'Fine for what'? Newsom doubles down on refusal to give in to Trump's UCLA demands

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

08/27/2025 10:06 PM EDT


SACRAMENTO, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom forcefully doubled down Wednesday on his belief that California should not give into the Trump administration’s demand that UCLA pay $1 billion to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen research funding.

Speaking at POLITICO’s “The California Agenda: Sacramento Summit,” Newsom said the UC Board of Regents, which has remained tight-lipped about whether it plans to negotiate with the administration or dig in for a fight, needs to “do the right thing” but understands that “they’re all scared.” “How could you possibly accept the fine?” an exasperated governor said, referring to the billion-dollar demand or some smaller amount the regents could negotiate. “Fine for what?”

With Trump alleging UCLA has fostered a campus atmosphere hostile to Jewish students and faculty, Newsom hailed efforts by state institutions to combat antisemitism. He expressed dismay that the state could pay to settle with “the guy who had dinner with Nick Fuentes telling us about antisemitism” — a reference to a far-right activist who Trump hosted at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. “Are you kidding me?”

The governor, who previously described the settlement proposal as “extortion” and threatened to sue over it, said the matter is bigger than just UCLA. It is about “anybody or any institution that disagrees with them,” he said.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/27/newsom-trump-ucla-demands-00532974

[Scrivener7]

1. It's stunning that this is the first time these things are being said publicly and loudly by

a legislator.

[reACTIONary]

6. I understand what you are saying....

... but Newsome is an administrator, not a legislator. Sorry for being so picky

[dickthegrouch]

16. Newsom has no 'e'

Sorry for being so picky.

[reACTIONary]

17. Touche!

[reACTIONary]

18. Oh, wait....

Touché

[Oeditpus Rex]

27. It isn't 'picky'

And I don't understand emwhe people feel the need to apologize for correcting a mistake.

[Joinfortmill]

32. Are you kidding or serious? Reread your post. Mistakes happen. Move on.

[CTyankee]

34. I was spelling it with an "e" at the end. It just dawned on me it was wrong. Duh.

Let's move on now. This is a big waste of time...

[Oeditpus Rex]

37. 'Mistakes happen'

So they should just be accepted?

Should Newsom become president in 2028, would it still be acceptable for a Democrat to misspell his name? Would it be okay for him to have campaign signs with "Newsome" on them?

Thank you for your reply, Joinfortmille.

[Trueblue Texan]

35. Well, it has effectively change the subject from something crucial to understand.

THAT's what's important--right?

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. Is it not impirtant

to know how to spell the name of the current front-runner for your party's nominee for president in 2028?

Besides -- the subject of the thread remains.

Thank you for your reply, Trublue Texane.

[Trueblue Texan]

38. What you deem important tells me about you. Glad I understand better. nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

39. What does it tell you about me? (n.t.)

[CrispyQ]

2. The media kissing the ring didn't surprise me, but our institutions of higher education.....what the fuck?!

Never in my life did I think I'd see what's unfolding today. It helps a tiny bit to know I'm not alone, but not enough. I feel so . . . helpless. Like the little stuff I do doesn't make a difference so what should I be doing?

I feel like a good German.

[ancianita]

12. Look to Gene Sharp for what you can do.

Scroll down. It's all there online and/or in more detail in his book.

https://commonslibrary.org/198-methods-of-nonviolent-action/

[Nasruddin]

21. It's the government version of ....

Doctorow's enshittification

[Oeditpus Rex]

28. 'Kissing the ring'??

WTF?

[Joinfortmill]

33. No shit, right? Profile in Cowardice.

[Prairie Gates]

3. Yes! You have to speak the ridiculousness of it out loud

Tens of millions of dollars "fine" for nothing. For NOTHING! That's what these universities have been paying. It's completely beyond belief. I'm glad Newsom is saying it out loud: it is a fine for NOTHING! It has no basis in any finding or due process whatsoever. Trump and his cronies have deemed something "antisemitism" and imposed hundred million dollar fine? That's preposterous. It's fucking preposterous. Good on Newsom.

[Hekate]

5. Billion. With a B. That's 1,000 million. Trump is trying to destroy America's best public university..

[pandr32]

13. It's a shake down. The Trump regime is a MAGA Mafia.

He and his goons in the shadows are engorging themselves as the parasites they are.

[slightlv]

23. I agree.. like any mafia figure

He's shaking down anyone and everyone, and no doubt skimming a huge bunch off the top for his own pocket. When he's gone and the top out, we need to claw back every dollar he stole from us.

[Blue Full Moon]

4. Isn't tRump being a nazi antisemitic?

[Trust_Reality]

7. Fine? Ha. It's extortion. That's what mobsters do.

[Harker]

8. Yes, "fine" makes for a pretty lousy euphemism.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. We are going to need a lot more of this

To get Blue State Tax Payers to take our rage and turn it into LOUD NOISES.

Primal Scream now. That's CA's money. That's NJ's money. That's IL's money. That's NY's money.

We want our fucking money back ya cheap bastards!

[poli-junkie]

10. And where would that billion go??!!!

[travelingthrulife]

11. Why, Donnie's pockets of course you silly goose!

[Historic NY]

14. Deduct it from what California sends in taxes.

[republianmushroom]

15. Thank you Govenior Newsom.

[Bayard]

19. I would think trump would be rounding up Jewish people in boxcars

Since he admires Hitler so much. I guess he's substituting immigrants and democrats. Notice they never provide any proof of antisemitism.

He just wants a public excuse for shaking down universities, because, you know--they teach science.

[maxsolomon]

24. Walking past Pro-Gaza campus protests made some Jewish students feel bad.

How could the Administration allow feelings to be hurt?

[happy feet]

20. +1M

Trump is extorting universities, govt agencies, private businesses in return for him doling out govt funds that have already been allocated by congress and he doesn't own.

Call a spade a spade.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

22. The definition of EXTORTION: "Here's $20 back from the $300 I stole from you."

Gavin Newsom is not backing down.

Keep the heat on Governor! TACO Don cannot stand the heat.

[calimary]

25. It's not a presidential term. It's a racket.

And yeah, sounds like extortion.

[Scruffy1]

29. Thank you.

I'm going to use that.

[Bread and Circuses]

26. Don't Poke the Bear!

[Figarosmom]

30. Trump wants them to pay

Him more then they would get in return? Screw him.

[ReRe]

31. Well, if it isn't the definition of extortion, then WTF is it?

Thank you Gov Gavin Newsome for calling the kettle black!