Steve Hilton says California should be world's third-biggest economy, blames Gavin Newsom

Nypost · May 27, 2026 · 884 words · By Josh Koehn

Regulatory Burden Economic Competitiveness Housing Crisis

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What to know about Regulatory Burden

Steve Hilton says California should be world’s third-biggest economy, blames Gavin Newsom’s red tape See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 18

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left14%

Center72%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Steve Hilton says California should be world’s third-biggest economy, blames Gavin Newsom’s red tape See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The California Post on GoogleSteve Hilton, the leading Republican in the race for California governor, accused Gov.

Common ground

Gavin Newsom’s administration of allowing an explosion in regulatory red tape and burdensome laws that have prevented the Golden State from becoming the third-largest economy in the world.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Causal Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Regulatory Burden story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that California added 16.9 housing units per 1,000 residents, compared with 53.3 in Texas, 50.9 in Florida, and 36.7 in Tennessee?
How does this story connect Regulatory Burden with Economic Competitiveness over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/steve-hilton-blames-gavin-newsom-for-calif…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 90% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Causal Oversimplification 80% confidence

Assuming a single cause for a complex issue.

Why it matters: Recognizing causal oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 85% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 18 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 8

info Single Source 4

verified Verified By Reference 3

verified Verified 1

check_circle Corroborated 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “California added 16.9 housing units per 1,000 residents, compared with 53.3 in Texas, 50.9 in Florida, and 36.7 in Tennessee.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “Between 2018 and 2024, California’s housing stock grew 4.7%, while Texas and Floirida has 13.7% and 11.3% growth, respectively”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 3: “A cost benchmark specific to California estimated the state’s total annual regulatory burden at $493 billion in 2007 dollars.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for California and Jerry Brown, and official state portals, none of which mention a $493 billion regulatory burden estimate from 2007.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The October 2007 California wildfires, also known as the Fall 2007 California firestorm, were a series of about thirty wildfires (17 of which became major wildfires) that began igniting across Souther…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2007_California_wildfi…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, and Nevada and Arizona to the east; it also shares an international border with th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. (born April 7, 1938) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the De…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Brown

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 4: “California government code now contains more than 420,000 regulatory restrictions compared with 274,469 in Texas, 170,321 in Florida, and 121,620 in Tennessee.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While web search results mention Steve Hilton discussing regulatory burdens and Gavin Newsom's administration, the specific numbers (420,000 for CA, etc.) are not corroborated by independent third-party sources in the provided evidence.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect representatives from all 435 congressional districts across each of the 50 U.S. states. Five of the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Re…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a partial list of honors colleges and programs in the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_honors_programs_and_co…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was an event involving 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division I men's college basketball national champ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_NCAA_Division_I_men's_bas…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 5: “the mandates for adding $20,000 to $100,000 to the cost of each new housing unit.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web search result mentions a 'bureaucrat tax' in 2026, and another from 2015 mentions costs of $100,000 and $20,000 in a different context, but the specific claim that mandates add $20k-$100k per unit is not corroborated by multiple independent sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mar 17, 2015 ... ... costs $100,000, the land cost per unit is $20,000. Alternatively, if ... If California had added 210,000 new housing units each year ...
https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2015/finance/housing-costs/housin…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 7, 2026 ... As of early 2026, a "bureaucrat tax" from various regulatory requirements, including climate change, CEQA (California Environmental Quality ...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYDJHA_EdYB/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Aug 31, 2021 ... For new developments that require rezoning, no state approval is needed. Any rezoning proposals must be run through the county's planning ...
https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/common-sense-policy-ref…

schedule

Claim 6: “Matching Tennessee’s pace would have produced more than 500,000 additional homes.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 7: “Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, including state building standards that have layered on EV-charging, solar, battery-ready and electrification requirements.”

VERIFIED

Web search results explicitly confirm that the 2025 California Building Code (Title 24) includes standards for solar and battery readiness and EV charging infrastructure.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 2025 California Building Code, including updates to Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, became effective on January 1, 2026.Solar and battery readiness. Enhanced indoor air quality. EV …
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/california-building-code-chan…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Learn California ADU electrical requirements, panel upgrades, Title 24 rules, solar readiness, and electrical costs in San Diego.
https://betterplacedesignbuild.com/blog/adu-electrical-requi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ffiar. 2010 California Building Code California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Volume 1 of Part 2.The California Building Standards Code is published in its entirety every three years by order of the …
https://archive.org/stream/gov.ca.bsc.title24.2010.part02.1/…

schedule

Claim 8: “California’s population fell 0.2% during the same period, while Texas grew 9.4%, Florida grew 9.5%, and Tennessee grew 7%”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 9: “Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, told The Post in an email: “Steve Hilton is an idiot.””

