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ICYMI - A “Must Watch” Video On The Palisades Fire… And Six Stories In CA Politics From This Week on Newsom’s Making Everything Less Affordable, Trump’s AI EO, & More!
The “So, Does It Matter?” Substack featured a lot of great, original content this past week. Below are the highlights!
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This Sunday ICYMI edition is always free to all subscribers, and those who come and visit the Substack page. Please consider joining the paid community… Come on in. We’ve had a tremendous number of people, after seeing consistent, in-depth analysis and commentary for months, decide that it’s a great time to unlock 40% of our content. We have hundreds of paid subscribers. Please jump in, the water’s warm! Hit the big red button and see your options!
One “Must Watch” Video…
It’s a quiet Sunday, and you’ve just asked yourself, “If only I had something worthwhile to do with 25 minutes of my day?”
I have your answer (you’re welcome). This video on the Pacific Palisades Fire (from the origin through the tragic dysfunction that follow) is equal parts engrossing and tragic.
My friends at the Lincoln Media Foundation partnered with the creative talent of a local Palisades resident - Rob Montz - and they spent months asking how a disaster like this was allowed to unfold. We spent the last year interviewing locals, reviewing records, and digging for accountability where others wouldn’t. The scene that tells you everything you need to know is where Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass are having a media availability, while in the background a local bank building is burning down, with no one doing anything about it.
If, after watching, you agree with me there should be a part 2 — good news. They are raising money to fund that now! You can chip in if you are so motivated here.
Here it is…
SIX GREAT COLUMNS THAT RAN THIS WEEK ON - SO, DOES IT MATTER?
The first column below was afternoon content earlier in the week so it was mostly behind the paywall for our paid subscribers. But now it’s been unlocked so I would encourage you, if you weren’t able to at the time, to read it! Important stuff…
[Unlocked] Trump’s AI Preemption Order and the Quiet War on Federalism | ||||||
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![[Unlocked] Trump’s AI Preemption Order and the Quiet War on Federalism](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wjvp!,w_1300,h_650,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c3d43c0-a728-46a6-8b72-1ae8e99f3eb6_1536x1024.png) | ||||||
🕒 7-minute read | ||||||
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Below is a special two part series on how Gavin Newsom has made a concerted effort to make California the least affordable of the lower 48 states… The first story below details how much more expensive we have it here in California. Right below it is a breakout of the policies that took us here…
The Lack-Of-Affordability Machine Gavin Newsom Built — And Why Californians Are Paying the Price | ||||||
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This is the second of a two-part series examining California’s affordability crisis under Governor Gavin Newsom. While this column goes into the specific policies supported by Newsom that have made California a much more expensive state than the rest of the continental United States, Part One details the actual car crash scene - how bad off we are compa… | ||||||
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Top Ten Winners & Losers In California Politics For The Week Ending 12/12/25 - Newsom, Cal, SF, Long Beach, LA Council Pres, Auditor Parks, More... | ||||||
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Below is our Top Ten List of Winners and Losers for the Week. Well, this week it’s just Losers! This feature is available to all of our subscribers, free and paid. | ||||||
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An Interview With Jon Slavet -- Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, Businessman and Entrepreneur | ||||||
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This podcast is available to all subscribers. However, our exclusive “One More Thing” feature, in which we ask our weekly guest an additional question, is reserved for paid subscribers. You can get a free trial upgrade below… | ||||||
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California Patriot Profile: Tony Krvaric, The Steady Hand of a Disciplined GOP Operation in San Diego | ||||||
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Each week, we highlight a Californian whose work, influence, or integrity stands out in a state that too often rewards the opposite. Some earn their audience through activism, others through scholarship, and many through sustained persistence. These profiles are available to all subscribers and guests. At the end of this profile, our premium subscribers can watch a heartfelt video tribute about Tony from our Publisher, Jon Fleischman. | ||||||
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FOMO? No no.
There were a number of other posts last week that you will not want to have missed. If you want to check them out, you can go to the archive here and scroll down!
On This Date In History: 1911 - The First Expedition Reaches the South Pole
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On December 14, 1911, human beings reached one of the last truly unknown places on Earth. After weeks of brutal travel across Antarctica’s frozen wasteland, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his four-man team arrived at the geographic South Pole—beating their British rivals by more than a month.
The journey was a test of endurance and judgment. Temperatures plunged far below zero. Crevasses lay hidden beneath snow. Survival depended on meticulous planning, superior navigation, and a controversial but decisive reliance on sled dogs. Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag, pitched a small tent, and left behind a note—both a marker of triumph and a safeguard in case his party never returned.
The achievement marked a turning point in the age of exploration. It demonstrated that disciplined preparation and respect for extreme environments could overcome even the harshest conditions on Earth. The South Pole was no longer a blank spot on the map—but a testament to human resolve, courage, and ambition.
Here’s a great short video — with a very interesting fact at the end that makes Amundsen particularly notable!
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