It's actually far worse than just using ActBlue. He's DIRECTLY benefiting from this tragedy that he helped cause.

"Gavin Newsom Is Using Fire Fundraiser to Raise Funds for HIMSELF" pic.twitter.com/5OfsgA9aot

— JD Rucker (@JDRucker) January 12, 2025

Fundraising Through ActBlue: A Controversial Move

Recently, Gavin Newsom and Senator Elizabeth Warren used fundraising posts to solicit donations for fire relief efforts. But there’s a catch—they routed donations through ActBlue, a widely known Democratic fundraising platform.

Here’s why this is an issue. ActBlue charges a 3.95% processing fee. That’s money taken right off the top of every donation, funneling it toward the platform that ultimately benefits Democratic campaigns. And while that fee might not sound massive, it adds up quickly when thousands—or even millions—are donated.

People were quick to point out alternative routes for donating. You can donate directly to organizations like the United Way or local firefighter foundations. These organizations don’t skim processing fees that end up in political ecosystems.

But that’s where things took a darker turn.

Redirecting Donations to Political Campaigns

Newsom’s approach goes even further than just using ActBlue. His campaign has set up a site called “Californians Fire Facts”. If you visit this site, you’re redirected to an entirely different domain: GavinNewsom.com.

At first glance, this page might seem like it’s genuinely focused on wildfire relief. There’s information about the fires, resources, and, of course, a big “Donate” button. But here’s where it gets shocking. Clicking that button doesn’t actually send your money to wildfire victims—it sends it to Gavin Newsom’s “Campaign for Democracy.” This is a political action committee (PAC) aimed at boosting his political influence.

The funds that remain after ActBlue’s fees and whatever fees Newsom’s PAC takes are sent to the charities. But that’s just on the first donation. After that, it gets ugly.

Collecting Donor Data: The Real Endgame

If siphoning donations wasn’t bad enough, the true goldmine for these campaigns lies elsewhere: your personal data. When you donate through Newsom’s link, you’re required to provide your email and phone number. This information becomes a valuable asset, feeding future political campaigns.

Why does this matter? Because once they have your data, campaigns can continually reach out to you through text messages and emails. Imagine donating $50 to help fire victims and then months later receiving messages like, “Help Gavin Newsom continue his fight for California.” These pleas subtly encourage more donations, but this time, none of the money goes to wildfire relief—it goes directly into political coffers.

For campaigns, data is currency. Building lists of donors—especially ones compelled by emotional causes like fire relief—is a surefire way to secure long-term financial support. Many donors might not even realize they aren’t sending money to where they intended. It’s a bait-and-switch, plain and simple.

Ethical Questions and Accountability

The ethical implications here are staggering. Wildfires wreak havoc on families, homes, and livelihoods. Using that devastation as a platform for political gain crosses a line. Newsom’s campaign isn’t just raising funds—it’s leveraging tragedy for political advantage.

What’s even more troubling is the precedent this sets. If political leaders can blur the lines between charitable giving and campaign fundraising, trust in these systems erodes. People begin to question whether their donations are truly helping, or if they’re just padding the pockets of politicians.

Donate the Right Way

If you want to help wildfire victims, skip the middleman. Here are better options:

• Donate directly to local organizations. The United Way or the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation are strong choices.
• Support the local fire relief funds directly. Find out which nonprofits are actively helping on the ground.
• Research before clicking ‘Donate.’ Look closely at where your money is going and what organization is behind the ask.

Your dollars should provide relief, not political ammunition.

Final Thoughts

Using a crisis to boost a political profile is beyond reprehensible. Whether it’s Gavin Newsom, Elizabeth Warren, or anyone else, this kind of behavior should disgust everyone, regardless of political belief. Tragedy isn’t a fundraising opportunity—it’s a call to act selflessly.

California deserves leaders who prioritize public service over personal gain. This isn’t that. It’s wrong, and people need to call it out. When you’re asked to give, take an extra moment to ensure you’re truly helping those who need it. Political games have no place in disaster relief.

