Newsom escalates clash with Trump in State of the State, declares California under siege

Gov. Gavin Newsom used his written State of the State address Tuesday to cast California as a bulwark against a menacing Trump administration he accused of dismantling public services, flouting the rule of law and using extortion to bully businesses and universities.

The remarks came as Newsom’s national profile has grown and given him a broader political stage, even as he skipped the literal one — opting to send his speech to lawmakers in writing rather than deliver it from the Assembly rostrum, which is customary. His address painted a portrait of a state under siege by the federal government even as it grapples with the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles County fires, spiraling housing costs and an uneven economic recovery.

While he framed Trump and his allies as the chief obstacle to progress, he leaned on familiar themes of California’s resilience, pointing to disaster response, investments in schools and clean energy, and the state's economic staying power. He said as California celebrates the 175th anniversary of statehood, "the state of the state is strong, fully committed to defending democracy, and resolved to never bend."

"It would be a mistake to think California is cowering in the face of this onslaught," Newsom said in the 2,300-word address accompanied by a shortened video version.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/newsom-escalates-clash-trump-state-170009547.html