Gavin Newsom addresses the nation

[Calheel]

Agreeed. Is Josh Stein Jewish? I assume not if NC elected him. He sounded great on Colbert interview.

Yes, he is Jewish. His Dad was a big-time civil rights lawyer in Chapel Hill in the 1960s. And his last name is Stein. Those three facts together should tell you that there is a 99% chance he is Jewish. But yes, he is Jewish, and he is the first Jew to hold statewide office (when he became AG in 2016).

 

[Kingpin]

In 2016, Stein became the first Jewish person to win a statewide election in North Carolina. (AG)

I really like Stein in his interview. Does he have a chance at the national level?

 

[superrific]

Yes, he is Jewish. His Dad was a big-time civil rights lawyer in Chapel Hill in the 1960s. And his last name is Stein. Those three facts together should tell you that there is a 99% chance he is Jewish. But yes, he is Jewish, and he is the first Jew to hold statewide office (when he became AG in 2016).

The three facts being: a) dad; b) last name; and c) he's Jewish? I think you've underestimated the probability of him being Jewish. I think it's higher than 99%, based on those facts.

 

[Calheel]

The three facts being: a) dad; b) last name; and c) he's Jewish? I think you've underestimated the probability of him being Jewish. I think it's higher than 99%, based on those facts.

Chapel Hill and Civil Rights lawyer in the 1960s.

 

[superrific]

Chapel Hill and Civil Rights lawyer in the 1960s.

Oh. Got it. I was genuinely puzzled about what you were saying. Made no sense. But since this is the Gavin thread, I figured it was possible you'd lost your mind.

 

[EyeballKid]

Hochul and Pritzker jump on the train, publicly dare Trump/Homan to arrest them.

https://www.axios.com/2025/06/12/walz-hochul-pritzker-sanctuary-state-congressional-hearing

 

[hedge]

You may think you're "sounding the alarm" like some kind of modern day Paul Revere

On the tenth of June, in Twenty-Five...

 

[Healing]

Hochul and Pritzker jump on the train, publicly dare Trump/Homan to arrest them.

https://www.axios.com/2025/06/12/walz-hochul-pritzker-sanctuary-state-congressional-hearing

Irrespective of your thoughts on Newsom, this is one of the reasons why high profile rhetorical pushback on Trump was the right thing to do. It can inject courage into the conversation, alliances against a common foe, steal the fascists’ spotlight, etc. Priztker and Hochul are more measured than Newsom’s look-at-me personality, but now they are in the high profile fight, in part because Newsom punched back. That’s good, imo.

 

[Calheel]

Irrespective of your thoughts on Newsom, this is one of the reasons why high profile rhetorical pushback on Trump was the right thing to do. It can inject courage into the conversation, alliances against a common foe, steal the fascists’ stoplight, etc. Priztker and Hochul are more measured than Newsom’s look-at-me personality, but now they are in the high profile fight, in part because Newsom punched back. That’s good, imo.

I don't think either of them needed Newsom to motivate them. They both have eyes on higher office, especially Prtizker, and nothing would make them more popular than to be arrested. I am as cynical about these kind of PR moves with those two as I am with Newsom.

 

[superrific]

I don't think either of them needed Newsom to motivate them. They both have eyes on higher office, especially Prtizker, and nothing would make them more popular than to be arrested. I am as cynical about these kind of PR moves with those two as I am with Newsom.

I promise you Kathy Hochul does not have eyes on a higher office. Not unless she's loco. She's going to have her hands full to win re-election as a Dem in NY

 

[Calheel]

I promise you Kathy Hochul does not have eyes on a higher office. Not unless she's loco. She's going to have her hands full to win re-election as a Dem in NY

She has tacked right -- well she has tacked all over the place actually. Having trouble winning New York may or may not be disqualifying for winning higher office.

In any event, if Donald Trump were to arrest her, she'd likely gain 20 points popularity overnight and cruise to re-election. So, my point still stands about these politicians affirmatively wanting to be arrested.

 

[hedge]

Reagan’s policies were disastrous for working people, but he won many of them over by making them feel seen, hopeful, and part of something bigger. The problem isn’t just that he lied, it’s that he lied well. He understood that in American politics, especially presidential politics, emotional resonance often matters more than policy specifics.

Considering your critique of the Democratic party writ large as well as recent democratic election results, a cynic might read this to mean you're saying the Dems need better liars...

 

[Icky Mettle]

I really like Stein in his interview. Does he have a chance at the national level?

My guess is that he has aspirations of running at the national level, but he doesn’t currently have the name recognition that other potential candidates have.

 

[EyeballKid]

I don't think either of them needed Newsom to motivate them. They both have eyes on higher office, especially Prtizker, and nothing would make them more popular than to be arrested. I am as cynical about these kind of PR moves with those two as I am with Newsom.

And the left-wing circular firing squad rearranges itself to take down a few others who speak out publicly against Trump.

 

[Healing]

I guess high profile Dems should just sit on their fucking hands. Ffs.

 

[Calheel]

And the left-wing circular firing squad rearranges itself to take down a few others who speak out publicly against Trump.

I am just not a big fan of the "arrest me" schtick for politicians. Whether that comes from Newsom or Pritzker. It is not the biggest issue in the world, and I am not shooting anyone. As I have made very clear on this thread, I think Newsom's issues run far greater than his fake Jacob Soboroff interview "arrest me" schtick. But I am also not going to get stoked that other politicians are now imitating this fake tough guy routine.

 

[Carolina Fever]

Now I see how annoying and frustrating it has to be for Dem leaders to have to deal with some folks who call themselves Democrats. Some people can't get out of their own way.

 

[EyeballKid]

I am just not a big fan of the "arrest me" schtick for politicians. Whether that comes from Newsom or Pritzker. It is not the biggest issue in the world, and I am not shooting anyone. As I have made very clear on this thread, I think Newsom's issues run far greater than his fake Jacob Soboroff interview "arrest me" schtick. But I am also not going to get stoked that other politicians are now imitating this fake tough guy routine.

Thing is, why do you give a shit whether it’s a publicity stunt or not? And how do you determine whether it’s 100% disingenuous tough-guy schtick, or whether there’s some degree of putting one’s money where one’s mouth is?

We need a mass movement of politicians willing to push back in ways that they haven’t yet.

If the LA ICE raids and subsequent raids in other cities provide a spark for Ds to start raising their fucking voices, so be it—I don’t give a shit whether it’s Newsom, Hochul, Pritzker, Booker, AOC, or whoever. We need more publicity stunts just like this.

 

[Paine]

Considering your critique of the Democratic party writ large as well as recent democratic election results, a cynic might read this to mean you're saying the Dems need better liars...

I prefer storyteller.

 

[dukeman92]