California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he plans to double the number of state jobs that will no longer require a college degree — joining states like Minnesota, Virginia and Pennsylvania, which have already dropped degree requirements for most public jobs. 

Newsom unveiled his Master Plan for Career Education framework on Monday, which included eliminating the college degree requirement for 30,000 jobs in the state.

The Democratic governor plans to double the number by removing the requirement for an additional 30,000 in the coming years in an overall effort to "help Californians translate their skills and knowledge into real progress toward a degree or career."

"Every Californian deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue a fulfilling career — including those that don’t require college degrees," Newsom said in a statement. "California is working to ensure that every person has what they need to get a well-paying, long-lasting job so we can build an economy for the future that supports all families."

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The framework also includes plans to establish "Career Passports" for citizens that will create a digital record of their skills and abilities for job applications. 

Veterans will also see new benefits, with the plan allowing them to gain college credit for their military experience.

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Reducing the emphasis on needing a college degree to secure a career has been endorsed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump. Musk recently stated that he believes "the value of a college education is somewhat overweighted."

"Too many people spend four years, accumulate a ton of debt and often don't have useful skills that they can apply afterwards. I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands, and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters and that's a lot more important than having incremental political science majors," Musk said while on the campaign trail for Trump. "I think we should not have this idea that in order to be successful you need a four-year college degree."

Newsom's framework was released just months after a report found that the majority of students at for-profit colleges never graduate, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The report found that only 36% of students graduate in four years at California State University, while 62% graduate within six years. 

The elimination of college degree requirements for state jobs has received bipartisan support in recent years. 

Maryland, under Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, became the first state in the nation to eliminate degree requirements for most state jobs in 2022, setting the stage for more than a dozen other states to follow in his footsteps with similar orders.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order in 2023 to establish that 92% of state government jobs would no longer require a college degree, a move that received praise from Republican state lawmakers who said the decision was "a step in the right direction."

Additionally, the 2024 GOP platform framework, released during the presidential campaign cycle, stated that "Republicans will support the creation of additional, drastically more affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year college degree."

An environmental group is calling out Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's climate leadership in a six-figure battleground state ad buy which claims his policies in California have "significantly undermined climate progress."

While running for governor in 2018, Newsom said he would shut down the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in California – the location of the largest methane leak in U.S. history. "I'm fully committed to doing that," Newsom told a reporter when asked if he would shut down the facility. "The question is how quickly can we do that, but my commitment is to make that happen. We need to be more aggressive than we have been."

Newsom added that he was "unequivocally" committed to shutting it down, but environmental groups are calling out the governor after allowing the facility to remain open six years later. 

Food & Water Action, the political and lobbying arm of Food & Water Watch advocating against climate change, announced on Monday a $100,000 ad buy against Newsom across four battleground states – Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Michigan.

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The ad buy specifically targets Newsom's leadership on the climate, specifically for not following through on his campaign promise regarding the Aliso Canyon facility.

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"Americans are looking for leadership to resist Trump’s assault on our climate. Someone who follows through and won’t back down," the ad says. "Gov. Newsom promised to shut down Aliso Canyon, the site of the largest gas blowout in U.S. history. A public health disaster. But his public utilities commission is considering keeping it open indefinitely – just like the oil and gas industry wants. Climate leadership? We’re looking for it." 

However, in a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Daniel Villaseñor, spokesperson for Newsom, said that "the Governor’s energy policy is ambitious, not reckless." 

"We are committed to safely closing Aliso Canyon without harming working families with skyrocketing utility bills," the spokesperson said. "No governor has done more to accelerate our transition to clean and renewable energy, but it would be irresponsible to close Aliso Canyon before demand for natural gas declines. That’s a recipe for precisely the same price spikes we've seen in the gasoline market."

Villaseñor added that Newsom "wants to see Aliso Canyon phased out, but not at the cost of enormous price increases for working families and our ability to keep the lights on." The California Public Utilities Commission is planning to meet on Dec. 19 to discuss the future of the facility.

The environmental group claims that Newsom is trying to appear as a climate change champion, but that his record in California suggests otherwise.

"Governor Newsom wants to position himself as a national leader on climate and in opposing Trump, but he can’t be a credible national leader if his own house is not in order," Mitch Jones, deputy director of Food & Water Action, said in a press release. 

"While Newsom has taken some important steps on oil drilling, other policies have significantly undermined climate progress. These include undermining rooftop solar, embracing industry-backed plans like dirty biogas and carbon capture, and failing so far to keep his promise to close Aliso Canyon," Jones added.

While there is still a push from environmental groups to shut down the facility, it remains California’s largest underground natural gas storage facility and its operation has helped the state avoid potential energy price increases, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The ads were notably launched in battleground states amid months of speculation that Newsom could potentially launch a presidential bid in 2028.

Newsom was a top surrogate for President Biden during his re-election bid, and was floated as a leading candidate to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket before the president dropped out of the race. 

The governor's second term in Sacramento will finish at the end of next year, right around the time the 2028 presidential election will start to heat up.

