Well, there is a right way and a wrong way to moderate your views. I don’t like his policy on the homeless or transgender rights But his fight with Trump is potent because he fights with some leverage.
California is an entity all by itself and has a larger economy than most of the US together. Trump understands profits and the heavy hitters. Newsom also has the power to neutralize Texas by redistricting California. Also something Trump understands can stop his agenda. Newsom has fought against DeSantis, and I am not sure the rest of the red states have much leverage by themselves.
It is obvious why Trump picks his fights with California, but California also can punch back. Illinois and Pritzer may be another potential fighter.
These are the people we got…the fighters have already made their presence known. So are the people who prefer to be armchair politicians and paper tigers.
No offense to the battleground Democratic governors (not term-limited) thinking about running for President, but they are probably the last line of defense against Trump since the federal government and Trumps SCOTUS enablers are pretty weak right now. They need to hold down the fort in their states.
I think Newsom is genuine on this issue, and I don't like the guy. I don't like Newsom but I have to give him credit for what he's doing at the moment because it's important and I feel like it comes from a genuine place with him. Credit where it's due. Keep it up Gav.
I have the same feeling. I think there is almost no chance of me voting for Newsome in the presidential primary and a similar probability of me voting against him in the general.
But everyone ready to fight back against the current immigration regime has my support.
When ICE agents point rifles at pastors and declare the whole country “our property,” we’re not just in dystopia—we’re in a blasphemous cosplay of empire.
And yet… here comes Newsom, channeling a bit of Magdalene fire in a Caesar haircut, standing where most Dems offer only thoughts, prayers, and polling memos. Is it opportunistic? Sure. But in a country where morality is often measured by what risks your consultants will tolerate, I’ll take a governor willing to get cuffed for his convictions over another pious press release.
This isn’t just a policy issue. It’s spiritual. To tear families apart with paperwork and paramilitary gear is to crucify belonging. And the resurrection? It’s happening quietly in ghost-town storefronts and the arms of undocumented laborers rebuilding a burning state. They’re the saints here. Newsom just finally showed up to church.
—Virgin Monk Boy
(patron of holy mischief, undocumented angels, and governors who don’t flinch when the cuffs come out)
I'm glad to see Gov. Newsom speaking clearly and strongly against what ICE is doing. We need more governors (and others) to do the same. What's happening to our immigrant communities is horrifying and wrong.
Adrian, Great writing and coverage on Newsom. Nobody's perfect but Newsom is fighting hard for values and the rule of law. At this point, he should be fully supported for his anti- Trump actions. What we really need is the rest of the Democratic Governors to get with the program.
I looked up job openings for prison guards and related workers. None of them require more than a high school diploma (having a couple of years of related experience would be useful but not required), no mention of drug testing or background checks. My daydream is that one of the Trump kids has a "Prince and the Pauper" moment and is forced into one of the camps without any way of identifying his or her self.
I suspect the high school diploma requirement will be waived for any applicant who was investigated for participation in the sacking of the Capitol or even has in the past been sentenced to anger management classes.
NOTICE TO TRUMP: Texas has a LOT, but California has MORE!
What does a "bad news "gerrymander look like?
WHY CARE? If they can do it here in TX, they can do it to your state, targets ranging from Ohio to Iowa. Pres T. wants Texas to set an example, show how it's done? Gov Abbott wants to kiss T's feet, both of them, so stopped taking care of flood victims to put gerrymandering on the TX Leg. agenda. The timing is not normal (no recent US census).
.
DETAILS L. Egan, here at TheBulwark, recently interviewed Greg Casar, a Dem whose Repub-drawn Congressional District 35 has long been seriously gerrymandered. That was true for 35 when earlier under Lloyd Doggett.
The fantastic little monster begins in Austin. There, 35's snake has a fattish head. The very skinny body then tracks a narrow width southward along Interstate 35 that goes ALL THE WAY to San Antonio before it ends. Neighborhoods there? They seem few, but circle a double underpass, where TWO interstate freeways cross.
