Guest:

California Congressman Vince Fong

Guest Bio: 

Congressman Vince Fong represents California’s 20th Congressional District, succeeding former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. A longtime advocate for energy independence and economic growth in the Central Valley, Fong brings a policy-driven perspective shaped by years of public service and deep regional ties to Kern, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings Counties.

Show Summary

Can California avoid $10 gas — or are we already too late? Congressman Vince Fong and Jon Slavet break down the state’s self-inflicted energy crisis and the policy failures fueling it. From refinery shutdowns and insufficient energy infrastructure, to offshore drilling bans and misguided cap-and-trade policies – Fong outlines the dangerous domino effect of Sacramento’s incomplete energy strategy.

He also shares how these decisions are creating national security risks, driving investment out of the state, and crushing working-class families with unaffordable costs. Beyond energy, the Congressman weighs in on Prop 50, rural representation, and why we must shift from scarcity thinking to a mindset of abundance — before it’s too late.

Chapters

00:00 – The Real Cost of California's Energy Crisis

01:10 – Why Production Is Collapsing in the Central Valley

03:00 – The Pipeline Shutdown No One's Talking About

05:40 – Two Major Refineries Are Closing

07:30 – Offshore Drilling: What’s at Stake

09:10 – How This Creates National Security Risks

11:05 – Cap & Trade = Hidden Tax?

13:30 – $20B for High-Speed Rail vs. Real Infrastructure

15:00 – California’s Scarcity Mindset Is the Problem

16:15 – Rural vs. Urban: Who’s Really Being Represented?

18:00 – Prop 50 and the Fight for Fairness

20:15 – What Gives Congressman Fong Hope

Connect with Vince

Twitter: https://x.com/vfong

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentkfong/

Website: https://vincefong.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fongressman/?hl=en

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