Staff ReportsCalifornia’s elite architects of resistance are already sharpening their pencils and prepping their legal jargon for what they perceive to be a showdown with President-elect Donald Trump. Instead of focusing on the real issues facing the state, California’s top brass, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, is once again gearing up for a dramatic display of defiance against the federal government. The response to Trump’s impending policies reveals an almost theatrical commitment to progressive ideals that seem to be as disconnected from reality as the state itself.
In a well-orchestrated attempt to “Trump-proof” California, Newsom has called for a special session of the state legislature. This is a bid to protect the state from what he deems the imminent devastation of another Trump administration. It’s almost as if the Governor is trying to paint California as a fortress under siege. Meanwhile, Attorney General Rob Bonta staged a press conference flaunting his commitment to protect Californians, promising to stand against any perceived threat to their rights. It’s a classic play reminiscent of Hollywood drama—lots of posturing, but little in the way of tangible solutions for the everyday Californian struggling to make ends meet.
His destruction of CA is not yet complete.
Fight he must!REPORT: California to Lead 'Resistance' Against the Orange Man What Is Bad https://t.co/UhFjBHgSus
— Maximonious (@Maximonious1) November 19, 2024
As California’s lawmakers roll out their pre-planned strategies and emotional speeches about freedom under attack, it becomes clear that they are more invested in spectacle than substance. Past attempts to thwart Trump’s policies resulted in little more than symbolic resistance. This time, however, there are signs that the legal battleground might not be as favorable for California’s ruling class. The makeup of the judiciary has shifted significantly since Trump’s last term, with many of his appointees now filling key positions, particularly in the Ninth Circuit, which traditionally leaned left. The once-friendly ground for progressive lawsuits now resembles a rocky cliff for the liberal agenda, presenting a much steeper challenge to their efforts.
The anxiety is palpable among California’s leaders as they contemplate that Trump’s promises of targeting federal funding and regulatory waivers could not only disrupt their progressive policies but also impact the state budget. With a portion of California’s education budget hinging on federal funding, the threat of cuts sends ripples of panic through the halls of state power. Newsom’s comments about the potential chaos of mass deportation reveal the stark reality: the state is tightly woven into a system that might no longer play kindly under a Trump administration.
As blue state governors gather to plot their next legal maneuvers against Trump, it appears that their resistance strategy has morphed into something more akin to a legal war room than a protest movement. Gone are the days of chanting crowds bearing colorful signs; now it’s all about the fine print and courtroom dramatics. However, the question looms: will an army of progressive lawyers, stiffened by a judicial landscape that may not favor them, be enough to effectively challenge Trump’s agenda? With a landscape that resembles more of a conservative chessboard than the liberal playground they once enjoyed, California’s leadership faces an uphill battle in trying to outmaneuver a president who seems unfazed by their antics and declarations.
