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The piece is from a literary criticism magazine. It's not journalism in a professional sense, or aspiring to be "fair and balanced"; the byline is huge and the author uses first person throughout. In other words, it's a personal essay. No one expects Lauren Oyler to be "fair and balanced" for example, the opposite is actually the point - they sell their opinion.

I'm assuming she has an editor

It’s as fair and balanced as reality is. Newsom is a moderate governor, DeSantis is (proudly) far-right.

Newsom is as far-left as DeSantis is far-right.

In reality, though, the labels serve no purpose other than for the author indicate which political "tribe" they're in.

Lol no

Like all media nowadays.

Is there reason to expect the writer must be fair and balanced?

if its political, perhaps this isn’t the appropriate forum?

Has Gavin Newsom done something equally recent and newsworthy as failing to be nominated by his party? Otherwise... ???

There was the whole "I can get shit off the streets of SF, but only if the president of China visits." That was pretty newsworthy.