California Governor Gavin Newsom tries his hand at being a podcast influencer
Happy Thursday and welcome to the A.M. alert!
GAVIN NEWSOM GOES THE JOE ROGAN ROUTE
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is hosting another podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.” It’s his second venture into the audio world since he started hosting “Politickin’” last year with former NFL star Marshawn Lynch and his sports agent friend Doug Hendrickson.
Some political observers attributed the Democrats’ loss in the 2024 election to their failure to engage with new media like podcasts, influencers and streamers, where conservative-leaning hosts dominate the conversation.
Newsom has eschewed sit-down interviews with California political reporters in favor of friendly, ideologically similar media with national audiences such as the liberal YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen and Pod Save America, whose hosts are ex-Obama aides.
The governor said he would host guests of all political persuasions on his new show, including the “biggest leaders and architects in the MAGA movement.”
It’s uncertain whether the wonky governor can replicate the bro-y, talk show approach of Joe Rogan or Theo Von whose listener appeal hinges upon appearing “nonpolitical” while leaning conservative.
“My intent is to promote a totally different paradigm,” Newsom said Wednesday. “And that is to find common ground and to also try to mine other people’s points of view without assigning any...I’d love to learn more about what’s the motivation, what why is the issue of, you know, fill in the blank, you know, fill in a controversial issue.”
The governor broke news during his show’s first episode by revealing that he had directed the state Board of Parole Hearings to conduct a risk assessment to see if Lyle and Erik Menendez, who are serving life sentences for the 1989 murder of their parents, would pose a threat to public safety if released.
The brothers applied last year for commutations of their sentences, and will undergo a re-sentencing hearing next month in Los Angeles.
NEWSOM: WAIT AND SEE WHAT BUDGET VOTE MEANS
Newsom has largely remained silent on the chaotic start to President Donald Trump’s second term, almost single-mindedly focusing on the recovery effort since Los Angeles suffered a series of devastating wildfires last month.
During a press conference Wednesday, Newsom said he would not unnecessarily add to the “fire and fury” that recent events, like the thousands of government employee firings at the hands of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency have evoked. On Wednesday night, the U.S. House eked out a budget bill 217-215 that could mean steep cuts to Medicaid and other federal programs, prompting outrage from Democrats.
“We’ll wait to see where the dust settles on all of this,” Newsom said. “But when there’s a fundamental betrayal of a commitment, a program, then we’ll be very clear in terms of our response.”
The governor reiterated his “open hand, not closed fist” approach to Trump, a frequent political foe. Last week, he asked Congress for $40 billion in disaster aid relief. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have said they want conditions before approving the request.
In response, Newsom said he welcomed the scrutiny.
“There’s a number of Republican representatives in the state of California that have been spectacular, that have had honest dialogues, that are stress testing our request, that have requested additional information in good faith,” he said. “And that’s the spirit that I hope we can maintain as it relates to ultimately being successful with the supplemental request.”
DEMOCRACY & ECONOMY TOP CONCERNS, NEW PPIC POLL FINDS
Via Nicole Nixon...
About a month into Trump’s second term, nearly three-quarters of California adults believe bad economic times are ahead for the country, according to a new survey by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
But more than the U.S. economy, Californians are worried about political extremism and threats to democracy. Thirty-one percent listed those issues as the most important problem facing the U.S. today, compared with 19% who said the economy.
Sixty-nine percent of California adults believe the state will have bad times financially during the next year. Nearly a quarter listed the cost of living, economy, inflation or jobs as the most important issue for the governor and Legislature to work on in 2025, followed by housing costs (14%), the environment, water and wildfires (13%), homelessness (10%) and immigration (10%).
Both Newsom and the California Legislature saw slight bumps in approval ratings after the election. Fifty-two percent of adults approved of Newsom’s performance, up from 44% in October. The Legislature’s approval rating is 49%, compared to 42% in October. But 54% said they believe California is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 45% who said the state is going in the right direction.
Other highlights from the survey include:
62% said they had little or no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system.
Regarding wildfires, 71% said they had “only some” or “hardly any” confidence in the government’s readiness to respond to fires in their area.
72% said immigrants are a benefit to California and 73% said there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally.
BONDI WARNS CALIFORNIA: BAN TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM GIRLS’ SPORTS
Via William Melhado...
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi sent letters on Tuesday to California, Maine and Minnesota, warning officials in those states to uphold federal rules prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports.
Trump has issued a number of executive orders related to transgender Americans, one of which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The three states have laws that allow students to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity or prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.
“This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law,” Bondi said in a statement. “We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President Trump’s executive order protecting women’s sports.”
Bondi warned that allowing transgender athletes to participate in women and girls’ sports violates Title IX,which prohibits sex-based discrimination. Under the Biden administration, the federal government interpreted Title IX to include transgender individuals, allowing them to participate in athletics aligned with their gender identity. The Trump administration has taken the opposite position.
Republican lawmakers in California introduced a bill last month to ban transgender girls from women’s sports. The effort is almost certain to fail due to the Democratic supermajority in both houses.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta jumped into the legal fray against Trump’s executive orders related to transgender service members and healthcare for transgender youth. In a statement last week, he promised his office would remain “unwavering” in its commitment to “defending the rights of transgender individuals as they seek to live their lives as their authentic selves.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Quite the pivot from ‘Resistance.’ And it could be a smart pivot but will be interesting if the execution to be similar to Bill Maher is possible. To be like Maher you have to call b— on a lot of things he’s championed.”
—Republican strategist Rob Stutzman on Newsom’s new podcast, via X
Best of The Bee:
- Donald Trump’s team wants to ‘defund’ the California Coastal Commission. Can it? via Jenavieve Hatch
Here’s the thing that Musk and Newsom plans share when it comes to cutting government costs, via William Melhado
California’s Medicaid and tax fight heats up: Who’s right — Democrats or Republicans? via David Lightman
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 4:55 AM.
