Introduction to the Controversy
SACRAMENTO — Since his podcast debuted in March, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California has flummoxed Democrats who fear that the politician they considered a liberal prizefighter is turning MAGA-friendly. The rap against “This Is Gavin Newsom,” in which the governor spoke out against trans athletes competing in women’s sports and disavowed the gender-inclusive term “Latinx,” is that he doesn’t sound like the Newsom they know at all.
Reaction from the Democratic Party
“What in God’s name is going on with Gavin Newsom?” asked CNN anchor Erin Burnett, quoting a headline criticizing the podcast, during a recent segment ripping the governor’s apparent shift. “The country is trying to figure out how he went from progressive hero and governor of the most liberal state in the country to interviewing and spending time with MAGA favorites like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk.” The Democratic governor was also surprised, but by the response.
Newsom’s Perspective
“I did what I said I was going to do. I mean, when I launched this, I said I was going to have, not debates with people I disagree with, I said we’re gonna have people on we disagree and agree with to have civil conversations to try to understand each other at this time of such polarization,” Newsom said in an interview with The Times on Friday. “And I said I was going to specifically meet with members of the MAGA movement. And then we did it and people were shocked.”
Critique of the Democratic Party
A common takeaway from the podcast is that Newsom is attempting to shape-shift into a moderate as he gears up to run for president in the aftermath of the Democratic Party’s disastrous 2024 election. Newsom disputed that “exhausting” assumption, which he said others have attributed to actions for more than two decades. The governor offered his own blistering critique of his party to explain why he’s sitting down with controversial GOP figures now. “Because our party’s getting our ass kicked,” Newsom said. “Because the Democratic Party brand is toxic. Because people don’t think we make any damn sense. They think we make noise. They don’t think we support them. You fill in the generic them. They don’t think we have their values. They think we’re elite. We talk down to people. We talk past people. They think we just think we’re smarter than other people, that we’re so judgmental and full of ourselves.”
Background on Newsom’s Political Career
It’s not the first time the governor has disagreed with his fellow Democrats. As speculation mounted about whether then-President Biden was fit to run for president last summer, Newsom called the chatter from his own party “unhelpful” and “unnecessary” as he encouraged Democrats to back the president. A year earlier, he scolded the Democratic Party for its passive response to Republicans and for its lack of an offensive political playbook. Newsom created headlines across the country in the premiere episode of his podcast when he told Kirk, a conservative activist and Trump loyalist, that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports is “deeply unfair.” Newsom’s comments represented a clear break from progressives.
Reactions from Other Politicians and Analysts
Eric Jaye, the chief consultant for Newsom’s 2003 mayoral campaign, said the governor is an astute politician, though he disagreed with his decision to speak out against transgender athletes. “San Francisco has produced many extraordinary politicians — Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Willie Brown, Kamala Harris — but in terms of the ability to adapt to changing political times and climes, Gavin Newsom’s head and shoulders above all of them,” Jaye said. “He’s deeply, deeply attuned to which way the political wind is blowing and he has so far shown an extraordinary ability to navigate changing political weather.” Steve Kawa, Newsom’s chief of staff as mayor, scoffed at the idea that Newsom has changed. He said the governor has always been interested in speaking to people on all sides of a policy idea. Politicians, like regular people, aren’t one-dimensional.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Newsom’s podcast has sparked controversy and debate among Democrats, with some questioning his shift towards more moderate views. However, Newsom argues that his goal is to have civil conversations and understand different perspectives, even if they differ from his own. As the Democratic Party continues to navigate its identity and messaging, Newsom’s approach may be seen as a strategy to appeal to a broader audience and challenge the party’s traditional stance on certain issues.
FAQs
Q: What is the main controversy surrounding Gavin Newsom’s podcast?
A: The controversy surrounds Newsom’s comments on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports and his disavowal of the term "Latinx," which some see as a shift towards more moderate views.
Q: Why does Newsom think the Democratic Party brand is toxic?
A: Newsom believes the Democratic Party brand is toxic because people don’t think the party makes sense, is too elite, and talks down to people.
Q: Has Newsom always been a progressive politician?
A: No, Newsom has shown a more moderate side in his second term as governor, and his political career has been marked by adaptability to changing times and climes.
Q: What is the goal of Newsom’s podcast?
A: The goal of Newsom’s podcast is to have civil conversations and understand different perspectives, even if they differ from his own.
