California governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency
California governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for state lawmakers to convene a special session in December to help safeguard the state's progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of another Trump presidency.
Summary
Following Donald Trump’s election victory, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special legislative session to “Trump-proof” the state’s progressive policies, pledging to safeguard rights on issues like immigration, reproductive health, and environmental standards.
Newsom, along with other Democratic leaders and attorneys general in blue states, is preparing for legal battles against potential federal actions from a Trump administration.
State AGs, like California’s Rob Bonta, emphasize protecting vulnerable communities, while critics worry Trump’s judicial appointments could hinder challenges.
Newsom reiterated California’s commitment to resisting conservative federal policies.
I appreciate what Newsom is doing here and hope other blue governors follow suit. But this is all just window dressing for what is really coming when Trump goes to implement his agenda. Civil war
Newsom may like to show up as a liberal crusader, and he does like to defend rights on social issues, but the guy has been selling California down the river to his corporate masters since he was mayor of San Francisco.
The fact that he heavily campaigned against prop 33, which would have made rent control legal, says everything.
Not progressive, and I roll my eyes at many things California does. That said I 100% applaud this. I wish more states used their power as individual states to reign in the Federal government.
Remember The Constitution says any rights not specifically granted to the Feds are the States.
Good for California.
Remember The Constitution says any rights not specifically granted to the Feds are the States.
The Supreme Court, to thunderous applause and cheering, killed that notion a LONG time ago. I wish California the best of luck in trying to resurrect the idea, I truly do, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Even now most Progressives wouldn't like the idea in practice. They've spent over a century fighting to create a Federal Government that is Large and In Charge.
This is a fantastic post. Thank you. I do know that the Feds often use the Commerce Clause to put the lie to my original statement, but with the abandonment of Roe, I've repeatedly heard "it's in the hands of the States" so maybe my hope is that someone somewhere my see a need to remain intellectually consistent.
Pipe dream, but a nice thought.
I think the federal government should play a really big role in preserving rights and freedoms. Preventing individual states from becoming little tyrannies is important! The feds are also useful for big interstate projects - public health, highways, climate protection. It helps prevent states from fucking each other over.
The issues that are truly local in scale do exist, but the world is shrinking. Is law enforcement local? Mostly. Economics? Kinda. It’s easy to see how our interconnectedness is leading to bigger federal scope.
There’s only a few things I can confidently say aren’t at all in the federal government’s wheelhouse. They shouldn’t be restricting our individual rights, overriding state level protections. Dictating what is a valid marriage, restricting speech, outlawing abortion or gender transition, etc. They could PROTECT those rights, but taking them away should be a state-by-state decision.
Just my opinion if we want a federation of states that preserves freedoms instead of a cluster of warring fiefdoms.
Get all the lead time you can, California. Batten down hatches.
Fr, save all the policies for us for when we get there fleeing magats.
Are we starting to understand yet why it was a horrible idea to give the Federal Government so much power over literally everything? It's precisely why the framers of the Constitution tried so hard to limit what the Federal Government could control and its why the "States Rights" argument has always rung true.
I hope California is successful in their efforts to "Conservative Proof" their State. What they are attempting to do flies in the face of nearly 140 years of precedent but its EXACTLY how this damn country was intended to work.
I mean, it's the whole point of the "states rights" things. Republicans use that hypocritically, but there's truth to it. But you're right in that it's been eroded for a long time; that and the executive branch has gained more and more power too. Constitutionalists should be up in arms but again, hypocrites every last one of them.
northeast and west coast along with middle region friendly states should have a regular yearly conference to strategize.
What’s stopping Trump from sending the armed forces (or just the FBI in), arresting the Californian government and appointing an administrator?
And second question: who decides whether this is, in fact, unconstitutional?
He wasn't able to do it in 2016 for the same reason this time around--- probably, anyway. My guess is it's mostly not a priority compared to enriching billionaires, but also some Republicans probably aren't that interested in overthrowing State governments (especially Californian house members lol). You also have the issue of compliance, as the military and FBI aren't exactly Hitler's generals. Yet, anyway.
🫶
Just to be safe, California should start raking their forests.
Fuck me. I was born in Sacramento but do not consider myself a Californian. However, I do support them thumbing their noses at the upcoming federal douchebags.