Gavin Newsom is suffering from what the Rand Corporation, right here in California, calls “truth decay” — the steady disappearance of facts and reason from public debate.

The latest example is the governor’s attempt to claim that California’s population is growing — after his own government released a report warning that it isn’t.

California lost a net 54,000 residents last year, the first population drop since the pandemic, when Newsom’s shutdowns drove out freedom-loving residents.

Sure, the state’s Department of Finance tried to blame federal immigration restrictions for the decline. 

But that just highlights the fact that California’s population growth has not been natural. It has been driven by immigration — including illegal immigration (which the state laughably calls “International humanitarian migration”).

Newsom went on Bill Maher’s HBO show and tried to defend his record. 

“We’ve also seen the last three year population growth,” he said.

No, we haven’t.

In fact, California residents continue to leave. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee, is experiencing rapid population growth. The most common state of origin for new arrivals: California.

Maybe they took the Chattanooga Choo-Choo to get there. They sure didn’t take the California high-speed rail, which Newsom continues to defend, despite a rising cost that is now estimated at $231 billion.

When Bill Maher advised the governor to “Let the train go,” Newsom said that “We got it back on track.” 

Ok, sure.

Newsom also boasted that “no other state has outperformed the economy of the State of California.”

That’s another lie. For months, California had the worst unemployment rate of all 50 states.

Last month’s report moved California up a notch, into the second-worst spot, ahead of Delaware. The state’s 5.3% unemployment rate is still a full percentage point behind the national rate of 4.3%.

Why can’t Newsom tell the truth?

He won’t answer that question — he’d just pivot to Trump, claiming that the president lies, therefore it’s fine for him to do so.

He’s just holding a “mirror” up to Trump, he says. 

Not leading by example, mind you — but by imitation.

Trump is certainly guilty of hyperbole. But on the big things, he’s been right — and Newsom has been wrong.

Trump is also willing to fire people who fail, and to change his policies.

Newsom sticks with the failing status quo — then tells you it’s working.

Voting for the next governor starts this week. Whoever wins will hopefully have a better relationship with the truth.

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