Consumer Watchdog

Bloomberg – Billionaire ‘Class Traitor’ Steyer Wants to Tax His Fellow Rich

By Eliyahu Kamisher , BLOOMBERG https://news.bloomberglaw.com/california-brief/billionaire-steyer-infuriates-the-rich-with-his-anti-rich-pitch?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=CZNW&utm_campaign=0000019e-6e99-d606-ab9f-ffdbadf30003 Tom Steyer rolled into working-class East San Jose in a pale blue bus, a billionaire on…

Bakersfield Californian – Consumer advocacy group criticizes surge in Kern County oil permits

By John Cox, BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN https://www.bakersfield.com/news/consumer-advocacy-group-criticizes-surge-in-kern-county-oil-permits/article_109c3f9c-0a12-47b5-8342-b185b7a4edcb.html Environmental groups spoke up in opposition Wednesday to Kern County’s approval this year of hundreds of…

USA Today – Garden Grove Evacuees, It’s Time to Start Contacting Your Insurance

By Paris Barraza, USA TODAY https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/california/2026/05/26/insurance-policy-garden-grove-chemical-spill/90265322007 Residents impacted by the ongoing threat of a hazardous chemical in Orange County, California, may be…

Daily Journal – Federal proposal backed by Uber could dramatically limit lawsuits over driver crashes and assaults

A late-night House committee vote advanced legislation that would sharply restrict when Uber and other rideshare companies can be held liable for…

KBFX (FOX): Fong Backs Uber Immunity Amendment

Los Angeles Times – ‘Facing an existential threat’: How uber is navigating clashes with trial attorneys, assault lawsuits and competition

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES Eighteen years ago, two computer engineers said to be frustrated by their experience ordering a taxi…

Insurance Business – Uber insurance reserves face scrutiny over robotaxi plans

Consumer Watchdog questions where the money could go By Mav Rodriguez, INSURANCE BUSINESS https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/auto-motor/uber-insurance-reserves-face-scrutiny-over-robotaxi-plans-576585.aspx A new Consumer Watchdog report is raising questions about…

Orange County Register – FAIR Plan rates going up 29.1% in late 2026

By Pat Maio, Orange County Register https://www.ocregister.com/2026/05/20/california-fair-plan-rates-going-up-29-in-late-2026 California’s home insurance of last resort, the FAIR Plan, is raising rates 29.1% for certain…

CalMatters – Insurance commissioner candidates float bigger California role

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/05/california-insurance-candidates-public-options A few of the candidates vying to be California’s next insurance commissioner want to address the insurance…

California Post – California wildfire survivor rips insurers, state government for failing victims’ recovery

By Titus Wu, CALIFORNIA POST https://nypost.com/2026/05/13/us-news/california-wildfire-survivor-rips-insurers-state-government-for-failing-victims-recovery A survivor of the devastating Eaton Fire blasted state government for a lack of oversight in ensuring insurance firms…

Politico – Becerra’s fire insurance plan draws heat

By  CAMILLE VON KAENEL, POLITICO  https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2026/05/11/xavier-becerra-fire-insurance-ca-governors-race-00915501 INSURE THIS: Never before have California’s wildfire insurance problems come up so frequently on the gubernatorial campaign trail.…

Sacramento Bee – Uber spends big on push to limit car crash lawsuits, kneecap trial attorneys

By Lia Russell and Andrew Graham, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article315629343.html The ads from both sides describe an unscrupulous, moneyed and ruthless entity preying…

The San Francisco Standard – Inside Uber’s $77 million plan to rewrite the California constitution

The rideshare giant’s ballot proposition could upend the legal industry. Critics call it an “inhumane” attempt at corporate greed. By Anya Schultz, THE…

KQED – Officials Say Shoring Up California’s Oil Supply Will Come ‘At a Price’

By Ella Jackson, KQED https://www.kqed.org/news/12082454/officials-say-shoring-up-californias-oil-supply-will-come-at-a-price While officials are not concerned about an immediate oil shortfall, California consumers are likely to see another price hike…

USA TODAY – Takeaways from the latest California governor debate

Paris Barraza, USA TODAY https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/california/2026/05/06/takeaways-from-california-governor-debate-nbc-telemundo/89968078007 California’s governor’s race isn’t letting up. Another debate arrived just a day after leading candidates squabbled over health…

CBS News – California’s insurance commissioner race emerges as key contest in primary election, professor say

By John Ramos, CBS https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/california-primary-election-insurance-commissioner-2026 Monday is the deadline for counties to mail out their ballots and with only about a month until…

New York Times – California Seeks ‘Historic’ Fine Against State Farm: Just $2 Million

Regulators say the penalty is the highest ever sought, but a cap on each violation would soften the blow for California’s largest…

Los Angeles Daily News – California seeks up to $4 million from State Farm over alleged mishandling of wildfire claims

By Amancai Biraben, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS https://www.dailynews.com/2026/05/04/california-seeks-up-to-4-million-from-state-farm-over-alleged-mishandling-of-wildfire-claims The state Department of Insurance is seeking as much as $4 million in penalties…