In a truly Orwellian move, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the Community Newsroom Employment and Workforce Sustainability Act that funds so-called independent journalism outlets with taxpayer money. He says the infusion of government cash pays for journalism that will hold the government accountable. Those who know how modern ‘journalism’ works see that this is just a scheme for Democrats to keep ‘journalists’ employed who not only cover for them but also vote for them.
On Wednesday, Newsom patted himself on the back for forcing taxpayers to fund the very ‘journalists’ they’ve rejected. (WATCH)
I’m signing legislation to strengthen independent journalism and help qualifying local news organizations hire and retain journalists in California.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) September 30, 2026
A free press isn't supposed to make government comfortable, it’s supposed to make government accountable. pic.twitter.com/MdQpmzyALl
He signed AB 2222, effectively a cash subsidy paid to news organizations based on how many journalists they employ
- $20,000 per year for each of the first five full-time journalists
- $15,000 for each additional full-time journalist
- $15,000 extra, stacked on top, for new hires
- $7,500 for qualifying part-time journalists
Estimates say the cost will be roughly $55 million a year
Gavin Newsom is effectively forcing taxpayers to fund failing media organizations
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) September 30, 2026
So CA taxpayers are now forced to fund dying news outlets that for over a decade haven't reported the truth.
— Middle Man (@8WPGhost) October 1, 2026
Yeah this guy belongs in jail.
I bet the ‘journalists’ whose jobs now depend on government funding can’t wait to hold their funders accountable.
Posters know the government's infusion of cash means outlets can no longer truthfully be independent.
You don’t know what “independent” means.
— Pudge (Don’t Trust: Ver-i-fy!) (@pudgenet) September 30, 2026
Here’s a clue: if it’s meant to hold govt accountable, it can’t be beholden to govt for its funding.
So... You pay them with government money, to make sure that they keep the government accountable?
— Tigam (@Tigam__) October 1, 2026
You really... Are not... That smart are you? Or.. Rather... You think other people are REALLY STUPID.
Which to be fair, if they voted for you... Yeah... Maybe.
— NovemberRain 🇺🇸 (@NovemberRain243) September 30, 2026
Let’s be honest, this money will keep union ‘journos’ employed who vote for Democrats.
Democrats who decry state media just passed a law that essentially creates it. None of this money will go to actual journalists who are exposing Newsom and his Democrat buddies.
Don't people see what is going on? pic.twitter.com/OKn7CccFC1
— Cyber Hunter (@Gene_SD) September 30, 2026
— Ava- I Love My USA! 🇺🇸 (@WEdwarda) September 30, 2026
And don't look into Government fraud, that's not allowed in California
— Periodic Audio: Mobile First Hi-Fi 🏴☠️ (@periodicaudio) October 1, 2026
Democrats who despise the free press recently passed a bill that targets independent journalists like Nick Shirley, who expose government fraud. Newsom signed it into law with no hesitation.
Commenters see the hypocrisy. Newsom is against a truly free press and instead wants a bribed one.
So your solution is for the government to fund a media that is supposed to make the government more accountable?
— Rich Arnold (@rcarnold1) September 30, 2026
yeah that is totally going to work.
They will report what CA tells them to as they fear losing funding......
“A free press cannot be free unless we pass laws that select which ones are more free than others.”
— John Young (@RawToastUSA) October 1, 2026
Why so Socialist? You must recognize that a state-subsidized press is less free in every sense of the word.
— DoctorEd (@dr_isin) October 1, 2026
Ohh... Is that the plan?
Any news organization that accepts this money instantly loses credibility as a free and independent news source. They must label any journalist as a state-funded journalist and any article must be labeled as paid for by the state.
— áine (@jillsdeal) September 30, 2026
You can write off any outlet that takes the state’s cash. One would think outlets would recognize what this law really is. But many desperately need the money. The cash may be free, but it comes with a high reputational cost.