Axios San Diego

August 22, 2025
Hey! Hiya. Hello there. It's Friday. We've got some news about the news today.
βοΈ Today's weather: Coast β Mostly sunny with a high near 75; Inland β Sunny with a high near 88. This heat wave will continue into the weekend.
π§ Sounds like: "One More Saturday Night," by Grateful Dead. (Or, one more Friday morning, as it were.)
βπΌ Situational awareness: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two redistricting bills into law yesterday in response to Texas passing a new congressional map.
- We'll vote on California's newly-drawn congressional districts, designed to help Democrats win five more U.S. House seats, at a special election on Nov. 4.
Today's newsletter is 1,086 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Fare thee well
π Hi, it's Andy.
Today is my last day with Axios San Diego.
The big picture: After just over two years writing this daily newsletter, I've accepted a new job and will no longer be here to start your morning.
- You're still in great hands: My friend Kate Murphy isn't going anywhere.
Between the lines: Writing this newsletter every day has been a blast β and thank you all for patiently tolerating β maybe even enjoying? β my music recommendations, sports musings and parenting laments.
- Covering City Hall, land-use and development and local elections is still my favorite, but I loved the chance to write about everything else on my mind, too.
A reader recently told me they were impressed that we keep coming up with funny greetings every morning.
- Let me tell you, it has not been easy. I have run out of new ways to share what day of the week it is and say hello. Godspeed, Kate.
π Kate's thought bubble: I couldn't have asked for a better co-pilot in launching this newsletter, and I will miss Andy's story ideas, hot takes and jokes every day.
- But I'm excited for this next chapter for both of us, and eager to meet my new partner, which might even be one of you!
What's next: In a few weeks, I'll start as the GM and editor for Times of San Diego, a nonprofit news site that relaunched this year after acquiring seven community newspapers.
The bottom line: I loved writing this newsletter and will miss reading emails from all of you every morning. I hope it felt as much like a conversation to you as it did to me.
- I remain amazed by Drew C.'s ability to identify every landmark in our weekly photo contest. Drew, I confess that I initially thought you found a way to cheat. You're too good.
2. π° Big, beautiful tax cuts

The average San Diego County resident will see a federal tax cut of about $3,564 in 2026 thanks to the "big, beautiful bill," according to an analysis from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group that mostly supports lower taxes.
Why it matters: That's money people can spend on other things like rent, groceries and other bills β which could be essential next year as inflation outpaces wages and tariffs threaten to push costs up further.
How it works: The spending bill Congress passed in July not only made President Trump's first-term tax cuts permanent, it added on new breaks: deductions for tips and overtime income, a cut for seniors and an expanded child-care tax cut.
- These are temporary provisions.
- The report compares the tax rate in 2026 with what it would've been had the bill not passed and the 2017 tax cuts expired.
Zoom out: There are broad geographic differences in tax benefits from the spending bill due to variations in state and local taxes, plus areas where more high-earners live, Axios' Emily Peck and Jason Lalljee report.
- In California, the average tax cut per filer will be $4,141, the data shows. The Bay Area will see the biggest cuts (around $12,000), while Imperial County will see one of the smallest ($1,810).
- Nationally, it's $3,752.
Between the lines: Business owners will get some of the biggest cuts β thanks, in part, to tax breaks being made permanent for research and development expenses and other provisions.
- Those in high-tax coastal regions will also get big breaks, from the increased cap on state and local tax deductions (known as SALT β also temporary).
Reality check: The bill also made some steep cuts to social spending on food benefits and Medicaid, but those mostly don't kick in until 2027 and 2028.
- For many lower-income Americans, those cuts will outweigh any benefits of these tax breaks.
3. The Lineup: π San Diego spy convicted
β A San Diego-based Navy sailor was convicted Wednesday of spying for China in exchange for $12,000. (Axios)
β΄οΈ Disney Cruise Line is expanding its San Diego presence, and tourism industry officials now expect more cruise passengers in the 2026-2027 season than any year since 2009-2010. (Union-Tribune)
π¨ Federal immigration officials arrested a man near an Encinitas school Wednesday morning. School district officials confirmed his daughter was a student. (KPBS)
- It's the third instance this month of an immigration arrest near a San Diego County school.
4. π Legit low-key kickbacks
It's a big soccer weekend, but if that's not your thing, here's what else is happening around town:
π΅πImmerse yourself in Filipino culture at SAMAFEST with live music, dances, food and art in Balboa Park on Saturday and Sunday.
π§πΌββοΈEmbrace the zen of the San Diego Botanic Garden with open air yoga on Saturday in Encinitas.
πBook lovers can check out author talks, live music and poetry performances, kids story times and other activities at the free KPBS book festival on USD's campus on Saturday.
π No Surf Festival will be rockin' The Soap Factory on Saturday, and there are more great concerts this weekend.
π·Sip wine with bites from local chefs and DJ sets at Pali Wine Co.'s annual 'Summer Sessions' Backyard Bash on Sunday.
πΆ SeaWorld closes out its electric summer concert series with the Turnt Up Tour featuring hip-hop icons Petey Pablo, Paul Wall, J-Kwon, and Bubba Sparxxx.
π¨ Enjoy the creative works of more than 100 artists, brews and live music at the family-friendly LeucadiART Walk on the 101 on Sunday.
π² Ride 25 miles along the Bayshore Bikeway through the city and across the Coronado Bridge in the annual Bike the Bay event on Sunday.
π₯² Andy is hoping you'll follow him on social media, or at his new gig.
π₯² Kate is thinking she'll have to start going to a lot more mid-week concerts to see Andy now that they're no longer coworkers.
This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz, who thinks Andy is a straight-up dude and a bonafide newsman. See you at Star Bar.
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