Daily Business Report: Thursday, March 20th, 2025
New Poll Finds Gov. Newsom’s Popularity Fell: 26% Say it Harmed their Perception of Gov.
By Evan Symon | The California Globe
According to a recently released Capitol Weekly poll, Governor Gavin Newsom’s new podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom” only made 13% of voters have an improved perception of the Governor, with a huge 26% saying that it harmed their perception of Newsom.
Overall, the poll found that Newsom’s new poll was hurting him rather than helping him. In total, 54% of Californians said that they at least heard about the podcast, with 46% not even knowing about it. Out of all respondents, only one-half of 1% said that they listened to it.
Other questions dealt with how respondents felt about Newsom’s response to a discussion with Turning Point USA co-founder, talk radio host, and activist Charlie Kirk over trans athletes. During the discussion in the podcast, Newsom stunned many by saying that it was “deeply unfair” to have trans athletes competing against women in sports. His response led to many prominent Democrats denouncing his response and many LGBT groups pulling their support of him.
Southern California Teachers Stand Up to Gender Policies Despite Retaliation
By Dylan Morgan | The Epoch Times
Southern California middle school teachers Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West have stood up to new gender policies that required teachers to keep students’ gender transitions a secret from others, including their parents.
The policies rolled out by Escondido Union School District (EUSD) in late 2021 also required teachers to address transgender students by their preferred names and pronouns, and allowed students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity rather than their sex.
“We both believe that God created two sexes, male and female, and the relationship between parents and children was created by God with the intent for parents to raise and guide their children,” West told The Epoch Times. “We do not want to take the place of the parents.”
County’s Top Behavioral Health Official Resigns
by Lisa Halverstadt | Voice of San Diego
San Diego County’s top behavioral health official is resigning amid significant uncertainty around federal funding and the rollout of a slew of major initiatives.
Luke Bergmann, who has served as the county’s behavioral health services director for about six years, notified the county he “is leaving county service,” a county spokesperson confirmed late Tuesday.
Spokesperson Tammy Glenn did not immediately say when Bergmann revealed he would move on or when he would officially depart his post.
Bergmann’s resignation comes just two weeks after he appeared at a special Board of Supervisors meeting detailing plans to expand the county’s addiction treatment system and the prospect of drastic federal Medicaid cuts that he cautioned would affect all behavioral health programs in the county. Bergmann had already expected a projected county budget shortfall for next year and changes tied to state Proposition 1, passed by voters last March, to force tough calls.
