A Controversial Decision by Newsom - 11/10/26

California Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state's death row, converting them to life in prison without parole. The move empties the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere. Newsom, whose term wraps up in a few months, called the decision one of the most difficult of his career, claiming that state-sanctioned killing is fundamentally incompatible with California values and cannot be justly administered in an imperfect... California has maintained a moratorium on all executions for 20 years, but today's action formally removes capital punishment for every condemned prisoner in the state.

Newsom, who is considered a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, admitted the decision will anger and hurt some Californians. Today is the feast of Pope St. Leo the Great, who reigned from 440 to 461. Leo was pivotal. ...in centralizing papal authority, and famously persuaded Attila the Hun to turn back from invading Rome in 452. He was critical in shaping the Council of Chalcedon's definition of Jesus Christ as possessing two distinct natures, fully divine and fully human, united in one person. I'm Josh Mercer, editor of The Loop, taking you behind the headlines.

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