California Governor Gavin Newsom is swinging back — with a digital sledgehammer. On Wednesday, the Democrat with rising national ambitions dropped a new rapid-response fact-checking website aimed at shutting down what he calls "right-wing misinformation" about the Golden State. His team says the site will expose false claims not just about California, but also about former President Donald Trump.
The launch of this new online effort comes at an awkward time for Newsom. A fresh poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, shows that more than half of California’s registered voters — 54% — believe Newsom is more focused on a White House run than fixing issues back home.
Despite the criticism, Newsom isn't backing off. In fact, he’s doubling down.
“This site is for everyone sick of the BS about California,” Newsom said in a press release. “We’re done letting the MAGA trolls define the Golden State. We’re going on the offense and fighting back — with facts.”
So, what exactly is this website tackling?
Newsom's new initiative isn't just a response to political mudslinging — it's a broad campaign aimed at clearing the air on a range of hot-button issues:
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California’s economy
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Crime rates
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Clean energy and climate action
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Housing and homelessness
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Immigration
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The fallout from devastating wildfires
In other words, if it’s a headline issue in California — Newsom’s team wants to control the narrative around it.
The bigger picture: Is this about 2028?
There’s no doubt Newsom’s national profile has been on the rise. In recent years, he’s played a key surrogate role for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigning in crucial battleground states during the 2024 election cycle. After Biden eventually suspended his re-election bid and endorsed Harris, many insiders floated Newsom as a potential fallback — or even as a new face for the future of the Democratic Party.
But that strategy — of grabbing more spotlight and engaging in national political conversations — seems to be backfiring at home.
“By a more than two-to-one margin (54% to 26%), most voters believe that as Newsom serves out his final two years as governor, he is devoting more of his attention to things that might benefit himself as a possible candidate for president than to governing the state and helping to solve its problems,” the UC Berkeley/LA Times poll revealed.
The survey polled 6,201 registered California voters between April 21–28, a sizable sample that reflects real voter sentiment across the state.
Split opinions on Newsom’s performance
Californians seem torn on how Newsom is actually doing on the job. The poll found a dead-even 46% split between those who approve and disapprove of his leadership. And perhaps more concerning for the governor? 45% of respondents said they’re not confident in his ability to represent California’s interests when dealing with the Trump administration.
That’s a big problem, especially since Trump is back in the White House. And the fear isn’t unwarranted — over 64% of voters surveyed believe Trump’s tariff policies could hurt California’s businesses and agricultural sector, and more than 50% think his education policies would also negatively impact the state.
Newsom’s team fires back
Despite the less-than-glowing reviews, Newsom’s camp insists he’s doing the work.
“The Governor is focused on one thing: his job — driving L.A.’s recovery, confronting the housing crisis, and taking Donald Trump to court over his disastrous tariffs that are raising costs for families and blowing a hole in California’s budget,” his office told Fox News.
They also painted a much rosier picture of California than critics would have you believe:
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It’s now the fourth-largest economy in the world
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Crime rates, they say, are at historic lows
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The state is leading the way in clean energy and tech innovation
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And population growth — despite concerns — is holding steady
Reality check: Not everything’s sunny in the Golden State
Of course, critics — especially Republicans — are not letting up. California often gets labeled the poster child for Democratic dysfunction, and Newsom’s political opponents have no problem highlighting its struggles.
One recent example: a proposal from a California lawmaker that would allow college students to sleep in their cars due to the state’s deepening housing crisis. It's exactly the kind of story that conservative media runs with — and the kind of story Newsom’s new site is likely to tackle head-on.
This type of policy debate shows how vulnerable California can look, even as it claims to be a progressive leader.
The Trump factor: A looming storm cloud
Newsom is also one of several Democratic governors trying to walk the line between collaborating with the federal government and resisting Trump’s agenda during his second term. He’s blasted Trump's executive orders, rejected his tariff policies, and even secured federal disaster aid for California following this year’s catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires — a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation.
But the tension is always there. Newsom’s future — both in California and possibly in D.C. — is in many ways tied to how he navigates this rocky relationship with Trump. Californians know it too.
So, is Newsom running for president?
Officially? No. But his moves say otherwise.
From launching a national fact-checking site to taking on the Trump agenda, from making TV appearances in swing states to sidestepping questions about 2028 — it’s clear he’s positioning himself as a major player for the future of the Democratic Party.
Whether or not voters back home are on board with that is another story.
In Summary: What to Watch for
Here’s the TL;DR if you’re short on time:
✅ Newsom launches a fact-check site to push back on “right-wing misinformation”
📊 54% of Californians think he’s more focused on a presidential run than state issues
🔄 Public opinion is split on his job performance
🌎 California’s economy still ranks among the world’s biggest — but challenges persist
🔥 Topics tackled include housing, immigration, energy, wildfires, and crime
🇺🇸 Newsom is walking a tightrope between governing California and taking on Trump
Whether Newsom's strategy will pay off in the long run remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: he’s not sitting quietly while his state — or his political future — gets dragged through the mud.
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