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Cruz and Newsom Clash Over Dyslexia Remarks

2/17/2026

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Story summary
  • Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and California Governor Gavin Newsom exchanged sharp remarks after Newsom accused Cruz of mocking his dyslexia.
  • Cruz clarified that he called Newsom historically illiterate, not illiterate.
  • He cited President Dwight D. Eisenhower's federalization of the National Guard during the Civil Rights Movement to support his claim.
  • Newsom, who has discussed his dyslexia, called Cruz's remarks a new low, while critics note a misunderstanding of the term.