
California Allocates $35M to Support Illegal Immigrants Amid Trump's Deportation Agenda
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced $35 million in state funding to provide support for illegal immigrants, directly responding to President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.

Trump slams energy deal between California and Britain, Politico reports

Gavin Newsom Responds to Right-Wing Media Over SAT Comment
California Governor Gavin Newsom lashed out at Sean Hannity and right-wing media for seizing on a comment he made during a promotional tour for his new memoir.

Newsom says 'fate' will decide if he faces off against Harris in 2028 presidential primary
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., avoided answering whether he plans to face off against former Vice President Kamala Harris in a 2028 presidential primary.

Gavin Newsom discusses a potential 2028 matchup with Kamala Harris and why his son doesn’t want him to run
California Governor Gavin Newsom discusses a potential 2028 presidential matchup with Kamala Harris and reveals his son's reluctance for him to run.

California Governor Newsom Kicks Off Book Tour in Nashville, Targets Red States
California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom began his book tour in Nashville, Tennessee, using the opportunity to criticize 'red states' while visiting a state that has attracted many Californians seeking a different business and political environment.

'I’m really so sick of him’: Outrage as Nick Fuentes says there are ‘no female philosophers or inventors’
White supremacist Nick Fuentes controversially claimed women are only fit for sex, citing a lack of female philosophers, inventors, generals, and billionaires. His remarks sparked widespread backlash online, with users sharing examples of accomplished women like Marie Curie and Gladys West, highlighting the inventor of the bulletproof vest and even noting Fuentes' endorsement of Gavin Newsom.

Democratic Presidential Speculation for 2028 Heats Up
Speculation is growing about potential Democratic presidential nominees for 2028, with Maryland Governor Wes Moore denying ambitions while California Governor Gavin Newsom is considered a front-runner.

Newsom Proposes Naming Rest Stop After Trump as a Troll
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed naming a rest stop in Vallejo after Donald Trump, in what is seen as his latest attempt to troll the former president.

California Governor and Tennessee Senator Spar on X
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn engaged in a public dispute on X, highlighting political tensions between the two states.

Gavin Newsom's Political Ambitions and Challenges
California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a tough sell to American Democratic voters despite his international appeal, as he navigates the political landscape.

High-Speed Rail CEO Arrested After Event with Governor
The CEO of a high-speed rail company was arrested in Folsom just hours after attending an event with Governor Gavin Newsom.

Gavin Newsom Unveils Mortgage Relief Plan for Wildfire Victims
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a mortgage relief plan for victims of the LA wildfires, over a year after the disaster, as residents report difficulties rebuilding due to regulatory issues.

Politicsbloombergzerohedge7d ago2 sources Newsom Urges European Allies to View Trump as Temporary
California Governor Gavin Newsom has appealed to US allies in Europe, encouraging them to perceive a potential future Trump presidency as a temporary phase.

