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.