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SPEAKER 3
Gear up for a fight, folks, because Donald Trump is already making posts attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom. Donald Trump, who's the president-elect, if you thought, oh, the tone is going to change, he's calling Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom again. I mean, how just embarrassing and humiliating for our country just to have someone in the
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top office who behaves that way. You know that we previously reported yesterday that Gavin Newsom said, look, We're going to call an emergency legislative session in California to make sure that fundamental rights and freedoms are protected. That's all Gavin Newsom said. And most governors are basically saying, look, while hope springs eternal, we need to protect our people.
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And if you're going to attack our state, you're going to have to go through me. Gavin Newsom put out a statement like that. Governor Pritzker put out a statement like that. And now Donald Trump is doing this. Governor Gavin Newscum is trying to kill our nation's beautiful California for the first time ever.

California Congressman Robert Garcia Discusses Trump’s Attacks on California and the Path Forward for Democrats

Garcia emphasizes the need for Democrats to confront disinformation and build grassroots media to counter Trump’s divisive rhetoric.

In a recent appearance on the MeidasTouch Network, California Congressman Robert Garcia joined host Ben Meiselas to discuss Donald Trump’s recent attacks on California Governor Gavin Newsom and the future of the Democratic Party in the wake of a challenging election loss. Trump, now the president-elect, made inflammatory statements about Newsom, labeling him “Gavin Newscum” and belitting the state of California. Meiselas highlighted the absurdity of such comments from a national leader, calling Trump’s behavior “humiliating” for the country.

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Garcia commended Newsom’s proactive approach, noting the Governor’s call for an emergency legislative session to protect Californians' rights and freedoms. He emphasized that California would stand firm against Trump’s encroachments. Reflecting on the recent election results, Garcia acknowledged the need for Democrats to regroup, recognizing both their victories in critical Senate races and the persistence of deep divisions within the country. He highlighted that despite the presidential loss, Democrats held ground in many areas, underscoring the country’s polarized landscape.

The conversation shifted to the critical issue of disinformation, which Garcia identified as a substantial obstacle for Democrats. He stressed the importance of combating misinformation that influences voters, especially in communities that rely heavily on government support yet vote against their own interests due to misleading narratives. Drawing from his decade of experience teaching communications and mass media, Garcia pointed out the erosion of trust in traditional media and the exploitation of online platforms by foreign actors spreading misinformation. For Democrats to succeed, he asserted, they must meet people where they are—on social media, podcasts, and alternative media platforms.

Meiselas and Garcia also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on Americans’ media consumption habits, with Garcia noting that the pandemic fundamentally changed how people interact with information, politics, and each other. While right-wing influencers embedded themselves in people’s lives during lockdowns, many Democrats only ramped up outreach efforts in the final months before elections, creating a perception of elitism and detachment. Garcia agreed that building consistent communication networks is essential, arguing that Democrats need to be constantly visible on every platform to maintain credibility and trust.

As the interview closed, Garcia reiterated the importance of not only resisting Trump’s agenda but actively fighting back by going on the offensive. He expressed optimism that the new generation of Democratic leaders, including himself and his freshman class, understand the importance of a continuous presence across media landscapes. Meiselas closed the conversation with an open invitation to Garcia, vowing to keep bringing the Democratic message directly to the people and learning from the past.

The interview serves as a rallying call for Democrats to adapt to the evolving media landscape and to build a stronger, more consistent connection with voters across all demographics.

Watch the full interview ad-free above, exclusively here on Meidas+. Thank you for your continued support of the MeidasTouch Network. If you appreciate our reporting and are ready to continue in this fight, please consider becoming a paid subscriber today to keep us going.

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Patricia Anne Boone's avatar

Maybe TRUMP rigged the election. This happened way too quick for me.

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deebie14@telus.net.'s avatar

I did think that too. The election committee did nor counts the democrats ballots.

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Danita Hamilton's avatar

Yes I really think that too it was way to fast and not to mention how in the hell did he win all the swing states Elon and Russia to easy

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Suzanne's avatar

Nope. About 18,000 Nevada voters chose "None of These Candidates" in the presidential race between the Republican Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris — but more than 40,000 picked "None" in the U.S. Senate race."

Too many sat out the election for various reasons. Misogyny & racism played a big part in Harris loss.

