Part 13/16:
Several notable political moments involved Gov. Gavin Newsom and his conflicts with the federal government over military drills and the shutdown of a California highway for military training exercises. Newsom’s criticism of the White House’s handling of the military’s live fire on I-5 drew headlines, but the overall political impact was seen as a game of political chess—where raising the stakes was strategic, though potentially counterproductive.
In New York City, the mayoral race entered its final phase, with surrogates and ads ramping up their efforts. The focus remained on turnout and ground game, especially in key regions like North Jersey and the Philly suburbs, where voter mobilization was seen as critical.