• Kimberly Guilfoyle and Gavin Newsom were married for five years, from 2001 to 2006.
• As the mayor and first lady of San Francisco, they were dubbed "the new Kennedys."
• Guilfoyle went on to work in the Trump White House and is engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

Kimberly Guilfoyle and Gavin Newsom, who were married from 2001 to 2006, were once a high-profile political couple dubbed "the new Kennedys."

Their paths have diverged significantly since their time as mayor and first lady of San Francisco.

Newsom, whose push for marriage equality cemented him as a national figure in the Democratic party, is now the governor of California and was floated as a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate. He married documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom in 2008.

Guilfoyle, a former assistant district attorney turned Fox News host, became a conservative influencer and advisor to President Donald Trump. She is engaged to Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.

Despite their political differences, Guilfoyle and Newsom remained friends for years until things began to deteriorate around the 2020 presidential election.

Here's a timeline of their relationship.

Circa 1994: Kimberly Guilfoyle and Gavin Newsom met at a Democratic fundraiser.

San Francisco attorney Art Groza introduced the couple at a fundraiser for John Burton, who was then a member of the California State Assembly and went on to be elected to the House of Representatives, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

December 2001: Guilfoyle and Newsom got married seven years after they met.

Newsom and Guilfoyle wed at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco. At the time, Newsom worked as a county supervisor, and Guilfoyle was an assistant district attorney.

January 2004: Newsom was sworn in as mayor of San Francisco, and Guilfoyle moved to New York to host "Both Sides" on Court TV.

Months later, Newsom told the San Francisco Chronicle that living on different coasts had "taken a huge toll personally."

"The transcontinental marriage is tough — the only godsend is that we don't have kids," he said. "You give up your life in the traditional sense."

September 2004: A feature in Harper's Bazaar magazine dubbed them "the new Kennedys."

One image from the Harper's Bazaar spread showed Guilfoyle and Newsom lying together in formalwear on a rug at Ann and Gordon Getty's house.

In the accompanying article, Newsom described their relationship as "a wonderful combination of being in love and extraordinarily proud."

January 2005: The couple jointly filed for divorce.

Newsom and Guilfoyle released a joint statement announcing the end of their marriage "with great sadness," The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"Unfortunately, the demands of our respective careers have made it too difficult for us to continue as a married couple," the statement said. "Over the past 10 years, we have developed a tremendous bond of love and respect for each other. That will never change. We will remain close friends. We ask for your understanding and consideration during this difficult time."

November 2005: Newsom and Guilfoyle reunited for a series of events, sparking reports they had gotten back together.

After the two were spotted together at Newsom's birthday party, a golf championship, and an outing with then-Prince Charles and Camilla during their royal visit, The San Francisco Chronicle described their marriage as "on-again, off again."

When former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown asked about his marital status at the royal gathering, Newsom replied, "I have a very confusing life," the Chronicle reported.

Guilfoyle gave a vague answer to the Chronicle when asked if she and Newsom had gotten back together.

"If I was standing back and looking at the situation, I would say it went great — these two people obviously love each other and get along very well," she said. "But I don't have an answer for you. We are not back together."

February 2006: Their divorce was finalized.

Guilfoyle told The San Francisco Chronicle that the divorce was amicable, and that she and Newsom shared a lawyer throughout the proceedings.

"We're very close, and we're going to remain that way," she said.

Guilfoyle and Newsom did not have any children together during their marriage.

May 2006: Guilfoyle married businessman and furniture heir Eric Villency.

Villency and Guilfoyle welcomed a son in October 2006. They divorced in November 2009.

January 2007: Newsom admitted to having an affair with his campaign manager's wife in 2005 while he and Guilfoyle were in the midst of their divorce.

After Newsom's campaign manager, Alex Tourk, abruptly resigned for "personal" reasons, Newsom publicly apologized for the affair the next day, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true, and I'm deeply sorry about that," he said at a press conference. "I've hurt someone I care deeply about — Alex Tourk, and his friends and family. And that is something I have to live with."

July 2008: Newsom married documentary filmmaker and actor Jennifer Siebel.

Newsom and Siebel wed in Stevensville, Montana, on a ranch belonging to Siebel's parents, People magazine reported. Nancy Pelosi, former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, and actor Jason Lewis were in attendance.

The couple now shares four children.

August 2017: Guilfoyle spoke highly of Newsom during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, which he went on to win.

In a profile of Newsom in The Sacramento Bee, Guilfoyle described him as "an amazing 'ideas guy' in terms of having an idea, developing it and seeing it to fruition."

She also recalled his dedication to an array of small businesses he operated, including wine shops, bars, and cafés. Guilfoyle told The Sacramento Bee that Newsom handled "everything from food selection and menus" to "all of the personnel decisions."

Newsom won the race for California governor in the 2018 midterm elections and took the oath of office in 2019.

May 2018: Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. went public as a couple.

Guilfoyle told The Washington Post that she joked with Newsom about directing Trump Jr. to campaign against his bid for governor, and that the two men discussed the hair products they use to keep their styles intact.

"Gav's hair is slicked back, and Don's hair is slicked back," she said.

September 2018: Newsom publicly addressed Guilfoyle's relationship with Trump Jr. for the first time.

Newsom told KQED host Lily Jamali that he was "still trying to come to grips with all of it."

