“California Governor Gavin Newsom is forcing the closure of California refineries, which has caused U.S. gas prices to spike.”

The claim that Governor Gavin Newsom is 'forcing' the closure of California refineries is not supported by evidence. Refinery closures, such as those announced by Phillips 66 and Valero, are corporate decisions made by private entities. While company representatives have cited 'long-term uncertainty' and state regulatory environments as factors in their business planning, there is no record of the Governor issuing orders or legislation that mandates the closure of these facilities. In fact, Governor Newsom has actively sought to engage with refiners to maintain supply stability, including signing legislation (ABx2-1) intended to prevent price spikes by requiring refiners to maintain fuel reserves. The assertion that these closures have caused U.S. gas prices to spike is also misleading. California utilizes a unique, state-mandated 'clean-air' gasoline blend that cannot be easily replaced by fuel from other states, meaning California's gas prices are largely decoupled from the national average. National gas price fluctuations are typically driven by global crude oil markets, geopolitical events, and national demand, rather than the operational status of specific California refineries.