BATTLE READY: Gov. Gavin Newsom went to the heart of California’s Donald Trump country to tout a job-growth program — only to issue a battle cry for lawmakers preparing to return to Sacramento. “We're not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said during a press conference in Fresno. “We want to be prepared as early as Jan. 20. And that's why the special session is important. We also have a brand-new Legislature coming in — a lot of new people — and this will be an opportunity to engage and convene and talk about the previous 122 lawsuits.”
The governor was referring to the first day of the legislative year on Dec. 2, which will also kick off a special session to set aside funding for the Department of Justice in preparation for Trump-era litigation. The event was Newsom’s first news conference with media questions since the Nov. 5 election. He used it to cast himself as a Democratic governor who worked closely with Trump during his last administration, hearkening back to comments he made on his “Politickin’” podcast about constant phone calls with the GOP leader. But the governor also said the president-elect “vandalized” California, taking funding for state high-speed rail and crime prevention. And he referenced Trump’s controversial cabinet picks, including former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who dropped out of contention for attorney general today. “No one's naive,” Newsom said. “I've been there. We have the receipts. We know exactly what he intends to do. He's been very honest about that, and there's nothing to suggest the last two weeks that he's not even more hell-bent on doing it. Look at the folks — one less today — that he's lining up to run these agencies.”
Even so, Newsom promised an “open hand, not a closed fist” to the incoming president, saying he hopes "there’s not one lawsuit with the Trump administration.” He went on a tangent in which he expressed support for all Californians, saying he cares about those who support hard-right figures like Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, as well as Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Listen to what these guys are saying and telling you,” Newsom said. “Look at what they're prepared to do. Day one, Jan. 20. Get prepared. And no impact will be greater than the impact in this region. And there may be a lot more Trump supporters here, but that doesn't matter. I'm going to still have their backs.” IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@politico.com.
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