Newsom diaper deal prompts cronyism questions amid wife-linked nonprofit ties

California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing corruption scrutiny after the state earmarked about $20 million for a diaper program run with Baby2Baby. Critics flag the nonprofit ties—executives connected to Newsom’s wife’s California Partners Project and Baby2Baby board member Norah Weinstein—as a potential conflict of interest, arguing the deal benefits friends rather than taxpayers. Supporters say the program helps provide free diapers to newborns statewide. California officials defend the initiative as a scale-up funded via the state budget, with roughly $7.4 million approved and $12.5 million proposed for 2026–27.