Good morning newsrooms!

Here's your USD News Connect — where each week the University of San Diego public affairs team offers expert voices to speak on stories impacting our community. If you're interested in the stories below, or need experts for any other topic you might be working on, don't hesitate to reach out to us at press@sandiego.edu.*

What Do New Tariffs Mean for Consumers?

The Trump Administration recently imposed new tariffs between 10-12.5% on 60 trading partners. Eileen Daspro, director of the Ahlers Center for International Business, can discuss how the Administration justified the move after the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down earlier tariffs. Daspro can also share how critics say that U.S importers and consumers will be impacted by higher prices.

USD Beach Volleyball Earns Silver at 2026 FISU America Games

In its first competition as a program, San Diego beach volleyball players Lauren Watson and Niki Egan took home silver at the 2026 FISU America Games in Peru. The FISU America Games run through Aug. 1 and bring together the top university athletes from across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, with competition held at the Villa Deportiva Nacional (VIDENA) and other venues built for the 2019 Pan American Games. USD launched beach volleyball as a varsity program in July 2025 and will begin NCAA competition in spring 2027 as a member of the West Coast Conference.

New Farm Bill Could Nullify California's Farm Animal Welfare Laws

In 2018, California voters approved Proposition 12 which set space standards for farm animals like pigs and hens from being confined not only at California farms but also in any farm selling their goods to the state. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the rule in 2023. Now, a bill that is awaiting the Senate's support is looking to reverse this law completely, coming from a push from the National Pork Producers Council and other trade groups. Aaron Gross, director of the Center for Food Systems Transformation at USD, is available to discuss the history of this law, what the new bill could change and how it could impact consumers if Proposition 12 is reversed. 

For all media inquiries, email our team at

press@sandiego.edu.

* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.