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It’s been a while since I’ve done a “Hot Takes” column… Do you like these? If you’re a subscriber, just hit reply and let me know, or click the like button below. I can do more of these…
Hot Takes…
CONGRESSMAN KEVIN KILEY- “GAMESHOWING” HIS POLITICAL PLANS
I have no doubt that Democrats in Sacramento took great glee in carving up the Republican U.S. House district of U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley and dividing it among six different districts. None of them red except I guess the 5th, where if he ran, it would be in a battle with fellow Republican Tom McClintock. Kiley currently represents about 5% of that district, while McClintock represents some 80%. Of the five other seats, he has been dribbling out X posts on the seats he is NOT running for. On January 12, he posted on X [ [link removed] ] that he would not be running in the new 4th District. And then on Monday of this week, he posted again on X [ [link removed] ], saying he would not be running in the new 1st District. Kevin is a bulldog as a campaigner, so whichever seat it is, look for a hard-fought campaign...
But slowly narrowing his options in public... It’s kind of like watching a game show, I suppose. Which seat will he end up running for? 3? 5? 6? 7? Spin the wheel!
CBS REPORT: SCATHING REPORT ON DEMOCRATS’ OVERWHELMING IGNORING OF STATE AUDITOR RECOMMENDATIONS
A new CBS News analysis confirms what frustrated taxpayers already suspected: California’s Democrat-run Legislature routinely ignores the watchdogs meant to prevent waste, fraud, and government failure. Despite repeated audits flagging serious breakdowns, lawmakers have failed to act on most recommended fixes. These are not partisan attacks; they are formal warnings from the state’s own independent auditor. Yet in a Capitol dominated by a Democratic supermajority, accountability consistently takes a back seat to politics.
Audits have warned about massive unemployment fraud, weak oversight of homelessness spending, unsafe drinking water in vulnerable communities, and gaps in public safety systems — and lawmakers still failed to follow through. The same problems resurface year after year while costs rise and trust erodes. It is not just bureaucratic dysfunction; it is a pattern of neglect made possible by one-party rule. Check out the CBS report here [ [link removed] ] (don’t skip the 4-minute video story).
MY FIRST COLUMN FOR THE NEW CALIFORNIA POST
The California Post has officially arrived to shake up the staid, left-leaning media landscape that has dominated coverage in the Golden State for years. Launched January 26 as the West Coast sibling to the New York Post, this digital-first and print tabloid aims to inject plain-spoken, common-sense journalism into California discourse — with cheeky front pages, brash reporting, and a focus on the issues everyday residents care about: homelessness, crime, affordability, tech, and government accountability.
In my first column, I break down why this launch matters: a bold new media voice is stepping into the fray at a time when legacy outlets are shrinking, public trust is sagging, and Californians are starving for honest reporting that holds power to account rather than placates it. — Check out my column [ [link removed] ] and the Post!
CALIFORNIA’S $236M CARE COURT FIASCO EXPOSED
California taxpayers were sold a big dream and got a tiny return. Gavin Newsom’s much-hyped CARE Court — a so-called “care first” mental health program backed with $236 million in state dollars — was supposed to help tens of thousands of Californians break the cycle of homelessness, jail, and ER visits. Instead, after four years, only 22 people have been court-ordered into treatment, according to reporting from the Daily Mail.
That is 22 people after hundreds of millions spent, layers of bureaucracy built, and years of political self-congratulation. While consultants, administrators, and agencies collected funding, the people this program was supposed to help largely remained on the streets. It is a familiar California pattern: splashy announcements, glowing press conferences, and almost no measurable results. This is not compassionate governance — it is expensive, ineffective theater funded by taxpayers. Read the full article [ [link removed] ].
CALIFORNIA LOSING CLOUT: PROJECTED FOUR SEAT LOSS FOR CALIFORNIA AFTER 2030 CENSUS
California’s political muscle is shrinking. New census-based analyses show that after decades of booming representation, the Golden State is now on track to lose four U.S. House seats in the 2030 reapportionment cycle — a stunning reversal from the historic growth that once made it the nation’s dominant delegation. This projected decline stems from stagnant population growth, heavy domestic out-migration, and an unaffordable cost of living that is driving residents to Texas, Florida, and other states gaining congressional power.
This is not just about seats — it is about electoral votes, federal leverage, and partisan power. Fewer House seats mean fewer Electoral College votes, making it significantly harder for Democrats to assemble a winning presidential map in 2032. As population flows shift political weight toward red-leaning states, California’s decades-long role as a Democratic anchor weakens. Read more here [ [link removed] ].
CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT FRAUD EXPLODES: LEFT’S SLUSH FUNDS AND OZ INVESTIGATION
Coverage in the California Globe highlights what should be a political earthquake for Sacramento: widespread nonprofit fraud tied to government funding, which has drawn the attention of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Southern District of California and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). State contracts meant to help the homeless, hospice patients, and vulnerable residents have allegedly been diverted into luxury lifestyles or wasted entirely, with one Los Angeles nonprofit executive accused of siphoning off millions meant for public services into mansions, cars, and lavish living.
Dr. Oz and federal prosecutors say California has become one of the epicenters of healthcare and social-service fraud in the country, with hospice and home-care programs now under intense scrutiny. This is not corruption on the margins — it’s a systemic failure of oversight and accountability. Look for this scandal to break big in the coming weeks and months. — Read the Globe write-up [ [link removed] ].
JOEL FOX: A FRIEND, A VOICE, AND A LEGACY REMEMBERED
I’ve written before about the passing of longtime friend Joel Fox — a thoughtful, principled voice in California politics whose impact extended far beyond party lines. Now, there is a deeply moving tribute to his life and work penned by Joe Mathews at the old Fox & Hounds Daily [ [link removed] ] website [ [link removed] ] that captures the essence of who Joel was: a connector, a challenger of conventional thinking, and a quiet force for honest public discourse. His contributions as a publisher, commentator, and friend helped shape conversations and build community across ideological divides.
Joel also recorded a State of Gold [ [link removed] ] Podcast Interview [ [link removed] ] just before his passing, which actually he never got to see air…
WHEN SACRAMENTO PARTIES WHILE CALIFORNIANS SUFFER
I don’t know what’s worse: decades of left-wing dominance in Sacramento literally sucking the life out of this state and everyone’s wallets, or reading about the partying and gluttony that goes on while they do it. CalMatters just reported on the annual “Back to Session Bash” — a swanky kickoff party where lawmakers, staffers, and lobbyists gather for free food, top-shelf tequila, cigars, and live music courtesy of tribal gaming interests and other powerful players seeking influence in the Capitol.
This is not grassroots outreach or neighborhood town halls — it is insiders celebrating with lobbyists while Californians face an affordability crisis, a homelessness crisis, and rising costs across the board. While families struggle with rent, gas, groceries, and insurance, political elites sip luxury drinks on someone else’s dime and insist it does not shape policy. Voters watching their state become less livable may see it differently. Read about the party scene in a thorough story at CalMatters [ [link removed] ].
Make today a great day!
Jon

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