Below is my column in The Hill on the recent appearance of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) in Munich. They found the perfect audience for pledging to reverse many current policies and re-embrace a high-taxation, high-regulation platform. The Europeans were giddy with excitement as they doubled down on policies that have stagnated many of their economies.
Here is the column:
This week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) joined the many Californians now seeking their fortune elsewhere. The difference is that Newsom is planning to come back to California, even as billionaires, investors, and companies flee his state for greener pastures.
Newsom and Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) were selling a brave new world that looked a lot like the broken old world. It was an ironic moment. They were addressing countries at the Munich Security Conference that had previously destroyed their economies through socialist and far-left policies.
The rush of liberal Democratic officeholders to Europe was telling. A new poll shows that a record 58 percent of voters believe their party is “too liberal.” But Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez found a welcoming audience in Europe.
The global elite gushed over Ocasio-Cortez and sat enraptured as she rattled off socialist platitudes. That included New York Times correspondent Katrin Bennhold, who thrilled the audience by treating it as a given that Ocasio-Cortez will run for president.
Both Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez spoke of returning the U.S. to the good graces of the global elite. Newsom assured the Europeans that Trump’s reign is temporary, and that the U.S. will soon enough dismantle the “wrecking ball” that the administration has taken to the EU.
Newsom offered his leadership and his state as the model, proclaiming that “California is a stable and reliable partner” for Europe. The model includes high taxes, massive spending programs and greater bureaucratic regulations — precisely the policies that have driven the European economy into its current stagnation. In other words, Democrats were in Europe to offer precisely what Newsom outwardly condemned: “doubling down on stupid.”
When not fumbling with security questions about issues such as Taiwan, Ocasio-Cortez was demanding that wealth taxes be implemented in the U.S. “expeditiously.” Such a tax on billionaires’ wealth, including unrealized gains, is currently being pushed in California. The predictable result is that billionaires and other wealthy citizens are rushing to leave the state and taking their investments and companies with them.
Ocasio-Cortez had the audience at hello.
Rather than having Vice President J.D. Vance shaming them for their attacks on free speech, the Europeans positively gushed over Democratic leaders pushing far-left agendas. It did not matter that such policies devastated European economies in the 20th century.
In my book “Rage and the Republic,” I discuss the rise of support for socialism in both the U.S. and Europe. Many of those supporting it are young voters with no memory of the collapse of socialist economies in the 20th Century. In 1977, Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan pursued many of the same socialist policies, leading to what was called the “winter of discontent” as inflation hit 25 percent. With the collapse of the British pound, the United Kingdom had to take the demoralizing step of securing a loan from the International Monetary Fund, as if it were a developing country.
In France, François Mitterrand was also elected to pursue his “rupture with capitalism.” The French economy collapsed; Mitterrand quickly had to reverse himself and restore capitalist policies.
That history is rarely discussed or taught today. The “warmth of collectivism,” as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani put it, is back in vogue. It does not matter that, in Argentina, President Javier Milei is achieving one of the most impressive economic turnarounds in history — dramatically curtailing runaway inflation, government deficits and poverty — by reinstating free-market policies and reducing government spending.
What is chilling about Europe is that the EU has strangled growth with its increasingly centralized controls and massive bureaucracy. My book describes the instability of the EU and its global governance model. Europe is facing populist movements and, like many Democrats, the response has been calls for further consolidation of power. This included the creation of a new, uniform European corporate law, known as the “28th Regime.”
With an economy crushed by a massive EU bureaucracy and regulations, the solution of many is all too familiar: borrow more money. French President Emmanuel Macron and others want to issue “Euro bonds” to spend their way into an economic recovery — another policy ideal shared with many on the American left.
This week was only the latest effort of the American left to strengthen an alliance with the EU. Previously, American leaders such as Hillary Clinton pushed the EU to censor Americans online after free speech protections were restored by companies like Twitter. Likewise, the American left is enamored with the EU’s global bureaucracy and regulations.
Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez certainly found their element in Munich, and the EU certainly found the “reliable partners” it has longed for in creating “a new World Order with European Values.”
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
Two examples of the success of the Socialist Dept. of Education in the United States.
Let’s put things in perspective: Trump went to Europe to pitch war, chaos, and fascism.
Trump did not start the War in Ukraine – Biden did, Trump is trying to end it.
Trump did not start the mess in Iran – the Iranians did. In ,multiple different ways. Even Obama now admits he should have stepped in during the green revolution.
Trump did not start the mess in Vensezeula, but he appears to have ended it.
Trump wants a Europe that is able to defend itself – that is a GOOD thing.
Those of you on the left should not bemoan a bit of chaos, you cause it everywhere you go.
Trump is an actual anti-fascist. The modern left is incredibly fascist.
As it’s the day we celebrate George Washington, this excerpt from his farewell address has special significance given his warning about Europe and our current situations around the world. My apologies for the length of the post, but I just couldn’t figure out how to edit the great man’s insights, advice and warnings.
“…Nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded and that in place of them just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.
“Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests….
“So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.
“It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions — by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained — and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a disposition to retaliate in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld.
“And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.
“As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak towards a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it.
“Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests.
“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.
“Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence therefore it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
“Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
“Why forgo the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground?”
George Washington’s Farewell Address
-g
Thank you for the article. From your article, “Many of those supporting it are young voters with no memory of the collapse of socialist economies in the 20th Century.” I think the appeal of socialism runs deeper than just a lack of knowledge of history. Although I virulently oppose socialism, one should recognize the strengths of one’s enemies. Socialism offers a way to feel good, that is a way to ‘help others’ and to improve your own life style by making that which you must pay for cheaper or even ‘free’. Socialists conveniently evade the fact that that which is cheaper or ‘free’ under socialism was created, made, constructed by someone else and then grabbed at gunpoint by vicious power hungry politicians (PWPs) who violate the rights of those who actually actually work for a living every time they act. But in my view, the ultimate villain here is not necessarily the socialists or the PWPs who seduce them with lies and evasion. It’s the cowardly GOP politicians who go along with the Democrats in order to hold on to their juicy well paid sinecures in Congress and in state and local offices. Until the GOP fights for the concepts of freedom and individual rights including the right to keep what you earn, a crucial component of your right to your own life, in my view, the socialists will roll along comfortably on their way to the police state which they so desperately desire.
🇺🇸 Happy Presidents’ Day! 🇺🇸
It’s Presidents’ Day, the holiday to celebrate the birthdays of two of the nation’s most revered presidents — Abe Lincoln and George Washington — who were both born in February.
I have followed this blog for about 15 years. We debate the same problems year after year. The names change. The headlines change. The patterns do not. I was part of that slugfest too. Then I stepped back and asked a systems question: we have many problems with many causes, but is there one root cause that keeps reproducing the same outcomes?
That is how I landed on formation.
The reason my question does not change while Professor Turley’s topics do is simple. He addresses events. I am asking about the conditions that produce them. Everything is downstream of formation. Like it or not, every society forms its citizens into something. That process never stops. Choosing not to discuss it does not make it disappear. It only makes it passive rather than intentional.
A constitutional republic presupposes citizens capable of self government. If we are not intentionally forming that citizen, drift is inevitable. Formation is not glamorous. It requires humility. It requires admitting that we, collectively, may not consistently be the kind of citizens our structure assumes.
If no one wants to talk about formation, fine. But then we should stop being surprised when we keep getting the same results.
Re: Olly
…” I am asking about the conditions that produce them. Everything is downstream of formation.” -Olly …
There are those that Devise (Divisive) by Division and Leverage to create control. Today they segregate communications into divisions by technology (internet – apps). These ‘Walled Gardens’ of the Internet are controlled by the overall structure, so that they can be ‘maintained’ (curated) by the Controlling Power(s). Freedom of Speech is Free but it is channeled into respective advocacy by the systemic structure of the technological medium.
