Newsom Announces Podcast

By
Rachel Stevenson
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I don’t know about you, but every time I hear Gavin Newsom speak, I can’t help but think of a guy in a cheap suit trying to convince me that the 1998 Honda Civic he’s pushing is a “once-in-a-lifetime deal.” My colleague Jennifer Oliver O’Connell calls him “Gov. Hair Gel,” and honestly, that might be the most fitting nickname in modern politics. Slick, polished, and utterly full of it. And now, it looks like he’s making his first real move toward 2028 by launching his very own podcast. Because if there’s one thing Americans are desperate for, it’s more Gavin Newsom.

Newsom announced his podcast in true politician fashion—big, dramatic, and utterly self-absorbed. “We need to change the conversation,” he proclaims, as if he’s the guy to do it. He promises to sit down with people he disagrees with, people he admires, and, of course, you—the lucky listener. Egg prices? Tariffs? DOGE? He’s tackling it all. Because when you think about someone qualified to fix America’s problems, the guy who ran California into the ground is obviously at the top of the list.

Now, let’s take a step back. Instead of, say, addressing the wildfires ravaging his state, fixing California’s homeless crisis, or figuring out why people are fleeing in droves to places like Texas and Florida, Newsom has decided that what he really needs to do is sit in front of a microphone and blabber about policy. Nothing screams “I’m taking my job seriously” quite like launching a vanity project while your state crumbles. It’s like watching a captain launch his personal vlog while his ship is sinking.

Newsom insists this won’t be your typical “politician podcast.” No “mumbo jumbo,” he says. Which is rich, coming from the human embodiment of political mumbo jumbo. And sure, he wants to talk about eggs—but will he mention that the reason they’re so expensive is because of Biden’s economic disaster, which he fully supports? Will he acknowledge that California’s insane policies on everything from labor laws to energy are a big part of why prices are out of control? Or is this just another smooth-talking performance meant to position himself as the guy who can “fix” the problems his party created in the first place?

Then there’s the kicker—Newsom claims he’s going to be chatting with some of the “biggest leaders” in the MAGA movement. Really? Who? Donald Trump? Doubtful. Ron DeSantis? Not a chance. If he’s looking to sit down with major conservative voices, I can’t imagine too many of them are eager to lend him legitimacy. More likely, we’re getting some washed-up, self-proclaimed “Republicans” who spend more time bashing their own party than challenging Democrats. Maybe he’ll give Anthony Scaramucci a call.

And let’s not pretend this is just about Newsom. The Democratic Party knows they’re losing when it comes to new media. Conservatives dominate the podcasting world because people actually want to hear from them. No one is itching to hear Gavin Newsom explain why his failures are actually successes. And if his other podcast, Politickin’, is any indication, this one will be another embarrassing flop. That show, which he co-hosts with Marshawn Lynch and Doug Hendrickson, has struggled to attract more than a thousand views per episode. Pretty pathetic for a guy who’s supposed to be the future of the Democratic Party.

But what’s truly hilarious is how spectacularly this announcement backfired. Instead of praise, Newsom got an avalanche of people pointing out that he should probably try governing before playing pundit. Californians have a laundry list of things they’d like to say to him, and none of it is the friendly, productive dialogue he’s pretending to invite. People are sick of politicians who talk a big game while accomplishing nothing, and Newsom is one of the worst offenders.

So maybe he should spend less time with a microphone and more time explaining why California is bleeding residents, why businesses are leaving, and why people are sick of Democratic leadership. But that would require self-awareness—something Newsom clearly left behind with the last wave of taxpayers fleeing to Florida.

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