A newly unearthed POLITICO video shows Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Katie Porter erupting at a staffer during a July 2021 webinar with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, shouting “Get out of my fucking shot” as a staffer tried to correct a point. The clip, which POLITICO says was omitted from the Department of Energy’s edited version, strips away the polished progressive persona Porter sells and reveals a raw temper that voters should not shrug off.
That ugly moment arrived on the heels of another viral exchange — Porter nearly walked out of a recent CBS News interview after a reporter pressed her on how she would appeal to Trump voters and handle a competitive general election. Democrats inside the race publicly panicked, with rivals urging her to exit and arguing that her behavior shows she can’t withstand the pressure of the governor’s office.
Republican candidate Chad Bianco didn’t hold back, calling Porter’s on-camera meltdown “unhinged” and framing it as the sort of entitlement and narcissism too common in the ruling class. Conservatives and ordinary Californians watching these clips don’t see a steady executive; they see a tantrum-prone, insider elite who looks out for herself before the people she claims to serve.
This isn’t an isolated fluke. Reporters and political operatives have long flagged Porter’s reputed harsh treatment of staff and a pattern of souring under pressure, and that reputation is now playing out in real time on the campaign trail. Leadership requires temperament, accountability, and respect for the hardworking people who make government run — qualities these videos plainly fail to demonstrate.
Meanwhile, Californians are also watching the fallout from real disasters that demand accountability and public safety solutions, not performative outrage. Federal authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in the devastating Palisades fire that killed a dozen people and wiped out thousands of structures, underscoring the cost of lawlessness and the need for effective enforcement and emergency readiness. Our next governor should prioritize protecting communities and ensuring those responsible for such destruction face full justice.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has made clear he will run as a law-and-order alternative who understands fire safety, first responders, and the day-to-day concerns of Californians priced out or afraid in their own neighborhoods. If voters want someone who answers hard questions and stands with victims rather than staging tantrums, they should take these videos seriously and ask themselves whether the same old progressive insiders deserve another turn at the controls.