The Ethos (Rhetorical Appeal) of the American Internet is different than Chinese, Japanese, French, Arabic, etc… but all are ‘controlled’ by the structure in a similar manner. This makes the overall technology ‘systemic’ in design for Total Control (Global).
It’s been this way since the invention of the printing press. Choose your version of the Bible (King James of the Gutenberg Press), Choose your News Paper, became choose you TV Station, that became choose your Cable Channel, that became choose your Internet Carrier, that became choose your ISP, that became choose your Walled Garden (a Blog, Facebook, Twitter|X, etc.).
It’s Your preference (choose you poison). Free to find the Manipulative-Medium you’re comfortable with, and suckle at the teat.
You will not stop Us from connecting-the-dots, all roads lead to King Midas.
[The story of Midas serves as a timeless, cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the folly of unbridled desire – i.e.: Politics]
😇Anonymous
I have listened to Sec. Rubio’s remarks as well as Gov Newsom’s and AOC’s remarks. Sec Rubio was impressively able to convey American perceptions of where Europe needs to go in a very diplomatic manner indicating that American and European past, present, and future were intertwined. The talk by Newsom and AOC brought about, in me, a sense of revulsion. I can understand criticism of America in general and DJT in particular. There is, however, a time and place to do so. I do not believe that it is at all appropriate for a prominent American politician to go abroad and run down this country. There are plenty of appropriate opportunities to do so back home in America. On this I stand with Stephen Decatur in his toast, “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.”
Kushner and Witkoff are in Geneva for negotiations with Iran with regard to their nuclear program.
I’m confused. According to Trump, Iran’s nuclear program has been “COMPLETELY OBLITERATED”.
So what exactly is there to talk about???
Interestingly, the US delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but NOT Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who is supposedly in charge of US foreign policy and relations. Rubio is currently in Europe and yet will not participate in the negotiations.
So what exactly is going on here ??
The most likely explanation is that Witkoff and Kushner, who are not official representatives of the US government, are going to negotiate the size of the cash bribe that Iran will be required to pay into Trump’s personal Swiss bank accounts in order to avoid an invasion of their country. That is why they don’t want Rubio present for the negotiations.
The US has sent another carrier group to the region, and there are reports of preparations by ground forces at US military bases.
This is simply a large scale, mafia style shakedown.
Nice little country you have there, Iran.
It would a shame if something were to happen to it.
I had hoped that this year’s Munich Security Conference would have been marked by a cohesive body of U.S. legislators and officials. Instead, the Democrat attendees/presidential hopefuls (significantly outnumbering Republicans) appear to be Trump-bashers seeking visibility (Mark Kelly, Gretchen Whitmer, etc. in addition to Newsom and AOC). Can they not see the damage to the U.S. this political animosity creates? Where are the Joe Manchins of the Party?
And of course, why is Hillary Clinton even there? She is currently not an official of anything, nor a position-holder with any stakes in any forum. Did she invite herself to be a panelist? Watch the smirky, snarky expression on her face as Czech Deputy PM Macinka says something like, “wow, you really do dislike Trump.”
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/hes-betrayed-the-west-hillary-clinton-scolds-panelist-after-he-mocked-her-anti-trump-rant-at-european-forum/
Lin,
Clinton made an a$$ out of herself. Her response to Macinka’s there are only two genders made no sense. What did the Ukraine have to do with gender?
Upstate: Yes, agreed, -and this is not the first time that ‘Hell-Hath-No-Fury-Like-a-Woman-Scorned Hillary’ has pulled that stunt on an international stage including Munich. Very sad indeed.
I would have liked to have seen Condoleeza Rice there. Both she and Hillary are former SOSs, (Rice was also Nat’l Security Advisor prior to SOS) –and Rice has stayed CURRENT in international affairs with her professorship…..MUCH MUCH more qualified to appear on a panel….. but the world only gets to hear from vengeful hillary.
“in Argentina, President Javier Milei is achieving one of the most impressive economic turnarounds in history — dramatically curtailing runaway inflation, government deficits and poverty — by reinstating free-market policies and reducing government spending.”
