Zócalo's Connecting California
Here's what to do about President Trump's war on California
California and President Trump are not off to a good start. Zócalo columnist Joe Mathews says that may be the president's fault, but it's our problem. And he says state leaders need to do a better job preparing for the consequences of Trump's hostility.
By Joe Mathews • • 5m ListenWhat can California do about a president who calls the state "out of control" and threatens to withhold funding? Zócalo Public Square columnist Joe Mathews says California needs to go on the attack, doing everything possible to de-legitimize the president before he does the same to it. State leaders have been mostly on the defensive so far. Mathews say they need to develop an offensive game plan, which they can do by strengthening ties with other states and using President Trump's own words to undercut his bombastic "America First" patriotism.