I am equally disappointed in Obama, Bush, the Clintons and other Democratic leaders who have not come out loudly in defense of our democracy. Same in regards media networks and print media that are seemingly cowered by this administration and its army of bullies they deploy against any perceived opposition or criticism.
100%! Every time Facebook shows me an ad asking me for $ for the DNC or the Obama Foundation, I respond in the comments that my money is going to the ACLU and other organizations that are actually defending the victims of this awful administration.
Same here. I would like to support the Democrats as I have been in the past but I am totally disappointed by their lack of an agenda and a plan. They should have planned for what they would do if Trump were reelected but they sure didn’t.
I’ve donated monthly to the ACLU for years. We especially need them now, as a line of defense against an administration that cares little for the rule of law, justice or our Constitution.
John,totally agree! Newsom is not a leader, but a Dem BSer and Fetterman - He’s just gone off the rails saying he’d never vote for a government shut down. And Bannon, just another anti-democratic Trump mobster spewing poison. I’m really praying theSenate can vote down that very dirty Continuing Resolution, but I don’t think they will buy a 30 day CR. Like Adam said, MAGA runs it so they’re going to have to own it and the Dems need to shout that loud and clear if there’s a shutdown. Nobody wants it, but if you don’t stand on principle someplace, you might as well just go home and this is a good place to stand!!!
Keep calling your dem senators demanding that they stay strong and shut down the government in protest. The analysis I've seen predicts that they are going to fold.
I worked on the Hill for a year, so like all analyses, especially these days, I take with maybe 2 grains of salt. Some seem to be finding where their spine is located so I think there’s a reasonable chance they pull it off. They absolutely need to for all our sakes and then they need to clearly communicate why they did it!
Regarding the 3/14 protest and 3/7-14 amazon blackout: are these going to be more events - like the Jan 18 protest, the Presidents' Day protest, and the Feb 28 blackout, where as far as I can tell NOBODY made any effort to get the numbers of total participants or total dollars? (Amazon lying about its "Friday sales" by including Wednesday and Thursday doesn't qualify.)
If anyone knows who is organizing to get reliable numbers, please reply here!
Having those numbers is essential to discouraging interest in declaring martial law and doing other unConstitutional anti-democracy things. Whenever there is one of these coordinated protests we need to be able to say - and the other side needs to struggle with the truth - that X tens of millions (I expect it will be at least 10) showed up nationwide, and another Y million came out in solidarity in other countries. We also need to have a way to estimate the dollars every time there is a buying blackout to help the stock market continue its slide, only faster.
Same here. I gave tons of money to Democratic candidates all across the country, to the Democratic Party, to DSCC, and DCCC. No more! No one gets a red cent from me until they show backbone and leadership. And I'm not just talking about rhetoric. I want to see meaningful action...no silly chants on the steps of the Capitol.
Threads is part of META- through Instagram. It's like formerly named twitter or BlueSky- but most who left musk's anti free speech platform are on Blue Sky
totally agree- people actually complained and made fun of them that they were being alarmists in saying our democracy was at risk with trump and project2025.
Wait a minute, Hillary has been warning us constantly since 2015. If corporate media is no fan of hers - she is not narcissistic, she cannot sell headlines like Trump - it is not her fault. She and Nancy Pelosi were the ones who talked back to Trump. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, too.
Curious where Bishop Barron is on all this. I saw him go after an excellent journalist last year in what I thought was a partisan Trumpian attack. Could he really be helpful to democracy - he surely has a huge following
I’ve followed Bishop Barron for years ever since he wrote a letter to the suffering church about child abuse in which he actually apologized and called it the devils masterpiece. He continually calls on bishops to own up to their mistakes. He also reportedly truthfully about the synod. I am convinced he tells the truth. He is playing all this close to the vest. I hope he is a reasonable person. I’m sure he’s not a “ career cleric”.
IS there EVER a bigger bag of wind than Chris Christie? CNN had him on as the "in the know" guy regarding Donald. Puke worthy. I used to like Chris, that must have been in the "drinking days".
I email the DNC every other day and ask them that. The head of it , who ever he is, I saw his name once, is nowhere!!!!!!!! I got an email from The Squad wanting $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and I blocked them. They are back to the same culture war stuff and I am NOT interested in right this minute.
