Is Gavin Newsom trying to kill California's dairy industry?

Will bird flu be another excuse for power?

Another year, another explosion of power-grabbing on the back of a virus?

California just declared a state of emergency over bird flu. This virus — Type A H5N1, to be specific, that’s being called “COVID for cows” — was detected in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas back in March, and has now spread to 866 herds in 16 states. So far, around three-quarters of the affected dairy herds in the country are in California, the nation’s largest producer of milk.

Actual milk. You know, from a cow. Not that nut juice people insist on calling “milk”.

Some infected herds have seen mortality rates as high as 15% or 20%, especially during the hot summer months.

Here’s Gavin Newsom’s statement following the emergency declaration…almost a year after the outbreak began.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak. Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”

If you think Gavin Newsom cares about the dairy industry, I’ve got a sea-front condo in Arizona to sell you.

What this is actually about isn’t supporting farmers or even stopping the spread. No, what I think this is all about is laying the fear-mongering groundwork to spark terror in a population in order to justify another power grab.

They did it once, and got away with it. Why would they stop?!