Eat The Rich: California Democrats Trigger Reverse Gold Rush With Wealth Tax
Eat The Rich: California Democrats Trigger Reverse Gold Rush With Wealth Tax
Authored by Jonathan Turley,
This month, the anniversary of the California Gold Rush came and passed with little mention … for good reason. When James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill, millions traveled great distances to seek their fortune in the “Golden State.”
Now, 178 years later, California has engineered an inverse Gold Rush, virtually chasing wealth from the state. Rather than covered wagons going West, there is a line of U-Hauls going anywhere other than California.
From boondoggle projects to reparations, California politicians continue to rack up new spending projects despite a soaring deficit and shrinking tax base.
Rather than exercise a modicum of fiscal restraint, Democrats are pushing through a tax that takes five percent of the wealth of any billionaires left in the state.
I have long criticized the tax as perfectly moronic for a state with the highest tax burden and one of the highest flight rates of top taxpayers.
In my new book, “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution,” I discuss the reversal of fortunes in California and other blue states as politicians unleash new “eat the rich” campaigns before the midterm elections.
The problem, of course, is that billionaires are mobile, as is their wealth. Liberals expect billionaires to stay put in a type of voluntary canned hunt. They are not. Billionaires are joining the growing exodus from the state, taking their companies, investments, and jobs with them.
The latest billionaire to be chased off may be Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is reportedly heading for Florida.
The growing departures have triggered outrage among many on the left, who are in disbelief that billionaires will just not stand still to be fleeced.
Former New York Magazine editor Kara Swisher captured that rage in a recent posting, declaring “you made…all your money in California, you ungrateful piece of s***, you could figure out a way to pay more taxes, and we deserve the taxes from you, given you made your wealth here . . . so why don’t we just do shock and awe at this point, because you don’t seem to be availing yourself to thinking that you owe your state something more.”
By some estimates, California has already cost over a trillion dollars in lost investments and business. That is no small achievement.
Here’s a mind teaser: How can you burn a trillion dollars (which would create a stack some 67,866 miles high) without taking years and destroying the environment?
California politicians have a solution: Have people take it out of the state in a reverse gold rush.
In addition to saying that they want to grab 5 percent of the wealth of these billionaires, California Democrats are planning to base wealth calculations on the voting shares of corporate executives. Often, particularly with start-ups, entrepreneurs have greater voting shares than actual ownership. However, they will be taxed as if voting shares amounted to actual wealth.
In other words, California is moving to nuke the entrepreneurs who created the Silicon Valley boom.
Emmanuel Saez, the U.C. Berkeley economist who helped design the tax, insists that they may not want to stay, but they will still be tapped. They are planning to trap the wealthy fleeing the state retroactively: “The tax is based on residence as of Jan. 1, 2026, sharply limiting their ability to flee the state to avoid paying. Despite billionaires’ threats to leave, I think extremely few will have been able to change residence by Jan. 1, given the complexity of doing so.”
The effort to retroactively impose such a tax is legally controversial and will face years of challenges. In my view, this is unconstitutional, but admittedly it is a murky area.
Regardless of the outcome, a wealth tax will affect a wide range of other wealthy taxpayers. If Democrats can get a retroactive wealth tax to be upheld, it is doubtful that they will stop with billionaires. Why should other top taxpayers stick around to find out where the next cull will fall in the tax brackets?
Recently, Gavin Newsom boasted, “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace.” That is undeniably true if the measure is the record number of U-Hauls fleeing the state — more than any other state. Indeed, the only thing harder to find than a wealthy taxpayer in California appears to be a U-Haul.
According to U-Haul’s data, the state is again leading blue states in the exodus. The Washington Post noted recently that “California came in last. Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey rounded out the bottom five. Of the bottom 10, seven voted blue in the last election.” Conversely, “nine of the top 10 growth states voted red in the last presidential election,” with Texas again leading the growth states.
The Post put it succinctly, “People want to live in pro-growth, low-tax states, while the biggest losers tend to be places with big governments and high taxes.”
The problem is that, while the economics are horrific, the politics remain irresistible.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents part of Silicon Valley, recently mocked billionaires rushing to escape the state. Laughing at his own constituents, Khanna quipped, “I will miss them very much.”
You will not be alone as California becomes known as the La Brea Tar Pit of taxation.
They are on the verge of converting the state motto from “Eureka” to “Welcome to Hotel California, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/14/2026 - 20:15

Gavin Newsom's spokesperson uses expletive when asked for dyslexia diagnosis records
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's communications director responded with an expletive to a reporter's request for records related to the governor's dyslexia diagnosis.

Nicki Minaj Accuses California Governor Newsom of Disrespecting Black Voters
Nicki Minaj has publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of treating Black voters as 'stupid' during a speaking engagement in Georgia.

Gavin Newsom Criticized for Comment on Reading to Black Voters
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash for a comment he made to Black voters, stating 'I'm like you' and that he struggles with reading.

Gavin Newsom's 2028 Presidential Ambitions Face Domestic Opposition
California Governor Gavin Newsom is being touted as a favorite for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, but he is reportedly facing resistance and challenges at home.

