The prediction is about a long‑term "death spiral" in both New York and California’s economic and social conditions, contingent on politics not changing. After fewer than five years, available data give a mixed picture and do not clearly confirm collapse or sustained turnaround.(ppic.org)

Economically, both states remain very strong. California’s GDP reached about $4.1 trillion in 2024, making it one of the world’s largest economies, with high per‑capita output and solid growth since 2020. New York’s real GDP hit a record ~$1.8 trillion in 2024, and it has the highest GDP per person of any US state.(gov.ca.gov)

Demographically and socially, there is some evidence consistent with strain—both states saw significant pandemic‑era domestic outmigration and overall population decline from 2020–2022, and still have net losses of residents to other states. At the same time, immigration and natural increase have recently reversed total population decline: California and New York both returned to modest net growth by 2023–2024. Long‑range projections even suggest possible 25‑year population decline in New York, but such forecasts are uncertain and extend well beyond the period since the prediction was made.(dof.ca.gov)

Because terms like "death spiral" and "representing residents over special interests" are inherently subjective and long‑run, and because 2021–2025 evidence shows both serious challenges and continued economic strength rather than clear collapse, it is too early to classify this prediction as either right or wrong.