California’s NGO Money Pipeline, Unfunded Mandates, and Rebuilding After the Palisades Fires | Elaine Culotti & Victor Davis Hanson

Victor Davis Hanson | The Daily Signal

15 April 2026

CaliforniaCalifornia’s problems didn’t happen overnight—they’re the result of decades of policy choices that prioritized ideology over infrastructure, energy, and economic reality. Victor Davis Hanson argues the state abandoned its fundamentals, while Elaine Culotti points to runaway bureaucracy, middlemen siphoning public funds, and mandates that burden working families. They challenge the sustainability of a system dependent on a shrinking tax base and warn that overregulation is driving businesses and residents out. The discussion centers on restoring accountability, rebuilding core systems, and rethinking policies that many believe are pushing California toward long-term decline. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o   👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices