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Newsom staffer who told California reporter to ‘f— off’ is raking in massive taxpayer-funded salary
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Isaac “Izzy” Gardon, the communications director for Gov. Gavin Newsom who made headlines earlier this week for telling a national reporter to “f— off” after she pressed him on the California governor’s reported dyslexia diagnosis, is raking in a hefty six-figure salary, a Fox News Digital review found.
While Newsom’s dyslexia diagnosis has been public for decades, interest in the matter was amplified amid the California governor’s book tour he launched this month. During one of his first stops on the tour, in Atlanta, Newsom was asked about his dyslexia in conversation with Democratic Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens, who asked what he hoped readers would take away from the discussion about his diagnosis in the governor’s new book.
“I’m like you. I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom said in response, garnering criticism online that he was pandering to the Black community.
Amid the rebukes from MAGA world and Republicans, Real Clear Politics (RCP) national correspondent Susan Crabtree reached out to Gardon for verification on his childhood disability diagnosis. In response, Gardon told her to “respectfully, f— off.”
Democratic Party Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, holds up his new memoir during a book tour event in South Carolina earlier this month. (Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The testy response led to further criticism targeting Newsom’s office and Gardon, including from RCP’s Carl Cannon, who questioned why people who are offended so deeply by Trump “consistently imitate his worst behavior.” Newsom’s press office has been known to meet the White House’s pointed and often hostile social media posts targeting Democrats, which frequently include AI generated images, with similarly hostile social media posts targeting Trump and Republicans.
When reached for comment on this story, Gardon told Fox News Digital that “Susan is not a journalist.”
“She’s a MAGA blogger who writes about conspiracy theories,” Gardon added.
Transparent California, a statewide public pay and pension database, revealed that Gardon is being paid quite handsomely to be one of Newsom’s most ardent defenders online. Gardon has risen in stature from an administrative assistant making around $30,000 per year in 2019, to earning $212,154.02 in 2024 as a senior assistant and communications director in Newsom’s office.
NEWSOM BLASTED BY CA GOP CHAIR OVER VIRAL CLIP LABELED ‘RACIST’ BY CRITICS: ‘HE SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) seen laughing at an event earlier this month hosted by the South Carolina Democratic Party. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Gardon’s “regular pay” in 2024 was $152,091.05. That was also supplemented by nearly $57,000 in benefits and another $3,141.16 in “other pay,” according to the database, leading to a combined annual payment of $212,154.02. However, his current pay, which does not appear to be publicly available online, is likely to be higher.
Following news of Gardon’s response to Crabtree’s follow-up, a senior reporter for the California Post also shared an email from Gardon in response to one of his media inquiries.
In Gardon’s response, he referred to the New York Post as the “New York Comic Book.” Then, when Koehn followed up, indicating the San Francisco Chronicle was covering the same story, Gardon replied, “I’d put that outlet in the same bucket,” according to Koehn, who posted screenshots of the pair’s back-and-forth on X.
A man is seen holding a copy of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new memoir titled “Young Man In A Hurry.” (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
While some top Newsom staffers have praised Gardon’s style, including his boss and senior advisor of communications, Bob Salladay, who told Politico that “Izzy’s creativity and imagination is part of what the governor is doing.” Some Democratic operatives have vocally been critical about his communication style, including Garry Tan, a prolific Democratic donor and CEO of Y Combinator
“Most unprofessional person to ever work in politics,” Tan posted on X. “Izzy Gardon brings shame to the Newsom campaign.”
In addition to the email, Gardon came under fire earlier this month when he referred to rapper and MAGA activist Nicki Minaj as a “stupid hoe” on X. He defended his social media post by pointing to her 2012 song called, “Stupid Hoe.”
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WYOMING, Mich. — Starting May 1, the city of Wyoming is implementing odd-even outdoor water restrictions for homes and businesses to minimize the burden on its water treatment plant during upcoming water main construction.
The restrictions impacts the following neighborhoods:
- City of Wyoming
- Olive Township
- Blendon Township
- Holland Township
- Georgetown Township
- Jamestown Township
- Gaines Township
- Byron Township
- City of Hudsonville
- City of Grandville
- Western portion of the City of Kentwood
Under the upcoming restriction, residents and businesses with an odd-numbered address can water outdoors on odd days of the month. Those with an even-numbered address can water on even days.
The mandate limits activities like watering lawns, landscaping or filling pools. It does not impact water used for drinking or bathing.
“Municipal leaders ask for the community’s support of the outdoor water use restriction during construction which will increase capacity and reliability,” a statement from the city reads. “In this interim, compliance with the restriction will help avoid an outright ban for everyone on outdoor irrigation.”
The restrictions will remain in effect through June 15.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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NFL prospect Carnell Tate talks about how lonely the pre-draft process can get
OSU WR Carnell Tate opens up about the loneliness of the pre-draft process — and how he’s leaned on Ty Simpson through it.
The San Francisco 49ers bounced back from a 6-11 season in 2024 to go 12-5 in 2025. It marked the third time in four years that Kyle Shanahan’s squad had posted at least 12 wins and the fourth time in five years it had won at least one playoff game.
However, the 49ers saw their season end in unceremonious fashion. The eventual Super Bowl 60 champion Seattle Seahawks smashed them 41-6 in a divisional-round playoff game that highlighted some of San Francisco’s key weaknesses.
Still, that the 49ers were able to log a six-win improvement was impressive considering they played in the difficult NFC West and that starting quarterback Brock Purdy was limited to nine regular-season games by a turf toe injury. Mac Jones comported himself well when Purdy was dealing with injury, while Shanahan schemed up a quality offense despite consistently being undermanned at receiver.
With that in mind, the 49ers could once again emerge as a Super Bowl contender if they can improve their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft. San Francisco will naturally get better from the return of Nick Bosa, but improving its pass rushing should be one of the top priorities for John Lynch and the front office.
Here’s everything to know about the 49ers’ picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:
49ers 2026 NFL Draft picks
The 49ers have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s the complete list:
- Round 1, Pick 27
- Round 2, Pick 58
- Round 4, Pick 127
- Round 4, Pick 133
- Round 4, Pick 138
- Round 4, Pick 139
49ers NFL draft grades
This section will be updated after the 49ers make their first selection.
49ers 2026 NFL Draft needs
Offensive line
The 49ers could use an upgrade at left guard but also need to think about finding a successor for Trent Williams, who turns 38 in July. Players like Max Iheanachor, Blake Miller and Caleb Lomu could all make sense as developmental tackle options that could also begin their careers at guard.
Edge rusher
San Francisco posted the second-worst pressure rate in the league last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. The 49ers should improve in that area with Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams returning from season-ending injuries, but fortifying the pass rushing rotation needs to be a priority for John Lynch.
Wide receiver
Mike Evans and Christian Kirk signed with the 49ers in free agency, but the team could stand to add young depth to its rotation behind the 32- and 29-year-old veterans. Using one of the team’s many mid-round selections on a pass-catching understudy to partner with Ricky Pearsall long-term would be wise.
49ers 2026 NFL mock draft
Here’s what the 49ers could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly’s seven-round mock draft:
- Round 1, Pick 27: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
- San Francisco hasn’t selected an offensive lineman in the first round since Mike McGlinchey in 2018. It may be time to do so. The 49ers have some questions at left tackle with Trent Williams’ future in doubt. Even if he’s back, the team could use more from its left guard after losing Spencer Burford in free agency. Lomu is a young prospect and could start at guard immediately before moving to left tackle – where he played for Utah – in time. His athleticism and anchor in pass protection give him a solid floor to work with in the NFL.
- Round 2, Pick 62*: Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
- Nick Bosa should be back healthy in 2026, and the team got a pass-rush boost with Osa Odighizuwa arriving via trade. But the team could use more pass rushers to fill out the edge room, especially with 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams having more of an impact as a run defender early on. Lawrence is full of tools with prototypical size and elite burst off the line. He’s more of a projection at this point but could develop well under Kris Kocurek.
- Round 4, Pick 116**: WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
- Round 4, Pick 133: S VJ Payne, Kansas State
- Round 4, Pick 138: CB Hezekiah Masses, Cal
- Round 4, Pick 139: Edge George Gumbs Jr., Florida
- Round 5, Pick 170*: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama
* Projected trade with Denver Broncos.
** Projected trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A Greater Roadrunner sighting in Denver has birders buzzing with no sign of Wile E. Coyote in pursuit far from the species’ usual range.
File photo: A Greater Roadrunner in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2026. (Image credit: David Becker/Getty Images)
A Greater Roadrunner sighting in Denver is stirring interest among birders after the cuckoo was seen by multiple people in recent weeks.
According to a report on eBird.org, a Greater Roadrunner was spotted on April 15 along South Parker Road in Denver. While this is the only report on eBird for Denver, other recent sightings have sparked interest in the local birding scene, with mentions appearing on the Birds of Colorado Facebook group and other birding websites.
Audubon Denver Master Birder Crystal Reser told AccuWeather that while the sighting is “unusual,” it is not a “rare bird alert” like a more recent sighting of a white-faced ibis in Colorado, a species that typically inhabits the southeastern United States. Still, the roadrunner is well north of where the birds are usually found.
Greater roadrunners are native to Texas, Oklahoma and the far southeastern corner of Colorado. They are not typically found in urban environments.
“They do like to run,” Reser said, referencing the Looney Tunes cartoon. “They spend most of their time on the ground, hunting snakes, insects and bugs and chasing them on the ground.”
Reser said the bird was spotted in a congested part of the city near the High Line Canal, which could provide clues about how it ended up so far north of its usual habitat.
“My guess, he followed the greenbelt heading north from Colorado Springs to Denver,” Reser said.
This Denver newcomer may also be young. A juvenile bird could have become disoriented while searching for food or exploring. It could also be seeking a new habitat. Reser said no Greater Roadrunners have ever nested in the Denver metro area.
“We are seeing more kind of unusual birds showing up in Colorado,” Reser said.
Spring migration is a good time for birders to spot non-native species, but Reser said roadrunners do not typically migrate far from their southwestern habitat.
Still, she said the sighting highlights how bird-watching can reveal broader environmental patterns. Storms and weather changes can also push birds into unusual areas.
“The important thing is to pay attention to what is happening in nature,” she said. “Birds are one of the best ways to be in tune with nature…and trying to do something to improve it.”
Providing water in birdbaths and planting native plants are two ways people can help their feathered friends.
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