I am interested and think it's a shame how horribly those right wing POS are that are doing their very best to make Senator Sarah McBride's life hell. Other than that I have no time to worry about who's on the swim team but there they were, singing the same old tune.
Ken Martin is the new DNC Chairman. I have suggested that Adam contact him to determine whether Martin is willing to coalesce with anybody outside of the of the hidebound establishment.
Imo- with Newsom- it's fear. He's leaving office soon and an additional target because of his ex Kim G, Junior likely hates him even more than Kim does. Not an excuse, of course.
With Fetterman- it's increasing cognitive decline. He must not run again, hopefully Giselle and others close to him will bring him around to this. He's not at all the same man as before the stroke, it's heartbreaking.
I'm afraid there's a lot nowadays that make NO sense at all. We are in a new "Alt-normal" that's defying our stand on keeping democracy in place. On the flipside, PUSHING BACK is keeping our heads above water, along with federal judges who aren't afraid to thumb their noses at the FAKE administration. Let's hope they can work past the threats put on them to cease and desist. I mean, short of them and their families being physically harmed, or losing their bench position, there are still laws in place to go after them when committing these kinds of crimes. And as long as they've (those who do felony crimes) not been convicted, they cannot be pardoned. "Oh what a tangle web we weave when first we practice to deceive." ~ Sir Walter Scott 1808
Well, we would either get an answer, or what you suggest.
Either way, it would be revealing.
Newsom's pet peeve has long been that Dems refuse to take their debate and argument to the GOP, and why he debated DeSantis.
So, I simply assume, based on that, that he is scratching this itch of his, and doing these interviews as a way to debate the other side, but once again, we need him to say what is up, or not, and not just speculate.
Liberal Dems have a bad habit of acting like the church lady on SNL, and looking down their noses very quickly and blackballing other Dems, rather than asking questions.
It reminds me of mean gossipy girls in high school looking for some kid to attack to boost their own egos and popularity.
In this case, perhaps to boost their own liberal credentials, like wearing the most stylish attack on fellow Dems as a badge of "liberal purity."
It is easy for others to get sucked into the attack mode with so much stress out there or if they are not familiar with how some in the far-left of the Dem party sometimes do this, and I am a Dem BTW.
As a lifelong Californian, I have followed the career of Gavin Newsom for decades. Above all else, he is politically ambitious. He knows what he needs to do to win, and he does it. Right now, he is taking a page from Trump’s book, and trying to reach the same people Trump lied to in the last election, namely, low information male voters who love toxic masculinity. That’s why he’s talking to Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. There is no persuasion, or even debate happening here. There is no vision other than Gavin’s vision of sitting behind the resolute desk. I voted for him for Governor, twice in fact (once there was a recall against him), but that was only because he was better than the alternative. Fun fact: he was once married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. That’s probably all you need to know about the guy.
Don’t trust him. Don’t listen to him. Don’t vote for him unless the other person is MAGA. That’s what I’m doing anyway.
Don't put Fetterman in with Newsom. While I disagreed with Fetterman visiting Mar-a-Criminal, I do agree with many of his policy positions. If Democrats want to win elections, they would do well to listen to Fetterman. Listen to his full reasonings not just the progressive media headlines.
Were on the same side so it's alright to disagree. But I'm a Veteran and in this bill they are going to cut Veterans benefits and he apparently is okay with that.
I'm at a loss what is misleading Newsom that this is a good idea or wins anybody over or creates any points for him. I think all of us reading this grew up in a world where we didn't host a podcast to be open and hear the viewpoints of neo-Nazis. We freaking erased them from the discourse and shamed them out of any civil public narrative. And that is exactly the correct thing to do. MAGA has aligned themselves into this sphere and they need exactly the same. This isn't a valid differing viewpoint. It's anti-democratic, hatemongering extremism. The modern mainstream establishment GOP today is a hate group, it's not a valid political party.
You are so right! That's what I learned- It's the responsible of society to shun those who cause evil and put them back under the rocks where they belong and were for many years. Too bad someone decided to enable them and give them power.
I have been concerned that Buttigieg,(as a gay man) ........... will have a hard time running for elective office. Adam would strengthen the Ticket for sure. Even with Adam, the Gay candidate poses that challenge to the ticket. John
I agree- just because he goes on Fox doesn't make him good to all Americans. Appealing to those who watch Fox isn't going to cut it. They must appeal to the Democrats and independents too and the issues that are important to them. I don't see him speaking on any media that others watch. Same thing with Adam- he's great but Democrats and Independents have to see him on media they watch or listen to as well. But it's early yet.
