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Fool's Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All
An explosive investigation into Gavin Newsom’s California and how his brand of far-left governance threatens to remake the rest of America ― as he plots a 2028 presidential run.Residents are fleeing the Golden State in droves. Catastrophic wildfires―fueled by years of corruption and collusion between elected officials and colossal utility companies―devastate communities. The state's homelessness crisis is the worst in the country. Drug-related deaths are skyrocketing. And violent crime and smash-and-grab retail theft is now commonplace. For too many across the state, pursuing the Californian Dream is now a fool’s errand. But what people don't know is what’s driving these failures, why California’s leaders have allowed them to spiral and how this contagion could spread to every other city and town in the United States if it isn’t exposed for what it failed far-left social experiments.
From the investigative research team behind Peter Schweizer’s runaway bestsellers comes Fool’s Gold, a hard-hitting work of journalism that tells the untold story of the dark side of the Democratic Party’s Californian elites and the toll they’ve taken on the entire country. One of Schweizer’s top investigators, Jedd McFatter, has teamed up with award-winning investigative journalist Susan Crabtree to expose the most powerful names in Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, and Adam Schiff, among others.
This shocking book warns that Gavin Newsom is actually right when he often declares, “As goes California, so goes the nation.” As Fool's Gold explains, America’s future is inextricably tied to California both because of its sheer size―and the enormous influence of its political figures who remain dead set on controlling the White House for decades to come.
From the investigative research team behind Peter Schweizer’s runaway bestsellers comes Fool’s Gold, a hard-hitting work of journalism that tells the untold story of the dark side of the Democratic Party’s Californian elites and the toll they’ve taken on the entire country. One of Schweizer’s top investigators, Jedd McFatter, has teamed up with award-winning investigative journalist Susan Crabtree to expose the most powerful names in Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, and Adam Schiff, among others.
This shocking book warns that Gavin Newsom is actually right when he often declares, “As goes California, so goes the nation.” As Fool's Gold explains, America’s future is inextricably tied to California both because of its sheer size―and the enormous influence of its political figures who remain dead set on controlling the White House for decades to come.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 23, 2025
Fool’s Gold isn’t a good book. It’s actually an incredibly frustrating and anger inducing read. And that’s not because it’s badly written or sloppy, but mostly because, as a citizen of California, I can attest to many of the horrible things Crabtree describes, leading what should be one of the best states in the nation to be the absolute worst.
For years I’ve hated living here (and cannot leave due to many extrinsic factors) so the fact that someone else (who actually happens to be from the same hometown of Redlands) writes about all the issues leading to this state being so terrible only furthers the argument that California sucks.
Within only 250 pages or so, Crabtree annihilates Great and Glorious Gavin, our esteemed and highly regarded governor, tearing him apart with such beautiful abandon, highlighting all his shady dealings, from working hand in hand with communist China, to surrounding himself with no less that 20 various political individuals who have either been investigated for white collar crimes or full on been found guilty of them, to his draconian lockdown mandates during the peak of COVID. Unlike others out there, Crabtree isn’t afraid to bring all of God Emperor Gavin’s faults to the forefront, baring his multiple failures and unflinching ability to have no shame about them.
And it’s not just Newsom that Crabtree brings to light. From corrupt senator Adam Schiff, to Kamala Harris, the DA, and failed Democratic presidential candidate, who didn’t do a damn thing during her tenure as the highest legal voice in the state, as well as the multiple failures and outright apathy from PG&E and their handling of their own affairs, it’s all within the pages of this book.
And believe me, I had every intention of giving
Fools Gold a 5 star rating due to its subject matter and the way Crabtree holds nothing back, yet this book very quickly becomes incredibly repetitive to the point of redundancy. Crabtree mentions the same issues and ideas multiple times per chapter and then decides to mention them again in other chapters. It’s as if she thinks her readers are forgetful (and if they’re anything like the majority of moderately conservative people who have to begrudgingly reside in the state…we aren’t). Acronyms are explained over and over again, and the history of the corrupt players in our government are also told over and over again. One glaring example of this is the infamous “French Laundry” incident. Not being facetious when I say it is probably mentioned at least once in every one of this book’s 9 chapters, each time trying to detail the situation with the exact same set up and information. There were moments that I found myself skipping through chapters just to see if reading the same things lead to a different outcome in respect to the chapter. Unfortunately, most of the time it didn’t.
Regardless, Fool’s Gold does need to be commended for its unflinching expose on a state that has become a true cluster and has no hope of redeeming itself unless Newsom and the rest of his cabal of “progressive” lunatics gets the ax…which, based on the way things are going when 10 new counties turned red in the last election…could be something possible on the horizon.
For years I’ve hated living here (and cannot leave due to many extrinsic factors) so the fact that someone else (who actually happens to be from the same hometown of Redlands) writes about all the issues leading to this state being so terrible only furthers the argument that California sucks.
