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Actor David Spade did something the political class rarely faces: he asked a simple question out loud and refused to let the answer be fluffy spin. On his podcast with Dana Carvey, Spade called out Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing bills that would have made California actually show where roughly $24 billion in homelessness money went. That jab hit a nerve because it points to a bigger problem — lots of money, little clear proof it worked.
Spade Calls Out Newsom — Straight Talk on a Podcast
On the Fly on the Wall podcast, Spade said flatly that Newsom “vetoed a bill asking for an audit of where the money for homeless goes.” It’s rare for a celebrity to dive into state budget fights, but this one mattered because it ties back to an official state audit. Spade’s point is simple: taxpayers deserve to know where the money went, and whether it helped. Americans pay their bills; they expect results, not excuses.
What the State Auditor Actually Found
The California State Auditor reported that the state allocated nearly $24 billion for homelessness and related programs but did not consistently track costs or outcomes across those programs. In plain language: the state spent a lot, but it can’t show clearly what worked and what didn’t. That audit is the reason legislators introduced bills to require more transparent reporting and measurable results. If your housekeeper spent your paycheck and couldn’t explain where it went, you wouldn’t keep paying — why should Sacramento be different?
Newsom’s Vetoes: Redundancy or a Curtain?
Governor Newsom returned bills like AB 2903 and AB 2570 with veto messages arguing the measures were redundant because budget language and other rules already require reporting. Fine — but that defense smells thin next to an auditor’s finding that the state hasn’t consistently tracked outcomes. If the reporting already existed and worked, why did the auditor raise alarms? Voters and taxpayers are justified in asking whether “we already do this” is a genuine fix or a fancy word to avoid more sunlight.
Now What — Accountability, Overrides, and Political Consequences
Lawmakers who passed these bills by wide margins could override the vetoes if they cared more about accountability than political cover. If they won’t act, that says more about priorities than the governor’s veto letter ever will. For conservatives who want smaller, smarter government, this is an easy fight: demand results for the money spent, push for real audits, and stop treating budget line items like a blank check. David Spade did the public a favor by asking the obvious question loudly. If California’s leaders won’t answer it clearly, voters should make them.