Pete Buttigieg is great, don’t care about him being gay. That’s his business and all I care about is that he loves this country and has militarily supported it.
I am too. But there are many who do not do substack or any online stuff. they need to be on mainstream TV like the Sunday morning shows- ABC, CBS, NBC or cable- like MSNBC, News Nation, CNN- I know Adam has been on but not enough.
What is Newsom’s endgame here? And how does he think it helps to gain a few MAGA or conservative people and lose many times more liberal voter’s approval? His kumbaya stunt of coming to the table…. with a NAZI? With an anarchist that wants to blow everything up? Bannon is possibly the most calculating, cynical and cruel person I’m aware of.
Gavin… you’re not educating anyone. There are lines that should not be crossed.
I think Newsom sees the new political climate and realizes that he will never be POTUS, a goal he's pursued for 30+ years, so the leopard is changing its spots for a post-democratic world. I suspect he sees himself reinvented as a Joe Rogan or a Tulsi Gabbard. I've been a supporter for 30 years but when you add up all of his indiscretions, it really makes sense that his life is a performance. So disappointing.
Good point Maria.....I am still hoping that Trump's election is a bad dream, but of course it is for real. I hope that we can get Elon out of his place with Trump. John
You are absolutely correct Adam that this is no way to grow our big tent. I’m kinda gobsmacked that he would pull such a political stunt since I’ve had respect for the man.
Mike...may be reading Newsom's tea leaves all wrong...but I've thought he looked/ felt like the consumate politician ...running for higher office since he set foot in Sacramento. Never forgot his surreptitious flaunting of accepted behavior dinner out with group of friends during Covid. Smacks of " the rules apply to.lesser mortals..not to me!" Perhaps a little too greasy...a little bit smarmy??...not someone I feel comfortable entrusting my vote to....
I agree completely with you, Lynn. Since bursting on the scene, Newsom has been groomed for the ultimate prize -- 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Gettys, the Guggenhimes, and other monied, high society families have backed him from the beginning. For me, though, his judgment has always been suspect, and that French Laundry dinner -- while COVID-19 was surging and he was telling Californians not to gather en masse at the holidays -- was a very poor decision. His obnoxious delivery of "It's going to happen whether you like it or not," regarding same sex marriage, was another low point in his image making. Personally, I wasn't offended by the subject, but his pious attitude -- not too dissimilar from the current president -- was really off-putting. Bottom line, I think, at his core, he is too liberal for the middle of America to ever get comfortable with. I appreciate his concern for the environment, especially after the horrific fires in CA, and how he stood up to Trump in the recent campaign, but Gavin's real motives and trustworthiness are questionable. And entertaining MAGA whackos, giving them validation through a 'conversation'? Why? P.S. I am a lifelong Californian... until he became governor. Then, it was time to move.
Thank you for your superb memory recall of other significant Newsom infractions/ questionable traits. Spot On! So very sorry you've left California...IMO God's country! 90 plus years here... a native ' prune picker"! Parents from Wales.
You've certainly convinced me my gut feelings about the man were justified.
Other candidates will be tossing their hat in the gubernatorial.ring....Harris has been mentioned......; elected with pure heart intentions, freshman legislators go to DC with grand hopes of sincerely " making a difference ". Then reality sets in...they find they have " to go along to Get along!" Mr Smith Goes To Washington" is but an idealistic fairy tale in these chaotic times. Times are tough right now...but we will not.give up our Freedom...our Democracy..without a good fight! WE WILL WIN!
I grew up in Paradise and my husband and I lived in Napa for over 20 years. "God's country" is right. 95% of my family is still in CA. Our neighborhood in Napa was right in the middle of the 2017 Atlas Fire, so we started looking at options. Now, we're on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Equally fabulous, if we can just keep the fires at bay.
My parents met on a ranch in the central valley pre-WWII. Dad was working the fields (after picking peaches for 10 cents a day) and Mom was in the kitchen. I love all of their stories of 'life back when' in the Golden State.
Now, I am with you... WE WILL WIN. And thank heavens for Adam's determination, knowledge, leadership, and integrity. Being a part of this Substack community has been a lifesaver for me these past several utterly insane weeks.
Happy you didn't move far away from the grandeur of California!
