Gavin Newsom’s blame-shifting on Chevron – Latest News
Gavin Newsom’s call to boycott Chevron over Memorial Day is eye-rolling Sacramento political theater: traditional misdirection from a governor hell-bent on making oil consumption as painful and costly as potential for the little people.
Urging drivers to dodge branded Chevron retailers for unbranded options, as a result of, apparently, it’s all the identical refinery juice other than that “fancy” Techron additive, Newsom paints the company as the massive unhealthy profiteer cashing in on international conflicts like Iran tensions.
It’s a neat trick: Ignore the regulatory arsonist behind the scenes and blame the fuel pump as an alternative. This boycott isn’t management; it’s fully misguided scapegoating that dodges California’s self-made vitality mess whereas advancing the state’s zealous anti-oil campaign.
Gavin Newsom’s call to boycott Chevron over Memorial Day is eye-rolling Sacramento political theater Anadolu by way of Getty Images
Gavin Newsom’s call to boycott Chevron over Memorial Day is eye-rolling Sacramento political theater Xinhua/Shutterstock
And the hypocrisy hits totally different when the man lecturing everybody about fossil fuels will get chauffeured round in SUVs.
Everyone’s noticing California’s gasoline costs hovering round $6.13 per gallon in late May 2026 whereas the remaining of the nation cruises close to $4.55. Surprise, it’s not primarily “Big Oil greed” or fleeting international hiccups, however the predictable harvest of a long time of Sacramento’s and Newsom’s genius interventions.
We’re speaking sky-high excise taxes, environmental charges, and cap-and-trade levies that routinely prime $1 a gallon.
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California’s anti-oil agenda has been particularly damaging on the subject of refining. Through relentless regulatory hostility, fuel requirements, emissions guidelines, and compliance burdens within the billions, state insurance policies have pushed refinery closures like Phillips 66 in LA and Valero in Benicia, slashing capability almost 20%.
These weren’t random market selections; they have been the inevitable face-plant from intentionally making in-state operations uneconomic. With home refining gutted, California now imports over 70% of its crude and fuel; the state susceptible to each worldwide shock.
Prices spike by way of larger transportation prices, provide chain roulette, and the lack to rapidly ramp up native output when needed.
Everyone’s noticing California’s gasoline costs hovering round $6.13 per gallon in late May 2026 whereas the remaining of the nation cruises close to $4.55 Jonathan Alcorn For CA Post
Analysts warn these capability hits alone might tack on one other 40 cents to over a buck per gallon, flirting with $8 gasoline nightmares if the trends keep rolling.
In-state drilling continues to wilt underneath restrictions and allowing purgatory. What a sensible setup for limitless volatility.
Newsom hasn’t simply inherited this anti-oil agenda — he’s supercharged it with gusto, with an ideology that worships combustion engine destruction.
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His EV mandates march ahead, his climate targets eye the not-so-gradual phase-out of gasoline and diesel, and his guidelines keep stacking to make in-state refining a sucker’s guess.
Chevron’s indicators at gasoline stations nailing “Sacramento policies” for the hikes are a sober actuality test amid the spin.
Newsom’s demand that buyers boycott Chevon? Just one other ego-protecting deflection, redirecting rage at one handy goal.
Newsom’s demand that buyers boycott Chevon? Just one other ego-protecting deflection, redirecting rage at one handy goal. Anadolu by way of Getty Images
Other states with out this regulatory fever dream show the purpose: Balanced provide growth delivers cheaper, steadier fuel with out California’s price panic assaults.
Newsom’s tenure has solely accelerated the company oil exodus, with Chevron itself shifting headquarters to Texas 146 years after placing down roots right here.
Who wants dependable home vitality when you’ll be able to lecture about phasing it out –– ideally from the back of a chauffeured SUV?
Then there’s the sheer tone-deafness of boycotting Chevron, an outfit that truly delivers for California as an alternative of simply extracting from it.
Globally, the company employs 45,000 of us, offering 1000’s of direct and oblique jobs in California.
Taxes? Nearly $10 billion in income taxes, plus hefty native hauls.
Newsom’s tenure has solely accelerated the company oil exodus, with Chevron itself shifting headquarters to Texas 146 years after placing down roots right here. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Post
In Richmond, Calif., Chevron’s contributions in taxes and utility charges account for almost 24% of town’s basic fund, bankrolling colleges, police, fire departments, public works, and the remaining of the fundamentals.
These taxes chip in for STEM schooling grants, CAL FIRE help, and group infrastructure.
Yet right here’s Newsom, making an attempt to sic drivers on unbiased small business homeowners working most of Chevron’s branded stations, the very franchisees sweating the identical regulatory avalanche as everybody else.
At gasoline stations, the branded versus unbranded distinction boils down to minor additive tweaks and high quality consistency, not some grand conspiracy explaining the entire statewide gasoline premium.
Timing the boycott for peak journey season simply provides an insult whereas Newsom’s coverage machine buzzing within the background stays blissfully unexamined.
It’s nearly spectacular how he neatly dodges the financial fundamentals: Strangle home manufacturing and refining, after which act shocked on the ensuing value surges.
Newsom’s Chevron boycott completely captures the disconnect –– performative outrage that punishes main financial contributors and entrenches the very anti-oil agenda inflating costs within the first place.
Richie Greenberg is a political commentator based mostly in San Francisco.
