Turmoil in California

[onawah]

California is almost like a country in itself, not just because the landmass is so large, as is the population, but because there is a mindset there that is like no other, imho.
(I lived there for 20 years, though I was born on the East Coast, grew up in Denver, and have been living in the Southwest now for over 20 years, so I know a bit about the mindset in different parts of the country. )
Earthquakes, fires, a crumbling coastline, flooding and droughts alone present a lot of problems in CA., but there is plenty more going on there economically that is contributing to the reasons for massive numbers of Californians to become homeless and/or to move out of the state.
Currently, there's this:

California Governor Loses Control as Hundreds of Gas Stations Shut Down
Elizabeth Davis
73.3K subscribers
Jan 10, 2026

"California faces an unprecedented fuel infrastructure challenge as 473 independent gas stations prepare to close on January 1st, 2026.

In this video, we break down what's actually driving this crisis. A 2014 state law requires all underground storage tanks to be upgraded from single-walled to double-walled systems by the end of 2025. The upgrades cost approximately $2 million per station — a financial barrier many independent operators cannot overcome.

We'll dive into the RUST loan program that was designed to help small stations cover upgrade costs, the multi-year application delays that left owners unable to complete work before the deadline, and the $5,000 per day penalties that force immediate closure for non-compliant stations.

Finally, we look at the human and economic impact — rural communities losing their only fuel source, the gap between electric vehicle adoption rates and gasoline infrastructure decline, and what happens to fuel prices when competition disappears from local markets."

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=e-MgyB_Mmp0

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California’s Supply Chain COLLAPSES as Truckers FLEE Under Gavin Newsom | Patrick Buchanan
Maria José da Silva Alves
366K subscribers
Jan 11, 2026

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=f2ud3olWRMk

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Governor Of California PANICS As $20 Minimum Wage DESTROYS 18,000 Fast Food Jobs!
Fuel Alert
4.17K subscribers
Jan 10, 2026

"Governor Of California PANICS As $20 Minimum Wage DESTROYS 18,000 Fast Food Jobs!
California's $20 fast food minimum wage was supposed to help workers. But new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals what really happened - and it's the opposite of what a major university study claimed. Here's the full story of the research that got it wrong, the workers who paid the price, and the 18,000 jobs that disappeared.

Want to verify the facts in this video? Every claim is sourced from the links below. We encourage you to read the original reports and draw your own conclusions.

National Bureau of Economic Research - California Fast Food Minimum Wage Study (July 2025) https://www.nber.org/papers/w34033
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages https://www.bls.gov/cew/
Beacon Economics - Christopher Thornberg Analysis (March 2025) https://beaconecon.com/
UC Berkeley IRLE Original Study (September 2024) https://irle.berkeley.edu/publications/
Employment Policies Institute - Fast Food Employment Analysis https://epionline.org/
BLS Benchmark Revisions Announcement https://www.bls.gov/ces/notices/2024/...
Wall Street Journal - Pizza Hut Layoffs Report https://www.wsj.com/
California Legislative Analyst's Office - Employment Data https://lao.ca.gov/
AB 1228 Full Text - California Legislature https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ "

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=62OlUODBHBY

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Governor of California PANICS After 214 Casinos Announce Shutdowns
Fuel Central
1.67K subscribers
Jan 5, 2026

"In this video, we look at a surprising economic development that is rocking the Golden State, as Governor Gavin Newsom faces mounting pressure after 214 casinos across the state abruptly shut down. What was once a pillar of local economies and employment is now becoming a symbol of larger systemic issues that California politicians cannot ignore.

The casino closures aren't simply about entertainment venues going dark. They point to a much deeper crisis brewing beneath the surface—one involving declining consumer spending, rising operating expenses, regulatory pressure, and mounting tensions between state policy and tribal gaming authority. Entire communities that rely on casino revenue for jobs, infrastructure, and public services are suddenly searching for solutions.

As the revelations pile up, insiders say panic is developing in behind closed doors in Sacramento. The loss of billions of dollars in annual revenue, the threat to tens of thousands of employment, and the ramifications for tourism, hospitality, and local governments are forcing California authorities to have difficult conversations that they may have avoided. Critics claim this is the unavoidable result of years of economic incompetence, while supporters blame external influences.

