Words made a lot of news in 2025, in Kern County as much as anywhere else. The following list of quotations highlights some of the biggest local developments during the past year.

“The expectation is that this was going to start happening once President (Donald) Trump was in office. However … it’s happening now.”

kAm— kDEC@?8ms2?:6= #@56=2k^DEC@?8m[ 2 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K6C H:E9 u2:E9 😕 E96 ‘2==6J z6C?[ C676CC:?8 E@ E96 >2DD:G6 &]$] rFDE@>D 2?5 q@C56C !C@E64E:@? C2:5 E92E E@@< A=246 😕 z6C? r@F?EJ 😕 62C=J y2?F2CJ]k^Am

kAm“(9J H@F=5 J@F :?G6DE 😕 r2=:7@C?:2 H96? E96 A@=:4J 492?86D 6G6CJ `_ >:?FE6Dn”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8m{@C6=6: ~G:2EEk^DEC@?8m[ E96?\5:C64E@C @7 E96 z6C? r@F?EJ !=2??:?8 2?5 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D s6A2CE>6?E[ C676CC:?8 E@ =68:D=2E:@? 2==@H:?8 E96 4@F?EJ E@ :DDF6 5C:==:?8 2?5 @E96C @:=\7:6=5 A6C>:ED 7@C FA E@ `_ J62CDk^Am

kAmQ%96 92C56DE E9:?8 :D[ H96? :EVD 2== 4=62?65 FA 2?5 H6 8@ E@ C63F:=5[ E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 4@F?EJ A6@A=6 FA @FC W6IA=6E:G6X 5@:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 3J E96 3@@<] *@F @H @FC DEF77 5:5?VE 3FC? 3642FD6 @7 @FC 325 H:C:?8] xE 5:5?VE 72== 5@H? 3642FD6 @7 @FC 325 3F:=5:?8]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8ms2G6 uF=92CEk^DEC@?8m[ H9@ =@DE 9:D 72>:=JVD 9@>6 😕 E96 q@C6= u:C6 2D E96 4@>>F?:EJ EC:65 E@ C63F:=5 😕 62C=J a_adk^Am

kAm“x 925 2 8FJ 3C62< :?E@ >J J2C5] (6 96=5 9:> 7@C cd >:?FE6D 3J 9:D 2?<=6 @? >J 76?46 D@ 96 4@F=5?’E 86E 2H2J[ 2?5 :E E@@< Wq!sX 2? 9@FC 2?5 ad >:?FE6D E@ D9@H FA E@ 2CC6DE E96 8FJ]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mp=:4:2 “F:?E2?2k^DEC@?8m[ H9@ =:G6D @? s@??2 pG6?F6 2 76H 3=@46[ :?4=F5:?8 C@336CJ 2?5 AC@DE:EFE:@?k^Am

kAm“u@C 86?6C2E:@?D[ H96? J@F 8C25F2E65 7C@> pCG:? w:89[ J@F 4C@DD65 E96 DEC66E[ :E H2D 2? 6>AEJ =@E 2?5 J@F 925 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H J@F 4@F=5 86E E@ q2<6CD7:6=5 r@==686] x’> ;FDE G6CJ A=62D65 E@ D2J E92E E92E DEF56?E H9@ ;FDE 8C25F2E65[ 4C@DD:?8 E96 DEC66E[ 6?E6CD q2<6CD7:6=5 r@==686]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mq:== %9@>2Dk^DEC@?8m[ 7@C>6C &]$] C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C q2<6CD7:6=5 2E E96 =@?8 2?E:4:A2E65 @A6?:?8 @7 2 q2<6CD7:6=5 r@==686 6IE6?D:@? 😕 pCG:?k^Am