California Governor Newsom Responds to GOP at Nashville Event
California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a pointed message to Republicans at an event in Nashville, stating 'Eat your heart out, Marsha.'

California Governor Newsom Backs Social Media Age Restrictions
California Governor Gavin Newsom has voiced support for legislation to restrict social media access for teenagers, citing his experience as a parent and the need for help in managing youth online engagement.

PoliticsReutersBBCSCMP+4The IndependentYahooDawnJakarta Post3d ago7 sources Gavin Newsom Trolls Trump Over Apparent Drowsiness at Board of Peace Event
California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked former President Donald Trump for appearing drowsy during the first meeting of the Board of Peace, suggesting Trump was asleep.

Stephen A. Smith Challenges California Governor Gavin Newsom on Homelessness and Crime
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith publicly called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to address the state's issues with homelessness and crime, expressing his desire for Newsom to appear on his show.

PoliticsAPReutersbloomberg+2wsjThe Independent5d ago5 sources Pope Leo Rejects Trump's 'Board of Peace' Invite
Pope Leo XIV has rejected Donald Trump's invitation to join a 'Board of Peace,' instead backing the UN to resolve global crises.

White House questions Newsom’s UK climate pact, blasts ‘green energy scam’
White House escalates clash with Gavin Newsom, accusing the California governor of using his recent Europe trip and UK climate deal to "audition for president."

The most unusual presidential candidate: Newsom is dyslexic, struggles with speeches, rejects 'liberal' label
Presidential front-runner Gavin Newsom's hidden struggle with severe dyslexia shapes his daily life and political career in challenging ways.
Newsom Takes Anti-Trump Message to Europe
California Governor Gavin Newsom is presenting his anti-Trump arguments in Europe, specifically during the Munich Security Conference.

PoliticsThe GuardianFox NewsSCMP7d ago3 sources California governor ‘a loser’, says Trump as state signs green energy deal with UK
Gavin Newsom angers president over ‘inappropriate’ agreement on scaling up technologies and ties with UK

UK and California Sign Clean Energy Cooperation Agreement
UK minister Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom have struck a clean energy deal to foster technology sharing and mutual investment in the sector.

Call for Democrats to Adopt 'Culturally Normal' Stance on Transgender Athletes
California Governor Gavin Newsom urges the Democratic Party to adopt a more 'culturally normal' position on issues like transgender athletes in women's sports to improve their electoral success.

Newsom tells Georgia crowd, 'I am like you ... I'm a 960 SAT guy'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed he's a "960 SAT guy" who "cannot read a speech" due to dyslexia in a candid Atlanta book tour moment.

PoliticsFox Newshindustan-timeszerohedge14h ago3 sources Gavin Newsom's ‘960 SAT score’ remark sparks backlash on social media; ‘What an insult!’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom faced backlash after an Atlanta remark about his low SAT score was seen as racist by critics, especially MAGA supporters.

California Governor Confronted on State's High Cost of Living
California Governor Gavin Newsom was questioned on CNN regarding the state's affordability crisis, with prices reportedly 11% higher than the national average.

California Governor Newsom Kicks Off Book Tour in Nashville, Targeting Red States
California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom began his book tour in Nashville, Tennessee, a state attracting Californians with its business-friendly environment and conservative politics, where he criticized the policies driving residents away.

Newsom Authorizes $590 Million Emergency Loan for Bay Area Transit
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to provide a $590 million emergency loan to Bay Area transit agencies.

Early 2028 Presidential Poll Shows Buttigieg Leading in New Hampshire
Pete Buttigieg is leading early 2028 presidential polling in New Hampshire, with Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tied for second.

