![\"SAN](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0ebd37378542edc8e5d4772c0de8f87e.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
SAN LORENZO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 MARCH 18: Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at San Lorenzo High School as he signs executive order to expand women\u00e2s access to capital…<\/p>\n
Gavin Newsom is suffering from what the Rand Corporation, right here in California, calls \u201ctruth decay<\/a>\u201d \u2014 the steady disappearance of facts and reason from public debate.<\/p>\n The latest example is the governor\u2019s attempt to claim<\/a> that California\u2019s population is growing \u2014 after his own government released a report warning that it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n California lost a net 54,000 residents<\/a> last year, the first population drop since the pandemic, when Newsom\u2019s shutdowns drove out freedom-loving residents.<\/p>\n Gavin Newsom has boasted that \u201cno other state has outperformed the economy of the State of California.\u201d AP<\/p>\n Sure, the state\u2019s Department of Finance tried to blame federal immigration restrictions for the decline.<\/p>\n But that just highlights the fact that California\u2019s population growth has not been natural. It has been driven by immigration \u2014 including illegal immigration (which the state laughably calls<\/a> \u201cInternational humanitarian migration\u201d).<\/p>\n Newsom went on Bill Maher\u2019s HBO show and tried to defend his record.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve also seen the last three year population growth,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n No, we haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n In fact, California residents continue to leave.<\/p>\n Chattanooga, Tennessee, is experiencing rapid population growth. The most common state of origin for new arrivals: California.<\/p>\n California\u2019s population growth has been driven by immigration \u2014 including illegal immigration. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n Maybe they took the Chattanooga Choo-Choo to get there. They sure didn\u2019t take the California high-speed rail, which Newsom continues to defend, despite a rising cost that is now estimated at $231 billion.<\/p>\n When Bill Maher advised the governor to \u201cLet the train go,\u201d Newsom said that \u201cWe got it back on track.\u201d<\/p>\n Ok, sure.<\/p>\n Newsom also boasted that \u201cno other state has outperformed the economy of the State of California.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s another lie. For months, California had the worst unemployment rate of all 50 states.<\/p>\n Last month\u2019s report moved California up a notch, into the second-worst spot, ahead of Delaware. The state\u2019s 5.3% unemployment rate is still a full percentage point<\/a> behind the national rate of 4.3%.<\/p>\n Why can\u2019t Newsom tell the truth?<\/p>\n He won\u2019t answer that question \u2014 he\u2019d just pivot to Trump, claiming that the president lies, therefore it\u2019s fine for him to do so.<\/p>\n He\u2019s just holding a \u201cmirror\u201d up to Trump, he says.<\/p>\n Not leading by example, mind you \u2014 but by imitation.<\/p>\n Trump is certainly guilty of hyperbole. But on the big things, he\u2019s been right \u2014 and Newsom has been wrong.<\/p>\n Trump is also willing to fire people who fail, and to change his policies.<\/p>\n Newsom sticks with the failing status quo \u2014 then tells you it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n Voting for the next governor starts this week. Whoever wins will hopefully have a better relationship with the truth.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>![\"Gavin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777869385_277_e25a318493aa0b8763c20902b94070ba.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"California\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777869386_235_36a81b97600beb6b678847cf4150cc76.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: <\/a>Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n