"I wish her well, and them well," he said of Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. "And we see the world, clearly, with a different set of eyes politically."

March 2019: When asked about his past with Guilfoyle, Newsom said, "Life's interesting."

In an interview on PROFILE by BuzzFeed News, Newsom was asked if then-President Trump had ever mentioned Newsom's past marriage to Guilfoyle in their conversations.

"We may have had a private moment on that conversation, which in and of itself, makes life just interesting," Newsom said.

When host Ben Smith asked Newsom for details, he simply said, "Life's interesting."

August 2020: Newsom declined to comment after Guilfoyle attacked California in her speech at the Republican National Convention.

"If you want to see the Socialist Biden Harris future for our country, just take a look at California," Guilfoyle said in her speech. "It is a place of immense wealth, immeasurable innovation, and immaculate environment, and the Democrats turned it into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets, and blackouts in homes."

Fox News host Elex Michaelson asked the California governor if he had a response. Newsom opted to "respectfully defer to the next question."

September 2022: Newsom said he and Guilfoyle weren't in touch anymore.

When MSNBC host Alex Wagner asked if he and Guilfoyle still spoke, Newsom replied, "Nope. Not lately."

"It must be weird for you," Wagner said.

"Yeah, of course," Newsom replied.

December 2022: Guilfoyle appeared to reference Newsom's rumored White House aspirations, saying, "He ain't making it to the White House."

As speculation swirled that Newsom might run for president in 2024 if President Joe Biden didn't seek a second term, Guilfoyle appeared to allude to her past with Newsom in a speech at Turning Points USA.

"In California, they have vowed to get rid of gas-powered cars with no explanation of how they are going to fund and power alternatives," Guilfoyle said. "A bunch of winners over there, folks. Ask me how I know."

"He ain't making it to the White House," she added, seemingly referring to Newsom.

February 2023: Newsom said Guilfoyle was a "different person" when they were married and that she "fell prey" to the culture at Fox News.

On an episode of CNN's "The Axe Files" podcast, Newsom said Guilfoyle was "spending a lot of time in Democratic circles" while they were married, citing her work for a progressive district attorney and former friendship with fellow California attorney Kamala Harris, who went on to become vice president.

"She fell prey, I think, to the culture at Fox in a deep way," Newsom said of Guilfoyle. "She would disagree with that assessment, she would perhaps suggest that she found the light."

February 2023: Guilfoyle hit back, saying that Newsom was "unrecognizable" and had "fallen prey" to the "radical left."

On an episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show" later that week, Guilfoyle called Newsom's comments "absurd," adding that she was a registered Republican while they were married and that it was Newsom who had changed drastically.

"I didn't change, he did," she said. "He used to be so proud to fight for small business, for entrepreneurs, for those hardworking men and women. And he's fallen prey to the left, the radical left, that is pushing him so far to the left that it's unrecognizable."

Guilfoyle also said that she thought Newsom would run for president in 2024 and that it's something he "wants very badly."

As they gather for their annual winter meeting, the nation's Democratic governors say they're the "best path forward" for a party now out of power in the nation's capital, and the "last line of defense" as President-elect Trump returns to the White House.

The Democrats lost the White House and the Senate majority, and failed to flip the House, in last month's elections.

But Democrats held the line in this year's gubernatorial elections, and continue to hold 23 of the 50 governors' offices.

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) highlights their governors "represent more than half of the U.S. population, including in five of the seven biggest presidential battlegrounds (AZ, MI, NC, PA and WI) as well as deep red states like Kansas and Kentucky."

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"At a time when the Democratic Party is looking for the path back to victory, Democratic governors continue to win by earning the trust of voters by meeting them where they are on their biggest everyday challenges," DGA executive director Meghan Meehan-Draper highlighted.

And she emphasized that "who your governor is has never mattered more – and with Republicans in control of the federal government, there will be even higher stakes and more resources necessary for the 38 gubernatorial elections in 2025 and 2026, including the hard work already underway to flip Virginia and hold New Jersey in 2025."

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING AND OPINION ON THE DEMOCRATS

Democratic governors and state attorneys general played a high-profile role in pushing back via political and legal battles during Trump's first term in the White House – and several are ready to reprise that role.

Two of the most high-profile Democratic governors, California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois' JB Pritzker, have already begun to "Trump-proof" their solidly blue states.

And Pritzker, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, last month launched a group called Governors Safeguarding Democracy, in order to resist the incoming Trump administration.

The rival Republican Governors Association criticized the Democrats' strategy.

"The fact that Americans resoundingly rejected the Democratic Party agenda just one month ago, and yet Democrats continue to believe running against an agenda of lower costs, more safety, and more freedom is their winning message shows just how wholly out of touch they are with the country," RGA communications director Courtney Alexander argued.

But longtime Democratic strategist Maria Cardona pointed to her party's governors as a "focus of progress and protection" with Trump returning to the White House.

But Cardona, a Democratic National Committee member, said the governors will also "be the ones that are going to show Americans the path forward." 

"Democratic governors have always been innovative and creative and know what works both to push back against MAGA extremism, as well as bring people together with commonsense bi-partisanship.," Cardona added. "The country needs that smart, tested, measured yet passionate approach now more than ever."

