USC Faces Budget Cuts, Trump Pressures Russia, Trump Epstein Backlash, Courts Block Immigration Raids, Nextdoor’s AI Turnaround, & SpaceX Orbital Drug Research

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L.A. Times Studios

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, The Times, California

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🗓️ 16 July 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

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Summary

USC warns of major layoffs and pay adjustments to close a $200 million deficit, citing falling federal support and international enrollment, while staff blame costly campus projects. Meanwhile, President Trump sends more U.S. weapons to Ukraine and gives Moscow 50 days to agree to peace or face new sanctions. Trump faces backlash from his base over conspiracy theories demanding an Epstein list the DOJ says doesn’t exist. Courts block his immigration raids in Southern California, ruling agents can’t target people by race or language alone. Meanwhile, Nextdoor struggles to revive its app with AI and news partnerships after stock losses, and SpaceX plans to use Starship for in-orbit drug research. Together, these stories show political turmoil and bold business moves shaping headlines.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an LA Times Studios podcast.
0:09.0	Hi, I'm Faith Pino from LA Times Studios. Here are some of today's headlines from the Los Angeles Times.
0:16.9	University of Southern California is facing a massive budget crisis.
0:21.6	Daniel Miller reports the university's deficit has surged past $200 million, with layoffs and cuts ahead.
0:28.6	Interim President Biyang Su Kim says USC is losing federal support, facing drops in international
0:35.6	student enrollment while expenses keep rising.
0:38.3	Recent hiring freezes weren't enough.
0:40.3	Now USC will sell unused properties and adjust pay for top earners to stay afloat.
0:46.3	The budget hit comes as the Trump administration continues to cut research funding,
0:50.3	rocking universities nationwide.
0:53.3	Some staff blame USC's own costly projects for adding
0:56.5	to the crunch. And as uncertainty grows, employees say morale on campus is at an all-time low.
1:04.1	President Trump is sending more U.S. weapons to Ukraine. Vasilysa Stepanenko and Lauren Cook
1:10.3	say the move comes as Russia ramps up attacks and pushes to break through Ukraine. Vasilisa Stepanenko and Lorne Cook say the move comes as Russia ramps up attacks and
1:13.6	pushes to break through Ukrainian lines this summer.
1:16.6	Ukraine's President Zelensky thanked Trump for the promise of more Patriot missiles
1:21.6	and defense support, but the details and timing remain unclear.
1:25.6	Trump also warned Moscow it has 50 days to reach a peace
1:29.3	seal or face severe sanctions. Some European leaders call that delay too long, giving Putin until
1:36.1	early September to gain ground. And in Kiev, some hope more U.S. weapons will speed up the
1:41.9	end of the war. But others fear that time is running out.
1:46.7	Donald Trump is facing a political storm from within his own base.
	...

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