California Governor Gavin Newsom received backlash online for his Friday comments about the Democratic Party when he called its brand “toxic” and criticized some in the party who are unwilling to “have a conversation” with their Republican counterparts during an interview with comedian and talk show host Bill Maher.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office directed Newsweek to Newsom’s comments during the Maher interview.
Why It Matters
Newsom, a Democrat, has attempted a fresh approach to political divisiveness in the aftermath of President Donald Trump‘s 2024 election victory, which saw Republicans take control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
Launching the This Is Gavin Newsom podcast in late February, the governor has positioned his venture as a bipartisan exploration, with guests including conservative activist Charlie Kirk and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon as well as popular left-wing figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and New York Times opinion columnist Ezra Klein.
Newsom is also believed to be a contender for the Democratic nomination for the 2028 presidential election. However, he hasn’t yet expressed his intention to run.
What To Know
Newsom sat down with Maher on Friday during a segment of HBO‘s Real Time with Bill Maher and addressed his podcast, saying he found it bewildering that some members of his party refuse to even speak with Republicans and are instead content to remain in “echo chambers.”
“These guys are crushing us. The Democratic brand is toxic right now,” Newsom said.
“We had a high watermark two weeks ago, and that was a CNN poll, at 29 percent favorability. It’s dropped in an NBC poll to 27 percent,” the governor said. “It’s one thing to make noise but you also have to make sense.”
Newsom defended his podcast as a chance to have the conversations the Democratic Party refuses to have and “not take cheap shots.” He also criticized Democrats for being “more judgmental” and not owning up to “cancel culture.”
He insisted that the party has “got to mature,” and that Democrats “need to own our mistakes…own what’s wrong with our party.”
Newsweek reached out to Newsom’s podcast team on Saturday afternoon for comment.
Newsom’s favorability rating has dropped since launching his podcast, according to a poll by Capitol Weekly, which describes itself as nonprofit outlet covering California politics.
Polling in early February found Newsom had a 52 percent favorability, but by early March, that had dropped to 47 percent. The poll showed 1,000 voters in the state three clips from Newsom’s podcast and asked them their opinion.
The clips featured Newsom and Kirk discussing the use of pronouns in meetings and the term “Latinx,” Newsom’s objections to trans women competing in women’s sports and Kirk joking with Newsom about California’s school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frazer Harrison/WireImage
What People Are Saying
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “With respect, [Gavin Newsom] the Democratic party is not ‘toxic.’ This is not the time to join the chorus in bashing our party. The rage should be about what Trump is doing TODAY. Let’s share what our party has done & offer a forward vision for the future.”
California Democratic state Representative Sam Liccardo wrote on X: “Newsom calling the Democratic brand ‘toxic’ resembles the defendant who pleads for a judge’s mercy as an ‘orphan’ after killing his parents. I should know: [Gavin Newsom] & CA Dem Party endorsed my opponent last year…and I won by double digits.”
Jennifer Sey, the founder of XX-XY Athletics, wrote on X: “Don’t fall for anything [Gavin Newsom] says. He talks about the toxicity of [The Democrats] and how bad cancel culture is as if he has nothing to do with it. He sits there like the reasonable one willing to call the Dems out on why the party is toxic. But he’s not.”
She continued: “As the leader of the biggest state, the most ‘progressive’ state, and someone who has held power in that state in some capacity for over 20 years, he’s responsible. He’s implemented the worst ‘harm reduction’ policies leading to rampant open air drug use and homelessness and crime and overdoses in CAs major cities, the most insane policies around ‘trans’ kids punishing teachers who refuse to lie and keep secrets from parents, he oversaw the most draconian COVID policies keeping schools closed for a year and a half and shuttering small businesses. This man is pathological. Don’t buy the shit he’s shoveling.”
Political commentator Keith Olbermann wrote on X: “Nothing worse than politicians like [Gavin Newsom] and dyspeptic MCs who thought it was them and not their guests like [Bill Maher] mistaking their own collusion with the fascists as ‘insight.’ The toxicity is YOU, boys. You’re finished.”
Conservative activist Riley Gaines posted a clip of Newsom’s interview and wrote on X: “Gavin Newsom’s ‘rebrand’ isn’t fooling anyone…at least no one who has been paying attention.”
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang wrote on X: “The odds of Gavin Newsom running for President are approximately 100%.”
What Happens Next?
Newsom’s podcast releases a new episode every week.
Update 3/29/25, 8 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.