A centrally located town hall meeting might need to be near or under under the double overpass? Convenient for highway workers and homeless?
The Repubs think that's great for a Dem, as it is hard to serve well. Dist. 35 needs little revision to please Pres T, as it is already a mess:
(1). Not only is Casar's district already snakelike, but it is also
(2),. Already "packed" to have around a 70% minority population, when only, say 55%, is needed for a minority to win.
(IMPORTANT: The over-packing implies some OTHER district falls short, TX ok with this as historically they have not allowed slaves and their descendants to vote. The Constitution was amended post-Civil War to fix that, but those in a wicked mood, always telling themselves theft of someone ELSE's voting rights is ok, ignore the Constitution.
DEALS. Pres T likes to make deals.
FORCE? He will not make a deal that backs away from this, from his added gerrymanders until he is forced. How to force him to make the needed deal?
NEWSOME. One of Newsom's ideas? What if enough states gerrymander the reverse way, convert their Purples to enough Blues to stop the bad votes seen by Congress? How many Blues? For how long?
Not forever if Pres T makes a deal and reverses the existing steals
NUMBER NEEDED? How many? A MINIMUM--Enough to offset the added five reds Dictator Trump says he now needs in TX. Apparently, he feels his enabling Repubs, are too incompetent to win the next election otherwise?
BETTER? Maybe more than five blues, "to teach a lesson"?
Newsom has never been perfect. I don't want or need perfect. He is 1 zillion times better than the best GOP (does that even exist? Collins? Murkowski?) I have voted for him every time....through how many recalls now? LOL. I am so glad he is our gov at this moment....and worry about who will replace him.
Great reporting JVL. Thank you. The "cynical opportunist" line was right on the money, but like Reagan said of Somoza, "He may be an SOB but he's *our* SOB." Newsom's campaign is certain to be full of political calculation and I am here for it.
I’m one of the Democrats who has, for a long time, seen Newsom as an opportunist, and maybe a little smarmy. But I find that I’m changing my mind quickly and this article may be the final thing I needed to become a Newsom supporter. Watching him speak when he’s angry and not smiling makes me wonder if that isn’t the best look for him. If that’s who he really is, I look forward to supporting him in 2028.
A former campaign manager friend of mine said of Newsom, "He's a closer." He's the salesperson you bring in after everyone else has had a swing at it and he makes the deal, brings home the bacon. He wins this thing.
Quotation from a (citizen) neighbor: "I don't even like him, I don't think anybody does, but...." I don't want to misquote bc I can't remember the precise words, but something like "I think he would be a great candidate for President and I think he would mop the floor with them and win." Basically they support him 100% for president. So yeah. And the stuff he is doing on the mass raids has made a palpable difference in my neighborhood. A painter and his crew are all smiles and when I ask how things are going they say, "Great!" and then Alberto, with tears in his eyes expresses his relief that Newsom has turned this nonsense around. I am too sad to tell him it won't last - that those raids will come harder and faster in the months ahead, but for now there is relief. Significantly, they know who to thank, they mention the mayor and the governor. So there ya have it, I wish citizens were as cognizant of public affairs as the undocumented are.
Negative 2 percent is nothing. That's significantly higher than trump's own approval rating. They won't think twice unless and until approval tanks into the thirties. It will take Durban whites and rural Republicans to get sick to their stomachs about this. They need to see it on line, next to their. Epstein feed.
As Billy Wilder said in the movie, Some Like It Hot, “Nobody’s perfect”. This includes Newsom. However, Newsom is articulate, smart, capable and I’d proudly support him on his recent aggressive stance on Trump/Miller et al. He is calling them out. Isn’t that what the Dems have been pining for? You go, Guv!!
Well, there is a right way and a wrong way to moderate your views. I don’t like his policy on the homeless or transgender rights But his fight with Trump is potent because he fights with some leverage.
