Gavin Newsom is starting a podcast and will feature MAGA favorites
Newsom refrained from disclosing the names of the six guests he mentioned who have privately committed to joining him. However, he provided a strong clue: "Look at the lineup at CPAC."
TroibNews 
Gavin Newsom is set to launch his own podcast, where the California governor plans to engage with MAGA figures, open up his extensive network for candid discussions with fellow Democrats, and break important news about policy decisions.
This new initiative from a potential presidential candidate comes at a time when Democrats overall are struggling to respond to the barrage of actions from President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Leaders within the party are seeking a strong message while attempting to penetrate a fragmented media landscape. The podcasting realm, cluttered with pro-Trump voices, presents particular challenges for Democratic figures.
The podcast, titled “This is Gavin Newsom,” will be produced by iHeartPodcasts, where Newsom is already a part of a sports and cultural show called “Politickin’,” alongside Marshawn Lynch, a former NFL star, and agent Doug Hendrickson. Newsom expressed that this new interview-based format will allow for a more in-depth exploration of political issues.
While podcasts have been a platform for various politicians, Newsom believes his approach offers a fresh take. In a recent interview, he emphasized that he will invite guests with whom he has strong disagreements—not just to debate, but to truly understand their perspectives.
“We already know what our disagreements are with the MAGA movement. I want to understand what the motivations are, the legitimacy of those motivations, and just really understand where people are coming from,” Newsom remarked. “They are influential — they are. They explain more things in more ways on more days about what's going on and if we're not trying to understand their motivations, we will be victims of their motivations.”
A self-described observer of the right-wing media landscape, Newsom reflected on his past engagements with conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax, as well as a debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He has also run advertising campaigns in red states focused on their restrictive abortion laws.
However, his podcast will also serve as a platform for intra-party discussions among Democrats. “At the same time, I want Democrats to come on and sort of challenge where we are on a lot of these issues,” he stated. “And so I'm asking the same questions you’re asking of me: Where the hell is the Democratic Party? What are we doing? Who are we? Where are we going? What's the path back? I'm having the exact same conversations, and I just thought it'd be a hell of a lot more interesting to do it publicly and to do it as honestly as I can.”
Newsom described his podcasting style as that of a “practitioner, not pundit,” aiming to derive meaningful action from discussions that encourage policy innovation and deeper connections with Californians.
“I’m here to stress test positions, including my own, in a more transparent manner,” he elaborated. “It's not a place everyone comes for therapy. I’m not looking to just give the orthodoxy — progressive and liberal talking points. There are so many outstanding people doing that, like our gifted professionals. I add no value in that space. I'm a redundant voice … But what I think I can offer is as a practitioner — not an ideologue, not a pundit."
Newsom has not yet provided a comprehensive analysis of the Democratic Party’s struggles following the disappointing 2024 election but has noted the expansion of his notes from eight to 28 pages as new data emerges. He indicated that his approach on the podcast mirrors his earlier frustrations in 2022 regarding the Democratic response to a resurgent Republican presence.
His intention with the podcast is not to bypass traditional media but to utilize his position and network to foster dialogue. He draws creative inspiration from Bill Maher, whom he admires for his ability to find common ground while challenging Democratic norms.
“I watch him because I appreciate how he calls balls and strikes — takes shots at both parties,” Newsom shared. “He has a broader value set that is more aligned with mine, but he doesn’t have a problem in suffering fools on either side of the aisle.”
Producer Sam Griffel, who has collaborated with Newsom, emphasized the importance of authenticity for the podcast: “We as a society are good at sniffing out that type of BS,” he noted. “So for me, the more we’re willing to be pushing into areas of discomfort for our guests and hosts the more real it will be.”
When asked whether guests, especially like-minded Democrats, would be as frank on the podcast as in their personal communications, Newsom replied, “that ultimately will be determinative if this is interesting or not.”
Although he has not revealed the names of prospective guests, he hinted, “Look at the lineup at CPAC” — alluding to the influential figures within that circle.
The recent CPAC straw poll identified Newsom and Senator Adam Schiff as two Democrats perceived as significant threats to the GOP.
Having previously hosted “The Gavin Newsom Show” and now stepping into a challenging political landscape, Newsom's new podcast also serves as a platform to counter misinformation surrounding pressing issues like wildfire management.
While he has been careful about directly criticizing Trump—especially in light of seeking federal disaster assistance—Newsom believes that focusing on specific negative actions from the administration is crucial for Democratic resilience.
“Those become the dominant moments, from my perspective, where we need to align and be more aggressive,” he said. “People are pushing back. Republicans are now starting to wake up. I think we've moved from resignation to now more and more resistance.”
He characterized the Trump administration's early actions as marked by “betrayal,” asserting the need to expose governmental missteps while urging Democrats to act pro-actively rather than reactively.
“How do we break through? Are we just reacting to noise with more noise? Are we more strategic this time, and are we going to pierce the consciousness, not just of our base, they're already with us, but those that we need to bring back?” he posed, reflecting on the key themes of his podcast series.
Despite concerns about empowering certain MAGA personalities, Newsom does not fear providing a platform, although he acknowledges some individuals may be too extreme. He praised the strategy of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s “go-everywhere, talk-to-everyone” approach, which encourages calm conversation across differing viewpoints.