BusinessBusiness InsiderYahoo4d ago2 sources Canadian travellers have not gotten over their beef with Trump, and snowbird destinations could feel the pinch
Snowbird destinations from Palm Springs to southern Florida are feeling the impact as Canadians remain hesitant about traveling to the US.
Sarah Gray/Business Insider
New data from Longwoods International shows Canadians are still hesitant about traveling to the US.
Major snowbird destinations from Palm Springs, California, to southern Florida are feeling the impact.
Canadians are opting for Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean instead, or for domestic travel.
Canadian travellers are still unhappy with President Donald Trump, and that's affecting the 2026 outlook of visitors to the US from Canada.
In 2025, there was a noticeable travel chill from the US's northern neighbor, following President Donald Trump's quips about the "51st state" and the levying of hefty tariffs.
A January survey of more than 1,000 Canadian prospective travelers found that they remain hesitant to travel to the US and would rather support domestic tourism, according to Longwoods International, a tourism industry market research company.
According to Longwoods International, 55% of surveyed Canadian travelers report that they intend to travel to the US within the next 12 months, which remains mostly unchanged from 54% reported in October 2025. Among those who intend to make the trip, only 9% say they have already made bookings.
In 2025, 4 million fewer Canadian travelers visited the US than the previous year, marking a 22% drop, according to the US Commerce Department's National Travel and Tourism Office.
Seventy-three percent of Canadian respondents to the latest survey, who said they changed their 2026 travel plans to avoid the US, cited economic policies and tariffs.
Other factors are also at work. More than 40% of respondents told Longwoods International that they strongly or somewhat disagree that the US is a place that values international travelers, welcomes travelers with diverse backgrounds, is a safe place to visit, and feels welcoming in general, and the number of Canadians who agree that the US feels safe to visit has been declining over the past year.
Popular destinations for Canadian snowbirds, such as southern California and Florida, have been trying to woo them back. But it appears that those attempts have fallen flat as Trump continues to threaten Canada with tariffs and recently threatened to delay the opening of a bridge Canada paid for.
In 2025, California's Gov. Gavin Newsom began trying to convince Canadians with targeted video campaigns that California welcomes them. Recently, heart-shaped banners featuring the Canadian flag also popped up in Palm Springs, which, according to the Los Angeles Times, is feeling a chill this winter from fewer Canadian tourists.
"Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in DC, but don't let that ruin your beach plans," Newsom said in a campaign video. "California is the ultimate playground — over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset."
According to Visit California, the number of Canadian visitors to the state still fell by over 18% in 2025 compared to the year prior, slipping to 1.4 million. In 2024, Visit California showed that 1.7 million Canadians visited the state and spent around $3.7 billion.
Even Disney, the happiest place on earth, is feeling the impact as international travelers skip the US. In the Walt Disney Company's first-quarter earnings report earlier in February, the company said it is facing "international visitation headwinds" at its US parks, including Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.
Visit Florida lists Canada as the state's top source of international visitors, with around 3.4 million travelers from Canada to the state in 2024. In 2025, the state saw a 15% year-over-year drop, according to Visit Florida, with only 2.9 million visitors from Canada.
Canadian airlines Air Transat and WestJet are also suspending all or some flights from Canada to the US this summer.
"We saw a notable decline in transborder travel demand throughout 2025," Julia Kaiser, media relations advisor for WestJet, told Global News earlier in February. "As a result, we made timely decisions to modify our network to stay aligned with where Canadians want to go."
The slowdown in trips to the US doesn't mean that Canadians are no longer traveling. Longwoods International said that 45% of Canadian travelers who changed their plans for a US trip now say they would substitute it with a domestic trip, while about a quarter of prospective travelers are looking toward Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
As of February 17, China also opened up visa-free entry for all Canadian citizens, allowing up to 30 days of travel for business, tourism, family visits, or transit.
Read the original article on Business Insider

California Wealth Tax Opponents Intensify Efforts Before Bernie Sanders Visit
The opponents’ latest moves include online ads tied to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a crypto-related push to raise money and competing ballot measures.

PoliticsFox NewsThe IndependentYahoo6d ago3 sources AOC Mocked for 'Train Wreck' Weekend on Global Stage
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing widespread mockery for what critics are calling an 'absolute train wreck' weekend of gaffes during her visit to Germany.