Within only 250 pages or so, Crabtree annihilates Great and Glorious Gavin, our esteemed and highly regarded governor, tearing him apart with such beautiful abandon, highlighting all his shady dealings, from working hand in hand with communist China, to surrounding himself with no less that 20 various political individuals who have either been investigated for white collar crimes or full on been found guilty of them, to his draconian lockdown mandates during the peak of COVID. Unlike others out there, Crabtree isn’t afraid to bring all of God Emperor Gavin’s faults to the forefront, baring his multiple failures and unflinching ability to have no shame about them.
And it’s not just Newsom that Crabtree brings to light. From corrupt senator Adam Schiff, to Kamala Harris, the DA, and failed Democratic presidential candidate, who didn’t do a damn thing during her tenure as the highest legal voice in the state, as well as the multiple failures and outright apathy from PG&E and their handling of their own affairs, it’s all within the pages of this book.
And believe me, I had every intention of giving
Fools Gold a 5 star rating due to its subject matter and the way Crabtree holds nothing back, yet this book very quickly becomes incredibly repetitive to the point of redundancy. Crabtree mentions the same issues and ideas multiple times per chapter and then decides to mention them again in other chapters. It’s as if she thinks her readers are forgetful (and if they’re anything like the majority of moderately conservative people who have to begrudgingly reside in the state…we aren’t). Acronyms are explained over and over again, and the history of the corrupt players in our government are also told over and over again. One glaring example of this is the infamous “French Laundry” incident. Not being facetious when I say it is probably mentioned at least once in every one of this book’s 9 chapters, each time trying to detail the situation with the exact same set up and information. There were moments that I found myself skipping through chapters just to see if reading the same things lead to a different outcome in respect to the chapter. Unfortunately, most of the time it didn’t.
Regardless, Fool’s Gold does need to be commended for its unflinching expose on a state that has become a true cluster and has no hope of redeeming itself unless Newsom and the rest of his cabal of “progressive” lunatics gets the ax…which, based on the way things are going when 10 new counties turned red in the last election…could be something possible on the horizon.
April 30, 2025
If you live in California and have high blood pressure or a heart condition, do not read this book as it could be harmful to your health. It is a very clear and well-researched examination of the damage done to California by its leading politicians, specifically the soulless, master deceiver Gavin Newsom. It would be nice to believe that voters will never put him into another office again once his term as governor ends and that mainstream media would use the information here to expose the truth about him.
April 14, 2025
Excellent book.California is so corrupt. I am glad I left California and I will NEVER go back!
July 16, 2026
Apparently, every single politician in California is corrupt and incompetent. To be fair, maybe I should just say "every politician is corrupt."
February 23, 2026
This book gutted me... what a portrayal of what happens when selfish corrupted minds get into high positions of power. Its just sad to think people could do whatever it takes to promote themselves and hide their selfish motivations and not care about the costs. Its even crazier that the state and their supporters can just turn a blind eye and pretend it isn't corruption. It's also crazy how naive some people are in thinking that putting these same people into higher positions wouldn't extend the corruption even farther across our country.
October 30, 2025
Reveals the true and unsavory motivations behind those radial leftists who are hell bent on destroying lives and america so they can achieve power and wealth at the expense of everyone else; these are not nice people
May 16, 2026
Solid primer on how California went off the (high speed?) rails and who's responsible for it. In particular, Gavin Newsom and his pending presidential bid. There's no way a reasonable person could vote for this guy having read "Fool's Gold." Crabtree is especially good at tracing Newsom's longstanding ties to Communist China, dating back to his days in San Francisco's City Hall.
Crabtree is a crackerjack reporter and it shows in this book - this isn't a slapdash affair or a partisan jeremiad. It *is* partisan in the sense it attacks modern Democrats, but it is meticulous in laying out the history and patterns that they have followed in California. For fans of feudalism or totalitarianism, these are just the people to run a one-party state. But they will run it into the ground.
Crabtree is a crackerjack reporter and it shows in this book - this isn't a slapdash affair or a partisan jeremiad. It *is* partisan in the sense it attacks modern Democrats, but it is meticulous in laying out the history and patterns that they have followed in California. For fans of feudalism or totalitarianism, these are just the people to run a one-party state. But they will run it into the ground.
January 22, 2025
right wing propaganda
March 23, 2025
Busted............
May 7, 2025
Excellent book!!
June 20, 2025
its crazy how connected everyone is
May 29, 2025
If you want to understand why California-style progressive politics shouldn’t shape the future of the U.S., this book offers plenty of reasons.
With its great weather, stunning coastline, and ambitious people, California should be the crown jewel of the West Coast. Yet, the Golden State has become, at best, mediocre. It’s puzzling why a state with so much potential has turned into a punchline. This book provides clues, if not the full answer.
That said, it lacks original investigative journalism. It surveys past decades’ journalistic works but isn’t particularly engaging. The amount of citations can feel overwhelming, even fueling anger or frustration. California deserves better leadership.
With its great weather, stunning coastline, and ambitious people, California should be the crown jewel of the West Coast. Yet, the Golden State has become, at best, mediocre. It’s puzzling why a state with so much potential has turned into a punchline. This book provides clues, if not the full answer.
That said, it lacks original investigative journalism. It surveys past decades’ journalistic works but isn’t particularly engaging. The amount of citations can feel overwhelming, even fueling anger or frustration. California deserves better leadership.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews