Inside Golden State Politics

Don't Get Mad Get Even

• Nancy Boyarsky

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We watch Trump trying to settle scores  as his enemies list grows.   Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel's  fan list grows.  And we asses the impact of Kamela Harris' book promotion tour.  

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

welcome to another episode of Inside Golden State Politics. I'm Bill Bosky, former city editor and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and with me is our executive producer, Nancy Boy.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yay. And am Sherry. Be Jeffy political analyst and self-styled, medium maven. Coming to you from a place I never thought I'd be inhabiting dictatorship. I'm beginning to look little more kindly at the idea of California's seceding from the union. to you though.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

California. Here we come. Our national anthem, Sherry. I don't know about that, but this week we saw a really, important moment, in, television history. And, that was, Jimmy Kimmel's return.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

a, from a suspension for whatever mild thing he said. In his, comments on Charlie Kirk, he returned and he did it with style and grace, didn't get carried away, and then he ended with that. Really wonderful tribute to, Erica Kirk. Kirk, Charlie's widow, which I think that, this left a good taste in your mouth for this momentous event.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

for everybody. I can't believe that's

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

well, the whole thing about Jimmy Kimmel is it was a victory, but this isn't the end of it. It's gonna go on. trump is not going to give up. he's gonna pursue the media as long as he can. z there are so many departments, you know, in the federal bureaucracy, that can be touched by him that, oh, I'm afraid, is you're going to see, one department head after another. Follow the example of, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hedgepath and take really severe action against the press. That was one of the things that, shouldn't be lost about this week that passed, was the hedge pess orders that no information can be given. And his orders to reporters. No information can be sought, from the defense Department without written permission. What a trampling on of the First Amendment. but this is gonna be the new battlefield, so we're, we're gonna be on it.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, I mean. The media has been a target for a good long time, but they're getting held tighter and tighter away from free reporting and toward what Trump administration wants you to hear. And, I frankly don't see. Given the first amendment that, Trump can win on this and, and hedgehog, since I can't pronounce, hedge, whatever, are, are, are using. that goes for their focus on the media, their intimidation the media. and I find that very worrisome.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

One thing that, shouldn't be forgotten about these, past few days was, The reaction of some conservative Republicans, Republican senators like Ted Cruz, who obviously felt that, Trump and his little, FCC tool, Brendan, went a bridge too far on this. And so there was this surprising to me, Support for, Kimmel, even though these were people who didn't like, didn't agree with him and didn't like his monologue, but who, believed in the principle of a free press. And these were conservative Republicans. You also, saw the same thing happening from, conservative talk show hosts. that, you know, like, Howard Stern and, and other,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Joe Rogan.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

talk show hosts who, you know, stood behind, Kimmel too, in a sense they didn't agree with him, but he's their guy. They, they're all doing the same thing.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, what they stood behind, quite frankly, was free speech was the first amendment, and what, what was done to Kimmel said about the weakness of. Oh, how can I put it? How little the Trump administration is doing to recognize a very basic freedom, the freedom of speech, and the first Amendment.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

That really affects us, Sherry, the, this drive to silence, the press to, override the First Amendment. Affects reporters of all kinds. It affects broadcasters. And it affects podcasters like us. I mean trump is trying to eliminate. All dissent. And in that sense, It's what Hitler succeeded in doing in the mid thirties in the run up to World War ii. it is Hitlerian

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

it's the autocrats playbook. The, the, the playbook for all dictators. It's Autocracy 1 0 1. I mean an and, what conventional wisdom says, and this is partially of what Hitler did too, one of the first groups you go against, interestingly, the the comedians humor. You don't want the people over whom you are ruling to have humor. want them all to see the world as you, the dictator sees it and wants them to see it. That's what, you know, that's a, that is a concern. And I think that's a part of what caused, the creative. community to immediately and significantly respond when and oppose Kimmel's being taken off the air. But you're right. I mean it's, and, and what really drives me crazy is the fact that Trump doesn't care that he is not even saying the private stuff privately. He's letting us all know. What's going on?

