We’ve barely put a dent in our Halloween candy over here, and Thanksgiving is already coming at us like a freight train. At least we have the new PPIC statewide survey and all of its glorious data to be thankful for. Spoiler: Californians hate how much everything costs! After you’re done sifting through the data, channel your inner Simone Biles and do some mental gymnastics to understand how a UC San Diego scholarship for black students was recently challenged (successfully) using an 1871 anti KKK law. We’ve also got some choice nuggets on water policy, a sparkling constellation of housing ideas, and (because we still can’t get over the Dodgers’ epic World Series win) a three-minute supercut of the legendary game 7 victory.

‍

Here we go!

‍

UNAFFORDABILITY BITES

In the PPIC’s October 2025 statewide survey, Californians made one thing blisteringly clear: it’s the cost of living, stupid. A full 32% of respondents named cost of living, the economy and inflation — above all other issues — as the state’s most pressing crisis, outpacing even housing costs and availability (14%) and threats to democracy or political extremism (11%). That dovetails with recent off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia, where frustrated voters turned out less over culture wars and more over shrinking bank accounts. And while Democrats still own a commanding supermajority, California’s ruling class is on thin ice: 51% of adults say the state is headed the wrong way, and 76% expect bad economic times ahead. “A majority of Californians say they can trust state government only some of the time,” PPIC notes dryly — emphasis on some. While Gov. Newsom’s approval hovers at 54%, that’s a modest vote of confidence in a state that just told its leaders the rent is too damn high, and they're running out of patience — and spare change.

‍

<DIG INTO THE SURVEY>

‍

🤫 Everything you should know

‍

🤑 - BRINGING HOME THE BACON — Faced with a $12 billion deficit, California lawmakers still slipped $415 million in pork into this year’s budget — nearly a quarter of it from climate bond funds voters thought were for, you know, climate. Instead, the money went to a smattering of local pet projects. It’s a curious choice when the state is simultaneously suspending some health care benefits and raiding the state’s rainy day fund (during a bull market, no less). Earmarks are anonymized, unvoted on individually, and handed out through a process so opaque it makes the Vatican look transparent. One foodbank director called it “misprioritization,” although we suppose it depends on whose priorities are being missed. In the end, California’s budget sausage was stuffed with district-level vanity projects while the public was sold fiscal restraint. As one ex-lawmaker put it: “You either hope people won’t find out, or they see what stuff they’re getting, and they’re like, ‘Oh, all right, well, as long as we got ours,’ right?” — CalMatters

‍

🤦  - DEI HARD — In President Trump’s latest attempt to turn higher ed into an ideological battleground, two California programs just got the walloped — one for helping Black students afford college, the other for daring to mention “equity” in a grant. At UC San Diego, a scholarship for Black students was scrapped after a lawsuit twisted an anti-Klan law from 1871 (yes, you read that right) into a weapon against DEI. Meanwhile, at UC Berkeley, a 50-year-old federal college-access program serving 1,500 low-income teens was abruptly defunded for a passing reference to “equity” and “inclusion” on page 50 of a 5-year-old grant application. The message is clear: race-conscious support programs are being dismantled, one technicality at a time. Washington Post | SF Chronicle

‍

💧 - AQUIFER THE PEOPLE — California’s water wars are shifting from scarcity to sticker shock. A new study shows that during droughts, the cost of surface water can triple, while groundwater stays stubbornly stable. With climate change cranking up both demand and volatility, experts argue it’s time to stop building billion-dollar dams and start banking water underground. Groundwater basins hold 12 times more than the state’s reservoirs, and they don’t require wrecking ecosystems or displacing communities. The fix? Divert floodwaters during wet years, recharge aquifers, modernize infrastructure, and get farmers on board. Without it, California’s water bills — and food prices — are headed for a steep, parched climb. — Desert Sun

‍

We rely on word of mouth to expand our Bear Essentials community. If you know others who share our desire for common sense, pragmatic solutions to California’s biggest problems, please urge them to subscribe for free! Just send them here.

‍

🎙️ 💬 🎧 - ON THE POD: TRUE STORIES OF TINSELTOWN

“True Stories of Tinseltown” is a one-woman time machine fueled by gossip, grit, and golden-age glam. Grace Collins cranks out episodes like MGM once cranked out musicals: fast, fond, and full of dirt. Expect bombshells (literal and figurative), scandal, scholarship, and the occasional murder. It’s Hollywood history with a wink and a martini. — True Stories of Tinseltown

‍

🤔 💡 🏘️ - IDEAS TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY

‍

A rare thing in housing policy: a conversation that doesn’t spiral into cliché or combat. From conservative calls to untangle zoning to progressive pushes for big federal investment, this recent NOTUS forum gathers serious, compelling ideas from across the ideological spectrum. It’s less shouting match, more thoughtful remix, a clear-eyed look at what might actually move the needle. — NOTUS

‍

🏃‍♂️ 💨 ✋ FAST FIVE

‍

1. 😞 Aggressive ICE raids lead 30-year resident grandfather to self-deport. Capital & Main
2. 💸 California’s pro-housing laws have failed to raise new home numbers. CalMatters
3. 🧑‍⚖️ Judge slams feds for tying transit funds to ICE compliance. Courthouse News
4. ⚾ Relive the phenomenal World Series Game 7 in 3 minutes. LA Dodgers
5. 🧐 See how your Congressional district shifted left or right after Prop 50.  LA Times