Some of the governors will also be some of the early high-profile potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.

Newsom, Pritzker, Polis, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, are among the names often mentioned as possible White House hopefuls in the next presidential election.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom railed against President-Elect Trump's proposal to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada during a visit to the southern border to announce plans to finish constructing the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry on Thursday afternoon.

Newsom described the tariffs as "one of the biggest tax increases in U.S. history" that would affect Californians' wallets and small businesses, especially farmers across the Golden State.

"Don't think for a second this won't impact you," Newsom said. "90% of these tariffs will impact bottom of our economic chain, meaning lower wage workers that pay over half of these taxes."

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"There is no economic growth in America without the success and the vibrancy of this region," he added.

Calling the tariffs a "betrayal" that is "happening in real time," Newsom said the new legal crossing would promote two-way trade between Mexico and the U.S. 

"You are being betrayed by these policies," Newsom said.

"And those farmers and ranchers will be impacted disproportionately if these tariffs go into effect," he said. "And I didn't even bring up the mass deportation components of it. You know better than I do when you look at farm workers, the last estimate, roughly half are undocumented."

In talking about the Ota Mesa Easy Port of Entry, Newsom said he hopes to have it completed by December 2027, with the help of the incoming Trump administration. 

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"We care about border security, but we also care about economic security, and we care about two way trade, and we care about our partners on the other side of this border that have well-established partnerships."

Newsom also announced a new plan with the California National Guard to strengthen border security by targeting the flow of fentanyl and illegal weapons. Nearly 200,000 illegal migrants cross the border into California daily through ports of entry, according to the San Diego-based Smart Border Coalition in the summer.

The move is part of Newsom's effort to reframe the conversation around illegal immigration flowing into the blue state as he positions himself for a potential showdown with the incoming Trump administration. This week, Newsom spearheaded an emergency special legislative session, urging lawmakers to approve $25 million to bolster the state's legal defense against potential federal lawsuits lobbed by Trump.

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Between 2017 and 2021, California's Department of Justice led 122 lawsuits against Trump administration policies, spending $42 million on litigation. Newsom's office said in one case, the federal government was ordered to reimburse California nearly $60 million in public safety grants.

While California filed over 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, President-elect Donald Trump lobbed only four major lawsuits against the state. 

California, a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, abortion procedures and transgender transition treatments for children, could be targeted by the Trump administration, especially considering Trump's mass deportation plan of illegal immigrants. 

Trump called Newsom's plan an effort to "Trump-proof" the state in a Truth social post last month.

President Biden's decision to go back on his word and pardon his son will be a permanent stain on his legacy, a presidential historian said Thursday.

Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Rice University argued to USA Today that there is "nothing positive" about Biden's decision. The pardon has already drawn criticism from Republicans and even Biden's allies in Congress.

"The problem that President Biden has legacy-wise is he said he wouldn't pardon his son," Brinkley said. "He gave his word, crossed his heart, and then, alas, he ended up doing it. It will strike some people as unfair and other people will say it’s a father doing what he had to."

He added that the pardon will only serve to be a "dark mark" on Biden's term moving forward.

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Brinkley also noted the trouble Hunter has caused for his father's presidency since gaining office. Investigations into the first son have resounded through Congress and the media, providing a counterpoint to then-ongoing criminal investigations into President-elect Trump.

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"Hunter Biden's been an albatross around his father's neck for the entire presidency," Brinkley said.

Brinkley goes on to argue that Trump's victory in November may have been the deciding factor, with Biden fearing that the incoming administration would target his son with more investigations.

Nevertheless, the move won him no allies. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, typically a staunch ally of the president, said he was "disappointed" in the decision and that he "cannot support it."

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., who chairs the Congressional Democratic Caucus, also said he was "disappointed" in the decision Wednesday. He went on to note that Biden had gone back on his word.

Biden had vowed multiple times that he would not intervene in his son's case, first in June when his son was convicted on three felony firearm charges, and then in September after Hunter pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion.

"I am not going to do anything," Biden said this summer. "I will abide by the jury’s decision."

Democrat Adam Gray has won California's 13th Congressional District race, defeating incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte, according to The Associated Press.

California's 13th Congressional District was the last seat to be called, with the district being one of the most competitive races in the Golden State. Republicans maintained the majority with 220, with Democrats trailing at 216.

Gray, a former state legislator who represented California's 21st Assembly District from 2012 to 2022, is considered a centrist Democrat who focused on key concerns for farmers in the Central Valley like water shortages. He also campaigned on renewable energy solutions.

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In a statement on X, Gray wrote that the long-awaited results were confirmation that residents were ready for "independent and accountable leadership."

"I'm honored to become the Congressman-elect for California's 13th Congressional District. The final results confirm this district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley's people ahead of partisan politics," he wrote. "But the work has just begun."

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"In Washington, I'll work everyday to deliver the resources that the Valley needs: clean water, better educational opportunities, stronger infrastructure, and more good-paying jobs," he wrote. "And you can count on me to build bipartisan relationships to accomplish these goals."

The race has been characterized as one of the tightest in the country. In 2022, Duarte narrowly defeated Gray by just 564 votes.

