The Drain

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA17) may have more billionaires in his affluent San Jose district than any other member of the House of Representatives, but he's showing that he's not afraid to go against the grain.
He staunchly supports California healthcare workers' signature initiative for a state billionaire tax. He visits ICE detention centers, using his stature to elevate just how dangerously inhumane their living conditions are. And he rightly opposes Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Not surprisingly, billionaires are plotting to oust the popular progressive Democrat from his seat in Congress (free link).
Meanwhile, Democratic leadership appears set to showcase another Californian in the 2028 race for the White House: Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom, who has promised in the past to veto any state legislation geared toward taxing billionaires, is making himself both the face and the loudest voice against this year's billionaire tax initiative. Not only has he not visited an ICE detention facility in the state, he instead brings rightwing ghouls--such as the late Charlie Kirk and the unfortunately living Ben Shapiro--onto his podcast to brag about how much he cooperates with ICE. And he refuses to call Israel's genocide in Gaza exactly what it is.
Newsom currently leads in polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, despite holding just a +12 approval rating in a state where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by a factor of nearly 2:1 .
But who, really, can Californians count on to defend them against violent ICE officers? Who, besides direct action groups like NorCal Resist and the Border Angels, will stand up for undocumented residents? And who won't blink when the Golden State's billionaires threaten in bad faith to flee the state?
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/c/thedrain. 
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

**This is a preview of our premium show, The Plug. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/thedrain.**
Today we're looking at California Governor Gavin Newsom just after his final State of the State address, posturing himself for a 2028 presidential run.
Can our favorite AI-era Patrick Bateman find his way into the White House?
We touch in his latest profile in The Atlantic (free link), which would not have been written had he not assured the editors at America's foremost neoliberal mag that he's running for president. It has some juicy bits, such as the fact that he holds no personal political views to speak of (source: Willie Brown), and that his ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle despises him--even if she did once publicly mention that he's a veritable tripod.
Newsom's rise to power in San Francisco--and, ultimately, California--cannot be discussed without his close ties with billionaires such as the oil-baron Getty family.
We take a hard look at his history, as well as his dire prospects for the presidency as America's working class shifts toward a more economically populist posture. Can Democrats count on Newsom and his billionaire lackeys to land the presidency?
Likely not.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

Today we're having a talk about the illegal kidnapping of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. How did Sacramento respond? (free link)
And how did the rest of California respond? (free link)
John Fetterman discussed the state of "Venezwenians," for whatever that's worth.
We then dive into the California oil industry's ties to Venezuela--a la Chevron--(free link), and what that means for us in the freest state in the union.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

We start our first episode of the year on a somber note after ICE terrorists murdered Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Here in California, the people are pushing back hard against the jackboots. Hundreds showed up to the capital's ICE headquarters to show their disdain, after which agents descended from the building to deface Good's memorial. (If anyone has information on the name of the agent, please reach out to us.)
Beyond that, we encourage everyone to tap into their local rapid response organizers against ICE, and to donate to Renee's family (please remember that her child lost its father just three years ago).
We then discuss the surprising passing of California House Republican Doug LaMalfa (free link), a man known for farming rice, going to the most banal of events in his district, and fighting against trans rights and for international war crimes in Venezuela. How will Doug's death affect the GOP's tenuous grasp on the House? Only time will tell.
Finally, we take a look at the California legislature as it dives into a new session. What new laws are coming into effect? (Free link.) What's on the agenda for 2026? (Free link.) Subscribe your fine self to our show to learn more as the Capitol starts bubbling with new legislation.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

We've hit a pretty big milestone in listeners as 2025 comes to and end, so we're coming to you with a Long Boy.
Palma and Kempa are joined by a mysterious, handsome, young guest-host to discuss what's in and what isn't in the year to come.
Is this the year of the billionaire's tax in California? Will Antichrist Peter Thiel finally reveal himself after a particularly violent hangover? Will NIMBYs and YIMBYs go the way of the dodo and yo-yo?
And what of the Balkans (we're bullish on North Macedonia)?
Join your best friend Max, your closest confidant Kempa, and your surly uncle Güero, as we squint and mutter at the tea leaves of 2026.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

