Sen. Padilla Thrown to Floor, and Handcuffed at Kristi Noem Press Event

In an ‘Oh, shit, moment as America edges closer to dictatorship, that’s United States Senator Alex Padilla lying handcuffed on the floor of a government building, having just been forcibly removed from a press conference held by Kristy Noem, who heads up the Homeland Security Agency.

By definition, a press conference is a public meeting at which press and tv reporters ask questions of a politician or other celebrity.

It was of particular interest in this case, because DHS was currently raiding businesses, schools (including universities), and immigration facilities across America, and arresting students, undocumented workers, and American citizens, deporting the above victims without due process.

Los Angeles, California is a particular hotspot of illegal detentions by Homeland Security, so much so that the National Guard, as well as U.S. Marines have been called out, purportedly to keep civil order. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, never asked for military assistance, and has specifically asked the president to remove all military from the streets, calling it an incitement to riot.

Alex Padilla is one of two California senators, both Democrats.

It will perhaps be a surprise to no one, that a state with so powerful a slate of democratic leadership might be a target by a Republican president who legislates not by congressional authority, but executive decree. Yet, towering above all this nonsense is the fact that California is no ordinary state. Independently, it is home to the 5^th largest GDP (gross national product) in the world.

California is unashamedly liberal, and, its reasons for success are liberal as well, a major irritant to the Orange Man who currently sits behind the Resolute Desk.

With a massive, diverse economic base, and a nominal GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023, California would rank just behind Germany globally. Strong infrastructure, business-friendly regulations in key sectors, clean-energy leadership, and a friendly venture capital culture amplify growth.

· Its economy spans key sectors, such as finance & real estate, professional services, information/tech, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and more. It’s a global tech & innovation hub.

· California houses Silicon Valley, a world-leading tech powerhouse backed by Stanford, venture capital, intellectual property laws, and defense-linked R&D. These sectors drive 1.5 million tech jobs and contribute hundreds of billions to the state’s GDP.

· An entertainment & Media Capital, Hollywood and related industries are globally influential and generate $15–20+ billion per year directly, with significant spin-off effects.

· A Leading Agriculture & Food Production source, California’s Central Valley produces a huge share of U.S. and global produce, generating over $40–50  billion annually, leading the nation in fruit, vegetable, nut, and wine exports

· Its trade, tourism & infrastructure strength includes major ports. LA, Long Beach, and Oakland handle 40% of U.S. container imports, reinforcing its status as a global trade gateway.

· Tourism hit a record $150  billion in spending in 2023, supporting over 1.15 million jobs, although that sector will no doubt decline in the face of American immigration deportations, the very subject of Kristy Noem’s discomfort in what purported to be a press conference.

If you need additional benefits, California offers a skilled and diverse workforce and innovation ecosystem, along with top class universities, along with immigration support to power industry needs and attract worldwide talent.

All of which came before Kristy Noem had her goons attack a sitting Senator, giving the world a televised lesson in civics under America’s current administration.

I flinched years ago when we called ourselves a ‘homeland.’

I flinched again, and nearly wet my pants, when Congress created the ‘Homeland Security Agency.’

Both identities evoke George Orwell’s 1984 and communism, in its worst moments.