Governor Newsom appears increasingly focused on auditioning for a national audience rather than governing the state he was elected to lead. His recent pattern of high-profile speeches, media appearances, and social media messaging suggests a strategy centered less on California’s pressing challenges and more on positioning himself as a leading critic of Donald Trump ahead of a potential presidential run.

On top of all that, he’s been vulgar. His Davos comment about journalists strapping on kneepads in how they dealt with Trump was particularly vulgar. When Nick Shirley pointed out how state tax money is being fraudulently spent on shell hospice companies operating out of a fleabag motel, the governor should have said, “Thanks, now we’ll go after them because fraud will not be tolerated,” but his office released an AI created piece of artwork insinuating Shirley was trolling for children to molest. Despicable behavior!

There is nothing inherently wrong with political ambition. But ambition untethered from accountability is another matter entirely. Californians deserve a governor who prioritizes solving the state’s deep and ongoing problems — not one who deflects from them by pointing eastward.

Take homelessness. California accounts for roughly a third of our country’s homeless population. Despite tens of billions of dollars spent over the past several years, the crisis has not meaningfully improved. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco continue to struggle with sprawling encampments, public safety concerns, and deteriorating quality of life. State audits have repeatedly found that California lacks consistent tracking of how homelessness funds are spent or whether programs are effective. If this is a model of governance, it is difficult to see how it translates into a compelling national vision.

Housing affordability presents another glaring failure. California’s median home price remains far out of reach for most working families, while rents continue to climb. Regulatory barriers, environmental restrictions and bureaucratic delays have made it extraordinarily difficult to build new housing at the scale required. Just take a look and see how many homes in Malibu have been rebuilt since the January 2025 fire. While the governor has proposed reforms, progress has been incremental at best, and the exodus of middle-class residents to states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada speaks volumes.

Then there is public safety. While crime trends vary across regions, retail theft, organized shoplifting, and property crime have become persistent concerns in many communities. Critics argue that recent policy decisions—combined with uneven enforcement—have contributed to a sense of lawlessness. Businesses have closed stores or reduced hours, not as a political statement, but as a practical response to untenable conditions.

Education is also faltering. Standardized test scores have declined, pandemic learning loss remains significant, and many parents feel sidelined in decisions affecting their children. Meanwhile, the state continues to spend heavily without clear evidence of improved outcomes. Fiscal input without measurable results is not leadership — it is mismanagement.

Even California’s much-touted high-speed rail project stands as a symbol of overpromising and under delivering. Initially pitched as a transformative infrastructure investment, it has been plagued by cost overruns, delays, and scaled-back ambitions. What was once envisioned as a statewide system now looks increasingly like a partial line struggling to justify its ballooning price tag. Not a single mile of track has been laid. And if the line between Bakersfield and Merced ever gets finished, it’s going to operate in the red because few will ride it. Consider the billions that could have gone toward the widening of Highway 99 and I-5 – the only major routes connecting northern and Southern California.

Against this backdrop, Newsom’s relentless focus on attacking Donald Trump begins to look less like principled opposition and more like political theater. Criticizing a national figure — particularly one as polarizing as Trump — is easy but governing a complex state like California is hard. Yet it is the latter responsibility that Newsom was elected to fulfill.

Moreover, this strategy risks alienating Californians who are less interested in national political sparring and more concerned with everyday realities: the cost of living, the safety of their neighborhoods, and the quality of their children’s education. Leadership requires confronting uncomfortable truths, not obscuring them behind partisan harpooning.

If Newsom truly intends to seek the presidency, he would do well to remember that presidential campaigns are ultimately referendums on results. Voters across the country will not be swayed by sharp critiques alone; they will ask what he has accomplished and whether his record offers solutions to the problems they face. If they are paying attention they will run from him, not embrace him because he has Hollywood looks and talks a good game.

California remains a state of immense potential—economically dynamic, culturally influential, and rich in innovation. But potential is not performance. Until its leadership demonstrates measurable progress on its most urgent challenges, attempts to reframe the narrative through national political attacks will ring hollow.

Ambition should drive leaders to excel where they are, not distract them from the responsibilities already entrusted to them. Californians deserve focus, accountability, and results. Anything less is not leadership — it is campaigning.

* * * * *

Only the California Teachers Association would endorse a gubernatorial candidate who as a congressman slept with a Chinese spy and was disgraced in the process. Just goes to show you there’s no standard when it comes to electing Democrat politicians with labor unions. But they know whose side the bread is buttered.

* * * * *

I just want say something about what transpired between Joey Chavez, the city’s Recreation manager, and the Ceres Youth Baseball officials, President Jorge Guerrero and Vice President Ismael Ontiveras. Most people highly respect Chavez and believe that he’s done an excellent job. But the two Ceres Youth Baseball officials have made a regular habit of showing up council meetings with some sharp criticisms. They come off as somewhat argumentative and abrasive so it didn’t surprise me when Joey lost his cool at a meeting between him and the two officials. It’s unfortunate that Ontiveras decided to call Chavez “a coward” as he was walking away from frustrating negotiations. We don’t know what happened prior to that, but I’m sure what led up to the fracas was the two pushing every button they could. Chavez unfortunately decided to chest bump onto Tavares and we all know what happened from that point. Now Chavez is on administrative leave pending an investigation into what transpired at the Ceres Community Center meeting.

Former Councilman Mike Kline appeared at last week’s meeting and gave some great reminders as to how officials need to conduct themselves and that includes the adults who are in charge of youth sports organizations.

There is a lot to be learned from this unfortunate incident. I personally hope Chavez returns to his post soon.

This couldn’t have happened at a worst time. The City Council is ready to craft the city budget for the next fiscal year and the city manager is leaving to tend to a family crisis. An interim city manager has stepped in to fill the gap. The city recently lost its Public Works director and has no Community Development director.

The city, it would seem, is in trouble.

This column is the opinion of Jeff Benziger, and does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Ceres Courier or 209 Multimedia Corporation.  How do you feel about this? Let Jeff know at jeffb@cerescourier.com