@Elex_Michaelson @ZavalaA next time you are with Gavo, ask Gavo about this - Californiaās Democratic supermajority legislature, Newsom administration responses, and data gaps often limit outcomes.
Hereās a breakdown based on public records and audits as of mid-2026:
- Paying homeless to register/sign ballot measures
- **Federal action**: In May 2026, Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong (a longtime petition circulator) was federally charged and agreed to plead guilty to paying individualsāincluding homeless people on LAās Skid Rowā$2ā$3 (plus cigarettes/phone cards) to register to vote and sign petitions. This is a felony (up to 5 years). Prosecutors say the investigation continues, with renewed scrutiny of Skid Row activities and ballot harvesting.
- Broader probes: U.S. Attorneyās office (
@USAttyEssayli ) has opened multiple election fraud investigations, including voter rolls. Allegations of NGOs paying for repeated registrations surfaced in LA mayoral primary coverage, but no widespread convictions tied directly to state/Dem operations. No evidence of massive outcome-changing fraud proven, per officials.
- High-speed rail
- **Ongoing failures, no completion**: Massive cost overruns (original ~$33B in 2008 ā $126B for Phase 1 SF-LA/Anaheim; full system estimates $200B ). Merced-Bakersfield segment faces $6.5B gap; no full revenue service. Federal funding (~$4B) reviewed/terminated under Trump admin due to delays/noncompliance.
- Audits/criticism: State auditor, Legislative Analystās Office, and Inspector General reports highlight poor management, transparency issues, and unrealistic timelines (possible 2030s ). New bills for more IG oversight. Billions spent with minimal track laid.
- No major prosecutions or project cancellation; scaled-back plans continue amid funding fights.
- COVID policies
- **Lawsuits/mixed outcomes**: Newsom faced suits over lockdowns, mandates, school closures, and business impacts. Some doctor āmisinformationā law challenges succeeded on vagueness/free speech grounds. Retroactive reimbursement laws for COVID services upheld in some cases. No broad criminal accountability for policies.
- Settlements: $2B redirected for pandemic learning loss (from existing funds). Broader probes limited; focus shifted to recovery funding.
- NGO funneling money back into DNC/Democrats
- **National pattern, limited CA-specific prosecutions**: Congressional oversight hearings highlighted āNGO slush fundsā and revolving doors (officials ā NGOs ā donations), but mostly federal/Biden-era examples (e.g., green energy grants). In CA, rural Democratic central committees moved union money to candidates; dark money critiques exist, but no major DOJ convictions tied to Newsom-era āfunnelingā as described.
- Homeless NGOs: Some audits (e.g., LAHSA funding suspension over fraud/weak controls) and criticism of poor oversight, but not direct DNC links proven at scale.
- NGO funding for homeless/drug recovery with no measurable results
- **Audits confirm tracking failures**: State auditor (2024 report, still relevant): ~$24B (up to $37B in some tallies 2019ā2025) on homelessness/housing with poor outcome data. Interagency Council stopped consistent tracking post-2021. Only 2/5 major programs deemed likely cost-effective (e.g., Homekey hotels, family housing support). Unsheltered numbers rose despite spending.
- Recent: LA nonprofits faced audits/funding issues (e.g., Weingart Center, LAHSA). Persistent criticism of results vs. billions spent. No sweeping clawbacks or reforms.
- Budget expansion with no positive outcomes in education/infrastructure
- **Spending up, mixed/poor results**:
- **Education**: Per-pupil spending ~$27K (high nationally), with investments in TK, community schools, special ed. Test scores saw some post-COVID gains (Newsom claim), but chronic underperformance in reading/math for many groups persists. Governance shifts proposed; Prop 98 fights over withheld funds. Audits highlight inefficiencies.
- **Infrastructure/homeless**: High-speed rail and homelessness as aboveābillions spent with delays, overruns, and visible lack of results (e.g., more unsheltered in some metrics).
- Broader: State auditor/ LAO critiques on transparency and effectiveness. Budgets often use one-time funds; deficits addressed via cuts/delays elsewhere.
**Zavala/Michaelson coverage**: Zavala has pressed on transparency (e.g., Capitol projects, some policy outcomes) and interviewed DOJ figures on elections. Less visible deep dives from them on all these exact issues compared to auditors/opposition outlets. These topics often see more scrutiny from state auditor, federal prosecutors, Republicans, or watchdogs than mainstream CA beat reporters.
Many issues feature audits exposing problems without structural change in a one-party state. Developments continue (e.g., election probes). Primary sources like state auditor reports or DOJ releases provide the clearest data.