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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, WE MISSED SOMETHING! Final Day of Prop 50 Hearings, Another Bad Year for California, 8 CA Agencies Deemed "High Risk," Karen Bass Wants Re-elected, and More...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, WE MISSED SOMETHING! Final Day of Prop 50 Hearings, Another Bad Year for California, 8 CA Agencies Deemed "High Risk," Karen Bass Wants Re-elected, and More...

December 18, 2025

Do read these stories and posts and tell us what gets you OUTRAGED the most (and what makes you smile)!

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First off… The Big News 👇

BREAKING NEWS

Final Day of Prop 50 Hearings…

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

On the final day of hearings for Proposition 50, sharp legal and constitutional questions took center stage, especially around whether race was improperly used in drawing the new congressional districts.
Plaintiffs argued that the maps created under Prop 50 were racially gerrymandered and demanded scrutiny under strict constitutional standards.
In a surprise move, Governor Newsom’s legal team invoked “legislative immunity” to block key testimony from Paul Mitchell, the data expert central to the map-drawing process—despite previously listing him as a witness.
This unexpected maneuver not only disrupted the flow of evidence but also raised concerns about transparency, credibility, and potential delay tactics just days before the court is expected to rule.
Critics highlighted that the process of drawing the maps was largely done in secret, undermining the public trust and democratic norms that should guide redistricting.
Now, with the court’s decision imminent, the stakes are high—not just for Prop 50, but for the broader battle over whether political insiders or independent commissions will shape California’s congressional future.

Read the full story here

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California in 2025: Another Bad Year of Governance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

California’s governance in 2025 is described as deeply ineffective, with numerous policy failures and missteps across key areas like infrastructure and economic management.
The author highlights that even seemingly high‑profile projects — such as elaborate bike lanes — exemplify misplaced priorities amid broader dysfunction.
Chronic delays, lack of strategic planning, and misaligned spending are portrayed as symptomatic of a deeper governance crisis that has plagued the state throughout the year.
These issues are not isolated but part of a pattern where costly and inefficient decisions accumulate, undermining public confidence and stretching resources thin.
The analysis suggests that without corrective reforms, such governance shortcomings will continue to hamper California’s ability to address its most pressing challenges effectively.
Overall, the piece frames 2025 as another year where leadership failed to deliver competent, results‑oriented government for Californians.

Read the full story here

Newsom wants “legislative immunity” to block data testimony in prop. 50 case

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Governor Newsom’s legal team attempted to block key testimony in the Proposition 50 redistricting case by invoking “legislative immunity,” a privilege that shields lawmakers and their close aides from having to disclose deliberations around legislation.
This move came unexpectedly during a deposition of Paul Mitchell, a central figure in drawing Prop. 50’s district lines, and potentially key to uncovering whether race was used inappropriately in the redistricting process.
The immunity claim contradicted earlier agreements, where Newsom’s lawyers had listed Mitchell as a witness, which may frustrate the court and appear as a deliberate delay tactic.
With the court under pressure to rule by December 18, this maneuver risks undermining trust in the proceedings and has raised alarm among plaintiffs seeking transparency.
Critics argue that Prop. 50 was crafted in secret and passed without adequate public scrutiny, and now Newsom’s team is working to keep the process hidden from judicial review.
Whether or not Mitchell qualifies as an “alter ego” protected under legislative immunity will now also have to be litigated — a potential obstacle for those challenging the constitutionality of Prop. 50.

Read the full story here

Newsom Distances Himself From Prop. 50

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Governor Gavin Newsom is publicly distancing himself from Proposition 50, despite having aggressively championed the measure to give lawmakers control over congressional redistricting.
After Prop 50 passed, Newsom’s aides and surrogates are now telling the media that the plan wasn’t originally his idea—a shift from earlier messaging that strongly promoted it as necessary and beneficial.
Critics see this as an effort to avoid accountability and to deflect blame away from Newsom’s leadership at a time when his approval ratings are weakening.
The article argues that Newsom’s sudden distancing ring hollow, given the substantial time, money, and political capital he invested in the campaign.
It also highlights how opponents of Prop 50 had consistently warned it was a power grab that would undermine independent redistricting and erode public trust.
Ultimately, the piece portrays Newsom’s pivot as a political retreat rather than genuine reflection, raising questions about his leadership and credibility going forward.