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On Truth Social, he posted:

One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!

Trump has been hammering Newsom non-stop since the fires started ravaging Los Angeles County, killing at least five people and destroying thousands of buildings and homes. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Trump said:

“It’s very sad because I’ve been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come – you’d have tremendous water up there, they send it out from the Pacific – because they’re trying to protect a tiny little fish. For the sake of a smelt, they have no water… It’s a mistake of the governor, and you could say, the administration.”

Newsom’s press office offered a feeble excuse:

“LADWP said that because of the high water demand, pump stations at lower elevations did not have enough pressure refill tanks at higher elevations, and the ongoing fire hampered the ability of crews to access the pumps. Broadly speaking, there is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump’s claims that he would open some imaginary spigot.”

Democrats across the state have been taking heat. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was lambasted for not answering basic questions from a Sky News reporter when she arrived from her vacation in Africa.

To make matters worse, she botched her press conference by reading “URL” instead of giving the actual URL that residents should visit:

The fires continue to rage across the county with 0% containment as of Wednesday night.

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It’s important to understand the context surrounding Zuckerberg following a string of seemingly positive moves. First, he met with President Trump’s team to try to get involved with the administration. Then, he donated $1,000,000 to President Trump’s inauguration fund. Yesterday, he added Trump ally Dana White to the board at Meta. Now this…

ZUCKERBERG COPIES ELON: META DITCHING FACT-CHECKERS FOR COMMUNITY NOTES

“We're gonna get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.

More specifically, we're gonna get rid of fact checkers and… pic.twitter.com/NOWsLq5hMT

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 7, 2025

Zuckerberg: we were pushed to censor by US government over past four years pic.twitter.com/LLb96HfWlk

— Karli Bonne’ (@KarluskaP) January 7, 2025

According to Fox News:

Meta is ending its fact-checking program and lifting restrictions on speech to “restore free expression” across Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms, admitting its current content moderation practices have “gone too far.”

“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video posted Tuesday morning. “More specifically, we’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with Community Notes similar to 𝕏, starting in the U.S.”

“Fact-checkers” have plagued Facebook for years. They are arguably the most biased of the “journalistic” censors out there and have been a total embarrassment for the company. Nevertheless, they’ve effectively subdued conservatives on the platform. Replacing them with “Community Notes” similar to 𝕏 is a welcomed change… if it’s real.

All of these are positive signs, which is why it’s important to remember the context. Everyone who has dealt with Zuckerberg over the last two decades has regretted it. That includes the Biden regime, which Zuckerberg exposed over the summer as “pressuring” him and his platform to engage in censorship.

Perhaps he’s really making a change, but we shouldn’t believe it until we see it for a long time. Does he deserve the benefit of the doubt? Absolutely not. He should be treated like the snake that he is, kept at arm’s length and with the assumption that no matter how “reformed” he seems today, he can bite back like a cornered viper at any moment.

On today’s episode of The JD Rucker Show, we discussed why we shouldn’t just assume that people like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos seem to be falling in line because Donald Trump won. We have to assume that there is evil intent and the longer game is not going to play out the way things appear to be heading now.

It feels like the political winds are shifting. Major corporations and influential figures, once vocal opponents of conservative values, appear to be softening their stance. But is this sudden harmony genuine, or is something else at play? Questions linger about the intent behind these actions, and the quiet is unsettling.

Good News… Or Is It?

There’s been what some might consider “good news” lately: Vice President Kamala Harris overseeing the certification of the Electoral College vote without issue, known Trump supporter Dana White being invited to join Meta’s board, and big donations—like Apple’s Tim Cook contributing $1 million to the inauguration fund. Even traditionally “woke” companies and individuals seem eager to participate in this new chapter under Donald Trump’s presidency.

On the surface, this may feel like progress. After all, 2016 and 2017 saw widespread resistance, from riots on inauguration day to corporate backlash against the administration. But now, companies and public figures are stepping up to align with the current leadership. At least, that’s how it seems.