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Sandra Nicht's avatar

my vote was never counted. I'm hearing about MORE people whose votes were never counted. Read Joyce Vance's post today, there were a few in the comments saying this.

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Sal Teodoro's avatar

I agree whole heartedly but a lot of us don’t live in California and we don’t want our government institutions torn apart by two bit hacks. What do we do now? Joe Biden is still the president. We need guidance on what would be appropriate now because once they get in there…they will start their destruction. Lead us…tell us what to do.

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Debba's avatar

It's typical of tRumpy to whinge and act like a toddler 🙄 the world is watching 👀 he constantly makes himself look totally incompetent and a disgrace to the office. Around the world 🌎 he is a dangerous laughing stock.

Watching from Scotland UK 🇬🇧

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daniel lessard's avatar

President Biden should step aside leaving VP Harris in charge and she should run with those new "powers" that were meant for trump, call in Seal-team 6 for Christ's sake. I'm ready for a fight to save this country but have no idea where to look/go. America cannot survive another 4 years of this douche bag, have we already forgotten the 100's of thousands of needless deaths here in the US from not being told about a deadly virus? If you checked that box next to his name, you sold out your daughters and granddaughters just for the fucking price of eggs. Shame on you. Part of my soul died Wednesday morning. : (

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Nov 10
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Shame On ‘em's avatar

Only way I see the latter part of your statement happening is if 🤡 meets his maker(before J20). God forgive me for saying that, but he’s a no-good, rotten & poisonous waste of a seed. Should’ve been slapped against a wall or wiped on a towel. I know that’s harsh, but that’s the way I see it.

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Julie Smalley's avatar

Yes but then we’ll be stuck with Vance and that is worse. I believe that is the plan all along. Vance will find a way to 25th amendment him and he’ll be prez and then who knows if we’ll have another election.

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Kate Bergam's avatar

Propaganda is a strong drug. All those folks that voted against their own interests have no idea like literally no idea they think that Kamala staged a coup on Biden! They are lied to every day and believe it because they do not watch or read traditional media anymore. This needs to be addressed like seriously now.

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Dean Kimball's avatar

Yes but unfortunately it's going to be hard to change that now that the far-right GOP owns the white house, congress, senate and supreme court. It's sad but unfortunately true.

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Dean Kimball's avatar

Unfortunately the entire DNC and many democrats seem to be missing the point of what just happened. This wasn't an election, it was a psyops war. The GOP has been using military psyops people to push their message across Fox News and the majority of top mainstream media companies now owned by right-wing billionaires. Trump's buddy Putin helped with Russian military psyops people. As we saw when editors wanted to endorse Kamala they were stopped - the 1st Amendment is essentially dead now. We used to say the USSR was behind the iron curtain but now the US is behind the "Golden Curtain" and our new billionaire oligarchs won't let most Americans hear anything they don't want them to hear. The far right now owns the white house, congress, senate and supreme court. Grassroots actions might make us feel better but it won't accomplish anything. Figure out a better approach MTN.

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Mary Lilith Ruth's avatar

I agree on the congressman’s view.

I voted against trump. I’m disabled born to an immigrant mom , from Latvia ( who spent time in displaced persons camps before she made it to Iowa during WWII) . I was also born outside the country in Japan as my dad was working as a dr on the atomic bomb commission. Thyroid cancers were his speciality as a pathologist.

My fear of course is I’m going to lose my health care and income. I get 1,600 a month from ssdi. I watch videos that are free from your station. I can’t go on fb anymore, it’s too crazy.

I also listen to the bulwark, they sent me a year free . Someone did for Joyce Vance as well. So I try and get my information everywhere but tv .

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Islandgirl's avatar

Do we REALLY believe that Donald didn’t cheat?! He’s cheated and lied all of his life! I don’t believe these results.

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

That there! Which, is part of 🤡 dna & is all he knows how to do is cheat.

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Patrice Curedale's avatar

again, I disagree. Too Much Static in these results! Call for Hand Recounts! It's Not impossible for the RW Tech Billionaires, International, to pre-hack tabulators. RECOUNTS NOW in those places you're saying "they voted against themselves" - not always! Repos KNOW that the Dems would refuse to contradict their drum beat of "our elections are perfect" and they are once again Laughing at Dem naiveté. It's Not just disinfo, it's HACKING.

