Watch: Morano on Fox on how Newsom’s California is being hit hardest by Iran energy disruptions pic.twitter.com/ohUdnIJVcx
— Marc Morano (@ClimateDepot) April 9, 2026
Rough Transcript:
Host Elizabeth MacDonald: The Wall Street Journal reports that the Iran war is poised to hit California harder than any other state. Why? California imports roughly 75% of its crude oil, almost a third of which comes from the Middle East. Let’s bring in Climate Depot.com executive editor Marc Morano. We always love having you on. What’s your reaction to California Democrats?
Marc Morano: This is simply a case of ideology winning over common sense and humanity with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s climate policies. In fact, California’s climate policies — actually beginning with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2005 California climate bill — have prioritized shutting down domestic California energy in favor of outsourcing energy. Now the state imports 75% of its crude oil. It makes no sense to import your energy for the climate agenda ideology.
They went with an accounting trick to appear to be lowering emissions and allowed their refineries to shut down. They allowed production to halt altogether so they could import it from 6,000 miles away, across the sea from Asia and the Middle East, to meet their energy needs. And for what? Just so they could claim that they were saving the planet.
It has real consequences in California. One of the things that has resulted in a huge disparity of wealth. So I’m expecting to see Sen. Bernie Sanders and AOC on their oligarch tour, go into Gavin Newsom’s California because he brags he has the most billionaires, and of course, they have one of the highest adjusted poverty rates in the country, and energy poverty is one of the biggest issues.
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It is absolutely a national security issue when you’re, in many cases, depending on energy from not your greatest allies. And you’re depending on thousands of miles for energy importation, and you have 30 military airports. This is an absolute national security threat in one of the most populous states. The fourth biggest economy in the world. They can’t even supply energy themselves, as they’re losing refinery capacity. As Gavin Newsom finally realizes refineries are leaving, he starts to love the refineries madly as they’re walking out the door, to paraphrase the old song. So it’s absolutely a national security issue.
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Background:
The California Refinery Crisis is a national security risk for America – By Ronald Stein, P.E. – Watts Up With That – The State will be importing transportation fuels from foreign based refineries to run its 30 military airports and 9 international airports – a National Security risk for America.
