t at their best. Dustin May managed just four innings in a four-run start. The lineup produced only four total hits. Teoscar Hernández made a defensive blunder in the outfield. And the bullpen danced in and out of trouble down the stretch.

But right now, amid this soft portion of the team’s schedule, flawed performances have often still been enough.

And in Friday’s 5-4 win over the badly slumping Kansas City Royals, that once again proved to be the case.

Shohei Ohtani hits a home run in the first inning against the Royals on Friday.

Shohei Ohtani hits a home run in the first inning against the Royals on Friday.

(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

For all the Dodgers’ shortcomings, they did just enough to compensate in a series opener at Kauffman Stadium.

May gave up a run in the first after letting three straight batters reach with two outs, but not before Ohtani opened the scoring with a leadoff blast.

Hernández let a hard-hit but catchable line drive get over his head in right field in the third, fueling a three-run Royals rally that was punctuated by Bobby Witt Jr.’s two-run blast. But that was sandwiched by a two-run homer from Max Muncy in the second, and a game-tying triple from Ohtani in the fifth.

Mookie Betts eventually put the Dodgers in front one at bat after Ohtani’s triple, singling him home to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead.

And though May’s high pitch count forced him to exit early against the Royals (38-44), a worn-down Dodgers bullpen patched together five scoreless frames, escaping their biggest jam in the ninth when closer Tanner Scott induced a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was still enough to move the Dodgers into sole possession of the best record in the majors at 52-31.

That extended stretch of dominance is still eluding them. But for now, they’re finding ways to win anyway.

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Newsom’s final stretch as governor may be a bumpy ride

When the top Democratic candidates for governor took the stage at a labor forum last week, the digs at Gov. Gavin Newsom were subtle. The message, however, was clear. Newsom’s home stretch as California governor may be a bumpy ride.

Newsom hopes to end his time as governor in an air of accomplishment and acclaim, which would elevate his political legacy and prospects in a potential presidential run. But the Democrats running to replace him have a much different agenda.

“Lots of voters think things are not going well in California right now. So if you’re running for governor, you have to run as a change candidate. You have to run as ‘I’m going to shake things up,’ ” said political scientist Eric Schickler, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) at UC Berkeley. “In doing that, you’re at least implicitly criticizing the current governor, right?”

Not only must Newsom swim against that tide until his final term as governor ends in less than two years, he’s being buffeted by the perception that he’s moving rightward to broaden his national appeal in preparation for the 2028 presidential race.

A new IGS poll, co-sponsored by the L.A. Times, earlier this month found that California registered voters by a more than two-to-one margin believe Newsom is more focused on boosting his presidential ambitions than on fixing the problems in his own state.

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Newsom faced criticism for showcasing conservative activists on his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” especially when he agreed with Trump loyalist Charlie Kirk that it was “unfair” for trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

But he also pushed back against Kirk and others during the interviews. He said from the outset that he intended to engage with people on the opposite side of the political spectrum, but that did not blunt the criticism he received. Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), the chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said he was “profoundly sickened and frustrated” by Newsom’s remarks about trans athletes.

The Democratic governor took heat last week from progressives for his proposed budget cuts to close a $12-billion deficit, including cuts to free healthcare for eligible undocumented immigrants. Sociologist G. Cristina Mora, also co-director of Berkeley’s IGS, said it’s not surprising “knives are going to be out” during tough budget times, but there’s more to Newsom’s current predicament.

“The big problem for Newsom is that most people see him as focused outside of California at a dire time,” Mora said. “So all his moves that he’s making, whether this is truly him being more educated and coming to the middle, are seen through that lens.”

Not-so-friendly fire

Though Newsom’s name was not uttered when seven of the Democratic candidates for California governor took the stage last week in Sacramento, his presence was certainly felt.

The event was held by the California Federation of Labor Unions and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, so there was ample praise for California workers and plenty of epithets hurled at President Trump.

