Trump-Proofing: Good Policy or Good Politics?

California has long been a thorn in the side of Donald Trump, but Governor Gavin Newsom’s push to “Trump-proof” the state seems to take resistance to an entirely new level. Following the 2024 election, Governor Newsom announced that California would “seek to work with the incoming president,” but “stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”

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For Incarcerated Individuals, a Natural Disaster Could Mean a Death Sentence

Your small town is about to be hit by a hurricane, and you’re in the middle of an evacuation zone. With only days’ notice, your family is packing up their belongings and getting ready to flee the area for safety. You’re told that if you don’t leave, you’ll die — but as your friends and loved ones go, you remain in place. As an inmate, you cannot make that decision for yourself.

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California's AI Landscape: Laws, Jobs, and Environmental Challenges

As technology advances, artificial intelligence has moved from niche tools to everyday essentials, now just a tap away on your screen. From AI assistants like ChatGPT to AI-driven features embedded in Google’s search results, these technologies are no longer reserved for tech experts. They're reshaping how we work, learn, and connect, influencing everything from writing emails to planning meals.

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Are Robots Taking Over? The Fight For Our Future Against Artificial Intelligence

Have we finally reached the time where our world resembles movies? Where robots take over the world and destroy the human race, like in The Terminator and M3gan? No, I do not think we have reached that point just yet. We can take comfort in the fact that these movies are still far away from being representative of the near future.

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“Because We Are Final”: Brown v. Board of Education and the Enforceability of Supreme Court Decisions

The late Justice Antonin Scalia, testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011, recounted the experiences he had with high school, college, and law students interested in the law. “I ask them, what do you think is the reason that America is such a free country? What is it in our Constitution that makes us what we are?”

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Lina Khan’s Corporate Takedown

I know it, you know it. Corporations suck. They get to do whatever they want, with no repercussions. It feels like nobody in our government cares to fight back against them, that everyone in the federal branch is just as beholden to special interests as our House Representatives or Senators. But what if I told you that there was one person fighting for the rights of consumers, and the American working and middle classes?

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The Missing Case of Checks and Balances: The California Veto Override

Like many young people who grew up in California, I view my state as a bastion of liberal progress and a place where democracy is truly at work. In many ways, this is true. California has been a leader in climate adaptation strategies, campaign finance reform, and many other issues I am passionate about. However, recent history has shown that rather than an obstructionist opposition party, an obstructionist governor has wreaked havoc on the California progressive agenda.

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TRUTH: And How it Impacted Our Election

For several months, a shadowy figure loomed before us. It was shrouded in mystery and fear, its form incapable of being divined by polls or by guesswork, and it crept closer with every passing day. This figure was, of course, none other than the 2024 election — an American spectacle that many argued would decide not only the fate of our democracy but also how we perceive truth.

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COVID-19 and the Death of Public Health

Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to now, the mishandling of public health policy and messaging has led to a complete breakdown of public health in the United States. From small inefficiencies to large-scale negligence, the government and its public health institutions have failed the American people, which has led to a complete distortion of how we define illness as a society.

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Addressing Anti-Public Education Policies: How Does the Stigma Surrounding Culturally Responsive Pedagogies Contribute to Disparities Americans Already Face?

As the United States suffers an attack on the public education system by Republican policymakers, which has been a contributing factor to the widespread educator shortage, it is imperative that legislators who run on campaigns of diversity, equity, and inclusion take initiative to ensure that students enrolled in K-12 schooling receive an education that effectively utilizes culturally responsive pedagogies that focus on teaching students how to understand topics that have been heavily politicized — like race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

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As Homelessness Grows, Its Racial Undertones Become Harder to Ignore

As a poster child of the declining liberal city, San Francisco has gained quite a reputation for itself. Most notably, regarding its growing homelessness encampments; the city has been in the spotlight with talk of rampant crime rates, abandoned buildings, and the infamous "poop map." Yet down the blocks of San Francisco’s tent-lined streets stand luxury apartments. The characterization of this issue is full of contradictions — as these newly developed units await incoming residents, the number of those on the street continues to grow.

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Refugee Roulette: Preference Over People’s Lives

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February of this year sparked solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people across the international community. In the United States, President Biden described the Ukrainian people during the State of the Union address as a fearlessly strong group fighting an illegitimate aggressor. On a state-wide front, California has taken initiative in supporting both Ukraine and Ukrainian migrants directly.

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A Decaying Dream: The Death of the American Middle Class

Picture this: you’re at Disneyland. As you walk into the park, you are struck by a variety of sensations. The smell of cinnamon and pineapple — foreshadowing churros and DoleWhip — wafts through the air. The sounds of laughter and excitement surround you; everyone is eager to find the rides they've been looking forward to. In the distance, you can see costumed characters roaming Main Street, and you feel hopeful, secure in the knowledge that you’re about to have a great day.

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