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

You know, the, performance of Trump, in the past several days has really been noteworthy. You have to be a total Trump fanatic to approve of, of what he's done. He, he goes up to, the United Nations and, insults the world. The country's big and small. And, he, he shows total contempt for Europe and every other country. he shows contempt for the United Nations, starting with that escalator, that

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Oh,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

which may have been caused by, his staff guy, shooting video. you know, from the escalator, but, he's takes out all of his grievances. Like, why didn't he get that contract to, remodel the United Nations? Why, why didn't he get that? Well, he's still mad. He's still mad about that. He's, a man who never forgets a, grievance. But the tone of it was so outrageous that even as I, as I said, even a fanatic, Trumpster would think, wait a minute, is this guy all right? I mean, is, is he totally sane?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, I would assume that many of them does don't even care. And you're talking, about how he. Just focused on loss years and years and years ago. It brings to mind, the mantra of the Late Carbon War Show was a major, democratic California powerhouse and contributor. Don't get mad, get even. He got both.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

But he hasn't gotten even yet that's what we're going to be keeping our eye on, for the next, several weeks, several months.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Several years

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah, I heard, this watching television, somebody was doing jokes, commenting on, Trump running for a third term, which, which,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

and.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

we've been talking about. And we always thought, well, that's crazy. you know, get hold of yourself. But now it's becoming a serious. topic of conversation and I think that's something to watch because.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

yeah. No, I've been taking that seriously for a very long time. I, I, in, reality, I don't see a timetable that would allow it, but that's only one way of, changing the term limits in the constitution. An amendment to the constitution, take over, you stage a coup. I don't know. But he has certainly not flat out said, oh, I'm not, no, I, limited to two terms and then I outta here. heard a word along those lines.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

No. No.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah. And he, and there are people there who would march with him to do whatever he wanted to do if indeed he wanted a third turn in office. You know, I keep thinking, how did we get here? I ask you that every week. How did we get here? And I'm finally realizing that the one reason that we haven't come to terms with is responsibility as citizens. I mean, we, we allowed it to happen. He was voted in, I don't know how we're gonna get out of it unless we can, vote him out, I suppose, and or, kick him out after his second term. This is very dangerous. And, you know, if you look back at other, autocratic movements, many of them came about through an open election. And then all of a sudden it wasn't open anymore.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I think, the next battleground, of course will be the, midterm elections next year.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, don't forget the redistricting this

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

right.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Prop 50 I I I, from what I've been reading and I, I don't disagree. Whoa. That's gonna be a real expensive campaign and it's gonna be an ugly campaign, and it's already becoming an ugly campaign.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Do you think that Newsom with his, unrelenting, opposition and criticism of, Of Trump is making it an ugly campaign.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I think both sides will, why not,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

What has Newsom done that's ugly or reprehensible?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

define rep? I mean, that's probably a very, varied. Word each. Each of us has our own definition, our own qualification as to what is reprehensible. But it, you know, I mean, the Democrats are gonna go banging around, beating Donald Trump. It's gonna be a, a referendum on Donald Trump. That's gonna be ugly. It's gotta be ugly. If you want people not to support what Donald Trump is doing to you, and the Republicans will probably use. Newsom as their straw person, as well as intensely swearing that they are taking the high ground and saving and saving redistricting from these nasty politicians. And then they'll spend as much as they can spend and think they need to spend on hammering those messages home. That's what I'm talking about.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

You know, if, if control of the house depends on, first on what happens in 2025 and then what happens in 2026. And I'm not sure that's the case, but I do believe that both sides of the issue think it is. you, you gotta spend it won't do it, period. You've gotta have a message. You gotta have a message that plays well, not only in legacy media, but all over. internet and social media. And again, that takes a whole lot of money. And I think in the end, I would assume the 2026 election will come down to turnout anyway. But can't leave any stone unturned when the stakes are as high as they are now.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

You know, the problem with yes, with these things is yes, on 50 people tend to vote against something new and complicated.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Complicated. Yes.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Okay, look, I'm your average voter, Sherry,, I forgotten what on 50 is. What is it?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

What It's Gavin Newsom's plan to do a mid cycle redistricting and that will give Democrats likely. Five new seats, take those seats away from the Republican. It was done in response to the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, shepherding through at the behest of President Trump. a gerrymander, another gerrymander because what is being done in California certainly is a gerrymander too would've would give Texas Republicans. Five more congressional seats, and what Gavin wants to do is neuter that. The irony of it is, however, I think Bill, if you look at the other red states that are moving to doing a mid cycle redistricting, Republicans, the Republican states, and they're likely to make it easier for the Republicans to gain more seats, the Democrats possibly can come out of all of this, not doing what they wanna do, taking control. Of the House of Representatives, boom. The economy, no matter what happens.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