SINGLE SOURCE

Web search confirms Izzy Gardon is the Director of Communications for Governor Newsom and mentions her 'moxie' in a Politico article, but the specific quote calling Steve Hilton an 'idiot' is not corroborated by a second independent source.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Izzy Gardon (@iGardon) - Posts - Director of communications for @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom. Laura Loomer once called me a fag. Tweets.
https://x.com/iGardon

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 27, 2026 · Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for California governor said Gavin Newsom's administration has increased regulatory limiting economic ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/steve-hilton-blames-ga…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 25, 2026 · “Izzy Gardon brings shame to the Newsom campaign.” Multiple Newsom advisers told Playbook that Gardon's moxie is no rogue act, but reflects the ...
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/202…

check_circle

Claim 10: “Steve Hilton, the leading Republican in the race for California governor”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (BBC News and NY Post) report Steve Hilton as a leading Republican candidate or frontrunner in the California governor's race.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — California Proposition 50, officially known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is an amendment to the constitution of the U.S. state of California, which was passed by voters in a special election …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_California_Proposition_50

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An election will be held in the U.S. state of California on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of California. The statewide top-two primary election was held on June 2, 2026. Incumbent Democ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_California_gubernatorial_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stephen Glenn Charles Hilton (born 25 August 1969) is a British-born American conservative political commentator, former political adviser, and contributor for the Fox News Channel. He served as direc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Hilton

+ 5 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 11: “The law [PAGA] allows workers to sue employers for civil penalties on behalf of the state”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the LWDA official site both confirm that the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) allows employees to bring actions for civil penalties on behalf of the state of California.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The California Private Attorney General Act makes it possible for employees to sue their employers on behalf of the state for labor code violations. It gives them the power to act as Attorneys General…
https://www.civilrightsca.com/employment-law/private-attorne…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 is a California statute that authorizes aggrieved employees to bring actions for civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of Ca…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Attorneys_General_Act

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Governor Newsom signed PAGA reform legislation on July 1, 2024 (AB 2288 and SB 92), which made important changes to PAGA requirements and expanded opportunities for early resolution.
https://www.labor.ca.gov/resources/paga/

help

Claim 12: “Hilton blamed it [PAGA] for costing restaurants as much as $60,000 per case.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found to support the claim that PAGA costs restaurants $60,000 per case.

verified

Claim 13: “Adjusted for inflation, the CAL DOGE report says that figure equals about $745 billion annually in current dollars, which translates to approximately $55,000 per household.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence mentions Steve Hilton's general accusations regarding regulations, but does not contain the specific figures of $745 billion or $55,000 per household from a 'CAL DOGE report'.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — California is the most populous U.S. state; as a result, it has the most representation in the United States House of Representatives, with 52 Representatives. Each Representative represents one congr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California's_congressional_dis…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — California's Great America is an amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States, within the San Francisco Bay Area. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park features more than 40 at…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California's_Great_America

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 14: “it costs four times as much to build in California versus Texas”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of construction company listings in Colorado Springs, which are irrelevant to a comparison between California and Texas construction costs.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Gordon Construction has provided timely, quality residential construction and commercial construction solutions in Colorado Springs, CO, since 2004. For more than a decade, we’ve helped take multiple …
https://www.gordoncon.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Ed Green Construction offers general contracting services with 50+ years of experience in Colorado Springs. Family-owned since 1974, A1 license certification.
https://www.edgreenconstruction.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Commercial General Contractor. Commercial construction and consulting based in Colorado Springs and BUILDING TRUST all over the US.
https://www.wdconstruct.com/

schedule

Claim 15: “If California had matched Texas’ housing stock growth between 2018 and 2024, the state would have added about 1.3 million additional homes”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “the two-tier minimum wage system that ended in 2023.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 17: “the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 18: “SB 54, California’s packaging and single-use plastics law.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.