California is an entity all by itself and has a larger economy than most of the US together. Trump understands profits and the heavy hitters. Newsom also has the power to neutralize Texas by redistricting California. Also something Trump understands can stop his agenda. Newsom has fought against DeSantis, and I am not sure the rest of the red states have much leverage by themselves.
It is obvious why Trump picks his fights with California, but California also can punch back. Illinois and Pritzer may be another potential fighter.
These are the people we got…the fighters have already made their presence known. So are the people who prefer to be armchair politicians and paper tigers.
No offense to the battleground Democratic governors (not term-limited) thinking about running for President, but they are probably the last line of defense against Trump since the federal government and Trumps SCOTUS enablers are pretty weak right now. They need to hold down the fort in their states.
In case you are tracking your influence, I had to wait for payday but am now in on the LA Street Vendor Campaign. It felt good, too.
I think Newsom is genuine on this issue, and I don't like the guy. I don't like Newsom but I have to give him credit for what he's doing at the moment because it's important and I feel like it comes from a genuine place with him. Credit where it's due. Keep it up Gav.
I have the same feeling. I think there is almost no chance of me voting for Newsome in the presidential primary and a similar probability of me voting against him in the general.
But everyone ready to fight back against the current immigration regime has my support.
When ICE agents point rifles at pastors and declare the whole country “our property,” we’re not just in dystopia—we’re in a blasphemous cosplay of empire.
And yet… here comes Newsom, channeling a bit of Magdalene fire in a Caesar haircut, standing where most Dems offer only thoughts, prayers, and polling memos. Is it opportunistic? Sure. But in a country where morality is often measured by what risks your consultants will tolerate, I’ll take a governor willing to get cuffed for his convictions over another pious press release.
This isn’t just a policy issue. It’s spiritual. To tear families apart with paperwork and paramilitary gear is to crucify belonging. And the resurrection? It’s happening quietly in ghost-town storefronts and the arms of undocumented laborers rebuilding a burning state. They’re the saints here. Newsom just finally showed up to church.
—Virgin Monk Boy
(patron of holy mischief, undocumented angels, and governors who don’t flinch when the cuffs come out)
Wholehearted agreement.
I'm glad to see Gov. Newsom speaking clearly and strongly against what ICE is doing. We need more governors (and others) to do the same. What's happening to our immigrant communities is horrifying and wrong.
Adrian, Great writing and coverage on Newsom. Nobody's perfect but Newsom is fighting hard for values and the rule of law. At this point, he should be fully supported for his anti- Trump actions. What we really need is the rest of the Democratic Governors to get with the program.
Thank you, Robert!
I despise Newsom but I will give him props on this.
I looked up job openings for prison guards and related workers. None of them require more than a high school diploma (having a couple of years of related experience would be useful but not required), no mention of drug testing or background checks. My daydream is that one of the Trump kids has a "Prince and the Pauper" moment and is forced into one of the camps without any way of identifying his or her self.
I suspect the high school diploma requirement will be waived for any applicant who was investigated for participation in the sacking of the Capitol or even has in the past been sentenced to anger management classes.
Pres T wants to gerrymander Texas? Every freeway needs representation? Newsom says "not so fast, buddy"?
League of Women Voters (non-partisan) has a count of House seats by state here.
https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/apportionment-2020-table01.pdf
NOTICE TO TRUMP: Texas has a LOT, but California has MORE!
What does a "bad news "gerrymander look like?
WHY CARE? If they can do it here in TX, they can do it to your state, targets ranging from Ohio to Iowa. Pres T. wants Texas to set an example, show how it's done? Gov Abbott wants to kiss T's feet, both of them, so stopped taking care of flood victims to put gerrymandering on the TX Leg. agenda. The timing is not normal (no recent US census).
.
DETAILS L. Egan, here at TheBulwark, recently interviewed Greg Casar, a Dem whose Repub-drawn Congressional District 35 has long been seriously gerrymandered. That was true for 35 when earlier under Lloyd Doggett.
