Afternoon Hot Takes in California Politics!

AB 495, Purple Flora, Charlie’s Memorial, McClintock’s 1A Stand, Padilla for Governor?, John Campbell on fire, Federalism starting to work?

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Here Are The Afternoon Hot Takes

AB 495 IS AS GOOD AS SIGNED - PARENTAL RIGHTS BE DAMNED

Of course Governor Newsom will sign AB 495, a reckless bill dressed up as family protection, because it fits his progressive agenda. Despite vetoing similar legislation before, Newsom faces pressure from California’s Democratic machine to counter Trump’s immigration policies. AB 495 lets non-relatives take guardianship of children with basically no safeguards (whether to take them out of school, or even authorize medical procedures), sidestepping courts and risking parental rights and child safety. It’s a blatant power grab, prioritizing illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens. The supposed reason for this bill is that with the federal government starting to enforce federal immigration laws (gasp!) that illegal alien parents will be targeted. He’ll sign it to score political points, ignoring the bill’s dangerous loopholes and its erosion of family protections. It meets Newsom’s two criteria - it’s anti-Trump, and would appeal to the roughly 3,500 future 2028 DNC convention delegates.

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THE COLOR PURPLE: WHO WEARS IT BEST?

Newly minted Assembly Republican Leader Health Flora rolled out a new sizzle reel. He talks some policy and drops a laugh line about his hair (or lack thereof). But I could not twkenly eyes off of his…purple…outfit. Who wears purple better?

His “intro” video:

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