Duarte, a businessman and farmer, focused on issues like inflation, crime and agricultural issues during his campaign. 

California’s unemployment insurance (UI) financing system is facing big deficits, requiring a full "redesign," according to a new report from the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).

The system, meant to be self-sufficient, has fallen short of covering annual benefit costs, resulting in a projected $2 billion annual deficit over the next five years and an outstanding $20 billion federal loan balance.

"This outlook is unprecedented: although the state has, in the past, failed to build robust reserves during periods of economic growth, it has never before run persistent deficits during one of these periods," the LAO report, titled "Fixing Unemployment Insurance" and published Tuesday, stated. 

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Independent analysts project that annual shortfalls will increase California's federal loan, costing taxpayers around $1 billion in interest each year. The system, which is funded by employer payments to the UI Trust Fund, hasn’t been updated since 1984 and "cannot keep up with inflation or provide the intended wage replacement of half of workers’ wages," according to the report.

The current employer tax structure discourages eligible unemployed workers from claiming benefits, while the state’s low taxable wage base hampers hiring of lower-wage workers, analysts found.

One suggestion researchers wrote to fix the gap is to increase the amount of wages taxed for unemployment benefits, raising it from $7,000 per worker to $46,800. Supporters of this change say it would bring in more money to fund the program. The report also recommends reworking how businesses are taxed for unemployment benefits to make the system simpler and encourage more hiring.

PROPOSITION 36 OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES IN CALIFORNIA, REVERSING SOME SOROS-BACKED SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES

To deal with the massive federal loan, the report suggests splitting the cost between employers and the state government, so that businesses aren’t stuck with all the debt.

"These are significant problems in isolation, let alone in combination," analysts wrote. "The significant changes proposed in this report are an honest reflection of these problems. However, whether or not the Legislature takes action, employers will soon pay more in UI taxes than they do today due to escalating charges under federal law."

Gareth Lacy, a spokesperson for the California Employment Development Department, which administers the state’s unemployment insurance program, called it "a thoughtful report" and noted officials "are reviewing it carefully."

"We agree the issue stretches back for decades and the pandemic compounded it," Lacy told Fox News Digital in a statement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state's UI system was hit hard with an overwhelming number of unemployment claims, resulting in the state borrowing roughly $20 billion from the federal government to cover insurance benefits, which the state still owes. 

"Not only will the state’s tax system fall short of repaying that loan, the balance is set to grow due to the ongoing gap between contributions and benefits," the report noted. "This will become a near-permanent feature of the state’s UI program and a major ongoing cost for state taxpayers."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will convene the state legislature for a special emergency session Monday to propose a "Trump-proof" legal defense fund of up to $25 million for the state's justice department.

Newsom said in a statement the Golden State "is a tent pole of the country … protecting and investing in rights and freedoms for all people" and that officials "will work with the incoming administration and we want President Trump to succeed in serving all Americans." 

"But when there is overreach, when lives are threatened, when rights and freedoms are targeted, we will take action," Newsom said. "And that is exactly what this special session is about – setting this state up for success, regardless of who is in the White House."

PROPOSITION 36 OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES IN CALIFORNIA, REVERSING SOME SOROS-BACKED SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES

State lawmakers, who are majority Democratic, are expected to introduce the proposed legislation in the coming weeks. Officials anticipate the legislation will be signed into law before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

"It’s not a resistance brand," Newsom told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "It’s around pragmatism. It’s about preparedness. We would be fools not to get on top of this before January."

Between 2017 and 2021, California's Department of Justice led 122 lawsuits against Trump administration policies, spending $42 million on litigation. Newsom's office said in one case, the federal government was ordered to reimburse California nearly $60 million in public safety grants.

While California filed over 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, President-elect Donald Trump lobbed only four major lawsuits against the state. In 2018, Trump's DOJ filed a lawsuit over three California sanctuary state laws that restricted cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. That same year, Trump sued California for its state-level net neutrality law.

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In 2019, Trump also filed a lawsuit against California's vehicle emissions standards, attempting to revoke California's ability to set its own emissions rules. The Trump administration also sued California over its controversial independent contractor law, AB 5, in 2020. 

California, a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, abortion procedures and transgender transition treatments for children, could be targeted by the Trump administration, especially considering Trump's mass deportation plan of illegal immigrants. 

Meanwhile, Republican state Sen. Brian Jones, who serves as the upper chamber's minority leader, said last month the special session "is clearly just another political stunt" and a "desperate attempt to distract from Democrats’ significant losses across California on Tuesday — in the state Senate, state Assembly, U.S. House, and on key ballot measures, including Prop 5’s defeat and Prop 36’s overwhelming win."

"Californians have made it clear: affordability is their top concern," Jones said. "Yet, even with the massive deficit he created, Gov. Newsom wants to hand his attorney general a blank check to wage endless battles against the federal government — while our own state is on fire, both literally and metaphorically."

• Peter Thiel, tech billionaire and conservative kingmaker, has amassed influence all over Washington.
• He's close to powerful elected and un-elected political players, like JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy.
• Palantir, a company Thiel co-founded, counts the US government as its biggest client.

In August 2021, a mystery buyer purchased a 10,000-square-foot home in Washington, DC. They made the $13 million purchase through Salona Village Holdings LLC, shielding their identity.

