menu_open Columnists
Joel Pollak

Joel Pollak

RealClearPolitics

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Bombshell essay from Gavin Newsom’s ex-mistress will force him to reckon with ugly past

Gavin Newsom is about to face a reckoning over his 2007 affair with Ruby Rippey Gibney.

previous day 1

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Inside the plot to remake Huntington Beach’s voting system

Kevin Shenkman has struck again. The liberal attorney convinced a local judge in Orange County to force the city of Huntington Beach to change its...

06.07.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Antisemitism: From New York to LA, a new political scourge

Supporters of the “democratic socialists” who won three congressional primaries in New York on anti-Israel platforms have pushed back on claims...

25.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s resignation long overdue

Alberto Carvalho has finally resigned as superintendent of LAUSD — and the resignation was long overdue.

22.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

The new sound in Pacific Palisades: Hammers on nails

There’s a new sound in Pacific Palisades lately.

20.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom and the curious California world of ‘behested payments’

Is that all there is? Not so fast.

15.06.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

White House steps in to stop LA fraud — the only accountability there is

Scott Brady announced that the federal government had cut off funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), whose mismanagement has...

11.06.2026 7

New York Post

Joel Pollak

DOJ must protect right to vote in LA against alleged Skid Row tricks

Videos of homeless people on LA's Skid Row who appear to say that they were paid to vote are the latest reason for the U.S. Department of Justice...

09.06.2026 9

New York Post

Joel Pollak

The Skid Row vote cries out for investigation

Nearly 1,200 people registered to vote at a homeless shelter on Skid Row with 132 beds. 185 people registered at a homeless drop-in center — with no...

09.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

LA voting debacle reflects a democracy in crisis

Half of America is watching LA count its votes with a sense of déjà vu.

07.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

California: the high-tech society that can’t (or won’t) count ballots

California takes forever to count ballots. And there's no excuse.

04.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

The shock tactics Steve Hilton and Spencer Pratt will need to win

I once asked Steve Hilton whether he had a plan to win the governor’s race — not just to qualify for the general election.

03.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Four surprises in California primary results as voters reject status quo

As results stand, the Golden State will have the general election it deserves: a clear contest between bold, fresh new ideas on the one hand, and an...

03.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Matt Mahan concedes just minutes after polls close in humiliating end

Matt Mahan conceded the governor’s race almost immediately after the polls closed Wednesday, the last moderate Democrat hope crushed between...

02.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

The Democrat flops in governor’s race — and why Eric Swalwell could still play a role

The field of candidates for governor was once crowded with big-name California Democrats.

02.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

What if this election brings real change?

What if LA bucks the national trend of big cities moving further left?

01.06.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

California Democrats bored their own voters into submission

California voters can register to vote as “No Party Preference.” But in the 2026 race for governor, Democrats seem to have registered as “No...

31.05.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Poll predicts possible political earthquake

The results of The California Post poll are in — and they predict a possible political earthquake in the June 2 primary.

29.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Katie Porter’s sneaky power move in California governor’s debate — all candidates ranked

The fourth and final gubernatorial debate of the California primary brought a surprise.

14.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom’s myths and figures budget just a campaign ad for 2028

California Governor Gavin Newsom presented his final state budget revision on Thursday as if it were the opening ad of his presidential campaign.

14.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Why 2026 could be a ‘change’ election in California — but might not be

The 2026 election is a “change” election in California. Everyone agrees on that.

13.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Alberto Carvalho emerges — but LAUSD kids are still stuck

The Carvalho case ought to be an opportunity to make a clean break with the past.

11.05.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Spencer Pratt delivers stunning performance in fiery LA debate showdown — contenders ranked

Spencer Pratt finally had a chance to confront LA Mayor Karen Bass on the debate stage on Wednesday evening, delivering an impassioned performance...

06.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Becerra, Steyer on hot seat in CNN CA governor debate — candidates ranked

Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, the two Democrats who emerged as narrow frontrunners in the race for California governor after the implosion of Eric...

05.05.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

California’s gubernatorial debate ranked — and the candidate the ‘D-‘ moderators had it in for

Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate at Pomona College was a good fight — and an enlightening one.

28.04.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

A warning about the ‘billionaire tax’ — from 200 years ago

The “billionaire tax” is a bad socialist idea that is already centuries old. In fact, the first warning about the tax came 200 years ago from a...

