Free Republic

It seems impossible — or just too revolting — to keep up with the financial hanky-panky of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner (gag) Jennifer Siebel Newsom. But thanks to a couple of investigative reporters with stronger stomachs than I have, let's see if I can't put everything you need to know into one easily digestible column. I love it when other people do my dirty work for me, so let's get started. "Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list," Newsom practically boasted on Monday. "He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom went public Monday with a dramatic claim: President Trump, he said, had directed the Department of Justice to investigate him and his wife. But the update that followed makes the story much bigger than Newsom’s video. Reporting now points to multiple federal probes around Newsom’s circle, including one related to Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s taxes and another connected to a former Newsom chief of staff that began under Joe Biden’s Justice Department. Eric Daugherty posted the update with the Newsom video as the story started moving: ============================================================= Newsom’s office posted an official transcript of his remarks on...

Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime - they are simply trying to find one.He isn't coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.… pic.twitter.com/tVYk3WUvO8— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 15, 2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Department of Justice is investigating him, claiming that President Donald Trump is targeting a “political enemy” despite no evidence the Democratic potential 2028 presidential contender has committed a crime. Newsom said in a video posted to social media that Trump’s administration is also targeting his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that his administration will seek to impose a 100 percent tax on any California residents who receive money from President Donald Trump’s newly created $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Speaking to reporters, Newsom denounced the fund as a “slush fund” and pledged to block Californians from financially benefiting from it. “Anyone from California that receives any of those funds, we want to tax 100 percent of those proceeds,” Newsom said during a press conference. “He pardoned all of those folks that were beating up cops and absolved them, providing them 1.776 billion dollars,” Newsom said....

A shelter-in-place order has been issued as crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department battle a large two-alarm fire in an industrial building in South Gate Sunday. The fire was first reported around 2 p.m., with units arriving in the 18000 block of Industrial Avenue to find a one-story building fully engulfed in flames. Heavy smoke prompted crews to take a defensive approach to the blaze. Officials with the South Gate Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order for residents and businesses around Garfield Avenue and Imperial Highway.

(The Epoch Times)—The head of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Sunday that a chemical storage tank in Southern California that has forced officials to declare an emergency and prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands residents is likely to fail. Initially, officials said that 40,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Friday, namely in the Orange County city of Garden Grove. That number had risen to 50,000 by Sunday. Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the EPA, told CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday that the “most likely scenario” is a “low-volume release” of the tank, where officials...

Gavin Newsom has pleaded with Donald Trump for help in containing the Orange County chemical plant as officials warned there was still a risk of catastrophe. The California governor asked the president to issue a federal emergency declaration to bring in more support as the Garden Grove disaster continued into a fifth day. It comes as officials on Sunday revealed they had found a crack in the container that could be easing pressure in what they described as a “critically positive” moment. Meanwhile around 50,000 people have had their lives upended amid a mandatory evacuation zone in the immediate area,...

It's not a big secret that California's gas is so expensive compared to most of the rest of the country because of its taxes and regulations. But Chevron drove that point home when they explained to drivers why the gas is always more in California with signs they put up at their stations. The signs carry messages like: “Sacramento policies did this. Now, you pay more." Others saying, “California has the highest gas taxes and fees in America.” Chevron spokesperson Ross Allen explained more. “They have a 61-cent excise tax on every gallon of gasoline. That’s the highest in the...

SNIP The governor revealed the secret contingency plan to prevent two Republicans from advancing in the governor election — as polls show Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton near the top of the field in the packed race. Newsom alluded to “action efforts” behind the scenes to make sure Democrats aren’t locked out of the governor’s race, saying he “making my case” to “encourage that doesn’t happen.” Recent surveys show Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra and Hilton as favorites among registered voters, with billionaire Tom Steyer, Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco and Democrat Katie Porter trailing a few points behind.

