What the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Means for California

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

President Trump on Friday signed into law a massive tax and spending package: the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which delivers sweeping tax breaks for the wealthy while slashing social safety net programs. It cuts nearly $30 billion in Medicaid funding to California, defunds wildfire prevention and, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, puts hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state at risk. The legislation also directs at least $170 billion to immigration detention and border security. Meanwhile, deficit watchers worry about its fiscal impacts. We’ll break down what this bill means for healthcare, immigration, education and everyday Californians like you. Guests: Jessica Roy, personal finance columnist, San Francisco Chronicle David Lightman, chief congressional correspondent, McClatchy Andrea Castillo, staff writer covering immigration, LA Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for KQED Podcasts comes from the Exploratorium.
0:04.6	Leap into the wild new world of artificial intelligence this summer
0:07.9	at the all-new All-Ages exhibition, Adventures in AI.
0:12.5	Now through September 14th at Pier 15.
0:15.8	Tickets at Exploratorium.edu slash AI.
0:20.1	Everything is getting more expensive, rent, groceries, insurance, and because California's
0:25.8	excessive ride share insurance laws attract litigation abused by billboard lawyers, costs are going
0:31.4	up for everyone.
0:33.3	Bogus claims and inflated settlements drive up state-required insurance costs, which make up nearly a third of your Uber ride fare.
0:41.3	Join our fight to protect your access to affordable rides.
0:45.1	Go to uber.com for slash fare-dash insurance to learn more.
0:51.1	From KQED.
1:08.5	Yeah. From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Mina Kim. Coming up on forum, if you or a family member is on
1:14.7	Medi-Cal, relying on CalFresh to put food on the table, or applying for student loans, you might
1:20.4	be wondering how President Trump's so-called Big Beautiful Bill will affect you. Signed into law
1:26.3	last Friday, it cuts health care, food assistance,
1:29.4	and other programs, as it gives billions to border enforcement and tax cuts that will benefit
1:34.6	the highest income Americans. So what does it all mean for California? We'll talk to journalists
1:39.7	tracking the new law's impact and hear your questions and stories. Forum is next.
1:55.5	Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
1:58.0	Now that President Trump's massive package of tax breaks and spending cuts has been
2:02.5	signed into law as of the 4th of July, reporters this hour will walk us through what's in it
	...

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