In this interview, Governor Gavin Newsom discusses a range of political issues, including his lawsuit against the Trump administration's tariffs, criticizing the US Congress for failing its checks and balances role. He reflects on the Democratic party's loss in the recent election, analyzing potential causes such as inflation, immigration, and the perceived impact of being "too woke." Newsom defends his record as California Governor against criticisms regarding homelessness and wildfires, highlighting efforts and the state's economic strength. He advocates for civil political discourse, discussing his podcast where he interviews opponents, and expresses concern about rising political violence and threats to politician security. Finally, he shares an optimistic view on American democracy and citizenship despite current challenges, and briefly praises Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's volunteer work in California.
Exploring the Political Landscape with Governor Gavin Newsom
0:04 Lawsuit Against Trump Tariffs: Governor Newsom explains that California was the first state to sue the Trump administration over tariffs, arguing that the president lacked the legal authority under the Emergency Economic Powers Act. He views this action as a response to the US Congress failing to uphold its checks and balances role (0:38).
1:20 Democratic Strategy & California's Role: Addressing concerns about a Democratic governor suing the federal government, Newsom frames it not as a red vs. blue issue, but a national one, emphasizing California's significant economic output (4th largest globally), its critical role in US goods movement, and its overall contribution to the national economy, which is disproportionately affected by tariffs (1:37).
3:01 Analyzing the Election Loss: Newsom acknowledges the Democratic party's loss in the recent election, admitting they "got crushed" (3:43) and need to be humble and understand why. He lists potential factors including the incumbency penalty, inflation, interest rates, immigration, being perceived as "too woke," and issues related to Israel (3:50).
4:14 On the Candidate's Performance: When directly asked about running a candidate (Joe Biden) who struggled verbally, Newsom describes the debate night as "challenging." While stating he never witnessed cognitive decline in his direct interactions with Biden prior to that moment, he notes that the debate performance contributed to the "monumental decision" for Biden to end his campaign later (4:31).
6:01 Democrats Need to Reconnect: Newsom states that the Democratic party didn't make their case effectively and didn't meet people where they are, leading to a lack of public confidence (6:22, 6:25). He references polling showing low approval for Democrats (6:40) and stresses the need for the party to "own up to that" and "get stronger and better" (6:03, 6:05, 6:57).
7:29 Future Political Ambitions: Regarding speculation about a 2028 presidential run or a "swap" with Kamala Harris, Newsom states he is termed out as governor in 18 months and honestly doesn't know what fate holds (8:11, 8:25). He expresses strong opinions about the state of his party and his willingness to be candid (8:37, 8:48).
9:04 Addressing California's Challenges: Newsom pushes back against the "Calipia" characterization, particularly concerning homelessness and wildfires. He acknowledges the disgrace of homelessness but highlights his administration's strategies, claiming 68,000 people have been moved off streets and sidewalks (9:40, 10:00). He also defends California's firefighting efforts as the country's most aggressive (10:37), despite acknowledging the devastation of recent fires.
11:33 Advocating for Civil Discourse: Newsom discusses launching a podcast to engage with political figures from across the spectrum, including those he disagrees with (e.g., Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon), to foster civil dialogue in a polarized environment (12:24, 12:39, 13:34). He believes illuminating different perspectives is important for democracy (13:19).
13:49 Concern Over Political Violence and Security: Expressing deep concern about rising political violence (attacks on Shapiro, Pelosi, and Trump being shot), Newsom calls for humanity, civility, and empathy in discourse (14:18, 14:44, 14:56). He indicates he has personally feared for his life due to threats, describing it as "serious stuff" (15:42, 16:04).
16:56 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Contributions: Newsom speaks positively about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as California residents, praising their volunteer work during state emergencies like wildfires and floods, noting they often show up without seeking attention (17:21, 17:32, 18:25).
18:51 Reconsidering "Woke" Politics: Reaffirming the possibility that being "too woke" was a factor in the election loss, Newsom links this to debates around social policy, DEI, CRT, and trans issues (19:13, 19:22). He suggests the party needs an "honest understanding" of what happened and how to maintain balance, like having different opinions on issues like trans sports while still supporting the trans community (19:29, 19:50, 20:00).
20:31 Optimism for American Democracy: Referencing Winston Churchill's quote about Americans doing the right thing, Newsom expresses optimism about the state of American democracy, emphasizing the importance of the "office of citizen" (20:54) and stating that Donald Trump's rise has "woken the immune system" of citizenship (21:01).