Gavin Newsom hasn’t launched his rumored White House bid, but already has one deep-pocketed Hollywood billionaire fully in his corner. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is all in on Newsom for president in 2028 — gushing over the publicity-loving California governor as a Democrat who can unify the flailing party and beat a Republican successor to President Donald Trump. “Gavin is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center,” Hastings told the LA Times. The comments come as Newsom not-so-subtly lays the groundwork for a presidential bid — raising millions through a national committee, Campaign for Democracy, and...

The founder of an organic baby formula company has branded Gavin Newsom’s plan to offer free diapers to all new babies born in the state as “grifting nonsense.” Newsom announced the Golden State Start initiative on Friday, a partnership with nonprofit Baby2Baby that will give every newborn delivered in participating hospitals 400 diapers for free.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom did his best to insult several Southern states in a social media post Thursday. “Confederate states are rushing through rigged maps to erase Black districts off the map,” Newsom wrote above a map demonstrating the possible effects of redistricting in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It is strange we should have “black districts” in the first place. Newsom makes no acknowledgement of this. “If this doesn’t make you angry, it should,” Newsom continued. (An aside: Why wouldn’t a dispassionate analysis suffice? I find the constant encouragement to anger, or joy,...

The 2028 Democratic primary has already begun — and this time, the candidates aren’t trying to hide it. Potential contenders including former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are openly embracing — or at least acknowledging — their interest in a White House run. It’s a departure from the political gamesmanship that once defined presidential politics, when would-be candidates sought to intentionally cloud their intentions out of fear that acknowledging them could backfire. It also reflects the wide-open nature of the race, with no clear front-runner — or anointed figure — for the first time in years....

Mark Twain is rightly considered one of America's best and most beloved writers. His first commercial success was a short story about the California Gold Rush titled The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Published in 1865, it highlighted people's extraordinary gullibility when a tale is told well enough, and the storyteller can charm his listeners into believing anything. That's a description of the current governor of California and possible next Democratic Party presidential candidate. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was a natural when he ran for governor in 2018. It was like he walked off a movie set and into...

As Kamala Harris uses California Highway Patrol officers as her security detail, Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration will not release records or provide information on how much it's costing taxpayers. As KCRA 3 first reported in February, dozens of CHP officers have been assigned to Kamala Harris and her international book tour. In response to a California Public Records Act request submitted by KCRA 3 earlier this month, the California Highway Patrol confirmed on Monday that it has records related to the situation, but will not release them, citing a section of state law that protects law enforcement and security-related records....

Democrats have allowed the craziest wing of the Party to lead on messaging and policy In 2025 Democrats’ approval ratings were in the tank. Remember? CNN’s Harry Enten warned in July 2025 of Democrats’ plummeting approval ratings. He said a blue wave is far from a guarantee in the fall 2026 midterms, and warned that Americans still trust Republicans more than Democrats on issues. The Democratic Party’s approval rating is “lower than the Dead Sea,” Enten even said. Enten said “the seat-by-seat landscape in the House isn’t the most appealing for Democrats. Both the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom teared up Wednesday when announcing an expansion of the state’s Service Corps geared at recruiting young men. “Forgive me, this is embarrassing,” he said, as his eyes welled. “All the noise, we just need to turn off. Listen to this, this is it,” he continued while wiping tears off his face. “We’re all just sitting there, screaming and yelling at each other, everybody’s getting at each other’s throats, trying to tear everybody down, and how are we going to get out of this? This is it,” he went on. The governor’s teary showcase was in response...

Gavin Newsom, the California governor leading the suit against Donald Trump, criticized Benjamin Netanyahu. Newsom said he is “one hundred percent a proud Zionist” but cannot support the direction Netanyahu ..

Republican House Oversight Committee members announced that the committee had launched an investigation into claims of hospice fraud in California. “Despite clear red flags, it appears California leaders have enabled hospice providers to DEFRAUD hardworking American taxpayers,” Chairman James Comer wrote on X. “The House Oversight Committee is moving to protect taxpayer funds from waste, fraud, and abuse.” The outrage started in January when Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said California owed over $1 billion in Medicaid funds improperly used for health care for illegal aliens.