Taho was a favorite destination up the coastline from Southern California where I've been fortunate to call home all my life. Does pull at my heart strings to see my family ...on down to my youngest great grandchildren, having to grow up in this chaotic pathological petri dish of a world.
This is such a good article Adam!! I have always been a Newsom fan, but what he's doing with this crazy idea is horrible and is not going to do his Presidential aspirations any favors. I've felt pretty secure with all the crazy stuff going on in this country because I'm a Californian and knew my Governor would do all he could to protect me and my state. Now, I'm not so sure. Hope he gets the message and stops this sham. We must stand against these radicals and condemn them - and not give them a voice. This is not bipartisanship when we are being taken over by an authoritarian who is openly out to destroy democracy. We must all speak up against what is going on - it is not normal. Again Adam, I implore you to keep pushing the Democrats to unify under one big umbrella of opposition - with a charismatic spokesman who is everyday holding press conferences to point out Trump/Musk actions and how they are affecting everyday Americans - to shine a light on how we are losing our freedoms and will continue to if they are not put in check now. Where are our former Presidents and other influential leaders? They were willing to speak out during the campaign - we need them now even more!! We have a great organic resistance moving forward but we need leadership and unity and a party that is representing the opposition and presenting it with a united voice. We are crying for and begging for unity and leadership to help stop the destruction of our democracy. Please do what you can to speak to our leaders and to spread the word.
I am totally with you on this one. I have no clue why Gavin Newsome feels the need to rub elbows with these guys. I understand facing off and standing up to MAGA, but this makes no sense to me. I was a fan of the Governor before when he was standing up to The Felon.
I write to my congressman weekly. He's a Trump agenda fan. Unfortunately for him, I have the time to continue writing. He's suppose to represent all his constituents, not just his fellow Trumpers. He forgets he works for me too, not Trump! My voice won't be silenced. Thank you for your continued fight for democracy. I wished you were still in Congress bringing some sanity to the chaos. Had Harris won, I could see where she would have tapped you for her Administration.
I was hoping Newsom‘s podcast was going to be more like an intellectual debate, instead, I found it to be very disturbing as he accepted what they said as reasonable. Mother’s for liberty just concerned moms who don’t want their kids to see porn, really! It sounded as if Newsom had not prepared for the interview. He let so much of what Kirk said go unchallenged that I had to stop listening, stop following, and give him the lowest star rating I possibly could. Very disappointed, and very surprised.
All I needed to know about Bannon was his rallying cry to "flood the zone with s--t." Nothing he said or will say after that means anything. I'll be surprised if Newsom gets as far as a primary in 2028 (if we still have elections by then). I wouldn't even be surprised if he becomes a Republican.
I am a registered Democrat but I vote for candidates who I believe will do the best for my whole state, or for the nation in national voting. I rarely agree on a candidate's every policy and think it is unrealistic to believe anyone is a "perfect" match. That said, I am as disgusted with Democrats who continue to pander to criminals and maga folks for any damned reason, as I am with the lunatic party that currently holds the majority in our nation's government. While I am encouraged with the growing protests against the 🍊 Felon and his minions, I find myself unconvinced that the Democrats in Congress will be united in fighting against the party who is hell-bent on obliterating our democracy and deliberately hurting people. For whatever Newsom's reasons for giving attention to these individuals, it is appalling to me, and I hope folks raise hell with him for giving another platform to traitorous individuals.
I am equally disappointed in Obama, Bush, the Clintons and other Democratic leaders who have not come out loudly in defense of our democracy. Same in regards media networks and print media that are seemingly cowered by this administration and its army of bullies they deploy against any perceived opposition or criticism.
100%! Every time Facebook shows me an ad asking me for $ for the DNC or the Obama Foundation, I respond in the comments that my money is going to the ACLU and other organizations that are actually defending the victims of this awful administration.
Good!! I feel the same way... I get constant solicitations for money for DNC, etc., and I'm like, DO something first!! Geesh.
Same here. I would like to support the Democrats as I have been in the past but I am totally disappointed by their lack of an agenda and a plan. They should have planned for what they would do if Trump were reelected but they sure didn’t.
