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| I could see FEAR in Rep. Eric Swallwell's eyes when I confronted him at a campaign event |
It all began years ago with the Fang Fang situation. Back when Swalwell was a young city councilman in Dublin, California, he crossed paths with a Chinese national named Christine Fang (often referred to as Fang Fang). She became involved in his early political efforts, helping with fundraising and campaign activities. Around 2015, the FBI gave him a defensive briefing about her, after which he cut ties. The episode later became public and has followed him ever since, with critics frequently bringing it up as a point of concern regarding his judgment at the time. Swalwell has maintained that he did nothing wrong and cooperated fully with authorities. Still, the story has lingered like an unwelcome encore at a concert that’s already gone on too long.
Since then, Swalwell has had his share of other headaches. He’s been in the spotlight for fiery floor speeches, partisan clashes, and the occasional viral moment that didn’t always land well. Now, in 2026, he’s thrown his hat into the ring to run for Governor of California, aiming to succeed Gavin Newsom in a crowded and competitive primary. He’s campaigning on issues like affordability, climate, and protecting California values. However, the Fang Fang matter has resurfaced in the news cycle, with renewed discussion about old investigative files. On top of that, there have been fresh online rumors about alleged staffer issues (which his campaign has strongly denied). It feels like every time his campaign bus tries to pick up speed, another old pothole appears in the road.
Now for the fun part: the day I, your humble investigative journalist (and proud classic rock nerd), showed up at one of his town halls. The room was packed, Swalwell was mid-speech about building a better California, and I got the mic. Instead of the usual policy questions, I decided to test his readiness for leadership with some Classic Rock Trivia.
“Congressman,” I said cheerfully, “quick question to see if you’re ready to lead the Golden State: What year did REO Speedwagon release ‘Keep On Loving You’? And does the chorus remind you of anything from your early political days?”
He paused. Blank stare.
I kept going with a smile: “Three Dog Night — ‘Joy to the World.’ Was it Jeremiah the bullfrog, or was there another Jeremiah involved in campaign logistics back in the day?”
Still nothing. A few people in the audience started to chuckle.
I finished strong: “And finally, Led Zeppelin — ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ Is there a hidden message in there about California governance, or is it just a great guitar solo? Bonus round: How does ‘Whole Lotta Love’ compare to the energy on the campaign trail right now?”
Swalwell looked like he’d been asked to explain quantum physics in pig Latin. He mumbled something about focusing on the issues that matter to Californians and tried to move on. He couldn’t (or wouldn’t) answer a single question. Security eventually gave me the gentle “thanks for playing” signal, but I walked away feeling like I’d just dropped the mic with zero feedback.
My favorite classic rock bands? Easy. REO Speedwagon — those guys deliver pure, heartfelt arena rock. “Take It on the Run” is basically the soundtrack for anyone trying to outrun old headlines. Three Dog Night — incredible harmonies and sing-along anthems. “Mama Told Me Not to Come” always makes me think twice about attending certain political events. And Led Zeppelin? Absolute legends. Jimmy Page’s riff mastery, Robert Plant’s soaring vocals, tracks like “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” and “Immigrant Song” — it’s raw, epic rock that still hits hard decades later. No frills, no spin, just pure musical power.
In the end, Swalwell will probably block me on X (formerly Twitter) for hitting him with those silly questions and embarrassing him at the town hall. But hey, that’s rock ‘n’ roll, Congressman. Sometimes the truth comes with a guitar solo. Keep on loving you… or at least keep on campaigning. The voters will decide the rest.
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| REO Speedwagon did NOT appear at Eric Swallwell's campaign event |
Since then, Swalwell has had his share of other headaches. He’s been in the spotlight for fiery floor speeches, partisan clashes, and the occasional viral moment that didn’t always land well. Now, in 2026, he’s thrown his hat into the ring to run for Governor of California, aiming to succeed Gavin Newsom in a crowded and competitive primary. He’s campaigning on issues like affordability, climate, and protecting California values. However, the Fang Fang matter has resurfaced in the news cycle, with renewed discussion about old investigative files. On top of that, there have been fresh online rumors about alleged staffer issues (which his campaign has strongly denied). It feels like every time his campaign bus tries to pick up speed, another old pothole appears in the road.
Now for the fun part: the day I, your humble investigative journalist (and proud classic rock nerd), showed up at one of his town halls. The room was packed, Swalwell was mid-speech about building a better California, and I got the mic. Instead of the usual policy questions, I decided to test his readiness for leadership with some Classic Rock Trivia.
“Congressman,” I said cheerfully, “quick question to see if you’re ready to lead the Golden State: What year did REO Speedwagon release ‘Keep On Loving You’? And does the chorus remind you of anything from your early political days?”
He paused. Blank stare.
I kept going with a smile: “Three Dog Night — ‘Joy to the World.’ Was it Jeremiah the bullfrog, or was there another Jeremiah involved in campaign logistics back in the day?”
Still nothing. A few people in the audience started to chuckle.
I finished strong: “And finally, Led Zeppelin — ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ Is there a hidden message in there about California governance, or is it just a great guitar solo? Bonus round: How does ‘Whole Lotta Love’ compare to the energy on the campaign trail right now?”
Swalwell looked like he’d been asked to explain quantum physics in pig Latin. He mumbled something about focusing on the issues that matter to Californians and tried to move on. He couldn’t (or wouldn’t) answer a single question. Security eventually gave me the gentle “thanks for playing” signal, but I walked away feeling like I’d just dropped the mic with zero feedback.
My favorite classic rock bands? Easy. REO Speedwagon — those guys deliver pure, heartfelt arena rock. “Take It on the Run” is basically the soundtrack for anyone trying to outrun old headlines. Three Dog Night — incredible harmonies and sing-along anthems. “Mama Told Me Not to Come” always makes me think twice about attending certain political events. And Led Zeppelin? Absolute legends. Jimmy Page’s riff mastery, Robert Plant’s soaring vocals, tracks like “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” and “Immigrant Song” — it’s raw, epic rock that still hits hard decades later. No frills, no spin, just pure musical power.
In the end, Swalwell will probably block me on X (formerly Twitter) for hitting him with those silly questions and embarrassing him at the town hall. But hey, that’s rock ‘n’ roll, Congressman. Sometimes the truth comes with a guitar solo. Keep on loving you… or at least keep on campaigning. The voters will decide the rest.