“I think the biggest mistake we've made is staying in the warm embrace of our ideological lane. And it didn't work out for us,” Newsom concluded.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
This new initiative from a potential presidential candidate comes at a time when Democrats overall are struggling to respond to the barrage of actions from President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Leaders within the party are seeking a strong message while attempting to penetrate a fragmented media landscape. The podcasting realm, cluttered with pro-Trump voices, presents particular challenges for Democratic figures.
The podcast, titled “This is Gavin Newsom,” will be produced by iHeartPodcasts, where Newsom is already a part of a sports and cultural show called “Politickin’,” alongside Marshawn Lynch, a former NFL star, and agent Doug Hendrickson. Newsom expressed that this new interview-based format will allow for a more in-depth exploration of political issues.
While podcasts have been a platform for various politicians, Newsom believes his approach offers a fresh take. In a recent interview, he emphasized that he will invite guests with whom he has strong disagreements—not just to debate, but to truly understand their perspectives.
“We already know what our disagreements are with the MAGA movement. I want to understand what the motivations are, the legitimacy of those motivations, and just really understand where people are coming from,” Newsom remarked. “They are influential — they are. They explain more things in more ways on more days about what's going on and if we're not trying to understand their motivations, we will be victims of their motivations.”
A self-described observer of the right-wing media landscape, Newsom reflected on his past engagements with conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax, as well as a debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He has also run advertising campaigns in red states focused on their restrictive abortion laws.
However, his podcast will also serve as a platform for intra-party discussions among Democrats. “At the same time, I want Democrats to come on and sort of challenge where we are on a lot of these issues,” he stated. “And so I'm asking the same questions you’re asking of me: Where the hell is the Democratic Party? What are we doing? Who are we? Where are we going? What's the path back? I'm having the exact same conversations, and I just thought it'd be a hell of a lot more interesting to do it publicly and to do it as honestly as I can.”
Newsom described his podcasting style as that of a “practitioner, not pundit,” aiming to derive meaningful action from discussions that encourage policy innovation and deeper connections with Californians.
“I’m here to stress test positions, including my own, in a more transparent manner,” he elaborated. “It's not a place everyone comes for therapy. I’m not looking to just give the orthodoxy — progressive and liberal talking points. There are so many outstanding people doing that, like our gifted professionals. I add no value in that space. I'm a redundant voice … But what I think I can offer is as a practitioner — not an ideologue, not a pundit."
Newsom has not yet provided a comprehensive analysis of the Democratic Party’s struggles following the disappointing 2024 election but has noted the expansion of his notes from eight to 28 pages as new data emerges. He indicated that his approach on the podcast mirrors his earlier frustrations in 2022 regarding the Democratic response to a resurgent Republican presence.
His intention with the podcast is not to bypass traditional media but to utilize his position and network to foster dialogue. He draws creative inspiration from Bill Maher, whom he admires for his ability to find common ground while challenging Democratic norms.
“I watch him because I appreciate how he calls balls and strikes — takes shots at both parties,” Newsom shared. “He has a broader value set that is more aligned with mine, but he doesn’t have a problem in suffering fools on either side of the aisle.”
Producer Sam Griffel, who has collaborated with Newsom, emphasized the importance of authenticity for the podcast: “We as a society are good at sniffing out that type of BS,” he noted. “So for me, the more we’re willing to be pushing into areas of discomfort for our guests and hosts the more real it will be.”
When asked whether guests, especially like-minded Democrats, would be as frank on the podcast as in their personal communications, Newsom replied, “that ultimately will be determinative if this is interesting or not.”
Although he has not revealed the names of prospective guests, he hinted, “Look at the lineup at CPAC” — alluding to the influential figures within that circle.
The recent CPAC straw poll identified Newsom and Senator Adam Schiff as two Democrats perceived as significant threats to the GOP.
Having previously hosted “The Gavin Newsom Show” and now stepping into a challenging political landscape, Newsom's new podcast also serves as a platform to counter misinformation surrounding pressing issues like wildfire management.
While he has been careful about directly criticizing Trump—especially in light of seeking federal disaster assistance—Newsom believes that focusing on specific negative actions from the administration is crucial for Democratic resilience.
“Those become the dominant moments, from my perspective, where we need to align and be more aggressive,” he said. “People are pushing back. Republicans are now starting to wake up. I think we've moved from resignation to now more and more resistance.”
He characterized the Trump administration's early actions as marked by “betrayal,” asserting the need to expose governmental missteps while urging Democrats to act pro-actively rather than reactively.
“How do we break through? Are we just reacting to noise with more noise? Are we more strategic this time, and are we going to pierce the consciousness, not just of our base, they're already with us, but those that we need to bring back?” he posed, reflecting on the key themes of his podcast series.
Despite concerns about empowering certain MAGA personalities, Newsom does not fear providing a platform, although he acknowledges some individuals may be too extreme. He praised the strategy of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s “go-everywhere, talk-to-everyone” approach, which encourages calm conversation across differing viewpoints.
“I think the biggest mistake we've made is staying in the warm embrace of our ideological lane. And it didn't work out for us,” Newsom concluded.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
