Paradise Lost: How Progressive Policies Destroyed California - The Daily Signal

The Daily Signal
Mar 30, 2025
Paradise Lost: How Progressive Policies Destroyed California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhNzMiQysrA
In this episode of The Daily Signal Podcast, author and California resident Steve Hilton discusses his new book, "Califailure: Reversing the Ruin of America's Worst-Run State." Hilton details California's dramatic decline from a beacon of American opportunity to a state plagued by homelessness, crime, and an exodus of residents.

Hilton, known for his appearances on Fox News, delves into the policies that have led to high taxes and urban decay in California, as well as the potential presidential ambitions of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Drawing from his personal experience raising a family and running a business in California since 2012, Hilton identifies the ideological "pathologies" that have led to the state's downfall—from extreme environmentalism to union control and misguided compassion policies.

Hilton offers a vision for California's revival through his policy organization Golden Together. He provides a stark warning about the consequences of one-party rule and offers practical solutions for turning America's Golden State around.

00:00 Introduction
01:08 California's Decline: Hilton's Personal Experience
01:46 The California Dream: Past and Present
03:29 Policy Failures and Solutions
05:34 Signs of Political Change in California
07:45 Economic and Cultural Metrics: California at the Bottom
09:07 Ideological Pathologies and Political Dynamics
18:23 The Exodus: Why People and Businesses Are Leaving
25:33 Conclusion: A Call for New Leadership