Well, there's a much quieter but also storied history of West Coast vs. East Coast rivalries. Even computer science had its own rivalries, before the Internet effectively erased the geographical distinction for most such purposes.

As was Schwarzenegger

Given that California is generally considered one of the most liberal in the nation, and that the headline (or how he imagined it) is critical of the state in question, it's actually a very reasonable suspicion.

Your assumption that he would not use a comparable term for the opposite situation, say "a liberal hit piece about Texas" in fact reveals a much more obvious lack of objectivity.

The publication doesn't even have to be taken into account. The movie stars bit of the title makes one think California, and the 'what happens' gives a slight negative implication when combined with movie stars (at least that was my initial perception). Thus the title appeared to be casting California in a negative light. Being California leans liberal, a negative article reviewing the state would likely have a conservative lean to it. Thus the description can lead to the assumption without even needing to see the source of the article.

What? If OP is conditioned to associate titles in that format with conservative hit pieces, then that says more about the hit pieces. He would be correct to at least give more weight to the possibility that the next title in that format will match the pattern.

You wouldn't criticize him for thinking, "Maybe the next thing that growls will bite too."