Gavin Newsom’s decision to empty California’s death row saves hundreds of lives and signals a national shiftGavin Newsom’s decision to empty his state’s death row is a truly remarkable moment in the US’s death penalty history.Not only will it free hundreds of people from the threat of execution, but coming from a politician seemingly looking to run for the presidency, it sends an important signal that America’s attachment to capital punishment is weakening, and opposing the death penalty is no l