When he’s not making ignorantly silly commercials about access to abortion in Alabama, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s favorite hobby is getting ratioed online. Seriously, I’m not sure there’s anyone less self-aware than Newsom, or anyone who’s more of a glutton for punishment.
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So on Thursday Newsom was again roasted online when he announced that California is getting its own $1 coin to honor innovation in the state and asked the internet for submissions. He was already going to invite some choice responses from that simple invitation, then he made it worse by beginning his tweet with, “Calling all members of the Tortured Coin Designers Department,” a reference to Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Calling all members of the Tortured Coin Designers Department…
CA is getting its own $1 coin to honor innovation, slated to be issued in 2026 – and we need your help!
What is a CA innovation you’d like to see featured on the coin? Send ideas to: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/oOdw4qICtZ
— California Governor (@CAgovernor) April 25, 2024
Apparently, Newsom (or the intern who wrote the tweet) didn’t understand that the title is surmised to be a slam at Swift’s ex-boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn. Vogue reports that Alwyn “once stated in an interview that he had a texting group chat with fellow actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott called the ‘Tortured Man Club,’ which many fans instantly drew parallels to with Swift’s album name.”
The Golden State has a long history of positive innovation, but the only thing it’s innovating during Newsom’s tenure is new ways to waste every natural gift God can bestow upon a land and leave its citizens in poverty. Oh, and new methods by which the government can repress the civil rights of people.
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And so many submissions centered on themes of homeless encampments, dumpster fires, and endless COVID masking rules.
Yes–let’s make a memorable $1 CA State Coin @GavinNewsom Here are two I think are top contenders. First one really has good imagery. CA flag, palm tree, warmth from the fire. Maybe just edge CA flag closer to the fire to catch a spark. https://t.co/3FzUghy35m pic.twitter.com/6JsvdKcMX8
— Walk Safe (@SacWalkSafe) April 26, 2024
Dr. Houman Hemmati invoked the $73 billion budget shortfall Newsom managed to create just a few years after a record surplus.
This is weird, even for Gavin Newsom. In an apparent play on Taylor Swift’s new album title “Tortured Poets Department” he’s asking for suggestions for “Tortured Coin Designers Department” to design a $1 “Innovation Coin.” Is this a desperate move to reduce rhetoric $73 deficit?… https://t.co/sjYv98lhoT pic.twitter.com/vEBOolYLFw
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) April 25, 2024
A few submissions were throwbacks, like this reminder of street artist Sabo’s depiction of Newsom as “Lizard King.”
My submission: pic.twitter.com/EettYn2k06
— Brian Kennedy (@Brian_Kennedy) April 25, 2024
Is posing like royalty an innovation?
— Lex Jurgen (@Lex_Jurgen) April 26, 2024
A poo map for the streets of San Francisco is definitely a California innovation.
Necessity is the mother of innovation dear @GavinNewsom We all need to 💩. I’m liking this CA $1 coin contender. pic.twitter.com/AupTG7mCxv
— Walk Safe (@SacWalkSafe) April 26, 2024
Assembly Republicans Press Secretary Jim Stanley formally submitted his ideas to Newsom, along with a letter that was published by our friends at the California Globe and which we’ve reprinted below.
Dear Gov. Newsom,
I would like to humbly submit the entries below for the California Innovation Coin Contest.
Under your bold leadership, California has developed a truly unrivaled method of incinerating money. While most people would think it impossible to spend $24 billion on homelessness only to see the problem grow rapidly, you have proved the naysayers wrong. Like a perpetual motion machine operating in reverse, you have seemingly broken the laws of physics to pour an unlimited amount of energy and resources into homelessness programs while producing no results.
To commemorate your momentous innovation, it would only be appropriate to select one of the designs below that recognize the condition of California’s streets, parks and sidewalks that have resulted from your leadership:
I look forward to seeing one of these designs in production.
Best regards,
Jim Stanley
Press Secretary
Assembly Republicans
P.S. I don’t think minting a bunch of $1 coins will put much of a dent in the $73 billion deficit you’ve presided over, but you certainly get points for creativity.
You know, on second thought, Newsom’s reference to Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” album is perfectly on-brand.
