China Makes Fool of Gavin Newsom

China’s announcement that it will ban the export of rare minerals to the U.S. has brought into sudden relief the failure of decades of American geopolitical strategy. It also spotlights the role of such useful American idiots as California governor Gavin Newsom.

Believing he can use his executive authority in one state to halt climate changes all over the globe, Newsom has accelerated the destruction of California’s once-immense oil industry. He has fenced in the production and retail sale of gasoline with regulations that have driven up the price of fuel to the highest in the nation — and then, displaying a remarkable Hollywood talent for mimicking outrage, called a special session of the legislature to consider how to punish Big Oil for the outcome. He has bet California’s future on technology that doesn’t exist or that requires rare minerals over which China has a near monopoly, including graphite, the key component in electric vehicle batteries, and other minerals used in the production of semiconductors and munitions. Once a global energy producer, California is now utterly dependent on imported foreign oil and Chinese strategic interests.

About the Author

Will Swaim

Will Swaim is the CEO of the California Policy Center and, with David L. Bahnsen, a co-host of National Review’s Radio Free California podcast.

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China’s announcement that it will ban the export of rare minerals to the U.S. has brought into sudden relief the failure of decades of American geopolitical strategy. It also spotlights the role of such useful American idiots as California governor Gavin Newsom.

Believing he can use his executive authority in one state to halt climate changes all over the globe, Newsom has accelerated the destruction of California’s once-immense oil industry. He has fenced in the production and retail sale of gasoline with regulations that have driven up the price of fuel to the highest in the nation — and then, displaying a remarkable Hollywood talent for mimicking outrage, called a special session of the legislature to consider how to punish Big Oil for the outcome. He has bet California’s future on technology that doesn’t exist or that requires rare minerals over which China has a near monopoly, including graphite, the key component in electric vehicle batteries, and other minerals used in the production of semiconductors and munitions. Once a global energy producer, California is now utterly dependent on imported foreign oil and Chinese strategic interests.