Ro Khanna blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Gavin Newsom supporting a national billionaire tax
Ro Khanna blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Gavin Newsom's national billionaire tax
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Politics
Ro Khanna blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Gavin Newsom supporting a national billionaire tax
By Titus Wu Published June 26, 2026, 7:27 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on GoogleCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom’s endorsement of a national billionaire tax is being mocked by his own party who support a one-time state version of the tax, including Congressman Ro Khanna.
Khanna, speaking to reporters Friday, teared into Newsom for his “flip-flopping” in touting his national tax idea while opposing the state version, which will go before voters to decide on a one-time 5% tax.
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“You can’t hypothetically say I support policies on a national level while ducking the fight in your own state, which is defining for the entire nation, and saying, ‘Well, I don’t want to upset the billionaires in my state, so I’m just going to punt this and say, hypothetically, we can solve something at a federal level,” Khanna said.
Newsom opposes the state tax proposal due to fears that California’s economy would be hurt in the long run after wealthy individuals flee to other states. He said Friday that “the fight to make the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes is not one we should be fighting state by state.”
After failing a Thursday deadline to negotiate that tax from appearing on the ballot, the governor instead came out with a national idea that would “democratize” the economy.
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Newsom’s national policy proposal is significant given he is widely expected to run for U.S. president in 2028. So is Khanna, whose clash with Newsom over the tax and other issues could preview a future Democratic primary showdown.
Dave Regan, president of the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, the union behind the state proposal, said in the appearance alongside Khanna that Newsom and others are wrong that there will be “capital flight” from the state tax.
Khanna, who has been trying to stake out a progressive lane in any potential buildup to a presidential bid, insisted Newsom’s announcement is misleading “propaganda.”
“The proposal with respect to what Governor Newsom has proposed federally is not a wealth tax,” Khanna said. “Taxing the loans on assets is something that the tech oligarchs themselves have proposed, because that will raise a fraction of the revenue of an actual wealth tax.”
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The congressman said the tax fight exemplifies a crucial point in the future of the Democratic Party. He and others supporting the tax have slammed Newsom for siding with billionaires.
“I believe this is the defining fight on what side you’re on on this issue, for whether you’re an economic populist or whether you’re going to be for the working class or whether you’re still with the donor class of our party,” Khanna said.
“The reality is that what happens in California is going to determine the course of what happens in this country on this issue,” he added.
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Political observers say Newsom’s latest move is him trying to play a fine line in appealing to the far left electorate for a presidential bid while also still maintaining the support of wealthy tech billionaire donors such as Ron Conway.
“Given that it’s going to be on the November ballot, this is the best possible alternative message for him to follow,” Dan Schnur, a professor of political communications at USC, told The Post. “‘I am for a billionaire tax — just not this one.’”
The state’s one-time tax measure is expected to generate a costly election fight that could climb to tens — if not hundreds — of millions, and it could shape Newsom’s presidential ambitions given he has vowed to defeat it.
Supporters of the tax said it’s needed to help make up federal cuts to health care.
“We believe Californians are ready to say that the most fortunate and the wealthiest people among us can put forth a modest one time 5% tax, so that millions and millions and millions of people will continue to have at least a stable health insurance system,” Regan said.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
