California gas prices, foreign oil dependence and Gavin Newsom’s energy policies take center stage in this conversation with Will O’Neill, chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County and former two-time mayor of Newport Beach.

O’Neill joins Jon Fleischman to argue that California’s taxes, regulations and declining refinery capacity are raising prices while making the state increasingly reliant on imported oil. He explains why he views that dependence—particularly on energy routed through Asia and the Middle East—as an economic and national-security concern.

Jon and Will also discuss new Assembly Republican Leader Ali Macedo, the challenge of breaking California’s Democratic supermajority, Steve Hilton’s call for Xavier Becerra to debate, and a political controversy involving the Orange County Fair.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

California gas prices and refinery closures

Newsom’s oil and energy policies

California’s reliance on foreign oil

China, the Middle East and national security

Ali Macedo’s Assembly Republican leadership

Steve Hilton’s debate challenge to Xavier Becerra

Political-party booths and controversial artwork at the Orange County Fair

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and introduction

01:01 Meet Will O’Neill

03:04 California gas prices and Newsom’s oil policies

04:22 Foreign oil and national security

08:01 Newsom, China and overseas dependence

12:50 Ali Macedo becomes Assembly Republican leader

18:37 Will Xavier Becerra debate Steve Hilton?

23:38 The Orange County Fair controversy

29:53 Follow Will O’Neill

30:49 Closing thoughts

ABOUT THE GUEST

Will O’Neill is chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, a former two-time mayor of Newport Beach and a practicing attorney.

Follow Will on Instagram and Facebook: @RealWillONeill

What do you think? Are California’s energy policies protecting the environment—or exporting production, increasing foreign dependence and raising prices at home?

Subscribe to So Does It Matter? for more straight talk about California politics, public policy and the issues affecting everyday Californians.

Yesterday, with only hours left before the deadline, one of the most consequential taxpayer deals in recent California political history came together in Sacramento.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association withdrew its qualified Save Prop. 13 initiative after legislative leaders and Governor Newsom agreed to place ACA 22 on the November ballot and remove ACA 13.

In this episode, Jon Fleischman explains what the original initiative would have done, why the Upland loophole matters, what taxpayers won, what was given up, and why the deal matters for the future of local taxes in California.

This is a real win for taxpayers — but it came with concessions.

RedState Managing Editor Jenn Van Laar joins Jon Fleischman for a deep dive into the questions surrounding Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, their nonprofit organizations, real estate transactions, tax returns, and the federal investigation that Newsom himself has publicly acknowledged.

Long before most of the media took notice, Jenn was reporting on the financial and ethical questions surrounding the Newsom family. In this conversation, she walks through the timeline of her reporting, what is currently known about the DOJ probe, and why many of these issues have been hiding in plain sight for years.

Topics discussed include:

• The reported federal investigation into the Newsom family’s finances
 • Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit organizations
 • The California Partners Project and the Representation Project
 • Questions surrounding Newsom family real estate transactions
 • Missing tax returns and financial disclosures
 • What journalists and voters should be asking next
 • How conservatives can discuss these issues without overstating the facts

Whether you support Gavin Newsom or oppose him, this conversation offers an in-depth look at issues that could become increasingly important as Newsom’s national political profile continues to grow.

Guest:
 Jenn Van Laar, Managing Editor, RedState

Host:
 Jon Fleischman, Publisher, So, Does It Matter?

For more California political news and analysis, visit SoDoesItMatter.com.

Tom Steyer had the worst week in California politics.

After pouring more than $200 million of his own money into the race for governor, Steyer still came up short of advancing to November. California voters delivered a brutal reminder: money can buy ads, consultants, mail, polling, and saturation coverage — but it cannot buy enthusiasm, authenticity, or votes.

In this episode of Worst Week in California Politics, I break down why Steyer’s campaign failed, what his defeat says about California voters, and why this may be one of the most expensive political faceplants in state history.

And Steyer is not alone. We also hand out bronze and silver medals for the other contenders who had especially rough weeks in California politics.

Subscribe for straight talk on California politics.

Read more at: https://www.SoDoesItMatter.com

Susan Shelley joins Jon Fleischman for a wide-ranging post-election discussion on what California’s latest election results may be telling us about the state’s political future.

