'Lazy Butt': Gavin Newsom Comes For Sen. John Kennedy In Crime Debate, Probably Wishes He Hadn't

Posted • August 31, 2025: One of the tactics Gavin Newsom has used over the last several weeks to try and get the upper hand in the crime debate is using misleading and, in some cases, false crime data impressions in an attempt to make the case that red states have bigger crime issues than California, while proclaiming crime in California's biggest blue cities is allegedly down by double digits. A frequent target for Newsom and his Baghdad Bob School of Communications graduates has been Louisiana, not just because it's a red state but also because it's home to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). In a recent interview with left-wing YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, for instance, Newsom said, "I think [President Trump] should start with Shreveport, Louisiana, and Speaker Johnson's district, that has six-plus times the per capita murder rate of Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco. What about the carnage, Mr. President, in Shreveport? Why aren't you protecting the folks there?"

As usual, however, Newsom - and his handlers - were way off the mark. The vast majority of Shreveport is in Rep. Cleo Fields' district. He's a Democrat. As we've also reported, Sen John Kennedy (R-LA) has had a lot to say about Newsom's seeming "conversion" to crimefighter, something Kennedy instinctively understands has everything to do with the Trump Effect, where Newsom has been shamed at the national level by the POTUS into taking action. "Now you don't have to be a senior at Caltech to know that [Newsom's law enforcement surge is] in response to the Trump administration's threat to send in federal law enforcement officials," Kennedy stated Friday during a Fox News segment. "But look, I'll take it, if that's what it takes to get Gov. Newsom to stop being a princess, I'll take that, too."

Newsom, in turn, filed a hurt feelings report over being called a princess, responding to a tweet from Kennedy by claiming without evidence that, "We’ve been doing this work for years. Perhaps you should take a page out of our book. Your state’s homicide rate is 380% higher than California’s." Naturally, Kennedy - who has previously referred to Newsom as a "weenie" - has responded accordingly to Newsom's attacks on his state as only he can. Sen John Kennedy: Newsom Put The Funk Into Dysfunction: "I've watched Governor Newsom for years and to quote one of my favorite columnists, he's put the funk into dysfunction. Every year that he's been governor, crime and violence has gotten worse in California. Why? Because Governor Newsom is a member of the socialist wing of his party. Because Governor Newsom has refused to get up off his ice cold, lazy butt and do something about it."

Relatedly, the mayors of the top five cities in Louisiana for violent crime, which includes New Orleans, are Democrats except one - Monroe - which has an independent as mayor. There is also this: California is unsafe, dirty, run down, infested with homeless and unemployment and you have nothing better to do but troll on X? You are the example of failure, you are the example of ignorance, you are the example of what drove this state to ruin. You’ve also been trying to solve homelessness for more than two decades and the only thing you’ve made disappear is 37 billion taxpayer dollars. In other words, Gavin. You're out of your league, and out of your depth. So you might wanna sit down.

RedState: 'Lazy Butt': Gavin Newsom Comes for Sen. Kennedy in Crime Debate, Probably Wishes He Hadn't
https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2025/08/31/gavin-newsom-comes-for-sen-kennedy-in-crime-debate-probably-wishes-he-hadnt-n2193429
Rumble: Gavin Newsom's Been Trying To Solve Homelessness For Decades… Only $37B Taxpayer Dollars Disappeared
https://rumble.com/v6ybu0e-gavin-newsoms-been-trying-to-solve-homelessness-for-decades-only-37b-taxpay.html
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https://twitchy.com/warren-squire/2025/08/31/sunday-brandon-john-anti-trump-pro-crime-executive-order-and-storm-out-of-press-conference-n2418205
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https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/08/31/pritzkers-anti-trump-rant-backfires-after-deadly-chicago-weekend-n4943208