As we reported Tuesday, California energy regulators have adopted more punitive measures on Golden State drivers and are demanding that replacement tires in the future meet strict new guidelines regarding “rolling resistance,” or how much energy it takes to keep a tire moving down the road.
What does that mean? Replacement tires will become more expensive for consumers, because that’s always how these things work.
California's War on Drivers Speeds Up — Now They're Coming for Your Tires
But CA officials at the California Energy Commission — appointed by the OG energy extremist himself, Gov. Gavin Newsom — apparently didn’t much like the colverage by KCRA’s Ashley Zavala, a reporter we’ve written about many times because she's one of the few journalists in Sacramento willing to regularly hold Gov. Hair Gel to account.
Commission spokesperson Niki Woodard thought she’d drop Ashley a friendly little note:
Right before 5pm today, the California Energy Commission’s spokesperson sent me an email urging me to “consider taking a different tone” w/ my reporting on state’s new tire rules.
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) August 19, 2026
Here’s the email and info for you to consider. Note: commissioners haven’t disputed 70% figure. pic.twitter.com/ZOzmNxj6KM
The tone is faux friendly, but the passive aggressiveness is unmistakable. She called part of Zavala's reporting misleading, which it's not, and said, “you're probably not interested in a correction or modifying any future reporting." She forgot to add, "bless your heart."
But the money moment came when she wrote, "I gotta share my two cents and urge you to consider taking a different tone."
Oh sure, you want Zavala to suddenly start pimping for your never-ending quest to control people's lives and tell them what they can and can't buy? I can't speak for Zavala, but I can for myself: that’s not going to happen.
LA Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, who was a frequent critic of the thankfully ousted criminal-loving former DA, George Gascón, had thoughts:
It’s amazing the privilege shown by the people in charge of the state of CA to feel they can send a government email to media telling them to correct their tone and report they way they want something reported. It’s fascism.
— jonathanhatami (@jonathanhatami) August 19, 2026
Thank you Ashley for reporting on this.
Woodard continued: "You report that 70% of tires will be eliminated. That has led people to think that those tires will not be replaced by new efficient tires."
Only stupid people would think that, Niki. Zavala never said that.
Here's the kicker:
"Just like light bulbs, televisions, and refrigerator standards, the market evolves and consumers have abundant access to efficient products that save them money."
No, it never works that way. The new tires will be more expensive, and as many readers pointed out when I wrote about it Tuesday, the regulations will ensure they have less traction.
We reported on another story of government intimidation Tuesday: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to use the Freedom of Information Act to find out which private citizens expressed interest in leasing parking lots to ICE. The folks in the progressive machine seem to be acting more like Goodfellas lately than they do public servants.
Wu Wants Your Name: Boston Mayor Targets Law-Abiding Locals Who Support ICE
My guess is Zavala will not “change her tone” and will simply keep on reporting the facts. Flowery language and frenemy emails can’t hide the rampant government overreach, intrusion into our lives, and attacks on “affordability” that Democrats claim to care about but keep doing everything in their power to make impossible.
Maybe stop trying to play God, then people will change their “tone.”
Hey @Polymarket what are the odds this lady has:
— Roxanne Hoge (@RoxanneHoge) August 18, 2026
A. Attended or organized a "No Kings" rally?
B. Has a "Hate Has No Home Here"
sign in her window?
C. Drives a Subaru?
D. All of the above? https://t.co/58IUOnUMxH
Editor’s Note: California is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the Democrat Party and the “progressive” movement.
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