Milei’s “impressive” economic turnaround is heavily dependent on IMF loans and a huge $40 billion bailout from Trump. Inflation is still pretty high, 25%. Argentinians purchasing power has been severely lowered. Many are already regretting voting for Milei. Argentina is burning through its loans and U.S. bailout money fast.
While Turley is deriding the EU’s economies as stagnating he “forgot” to mention that ours is also un a state of stagnation. Low job creation, a stubborn inflation rate that won’t go down, huge growing trillion dollar deficits, and our high GDP may be attributed to higher government spending which is really odd because Republicans are in power.
Turley loves to bash democratic socialists and dismiss their increasing popularity while ignoring what is truly driving it. Trump and his incompetent attempt at being an authoritarian. Food prices are still high, utility bills are high, cost of healthcare is still high and growing. His “trade deals” are as useless as the paper they are allegedly written on.
California is indeed experiencing an outflow of wealthy people, but their businesses are not. Because the talent is there and the infrastructure is also there. Florida, once touted as the destination of the rich and well off is not so attractive anymore because of hideously high home insurance premiums and property taxes. It’s driving many out of the state too.
Just because you say so? Your AI machine is messing with you. Again.
Professor Turley’s column isn’t required reading. Why are you here?
Ours is stagnating? Do you not understand the acronym GDP? And deficits are shrinking not growing. Inflation has dropped significantly from the Biden era and is now mid 2’s. Government spending is only very slightly up, so no, it doesn’t at all explain GDP. Prices have come down; e.g. eggs, gas. Biden was a disaster – the massive spending (money printing) results in the high prices – it can’t be fixed overnight. Businesses are leaving CA – have you been asleep the past yar?
Argentina – I don’t know enough to comment, but based on your other comments I’m pretty sure your full of it there too.
Is Newsome and AOC really the best of the Democrats got for 2028? Come on, Democrats! Dont you have anyone else better?
They thought Joe Stealin’ was better and look what that got them.
Diogenes,
Whoever was running the Biden admin was clearly “faking it, till we make it!”
Your writing and grammar skills are liberal level.
They did, but they were deemed nonviable, and summarily aborted, sequestered. The rest were regulated through Diversity.
UpStatefarmer
Mark Kelly will be our next president.
He already has a record breaking war chest, and he is not even up for election this year. He has shattered all records for fundraising by a US Senator in an off year.
In 2025 he raised $34 million. In the 4th quarter of 2025 he raised $12.5 million, and 99% of the donations were less than $100. That is a lot of every day people voting with their hard earned money.
He will win in a huge landslide.
Professor Turley is performing a huge public service here. I’ve seen instances of leftwingers rewriting history, claiming that socialistic economies during the 70’s outperformed economies under Reagan and Thatcher. It’s like the Misery Index never existed. It’s like Reagan and Thatcher were never reelected by huge majorities. It’s like Bill Clinton never admitted that “the era of big government is over.” Professor Turley is reminding his readers about that economic history which leftwing quacks in media and academia want us to forget.
huge public service And what public service might that be please?
Thank you, Diogenes, for reminding those who read the column of these important points.
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez running mates in 2028
Can they survive the Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates?
How many Contenders will the DNC have in the 2028 White House Races? *
– ⭐Newsom | Cortez ⭐ –
🫏 Democratic Party Ticket 2026 🫏
The DNC’s last offerings
2024 Democratic Party presidential candidates (Biden Incumbent Pres. Candidate)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Democratic_Party_presidential_candidates
* 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidates
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries
What a succession. Newsom-AOC to follow Clinton-Tim Kane (2016), Biden-Harris (2020), Harris-Walz (2024). This is the best that Democrats have to offer us? Especially the VP choices?
Yes they do and they will win in 2028. You think mocking them is going change the course of the election. The dems will get 70 million votes, reps., 48 million.
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
~H. L. Mencken
As a single male professional, I am taxed to the hilt. Seeing beyond that is not the amount but the waste and now the transparent theft. If my taxes truly helped and did not be the swimming pool of water to eventually fill one glass to a parched person, I would give more.