The conversation begins with a look at several high-profile tax and revenue measures that appear to have been rejected by voters, including healthcare-related sales taxes, vacant-home taxes, and San Francisco’s controversial CEO tax proposal. Susan explains why these results could signal growing voter skepticism toward government claims that higher taxes are necessary to maintain essential services.

Jon and Susan also dive into one of the biggest looming battles facing California voters: the proposed billionaire tax. They discuss why critics view the measure as more than a one-time wealth grab, how it could permanently authorize wealth taxation in California, and why the debate may have implications far beyond a handful of wealthy residents.

The discussion then shifts to California’s major political races. Susan shares her thoughts on Steve Hilton’s strong performance in the Governor’s race, why she believes his message is resonating with voters, and whether California’s political landscape may be more competitive than many observers assume.

The two also discuss the Los Angeles mayoral race, Spencer Pratt’s impact on the campaign, Karen Bass’s challenges, homelessness, public safety, and whether voters are becoming more willing to reject the political assumptions that have dominated California government for decades.

Finally, Susan offers her thoughts on affordability, energy policy, climate mandates, and why she remains optimistic that California’s biggest problems can still be solved through better public policy.

In This Episode

• Election Day takeaways
• Taxpayer resistance to new taxes
• Los Angeles streetlight assessments
• Contra Costa healthcare sales tax defeat
• San Diego vacant-home tax proposal
• San Francisco CEO tax rejection
• California’s proposed billionaire tax
• Wealth taxes and constitutional concerns
• Prop. 19 and inherited property
• Steve Hilton’s gubernatorial campaign
• Karen Bass and the LA mayoral race
• Spencer Pratt’s political impact
• Olympic taxpayer liability
• Affordability, energy policy, and California’s future

Connect

Subscribe to Jon’s Substack:

So, Does It Matter?
www.sodoesitmatter.com

Follow Jon for more California political analysis, interviews, and commentary on the issues shaping the Golden State.

California’s top-two primary system has created a strange campaign tactic: sometimes candidates don’t just run against their opponents — they try to choose which opponent they want.

Adam Schiff did it with Steve Garvey. Gavin Newsom did it with Brian Dahle.

So why didn’t Tom Steyer do the same thing with Sheriff Chad Bianco?

In this video, I break down how Steyer could have used his own campaign money to elevate Bianco with Republican voters, potentially pulling votes away from Steve Hilton in the race for California governor.

I also explain why Xavier Becerra may be benefiting from a very different factor: temperament. Becerra is not moderate ideologically, but next to Steyer’s overheated style, he may look more normal and steady to voters who are not following every ideological detail.

The election is just days away. If Steyer falls short, this may be one of the strategic mistakes people look back on.

Subscribe for more California politics:
SoDoesItMatter.com

In this solo So, Does It Matter? Live, Jon Fleischman breaks down the final stretch of California’s June election season, starting with the governor’s race and the growing pressure on Republicans to consolidate behind one candidate in the top-two primary. He discusses the latest PPIC poll, Steve Hilton’s position, Chad Bianco’s challenge, Democratic turnout concerns, and why California’s long vote-counting process makes “Election Day” increasingly meaningless.

Jon also digs into the Los Angeles mayor’s race, where Karen Bass is showing serious weakness, Nithya Raman is gaining traction, and Spencer Pratt’s unusual campaign is becoming harder to dismiss. From there, he turns to Republican drama in State Senate District 4, the controversy over a Duarte campaign mailer targeting Marie Alvarado-Gil, the fight over use of the official Republican Party logo on voter guides, and a new Sacramento push to restrict firearm purchases through training and permit requirements.

Of course get a lot more at the SDIM website!

Jon Fleischman interviews Michael Gates, the Republican candidate for California Attorney General, about his campaign against Rob Bonta, his Huntington Beach legal record, crime, Prop. 36, constitutional rights, ballot titles, corruption, and what he would do on day one as California’s top law enforcement officer.

