This was a colorful episode that Newsom managed to patch over with lies and deception. He later appointed his close adviser, Phil Ginsburg to rule over his own Recreation and Park Department fiefdom.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/28/gavin-newsom-ruby-rippey-affair-vanity-fair
Jennifer Seibel Newsom has been a staunch defender of her husband.
Note that the Trust for Public Land, NOT the state government, will be administering this!
This is interesting! She is not the brightest bulb (she once registered as an American Independent Party voter believing that that was registering as an independent!) but she has been a fierce warrior for the hegemony of wealthy women.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/jennifer-siebel-newsom-conservative-criticism
Newsom cowardly backs down on calling Gaza a genocide!
Gavin Newsom says Israel is genocidal until they aren’t….
Backtracking, probably because of pushback. Predictable!
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/03/24/gavin-newsom-interview-trump-2028-israel-00840635
The NY Times reports:
The arrest and indictment of Dana Williamson, the governor’s former chief of staff, sent shock waves through Sacramento in particular. Though no elected officials have been charged, Ms. Williamson, a Democrat, has been one of the state’s top power brokers for years, having run the offices of Mr. Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Most of the charges against her stem from what prosecutors described as a complex scheme to skim money from the campaign account of Xavier Becerra, a former Biden administration official and Democratic congressman now running for California governor. Federal prosecutors say that Ms. Williamson conspired to direct $225,000 from a dormant political account to Mr. Becerra’s right-hand man.
Two of Ms. Williamson’s associates also have been charged, albeit with only one or two crimes after agreeing to plea deals — the aide to Mr. Becerra who received the funds, Sean McCluskie, and a Sacramento lobbyist, Greg Campbell.
But because of whom Ms. Williamson and Mr. McCluskie worked for, insiders have been discussing if the unfolding case could now affect Mr. Becerra’s bid for governor — or even Mr. Newsom’s expected run for president in 2028.
The LA Times reports:
She also is accused of lying on her tax returns about luxury items and services, including a $150,000 birthday trip to Mexico, that she allegedly sought to pass off as business expenses, according to the government.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-11-14/dana-williamson-newsom-aide-profile-federal-indictment
The indictment.
From the text:
“So when my friend and brother Van Lathan simply brought up AIPAC on Higher Learning and said…
“I will not vote for a candidate that takes $1 from AIPAC.”
—I expected a straightforward answer. A yes. A no. A why.
“Instead, Gavin short-circuited. He said “that’s interesting” again and again (Mediaite counted seven), claimed Van was “the first to bring up AIPAC in years,” called AIPAC “not relevant to my day-to-day life,” and tried to pivot to Prop 50, city councils, school boards—anything but a clear stance.“
More from King here:
https://www.thenorthstar.com/p/the-aipac-question-that-broke-the
“California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, signed a law to hold a special election in November in which voters in will be asked to approve a new congressional map, tilted in favor of Democrats, for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, if Texas goes ahead with a plan to do the same for Republicans.” — The Guardian
This is a path to the bottom! While it is horrible, what tRump is doing in Texas, this just starts a war with no end and no possible victors!