That mystery buyer was billionaire Peter Thiel, whose sprawling influence in Washington has grown in recent years. Between mentoring Vice President-elect JD Vance since his time at Yale Law School to running companies with millions in government contracts, Thiel has entrenched himself in the DC world in ways both seen and subtle.

Worth $14.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, the 57-year-old PayPal confounder was one of the first Silicon Valley leaders to espouse conservative views.

Here's a guide to his influence in Washington, which stretches far beyond the walls of his mansion.

A representative for Thiel did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

JD Vance

Thiel played a critical role in orchestrating Vance's rise to the top of Republican politics. The two first met in 2011, when Vance attended a talk Thiel gave at Yale Law School. In a magazine article written nearly a decade later, Vance called Thiel "a good friend" and said his speech was "the most significant moment of my time at Yale Law School."

After graduating from Yale, Vance became a principal at Thiel's VC firm, Mithril Capital. Their mentor-mentee relationship only grew stronger, with Thiel eventually investing heavily in Vance's own venture fund, Narya Capital, and writing a blurb for "Hillbilly Elegy." When Vance decided to pursue politics, Thiel remained by his side, pouring at least $15 million into his 2022 Senate campaign, according to OpenSecrets.

In 2021, Thiel introduced Trump and Vance at Mar-a-Lago, and remained invested in their relationship through the 2024 election. With repeated calls to President-Elect Donald Trump and persistent lobbying, Thiel played an important role in getting Vance on the ticket.

Elon Musk

Musk and Thiel merged their online banking companies in 2000, forming PayPal. Their relationship soured, though, when Thiel ousted Musk as CEO and eventually took over the role. Come 2008, relations had evidently thawed enough for Thiel to make a $20 million investment in SpaceX, one of Musk's companies. The investment was crucial to helping SpaceX recover from a failed rocket launch that same year.

After Trump won the 2024 election, Thiel credited Musk for making other Silicon Valley leaders feel comfortable supporting the president-elect. Musk is one of Trump's top advisors and soon-to-be co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Donald Trump

In 2016, Thiel donated more than $1 million to Trump's presidential campaign. He had a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and served as a go-between with Silicon Valley. Thiel said he was disappointed by Trump's first term and didn't donate in 2020 or 2024. Still, he predicted that Trump would win this year.

With Vance anointed as MAGA heir apparent, Thiel and Trump have a chance to rekindle their ties.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg may not be a politician, but his influence in Washington runs deep. Between Facebook's role in free speech culture wars, the Federal Trade Commission's ongoing antitrust case against Meta, and Zuckerberg's rocky relationship with Trump, the tech leader is entrenched in the political conversation.

Thiel has a stake in Zuckerberg's involvement. He counts the Facebook founder among his mentees and was the site's first outside investor. Thiel sat on the board of Facebook and wielded great influence as its longest-serving member, but sparred with some of the company's more liberal employees, per the Washington Post. He ended up stepping down in 2022.

In 2019, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and Trump all had dinner at the White House, illustrating the strengthening ties between the tech world and Washington.

Sam Altman

Sam Altman, billionaire co-founder of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is another one of Thiel's mentees. Thiel offered advice and support throughout Altman's early career, eventually becoming an early investor in OpenAI.

Like other prominent tech companies, OpenAI is under federal scrutiny. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating if the company's investors were misguided after board members suddenly ousted Altman as CEO in 2023, the Journal reported.

Beyond the investigation, Altman is becoming more involved in Washington. In the summer of 2023, he began a lobbying campaign in Congress about the future of AI regulation. OpenAI has spent money trying to sway Washington and hired staff with political know-how, per CNBC. As AI policy is poised to become an even bigger political question, Altman's influence — and Thiel's, by proxy — may continue to grow.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Biotech billionaire and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is set to co-lead DOGE.

Like Vance, Ramaswamy first met Thiel as a student at Yale Law School — he told PBS that it may have been at the very same speech that so impacted the vice president-elect. At the time, Ramaswamy attended an "intimate lunch seminar" Thiel hosted for a small group of students, per the New Yorker.

Eventually, Thiel threw his wealth behind Ramaswamy. In early 2022, Ramaswamy co-founded Strive Asset Management, an "anti-woke" investment fund, and Thiel was an early investor.

David Sacks

David Sacks, a former PayPal executive and prominent venture capitalist, will serve as the White House's AI and crypto czar during Trump's second term. Thiel and Sacks met at Stanford, where they co-wrote the controversial book, "The Diversity Myth." Both men have apologized for some of the book's content, which downplayed date rape. Sacks also served as editor-in-chief for the Stanford Review, a libertarian newspaper Thiel founded.

In 1999, Sacks joined Thiel's company Confinity, which later became PayPal. He eventually served as PayPal's chief operating officer and continued working closely with Thiel.

As the AI and crypto czar, Sacks will create the country's legal framework for crypto and head a presidential council of advisors on science and technology. The council will, according to the White House's website, be comprised of industry actors, academics, and people from non-profit organizations. Through Sacks, cryptocurrency supporters will likely have a direct line to Trump, Bloomberg reported.

