Friedman critical of Trump’s 100% Foreign Film Tariff
U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, Hollywood) yesterday said that President Donald Trump’s announced 100% tariff on foreign movies will wind up raising costs for consumers.
“I’m relieved President Trump recognizes that we are losing a signature American product: the domestic film & TV industry. However, his 100% tariff on foreign films will raise costs for consumers,” said Friedman. “As the representative of nearly every major producer in Hollywood and a former film producer, I know what will work, without harming consumers: a national film tax credit. It’s working in California and it will work across the country.”
Friedman said she hopes Trump will join Southern California lawmakers and the entertainment industry in pioneering a real solution that levels the playing field with international competition.
“I’ll keep meeting with lawmakers, labor unions, and industry leaders to make a national film tax credit a reality. Thousands of US jobs, and the LA economy, depend on it,” Friedman said.
Torres joins Congressional delegation to Guatemala
U.S. Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas), the first Guatemalan-born Member of the U.S. Congress, over the weekend joined a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) to Guatemala as part of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP).
The delegation’s visit advanced HDP’s mission of strengthening democratic institutions and building enduring ties between the U.S. Congress and peer legislatures abroad. Members met with the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, as well as key executive branch and defense officials, to discuss shared priorities including democratic governance, anti-corruption reforms, security, and economic development. The delegation explored avenues for the deeper U.S. Guatemala collaboration, and assessed the impact of the large-scale USAID withdrawal from the region.
“As the first Guatemalan-born Member of Congress, I take seriously the responsibility to ensure that our two nations remain strong partners in advancing democracy, accountability, and opportunity,” said Torres. “Fighting corruption and defending democracy are universal values. Transparency and accountability are the foundation of strong institutions, and they are essential to building trust between governments and the people they serve. That is true in Guatemala, and it is true here at home.”
The House Democracy Partnership works directly with partner legislatures worldwide to promote responsive, effective government and strengthen democratic practices. This week’s CODEL reflects Congress’s enduring commitment to supporting democratic allies in Latin America during significant geopolitical challenges.
Bass celebrates reopening of Casa Gateway Housing Complex For Seniors and Families
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass yesterday joined leaders from local organizations including CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), the California Community Foundation, the Department of Angels, the Change Reaction, All Hands & Hearts, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) to celebrate the reopening of Casa Gateway, a residential complex for seniors and families in Pacific Palisades.
Casa Gateway was smoke-damaged from the January wildfires and was impacted by mudslides during wet weather earlier this year.
“Today is about celebrating seniors and families returning home and restoring stability, peace of mind, and hope for a community that has been through an unimaginable year,” said Bass. “It’s about proving that when we work together – government, philanthropy, and community – we can overcome any obstacle, and we will continue working together until every family is back home. I want to thank all of the partners here today for making this milestone possible.”
Residents of Casa Gateway were displaced following the devastating Palisades Fire. CORE and their partners – including the Change Reaction, the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, All Hands & Hearts, and the Department of Angels – remediated the affected units, removed and replaced attic insulation, replaced interior hallway flooring, and painted the interior hallways and community spaces.
The City’s Emergency Management Department and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Partnerships worked to secure funding to facilitate six inches of mud removal caused by wet weather earlier this year, irrigation repairs, and external wall and tile replacement to complete the work to restore Casa Gateway.
Whitesides warns of healthcare cuts in recent fed budget
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley) on Friday joined clinicians and staff at the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center (SDFHC) in Newhall to highlight the potential harms posed by the recently passed federal budget, and how it could impact their clinic and local patients.
“I opposed the harmful budget bill in July because I knew how many of my constituents and local health care centers could be hurt by sweeping cuts to programs like Medicaid and the ACA, and my visit today underscores the urgency of protecting funding for these critical services,” said Whitesides. “Patients and providers at centers like Samuel Dixon rely on federal funding for affordable and accessible care. Instead of cuts that raise costs on working families, we should be focused on lowering health care costs and strengthening our community clinics.”
Whitesides said across the country, the recently-passed budget could raise out-of-pocket costs and put coverage for millions at risk by allowing enhanced ACA premium tax credits to expire this year. An estimated 15 million seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities could lose coverage, and millions more would see their premiums increase.
In California’s 27th District, nearly 240,698 Medicaid recipients, including almost 100,000 children and 26,000 seniors, could face disruptions in care. Local clinics and hospitals like Samuel Dixon, Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC), Antelope Valley Hospital, Palmdale Regional Hospital, and Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital utilize Medicaid funding to provide basic care to residents.
To counter the cuts, Whitesides joined the Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act, legislation that would restore protections for Medicaid and permanently extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC) program. He also cosponsored the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 to make the ACA tax credits permanent.