And a healthy dose of dissatisfaction about the tough economic times facing many Californians. Notably, Newsom had just a couple of weeks before he celebrated California’s rank as the fourth-largest economy in the world; for years he has boasted of the state’s innovative and thriving economy.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa didn’t appear that impressed, saying California also has the highest cost of living in the nation.

“We love to say we’re the fourth-largest economy in the United States, what we don’t say is we have the highest effective poverty rate,” Villaraigosa said to a hotel ballroom packed with union leaders. “So let’s deal with the issues that are facing us here in California.”

Former Controller Betty Yee offered a similar assessment.

“In California, we are the fourth-largest economy in the world, but when you peel that back, how’s that working for everybody?” she asked.

Six of the seven Democratic candidates said they would support providing state unemployment benefits to striking workers. Villaraigosa was the sole candidate who expressed reservations. Newsom vetoed a bill in 2023 that would have provided such coverage, saying it would make the state’s unemployment trust fund “vulnerable to insolvency.”

Every candidate present vowed to support regulating how employers use artificial intelligence in the workplace, technology that labor leaders fear, if unchecked, would put people out of work. Newsom has signed legislation restricting aspects of AI, but he has also said he wants to preserve California’s role at the forefront of technology.

Afterward, Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, complained that labor leaders “can’t even get a conversation out of Gavin Newsom” about regulating AI.

Barbs from labor aren’t a new experience for Newsom. Union leaders have at times clashed with the ambitious governor over legislation he opposed that supported pro-union labor agreements with developers and regulating Big Tech.

Gubernatorial candidates taking direct or indirect shots at the incumbent, even those who belong to the same party, also is nothing new. During a candidate debate in 2018, Newsom took a subtle jab at then-Gov. Jerry Brown for the state’s response to the homelessness crisis.

“What lacks is leadership in this state,” Newsom said.

To this day, Newsom says he is the only California governor to launch a major state effort to address the crisis.

Knives out during tough budget times

Newsom also faces the difficult task of having to wrestle with an additional $12-billion state budget shortfall next year, a deficit caused mostly by state overspending Newsom says is being exacerbated by falling tax revenues due to Trump’s on-again-off-again federal tariff policies.

The governor’s proposed cuts drew criticism from some of his most progressive allies and again stirred up rumblings that he was trying to recast himself as a moderate.

To save money, Newsom proposed scaling back his policy to provide free healthcare coverage to all low-income undocumented immigrants. The governor’s budget also proposes to siphon off $1.3 billion in funding from Proposition 35, a measure voters approved in November that dedicated the revenue from a tax on managed care organizations to primarily pay for increases to Medi-Cal provider rates.

Jodi Hicks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, called the governor’s proposed budget cuts “cruel.”

Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), co-chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, said members would oppose Newsom’s Medi-Cal cuts, and rallies against Newsom’s proposal are planned at the Capitol this week.

During his budget news conference on Wednesday, Newsom also took aim at California’s cities and counties, blasting them for not doing enough to address the state’s homelessness crisis. Newsom also renewed his call for cities and counties to ban homeless encampments.

“It is not the state of California that remains the biggest impediment,” Newsom said. “The obstacle remains at the local level.”

Carolyn Coleman, executive director of the League of California Cities, returned fire, saying Newsom’s proposed budget “failed to invest” adequately in efforts by cities to not only alleviate homelessness, but also improve public safety and address climate change.

The Onion, the satirical website that delights in needling politicians in faux news stories, didn’t miss the opportunity to send a zinger Newsom’s way at the end of last week.

Under the headline “Gavin Newsom Sits Down For Podcast With Serial Killer Who Targets Homeless,” the fake article mocks both the governor’s podcast and efforts to address homelessness and purports that Newsom asked the killer what Democrats could learn from his tactics.

What else you should be reading

The must-read: For Kamala Harris, it’s not just whether to run for California governor. It’s why
The deep dive: Europe’s free-speech problem
The L.A. Times Special: When the deportation of an illegal immigrant united L.A. to bring him back


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