kAmQx 5@?VE H2?E E@ D42C6 A6@A=6[ 3FE x H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E A6@A=6 F?56CDE2?5 E92E H6 92G6 E@ 36 7:D42==J ACF56?E] q642FD6 :7 E9:?8D 492?86[ H6 ?665 E@ A=2?] (6 ?665 E@ 255C6DD 2?J 492?86D E92E 4@>6 E@ FD 7C@> E96 DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ 6?DFC6 E92E H6VC6 AC@E64E:?8 E96 D6CG:46D 7@C @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mt=D2 |2CE:?6Kk^DEC@?8m[ z6C? r@F?EJ 2DD:DE2?E 4@F?EJ 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 @77:46C DA62<:?8 😕 |2C49 5FC:?8 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? @? 9@H E96 4@F?EJ >2J 36 :>A24E65 3J D:8?:7:42?E 3F586E 4FED 7C@> 3@E9 E96 DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?EDk^Am

kAm“(6’C6 AFEE:?8 42C3@? 324< E@ H96C6 :E 42>6 7C@>]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mr9C:D v@F=5k^DEC@?8m[ >2?28:?8 5:C64E@C @7 r2C3@? %6CC2’2F=E[ 2 5:G:D:@? @7 =@42= @:= AC@5F46C r2=:7@C?:2 #6D@FC46D r@CA][ C676CC:?8 E@ ~4E@36CVD DE2CE @7 4@?DECF4E:@? @? 2 42C3@? 5:@I:56 :?;64E:@? 724:=:EJ 😕 H6DE6C? z6C?k^Am

kAmQ~FC 4@>>F?:EJ 😀 ?@E C646:G:?8 E96 D6CG:46D E92E @FC E2IA2J6CD 2C6 A2J:?8 7@C 3642FD6 H6 42??@E <66A DE277[ H6 42??@E 9:C6 DE277 2?5 H6 42??@E C6E2:? DE277] x 8@ E9C@F89 >F=E:A=6[ >F=E:A=6 C@F?5D @7 :?E6CG:6HD ;FDE E@ 6G6? 9:C6 D@>63@5J E@ 7:== >J A@D:E:@?D] ~?46 H6 86E A6@A=6[ H6 DA6?5 E96 E:>6[ E96 >@?6J[ E96 6?6C8J EC2:?:?8 E96> 7@C E96> E@ E96? =62G6 7@C AC:G2E6 D64E@C @C D49@@= 5:DEC:4E ;@3D 2?5 :EVD ;FDE 4@?DE2?E EFC?@G6C]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mr2D6J vC2?:==@k^DEC@?8m[ 2 $6CG:46 t>A=@J66D x?E6C?2E:@?2= &?:@? {@42= da` >6>36C H9@ A2CE:4:A2E65 😕 2 @?6\52J DEC:<6 😕 |2C49k^Am

kAmQ%96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 😕 E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ E92E 2C6 D2J:?8[ V%92EVD ?@E ECF6] %9:D 😀 ;FDE s6>@4C2E:4 AC@A282?52] %96C6 😀 8@:?8 E@ 36 ?@ |65:42:5 4FED] %96C6VD 8@:?8 E@ 36 ?@ |65:42C6 4FED] (92E 2C6 J@F E2=<:?8 23@FEn xE 5@6D?VE 5@ 2?JE9:?8] p?5 6G6CJ3@5J 😕 E9:D C@@> 😀 8@:?8 E@ D2J[ VW6IA=6E:G6X]V tG6CJ3@5J[ x 8:G6 J@F E96 2FE9@C:EJ[ 5@4E@CVD @C56CD] *@F D2J VW6IA=6E:G6X] !C@G6 :E E@ >6 3642FD6 :EVD ?@E ECF6]VQk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8msC] y2D>66E q2:?Dk^DEC@?8m[ s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 2DD6>3=JH@>2? 7C@> s6=2?@[ DA62<:?8 5FC:?8 2 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ E@H? 92== 6G6?E 😕 |2C49k^Am

kAmQs2G:5 ‘2=252@ 😀 @?6 @7 E9@D6 E9C66 E92E 4@F=5 DE:== 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8] x7 J@F 2C6 2C6 23=6 E@ @C82?:K6[ 2AA=J AC6DDFC6[ DFAA@CE E96 s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C 2?5 E92EVD 492==6?8:?8 7@C E96 D62E[ E96? H6 42? 2AA=J 6?@F89 AC6DDFC6 E@ A66= @77 @?6 @7 E9@D6 E9C66 2?5 :E 42? 36 E96 A6@A=6 @7 q2<6CD7:6=5 H9@ D2G6 |65:42:5]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mp=6I2?5C:2 ~42D:@\r@CE6Kk^DEC@?8m[ E96 }6H *@C< s6>@4C2E:4 4@?8C6DDH@>2? H9@ G:D:E65 q2<6CD7:6=5 😕 pAC:= 2D A2CE @7 2 ?2E:@?H:56 E@FC H:E9 &]$] $6?] q6C?:6 $2?56CD @7 ‘6C>@?Ek^Am