We both, say that polling is not to be, taken completely seriously. But there is something, I think if you watch the yes on 50 ad.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

And they're up, but it's

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

They're out there. They're outspending the no on 50 ads by, I don't know how much, but if you watch the ads, and you figure that these ads and the, filmmakers who are the, the videographers who make them make, are driven by their own polling the ads for, no for, yes. On 50 the Newsome ads. Bang away at Trump. I mean, that is,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

what.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

but that's really interesting because they must know, or they must have a feeling that Trump is weak. That, you know, the, the, the bloom is fading from the rose.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

It never bloomed in California. Bill. Don't forget that this is an arrow electorate and we don't like California voters don't. Most California voters don't really care Donald Trump. They could have, they could have figured that out without appalling. He did do a bit better in the presidential election, the 2024 election than he did in the 2016, but this is still a deep blue state.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Just writing down, what he did in the past few days, his. His performance in, in the, United Nations?, I guess it wasn't what he said. You know, a lot of people don't like the United Nations and a lot of people are indifferent to the United Nations.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah, but not the delegates to the United

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

but,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

That's who he slammed.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

And his manner, in, delivering this message was so, vicious, so mean spirited. So

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

active juvenile,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

juvenile. Right. Very much, that's right. We have to go back to the playground to really understand, right. You know, I think this might've been too much, too much. I think he might've gone too far. The contempt that he showed for all of these, nations, except for, you know, two or three dictatorships that he may like, or two or three Arab states that he may like, I think there could be a pushback to this. That's. In

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

How

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Oh, just people fading away. His popularity could sink. I'm not saying I believe that'll happen, but I'm saying it's more of a possibility now than it was five days ago or. it's more of a possibility now than it was before. Kimmel.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Oh yes. And you're talking about domestic polls, I assume. And for, at the last polls I saw Trump's domestic job approval, it was. Low, if not the lowest, somewhere around 39%. I mean, I don't know how much lower he can go to be perfectly frank, but on the international stage, what he's doing, I think he's doing because he knows that he's sort of got major, colleagues in leadership. Internationally a little on their back foot. They're, they don't know whether he is serious or what he's gonna do. And I understand that once he was off that podium and, and onto the one to one meetings with Matt and Zelensky and all of the, heads of delegations that he spoke with, none of that nastiness that. Retribution sounding language showed itself. He was pretty nice. And as we now know, he has gone, right around on his, perception of Kiev and the Ukraine, where he said earlier when he liked Putin, that, Ukrainians would have to give up land in order to get peace. He now says, I think Ukraine can do it, win this war and keep their land.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Okay.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

one of the things he can do and does do and does do well is to keep people guessing, and he is the president of. What we used to think was the most powerful nation in the world. international leaders at this point can't just blow him off.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Hey, Let's switch subjects a little bit and talk about, the, past, uh, democratic nominee for President Kamala Harris, who, who began her, book tour. Her book is called 107 Days. That's how long her campaign lasted. And her book tour began with, a long interview with, Rachel Maddow and has gone on to, it's gonna go on day after day. A lot of Democrats, are mad at her because in this book she settles some scores, like, Newsom not, returning her phone call. He had an excuse that, he was. Someplace where they, that would be impossible. But, she settled some scores. She offended a lot of people. I think she tried to, rather than accept a lot of blame, she tried to shift blame. and I didn't think it was a sterling performance. What do you think?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

The interview, but I think poor, poor Pamela, you get, introduce your memoir and it certainly ought to go into is she running? Everybody who's running is does a book, yada, yada, yada. She was smothered. By media coverage of Jimmy Kimmel coming back on the air. I mean, everything that I have seen, there have been a few reviews of her book in the last couple of days, but everything I've seen, for example, today is about Kimmel and Disney and Trump. First about Kimmel and Trump, then Trump. And the un and there's Kamala Harris running around out there not getting the media coverage. she will soon, but not getting the media coverage she wants, and I guess I could say she needs.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, if she, wants to, Go on to, try to run for another office. You know, that's a trouble with, being an author, you know, something, you, you start on a publicity tour and something happens and you're, you're knocked out of the, what? You're, you're forgotten.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

know.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

It's a tough, it's a tough business. I, I, I feel sorry for it. but, Looking at it, her, decision not to run, for governor. her somewhat ambivalent answers about running for the presidency, the lack so far of strong, democratic, opponents. Uh, how do you, how do you figure her, how'd she do?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

what you mean by figure her.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I'd say how'd she do?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

