AOC, Rubio Lead in Latest 2028 Presidential Primary Poll A new poll released this week has positioned Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, as the leading potential Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election, marking the first time the progressive has topped the field. According to the latest survey by AtlasIntel, 26% of Democratic voters indicated they would support Ocasio-Cortez’s bid for the presidency, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom following closely behind at 22% and 18%, respectively. On the Republican side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged as the frontrunner, securing 45.4% of primary voters’ backing, while Vice President JD Vance and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trailed at 15% and 12%, respectively. President Donald Trump, who has yet to publicly endorse a successor for the 2028 election, expressed support for Rubio and Vance’s potential partnership during a White House event on May 11. Describing the duo as a “dream team,” Trump emphasized their combined appeal but clarified that his endorsement would not be extended to either candidate. “I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate,” he said, adding that their collaboration would be a “perfect ticket” for the next presidential race. However, Trump stopped short of formally endorsing either candidate, leaving the Republican field in a state of uncertainty. Ocasio-Cortez’s potential candidacy has sparked significant attention, though she has not confirmed her intentions. During an interview with Democratic strategist David Axelrod earlier this month, Axelrod directly asked her whether she was considering a presidential or Senate run. Ocasio-Cortez responded by rejecting the notion that her ambitions were limited to political office.#marco_rubio #j_d_vance #gavin_newsom #alexandria_ocasio_cortez #pete_buttigieg
Gavin Newsom Confronts Joe Rogan Over Viral Comments on His Leadership Governor Gavin Newsom of California unleashed a scathing response to a viral clip in which podcast host Joe Rogan criticized him during a 2023 interview, accusing Rogan of cowardice and hypocrisy. The exchange, which resurfaced in October 2025, sparked a heated public feud between the two figures, with Newsom accusing Rogan of avoiding a direct confrontation while simultaneously attacking his policies. The controversy began with a 2023 episode of Rogan’s podcast, where he discussed the 2024 presidential election with Patrick Bet-David. During the conversation, Rogan made disparaging remarks about Newsom, calling him a “f---ing con man” and criticizing his leadership in California. Rogan alleged that Newsom’s policies, including mandatory childhood vaccinations and his handling of the state’s wildfires, had ruined the state. He also mocked Newsom’s public health measures during the pandemic, claiming the governor had lied about being outdoors while unmasked. Newsom’s press office responded with a dramatic social media post, adopting a tone reminiscent of former President Donald Trump. The governor’s team mocked Rogan for allegedly avoiding a direct interview, stating, “JOE 'LITTLE GUY' ROGAN IS TOO CHICKEN TO HAVE ME ON HIS FAILING PODCAST BECAUSE HE KNOW I'D CRUSH HIM, SO HE TAKES CHEAP SHOTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY AS HE GETS RELEGATED TO IRRELEVANCY. ALL TALK, NO ACTION. I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE, 'LITTLE GUY.' OR KEEP HIDING!!!!” The post, published on Newsom’s X account, framed Rogan’s criticism as a sign of his declining influence and lack of courage. Rogan’s remarks had been part of a broader critique of Newsom’s governance.#california #gavin_newsom #podcast #joe_rogan #2023_interview
9th Circuit Blocks California Law Requiring ICE Agents to Show ID A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that California overstepped its authority by attempting to regulate federal immigration agents, blocking a state law that required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to display identification during operations. The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9, marked a significant legal victory for the Trump administration in its ongoing dispute with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over immigration enforcement practices. The 9th Circuit’s ruling centered on California’s “No Vigilantes Act,” a law signed by Newsom in 2023 that mandated ICE agents to wear visible badges and avoid concealing their identities during operations. The court found the law violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which grants federal laws precedence over conflicting state regulations. The panel, comprising two Trump appointees and one Obama appointee, stated that California’s attempt to directly regulate federal agents’ conduct during immigration enforcement was unconstitutional. The case arose after Newsom signed the No Vigilantes Act and the No Secret Police Act, which aimed to address public concerns about unidentified federal agents conducting raids in California. Newsom argued that the laws were necessary to ensure transparency and accountability, stating that “Trump’s ICE agents need to be reined in and held to the same standards as any other law enforcement agency.” However, the Trump administration contested the laws, asserting that they improperly intruded on federal authority. The court’s decision followed a separate February ruling by a federal judge in California that blocked the mask-ban provision of the No Secret Police Act.#gavin_newsom #immigration_and_customs_enforcement #9th_circuit #no_vigilantes_act #no_secret_police_act
