National Review's Radio Free California Podcast Episode 420: The Noise Behind Newsom’s Very Quiet Week
Dec 3, 2025
This week, California's Governor Gavin Newsom had a surprisingly quiet profile, but whispers of a crashing budget and dissent from allies suggest otherwise. He made headlines by ordering flags at half-staff following a tragic shooting. Amid rising Hollywood support for a possible presidential run in 2028, he took a jab at Trump. A failed tech project and the arrest of his former chief of staff add to the drama. Meanwhile, debates around the state’s budget gap and a potential wealth tax heat up as unions voice their concerns.
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9-1-1 Tech Upgrade Scrapped
- California abandoned a $450 million next-gen 911 system after it failed at activation.
- Will Swaim frames this as another technology-led initiative that fell short under Newsom.
Chief Of Staff Arrested Amid Probe
- Newsom's chief of staff Dana Williamson was arrested in a federal embezzlement probe tied to campaign funds.
- Newsom says he was alerted a year earlier and suggests partisan motives in the prosecution.
AI Advisor's Conflicts Raise Flags
- David Sachs, an AI advisor in the White House, faces conflict-of-interest concerns for promoting Silicon Valley while investing there.
- The New York Times documents his access and policies that alarm some White House colleagues.