1. Protest ---------------- https://bsky.app/profile/50501movement.bsky.social - --------------------------- https://events.pol-rev.com/
2. Boycott --------------- https://www.goodsuniteus.com/ also companies that CEO's & Exec. Officers who attended Inauguration: Tesla, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon/Amazon Prime, Whole Foods ,Zappos, Apple Computer/Apple TV, TikTok, Google, Fitbit and Nest
3. Call/E-mail/Message -------------- all Senators & Congressman tell them how you feel about these important issues.
4. Donate ---------------- If you can afford it donate to the organizations that are doing the legal fights. https://democracyforward.org/ - https://www.citizen.org/ - https://www.citizensforethics.org/ - https://www.aclu.org/ These groups are suing the Trump administration virtually every day. Credit to Jan.
5. Join -------------------- https://www.country1st.com/ - https://indivisible.org/ - https://www.commoncause.org/
6. I hope we never have to get to this option because it's the worst option of all, which I won't mention here. "Freedom Isn't Free" Vietnam Veteran
Exactly!
I’ve donated monthly to the ACLU for years. We especially need them now, as a line of defense against an administration that cares little for the rule of law, justice or our Constitution.
100%
NEWSOM and FETTERMAN IDIOTS!!!
It's almost like punching yourself in the face!!!!
MARCH 14TH PROTEST - Veterans Called to Rally Nationwide on March 14, 2025 in Protest of Project 2025 and VA Cuts. https://turnpurple2blue.org/2025/03/05/veterans-march/
MARCH 7-14: AMAZON BLACKOUT – No Amazon purchases, no Whole Foods, no Prime orders. https://thepeoplesunionusa.com/faq also https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
John,totally agree! Newsom is not a leader, but a Dem BSer and Fetterman - He’s just gone off the rails saying he’d never vote for a government shut down. And Bannon, just another anti-democratic Trump mobster spewing poison. I’m really praying theSenate can vote down that very dirty Continuing Resolution, but I don’t think they will buy a 30 day CR. Like Adam said, MAGA runs it so they’re going to have to own it and the Dems need to shout that loud and clear if there’s a shutdown. Nobody wants it, but if you don’t stand on principle someplace, you might as well just go home and this is a good place to stand!!!
Keep calling your dem senators demanding that they stay strong and shut down the government in protest. The analysis I've seen predicts that they are going to fold.
I worked on the Hill for a year, so like all analyses, especially these days, I take with maybe 2 grains of salt. Some seem to be finding where their spine is located so I think there’s a reasonable chance they pull it off. They absolutely need to for all our sakes and then they need to clearly communicate why they did it!
Regarding the 3/14 protest and 3/7-14 amazon blackout: are these going to be more events - like the Jan 18 protest, the Presidents' Day protest, and the Feb 28 blackout, where as far as I can tell NOBODY made any effort to get the numbers of total participants or total dollars? (Amazon lying about its "Friday sales" by including Wednesday and Thursday doesn't qualify.)
If anyone knows who is organizing to get reliable numbers, please reply here!
Having those numbers is essential to discouraging interest in declaring martial law and doing other unConstitutional anti-democracy things. Whenever there is one of these coordinated protests we need to be able to say - and the other side needs to struggle with the truth - that X tens of millions (I expect it will be at least 10) showed up nationwide, and another Y million came out in solidarity in other countries. We also need to have a way to estimate the dollars every time there is a buying blackout to help the stock market continue its slide, only faster.
Same here. I gave tons of money to Democratic candidates all across the country, to the Democratic Party, to DSCC, and DCCC. No more! No one gets a red cent from me until they show backbone and leadership. And I'm not just talking about rhetoric. I want to see meaningful action...no silly chants on the steps of the Capitol.
At least Hillary is on Threads and using her platform to urge people to fight 47 and the administration.
Threads? I am not sure how posting on threads helps but, okay.
she should be on Blue Sky
Perhaps there’s a sub Rosa problem with the entire media that does not allow equal access to all forms of media.
What and where is "Threads"?
Threads is part of META- through Instagram. It's like formerly named twitter or BlueSky- but most who left musk's anti free speech platform are on Blue Sky
It is Instagram’s answer to X. BlueSky would be better, but maybe she thinks she can reach more people on Threads.
I have found more up-to-date information on threads. Bluesky is good too. But Threads has many more political comments on my feed at least.
I think they already did and too many people either didn't listen or didn't care. It's the GOP whose silence is a disgrace.
totally agree- people actually complained and made fun of them that they were being alarmists in saying our democracy was at risk with trump and project2025.
