Earlier this month, I attended Governor Gavin Newsom’s first State of the State address to a joint legislative session since 2020. While I appreciated his recognition of my work on the Phone-Free Schools Act, much of his speech showcased a reality distortion field, ignoring California’s pressing challenges.
Newsom hailed California as “a roadmap for others to follow,” echoing his prior claim of it being “America’s coming attraction.” Yet, we continue to top national rankings in poverty, unemployment, low literacy, homelessness, gas prices, and outbound migration. These aren’t abstract figures—they reflect real struggles for families amid soaring costs of living. Instead of confronting them, his address highlighted selective wins while glossing over systemic failures.