Jim O'Neill

Trump has nominated Jim O'Neill, former CEO of the Thiel Foundation, as the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

A Silicon Valley investor, O'Neill worked at HHS under former President George W. Bush before moving to Thiel's network. During his time as the acting CEO of the Thiel Foundation, O'Neill co-founded the Thiel Fellowship, which gives a $10,000 grant to young people who skip out on or pause college to tackle big projects. In 2012, O'Neill worked with Thiel to launch Mithril Capital Management, the same VC fund where Vance worked. He served as the fund's managing director but left in 2019 — he sued Mithril later that year over claims of unfair business practices and a contract breach.

During Trump's first term, Thiel pushed to have O'Neill fill a prominent health role, per the Post. If confirmed this time around, O'Neill will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump tapped to lead HHS. O'Neill, who has criticized the FDA in the past, would play a big role in HHS' daily operations and policy decisions.

Palantir

Thiel's Washington connections extend to his businesses, especially the data mining company Palantir that he co-founded in 2003. Palantir makes software to manage, analyze, and secure data, and its biggest client is the US federal government.

Federal government contracts helped build Palantir, which started out by partnering with defense and intelligence agencies. The company focuses on counterterrorism efforts and immigration enforcement. Some investors anticipate defense and immigration enforcement will see increased spending under a second Trump administration, meaning Palantir may get a boost.

Blake Masters

An ideological ally of Thiel and Vance, Blake Masters lost his bid for a Senate seat in Arizona to Sen. Mark Kelly, but nonetheless benefited from Thiel's money and support. A decade before running for the Senate in 2022, Masters took Thiel's lecture when he was a student at Stanford Law School. Enthralled by Thiel and the course, Masters posted his notes from the influential class on a website.

The two co-authored a book, and Masters served as chief investment officer at Thiel's investment firm and president of the Thiel Foundation. When Masters pivoted to politics, Thiel donated $13.5 million to Masters' 2022 campaign.

Other elected officials

Though Thiel's most notable political contributions have gone to Vance, Masters, and Trump, he's donated to an array of other politicians and Republican causes. Among his beneficiaries are Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, according to OpenSecrets. He's also given to the Republican National Committee and other GOP-aligned groups.

Thiel isn't entirely partisan with his contributions, though. In 2014 and 2015, he gave at least $70,000 to Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California. Between 2011 and 2016, he also donated at least $7,800 to Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents parts of Silicon Valley, per OpenSecrets.

The end of the election season does not mean the end of political betting, with many platforms allowing users to place wagers on everything from the 2028 election to who will be confirmed to President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.

"Some people will be amazed by this, but people are already betting on 2026 and 2028," Maxim Lott, the founder of ElectionBettingOdds.com, told Fox News Digital. "There’s been about a quarter million dollars bet already."

The comments come after the 2024 election produced plenty of betting action, with users across multiple platforms wagering over $2 billion on the outcome of the latest race. 

WHAT ARE ELECTION BETTING ODDS? EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY TRUMP IS CURRENT FAVORITE

While mega sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, gives gamblers plenty to wager on after the election, those looking for something political to bet on will still have plenty of options.

One of the most popular topics is who will be the nominees for both major parties in 2028, with ElectionBettingOdds.com showing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President-elect JD Vance being the current leaders for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.

Other names with a significant amount of attention for betters include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the Democratic nomination, while Vance is trailed by names like entrepreneur and future head of the new Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump Jr. on the Republican side.

"The big Democratic governors are favored to be the next nominee," Lott said, noting that Vance currently holds a sizable lead over other options on the GOP side.

TRUMP OPENS UP LARGEST BETTING LEAD SINCE DAYS AFTER BIDEN'S DROPOUT

Vance is also the current betting leader on who will win the 2028 presidential election, ElectionBettingOdds.com shows, followed by Newson and Shapiro as the next two likely options.

However, Lott warned it is still too early to tell what the future holds, noting that the markets will start to provide more clarity as more information becomes known over the next few years.

"As the future becomes clearer… as we get closer to 2026, 2028, these odds will change," Lott said. "So if the Trump administration is doing really well, the economy is booming, inflation is not out of control, wars are ending, Vance’s odds will certainly go up."

Bettors also are not limited to wagering on elections, with platforms such as Polymarket allowing users to place bets on Trump’s picks to serve in his Cabinet and whether they will be confirmed. Bettors can also place wagers on questions such as if they believe the war in Ukraine will end in Trump’s first 90 days or if there will be a cease-fire in Gaza in 2024.

According to Lott, taking a look at the current betting odds for many scenarios can help inform you about what is going on in the world, even if you do not place bets yourself.

"People often ask… is there any value to this… it’s just gambling. It’s silly," Lott said. "But actually it’s very useful… if you want to know what’s going to happen in 2028 or if the Trump administration is going to be a success, you could read 100 news articles on it. Some will misinform you. Or, you can just go to the prediction markets and see… is Vance a 20% chance of becoming the next Republican nominee or is he a 90% chance? That tells you a lot."

• Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to revive California's EV rebate if Trump ends the federal tax credit.
• But Tesla, the largest maker of EVs, would be excluded under the proposal.
• Elon Musk criticized Tesla's potential exclusion from the rebate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is preparing to step in if President-elect Donald Trump fulfills his promise to axe the federal electric-vehicle tax credit — but one notable EV maker could be left out.