Wait a minute, Hillary has been warning us constantly since 2015. If corporate media is no fan of hers - she is not narcissistic, she cannot sell headlines like Trump - it is not her fault. She and Nancy Pelosi were the ones who talked back to Trump. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, too.
Apparently they are only leaders when their in the White House. Hmm!
And where is Chris Christie, Liz Cheney, Bishop Barron
Liz has commented several times. Media Is not covering it.
Curious where Bishop Barron is on all this. I saw him go after an excellent journalist last year in what I thought was a partisan Trumpian attack. Could he really be helpful to democracy - he surely has a huge following
I’ve followed Bishop Barron for years ever since he wrote a letter to the suffering church about child abuse in which he actually apologized and called it the devils masterpiece. He continually calls on bishops to own up to their mistakes. He also reportedly truthfully about the synod. I am convinced he tells the truth. He is playing all this close to the vest. I hope he is a reasonable person. I’m sure he’s not a “ career cleric”.
Lucille, ty, I hope too that he is a reasonable person and not anti democracy! Your response heartens me!
IS there EVER a bigger bag of wind than Chris Christie? CNN had him on as the "in the know" guy regarding Donald. Puke worthy. I used to like Chris, that must have been in the "drinking days".
Agree 100%. I have wondered as well. They have nothing to lose - they should be LOUD!
there is no equal to giving alt right people a platform in my book.
I feel the same way.
Me too. Where are the Democrats?
I email the DNC every other day and ask them that. The head of it , who ever he is, I saw his name once, is nowhere!!!!!!!! I got an email from The Squad wanting $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and I blocked them. They are back to the same culture war stuff and I am NOT interested in right this minute.
I am interested and think it's a shame how horribly those right wing POS are that are doing their very best to make Senator Sarah McBride's life hell. Other than that I have no time to worry about who's on the swim team but there they were, singing the same old tune.
Ken Martin is the new DNC Chairman. I have suggested that Adam contact him to determine whether Martin is willing to coalesce with anybody outside of the of the hidebound establishment.
Thank you, Patricia! I cannot agree more.
NEWSOM and FETTERMAN IDIOTS!!!
It's almost like punching yourself in the face!!!!
I am seriously trying to figure out what the heck is going on with those two. It doesn't make any sense.
Imo- with Newsom- it's fear. He's leaving office soon and an additional target because of his ex Kim G, Junior likely hates him even more than Kim does. Not an excuse, of course.
With Fetterman- it's increasing cognitive decline. He must not run again, hopefully Giselle and others close to him will bring him around to this. He's not at all the same man as before the stroke, it's heartbreaking.
I'm afraid there's a lot nowadays that make NO sense at all. We are in a new "Alt-normal" that's defying our stand on keeping democracy in place. On the flipside, PUSHING BACK is keeping our heads above water, along with federal judges who aren't afraid to thumb their noses at the FAKE administration. Let's hope they can work past the threats put on them to cease and desist. I mean, short of them and their families being physically harmed, or losing their bench position, there are still laws in place to go after them when committing these kinds of crimes. And as long as they've (those who do felony crimes) not been convicted, they cannot be pardoned. "Oh what a tangle web we weave when first we practice to deceive." ~ Sir Walter Scott 1808
When in doubt about seemingly decent people becoming toadies, remember that Trump's quiver has 3 arrows, the 3 B's: bullying, bribery, and blackmail.
Maybe someone should simply ask them.
You wouldn’t get a serious answer. With Newsome all you get is politic speak.
Well, we would either get an answer, or what you suggest.
Either way, it would be revealing.
Newsom's pet peeve has long been that Dems refuse to take their debate and argument to the GOP, and why he debated DeSantis.
So, I simply assume, based on that, that he is scratching this itch of his, and doing these interviews as a way to debate the other side, but once again, we need him to say what is up, or not, and not just speculate.
Liberal Dems have a bad habit of acting like the church lady on SNL, and looking down their noses very quickly and blackballing other Dems, rather than asking questions.
It reminds me of mean gossipy girls in high school looking for some kid to attack to boost their own egos and popularity.
In this case, perhaps to boost their own liberal credentials, like wearing the most stylish attack on fellow Dems as a badge of "liberal purity."
It is easy for others to get sucked into the attack mode with so much stress out there or if they are not familiar with how some in the far-left of the Dem party sometimes do this, and I am a Dem BTW.
