California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing mounting criticism from across the political spectrum after calling the Democratic Party’s brand “toxic” and accusing members of his party of refusing to engage with Republicans in a productive way.
The remarks came during Newsom’s Friday appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, where the governor sat down for an extended conversation about political polarization and his recent efforts to foster bipartisan dialogue through his new podcast, “This Is Gavin Newsom.”
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“These guys are crushing us. The Democratic brand is toxic right now,” Newsom said, pointing to falling approval numbers. “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.”
Newsom criticized some Democrats for retreating into “echo chambers” and avoiding engagement with conservative voices. He also took aim at “cancel culture,” saying the party has become too judgmental and reluctant to take responsibility for its missteps.
“We’ve got to mature. We need to own our mistakes,” he said. “It’s one thing to make noise, but you also have to make sense.”
The governor’s comments sparked immediate pushback from prominent Democrats. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrote on X, “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.”
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California Assemblyman Sam Liccardo criticized Newsom’s remarks as hypocritical, pointing out that Newsom and the California Democratic Party endorsed his opponent in a recent election — a race Liccardo won by double digits.
While Newsom has drawn praise from some for his willingness to talk across the aisle, conservative critics have questioned the sincerity of his bipartisan pivot. Riley Gaines, a conservative activist, dismissed his recent efforts as a shallow “rebrand.”
Newsom’s comments come in the wake of President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory and a Republican sweep of the House and Senate — a shift that has forced many Democrats to reassess their strategy heading into the next election cycle.
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Since launching his podcast in February, Newsom has featured both right-wing and left-wing guests, including Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. The project, Newsom says, is an attempt to break down partisan walls and promote honest, if uncomfortable, conversations.
Newsom’s effort may not be landing with voters. A Capitol Weekly poll shows his favorability rating in California fell from 52% in early February to 47% in early March, with pollsters noting a correlation between the dip and reactions to clips from his podcast — particularly his exchanges with Kirk on pronouns and “Latinx,” and his views on trans athletes and COVID school closures.
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