Historian Victor Davis Hanson criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s record on energy policy and infrastructure, pointing to long-running projects and state energy decisions as examples of what he described as failed leadership.

"That's who is now Governor right now," Hanson said. "He has never had a private job that he got on his own."

Hanson said Newsom’s career has been shaped by political connections, adding, "He was the creation of the Getty family and his own well connected parents."

He noted Newsom’s lengthy time in public office, stating, "He's been in office for 30 years."

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Hanson pointed to California’s high-speed rail project as a central example of what he described as mismanagement, saying, "He's overseen all of these disastrous high speed rail it's going to, it was originally forecast at 40 billion."

He continued, "We're going to, very soon get up to 40 billion, and we will not have one inch of track laid."

Hanson added, "We will never, probably ever, have a high speed rail beyond Bakersfield to Merced, which will lose money every year."

He said funding has continued despite limited progress, stating, "And yet we keep pouring billions into it."

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Hanson contrasted the rail project with other infrastructure needs, saying, "Why these critical freeways are neglected."

He also criticized the state’s energy policies, stating, "We have a green agenda."

Hanson referenced issues involving energy storage, saying, "The Monterey battery storage plant, which is essential to capture solar generate electricity for nighttime use, has blown up twice."

He also pointed to a solar project in the Mojave Desert, stating, "We had a big $2 billion solar plant in the Mojave Desert."

Hanson added, "It's being dismantled. It's inefficient and it's harmful to wildlife."

He said the project had already been taken apart, stating, "It's been dismantled."

Hanson argued that California has untapped natural resources, stating, "We have, we were we have about the fifth highest of the 50 states reserves in gas and oil."

He questioned current policy decisions, saying, "What's Gavin Newsom doing?"

Hanson added, "He's fighting the federal government that wishes us to expand oil production."

He described the state’s reliance on imports, stating, "Where does California get their gas well? They get it from oil."

Hanson continued, "But where does the oil come from?"

He said much of it is imported, stating, "The oil comes mostly from Saudi Arabia, and it's imported."

He also addressed fuel supply logistics, saying, "And the gas, the gas has to be imported."

Hanson added, "Our special blend from Japan."

He said refinery closures have affected supply, stating, "He's driven out two refineries."

Hanson predicted rising fuel costs, stating, "We will see this year, I should say this summer, gas at somewhere between seven and $9 a gallon."

He questioned how responsibility would be handled, saying, "Will he take credit for that, responsibility for that?"

Hanson added, "Will he say this is what happened, and be accurately descriptive and honest, and there's no way in the world he will blame whom Donald Trump and the Iran war."

He concluded by warning about broader implications, stating, "That's who wants to be the president United States, and that's who wants to do for the United States what he did for California."

Hanson added, "Beware."

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