kAmQx 5@?VE 36=:6G6 E92E 9@>6=6DD?6DD 92D 8@EE6? 36EE6C @C DE2J65 E96 D2>6] x? >J @A:?:@?[ :EVD 86EE:?8 H@CD6] (6VC6 E2=<:?8 23@FE 8:G:?8 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD E@ @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E 92G6 2=C625J C646:G65 E6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8m+24< q2D9:CE2D9k^DEC@?8m[ q2<6CD7:6=5 (2C5 e 4:EJ 4@F?4:=>2? 5FC:?8 2 5:D4FDD:@? @? E96 FD6 @7 E96 4:EJVD !F3=:4 $276EJ 2?5 ‘:E2= $6CG:46D DA6?5:?8k^Am

kAmQ%9:D 😀 92C5[ C62==J 92C5] |J 72:E9 92D 366? 2 A2CE @7 >J =:76 D:?46 x H2D 2 E@55=6C] v@5 😀 G6CJ ?62C 2?5 562C E@ >J 962CE[ 2?5 6G6CJ 2DA64E[ 6G6CJ A2CE @7 >J =:76[ 2?5 x E9:?< E92E D9@F=5 36 C6DA64E65[ 6DA64:2==J 96C6 😕 p>6C:42]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mr2E9J |:==6Ck^DEC@?8m[ 2 q2<6CD7:6=5 32<6C H9@ 😕 |2J 2AA62=65 E@ E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 2 42D6 C682C5:?8 96C C67FD2= E@ >2<6 2 H655:?8 42<6 7@C 2 =@42= =6D3:2?j E96 4@FCE =2E6C 564=:?65 E@ E2<6 FA E96 42D6k^Am

kAm“x ;FDE E9:?< 23@FE E96 564:D:@? E92E H6’C6 >2<:?8 E@?:89E[ 2?5 H92E :>A24E H6 42? 92G6 @? D@ >2?J 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D @7 J@F?8 49:=5C6? H9@ D66 2 D>2== D:8? 92?8:?8 @G6C E96:C :?E6CD64E:@? E92E 92D E96 ?2>6 E92E E96J 42? 2DD@4:2E6 H:E9] %92E’D E96 A@H6C @7 E@?:89E’D 564:D:@?] x’> D@ 6I4:E65 E@ DFAA@CE :E]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mtC:4 pC:2Dk^DEC@?8m[ q2<6CD7:6=5 (2C5 ` 4@F?4:=>2?[ DA62<:?8 5FC:?8 2? pF8FDE >66E:?8 H96C6 2 DA=:E 4@F?4:= G@E65 E@ D6?5 2? 2AA=:42E:@? E@ C6?2>6 w $EC66E 7@C E96 =2E6 =23@C =6256Ck^Am

kAm“x 92G6 D66? 7:CDE92?5 9@H 3C@<6? z6C? r@F?EJ’D 49:=5 AC@E64E:@? D6CG:46 :D] %@@ @7E6?[ H92E 4@>6D 324< 😀 2 =6EE6C D2J:?8 E96C6 😀 ?@ ?665 E@ C6>@G6 E96 49:=5 7C@> E96 9@>6] (6 766= 9@A6=6DD 3642FD6 H6 @H H92E H6’G6 D66?[ J6E H6’C6 E@=5 E@ DE2?5 324<] |2?J 65F42E@CD x @H 766= E96J 92G6 E@ AFE FA H2==D 2C@F?5 E96:C 962CE ;FDE E@ DE2J D2?6 27E6C D@ >2?J 5625 6?5D]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mqC@@<6 |2==6J\pF=Ek^DEC@?8m[ 2 |:C2 |@?E6 w:89 $49@@= 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C 2?5 ECFDE66 H:E9 E96 q2<6CD7:6=5 r:EJ $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ C676CC:?8 E@ 5:77:4F=E:6D C6A@CE:?8 :DDF6D E@ z6C?VD 49:=5 H6=72C6 D6CG:46D]k^Am