As a single male professional, I am taxed to the hilt. … Get married, make babbies, move to a tax free state.
We were birthed with the DNA for a constitutional republic. To become something fundamentally different is not just a policy shift. It is structural incompatibility.
Trying to form citizens for a system other than the one embedded in our founding design creates what I have described elsewhere as National Dysphoria.
DNA for a constitutional republic…. so the founders knew this was coming and extracted DNA and spread all around.
Rubbish.
What globalists and Democrat have in common….is the mission of destroying Western Society!
STOP THEM!
Democrats are committing TREASON at this point!
Cut 50% of Federal Spending. Decentralize Power!
European socialists PRETEND to love Democrats because Democrats let them jack up tariffs without consequence. That is now a documented fact. Democrats are Quislings–weak, inept authoritarians installed by foreign interests and eventually despised by everyone.
Documented you say. Okay, show us.
Most people believe I’m right, so the burden of proof lies with you.
Most people. Of the 8 plus billion on the plant … believe you’re right?
You still haven’t documented what you claim.
Most Americans, specifically. Most people in the world live in dictatorships and don’t know what to believe, but all of those dictators know I’m right and depend on you and ActBlue to cover for them.
Most live in dictatorships? Really, name them. The dictators know you’re right? What if they don’t speak American English?
Actblue is a new detergent you say?
Everyone knows Diogenes is right. Be honest, you know he is. Give it up.
Please, tell that to my wife 😉
Saw this? So what’s your response: Most live in dictatorships? Really, name them. The dictators know you’re right? What if they don’t speak American English?
Present your documents! says the demanding commie…
Here ya go, the Constitution of the United States! eat freedom commie.
Commie huh? You clown. Voted Trump. So ya think everyone who comments here has to fall in line or get attacked, threated and insulted. With that level of stupidity you dimwits here exhibit, confirms you are the dumbest or the dumb. The dems will win.
Parasite.
Drunken lout.
He’s not drunk and you’re no lady.
Not a drunk you say? And you’re not intelligent.
Useful idiots have new limitations on the idiot part as it tends to make the commies look bad.
Says the useful idiot.
Okay Anonymous. Tobacco Tariff: Reports from that period and later analyses highlight a 350% U.S. tariff on tobacco imports.
Other High Tariffs: Other products with high ad valorem equivalent tariffs around that time included peanuts/peanut butter and certain sugar-containing products. These European Tariffs were imposed on American goods in 2008 while Obama was the President.
Thanks, fellas. This troll is playing the usual games of splitting hairs and making everybody else prove what everybody already knows.
geez, like hullbooby waiting for someone to comment? Make wild comments then get defensive when called out.
You’re a BS artist, making wild, unprovable, nonsensical statements. And you expect approval? You’re crazier than AOC, Newsom.
Thinkitthrough provided proof about foreign tariffs. You provided proof that Democrats are Quislings. I rest my case.
Proof? So just saying so makes it proof? What about linking a source. Might help eh.
How dull can you be.
show you Democrats are Quislings–weak, inept authoritarians installed by foreign interests and eventually despised by everyone?
everyone knows that.
and asking for someone’s documents? figures…
Diogenes: in addition to being “Quislings-weak, inept authoritarians”, Democrats have also demonstrated that they are successful grifters, as they have proven by the fraud seen in Minnesota.
Shameless frauds and hypocrites, getting rich off of taxpayers!
Dems are weak! all they have left now is crimes and criminals as everyone sensible doesn’t want to be a communist.
After trashing European nations in Munich, why is Marco Rubio now in Hungary campaigning for Victor Orban ahead of the Hungarian elections in April ???
Answer: Just following orders from Putin.
Russian state media is ecstatically reporting this.
Russian state media is ecstatically reporting this. Wow, really, then how come no link to the reporting.
Rubio was conciliatory. Trashed huh?
There are no more European Nations, just lots of people good at starting wars they can’t finish.