What Gov. Newsom Is Thinking With ‘This Is Gavin Newsom’ Podcast

By now, the majority of Californians have at least some knowledge of Gavin Newsom’s latest podcast “This is Gavin Newsom.” Polls have found that well over 50% of voters know of it, which is really saying something considering that under 20% of Americans know who their state representatives are and 1/3rd of Americans don’t even know who their Governor is.

However, it hasn’t been because the podcast is adored. People from across the political spectrum are finding a lot to not like about it. For a quick recap, Newsom announced his podcast last month, saying that he would be talking with several MAGA figures. That alone drew controversy. And it doesn’t even go into all the Californians simply wanting him to govern rather than start up a second podcast.

Episode one featured Newsom talking to Turning Point USA co-founder, talk radio host, and activist Charlie Kirk. Newsom made good on his promise to talk with people on the right and the left, but the episode turned out to be a disaster. Liberals, as well as the LGBT community, took offense at Newsom taking a new stance against trans men competing in womens sports. Kirk also slammed Newsom on the state of the Democratic party several times, with Newsom at one point even asking him what Democrats should do.

And then there was episode three where he talked with former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Bannon got quips over Newsom like Kirk. Even worse for Newsom was the response from Democratic lawmakers, with many 2028 hopefuls bashing Newsom for interviewing him.

The most recent episode, episode four, saw Newsom sitting down with Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz. And here things went wrong again. The Walz interview went viral, but mostly because of both of them admitting that it was hard for Democrats to retain male voters and because Walz claimed that the GOP was afraid of his masculinity, with the latter being widely ridiculed. You can watch it below (Sorry in advance).

If there is any indication of the division that the podcast has brought, it can be seen through article headlines:

Gov. Gavin Newsom Should Avoid Giving Far Right Voices A Place On His Podcast – Los Angeles Times

Yes, I’d like to briefly defend Gavin Newsom – Tangle

CNN’s Erin Burnett shreds Gov. Gavin Newsom for attempt to appeal to MAGA voters – New York Post

Governor Newsom Should Work on Governing California Rather than Podcasting – Reason

Gavin Newsom is Getting in Republicans’ Heads – Politico

The problem with Gavin Newsom – Slate

What Gavin Newsom’s Embarrassing Podcast Suggests About the Democratic Party – The New Yorker

Dem Governor Says Newsom shouldn’t have hosted Bannon on Podcast – Fox News

Four Episodes In

This is all over the map. And it doesn’t get better for Newsom when lawmakers and other in the political arena sounded off.

“I don’t think we should give him oxygen on any platform, ever, anywhere,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) said earlier this month. “I think that Governor Newsom bringing on different voices is great, we shouldn’t be afraid to talk and to debate just about anyone. But Steve Bannon espouses hatred and anger, and even at some points, violence, and I don’t think we should give him oxygen on any platform, ever, anywhere.”

“If you’re running to be a Republican nominee, this is a great strategy,” added Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose). “But if you want to run as a Democrat and someone who is pro-human rights, this is a terrible look.”

Newsom is losing friends right and left over this, is garnering bad press and has seen his popularity fall as a result. According to a poll earlier this week, “This is Gavin Newsom” only made 13% of voters have an improved perception of the Governor, with a huge 26% saying that it harmed their perception of Newsom. It’s actively hurting him. So the question stands: What is Newsom hoping to gain from this?

“Governor Newsom’s podcast strategy comes with significant risks and rewards,” President of The Righting Howard Polskin told the Globe on Friday. “It certainly helps get the stink of January smoke out of his suit, figuratively speaking.  Here we are discussing his podcast instead of deconstructing his state’s response to the deadly Los Angeles-area fires in January.  That’s a big win for Newsom.

“Newsom probably goes a bit too soft on his guests but I understand his dilemma.  If he takes an aggressive and adversarial posture with a guest, he’ll have trouble getting future guests from the right on his show. But the danger is that he can wind up looking like Neville Chamberlain, the great appeaser.”

And to many lawmakers, he has already done so, shedding off more potential support in 2028.

“I am in shock at the stupidity of inviting Steve Bannon on his podcast,” said former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R). “Many of us on the right sacrificed careers to fight Bannon, and Newsom is trying to make a career and a presidential run by building him up. Unforgivable and insane. Bannon is the one who is basically the author of where we are. And because Gavin Newsom wants to run for president, he brings on this nationalist.”

The Globe said earlier this month that the podcast is about “Newsom is trying to distance himself from himself.” And in that regard, he certainly has done so. But, in shifting to the center, Newsom is losing some of that longtime liberal support and not making many new friends on the right. And the podcast is by no means over.

During the interview with political commentator Michael Savage in episode two, Savage suggested bringing in Tucker Carlson for an episode. Newsom’s response?

“I agree,” said Newsom. “I’m fascinated by him.”

That’s where the podcast is heading. And it might be tough to explain it away come the first debates in late 2027.

This is most definitely Gavin Newsom.