kAm“xE H2D ?@E @FC 49@:46[ C:89En xE H2D %6I2D’ 49@:46[ :E H2D s@?2=5 %CF>A’D 49@:46] %96J H2?E65 E@ C:8 E96 DJDE6> E@ D2J[ ‘(6 ?665 7:G6 >@C6 D62ED]V (6 F?56CDE2?5 E92E E9:D 😀 ?@E E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ 5@] x 28C66 H:E9 E92E[ E@@] qFE 282:?[ :7 H6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 7:89E 7:C6 H:E9 7:C6[ H6’C6 ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ C@== @G6C 2?5 E2<6 :E] x E9:?< E96 G@E6CD[ DA64:7:42==J E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ[ H2?ED 2 =6256C[ H2?ED 2 492>A:@? E@ 36 2 7:89E6C]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mr9C:D #@>@k^DEC@?8m[ z6C? r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ r92:C>2?[ DA62<:?8 5FC:?8 2 7@CF> @? !C@A@D:E:@? d_[ 2 AC@A@D2= E@ C65C2H D6G6C2= @7 E96 DE2E6VD 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4EDk^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 E@ 36 4@?E:?F@FD=J H2=<:?8[ EC2:?:?8 :E[ EC2:?:?8 :E 6G6CJ 52J E@ AC6A2C6 7@C E96 3:8 52J 😕 E96 C:?8] x C62==J =@G6 :E] q6:?8 23=6 E@ DA6?5 E:>6 H:E9 7C:6?5D[ ;FDE H@C< @? ?6H D<:==D[ E96 >66E:?8 @7 A6@A=6[ :E’D ;FDE C62==J 2>2K:?8] xE’D =:<6 2 3:8 5C62>[ 2 3:8 249:6G6>6?E E@ 36 23=6 E@ H:? 492>A:@?[ @G6C2== 492>A:@?]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mtC:4 |2CE:?6Kk^DEC@?8m[ `d[ H9@ C2:D65 2 A:8 7@C E9:D J62CVD z6C? r@F?EJ u2:Ck^Am

kAm“qFE E96 C62=:EJ :D[ E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 E92E 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 27764E65 3J E9:D[ :7 J@F C625 2 =@E @7 E96 =2?8F286[ 😀 2=H2JD G6CJ DA64:7:4] xE 2=H2JD D2JD ‘4@F=5’ @C ‘>:89E’ @C ‘2E C:D< @7]’ xE’D 3642FD6 E96 C62=:EJ :D[ ?@ @?6 😀 DFAA@D65 E@ 36 27764E65 3J E9:D]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8ms2G:5 ‘2=252@k^DEC@?8m[ &]$] C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C q2<6CD7:6=5[ 5FC:?8 2? E6=6\E@H? 92== 6G6?E 😕 $6AE6>36C 27E6C @AA@D:E:@? 8C@FAD DA6?E >F49 @7 E96 7:CDE A2CE @7 E96 J62C ECJ:?8 E@ AC6DDFC6 9:> E@ G@E6 282:?DE E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD 492?86D E@ 7656C2= 962=E9 42C6 AC@8C2>D[ 49:67=J |65:42:5]k^Am

kAmQxE H@F=5 AC@323=J E2<6 b_ >@C6 56E6?E:@?D 56AFE:6D E@ @A6? E96 |2I\|65 724:=:EJ] (92E x 2?E:4:A2E6 H:== 92AA6? 😀 H96?6G6C H6 86E E96C6[ 2?5 H6 @A6? :E[ H:E9:? 23@FE D:I >@?E9D W:EX H:== 36 7F== 2?5 H6V== E2=< 23@FE E96 D2>6 E9:?8]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8ms@??J *@F?83=@@5k^DEC@?8m[ z6C? r@F?EJ $96C:77[ C676CC:?8 E@ DE277:?8 D9@CE286D E92E 92G6 =67E 9:D 56A2CE>6?E F?23=6 E@ CF? 255:E:@?2= 9@=5:?8 724:=:E:6Dk^Am

