Calif. Senator criticizes GOP for Armstong hearing

Author

Carly Heltzel
April 29, 2025

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, and I’m reading about the poorly-fitted tech bros who refuse to wear the Warriors’ free t-shirts in the stands. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

California Sen. Adam Schiff criticized House Republicans for calling in Cal Poly’s president to testify in Congress, saying the GOP is using allegations of antisemitism “to interfere with academic freedom.” He was asked for comment at the recent town hall held at Cuesta College. Schiff also called the Trump administration withholding funding from schools that don’t comply with his priorities “extortion” and “unlawful.” He said this is “a time I never would have imagined possible 10 years ago.”

2.

All four of the visas previously revoked from Cal Poly students and alumni have been reinstated in a reversal from the federal government; two on Friday and two yesterday. One was a current student and three were recent alumnus on temporary employment visas. It is unclear how many have been reinstated across the Cal State. After canceling over 1,800 student visas nationwide, the federal government was hit with a slough of lawsuits alleging students did not get the due process to which they are entitled.

3.

A former Cal Poly Football player just signed to the New England Patriots. After three days and seven rounds of the NFL Draft where he wasn’t picked, Elijah Ponder was signed as an undrafted player under the Patriots’ new Head Coach Mike Vrabel. Ponder was one of the best defensive players in Mustang Football history, ranking in the top five of all time for sacs, hurries and tackles for losses. He joins former Mustangs Chris Coleman and JJ Koski who joined the NFL in 2023 and 2020, respectively.

4.

SLO County parents began keeping their kids home from school to protest a transgender student’s use of the women’s locker room in Atascadero. The “Protect our Kids” movement is spearheading the effort and asked parents to keep their kids home once a month until they feel like local schools are complying with recent executive orders on gender identity. Current state laws protect the rights of trans students. One student said there wasn’t a noticeable difference in attendance.  

5.

Everyone talks about the president’s first 100 days in office: But let’s take a look at California’s first 100 days of having Trump in office. California has sued the Trump administration 15 times since Jan. 20, amounting to roughly two lawsuits being launched per week, and filed letters of support for at least 18 other cases against the federal government. All but one of the lawsuits was filed alongside other states. Trump’s supporters accuse the state of challenging every move the president makes, but California’s attorney general said: “We don’t take him to court if he’s doing something that’s lawful.”