Sean Hannity Spars with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Tenacious Interview

While the Westfield company announced it is giving up its San Francisco Center mall following the closure of Nordstrom, California Governor Gavin Newsom went on Fox News’ Sean Hannity Show Monday evening and boasted about how great California is under his leadership.

The dichotomy was astounding. However, it was apparent that Fox News and the Newsom administration had prepared with questions or topics ahead of the interview. Few on the right are afforded this “insider trading” type of interview. Hannity noted that Newsom’s positions “represent half of the county.”

“Governor Newsom and I disagree on pretty much everything,” Sean Hannity said at the opening of his interview with the California Governor.

Hannity covered energy policy and Newom’s lack of an “all of the above” approach to powering the largest state in the country’s electric vehicles, with oil and gas, coal, hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar, as the governor has only bought into renewable energy lock, stock and barrel.

Many times when questioned, Newsom claimed he was dealing with the cards he was dealt, as if to distance himself from the policies he’s been a part of since entering politics when he first was appointed to the  San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1997.

Newsom addressed many of California’s problems saying “I own this” as if his mistakes and decisions were commonplace.

The French Laundry incident was brought up – another issue Newsom claims to “own.”

But just because he claims to “own it” doesn’t mean he thinks it was wrong, or that he really regrets the decision to dine in a three-Michelin star French\Californian cuisine restaurant  in Yountville in Napa Valley, with a large group of politically connected friends immediately after he announced business closures throughout the state, school closures, and church closures.

The Globe reported Gov. Gavin Newsom extended California’s State of emergency in November 2021. Then he went on vacation in Mexico, and then went on a book tour for his children’s book. What state of emergency, Gov. Newsom? Hannity didn’t spend enough time on this issue, which goes to the very core of the elitist California Governor.

Hannity, moved on to California’s burgeoning homeless crisis. “Because housing costs are too high, our regulatory thickets are too problematic, localism has been too impactful, meaning people are pushing back against new housing starts and construction,” the governor said. “I’ve been there four years. I can’t make up for the fact in 2005, we had a historic number of homeless under a Republican administration.”

San Francisco had a homeless problem while he was Mayor – a situation which only grew under his term.

“We own this Sean; I’m not defending this,” Newsom said. But he tossed out a litany of stats to make it sound as if he had a handle on the size of the crisis. But Newsom’s policies – spending billions of dollars on housing – has only grown the problem.

Ironically, the Sacramento Bee claimed after the interview, “Gavin Newsom shuts down questions from Fox News host Sean Hannity on presidential run.”

Nope – not even close. What Newsom did was filibuster Hannity when the questions were rough. He talked over Hannity using questionable statistics no one had time to check.

Hannity questioned Newsom on immigration, California’s high taxes, and President Joe Biden’s job cognitive issues and performance.

“I have conversations with him all the time. Yes. I’m dead serious about that,” Newsom said. “I’ve talked to him when he’s been overseas. I’ve been in Air Force One, Marine One, the limo with him.”

When Hannity asked Gov. Newsom how many people were pinging his phone begging him to run for president, the governor refused to answer.

“I see what you’re trying to do,” the governor responded. “I’m not answering.”

Newsom moved to Biden’s claims of job growth. “13.1 million jobs…” Newsom said. Hannity pressed Newsom on this number saying “those are post-COVID jobs,” explaining that the country was only recovering after the lockdowns and massive job loss.

Newsom talked over Hannity again, using inflation numbers from France, as if he is a globalist and this is somehow relevant to California.

However, Newsom acted as if he too is frustrated with California’s long list of problems – under his leadership.

“I’m governor of a state larger than 21 states’ populations combined,” the California Democrat said. “The difference between me and most politicians; I own this. I take responsibility for this. This is personal to me. I love this state. I don’t like what is happening with the encampments and streets and sidewalks. I don’t like the bashing of San Francisco. Whole Foods did shut down one business, but that was a bad location to begin with; they’re opening a new one.”

Sean Hannity did an astute job with the interview questions. The Globe even prepared our own list of questions, many of which were surprisingly covered by Hannity.

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson released a statement not very impressed with Newsom:

“Tonight, Gavin Newsom deflected blame around California’s mounting crises while desperately attempting to elevate his national profile as the knight in shining armor for today’s Democrat Party. Newsflash for Newsom: when your record as California governor is as disastrous as yours, you should probably stay focused on fixing your own state instead of not-so-subtly looking for a promotion to the White House.”

Part ll of the Hannity-Newsom interview will be aired Tuesday.