In an interview last year, California Governor Gavin Newsom accused politicians on the right of shapeshifting to gain votes. Now it seems the governor is engaging in some strategic shape-shifting of his own.
In the inaugural episode that came out earlier this month, Newsom hosted conservative super influencer Charlie Kirk on his new podcast, “This Is Gavin Newsom,” where he conceded ground on identity politics. This a surprising 180-shift since last summer when he signed a law preventing schools from outing trans and gay kids to their parents without the student’s permission. Newsom’s shrewd pivot is part of a broader realignment in Democratic politics: By tapping into the new media landscape that shaped the last election, Newsom and the Democratic party aim to influence the next one.
On Friday, The New York Times commented on the governor’s strategy, saying, “Democrats need to get better at speaking to people who don’t share their assumptions and at long-form conversations.” The party, columnist Michelle Goldberg argues, failed to appeal to young men in the age of podcasts.
Following a devastating defeat in November, it’s clear Democrats are thinking hard about messaging and communication. President Trump reached an average of 23.5 million American adults during election season through podcasts, compared with 6.4 million for Vice President Harris.
Yet calls for the left to create their own version of superstar podcaster Joe Rogan may be hard for Newsom to meet. Whereas Rogan’s popularity is rooted in his “authenticity,” Newsom has been called a “slimy used car salesman.” His podcast’s emphasis on “affordability, quality of life, and the cultural moments shaping our world” with “No spin…just real talk” practically screams voter pandering.
It’s clear from Newsom’s discussion with Kirk that his change of heart on identity politics is part of a political strategy. Newsom described the presence of trans athletes in women’s sports as “deeply unfair.” However, the real reason he cares about this issue now is because the right has “weaponized” trans issues to win elections. “We’re getting crushed on [trans issues]. Crushed. Crushed,” Newsome told Kirk in the 71-minute sit down.
During the discussion, Newsom lambasted voter repellents such as defunding the police, cancel-culture, and the unpopular PC term “Latinx.” Democrats struggled with Latinos in the last election, losing a record number, especially Latino men. Different sources show different results, but the bottom line is there was a massive double-digit swing of male Latino voters away from the Democratic candidate. A previously reliable voting block for Democrats is now split roughly down the middle, and Gavin Newsom is sending the signal that he wants them back.
Newsom is not the only Democrat slamming his own party post-election. In February, Arizona Senator Rubin Gallego said that Democrats must reach out to working-class Latino men more effectively. Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres posted on X immediately after the election that terms like “Defund the Police” and “Latinx” alienated “historic numbers of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Jews from the Democratic Party.”
Sitting down and chatting with the enemy may be the flavor of this political month. As young people move to podcasts that favor long-form conversations between people who disagree, Newsom’s previously combative tone has turned soft, evidenced by a discussion with Kirk based on respect and finding common ground. He credits Bill Maher’s cross-partisan approach on his HBO talk show “Real Time” as his inspiration.
Maher recently launched a cross-partisan talk show called “We Never Had This Conversation.” Another new online show, “The Grudge,” is co-hosted by progressive Luke Beasley and conservative Isabella Moody. Hosted by a group of progressives, “Pod Save America” has moved to platform more conservatives within the last few years.
Newsom’s move to embrace the new information landscape and American’s hunger to break bread with the other side may be to prepare for a 2028 presidential run. If Newsom can communicate to tens of millions of voters that his vibes are authentic and he cares about the bread-and-butter issues that hit home for them, he may be able to build a new Democratic coalition.
Joey T. McFadden is a journalist and artist in Brooklyn, NY. He is a Contributor at Young Voices, host of the “In Response…” podcast, art critic at “Fair Observer,” and the managing editor for the NYC Braver Angels Substack. His paintings can be seen on Instagram.