kAm“}@E 36:?8 23=6 E@ AFE >J E:>6 H96C6 >J @H=6586 😀 36DE DF:E65[ E92E’D >J C62= 7CFDEC2E:@?[”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8m$E2? t==:Dk^DEC@?8m[ DE2E6 2DD6>3=J>2? C6AC6D6?E:?8 q2<6CD7:6=5[ 4@>>6?E:?8 @? 9:D 564:D:@? ?@E E@ D66< C6\6=64E:@? 27E6C =6DD E92? 2 J62C 😕 @77:46]k^Am

kAm“x? E96 A2DE J62C H6 24EF2==J 5:5 =@D6 2 DEF56?E] $:?46 :E H2D 😕 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[ H6 564:565 E92E E96 DEC66ED 2C@F?5 @FCD 2?5 >2?J @E96C D49@@=D ?665 E@ 36 >@C6 D276]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8m)2G:6C #:@Dk^DEC@?8m[ 2 DEF56?E 2E r9:A>2? yF?:@C w:89 $49@@= H9@ H2D A2CE @7 2 E62> E92E 82G6 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? @? 3:<6 D276EJ C64@>>6?52E:@?D E@ E96 q2<6CD7:6=5 r:EJ r@F?4:= 😕 ~4E@36C]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 5C:G6CD H9@ H6C6 😕 E9:D 4@F?ECJ — x’> ?@E ;FDE E2=<:?8 23@FE ;FDE $:<9D[ x’> ?@E ;FDE E2=<:?8 23@FE x?5:2?D[ x’> E2=<:?8 23@FE w:DA2?:4 2?5 @E96C ?2E:@?2=:E:6D 2D H6== — 366? 96C6 7@C a_ J62CD[ ad J62CD] %96J’G6 366? 5@:?8 ECF4<:?8 7@C E92E >2?J J62CD] %96J 92G6 4=62? W>@E@C G69:4=6 C64@C5DX[ ?@ G:@=2E:@?D 😕 E9@D6 a_ J62CD] %96J 2C6 2=D@ 364@>:?8 G:4E:>D]”k^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8mpG:6 }28C2k^DEC@?8m[ H:E9 E96 q2<6CD7:6=5 %CF4<:?8 pDD@4:2E:@?] $:<9 8C@FAD DF65 E96 DE2E6 27E6C E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 |@E@C ’69:4=6D :DDF65 42?46==2E:@? ?@E:46D E@ E9@FD2?5D @7 4@>>6C4:2= 5C:G6CD =:46?D6 9@=56CDk^Am

kAm“xE 5@6D?’E >2EE6C :7 E96J 2C6 @FED:56 @7 q2<6CD7:6=5 @C :?D:56 @7 q2<6CD7:6=5] *@FC D<:==D[ J@FC 4@>>F?:42E:@?[ J@FC 324<8C@F?5[ J@FC 65F42E:@?[ 9@H J@F 6?8286 H:E9 @E96CD — 6DA64:2==J J@FC 4C:E:4D — 😀 6I24E=J H92E q2<6CD7:6=5 ?665D]Qk^Am

kAm — kDEC@?8m}25:?6 tD42=2?E6k^DEC@?8m[ 2 q2<6CD7:6=5 C6D:56?E[ 5FC:?8 2 AF3=:4 7@CF> 😕 62C=J s646>36C @? E96 4:EJVD D62C49 7@C 2 ?6H A@=:46 49:67k^Am

kAm“%96 4@FCE H:== ?@E6 E92E E96 A6@A=6 92G6 @776C65 ?@ 2=E6C?2E:G6 E@ E9:D 5@4E@C’D 6G2=F2E:@?]Qk^Am

kAm— kDEC@?8m$E6A92?:6 #] r9:=56CDk^DEC@?8m[ z6C? r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE yF586[ 8C2?E:?8 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:G6CD:@? AC@8C2> E@ 7@C>6C z6C? r@F?EJ $FA6CG:D@C +24< $4C:G?6C]k^Am