California Governor Gavin Newsom, a man who could probably sell tickets to his PR disasters at this point, hit national television on Sunday in an NBC interview that quickly devolved into a train wreck of epic proportions. Between the nonsensical word salads, frantic hand gestures, and his trademark inability to answer a direct question, it was a masterclass in dodging accountability—if you can call it that.
Jacob Soboroff of NBC News ventured into the fire-ravaged San Gabriel Valley to speak with Newsom, but instead of offering clarity or leadership, the governor delivered a performance that could generously be described as “animated.” At one point, Newsom, flailing like a malfunctioning Bernie Sanders impersonator, fumbled to explain why critical reservoirs like the Santa Ynez—capable of holding 117 million gallons of water—were inexplicably empty during the fires. “Was it pipes? Was it electricity? It was a combination of pipes, electricities, and pumps,” Newsom stammered, hands waving wildly. His response was less an answer and more a bad game of Mad Libs.
Gov. Newsom says L.A. wildfires could be worst natural disaster in U.S. history: Full interview https://t.co/VkiOO2z7WC
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 12, 2025
To make matters worse, Newsom claimed Southern California’s reservoirs were full, a statement as truthful as his coiffed image suggests competence. Meanwhile, fire crews struggled with water shortages that could have been mitigated by better management. When pressed about whether he was passing the blame, Newsom unleashed a Kamala Harris-esque word salad: “It’s about asking the questions you and everyone else want answered… we’re all better off, we’re all better off.” That’s leadership, California-style—meaning it’s not leadership at all.
GAVIN NEWSOM: All of our reservoirs here in southern California are full.
REPORTER: One of them was actually not full – the one that serves the Palisdes [which is on fire].
NEWSOM: That's why I asked for an investigation.pic.twitter.com/R8pZ2ruARX
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 12, 2025
Adding insult to injury, Newsom took time to bash Donald Trump, accusing him of spreading “incomprehensible” information about California’s water policies. Apparently, the delta smelt gets more sympathy from Newsom than his state’s own citizens. And while Trump has long called out Newsom’s failures, the governor prefers cozying up to Joe Biden, lauding the president’s so-called “support” during the crisis. Biden’s AWOL act must be inspiring because Newsom is running the same playbook: dodge responsibility, deflect criticism, and praise each other for doing the bare minimum.
The scene was another reminder of why Democratic leadership has turned California into a punchline. The reservoirs are dry, the state is on fire, and Newsom’s biggest concern is whether Trump hurt his feelings. California doesn’t need empty platitudes or exaggerated hand movements—it needs real leadership, the kind that prioritizes competence over spin. It’s no wonder people are fleeing the state in droves. Conservatives warned this would happen, and now the evidence is burned into the landscape—literally.
