California Dems nervous about Republicans speaking out and possibly losing control

California’s Democratic politicians like to say they’re leading the nation and the world with their bold, brave policies, but lately it looks like they’re trailing the parade.It’s not just that the inauguration of President Donald Trump brought a flood of different bold, brave policies — which California’s beleaguered taxpayers have been ordered by their state government to pay $50 million to oppose.It’s also that the state’s Democratic leaders, despite their party’s absolute control of California’s government, are acting nervous and snappish about a handful of Republicans speaking out on important issues.Even Gov.

Gavin Newsom, scratching for national relevance as he maneuvers toward a 2028 run for the presidency, is obsessing about the influence of Republican podcasts and trying to get himself in front of their audiences.On his own newly launched podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” California’s sitting governor chats breezily about policy with conservatives on the national scene, as if auditioning for a Sunday afternoon talk show.Casual viewers would never guess that Newsom is currently in office and actually has the power to do the things he says he supportsFor example, Newsom made news on the premiere edition of his podcast by agreeing with the conservative founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, that “it’s deeply unfair” to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.That prompted California Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli to ask why Newsom is not supporting his proposed legislation, Assembly Bill 844, which would reverse a 2013 state law that allowed biological boys to compete in girls’ sports.

“You’re the governor, not a commentator,” Essayli wrote in a post on X.A week earlier, Essayli was one of five outspoken Republicans who were removed from their committees late on a Friday night by the leader of the Democratic supermajority in the Assembly, Speaker Robert Rivas.No misconduct was cited.

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