We explain what's really causing these shutdowns, why the number 214 is considerably more important than it appears, and what this means for California's already weak economy going forward. Is this the start of a wider collapse in California's gambling industry, or a warning sign of something bigger to come? "

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=irCZkV7unN8

(Coca-Cola, WalMart, Boeing, CostCo and other big businesses are closing down many facilities in CA., and others are likely to follow as regulations become more unreasonable and operating costs there continue to climb.
I recently went to a UPS store in order to ship a small box of gifts to friends in Sonoma, CA. but was flabbergasted to learn that it would cost $60! It was not a big, heavy box at all and that was the price for regular shipping, but I was told that the prices to ship to certain counties in CA have risen drastically. )

[Baby Steps]

I remember in March 23 Mr Newsome stated that he was ‘deploying 1200 tiny homes by fall at a cost of $750 million’

So he is so catastrophically complacent, arrogant and innumerate that he presumably does not realize how bad that sounds – Tiny homes for $625,000 EACH!

The Chinese can ship these fully fitted out for $8k, and philanthropists in the USA build them for free , estimated cost under $20k.

The housing issue is fascinating as the primary reason for mass homelessness appears to be a strong economy making housing unaffordable, combined with the effects of medical induced bankruptcy and opiates.
One wonders why a rich place like California cannot fix this. As a Brit and a centrist I concluded that there was a breakdown in market mechanisms (supply and demand should drive construction) plus a failure within the state to provide basic housing for the poorest.
$750 million should translate into 7500 condo’s. Why has the market not responded to demand? Excessive planning restrictions , typical statist progressive problem.
Why has the progressive state not taken matters into its own hands ? This speaks of a fundamental problem within government when corruption & cronyism reaches extreme levels and they cannot deliver basic services for a reasonable cost. The system appears to be broken or rotten to the core. Likely they cannot implement a program without most of the cash being squandered.

That was all quite clear before the fires. We then see a situation where the state are preventing owners from returning to their own burned out plots to rebuild. The state has not provide much, or any help to these people. This was clear from the below

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Oj7BsVWziMA

Its clear that officials were reluctant to simply give freeholders access to their own land. What planet are they on?

More recently we are seeing in Minnesota, a situation where the votes from the Somalian community have been purchased through extensive state funding to fake childcare facilities etc. From this multi billion fraud it looks like corruption there has reached a level that really should be described as catastrophic. Internal checks and audits appear to be absent.

What we are seeing with regard to Minnesota looks to me like a stage managed take-down. It started in social media but federal bodies are now getting involved. You can see how threatening it is to Walz et al, by how he is using desperate secessionist language. He knows the game is up.

The chances are that California is ten times bigger albeit different types of corruption. It may be that Minnesota is a play-book, and Mr Newsome et al will see what is coming to them, and also decide that the game is up. Because its being done in a small State first, the public are being educated. They are more likely to grasp the truth in future unveilings of California cash shenanigans as the Minnesota drama will already have brought this stuff to light.
So if Mr Newsome starts using secessionist language, more Californians should see through it. He must be sweating.

[onawah]

Adding to the list of Coca-Cola, WalMart, Boeing, CostCo and other big businesses which are closing down facilities in California are Google, Amazon, Tesla, Starbucks, Walgreens, Nestle and various banks

California`s 174-Year-Old Bank Well Fargo MOVES to Florida With $16 Billion
BEYOND COVERAGE
455 subscribers
Jan 23, 2026 #

"California lost 161 bank branches in 2024 — nearly double any other state. Now Wells Fargo is moving its $16 billion wealth management headquarters to Florida. What does this mean for the 8 million Californians who are already unbanked or underbanked?
In this video, we break down: → Why California leads the nation in bank branch closures → The Wells Fargo wealth management relocation to West Palm Beach → Which banks are closing the most branches (Bank of America, Chase, U.S. Bank) → How banking deserts are expanding in low-income and minority communities → The billionaire exodus driving financial institutions out of California → What the CalAccount program could mean for California's unbanked population
California's banking infrastructure is shrinking. Seniors, small business owners, and low-income communities are losing access to basic financial services while wealth management follows billionaires to Florida and Texas.
The data comes from the FDIC, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, IRS migration records, and the California Legislative Analyst's Office.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 — California's Bank Branch Crisis
1:12 — The Numbers: 161 Branches Gone
2:45 — Who's Closing the Most Branches
4:10 — Banking Deserts Explained
6:30 — Wells Fargo's Florida Move
8:45 — The Billionaire Exodus
11:20 — Who's Staying in California
12:40 — What Happens Next: 3 Things to Watch

SOURCES:
FDIC Branch Data (June 2024)
S&P Global Market Intelligence (Q1 2025)
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia — Banking Desert Report (Feb 2024)
California Legislative Analyst's Office — Income Migration Data
IRS Statistics of Income — Migration Data 2021-2022 "

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YsVvgIbcoTQ

[Denise/Dizi]

Meanwhile Newsome is spending a lot of money that he probably bilked out of such tragic events into the real estate market in California... One such new community in our area lists him as an investor. It must be rough robbing the state for self gain... The housing community he invested in, will be selling the homes for half a million dollars per home or more... Someone needs to get this guy in check...

