If you’ve been following the headlines lately, you’ve probably seen the claim that California’s crime rates are down, and our state is supposedly safer than Republican-led places like Tennessee or Arkansas. But if you live here, that may not match what you experience day to day. So, what’s the truth? Are crime rates really dropping in a meaningful way? And does Gavin Newsom’s leadership make California safer than it would be under a conservative governor? I’m breaking it all down for you today so that you are armed and equipped with the facts!

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6CiPPZnCntOxJ2m6iAHX3sj1_Ll0RuF&si=5vrLDCXw4_1D1A8w

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-crime-debunked

Advertisers Mentioned in Today’s Show:

CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

Timestamps:

00:00 - 05:29 Recent Claims About California's Crime Rates

05:30 - 10:05 Digging into the Data

10:06 - 11:41 Advertiser! Connected Care

11:42 - 17:38 The Truth Behind Red States' Homicide Rates

17:39 - 22:09 Is Crime Inevitable in Big Cities?

22:10 - 27:10 Responding to Gavin Newsom

Governor Newsom’s appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show, In-N-Out’s move to Tennessee, his redistricting grandstanding and Trump-style antics on X, and California’s reckless decision to grant a commercial driver’s license to the illegal immigrant responsible for a deadly car crash all point to the same truth: when leaders show us who they are, believe them. These stories reveal a pattern of dishonesty, deflection, and arrogance in California leadership – leaders more focused on image than responsibility. With the 2026 midterms coming around the corner fast, we need to sharpen our discernment and demand better: leaders who value truth, humility, accountability, and people over politics.

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6CiPPZnCntOxJ2m6iAHX3sj1_Ll0RuF&si=5vrLDCXw4_1D1A8w

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/californias-failed-leadership

Brand Partners & Advertisers Mentioned in Today’s Show:

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CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

Timestamps:

00:00 - 02:50 Recent Stories out of California

02:51 - 08:49 Governor Newsom x The Shawn Ryan Show

08:50 - 12:32 In-N-OUT of California?

12:33 - 14:21 Brand Partner! Seven Weeks Coffee

14:22 - 18:20 Grandstanding & Trump-Style Antics

18:21 - 20:50 Real-Life Example of Bad Policy Repercussions

20:51 - 28:44 What All of This Reveals About Leadership

28:45 - 29:59 Advertiser! Connected Care

Assembly Bill 495, the so-called Family Preparedness Act, has already passed the California Assembly and is expected to move through the Senate before landing on the Governor’s desk this fall. Its author frames it as a compassionate reform aimed at helping children whose parents, specifically illegal immigrants, are detained or deported, giving schools a faster way to ensure kids are cared for. But conservative groups are sounding the alarm, warning that the bill could put children at risk, make human trafficking easier, and further erode parental rights in the state. Today, I’m breaking down exactly what AB 495 does, and of course, giving you my full take on why it matters!

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtu.be/juPt6LQLKQ8?si=H-LIdR5-6TZM3Jxf

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-assembly-bill-495

Resources to Oppose AB 495:

Please contact your representatives about this bill today! See my article on how to find your legislators here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/resources

Use my pre-prepared letter template for what to say: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/s/Template-for-AB-495-Opposition.docx

Lastly, take a moment to sign this petition, making your voice heard on the bill: https://www.change.org/p/stop-ab-495-protect-parental-rights-child-safety-in-california?source_location=psf_petitions

Timestamps:

00:00 - 06:48 Details of AB 495

06:49 - 14:19 Existing Law

14:20 - 28:47 Red Flags, Child Endangerment, & Real Life Outcomes

28:48 - 34:23 Call to Action

Our beloved Governor, Gavin Newsom, is threatening to redraw political district lines (ahem, cutting Republican seats) if Texas moves forward with its own redistricting plan backed by President Trump. But is this fair representation or pure political retaliation? In this episode, I break down what redistricting is, how gerrymandering works, why Texas and California are at odds, and why this fight could impact your voice in Congress!

Advertisers Mentioned in Today’s Show:

CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtu.be/juPt6LQLKQ8?si=H-LIdR5-6TZM3Jxf

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-redistricting-battle

Timestamps:

00:00 - 00:57 I got COVID!

00:58 - 02:23 One YEAR of The California Conversation!

02:24 - 06:25 The Redistricting Debate

06:26 - 08:31 Controversial Redistricting Efforts

08:32 - 14:19 Underlying Motives & Legal Processes

14:20 - 15:49 Advertiser! Connected Care

15:50 - 19:31 Redistricting California: Yes or No?

Last week, an immigration raid at a farm in Camarillo led to hundreds of arrests and the rescue of migrant children. It’s no surprise that the raid sparked protests, gunfire, and national backlash. But the results of this raid go much deeper than just recent conversations around immigration policy – now there are serious questions of child trafficking, forced labor, and our state’s role in protecting children. We are going to get into all of it and how this raid connects to recent legislation passed in California today!

