Gavin Newsom Takes Combat to the Proper-Wing Podcast Circuit

• Gavin Newsom has about two years to go earlier than his time period as California’s governor ends.
• Newsom has been conserving busy with a podcast that includes company like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.
• Each Donald Trump and Kamala Harris hit the podcast circuit throughout their campaigns in 2024.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California is going through off towards his right-wing opponents on their favourite medium — a podcast.

Newsom began his podcast “That is Gavin Newsom” in February. He is additionally the co-host of one other podcast, “Politickin,” which is targeted extra on sports activities and tradition.

“I am speaking immediately with folks I disagree with, folks I look as much as, and also you — the listeners. Egg costs? Tariffs? DOGE? We’re tackling all of your large questions,” Newsom wrote in a February 26 Fb submit asserting his podcast.

To date, Newsom has been capable of ship on his promise. In his debut episode, Newsom spoke to Charlie Kirk, a right-wing influencer and founding father of the conservative advocacy group Turning Level USA.

In his newest episode, which aired Wednesday, Newsom went head-to-head with right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon. Bannon was President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist and government chairman of Breitbart Information, a far-right information outlet.

Widespread floor

Individuals who tune in anticipating nothing greater than a high-octane confrontation could also be stunned. Evidently Newsom has discovered some widespread floor with Kirk and Bannon on at the very least two divisive points.

For one, Newsom instructed Kirk that he discovered it “deeply unfair” that transgender athletes may take part in feminine sporting occasions.

“Would you do one thing like that? Would you say no males in feminine sports activities?” Kirk requested Newsom.

“I believe it is a difficulty of equity. I utterly agree with you on that. It is a matter of equity. It’s deeply unfair,” Newsom replied.

Whereas Newsom did go on to clarify how he had a “laborious time” reconciling the vulnerability of transgender athletes with making certain equity in sporting occasions, his reply to Kirk was shocking, contemplating his political report on LGBTQ+ rights.

In 2004, when Newsom was San Francisco’s mayor, he took a stand in help of the LGBTQ+ group and allowed same-sex marriages to proceed within the metropolis in defiance of federal rules.

Then, in his interview with Bannon, Newsom stated they each had a standard dislike of Elon Musk. Bannon has been a vocal critic of Musk, calling him a “actually evil particular person” and criticizing Musk’s views on immigration.

“We might share some commonality by way of concern about what he is doing,” Newsom instructed Bannon.

“Cling on, hold on. You guys cherished all of the oligarchs, particularly Elon, till they flipped,” Bannon stated. “And bear in mind, all the remainder of these oligarchs had been all progressive Democrats.”

“I confer with them as libertarian and I do know these guys intimately, identified them for many years,” Newsom replied.

To make sure, this is not the primary time Newsom has sought to interact his political opponents immediately in robust conversations.

In December 2023, Newsom participated in a televised debate with Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. On the time, each Newsom and DeSantis had been seen as rising stars and potential presidential candidates.

Newsom 2028

It’s unclear if Newsom’s foray into podcasting is a part of a plan to put the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid.

To make sure, podcasting is a strong marketing campaign instrument. Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris each hit the podcast circuit throughout their 2024 campaigns.

Newsom, who nonetheless has about two years to go earlier than the top of his gubernatorial time period, is usually requested about his presidential ambitions.

In September 2023, Newsom was requested in an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Cecilia Vega if he would run for president after ending his time period as California’s governor.

“Is {that a} sure or a no?” Vega requested Newsom.

“That was a — that was a unending response to your query,” Newsom stated.

A consultant for Newsom didn’t reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.