In defense of the college degree
Tomo Chien
January 15, 2026
Good morning. It’s Thursday, and these are the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
Polling shows that a growing share of Americans are skeptical of four-year college degrees and are instead extolling the virtues of trade schools and two-year programs. But look closer at the data, and you’ll see that college grads still consistently outearn their counterparts — and few pay full tuition. “The college backlash is a mirage,” The Atlantic wrote.
2.
A Santa Ana protester who was blinded and nearly killed on video after being shot point blank by a federal agent’s projectile was, to add insult to injury, handed a misdemeanor citation for disorderly conduct. “There is really no reasonable explanation for that person being shot in the face,” one police expert said of the incident.
3.
A federal judge upheld California’s newly gerrymandered congressional maps that were approved by voters in November — a major win for Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democratic Party, who backed the measure to combat similar redistricting by Republicans in Texas.
4.
One of the most scenic stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway reopened yesterday, nearly three years after a series of massive landslides buried the famous roadway in Big Sur. The long-awaited reopening means it’s once again possible to drive from LA to San Francisco entirely along the breathtaking corridor.
5.
Speaking of California road trips: The San Francisco Chronicle released its annual “Top places to visit” list, which contains plenty of fodder for last-minute MLK Day weekend plans. Destinations include the increasingly lively beach town of Carpinteria; the funky desert gateway of Twentynine Palms; and the iconic Route 66 highway.
