Author Archive: Stephen Green

DISPATCHES FROM THE BLUE ZONES: Even after near-record returns, California state retirement fund still $166B short.

After The Center Square’s investigation found CalPERS lost 71% of its $468 million investment in a clean energy and technology private equity fund, Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, a government finance expert and former San Diego city councilman, requested an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the matter; DeMaio’s office reportedly is in ongoing discussions with the Department of Justice, which has confirmed receipt of the request but has previously declined comment to The Center Square on the matter.

In an interview with The Center Square,, DeMaio renewed his calls for greater transparency, more effective management and possible reform of the state’s pension system.

First, regarding CalPERS’ $282 million commitment to HongShan, a Chinese venture capital firm investigated for human rights abuses, DeMaio cautioned against future state investment in China, citing close cooperation between the Chinese Communist Party and corporations – more formally known as the nation’s military-civil fusion strategy.

“Why is CalPERS investing in the Chinese Communist Party? Let’s be very clear, this is not like it’s a private economy that they run there: the Chinese Communist Party is knee deep in almost every single investment that happens, every operation,” DeMaio said.

CalPERS’ investment in HongShan has posted a $7.7 million loss, as of the most recent filings reflecting March 31, 2025.

“High risk management with very little return — and every day that passes that there’s no return, taxpayers are responsible for the assumed rate of return every year, and it compounds,” continued DeMaio.

Does anyone really believe that Sacramento will ever make good on a 12-digit shortfall?

Certainly not while the sheep can flee before they get fleeced: A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving.

THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A FIRST-WORLD NATION INTO A THIRD-WORLD NATION:

And many of our so-called elites don’t care, so long as they still got theirs.

THIS IS THE CORRECT TAKE:

Our hope — and Trump understands this — is to take away the Other People’s Money before we all run out.

SACRAMENTO EXPORTED ITS POLLUTION TO NEIGHBORING STATES, AND CHARGED CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS FOR THE PRIVILEGE:

UPDATE (From Ed): In 2023, the Epoch Times reported that “California Dumps Nearly Half of Its Hazardous Waste out of State.” In 2008, City Journal was describing California’s need to import energy from other states as “California’s Potemkin Environmentalism.” “‘California practices a sort of energy colonialism,’ says James Lucier of Capital Alpha Partners, a Washington, D.C.–area investment group. ‘They rely on western states to supply them with power generation they are unwilling to build for themselves’—and leave those states to deal with the resulting pollution.”

AN ANGRY TIPPING POINT:

ANALYSIS: TRUE.

Meanwhile, the usual useful idiots continue believing idiotic things.

DISPATCHES FROM THE BLUE ZONES:

HEH:

THOSE ARE ROOKIE NUMBERS:

We gotta pump those numbers up.

PRETTY MUCH, YEAH:

KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: It’s the Feast of Stephen and I’m Full. “I will continue to do a ‘Best Of’ rerun of a classic Morning Briefing post on holidays and the day after holidays, but with a twist. I’ll be recording video greetings for each one. These won’t be behind the paywall. Still, I would encourage everyone to join us over there. This doesn’t apply to those Monday Post Office holidays that I barely know are happening.”

KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: Merry Christmas! “I will continue to do a “Best Of” rerun of a classic Morning Briefing post on holidays and the day after holidays, but with a twist. I’ll be recording video greetings for each one. These won’t be behind the paywall. Still, I would encourage everyone to join us over there. This doesn’t apply to those Monday Post Office holidays that I barely know are happening.”

MAKING IT EASIER THAN EVER TO KEEP THAT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: U.S. regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss. “The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.”

THE HILL IS GONNA BE THE HILL, AND KINZINGER IS GONNA KINZINGER:

But wait, there’s more…:

He’s probably binging the final season of “Stranger Things” right now.

DISPATCHES FROM THE BLUE ZONES: Newsom Loses More CA Business and Wants to Take Away the Farm. “I did not know that Newsom and his toadies in Sacramento were going after farms as a means of reparations. That is what they are contemplating legislating is so blatantly an unconstitutional land grab that the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, is now involved.”

MAKE AMERICA ROADTRIP AGAIN: Gas prices fall to four-year lows as millions embark on holiday road trips.

The average price of unleaded gasoline in the U.S. has been below $3 a gallon for most of the month — the lowest level since 2021, according to AAA. The association said it’s shaping up to be the cheapest December for drivers filling up their tanks going back to the pandemic year of 2020.

Fuel prices are down about 7% from a month ago, AAA data shows, and have tumbled roughly 43% from mid-2022 highs near $5 a gallon that followed runaway inflation in the wake of the pandemic.

The latest slide in prices comes as AAA forecasts a record of more than 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home in the 13 days between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. AAA found nearly nine of 10 people on the move during the period — or close to 110 million — are expected to travel by car.

Travel is way up over 2021, and prices are down. Gotta love it.

CHRISTIAN TOTO: Jimmy Kimmel to Face Ultimate Free Speech Test in U.K.

Jimmy Kimmel has failed one free speech test after another.

And, to be fair, he isn’t alone in La La Land.

Most Hollywood dwellers stood down rather than call out the serial speech attacks over the past decade. Consider:

The Twitter Files
Scary Poppins and her “disinformation” crusade
Cancel Culture
Woke thought police
Sensitivity Readers
Biden’s censorship regime
And so much more.

For every Rob Schneider, Bill Maher or John Cleese, there are hundreds of artists who stood down when it mattered most.

And, sadly, Kimmel’s nightly monologues missed all of the above. Night after night. Week after week. Year after year.

Why, it might just be on purpose.

Much more at the link.