Read the full story here

Newsom Refusing to Accept Responsibility

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Mike Netter at the LA Federal Courthouse!👇

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Mike Rowe Nails It👇

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California Has 99 Problems…

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Five Small Holes Sank the Titanic, How Many Will Sink LA’s Homelessness System?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Los Angeles’s homelessness response system is described as dangerously fragile, with multiple persistent structural flaws undermining its effectiveness despite billions in spending.
The article compares the system to the Titanic, arguing that small but critical weaknesses — such as lack of accountability, poor shelter conditions, administrative waste, insufficient enforcement of laws, and fragmented services — compound into systemic failure.
It notes that many homeless individuals cycle through temporary services without moving toward stable housing or long‑term recovery, revealing a lack of coordinated strategy.
Advocates and community leaders cited in the piece emphasize that without strict performance standards and measurable outcomes, agencies have little incentive to improve results.
The author also highlights how legal constraints and court rulings hinder efforts to clear encampments and enforce public safety, further straining the homelessness response.
Ultimately, the article warns that unless these core weaknesses are addressed, Los Angeles’s homelessness system risks total collapse, leaving entrenched dysfunction to become the new normal.

Read the full story here

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Los Angeles County officials continue to preach transparency and public trust while operating key justice decisions behind closed doors.
Diana Teran was quietly reappointed as special counsel to the LA County Probation Department without any public announcement—three months after she officially started the role.
Her return is highly controversial, given her past: she was previously charged with 11 felonies involving misuse of sensitive law enforcement data, though the charges were later dismissed on a technicality.
Teran, once known for aggressively targeting misconduct in law enforcement, has now returned to power with little explanation or accountability.
Critics argue that while the county delays real accountability, it has no issue reassigning power to politically favored insiders.
The case raises pressing questions about who LA County leadership truly serves — the public, or their own inner circle.

Read the full story here

California State Auditor: Governor Newsom and 8 Agencies Named ‘High-Risk’

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The California State Auditor released a forceful report that brands Governor Gavin Newsom and eight major state agencies as posing a high risk of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement.
The designation means auditors found systemic problems serious enough that they could threaten the state’s financial stability and public services.
One newly added high‑risk agency is the California Department of Social Services, where errors in calculating benefits for programs such as CalFresh could cost the state billions once federal rules change.
Other entities on the list include the Employment Development Department, state financial reporting systems, healthcare services, technology oversight, and water infrastructure — all flagged for significant weaknesses.
The auditor’s findings suggest that governance, accountability, and oversight have lapsed across several critical parts of state government under Newsom’s watch.
This high‑risk label acts as an indictment of leadership and points to deeper structural dysfunction that critics say must be addressed to prevent further harm to California’s economy and public trust.

Read the full story here

California Kills Prosperity

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The piece argues that California’s economic decline is the direct result of the state’s own policies and governance choices, which it says have strangled opportunity and prosperity.
It highlights that high taxes, excessive regulation, and costly mandates have driven businesses and taxpayers out of the state, shrinking the economic base and middle class.
The author contends that instead of fostering growth and innovation, Sacramento’s political class prioritizes ideological programs and expansive social spending over tangible economic results.
As a result, residents face higher costs of living, fewer job opportunities, and diminished prospects for upward mobility, while competing states benefit from more business‑friendly environments.
The article describes this pattern as self‑inflicted damage, with policy decisions actively undermining California’s historic strengths rather than correcting underlying problems.
In sum, it warns that unless the state reverses course, its current trajectory will continue to erode prosperity and accelerate decline.

Read the full story here

Guest Column

Karen Bass Wants 4 More…

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has officially announced her re-election campaign with a rally that repeated familiar themes like affordability, safety, and federal challenges, but offered little new substance.
While the launch was expected and crafted to exude confidence, her administration’s actual record paints a different picture.
Under her leadership, the city has become less affordable, more dysfunctional, and increasingly unprepared for future challenges.
The gap between what Bass has promised and what she has delivered is stark and growing.
Although she enters the race as a strong favorite due to powerful political backing and weak accountability, that does not mean she deserves another term.
As the campaign unfolds, scrutiny of her actual performance—not just her slogans—will be essential for voters to make an informed choice.

Read the full story here