LA-favorite smash burger comes to Village
Tomo Chien
August 25, 2025
Good morning. It’s Monday, and we’re back at it. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
Softies, an LA-favorite smash burger pop-up, is now open in the Village. Burgers start as low as $7.50 and offer the novelty of Korean-inspired toppings. The restaurant, which is located in the old Stout Burgers & Beers location, plans to expand its hours to include breakfast service.
2.
Dakota Driemeyer, a student senator known for his bombastic anti-woke antics, resigned from his role and now plans to run for a Republican committee in Illinois. He originally filed to run for a state assembly seat. The only donation on record is a $200 contribution from his parents.
3.
USC has laid off at least 290 employees in its ongoing workforce reduction. The layoffs — which have trickled in week-by-week since July as the university seeks to close a structural deficit — most recently reached Viterbi, Rossier, and the School of Cinematic Arts.
4.
Students are automatically enrolled in several optional fees, including a new $292 textbook bundle that, for many, may cost more than buying books individually. At the link below, the Daily Trojan compiled a handy guide to opting out of fees by their Sept. 12 deadline.
5.
ICE agents continue to arrest undocumented immigrants en masse in Southern California, racking up as many as 20 enforcement actions in a single day last week. Still, migrants say they have no choice but to look for work in places like Home Depot. “What can you do?” one said. “You need money for kids, bills, rent, food.”