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It’s an odd predicament for a leading Democratic presidential contender. Gavin Newsom’s biggest strength – political spin and performance come almost second nature to him – could also be his biggest liability as he strains to remake the tarnished image of the state he has governed for the last seven years.

Two Republican senators who represent states thousands of miles away from California came to Los Angeles to listen to the testimony of six Pacific Palisades residents who lost their houses, years of memories – and for some, family members – in a January inferno that incinerated thousands of homes, leveled a community, and took 12 lives.