Welcome to your holiday episode of The Drone--er, Drain.
We've got plenty for you to enjoy as you hide from your family this holiday, starting with drone wars in San Francisco!
The Bay Area's strongest lefty on the SF Board of Supervisors, Jackie Fielder, is coming out strong for workers in her city. And the billionaires can't stand it.
Fielder has ruffled the feathers of the DoorDash folks with a new city policy demanding that they get a permit to operate delivery drones outside their test facilities. The new law passed the board unanimously, with labor standing strong behind Fielder. But that doesn't mean the tech oligarchs are going to take it sitting down--they're already trying to turn the people of San Francisco against their strongest advocate on the dais.
We also touch on California Republicans' efforts to stop Prop 50--a law that would offset President Trump's gerrymandering throughout the country.
Finally, we discuss crypto billionaire Chris Larsen hedging his bet for Katie Porter's governor run with a maximum contribution to a Republican in the race, Steve Hilton, and take a look at Elon Musk's latest dopey remarks on a "universal high income."
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

**This is a preview of our premium weekend show, The Plug. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/thedrain.**
Merry Christmas, to all who celebrate.
For this week's Plug we're looking at a couple of issues facing AI behemoths as the year comes to a close:
First, we touch on a potential new iteration of The Big Short, wherein Wall Street is starting to short AI, leaving many wondering if this is the bubble the industry has been anticipating.
We then take a look at a case involving a former Yahoo executive who died of suicide after "savagely" murdering his 83-year-old mother. Chat logs between the man and ChatGPT show a chilling discourse, wherein the model appears to affirm his paranoia and delusions. (Read the full lawsuit here.)
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

Hello.
Today we're discussing a phenomenal piece in Politico written by Jeremy White, exploring the "Massacred" California Republican Party (free link) as they wrestle with the fallout of Proposition 50, which has hatcheted their representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
GOP members of Congress are now forced to run against one another, and they are truly showing their capitalist scarcity mindset colors.
Remember just two years ago when they thought they were making a comeback? Well, special congressional races throughout the country are showing a 12-plus point swing toward the Democrats.
We discuss the implications in California, as well as what that entails in the fight for the soul of the state's Democratic Party.
We also take a moment to discuss a bill that could totally knee-cap our queen, Anh Phoong. (Don't forget to check out her incredible profile from last year in the Sacramento Bee, written by ace reporter Jena Hatch [free link].)
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

**This is a preview of our premium Saturday show, The Plug. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/thedrain.**
What happens when California politicians place their careers ahead of fighting the homelessness crisis?
They leave millions on the table that could have served their unhoused constituents.
Today we're discussing Sacramento Bee columnist Robin Epley's jarring piece showing that Sacramento County shut itself out of some $21 million that could have helped ameliorate the region's homelessness crisis (free link). All so the region's local officials could pat themselves on one another's backs for a year.
The 2024 homelessness count showed a stunning--and spurious--drop in homelessness numbers, which went against everything residents in the county experienced that year. Now, new numbers show that the count was likely a devastating undercount that cut the region out of much needed homeless service funding.
We also touch on Sac Bee reporter Theresa Clift's newest three-part series outlining just how badly Sacramento politicians have been handling the region's homeless crisis (free link).
Do you have a similar story in your corner of the state? Let us know at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
We're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social

Hold onto your laptops, California, because the New York Post is opening a tabloid in Los Angeles.
And we couldn't be more excited.
Yes, next year the Murdoch family is launching its coup attempt against the Golden State's liberal hegemony with a new print publication, the California Post.
It looks like the state's freshest rightwing rag will be on a short leash, with News Corp leadership from NYC and Australia running the show. Expect plenty of searing commentary from miserable oafs like Joel Pollak, anti-homeless missives from hacks poached from the San Francisco Standard, and cheerleading from billionaire Bay Area ghouls like Garry Tan.
We're curious to see how conservative blogs like Katy Grimes's languishing California Globe will fare with the Murdochs in town. But more interesting to us is if a newspaper consumed largely by men born in the tail-end of America's lead-paint era holds any future here in our home state.
We also take a moment to look at Capitol Weekly's poll last summer (conducted by political guru Paul Mitchell), which surveyed the state's 120 lawmakers and found Assemblymember Carl DeMaio to be the least palatable legislator in Sacramento. Seems like he could use some help from the Post in sessions to come.
Finally, we say goodbye to Claude, the albino alligator close to the hearts of countless northern California children for the last three decades.
Don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to The Drain on your favorite podcast platforms.
Questions? Comments? Pitches? Email us at thedrainpodcast@gmail.com.
We're still hanging about on Twitter: @sweetxpalma and @youknowkempa
And we're also on Bluesky: @thedrain.bsky.social, @palma.ltd, @yeshelloitskempa.bsky.social