As the weekend approaches, the political stage is heating up, particularly with California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Donald Trump at the center of a social media spat that has left many scratching their heads. Newsom, known for his flair for the dramatic, has ramped up his troll tactics against Trump with a series of bizarre social media posts. He’s been busy slapping memes and zippy messages, many of which are emblazoned in all caps, across his feeds. But most recently, he’s dragged the conservative news outlet Newsmax into his antics, suggesting that they might be undergoing a rebranding as a new HBO channel. As amusing as this may seem in a late-night comedy sketch, it raises eyebrows for its oddity and lack of direct engagement with pressing issues.
In a pointed jab, Newsom’s press office declared that they were putting the “fake news” on notice, reiterating that Newsmax is not his enemy, but rather the “enemy of the American people.” The sentiment was more confusing than clarifying, causing many to wonder if this was an authentic concern or simply a ploy to shift focus away from the challenges facing his state. Newsom seems to have misplaced his focus, as residents of California grapple with ongoing crises such as homelessness, rampant drug use, and the aftermath of devastating wildfires. While the governor throws barbs at Trump and conservative media outlets, Californians continue to feel the weight of these unaddressed problems—a contrast that might make some question his priorities.
The irony in all of this is hard to miss. Newsom’s time spent leveling criticism at Trump and media outlets like Newsmax could instead be utilized to tackle the myriad issues plaguing his constituents. Some have hypothesized that Newsom is more interested in shaping his political future than in addressing the immediate needs of the state he governs. After all, it seems he has his eyes firmly set on the election horizon of 2028. While he continues his social media skirmishes, thousands of Californians are still recovering from recent hardships and might appreciate a bit more attention from their leader.
Shifting gears, there’s quite the spectacle happening in New York as public schools kicked off a new academic year, and with it, a groundbreaking statewide cell phone ban. Students are now prohibited from using their phones from the moment they step foot on school grounds until the final bell rings. To herald this new policy, Governor Kathy Hochul introduced a peculiar character known as Frankie Focus—a green troll designed to promote focus in the classroom. However, early reviews of Frankie’s appeal are not favorable. The adorable little monster currently has just 31 followers on social media, making one wonder who really thought this was a winner.
It seems the state might have splurged on an initiative that many consider a waste of taxpayer dollars. This goofy marketing ploy, complete with what can only be described as a nightmare-inducing character, has not garnered the enthusiastic reception its creators hoped for. A personal informal survey confirmed that even young adolescents, who might be the target audience, find Frankie quite frightening rather than motivating. A 12-year-old girl surveyed about Frankie exclaimed in disbelief about the creature’s unsettling appearance. If the goal was to foster focus, it appears Frankie has missed the mark by a long shot.
As the media continues to scrutinize Newsom’s antics and New York’s head-scratching publicity stunts, it’s clear that both states are grappling with their unique challenges. While the California governor is preoccupied with attacking his perceived enemies, New Yorkers are left questioning the effectiveness of their new school policy and its rather intimidating mascot. Perhaps both sides could benefit from a little more focus on the needs of their constituents and a little less on the quirks of social media. After all, governing ought to be more about the people than the pixels.
