What’s Jon Reading This Week, And Here Are The Leaked CA Redistricting Congressional Maps!
I am perusing the web all week, and I write about some things, but read about a lot more. Each week I curate interesting things that you may enjoy checking out.
DENZEL WASHINGTON FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR?
Politico Magazine reached out to me the other day to ask if I would participate in a project — they were asking a group of people to submit something about their ideal/fantasy candidate for California Governor. Below is my submission, which actually is the first one in the piece. You can read the whole article here.
POLITICO MAGAZINE
Denzel Washington — Movie Star
If Republicans want to be competitive in California again, they’ll need a candidate who is instantly recognizable and genuinely admired across the state. Denzel Washington checks both boxes. For decades, audiences have seen him play principled leaders in Remember the Titans and decisive commanders in Crimson Tide, roles that showcased the unity, strength and integrity that people still hope to see in real-life leadership. Off-screen, he’s earned a reputation for professionalism, generosity and grace under pressure — qualities that could resonate far beyond party lines. The last Republican to win the governor’s office, Arnold Schwarzenegger, used his celebrity to cut through partisan divides. Washington’s stature could do the same, perhaps even more effectively. At 70, he’s younger than Joe Biden was on his Inauguration Day and the same age as Donald Trump in 2016 — well within the modern range for executive leadership. A candidacy like his could change the conversation in California overnight.
— Jon Fleischman, founder of the FlashReport and former executive director of the California Republican Party
NEWSOM’S MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING MAPS LEAKED
A set of potential new Congressional District maps was leaked showing exactly how redistricting guru Paul Mitchell has sliced and diced voters in the state to allow Democrats to go from a 43-9 advantage to 48-4!
A close up of the Los Angeles area…
From a cursory review of the maps, it looks like Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Kiley and David Valadeo have had their districts redrawn to make them very comfortable - for Democrats. Republicans Tom McClintock, Jay Obernolte, and Vince Fong are spared. And it looks like there could be a game of “jump ball” with a bright red district in SoCal mostly in western Riverside County, and some of eastern Orange County. Young Kim lives in the seat, but I could see Ken Calvert and/or Darrell Issa try for it… There are a pile of stories around on this stuff now, but here’s the Politico piece since they were up with one first.
Of course these if’s are all conditioned on Newsom getting past four and a half hurdles.
Now for those of you who really want to see what is happening in your district, or the ones around you, download a full report here (as leaked). It’s a hearty download but has detailed district by district maps.
And if you really want to get into it, these maps have been uploaded into Dave’s Redistricting Tool (seriously, that’s the name), which would let you get very granular.
Finally, on this topic, a six minute analysis from my friend Chris Cillizza, on the risk that Governor Newsom is taking here. As I always say when I mention him, Chris is non-partisan former CNN and WPOST reporter. He calls balls and strikes, and a lot of those strikes are on Trump and Republicans. This is worth your time I think.
CTA HATES NUCLEAR POWER
I was reading this article about the amount of money that has been assembled to fight against nuclear energy being used in America… It was about half way through when I noticed that one of the groups involved with opposing nuclear power… is our very own California Teachers Association. A reminder that not only do they work to impose their crazy progressive agenda to the detriment of children, but they take positions on anything and everything…
OVER-REGULATED CALIFORNIA. #1 IN FACT
In a new study, California emerges as the most‑regulated state in the U.S.—outpacing New York by roughly 120,000 rules. Its burdensome regulatory maze, especially across insurance, utilities, and energy, hampers economic growth and drives business migration.
Need an example - in article they highlight the City of Long Beach as being particularly anti-business. Like requiring stores with self-checkout to hire people anyways.
LA28 - OLYMPICS SELLING NAMING RIGHTS
What could possibly go wrong with Los Angeles raising money for the Olympics by selling naming rights for venues? There’s a part of me that wants to see the opening games in the Truth Social Coliseum.
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING INSIDE THE BELTWAY YOU DON’T READ ABOUT
While the things Trump is personally doing make most of the headlines out of Washington, the people he has appointed are doing lots of great things that you do not get to read about. Lee Zeldin, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is on fire. Check out this list of 100 things the EPA has done in the last 100 days. In fact, within this link you can also go to a separate list of 100 things that he got done in the first 100 days.
ONE LONG-FORM ARTICLE - CAPITALISM IS NOT WHY YOU ARE UNHAPPY
Despite the rising trend of blaming capitalism for anxiety, loneliness, and social decay, this essay by Emma Camp in Reason Magazine challenges that narrative. It argues that calling capitalism the culprit is often a convenient scapegoat—one that undermines personal responsibility and obscures deeper roots like disconnection, lack of meaning, and diminished agency in a complex world.
SOME NON-POLITICAL THINGS I READ THIS WEEK
What is the Common Way To Pronounce Nunathloogagamiutbingoi Dunes?
We have to start this out with this great link to see the hardest to pronounce name in every state.
And what IS the most attractive hobby a man can have? Hint: I do a lot of this. And you are doing it now. Just saying.
You never know when you are going to know what to say, and not say, when writing and delivering a eulogy…
This guy got into Disneyland with a 46-year-old ticket. Seriously. Makes me want to go through that junk drawer in the garage. I feel like my mom gave me a bunch of old tickets…
And…. I am not sure why but I was overly fascinated watching this video on how passengers should be loaded on an airplane.
ON THIS DATE
Today Is The Anniversary of Elvis’ Passing
On This Date In 1977… The World Lost “The King” — Elvis Presley passed away at his Graceland Estate after pretty much destroying himself with drug use. That said, he was bigger than life, and remains so today. He’s a really cool digitally remastered of Elvis singing his famous Jailhouse Rock!
And of course this being a political website, I will leave you with this iconic photo taken of Elvis with President Richard Nixon at the White House on December 21, 1970.
I hope everyone is having a fun weekend!
Oh yes, do me a favor and forward this to one person!
Jon
For anyone who wants to see the new Congressional map side-by-side with the 2021 map, we put this quick map together [zoom in / out buttons in the top left; turn layers on/off in the top right; change the base map in the bottom left). We had nothing to do with drawing the maps. We just put this side by side map together. https://tinyurl.com/y28x3sp9