Investigative journalist Susan Crabtree pushed back on portrayals of California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a political moderate, arguing that his record and alliances tell a different story.

“This idea that he is, in any way, shape or form, a moderate centrist is absolutely false,” Crabtree said.

She compared Newsom to Vice President Kamala Harris and highlighted shared political connections.

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“Kamala Harris and he have a lot in common,” she said. “They have the same mentor in Willie Brown.”

According to Crabtree, Newsom’s rise in politics was closely tied to those relationships.

“He owes his career to Willie Brown,” she said, adding that Newsom “actually had a fundraiser for him at the Balboa Cafe, which he owned.”

She argued that Newsom’s path to becoming mayor of San Francisco was shaped by family and financial connections.

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“That’s how he basically, with his dad’s connections and the Getty’s connections, got to where he the appointment that led to him being mayor of San Francisco,” Crabtree said.

Crabtree also addressed policies related to gender transition in prisons and schools.

“He has the same exact issues that Kamala Harris,” she said. She referenced controversy involving Harris and said Newsom “supported that the entire time.”

Crabtree added that Newsom’s education department issued guidance related to gender transition in schools.

“It was his education department that was responsible for this idea,” she said. “Your teachers could have a gender transition. Could be having your your children at school, be gender transitioning without parents knowledge.”

She continued, “It was illegal, and they put out the Department of Education put out the guidance, and he backed them in this.”

According to Crabtree, the guidance stated that “the administrators and teachers can’t tell the parents that their kid is gender transitioning at school.”

Crabtree also discussed Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s documentary work.

“His wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsome, made documentaries that were fueled by PG and E,” she said.

She referenced one film in particular.

“One of them was the mask you live in,” Crabtree said, describing it as being “about, you know, masculinity, toxic masculinity, basically, it was what the film’s about.”

She also mentioned another project focused on gender issues.

“He also has another one where she has about trend trans issues and LGBT plus issues,” she said, describing “a gender bred, man, person, basically curriculum.”

Crabtree dismissed claims that Newsom is repositioning himself politically.

“So this idea that he’s moving to the center, that he wants to talk to Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro, that is all performative,” she said.

Turning to Newsom’s record in California, Crabtree questioned what accomplishments he could highlight.

“What can Gavin Newsom cite as his major accomplishment for California during his tenures,” she asked.

She pointed to wildfires, insurance rates, energy costs, taxes, education rankings and poverty rates.

“You have these terrible, deadly wildfires,” she said.

“You’ve had the worst insurance rates in the country, the highest energy rates, the highest taxes.”

She added, “the worst the worst standing in education, highest poverty rates in the country.”

Crabtree argued that Newsom’s appeal is centered more on presentation than results.

“It’s all performative with Gavin,” she said.

“It’s all about his style, no substance.”

She also referenced Newsom’s homelessness initiative.

“Even his signature homelessness program, care. Course,” she said, noting he “keeps trying to modify his positions.”

Crabtree said the program has struggled to deliver results.

“They spent $6 billion on that, and like 22 people have been helped,” she said.

Finally, Crabtree raised concerns about fraud in California and suggested it could become a political issue.

“You have this terrible fraud issue in California,” she said.

She added, “The fraud in California is estimated to be 250 billion, and it’s coming out every day more and more.”

Crabtree suggested that JD Vance could elevate the issue in a future campaign.

“JD Vance, who’s obviously going to probably be head to head with him at some point, is going to lead up the fraud,” she said.

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