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sharen's avatar

Trump would tank the 5th largest economy out of spite. He is such a disgusting fool.

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Angie's avatar

California and her money can tank Washington DC. This country is about to learn some lessons about which states have the muscle in this country and they aren’t red.

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Vincent Hartman's avatar

The fact that the Republic is the undercover secret is what is now dead and being killed they are taking the money and running away with it. The social security number in red has been traded on used up and they will kill as many first getting rid of affordable healthcare act and then social security paid by us or not!

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JoAnn Murphy's avatar

TY Gov Newsom...TY!! Bullys only know one way,,,please gather our dem govenors and keep a coalition....

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Lyn's avatar

Trump had his secret pac with Elon and his games of influencing votes through million pound giveaways to newly registered. Shallow yes but it sure worked

Showing time and again that Trump could influence the outcomes of his felonies and avoid jail. Above the law. So this appeals to those who are sold his victim tales.

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

Can someone advise me on if I need to withdraw all my money from the bank? They’re going to have even more control over financial institutions now. 🤔

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Donald  Luman's avatar

He is 100% correct Democrats have to learn to gloat and promote when they do something good they don't say much about it sometimes not at all unlike Trump who makes it known until something else good pops up then he's on to that subject this has been a republican tactic for years the Democrats need to grow some balls and start going on the defense instead of playing offense you need help to play dirty pool like the Republicans

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Bo Bowley's avatar

This is the greatest problem faced by a lot of older people, in that the newspapers are long dead in our communities, and broadcasting is suspect or slanted, and we are of the internet communication generation. How to navigate the confusing maze, even in Substack, is confusing. Many, myself chief among them, can’t determine where items originate, and what is falsehoods. It’s going to be worse, as lies are “alternate facts “!

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Christene Cuch's avatar

Of course trump cheated!! Just start working on getting him arrested for cheating!!

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DAN IEL's avatar

Finally, someone’s paying attention 🤦🏻‍♂️

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Daniel Boone's avatar

Democrats don’t learn from the past. That’s why so many Dems get killed. And it isn’t liberals killing them. They need to reload and start thinking differently.

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Gigi Cat's avatar

18 MILLION registered democratic voters sat out this election, I call BS! And for ONCE in his life he didn't cheat, scam and con, I call BS! The truth will come out eventually. Nothing is 'normal' anymore with Trump/Putin/Leon

Cyberwarfare, propaganda, disinformation will only get worse with AI, which is in part why I'm telling everyone to find their trust journalists, scientists, farmers and local banks.

And lastly, I hope my leaders in Washington, along with leaders in California and Oregon, have a "worst case game plan" if things get so bad that we have to succeed. "The union" is only held together by a gentlemen's agreement that Trump Maga does not know, understand or respect... We'd be FINE w/o the federal government which won't really even be that anymore once everything is gutted and shredded... while Trump golfs!

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Roy C.'s avatar

Will 2026 be the year of a third Trump impeachment,?

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Patrice Curedale's avatar

ONLY if we WIN THE HOUSE, and demand Recounts of ALL close races, and races where Russia issued Terrorist Threats, and Voter counts don't match Vote counts, etc etc etc

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Karen Scofield's avatar

Good Job here,Ben, you can bet most of the Blue states will be following suit. We've been told by trump since his last administration, that there will be retaliation. California's just being Safe, not sorry. Moving Forward... and will reStack ASAP 💯👍

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John's avatar

We are in a meme war. And we're losing.

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Vincent Hartman's avatar

If could have afforded CA born n raised would have stayed.

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Judi's avatar

I read that well over 54% of Americans read at a 5th grade level. Down south you are lied to by Government. So we have to get informed at the local and state level.

For example in Mississippi they took the TANF block grants and gave it to corrupt Brett Farve. When they denied people they made up reasons to deny applications and took the money.

We need a better way to really understand the life they are living. Without that Southerners who are working two or more jobs to put food on the table while our candidates dance in the street. I’d see if Stacy Abrams would take that on. She knows what is going on.

