Political drama is brewing in Sacramento, and Governor Gavin Newsom is at the center of a transparency tornado.

While Newsom has been busy launching podcasts, traveling across states, and seemingly auditioning for a potential presidential campaign, his official schedule has gone completely radio silent. The governor’s office hasn’t released a single calendar entry for 2025, leaving political watchdogs and curious Californians scratching their heads.

The Transparency Tango

Let’s break this down: Newsom claims to be among the most transparent governors in California’s history, but his actions tell a different story. Multiple requests for his official calendar have been met with bureaucratic crickets. David Loy from the First Amendment Coalition isn’t having it, calling the situation “deeply problematic” and emphasizing that releasing a calendar “is not difficult”.

National Aspirations vs. State Responsibilities

A recent poll suggests Californians are side-eyeing Newsom’s national political ambitions. Twice as many voters believe he’s more focused on boosting his presidential profile than fixing state issues. Critics like former Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli have been vocal, questioning why Newsom isn’t “actually running the state of California”.

The Accountability Question

While previous governors have been relatively transparent about their schedules, Newsom’s office seems to be playing a game of administrative hide-and-seek. The calendars, when previously released, were basic PDF files with minimal details - but at least they existed. Now? Complete radio silence.

The whole situation reeks of potential political maneuvering, leaving Californians wondering: Is Newsom truly committed to transparency, or is he too busy plotting his next political move?