Newsom Insurance Plan Blasted

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

As we bid farewell to May, there's a whirlwind of events unfolding across California and the nation. Can you believe the year is already halfway through?

Let's dive into the day's news, and here's to a joyful and safe start to your June weekend.

Thank you for being a part of this growing community.

Netter News Team

CONSUMER GROUP BLASTS NEWSOM’S INSURANCE PLAN

Consumer watchdog groups are sounding the alarm: insurance costs in California could soar under a new plan unveiled this week by Governor Gavin Newsom.

What We Know

• Newsom argues that allowing insurance companies to hike rates more swiftly is necessary to keep them from abandoning the state, calling it a move to "cut red tape."

• The changes will impact all types of insurance. The proposed bill would allow insurance companies to raise rates more quickly, with less time for public review.

 Under Governor Newsom's plan:

• State insurance officials would have only 60 days to review and approve proposed rate hikes from insurance companies.

• Currently, the review process can take up to two years

• The governor is pushing for state lawmakers to incorporate his insurance plan into the overall state budget bill.

Consumer watchdog groups caution that:

• The proposal lacks guarantees for insurers to provide more coverage or offer new policies.

• It reduces oversight, making it easier for insurance companies to increase prices.

• The proposal is trying to circumvent Prop 103 passed by taxpayers in 1988 which gave an elected insurance commissioner the authority to review and approve insurer rate hikes.

• It could cost consumers billions in the long run

What’s Next

• The governor is attempting to add this to his state budget plan, a common tactic among lawmakers to avoid the level of scrutiny that other bills typically receive.

• The state budget must be approved by June 15.

POLITICS, ECONOMY, EDUCATION & SCIENCE

TRUMP TOP 4 TAKEAWAYS

You probably heard by now that former President Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges in his criminal trial. Let’s look at the top four questions everyone was talking about on both cable news and at my kid’s Little League game yesterday.

WILL TRUMP GO TO JAIL?

• This is unclear, Mr. Trump was convicted on 34 criminal counts, which means he could face a maximum of four years in prison for each count or maybe just probation and fines.

• The Judge will determine the punishment and he has set a July 11 hearing for the sentencing.

CAN MR. TRUMP STAY IN THE 2024 RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE?

• Yes, felons can run. The only requirement is that you must be 35 years old and be born in the US.

CAN TRUMP VOTE?:

• Yes, but it’s a little complicated and it could change if Mr. Trump is sentenced to prison. Each state makes its own rules, you can read more here.

WILL TRUMP APPEAL THE VERDICT?

• Yes, Mr. Trump’s team plans to do this, but it cannot be appealed until after the sentencing.

• The defense believes it was a heavily democratic jury and also the judge was biased because he gave a political donation to Biden’s campaign in 2020.

OAKLAND MAYOR RECALL EFFORT MOVES FORWARD

In the Bay Area, fed-up residents are shaking up Oakland's political scene, claiming they've secured enough signatures to launch a recall against Mayor Sheng Thao.

What We Know

• Since January, the group has reportedly amassed 30,000 unique signatures, which they plan to present to the election committee later this year.

• They say that’s 5,000 more than what’s required.

How We Got Here

This bold move stems from growing frustration among residents, who hold Thao accountable for a string of city woes—from the departure of the Oakland A's to escalating crime rates and shuttered businesses.

COWORKER SPEAKS OUT: ACTOR JOHNNY WACTOR DIED IN MY ARMS

There is still no update from the LAPD on the search for the three men who murdered popular actor Johnny Wactor in downtown Los Angeles. However, a coworker has now spoken out on Instagram, sharing that the 37-year-old died in his arms, saying, "My only peace is that I was with him and this didn’t happen to him alone." You can read the heartbreaking tribute here:

BRAIN IMPLANT RACE

Researchers at UC San Francisco are also in the race to develop brain implants. They have created technology that utilizes artificial intelligence to help a stroke survivor communicate in English and Spanish.

What We Know

• 📌The bilingual implant was used on a stroke patient who lost his ability to speak at age 20.

• 📌He didn’t learn English until after his stroke.

• 📌The implant allowed the patient, now 39, to speak in both Spanish and English and switch between the languages seamlessly.

• 📌The AI implant was trained to recognize the patient’s brain patterns when switching between the two languages

• 📌The system determined the intended language 88% of the time and the correct sentences 75% of the time

• 📌This is an incredible breakthrough because it shows AI’s ability to interpret brainwaves, potentially unlocking the brain’s ability to learn beyond illness and injury.

HOT TAKES

🚨 ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS STANDOFF: Police and the California Highway Patrol are in a standoff with anti-Israel protesters at UC Santa Cruz. Officers have shut down the roadways at the university entrances, where protesters had been camped out since last week.

🚨SECRETARY MUSK: If Mr. Trump wins reelection, Mr. Trump and Elon Musk have discussed a role for Musk in a second Trump administration. Musk’s position would likely focus on the economy and border security, most likely in an advisory role.

🚨 SUMMER OF SAVINGS: Walgreens joins Target, Amazon, and other retail giants in slashing prices, hoping to lure back shoppers and boost sales amid continued inflation worries.

🚨 CALIFORNIA EXODUS: Another new study says more Californians are moving to find a better quality of life. It ranks the Golden State as the number one state people are moving away from, ahead of New York and New Jersey.

🚨 IPHONE CLASS ACTION CLAIMS: If you owned an iPhone 7 or 7 plus between 2016-2023 and suffered audio issues, then you might be owed $349 from a class action settlement. But you need to file your claim by Monday, June 3. Details are available here.

GOLDEN STATE GLOW

🌴 A weekend edition of Golden State Glow, two must-see Cali landmarks and they are free.🌴First up, the world’s largest outdoor bookstore and it’s in Southern California. Bart’s Books in Ojai has been open since 1964. Their motto is “Everything Under the Sun” and well, it’s pretty incredible. On the shelves that face the street, you are asked to drop coins into the door’s coins box to pay for anything you take whenever the store is closed.  

🌴 And if this doesn’t scream “Golden State Glow”, well, then you are from Kentucky. This summer, why not have a cup of coffee and a front-row seat to one of the world’s most iconic views, the Golden Gate Bridge? Check out the most buzz-worthy coffee shop in California:

 🗓THIS DAY IN CALI-HISTORY

MAY 31: 

• On this day in 1964, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the New York Mets in a marathon game that lasted 23 innings. The game was locked at 6-6 until the top of the 23rd inning when Jesús Alou hit a single, sending two home, winning 8-6. ⚾

• On this day in 1968, movie star James “Jimmy” Stewart retired from the US Air Force after 27 years of service. The Academy Award Winner wasn’t just a pretty face in Hollywood. Stewart was the first major movie star to enlist in the US Army to fight in World War II. He became a decorated war veteran, flying 20 combat missions against the Nazis. 🎖️

• After the war in Southern California, Stewart continued with the United States Air Force Reserve where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General at the time of his retirement in 1968.