The fantastic little monster begins in Austin. There, 35's snake has a fattish head. The very skinny body then tracks a narrow width southward along Interstate 35 that goes ALL THE WAY to San Antonio before it ends. Neighborhoods there? They seem few, but circle a double underpass, where TWO interstate freeways cross.
A centrally located town hall meeting might need to be near or under under the double overpass? Convenient for highway workers and homeless?
The Repubs think that's great for a Dem, as it is hard to serve well. Dist. 35 needs little revision to please Pres T, as it is already a mess:
(1). Not only is Casar's district already snakelike, but it is also
(2),. Already "packed" to have around a 70% minority population, when only, say 55%, is needed for a minority to win.
(IMPORTANT: The over-packing implies some OTHER district falls short, TX ok with this as historically they have not allowed slaves and their descendants to vote. The Constitution was amended post-Civil War to fix that, but those in a wicked mood, always telling themselves theft of someone ELSE's voting rights is ok, ignore the Constitution.
DEALS. Pres T likes to make deals.
FORCE? He will not make a deal that backs away from this, from his added gerrymanders until he is forced. How to force him to make the needed deal?
NEWSOME. One of Newsom's ideas? What if enough states gerrymander the reverse way, convert their Purples to enough Blues to stop the bad votes seen by Congress? How many Blues? For how long?
Not forever if Pres T makes a deal and reverses the existing steals
NUMBER NEEDED? How many? A MINIMUM--Enough to offset the added five reds Dictator Trump says he now needs in TX. Apparently, he feels his enabling Repubs, are too incompetent to win the next election otherwise?
BETTER? Maybe more than five blues, "to teach a lesson"?
Newsom has never been perfect. I don't want or need perfect. He is 1 zillion times better than the best GOP (does that even exist? Collins? Murkowski?) I have voted for him every time....through how many recalls now? LOL. I am so glad he is our gov at this moment....and worry about who will replace him.
Great reporting JVL. Thank you. The "cynical opportunist" line was right on the money, but like Reagan said of Somoza, "He may be an SOB but he's *our* SOB." Newsom's campaign is certain to be full of political calculation and I am here for it.
I’m one of the Democrats who has, for a long time, seen Newsom as an opportunist, and maybe a little smarmy. But I find that I’m changing my mind quickly and this article may be the final thing I needed to become a Newsom supporter. Watching him speak when he’s angry and not smiling makes me wonder if that isn’t the best look for him. If that’s who he really is, I look forward to supporting him in 2028.
A former campaign manager friend of mine said of Newsom, "He's a closer." He's the salesperson you bring in after everyone else has had a swing at it and he makes the deal, brings home the bacon. He wins this thing.
Quotation from a (citizen) neighbor: "I don't even like him, I don't think anybody does, but...." I don't want to misquote bc I can't remember the precise words, but something like "I think he would be a great candidate for President and I think he would mop the floor with them and win." Basically they support him 100% for president. So yeah. And the stuff he is doing on the mass raids has made a palpable difference in my neighborhood. A painter and his crew are all smiles and when I ask how things are going they say, "Great!" and then Alberto, with tears in his eyes expresses his relief that Newsom has turned this nonsense around. I am too sad to tell him it won't last - that those raids will come harder and faster in the months ahead, but for now there is relief. Significantly, they know who to thank, they mention the mayor and the governor. So there ya have it, I wish citizens were as cognizant of public affairs as the undocumented are.
"I wish citizens were as cognizant of public affairs as the undocumented are." FOR SURE.
Negative 2 percent is nothing. That's significantly higher than trump's own approval rating. They won't think twice unless and until approval tanks into the thirties. It will take Durban whites and rural Republicans to get sick to their stomachs about this. They need to see it on line, next to their. Epstein feed.
It's the swing from positive to negative that's important.
As Billy Wilder said in the movie, Some Like It Hot, “Nobody’s perfect”. This includes Newsom. However, Newsom is articulate, smart, capable and I’d proudly support him on his recent aggressive stance on Trump/Miller et al. He is calling them out. Isn’t that what the Dems have been pining for? You go, Guv!!