The Fox Theater in Atlanta with old-fashioned neon sign. (Photo: public domain)
Gov. Newsom Grants Funding to Netflix; Gets $$$ Back as Political Contribution
Netflix projects have already secured nearly $70 million in California film and TV tax credits this year
By Katy Grimes, September 4, 2025 5:15 pm
In June, California Governor Newsom extolled his work in “protecting film production jobs in Los Angeles and across the state with a new round of 48 projects approved for the California Film Commission’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program.”
“Governor Newsom recently proposed to double-down on this vital program by expanding the tax credit from $330 million to $750 million to help boost this iconic industry and production in California.”
Here’s context: As Jon Fleischman just wrote on his substack:
The Donors Fueling Newsom’s Ambition
Netflix
Reed Hastings, Netflix’s co-founder and executive chairman, dropped $2 million into Prop 50. His history with Newsom runs deep—$3 million to crush the 2021 recall and over $64,000 to the California Democratic Party during Newsom’s campaigns. Hastings calls it a stand for fair elections, but his company’s cozy state ties suggest other motives.
Netflix projects have already secured nearly $70 million in California film and TV tax credits this year, including a $50 million allocation and another $20 million for a feature film. With $750 million authorized and only a third allocated, Netflix stands to gain even more.
Why has Netflix projects secured nearly $70 million in California film and TV tax credits this year?
A friend on X shared his skepticism saying, this “would make the cartel blush”:
“So get this grift in CA. Gavin Newsom announces $750 million to the film industry to promote making films again in CA that are a at lifetime low. Reed Hastings the Chairman of Netflix got $70 million of that film money, he then kicks down $2 million to the ‘Yes’ on 50 campaign. How many films did Netflix make in CA in 2024 and 2025? I could not find any.”
There is no getting around the fact that movie studios are finding it cost effective to make movies in Canada, U.S. Southern States, Mexico, Ireland, Eastern Europe – anywhere but California.
But that Newsom gave taxpayer funds to movie/video companies, then got some back in the form of political contributions, is graft: “the acquisition of money, gain, or advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, especially through the abuse of one’s position or influence in politics, business.”
Because California is so absurdly expensive to do anything in, much less make films, states across the country offer tax credits, cash grants and other incentives, inviting film production.
MovieMaker.com named Santa Fe New Mexico its Number #1 pick to live and work as a movie maker; second is Fort Lauderdale, Florida, followed by Savannah, Georgia, Wilmington, North Carolina, rounding out the top five with Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, Canada are on the top list, as is Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Nowhere on the list was California.
Governor Gavin Newsom has some stiff competition. But if his real reason was to spread around a little taxpayer wealth with the goal of getting some it back in return, then he has achieved his goal. And I’m sure that he’s not done yet.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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Reed Hastings the co founder of Netflix is one of the main contributors to the Yes on Prop 50 Redistricting campaign!
He dropped 2 million dollars on the campaign.
It reeks of quid pro quo!
Reed Hastings has a history of sleazy quid pro quo deals. Prior to being gifted millions in California film and TV tax credits by Newsom this year, back in 2021 Hastings had donated $3 million to defeat the campaign to recall Newsom as governor of California.
In 2000, Democrat Governor Gray Davis appointed Reed Hastings to the State Board of Education, and in 2001, Hastings became its president. Hastings spent over $1 million dollars to promote the passage of Proposition 39 in November 2000, a measure that lowered the threshold of voter approval for local schools to pass construction bond measures from 66 to 55 percent.
In 2009, Hastings ran into trouble on the State Board of Education when Democratic legislators challenged his advocacy of more English instruction and language testing for non-English speaking students. The California Senate Rules Committee refused to confirm him as the board’s president and the California State Legislature rejected him in January 2005. RINO Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had reappointed Hastings to the board after Hastings’ first term, issued a statement saying he was “disappointed” in the committee’s action. Hastings then made a $100,000 contribution to Schwarzenegger’s “Voters First” redistricting campaign.
In 2020, Reed Hastings and his wife Patricia Ann Quillin donated $30 million to GAVI to support the COVAX COVID-19 vaccines initiative. Just think of all the vaccine injuries, cancers and deaths that their donation has resulted in?
In July 2024, Hastings supported Kamala Harris for the presidential election and made a $7 million dollar donation to the Republican Accountability PAC, a Super PAC supporting her campaign. He was a big loser on that bet?
Netflix is worth $527 Billion and Hastings is personally worth $1.5 Billion.
I thought the left hates billionaires and wants them to pay their “fair “ share?
The Demonrat party is the home of most of the billionaires in this country. The “hate the billionaires “ psyop is funded by these same billionaires to manipulate all the nuts in the Demonrat party into funneling even more money and power to these same billionaires.
I strongly agree!
Gavin “Pay to Play” Newsom is fooling no one. However, apparently many support his audacious speaking style. However, even they cannot support his incompetence as an administrator, manager or CEO.
I have been aware of the leftist dealing of Netflix and Reed Hastings. I would never subscribe to Netflix. You can get more online movies from your local public library than you could ever watch in a lifetime. I don’t need nor want Netflix.
This is how “things are done” in California. Just like the $100 million in Fire Aid money distributed to political cronies.
No on 50!
Got it now; will do.
Thanks.