There's news that Gavin Newsom -- facing recall -- and the state legislature are proposing to use some $7 billion of the $26 billion in federal stimulus cash it received under President Joe Biden to pay back rent owed by thousands of "low-income" California families. (I use quotes because you can earn almost $150,000 per year in San Francisco and still qualify.)
No doubt people are glad to have the relief -- and landlords will be glad to get the money -- but there are also many questions here.
One is about fairness. Theoretically, taxpayers in other states are subsidizing rent in California. Is that what Congress knew it would be doing when it passed the "COVID relief"?
Of course, the money is just being borrowed, or printed, so perhaps taxpayers elsewhere won't feel the pinch. And other states also have a surplus (because it turns out they didn't need "relief" as badly as Biden and the Democrats said they did.) But California itself has almost $400 billion in debt -- the highest of any state. Shouldn't there be some plan to use part of the money to pay that down?
There are also other questions. The state has crumbling infrastructure and a glaring homeless problem. Are these going to be addressed, too? Maybe there is so much cash that the state can spend whatever is needed on these other problems as well?
If money grows on trees, why didn't we try this before? What about inflation? Or incentives?
Gavin Newsom faces a recall, which explains some of the sudden generosity. Do we want to allow politicians to buy votes in this way? Maybe so, if it is for the public benefit?
All interesting questions, which are -- of course -- not really being asked. Curiously, San Diego reports that it has hundreds millions of dollars in unclaimed money that was supposed to help people with rent relief -- even before the new proposed spending.
Maybe people like doing things for themselves, if they can?
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
