SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Less than $3 per week View Profile The Explainer Talking Points The Week Recommends Newsletters From the Magazine The Week Junior Food & Drink Personal Finance All Categories Newsletter sign up instant opinion 'Newsom has effectively assumed the presidency' Opinion, comment and editorials of the day Newsletter sign up California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is the 'real president, by default' (Image credit: Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images) Justin Klawans, The Week US 8 April 2025 'Gavin Newsom is the de facto president of the United States right now' Joe Mathews at the San Francisco Chronicle Gavin Newsom is the "chief executive of America's richest and most populous state," and in "this peculiar moment, that makes him the real president, by default," says Joe Mathews. There's a "guy living in the White House who some people call president. But real presidents swear an oath to execute the laws and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution." Newsom is "acting like the president, not a governor, because the country needs someone to act like a president." Subscribe to The Week Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. 'When lawyers apply a law aimed at VHS rentals to the streaming world of today' Chicago Tribune editorial board In the 1980s, Congress "lost its collective mind over the idea that its members' rental histories could undergo public scrutiny," but now the "same law is being invoked to attack Weigel Broadcasting," says the Chicago Tribune editorial board. Americans "should be aware that practically every keystroke on every website could potentially be tracked." But "most Americans are still surprised to learn how much of their personal information is being collected. And once it's given away, there's no getting it back." 'The grace of Wayne Gretzky' Spencer Neale at The American Conservative Alex Ovechkin scored his "895th goal, a new record in the NHL," and Wayne Gretzky "provided a fitting bridge from past to present," says Spencer Neale. It's "not easy to watch your greatest successes pass by, but Gretzky has done so with great honor and respect." Gretzky's "goal record has long stood as one of the most insurmountable achievements," but "instead of dismay, Gretzky displayed humility, honor, and dignity as his lofty achievement was torn from the record books." 'A Trump-Congo minerals deal may not be worth the risk' Liam Karr at The Hill The Democratic Republic of the Congo has "presented U.S. officials and the American people with a proposal: help bring security to the embattled central African country and, in return, receive access to valuable mineral deposits," says Liam Karr. But "American leaders should ask if it is worth the risk it poses to U.S. service members." The U.S. "should develop a comprehensive critical minerals strategy and seek out partnerships that best suit this strategy, not build a strategy around external offers." Explore More Gavin Newsom Instant Opinion Donald Trump Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Justin Klawans, The Week US Social Links Navigation Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International. What is the job market's future after Trump's tariffs? Talking Points Economic analysts are split on what the tariffs could mean for employees ByJustin Klawans, The Week US Published 8 April 25 Scientists genetically revive extinct 'dire wolves' A 'de-extinction' company has revived the species made popular by HBO's 'Game of Thrones' ByPeter Weber, The Week US Published 8 April 25 Trump, China up trade war risks with tariff threats China said it would 'fight to the end' after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports ByRafi Schwartz, The Week US Published 8 April 25 You might also like Trump, China up trade war risks with tariff threats China said it would 'fight to the end' after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports ByRafi Schwartz, The Week US Published 8 April 25 Greenland: Sending in the advance guard The Vice President's 3-day trip to Greenland was cut short after facing backlash from local officials and residents ByThe Week US Published 7 April 25 Free speech: The case of Rumeysa Ozturk The Turkish student was confronted by masked federal agents and transported in an unmarked vehicle ByThe Week US Published 7 April 25 'Mere availability does not ensure that it is used' Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day ByJustin Klawans, The Week US Published 7 April 25 Trump calls tariffs 'medicine' as stocks plunge 'Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,' the president said of his imposed 10% tariffs on imported goods ByPeter Weber, The Week US Published 7 April 25 'In a fight, spectacle matters' Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day ByJustin Klawans, The Week US Published 4 April 25 Trump axes NSA head, NSC staff after Loomer advice On the recommendation of Laura Loomer, Trump fired the head of the National Security Agency and several National Security Council officials ByRafi Schwartz, The Week US Published 4 April 25 Trump says tariffs 'going very well' as markets fall US financial markets had their biggest one-day drop since the advent of Covid-19 ByPeter Weber, The Week US Published 4 April 25 View More ▸ Contact Future's experts Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Advertise With Us The Week is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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