McDonald’s, Meta, and the Appearance of Change

Even brands like McDonald’s have distanced themselves from corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, which have long been viewed as critical parts of woke agendas. Meta’s choice to add Dana White to its board only fuels speculation about a pivot in the tech giant’s values.

Mark Zuckerberg’s connection to MMA and Dana White is no secret, but appointing a high-profile Trump ally raises eyebrows. Zuckerberg famously spent $400 million to oppose Trump in 2020, so why the sudden shift?

It’s tempting to think these moves signal a new embrace of conservative ideals. But is that optimism warranted? Large corporations like Meta, Apple, or Amazon don’t change course overnight. Are we being lulled into a false sense of security?

What’s Missing: The Resistance

What’s even more suspicious: there’s no chaos. Historically, political shifts like this have met with immediate resistance. Remember the rioting of 2016? Or the protests during the “Summer of Love” in 2020? Where are the activists? Where’s the outrage?

The almost eerie calmness has set off alarm bells. Could this be a case of “the calm before the storm”?

Why Now?

This brings us to the broader question: why now? Why would figures like Zuckerberg, Cook, or even Justin Trudeau seem to change their tune? Whether political realignment, financial incentive, or long-term planning, their motives aren’t transparent.

Global elites have historically served their own interests. The sudden pivot towards conservative values contradicts their track record. These individuals aren’t known to “change their hearts.”

And if they haven’t truly changed, what’s their endgame? Could this be part of a larger play, something yet to unfold?

The Calm Before the Storm

There’s an old saying: “if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.” This silence doesn’t add up. If major figures within the global elite cabal are acting unusually cooperative, it might signal they’re working on something even bigger behind the scenes.

It’s reminiscent of scenarios in fiction where villains conspicuously behave “well” when they know they’re being watched. Could this be a misdirection of epic proportions? Are we being lulled into complacency while more sinister plans unfold?

Trust With Caution

It’s natural to want to believe in change. People love redemption stories, and conservatives tend to see the good in forward progress. But when individuals like Zuckerberg, who fought hard against Trump, suddenly toss symbolic gestures like donations or small board appointments, questions must be asked.

What does Zuckerberg gain by bringing in Dana White? Is Apple’s donation just a public relations move? Why aren’t we hearing from global influencers who were so vocal before?

Don’t Let Your Guard Down

Instead of celebrating too soon, conservatives should remain skeptical. Creating distance from woke ideology or donating to political causes shouldn’t earn these individuals blind trust. Motives matter.

Let the track records speak. Trust figures who have been consistent in their values. Believing that long-time opponents have truly changed their stance after one election sets a dangerous precedent.

Conclusion

Conservative optimism is understandable. After years of fierce opposition, the idea of unity and progress sounds promising. But caution is necessary. The quiet, the calm, and the sudden cooperation feel too convenient.

Stay vigilant. Quiet moves often lead to louder consequences. Always question the motives of those who’ve spent years opposing what they now appear to support. It’s one thing to offer a hand—it’s another to wonder if it’s holding a dagger behind its back.

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They accomplished the second goal to some extent for a while but that faded. As for their primary goal, they failed.

To get “normies” to understand this, here are five facts about the J6 narrative that we discussed on today’s episode of The JD Rucker Show.

• FBI and Antifa were there undercover to spark the “riots”
• Mayor Bowser and Nancy Pelosi denied 10,000 National Guard
• Capitol Police were instructed to NEVER discuss
• J6 Committee DESTROYED evidence
• 5 Police killed “in line of duty” but ZERO charges, arrests, or convictions

As for Rumble, there just aren’t very many. There are plenty of people who mention conspiracy theories but for the most part they are simply conservative political content creators who occasionally touch on conspiracies.

We need more. As I build Discern.tv I must find a wider array of quality sources. That’s what I’m calling for in this segment of The JD Rucker Show. Reach out to me or leave a comment below.