Gavin Newsom Is Reportedly Sending Burner Phones to Tech CEOs, a Normal Thing to Do

California governor Gavin Newsom wants tech executives to know they can call him if they’re ever in a pinch. Yes, Politico is out with a weird new story that claims the political leader has been sending a “prepaid, inexpensive cell phone (commonly known as a burner, for those of you who haven’t seen ‘The Wire’ or ‘Better Call Saul’)” to tech executives across the state. The phones have been sent to approximately 100 different CEOs, and come equipped with Newsom’s number, as well as a personalized note, the outlet writes. “If you ever need anything, I’m a phone call away,” read one note to an undisclosed executive. It’s a somewhat bizarre stunt to pull, considering the fact that California’s C-suite can already safely presume that Newsom’s got their best interests at heart. More relevantly, in a time when the tech industry is basically synonymous with the authoritarian oligarchy taking over the country, why does it seem like a good idea to signal that you’re on their side? It’s almost ... Read full article.