Young Voters Vehemently Oppose Trump, ICE; See Big Risks and Some Benefits to AI The Spring 2026 Yale Youth Poll reveals stark divisions among young voters on key political and technological issues, with overwhelming opposition to former President Donald Trump, skepticism toward artificial intelligence, and widespread criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The survey highlights generational divides in attitudes toward the 2028 presidential primaries, antisemitic beliefs, and the role of AI in society. Young voters, particularly those aged 18-29, expressed deep disapproval of Trump’s leadership. A majority of 57% of all voters disapproved of his job performance, with 68% of 18-22-year-olds and 72% of 23-29-year-olds holding the same view. This represents a significant decline from the Fall 2025 poll, where Trump’s support was stronger among younger demographics. The shift was most pronounced among women under 35, who turned against Trump by 28 points, while men in the same age group showed a smaller but notable increase in support. Despite this, Democrats maintained a narrow lead in the generic ballot, with a 2-point advantage overall. Young voters aged 18-22 and 23-29 leaned heavily Democratic, with margins of +23 and +30, respectively. The 2028 Democratic primary electorate is fragmented by age. Kamala Harris leads with 20% of the vote, followed by Gavin Newsom (19%), Pete Buttigieg (14%), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (13%). Among Democrats under 35, Ocasio-Cortez is the top choice, while Newsom dominates among older voters. Newsom is viewed as the most electable candidate by Democrats, followed by Mark Kelly, Andy Beshear, and JB Pritzker. In contrast, the Republican primary is dominated by JD Vance, who leads with 43% of the vote, compared to Marco Rubio’s 17%.#donald_trump #kamala_harris #gavin_newsom #pete_buttigieg #alexandria_ocasio_cortez
Young voters shun Trump, plan to vote blue in midterms, poll says A newly released national poll conducted by Yale’s Youth Poll indicates that young voters are increasingly disapproving of President Donald Trump’s performance and are leaning toward the Democratic Party in the 2026 midterm elections. The survey, which sampled 3,429 registered voters including 2,008 aged 18 to 34, found that more than two-thirds of young voters aged 18 to 34 expressed disapproval of Trump. This figure exceeds his overall disapproval rating among all voters aged 18 and older, which stands at 57%. Among specific age groups, large majorities disapproved of Trump. Voters aged 18-22 (68%), 23-29 (72%), and 30-34 (75%) all expressed disapproval, representing a double-digit gap compared to the 57% disapproval rate for all voters aged 18 and up. The poll’s margin of error, after weighting, is ±1.4 percentage points for the full sample and ±2.0 percentage points for the youth sample. The survey, conducted in March, shows a steady decline in Trump’s approval ratings among young voters since he returned to the White House in January 2025. Since the last Youth Yale Poll in October to November 2025, his approval has dropped across all age brackets under 35. The most significant declines were observed among younger age groups, with disapproval rates rising by four percentage points among 18- to 22-year-olds, 7 percentage points among 23- to 29-year-olds, and 11 percentage points among 30- to 34-year-olds. In contrast, Trump’s approval rating in the spring 2025 survey was slightly more favorable, with 46% approval and 52% disapproval. Since then, his approval has dropped by five points, while his disapproval score has increased by the same margin.#donald_trump #kamala_harris #democratic_party #gavin_newsom #yale_youth_poll
California Governor’s Race: Tensions Rise Between Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco Polling in the 2026 California governor’s race has placed former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at the top of the Republican field, with some surveys indicating they could potentially advance to the November runoff against the Democratic candidates. Despite both being conservative Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump, the two candidates have openly criticized each other over key issues, including law enforcement policies, immigration, and their responses to the Black Lives Matter movement. Bianco has accused Hilton of undermining the possibility of two Republicans winning by adopting a “destructive” strategy against his opponents. During an interview with ABC7 political reporter Josh Haskell, Bianco claimed that Hilton’s tactics have “ruined that chance,” arguing that the former Fox News host’s approach has focused on attacking his rivals rather than addressing the broader challenges facing California. Bianco emphasized that Hilton’s actions have contributed to the unrest in Riverside, where he was involved in a controversial incident during the George Floyd protests in June 2020. Hilton, however, has dismissed Bianco’s claims as false. He criticized Bianco for allegedly “buckling in the face of pressure” during the protests, referencing a moment when Bianco called on Black Lives Matter protesters to collaborate with him. Hilton created a website called BLM Bianco to highlight this incident, which he claims shows Bianco’s supposed alignment with the movement. Bianco responded by calling Hilton a “liar,” insisting that he was the first law enforcement leader in the country to “stand up to BLM” and use “an overwhelming show of force” to disperse protesters.#steve_hilton #chad_bianco #josh_haskell #george_floyd_protests #gavin_newsom
Tom Steyer’s intentions are righteous, but his ideas don’t add up On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak to gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer about his campaign. Steyer is a billionaire environmentalist with a long history of political activity. In 2020, he sought the Democratic presidential nomination. He spent millions during President Trump’s first term on an ad campaign to have Trump impeached. As a citizen, he has held fundraisers for Democratic candidates such as President Obama and Hillary Clinton and championed numerous environmental policies. Today, he’s among the top polling candidates to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, offering a progressive message to Californians. Steyer is running heavily on making corporations “pay their fair share” and has publicly stated he would like to hold a special election to modify Proposition 13, the landmark initiative that caps property tax increases. He has proposed modifying Prop. 13 to allow the state to assess commercial property taxes based on market value. When I asked him why he thought these tax hikes wouldn’t increase prices and slow economic growth, Steyer clarified that the changes would distinguish between large and small businesses. He argued that charging people fairly for commercial real estate doesn’t seem like an unfair thing to do. He also claimed that a 1% property tax is not dramatically different from what others charge and that it wouldn’t be a big drag on business. He called the current system an “actual honest to God tax loophole” and insisted it’s a “completely just thing to do.” Unfortunately, that was the extent of his answer. Typically, increasing the cost of doing business, as such a modification would undoubtedly cause, leads to higher prices and slower economic growth.#california #gavin_newsom #tom_steyer #prop_13 #rent_control