[onawah]

One Day After U.S. Exits WHO, California Joins International WHO Network
Children's Health Defense
by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D.
January 27, 2026
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/d...tm_id=20260127

(Podcast at the link. Hyperlinks in the article not embedded here.)

"California last week became the first U.S. state to formally join a World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated international health network.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the move one day after the U.S. finalized its withdrawal from the WHO. President Donald Trump initiated the withdrawal last year, via an executive order he signed on Jan. 20, 2025, his first day in office.

The order said the U.S. was leaving the WHO because of how the organization handled the COVID-19 pandemic. The order also cited the WHO’s “failure to adopt urgently needed reforms” and its “inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”

Newsom framed his decision to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) as opposition to Trump’s order, and as a necessary safeguard against emerging health threats.

Newsom said the federal government’s withdrawal from the WHO has left a dangerous gap in global cooperation.

“Countering Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the World Health Organization, California is the first American state to join the @WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network,” Newsom wrote on X.

“California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring,” Newsom said in his press release, calling the federal pullout “reckless” and warning it would undermine public health protections nationwide.

Emily G. Hilliard, press secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told The Defender that California’s announcement doesn’t affect U.S. policy.

Hilliard said the U.S. is charting its own course on global health engagement, “grounded in accountability, transparency, and the expertise of America’s public health institutions.”

“States do not set U.S. foreign policy, and unilateral actions by individual governors that failed their own people during the pandemic do not alter this administration’s assessment of WHO’s failures or our commitment to putting the health of the American people first,” she said.

California health freedom attorney Rita Barnett-Rose told The Defender that Newsom’s announcement, made during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, “goes beyond political theater.”

“While he has no authority to bind Californians to WHO policies or conduct foreign policy on behalf of the state, framing alignment with a foreign organization as a ‘counterweight’ to federal policy raises serious questions about foreign-affairs preemption and public-health data sharing,” she said.

Announcement is Newsom’s latest move to oppose U.S. federal health policy

Newsom made the announcement after meeting with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during his trip to the World Economic Forum.

Newsom said California will join GOARN, a WHO-coordinated system designed to detect and respond to international disease outbreaks.

GOARN connects governments, laboratories and health institutions globally to share data and mobilize rapid responses to outbreaks. By joining the network, California is positioning itself as an independent participant in international health coordination.

Politico said Newsom’s decision was the “latest move by the governor to cast California as a counterweight to the Trump administration’s health policy agenda.”

Since mid-2025, Newsom has been engaged in a broader effort to build a state-led public health coordination to circumvent changes made to public health policy at the federal level.

In September 2025, Newsom signed a law granting the state the authority to set its own vaccine guidance based on the recommendations of professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), rather than on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations..

That same month, California joined Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in creating the West Coast Alliance, a public health partnership intended to issue its own immunization guidelines.

In October 2025, Newsom joined 14 other governors in launching the Governors Public Health Alliance, an initiative designed to coordinate their public health efforts independently of national public health agencies.

Members say the alliance — created in response to federal public health policy under the Trump administration — will take on work typically performed by federal institutions housed within HHS.

Last month, Newsom announced the launch of the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange, which will be advised by former CDC officials, including ousted former agency head Susan Monarez, Ph.D., and Dr. Debra Houry, who resigned when Monarez was fired.

And after HHS in January announced it was paring down the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children, California and at least 20 other states announced they would not follow the new CDC recommendations and instead would continue to follow the childhood vaccine schedule endorsed by the AAP.

Writing in the California Globe, Barnett-Rose said that decisions by California and other “coastal blue states” that are doubling down “on the very coercive model that failed so catastrophically during COVID — while insisting, with growing urgency, that they alone are ‘protecting science’” — are leading to a “collapse of medical legitimacy.”

She said that as the federal government moves to provide more individualized care and “patient autonomy,” California is “locking centralized authority into law while continuing to rely on financial incentives that leave parents little room for genuine consent.”

Related articles in The Defender
15 Democratic Governors Form ‘Nonpartisan’ Alliance to Bypass RFK Jr.’s Health Policies
‘Dangerous Games’: States Defy Federal Agencies, Create Their Own COVID Vaccine Rules
California Passes Law Giving State Authority to Set Its Own Vaccine Guidance

Brenda Baletti, Ph.D., is a senior reporter for The Defender. She wrote and taught about capitalism and politics for 10 years in the writing program at Duke University. She holds a Ph.D. in human geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's from the University of Texas at Austin. "