High-Speed Rail CEO Arrested in Folsom Hours After Event with Governor Newsom
The CEO of a high-speed rail company was arrested in Folsom just hours after attending an event with California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Pelosi Appears To Have Picked Their Candidate For President In 2028
Pelosi Appears To Have Picked Their Candidate For President In 2028
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) may be retiring from Congress at the end of this term, but she's not done trying to shape presidential races. The 85-year-old former House speaker has turned into what one former aide calls "a Gavin fan-girl," deploying her legendary donor network and political capital to boost California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a 2028 White House contender. The move lands as a calculated slight to Kamala Harris, who polls ahead of Newsom nationally but appears to have lost Pelosi's confidence after the 2024 debacle.
According to a report from Axios, Pelosi has spent months publicly and privately vouching for Newsom.
"From the standpoint of leadership, vision, and values, knowledge of the issues, strategic thinking about how to get things done, he's masterful," she told The New Yorker. She told Vogue earlier this month, “I’ve seen him grow politically, I've also seen him have this beautiful family, and for all of us who love him, seeing him evolve has been wonderful to behold.”
She’s even trying to help Newsom shed the perception of coming from privilege, telling The Atlantic, "Everybody thinks of Gavin and a silver spoon. But that isn't right. He was a very hard worker in everything that he did, whether it was personally, professionally, and then civically."
This week, Pelosi told Politico that Newsom "would make a great president," though she added Democrats have many strong potential candidates.
The hedge shouldn’t fool anyone.
Pelosi isn’t likely to gush unless she's decided. Former aides say she's been eager to publicly vouch for Newsom whenever asked and has privately admired how he's navigated Trump "with a combination of defiance and charm." One former staffer said Pelosi "doesn't crush on many people" and added, "She's hardly ever wrong. When she says she sees something, it's a real thing."
Of course, Pelosi’s connection to Newsom isn’t limited to politics. Her brother-in-law was married to Newsom's aunt, and Pelosi frequently says she knew Newsom before he was born. Politically, they’ve been connected for years, as she's mentored him since his days as San Francisco mayor, watching him rise through California politics like a puppet master or a kingmaker.
While Pelosi is reportedly focused on helping Democrats retake the House in November and making Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaker, she’s clearly looking to the future and sees Newsom as the next leader of the party who will bring Democrats to the White House. This may be a significant vote of confidence for Newsom, but it’s also an undeniable betrayal of another California Democrat, Kamala Harris.
Pelosi endorsed Harris quickly after Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, reportedly frustrating Barack Obama, who wanted a more open process.
“The Obamas were not happy,” a Pelosi confidant told ABC’s Jonathan Karl for his book Retribution. 'This person summed up Obama's message to Pelosi as, essentially, "What the f*** did you just do?"'
Harris lost badly to Trump, spending more than a billion dollars in the process, leaving many major donors deeply disillusioned with her. Pelosi’s support would have gone a long way to repair the damage, but Pelosi appears to have moved on.
Harris leads the 2028 field with a 27.5 percent national polling average, according to Race to the White House, while Newsom trails at 22.7%. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sits at 9%, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 8.7%, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 4.9%, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at 3.4%.
Neither Newsom nor Harris has publicly announced their intent to seek the presidency, but both are reportedly considering, which makes Pelosi's public courtship of Newsom a calculated snub. Pelosi's endorsements carry weight with the donor class and party elites who decide primaries long before voters cast ballots. By elevating Newsom now, she's signaling to those constituencies where the smart money should flow.
Whether Pelosi's bet pays off depends on factors beyond her control. Newsom has baggage from California's struggles with homelessness, crime, and out-migration on his watch. Harris, meanwhile, carries the weight of a failed campaign but has name recognition and institutional support, and isn’t a white male — a huge plus for a party that has gone all in on identity politics.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/16/2026 - 19:30

Nancy Pelosi Reportedly Backs Gavin Newsom for 2028 Presidential Run
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly views California Governor Gavin Newsom as a strong presidential candidate and supports his potential 2028 White House bid.

California Billionaires Increase Election Spending Amid Tech Regulation Push
As Governor Gavin Newsom's term concludes, California's ultra-wealthy are significantly increasing their political contributions, leveraging their influence to fight regulation and sustain the tech boom.