Advertisers Mentioned in Today’s Show:

CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtu.be/juPt6LQLKQ8?si=H-LIdR5-6TZM3Jxf

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/immigration-raid-exposes-child-trafficking

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:00:50 Introduction

00:00:51 - 00:03:59 What Happened in Camarillo?

00:04:00 - 00:15:46 Passage of AB 379 & Disturbing Compromises

00:15:47 - 00:18:02 Mixed Signals & Partisan Politics

00:18:03 - 00:18:45 Advertiser! Connected Care

00:18:46 - 00:19:10 Outros

This week, a judge ruled that SpaceX – Elon Musk’s rocket company – can sue a California state agency for political discrimination. Earlier in the year, a similar lawsuit was struck down by the court, so this is a big deal for SpaceX and Musk! What happened, what could this lawsuit mean for California regulators, and why does this matter for us?

Brand Partnerships Mentioned in Today’s Show:

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Naturals through my link https://amallow.com/tessabraham or use the code 650Q2ZY3HL at checkout! *Discount code will automatically be applied at checkout through my link!

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6CiPPZnCntOxJ2m6iAHX3sj1_Ll0RuF&si=7lANuFikHlkytmyh

For sources cited in compiling this week’s episode, check out the corresponding article on my website: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/spacex-sues-california-agency

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:00:47 SpaceX Sues California Agency

00:00:48 - 00:02:09 Why Does This Story Matter?

00:02:10 - 00:08:50 SpaceX vs. California Coastal Commission

00:08:51 - 00:11:33 Political Bias?

00:11:34 - 00:13:08 Brand Partner! Amallow

00:13:09 - 00:16:16 SpaceX Allowed to File Suit

00:16:17 - 00:21:33 Political Persecution in California

Happy Fourth of July! In this week’s episode, I take a deep dive into the Declaration of Independence and compare the colonists’ grievances with the British Crown to what we see happening in California today. From the explosion of unelected bureaucracies to the abandonment of public safety and parental rights, we explore how the very freedoms our nation was founded to protect are being quietly stripped away. Because the battle for liberty didn’t end in 1776—it begins again here, today, in California.

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6CiPPZnCntOxJ2m6iAHX3sj1_Ll0RuF&si=7lANuFikHlkytmyh

For sources cited in compiling this week’s episode, check out the corresponding article on my website: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/fourth-of-july-2025

Advertisers Mentioned in Today’s Show:

CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

Socials:

Check out more content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaliforniaConversation

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on X (Twitter): https://x.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564213461410

The world seems like it has just been falling apart the last few weeks! There have been massive protests about immigration, riots that posed major threats to law enforcement and to the city of Los Angeles as a whole, the calling in of the national guard, and a legal showdown between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump. The chaos that has unfolded in California is the perfect example of people wanting to be heard – but doing so without truth, without clarity, and without self-control. And when that happens, we don’t get change, we get chaos. I'm breaking it all down for you today.

Brand Partners and Advertisers Mentioned in Today's Show:

WE HEART NUTRITION: Get 20% off high-quality supplements and support mothers facing unplanned pregnancies! They are pro-baby, pro-mama, pro-life, and American owned! Use code TESSABRAHAM at checkout, or shop through my link here: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/tessabraham.

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/los-angeles-riots-2025

Socials:

Check out more content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaliforniaConversation

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on X (Twitter): https://x.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564213461410

Quick show update! The show will be moving to Thursday mornings, and will be moving to video!

Check out the show on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaliforniaConversation

And check back here this Thursday for this week's episode!

Governor Gavin Newsom has implemented the most sweeping electric vehicle mandates in the country – aiming for 100% of new car sales by 2035 to be all electric. These mandates have left Californians concerned about the auto industry in our state and the ability to support such a massive shift in a short span of time. But the wins just keep on coming, with these mandates being officially struck down by Congress just a few weeks ago! I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and we are looking at our last conservative win and what it means for you on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Brand Partners and Advertisers Mentioned in Today's Show:

CONNECTED CARE: Whether you’re looking for therapy, or a therapist looking to serve your clients without the burden of administrative tasks, Connected Care is a great place to start—right from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.connectedcareinc.com to learn more and get started.

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Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/protecting-consumer-choice

Socials:

Check out more content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaliforniaConversation

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on X (Twitter): https://x.com/itstessabraham

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564213461410

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:01:44 Introduction & Advertiser - Connected Care

00:01:45 - 00:06:00 The Fight: Newsom's 2035 EV Mandate

00:06:01 - 00:08:32 The Win: Senate Revocation

00:08:33 - 00:10:07 Brand Partner! EveryLife

00:10:08 - 00:13:31 The Question of State's Rights

00:13:32 - 00:17:36 Real Life Effects of This Win!