On Saturday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's Press Office made an alarming post on X, reading, "Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today. You’re welcome, America." In the current political climate, that was taken as a threat and, as we reported, that threat was referred to the Secret Service for investigation.
DIVE DEEPER: Newsom Press Office in Hot Water After Post on Kristi Noem Referred for Investigation to Secret Service
Later in the day we learned what Newsom was referring to. While he hasn't been seen in the state much in recent weeks (even giving his "State of the State" speech via video, pre-recorded), he organized a political spectacle in Los Angeles to sign a number of bills he claims will limit federal immigration enforcement in the state - because apparently his sanctuary state laws haven't been destructive enough.
“We have a right to stand up and push back!” @GavinNewsom says @realDonaldTrump’s immigration enforcement has been like a “dystopian sci fi novel” with “masked men” carrying out orders. @CAgovernor is signing a bill to require federal immigration officials to unmask with… pic.twitter.com/AbPSdA4cl0
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) September 20, 2025
Clearly unfazed by calls to "lower the temperature" after Charlie Kirk's assassination, Newsom went straight for divisive rhetoric.
The impact of these policies all across this city, our state, and nation, are terrifying. It's like a dystopian sci-fi movie. Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing, no due process. No rights. No rights in a democracy where we have rights. Immigrants have rights, and we have the right to stand up and push back, and that's what we're doing here today.
This is a disgrace. This is an outrage, what we've allowed to happen in this country.
Surrounded by the usual suspects - LA Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, and more, Newsom signed the following bills:
- Assembly Bill 49 - prohibits schools from allowing immigration enforcement officers on campus without a warrant.
- Senate Bill 627 - widely prohibits federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing face masks while conducting their duties.
- Senate Bill 805 - requires that law enforcement officers identify themselves while conducting their duties, with some exceptions.
- Senate Bill 81 - prohibits immigration enforcement from entering restricted areas of a health facility without a judicial warrant or court order.
- Senate Bill 98 - requires schools and higher education institutions to send community notifications when immigration enforcement is on campus, and prohibits immigration enforcement from entering certain areas without a judicial warrant or court order.
As we all know, the U.S. Constitution presents a huge stumbling block for Newsom's plans. Los Angeles journalist Elex Michaelson asked him about just that.
As @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom signs legislation requiring federal immigration agents to unmask, I ask about the supremacy clause that gives federal law wide authority on immigration:
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) September 20, 2025
“We’re going to test the theory.”
On concerns that agents are being doxxed, he says that we… pic.twitter.com/XLBtcrOLSN
Newsom admits here what we all know when it comes to leftists and lawfare - the process is the punishment. The Supremacy Clause isn't a theory for Newsom to test, and he knows it.
Newsom's answer was mind-numbingly stupid.
The Supremacy Clause doesn't give blanket immunity to state laws...I'll give you, just as an aside, an example. Federal employees have to abide by traffic rules in their respective states. The Supremacy Clause basically asserts that we cannot interfere in federal operations. Well, federal operations have been conducted for decades and decades without masks. It's never been necessary.
The law doesn't require Gavin Newsom's approval of plans for federal agents to carry out their operations, so it doesn't really matter if Gavin Newsom thinks the masks are necessary or not. When the Supremacy Clause was written, lawmen didn't carry out operations in vehicles or have personal communication devices, so apparently Newsom thinks that those aren't necessary either.
It's a new construct, conceived to terrorize our diverse communities, to instill fear and chaos. It's quite clear that that's the case. It's simply unnecessary. And then they manifest a justification that could be manifested in every category of society today. If doxxing is a concern, then legislate the solution to those concerns....These are foundationless requirements that they have manufactured.
Right back to the divisive and untrue rhetoric, designed to continue to foment resistance to federal immigration officers in the state. And with the answer, Newsom shows that his desire is to put an even greater burden on these officers, who would then presumably be responsible for monitoring the internet to see if they have been doxxed, then report that doxxing to whatever law enforcement agency that would investigate and prosecute - all while knowing that you can't put that genie back in the bottle, and having to worry even more about their family's safety. It's so much easier for these officers to just protect their identity from the start.
As my friend and former RedState writer Kira Davis said in reply to Newsom's blustering question, "What are you afraid of?" "Uh. They're afraid of being murdered by deranged leftists."
“What are you afraid of?”
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) September 21, 2025
Uh. They’re afraid of being murdered by deranged leftists. https://t.co/65KZItLqis
It's stunning that the same day a Sacramento man who has worked as a Democrat lobbyist and union representative was arrested for shooting into the offices of the local ABC affiliate in response to late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, that Newsom completely dismisses any safety concerns from people in demonized professions such as ICE agent.
Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli immediately let Newsom know that the federal agencies Newsom hoped to target would be ignoring California's attempt at regulation, saying:
The State of California has no jurisdiction over the federal government. If Newsom wants to regulate our agents, he must go through Congress.
I’ve directed our federal agencies that the law signed today has no effect on our operations. Our agents will continue to protect their identities.
When can we expect CA to pass a law banning Antifa members from wearing masks while committing state and federal crimes? I’ll wait…
Will Newsom attempt to arrest federal immigration officers who continue to wear masks while carrying out their official duties? That would be a very bad decision on his part, which means there's a good chance he will attempt it.
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