Newsom said Monday if the $7,500 federal tax credit is eliminated he would restart the state's zero-emission vehicle rebate program, which was phased out in 2023.

"We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California," Newsom said in a statement. "We're not turning back on a clean transportation future — we're going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don't pollute."

The rebates for EV buyers would come from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters of greenhouse gases under a cap-and-trade program, according to the governor's office.

But Tesla's vehicles could be excluded under the proposal's market-share limitations, Bloomberg News first reported.

The governor's office confirmed to Business Insider that the rebate program could include a market-share cap which could in turn exclude Tesla or other EV makers. The office did not share details about what market-share limit could be proposed and also noted the proposal would be subject to negotiations in the state legislature.

A market-share cap would exclude companies whose sales account for a certain amount of total electric vehicle sales. For instance, Tesla accounted for nearly 55% off all new electric vehicles registered in California in the first three quarters of 2024, according to a report from the California New Car Dealers Association. By comparison, the companies with the next highest EV market share in California were Hyundai and BMW with 5.6% and 5% respectively.

Tesla sales in California, the US's largest EV market, have recently declined even as overall EV sales in the state have grown. Though the company still accounted for a majority of EV sales in California this year as of September, its market share fell year-over-year from 64% to 55%.

The governor's office said the market-share cap would be aimed at promoting competition and innovation in the industry.

Elon Musk, who has expressed support for ending the federal tax credit, said in an X post it was "insane" for the California proposal exclude Tesla.

The federal electric vehicle tax credit, which was passed as part of the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, provides a $7,500 tax credit to some EV buyers.

Musk, who is working closely with the incoming Trump administration, has expressed support for ending the tax credit. He's set to co-lead an advisory commission, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is aimed at slashing federal spending.

The Tesla CEO said on an earnings call in July that ending the federal tax credit might actually benefit the company.

"I think it would be devastating for our competitors and for Tesla slightly," Musk said. "But long-term probably actually helps Tesla, would be my guess."

BI's Graham Rapier previously reported that ending the tax credit could help Tesla maintain its strong standing in the EV market by slowing its competitors growth.

Prior to the EV rebate proposal, Newsom has already positioned himself as a foil to the incoming Trump administration. Following Trump's election win the governor called on California lawmakers to convene for a special session to discuss protecting the state from Trump's second term.

"The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won't sit idle," Newsom said in a statement at the time.

California voters rejected a ballot measure that would have raised the state's minimum wage to $18 per hour; the first failure of such an initiative nationwide in almost 30 years.

The tabulation came two weeks after Election Day due to the narrowing margin, as 49.2% of Californians ultimately supported the wage hike, falling just short.

The vote was geographically disparate, with every Bay Area and coastal county except San Luis Obispo, Orange, Ventura and Del Norte supporting the measure – and every inland county except Alpine and Imperial opposing it.

The current minimum wage in California is $16 per hour, but it includes a $20 per hour exclusion for fast-food restaurants with 60 or more locations. The latter was instituted in 2023 with the approval of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

NEWSOM: CRITICS SAID CA WAGE INCREASE WOULD BE A JOB-KILLER; THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED

"Californians are sending Gavin Newsom and the SEIU a clear message: They're sick of being lab rats for their pet projects," Rebekah Paxton, research director for the Employment Policies Institute said in a statement.

"Voters saw the devastating economic fallout of the $20 fast food minimum wage law, and for the first time in state history, voted against a statewide minimum wage hike." 

Newsom, however, previously defended his support for wage hikes, saying the fast-food pay increase gave workers a "greater voice in workplace standards."

TOP REPUBLICANS WARN NEWSOM HIS OIL REFINING PHASE-OUT ENDANGERS MILITARY READINESS

"Predictably, this modest law prompted fainting spells from conservatives and their enablers in the media," he wrote in a Fox News Opinion column earlier this fall.

"Even before I signed the bill, they quickly said it would lead to devastating job cuts and cause scores of businesses to close."

"We believe in fairness, equity and the idea that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. And these results dispel the cynics who say we must choose between protecting workers and growing the economy."

California Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Barrera appeared to disagree, telling The Associated Press after the outlet called the tally for Proposition 32 that the economy and personal costs were top of mind in the election, and that that message resonated with the voters.

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State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, told Fox News Digital that basic economics proves raising the minimum wage exacerbates inflation and unemployment.

"[That] predictably hurt[s] workers and families. More inflation and higher costs are the last things we need right now. Californians made the right call to reject Prop 32 and protect financial stability," Jones said.

Millions of dollars were poured into support for the effort, according to CalMatters, which reported startup entrepreneur Joe Sanberg earmarked $10 million while spearheading the Proposition 32 effort. The outlet reported Democratic Los Angeles City Councilman and former state Senate President Kevin de Leon was a second prominent backer.

There have been about two dozen minimum-wage-hike ballot initiatives since 1996; the last time one failed.

In that election, Missourians declined to approve a hike to $6.75 and Montana decided against moving its minimum wage up to $6.25 per hour.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.