You mean how'd she

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I'd, how'd she do? She's been out there for a few days. She got a bad break on publicity. It's been a several, it's several days since she announced she wasn't running for governor. Uh, there's a continued speculation that she may try to run for president. I think that's unlikely. So when I ask you how do you think she's doing, that's the question is how do you think she's doing?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

More accurate question is, what is she doing?

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

what is she doing?

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah. What is, well, she, you know, she's doing actually what many, wannabe candidates thinking about being a candidate, candidates do, which is to write a book and go out on a book tour and get some media out of it and get people talking again. Is she gonna run? Is she not gonna run? She's not running for governor. Does that mean she's gonna be running for president? and. There are people, it's really kind of interesting. some people that I have talked to and some responses that I have read of people being asked questions. On polls in interview to me that, there's not going to, be a wave. I she, there, there are more than a few Democrats who are not ready to roll over and play dead and let her take the nomination. And she is coming out on top and she is raising money, she's not blowing anybody out of the water.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I was just thinking, the way she answers questions. She was asked by a couple of the interviewers what she thought of, of Newsom not answering the phone when she, called him up and her answer was to laugh, and then she said. I've known Gavin for years. Yeah. For a lifetime. And I'm thinking, well, what does that mean? You know, in San Francisco politics, if you've known somebody for years, they, you probably hate each other. I mean, that's a, that's a, that's a rough arena there, you know, that doesn't mean you like him, it doesn't mean you respect him. It doesn't mean you'd stab him in the back if you could. I mean, that's, that's San Francisco politics. So her answer was meaningless.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Well, I mean, what I found more interesting, and I haven't read the book, I, I'm, I'm probably not going to read the book quite frankly because I've read enough of the reviews, at least know a bit of what it's about. But there was very little mention of Gavin Newsom apparently. In the book, which I find very interesting for exactly the reason that you just discussed. been together since when they were in their cradles in San Francisco politics. And couple of mentions, maybe even only that one mention when he, apparently she called him after, um. Biden decided not to run and got back the text that said, hiking, I'll get back to you. And then in parenthesis, he never did. the, it's very weird to me. Another interesting thing about that, however, is that unlike most Washington tell all books, there's always an index because. know that everybody that you've

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Right.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

been around with wants to go immediately to the index to find out, A, if they're in the book, B, what the author has said about them, and apparently there's no index in her book. I find that really kind of cute.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Kinda kind of cute. And, also,, poor editing on the part of the publishing company. Uh.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Unless she said, I don't want none, and they didn't say, okay, but you have to have one.,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

It didn't say that you need an index and you'll have to pay for it. That's what they usually tell you.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

what they do? Really?

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Yeah. You pay for the index.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Do you put it together yourself?

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

I put it together with the great help of my, of our executive

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

producer,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

who's gonna help with the indexing.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

no offense, but I suspect if the, if the publisher said that Kamala, they wouldn't hold that as mandatory because, well, you're not the former

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Right,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

of the United

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

right. Yeah. She right., She probably has more clout than Bill Bosky does with, with the,

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

so much, but yeah, I would think so. I would think so.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Hey, Sherry.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

got deeply into the whole, freedom of speech

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

No.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

First Amendment, but we're gonna be talking about both of them very long time. And I do think that, I don't know how long it's gonna last, what, the way Carr presented would look to be a threat to A, B, C and Kimmel didn't sit well with public opinion and people are beginning to become energized and to look carefully what the Trump administration is doing. I think it's become very clear. his behavior, his rhetoric, and the rhetoric of the people around him, that it is a move on consolidating power in the executive branch, and actually more specifically in Donald J. Trump.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Sherry, we'll talk again next week. Good going over.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

everybody who was celebrating Lash,

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Right.

squadcaster-fhc0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

bye.

host-4ha0_2_09-24-2025_150814:

Bye bye.