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Arlene B's avatar

All bullshit. What HAS to be done is starting to talk about the REAL problem, and that is the ECONOMIC SYSTEM we have been functioning for several centuries now, and it has come to a head because capitalism does not deliver peace, equality, and increased standards of living for ALL. We have failed to reign in the corporations, and the Democrats went along with it during Reagan, and then through the Clinton era, and have allowed the Fairness Doctrine to stay; did not enact laws that over-rided the terrible Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United; they failed to ram through the Voting Rights laws that were needed; they failed to pass the ERA even though we now had the required number of states. Dems, they'd better realize it is the MEDIA that has failed us. Corporations were allowed to amass sources that control the message. They allowed radio, tv, newspapers, to be acquired and then manipulated to give out bad info. We need to fix this.

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Sherry Taylor's avatar

Trump needs California’s money we send to Treasury more than we need his BS!

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Rhonda J's avatar

We have to continue moving forward, Period.

Don't ask me, exactly how 🤔?? We just have to.

We can't just stand here...and be driven further back!

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JoAnn Murphy's avatar

Bullys need to smacked down...they take advantage of nice,,,,it is not in their dna

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Eleanor E Henderson's avatar

I found Meidas Touch during lockdown. Thankfully.

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Kristina Nelly's avatar

MSM newspapers need to be free. Stop charging people for news. We wonder why Trump supporters only read/watch/listen to conservative voices, it’s because they’re free!

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Uncle Fatty's avatar

MOCK THEM… Laugh at Them…!!

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Lyn's avatar

You're going to need to buy a platform like twitter went to X bought by Musk. You need more influencers who can discuss citizenship on these platforms. How to register to vote. How to fill in forms. How to ensure your vote or registration has been allowed.

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Angie's avatar

Robert is SO right. Young men, especially, are being radicalized online and via podcasts and Dems are operating like it’s the 1990s. Their main interaction with us this election cycle (before Kamala) was a constant barrage of emails asking for money. I felt like Kamala’s team did pretty well at recognizing the need to go on popular podcasts but she barely had time to get her message thru. And she didn’t have a hell of a lot to choose from. I hope they get some professional advice and PRONTO. Hey, George Clooney seems to think he runs the party. Maybe he can get off his ass and do the work he actually knows something about and help out with media ideas. There are a few Dem dinosaurs standing in the way, I think. Even the ones we’ve appreciated over the years: Schumer and Pelosi come to mind. They’ve been great at times, but they have a stranglehold on “decorum”.

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

Does anyone know the current stats of which side will gain the House? When I looked last night, the numbers were not in democrats favor. Almost scared to look again. But I know it will be a while before the results come out.

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Merriman Boylan's avatar

Please stop taking $10 per month for the useless patreon.com, and I'll be happy to become a paid member!

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Islandgirl's avatar

We need Bill Gates to join this misinformation fight…

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Tracy Blackburn's avatar

Ben, thank you for this. I am proud that my representative Robert Garcia is on the case. I haven’t had the emotional stability to dive back in to the community yet. In fact, I think this is longest MTN break I’ve taken in 3 years. Thank you for being there and I’ll rejoin the cause when I’m balanced and healthy.

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Clarissa Sr, American Grandma's avatar

How can we mobilize more Americans to vote? That’s the challenge we face. Trump successfully tapped into extreme groups to secure their support, and we need to focus on a strategy that excites and empowers our fellow citizens to participate in the electoral process.

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Mark william lane's avatar

The corporate State of America got what it wanted because there is no working class soul involved in their political decisions! Pax Americana now applies to the citizens here and privacy lose is just starting! Israel comes before American people and that’s stupid but true! #END THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND #BDS ! 1913 is why 1948 NATIONAL SECURITY ACT GOVERNMENTS are now totally in charge in secret! Good bye freedom we knew you not let alone defended you! Thomas Paine is spinning in his grave .

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Nov 10
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Dean Kimball's avatar

Unfortunately our democratic leaders haven't been willing to fight for anything. They let the GOP block Obama's SCOTUS pick then let Trump appoint the last seat to create the majority after he had already been voted out. They let right wing billionaires take over all our media companies. If they wouldn't fight then I'm not sure what will change their minds now.

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And if you're going to attack our state, you're going to have to go through me. Gavin Newsom put out a statement like that. Governor Pritzker put out a statement like that. And now Donald Trump is doing this. Governor Gavin Newscum is trying to kill our nation's beautiful California for the first time ever.