27.04.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

California Governor’s debate reveals major problem — as all the candidates are ranked

The California gubernatorial race is drawing national attention — and local voters are finally tuning in.

23.04.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Democrats still have a math problem in governor’s race, even after Swalwell’s exit

Swalwell's that ends well. Or maybe not, for California Democrats.

12.04.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Newsom opposes the billionaire tax — but he can fight much harder

Gavin Newsom deserves praise for trying to stop the state’s wealth from fleeing — though he should be doing much more. Newsom has said he opposes...

26.03.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Cesar Chavez Day has to go

California needs to rename Cesar Chavez Day.

18.03.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Good riddance to LADWP CEO Janisse Quiñones

Good riddance to Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones.

06.03.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Real estate market a warning sign: We need change, now

Real estate is fundamentally about optimism. Two terms of Gavin Newsom have provided the opposite — and his replacement could be worse.

03.03.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom, king of blame: You’ll never guess whose fault it is this time

Gavin Newsom has mastered one political skill above all others: how to avoid blame.

03.03.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

California voter ID isn’t racist — it’s the major game changer we need to bring about real political change

Voter ID could change politics in California and across the nation. For decades, Democratic Party politicians have insisted — without evidence —...

02.03.2026 10

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Let them eat cake: layer after layer of taxes in California

Californians face more and more taxes, like an insanely tall layer cake on some crazed reality-TV cooking show.

27.02.2026 30

New York Post

Joel Pollak

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho must step down following federal corruption probe

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho must stand aside. But Wednesday’s FBI raid on his home was only the last straw.

26.02.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Sacramento scandal barely scratches the surface

Sacramento is pervaded by a culture of corruption. Fake non-profit organizations that win public grants. So-called “infrastructure” projects that...

31.01.2026 40

New York Post

Joel Pollak

After Newsom, can California be saved?

California went from being a land of endless opportunity to a state of bankrupt leftist ideology.

28.01.2026 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Trump’s (second) first year: a review

President Donald Trump had an extraordinary first year in his second term in office. The question is whether he can turn the economy around in time to...

22.01.2026 30

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Hernandez needs to fix MacArthur Park, not attack media

City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez needs to take action and fix MacArthur Park — now. She needs to accept responsibility, and be accountable to...

23.12.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom disqualifies himself from the presidency — by his own standard

“We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon,” the California governor's press office posted on X.

15.12.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Smoking gun: Gavin Newsom’s ‘Plant Police’ set the stage for deadly Palisades fire

New policies on state parkland appear to have barred local firefighters from fully extinguishing an earlier blaze that later re-ignited in high winds.

29.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

New X feature exposes ‘MAGA’ fakes as based far outside the United States

A crucial new “About this account” feature on X just exposed dozens of anti-Israel “MAGA” accounts as originating outside the United States.

25.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom preens in Brazil — while California drowns at home

As Californians were evacuating their homes and dodging “catastrophic” flash floods, Newsom was posting excitedly on X about meeting the vice...

18.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

New film leaves no doubt: Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass abandoned LA as it burned

A new film about the Palisades Fire shows Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass touring the Pacific Palisades as it burns, with firefighters...

13.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom’s Texas ‘victory lap’ breaks faith with Californians he’s left behind

Gavin Newsom is taking a calculated gamble: That Democratic primary voters will care more about how hard a candidate fought Donald Trump than how well...

11.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Los Angeles put politics first — and sparked its worst-ever wildfire

City leaders put politics over preparedness, allowing January's disastrous Palisades Fire to burn out of control — and bringing on a collapse in...

07.11.2025 30

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Gavin Newsom’s crude Prop 50 chest-thumping isn’t the win he thinks it is

The California governor failed to rise to the occasion as he made his bid for party leadership — and may have dimmed his own prospects.

05.11.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Newsom’s obscene $250M redistricting proves the urgent need for The California Post

Newsom cannot point to a single major accomplishment in nearly two terms as governor. He seems to think his primary responsibility is trolling...

03.11.2025 50

New York Post

Joel Pollak

Charlie Kirk built his career with words and courage — and he never looked back

Charlie Kirk wrote to us at Breitbart in 2012 as a high school student, and we proudly published his first foray into political commentary.

11.09.2025 20

New York Post

Joel Pollak