I just hate that sort of thing.
As a lifelong Californian, I have followed the career of Gavin Newsom for decades. Above all else, he is politically ambitious. He knows what he needs to do to win, and he does it. Right now, he is taking a page from Trump’s book, and trying to reach the same people Trump lied to in the last election, namely, low information male voters who love toxic masculinity. That’s why he’s talking to Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. There is no persuasion, or even debate happening here. There is no vision other than Gavin’s vision of sitting behind the resolute desk. I voted for him for Governor, twice in fact (once there was a recall against him), but that was only because he was better than the alternative. Fun fact: he was once married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. That’s probably all you need to know about the guy.
Don’t trust him. Don’t listen to him. Don’t vote for him unless the other person is MAGA. That’s what I’m doing anyway.
Don't put Fetterman in with Newsom. While I disagreed with Fetterman visiting Mar-a-Criminal, I do agree with many of his policy positions. If Democrats want to win elections, they would do well to listen to Fetterman. Listen to his full reasonings not just the progressive media headlines.
Were on the same side so it's alright to disagree. But I'm a Veteran and in this bill they are going to cut Veterans benefits and he apparently is okay with that.
I am learning a lot about Newsome in this Thread, which is new to me. I have not seen him as the bad guy I am hearing about here. John
LOL....JOHN
Your post drew a LOL from me, Burke.......I have been a big raisin guy, but may have to reconsider. John
I'm at a loss what is misleading Newsom that this is a good idea or wins anybody over or creates any points for him. I think all of us reading this grew up in a world where we didn't host a podcast to be open and hear the viewpoints of neo-Nazis. We freaking erased them from the discourse and shamed them out of any civil public narrative. And that is exactly the correct thing to do. MAGA has aligned themselves into this sphere and they need exactly the same. This isn't a valid differing viewpoint. It's anti-democratic, hatemongering extremism. The modern mainstream establishment GOP today is a hate group, it's not a valid political party.
You are so right! That's what I learned- It's the responsible of society to shun those who cause evil and put them back under the rocks where they belong and were for many years. Too bad someone decided to enable them and give them power.
Thank You!! Well said!
Yet another reason to support Pete Buttigieg for President in 2028.
Buttigieg Kinznger either way a winning ticket
I have been concerned that Buttigieg,(as a gay man) ........... will have a hard time running for elective office. Adam would strengthen the Ticket for sure. Even with Adam, the Gay candidate poses that challenge to the ticket. John
I agree- just because he goes on Fox doesn't make him good to all Americans. Appealing to those who watch Fox isn't going to cut it. They must appeal to the Democrats and independents too and the issues that are important to them. I don't see him speaking on any media that others watch. Same thing with Adam- he's great but Democrats and Independents have to see him on media they watch or listen to as well. But it's early yet.
I want to be clear that I would vote for Buttigieg for sure, in whatever race he might choose. John
Pete Buttigieg is great, don’t care about him being gay. That’s his business and all I care about is that he loves this country and has militarily supported it.
I am with you on this, Ellen. John
I follow Adam Kinsinger on Substack and I am an Independent who leans towards democratic.
I am too. But there are many who do not do substack or any online stuff. they need to be on mainstream TV like the Sunday morning shows- ABC, CBS, NBC or cable- like MSNBC, News Nation, CNN- I know Adam has been on but not enough.
Both! Flip a coin for who’s President and VP!
I would work my ass off to get them elected!
Amen!
Bipartisanship requires compromise. Bannon has zero interest in either.
Exactly Dave!!
What is Newsom’s endgame here? And how does he think it helps to gain a few MAGA or conservative people and lose many times more liberal voter’s approval? His kumbaya stunt of coming to the table…. with a NAZI? With an anarchist that wants to blow everything up? Bannon is possibly the most calculating, cynical and cruel person I’m aware of.
Gavin… you’re not educating anyone. There are lines that should not be crossed.
I think Newsom sees the new political climate and realizes that he will never be POTUS, a goal he's pursued for 30+ years, so the leopard is changing its spots for a post-democratic world. I suspect he sees himself reinvented as a Joe Rogan or a Tulsi Gabbard. I've been a supporter for 30 years but when you add up all of his indiscretions, it really makes sense that his life is a performance. So disappointing.
Agree. Newsom is arrogant. He won’t be the next President.
