Consumer Watchdog

Politico – CONSUMER WATCHDOG WOOFS

By Dustin Gardiner (opens in new tab) and Blake Jones (opens in new tab), POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2025/10/23/federal-agents-assemble-across-the-bay-00619516?nname=california-playbook&nid=00000150-384f-da43-aff2-bf7fd35a0000&nrid=7c1e98f8-1e02-4590-8f98-9bfefd9130cd Consumer Watchdog produced a podcast featuring accounts of people…

Los Angeles Times – California insurers set to charge homeowners for L.A. County fire costs

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-10-22/california-insurers-given-ok-to-charge-homeowners-statewide-for-l-a-county-fire-costs Residential policyholders across California could be paying several hundred million dollars to help cover the…

KCAL Mornings: CA Homeowners Face Surcharges To Help Recoup Costs From January Wildfires

The Mercury News – As wildfires scorch California, should insurers divest from fossil fuels?

By Ethan Varian, MERCURY NEWS As catastrophic wildfires spur insurance companies to raise homeowner premiums and drop thousands of policyholders across California,…

Inside EPA – Newsom Signs EJ-Opposed Bill To Develop CO2 Pipeline Regulations

By Curt Barry, INSIDE EPA https://insideepa.com/daily-news/newsom-signs-ej-opposed-bill-develop-co2-pipeline-regulations#:~:text=Gavin%20Newsom%20(D)%20has%20signed,Materials%20Safety%20Administration%20(PHMSA). California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed into law a bill requiring the State Fire Marshall…

Stateline – The West’s power grid could be stitched together — if red and blue states buy in

By Alex Brown, STATELINE https://stateline.org/2025/10/13/the-wests-power-grid-could-be-stitched-together-if-red-and-blue-states-buy-in For years, Western leaders have debated the creation of a regional energy market: a coordinated grid to…

Los Angeles Times – Insurance commissioner proposes controversial changes to landmark insurance law

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES One hallmark of the 1988 ballot measure that governs California’s auto and home insurance code allows the…

Sacramento Business Journal – Last-resort homeowners insurance in California eyes major price increase for April

By Mark Anderson, SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2025/10/11/fair-insurance-plan-seeks-rate-increase.html The California FAIR Plan, the homeowners insurance of last resort, is seeking an average 35.8%…

Politico – Katie Porter’s spiral and a $12M ad buy spark chatter of a Tom Steyer comeback

The billionaire megadonor’s ad buy has fueled a fresh round of speculation about his political prospects. By Jeremy White, POLITICO https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/10/tom-steyer-ad-buy-katie-porter-stumble-stir-comeback-talk-pro-00601059 Tom…

LAW360 – Trump Tariffs Unconstitutional, Watchdog Tells Justices

By Dylan Moroses, LAW360 https://www.law360.com/articles/2397413?ta_id=1324219&utm_source=targeted-alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=case-article-alert# Law360 (October 8, 2025, 11:47 PM EDT) — Either President Donald Trump doesn’t have authority to impose…

CalMatters – Federal oversight is disappearing as multiple refineries explode. Who’s in charge now?

By Alejandro Lazo, CALMATTERS An explosion rattled windows across nearby neighborhoods. Orange columns of flame shot like blowtorches out of stacks and…

Insurance News Net – Calif. wildfire crisis sparks push for public insurance model

By Doug Bailey, INSURANCE NEWS NET As wildfires continue to drive up homeowners’ insurance premiums and prompt policy cancellations in California, a new…

Orange County Register – Map: See where California FAIR Plan seeks home insurance rate hikes

By Ethan Varian, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER The FAIR Plan, California’s last-resort insurance program for homeowners needing fire coverage, is seeking approval for…

Los Angeles Times – California’s home insurer of last resort seeks 36% rate hike following January fires

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES The California FAIR Plan, the state’s home insurer of last resort, is seeking an average 35.8%…

Politico – Refinery fire puts pressure on California gas prices, oil politics

By Noah Austin, POLITICO https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/10/refinery-fire-puts-pressure-on-california-gas-prices-oil-politics-00593806?site=pro&prod=alert&prodname=alertmail&linktype=headline&source=email SACRAMENTO, California — The fire Thursday night at California’s second-largest oil refinery spiked wholesale fuel prices and…

ABC7 – Safari, limo, 5-star resorts: CA insurance boss’ taxpayer-funded travel, security raise questions

By Stephanie Sierra and Olivia Gonzales, ABC7 https://abc7news.com/post/ca-insurance-commissioner-ricardo-laras-taxpayer-funded-trips-include-safari-visit-limo-service-5-star-resorts/17905685/?utm_campaign=trueanthem_manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=instagram SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The Fair Political Practices Commission is assessing a state complaint into California’s…

Los Angeles Times – Gov. Newsom orders study of California’s ailing utility and insurance markets

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES Gov. Gavin Newsom called Tuesday for a report that will study whether to limit the liabilities…

The Sacramento Bee – Gavin Newsom calls for CA homeowner insurance recommendations in executive order

By Stephanie Hobbs, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article312330753.html Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday asked the Department of Insurance to make recommendations about California’s troubled…