Gov. Gavin Newsom is indignant.
“I’m done being taken for granted,” the California governor mentioned in a current interview. “It’s time to get on offense.”
Newsom had sat down with me again in March as a part of a 45-minute interview to debate the “California effect” for my article within the upcoming California concern of The New York Times Magazine. It’s a phrase that lecturers use to explain the state’s longstanding skill to drive nationwide coverage via the drive of what’s now the world’s fifth-largest economic system.
Now Newsom, a Democrat, is attempting to create a complete new form of California impact, one which goes far past environmental and shopper safety measures. He needs to leverage the state’s market energy to discourage firms from acceding to insurance policies in Republican states that he disagrees with.
He makes examples when it fits — as Walgreens realized when California said it would cancel a contract with the pharmacy chain in response to the corporate’s determination to not promote the abortion capsule mifepristone in a number of states.
In our newest interview, Newsom mentioned {that a} tweet he posted on March 6 saying the state was “done” with Walgreens had truly been prompted by an unrelated concern. But he was unapologetic about wielding California’s market energy as a weapon within the nation’s tradition wars.
“I hope they realize the decisions they’re making in these other states directly are going to start impacting them in states like California, in ways they haven’t in the past,” he mentioned in a warning to company executives. “I want them to know that. I want every single one of them to know that.”
The interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
Conor Dougherty: I wish to discuss this distinctive energy California has, which is that its economic system is so massive it may well successfully regulate the nation, at the least in sure areas, based mostly on its market dimension. Cars are the traditional instance, the place California’s tailpipe emission legal guidelines have made it a de facto regulator of the auto trade. I’m curious how you concentrate on this lever, the place it comes from, how you utilize it?
Gavin Newsom: I feel, foundationally, it’s ethical authority.
CD: Sure, however Wyoming would possibly imagine they’ve ethical authority. The downside is, 600,000-ish residents isn’t sufficient scale.
GN: It’s the mixture of each. We haven’t any direct authorized rights that we will assert in different states. But it’s the very nature and scale of the state, bigger than 21 states mixed, along with distinctive capability to guide, notably in environmental area and the ability of emulation.
CD: How a lot do you assume to your self, “How can I influence the entire nation?”
GN: More now than I’ve ever. I’ve deep anxiousness concerning the second we’re dwelling in. To see the assaults on the L.G.B.T.Q. neighborhood, see success with the “Don’t Say Gay” payments; to see [Republicans] roll over company leaders repeatedly and once more; to see them banning books, banning speech, intimidating not simply academics however librarians; to see what’s occurring with gun security — you’ve bought each governor tripping over one another to outdo each other, taking this playbook. That’s why I give it some thought.
CD: The now-infamous Walgreens tweet, the place you threatened to tug state contracts from the corporate after it mentioned that it could not promote abortion medication in sure states, felt like a brand new course, the place you’re saying you wish to use California’s market energy to wade into the tradition wars.
GN: I feel you’re proper to watch that. But don’t neglect what we did with the right to private action, the quote-unquote “bounties” with weapons. That was the primary foray, when it comes to shifting our method to how we interact. That was once I thought: “All right, am I going to put out tweets and press releases? Am I just going to express my outrage by having a glass of wine watching Rachel Maddow every night? Or are we going to start using the power of the fifth- or fourth-largest economy to exercise ourselves more muscularly?”
I felt Walgreens wanted to be referred to as out. These guys are placating the best all throughout this nation.
CD: When you say “these guys,” you imply the companies?
GN: All these firms, they’re silent. They’re complicit in all this. They have been all preaching one thing very otherwise just some years in the past. And they’re fully silent now.
CD: Do you see the California economic system and its big market energy as a weapon?
GN: I feel it’s an antidote. In the spirit of Reagan, it’s a time for selecting. I’m severe about that. Which aspect are you on? You can’t have it each methods. And you understand what, it’s a reasonably difficult dynamic. I’m very empathetic to company America proper now. This is hard stuff. But then, simply cease saying you care about your work drive. Stop mendacity to of us.
You noticed what the College Board did on Black studies? They rolled over. You wish to know why I did that to Walgreens? That was my blood boiling after the A.P. on Black research, the place the College Board fully capitulated.
CD: You’re mainly saying Walgreens grew to become retribution for one thing the College Board did?
GN: I simply meant this has to cease, and it must be referred to as out. And I used to be calling it out with the College Board, however I didn’t have any leverage. We have been going to make use of our market energy. Absolutely. It can’t simply be used on one aspect.
And right here’s the factor: This will not be my pure state. This will not be the place I want it could be. And the truth is, a rights regression and rollback is occurring. And I can’t sit again passively and dream of regretting. I’ve bought three and a half years, and I’m not going to look again and remorse that I didn’t meet this second.
CD: What would you say to individuals who say that what the governor is doing right here is fallacious? That a part of dwelling in a pluralistic society is being OK with states doing belongings you don’t like, and that attempting to make use of the economic system to affect it’s inappropriate?
GN: I don’t assume it’s inappropriate. These governors have the best to do what they’re doing. They’re exercising their proper. We’re exercising ours. It’s not very sophisticated.
For extra:
Conor Dougherty is an economics reporter for The New York Times, based mostly in Los Angeles.
Tell us
We’re approaching the midpoint of 2023. What are the very best issues which have occurred to you thus far this yr? What have been your wins? Your surprising joys, massive or small?
Tell me at CAToday@nytimes.com. Please embrace your full title and town the place you reside.
And earlier than you go, some good news
A vacationer noticed a huge fossilized tooth on a seaside close to Santa Cruz over Memorial Day weekend and posted a photograph of it on social media.
Wayne Thompson, the paleontology collections adviser on the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, acknowledged that the tooth belonged to an historical mastodon, a creature that grew to become extinct 10,000 years in the past, CBS News reports.
“This is (a) … molar tooth of the Pacific mastodon, Mammut pacificus, and an extremely important find,” Thompson responded to the vacationer’s put up. “Give me a call when you get a chance.”
Thompson went to the seaside himself to attempt to discover the fossil, however it had vanished. It wasn’t till the following day {that a} native jogger got here throughout the tooth once more on the identical seaside. He referred to as the museum to report his discovery.
“I was so excited to get that call,” Liz Broughton, a customer expertise supervisor on the museum, mentioned in a press release.
Thanks for studying. We’ll be again on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.
P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword.
Soumya Karlamangla, Briana Scalia and Johnna Margalotti contributed to California Today. You can attain the group at CAtoday@nytimes.com.
Content Source: www.nytimes.com
