Newsom Decries "Big Beautiful Betrayal" Bill, Launches Lawsuit Against Fox News

"Big Beautiful Betrayal" Bill Impacts

• 🚨 Governor Newsom is sounding the alarm on a significant healthcare bill, calling it a "big beautiful betrayal," which he states is poised to cause devastating cuts to healthcare coverage.
• 🎯 Up to 3.4 million Californians are at risk of losing health coverage under the Medicaid system (Medi-Cal), with an estimated $28.4 billion in federal funding at stake.
• 📄 The bill includes work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, with a 36-page application process that is expected to reduce coverage for an estimated 400,000 people due to administrative hurdles.
• 📈 In addition to Medicaid cuts, Covered California could see premium increases for 2 million recipients, potentially leading to an additional 600,000 people losing coverage.

Devastating Impact on Rural Communities

• 🏥 Rural communities, where up to 64% of some county populations are on Medi-Cal, are particularly vulnerable, with 16 rural hospitals already having sought $300 million in state loans due to existing distress.
• 📉 The proposed cuts are expected to lead to the closure of these already struggling hospitals, impacting thousands of healthcare sector jobs, with a UC Berkeley report estimating 217,000 jobs lost.
• 💸 The bill also includes a potential $4.3 billion penalty for California for providing care to mixed-status families, despite their significant tax contributions.

Broader Programmatic Cuts

• 🍎 The bill proposes slashing food assistance programs (CalFresh), putting 735,000 Americans at risk of losing access to nutrition programs and facing increased cost-sharing.
• 💰 Cuts also target cancer screenings, contraception, and STI testing, including a significant reduction in funding for Planned Parenthood.
• 📉 The proposed legislation is framed as a way to pay for tax cuts disproportionately benefiting the wealthy, while gutting essential services for low-income Americans.

Lawsuit Against Fox News

• ⚖️ Governor Newsom announced a defamation lawsuit against Fox News for allegedly covering up lies and intentionally omitting or editing facts to shape a malicious narrative.
• 📢 The lawsuit stems from Fox News's coverage of a phone call between Newsom and President Trump, which Newsom alleges was misrepresented.
• 🗣️ Newsom called Fox News a "propaganda network" and urged national Fox News outlets to adopt ethical journalistic standards, distinguishing them from many local Fox affiliates.

Budget and Housing Reforms

• 🏘️ Newsom expressed gratitude for the collaborative spirit in passing the state budget, highlighting that housing reform bills are expected to be signed on Monday.
• 🔑 He emphasized the urgency of addressing California's housing affordability crisis, calling it a "code red" for the state.
• 🤝 The governor is committed to working with President Trump where possible but will stand firm against policies he deems cruel or damaging, stating he will "never work for him."