Watch specific segments:

00:00 — Welcome, Introducing Michael Gates
 02:02 — Gates’ Background, Huntington Beach, And His Legal Record
 04:33 — Campaign Update: Clearing The GOP Field
 05:54 — Fundraising, Endorsements, And The Million-Dollar Mark
 08:05 — What Can A Republican Attorney General Actually Do?
 09:01 — The Independent Power Of California’s Attorney General
 10:20 — Crime, Prop. 36, And A “Zero Crime” Agenda
 12:06 — California Crime Rates Vs. Huntington Beach’s Record
 13:32 — Rob Bonta’s Priorities And Suing Trump
 14:27 — Day One: Constitutional Rights, CCWs, And Federal Law
 15:42 — Schools, Gender Issues, Title IX, And Girls’ Sports
 16:34 — Corruption, Waste, Fraud, And Clawing Back Taxpayer Money
 18:47 — Ballot Titles, Summaries, And Direct Democracy
 22:37 — Rob Bonta, Bontagate, And Campaign Legal Spending
 25:40 — Bonta’s Political Allies And Federal Indictments
 28:24 — Why Gates Says Californians Should Help His Campaign
 29:00 — Gates4AG.com, Social Media, And Final Appeal

Subscribe for more California political analysis: SoDoesItMatter.com

California’s final major gubernatorial debate before the primary is in the books — and Jon Fleischman breaks down who helped themselves, who hurt themselves, and what the debate revealed about the state of the race.

In this rapid-fire analysis, Jon examines:
 • Why Xavier Becerra spent the night under siege over scandal questions
 • How Steve Hilton emerged once again as the strongest communicator on stage
 • Why Katie Porter may have had her best debate — possibly too late
 • The continuing strengths and limitations of Chad Bianco
 • Why Matt Mahan still hasn’t broken through
 • Tom Steyer’s growing authenticity problem
 • Antonio Villaraigosa’s struggle to escape the past

Jon also explains why, after five debates, the field remains remarkably unsettled heading into the final stretch of voting — with one notable exception: Eric Swalwell, whose campaign imploded before the race ever fully took shape.

A blunt, substantive, and unapologetically opinionated breakdown of the final debate in California’s race to replace Gavin Newsom.

Jon Fleischman is joined by longtime Los Angeles political consultant Matt Klink for a wide-ranging discussion about the chaos unfolding in Los Angeles and California politics.

They break down the Los Angeles mayor’s race, Karen Bass’s political problems, Spencer Pratt’s viral campaign ads, Democratic Socialist influence at LA City Hall, controversial new tax proposals, and the latest developments in the California governor’s race.

The conversation also covers homelessness, public unions, Prop 13 loopholes, copper theft, low-turnout elections, ballot manipulation strategies, and the growing frustration many Californians feel toward government dysfunction.

Topics Include:
 • Karen Bass and the LA mayor’s race
 • Spencer Pratt’s surprising political rise
 • Democratic Socialists on the LA City Council
 • LA streetlight tax proposal
 • County sales tax increases
 • Public employee unions
 • Prop 13 loopholes
 • Xavier Becerra vs Steve Hilton
 • Tom Steyer strategy
 • California’s top-two primary system
 • Low voter turnout and election math

Subscribe to Jon’s Substack:
 SoDoesItMatter.com

Follow Jon Fleischman:
 X: @FlashReport

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction, Matt Klink Joins So, Does It Matter? Live!
 04:02 — Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, And The LA Mayor’s Race
 06:12 — Runoff Math, Special Interests, And The Top-Two Dynamics
 10:31 — Democratic Socialists, Vote Splitting, And LA Political Strategy
 16:38 — Spencer Pratt’s Viral AI Ads And Why They’re Working
 21:21 — Low Turnout, Homeowners, And Who Actually Votes In LA
 23:01 — Los Angeles City Council Races And Democratic Socialist Expansion
 27:55 — Traffic Enforcement, Public Safety, And City Hall Priorities
 30:30 — The Streetlight Tax Measure And Prop 218 Ballot Politics
 35:05 — Cannabis Taxes, Hotel Taxes, And More LA Ballot Measures
 36:30 — LA County’s Proposed Sales Tax Increase And Prop 13 Loopholes
 39:38 — The California Governor’s Race, Polling, And Republican Math
 42:20 — Tom Steyer, Strategic Advertising, And Top-Two Manipulation