I know someone else who’s arrogant…and we all said he wouldn’t be the next President, until he was. Twice.
Good point Maria.....I am still hoping that Trump's election is a bad dream, but of course it is for real. I hope that we can get Elon out of his place with Trump. John
You are absolutely correct Adam that this is no way to grow our big tent. I’m kinda gobsmacked that he would pull such a political stunt since I’ve had respect for the man.
Mike...may be reading Newsom's tea leaves all wrong...but I've thought he looked/ felt like the consumate politician ...running for higher office since he set foot in Sacramento. Never forgot his surreptitious flaunting of accepted behavior dinner out with group of friends during Covid. Smacks of " the rules apply to.lesser mortals..not to me!" Perhaps a little too greasy...a little bit smarmy??...not someone I feel comfortable entrusting my vote to....
I agree completely with you, Lynn. Since bursting on the scene, Newsom has been groomed for the ultimate prize -- 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Gettys, the Guggenhimes, and other monied, high society families have backed him from the beginning. For me, though, his judgment has always been suspect, and that French Laundry dinner -- while COVID-19 was surging and he was telling Californians not to gather en masse at the holidays -- was a very poor decision. His obnoxious delivery of "It's going to happen whether you like it or not," regarding same sex marriage, was another low point in his image making. Personally, I wasn't offended by the subject, but his pious attitude -- not too dissimilar from the current president -- was really off-putting. Bottom line, I think, at his core, he is too liberal for the middle of America to ever get comfortable with. I appreciate his concern for the environment, especially after the horrific fires in CA, and how he stood up to Trump in the recent campaign, but Gavin's real motives and trustworthiness are questionable. And entertaining MAGA whackos, giving them validation through a 'conversation'? Why? P.S. I am a lifelong Californian... until he became governor. Then, it was time to move.
KUDOS, LORI!!!
Thank you for your superb memory recall of other significant Newsom infractions/ questionable traits. Spot On! So very sorry you've left California...IMO God's country! 90 plus years here... a native ' prune picker"! Parents from Wales.
You've certainly convinced me my gut feelings about the man were justified.
Other candidates will be tossing their hat in the gubernatorial.ring....Harris has been mentioned......; elected with pure heart intentions, freshman legislators go to DC with grand hopes of sincerely " making a difference ". Then reality sets in...they find they have " to go along to Get along!" Mr Smith Goes To Washington" is but an idealistic fairy tale in these chaotic times. Times are tough right now...but we will not.give up our Freedom...our Democracy..without a good fight! WE WILL WIN!
I grew up in Paradise and my husband and I lived in Napa for over 20 years. "God's country" is right. 95% of my family is still in CA. Our neighborhood in Napa was right in the middle of the 2017 Atlas Fire, so we started looking at options. Now, we're on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Equally fabulous, if we can just keep the fires at bay.
My parents met on a ranch in the central valley pre-WWII. Dad was working the fields (after picking peaches for 10 cents a day) and Mom was in the kitchen. I love all of their stories of 'life back when' in the Golden State.
Now, I am with you... WE WILL WIN. And thank heavens for Adam's determination, knowledge, leadership, and integrity. Being a part of this Substack community has been a lifesaver for me these past several utterly insane weeks.
Great to e-meet you! ❤️
...old fingers pushed the reply button too early...
" miles to go before so sleep"...
My very best wishes to you and your family, Lori..
We will win this fight...don't ever count " the little guys out"!🤗
Delighted to meet you as well, my dear lady!
Happy you didn't move far away from the grandeur of California!
Taho was a favorite destination up the coastline from Southern California where I've been fortunate to call home all my life. Does pull at my heart strings to see my family ...on down to my youngest great grandchildren, having to grow up in this chaotic pathological petri dish of a world.
Right?!? I’m like WTF?!? Is everyone going crazy??? 😭
This is such a good article Adam!! I have always been a Newsom fan, but what he's doing with this crazy idea is horrible and is not going to do his Presidential aspirations any favors. I've felt pretty secure with all the crazy stuff going on in this country because I'm a Californian and knew my Governor would do all he could to protect me and my state. Now, I'm not so sure. Hope he gets the message and stops this sham. We must stand against these radicals and condemn them - and not give them a voice. This is not bipartisanship when we are being taken over by an authoritarian who is openly out to destroy democracy. We must all speak up against what is going on - it is not normal. Again Adam, I implore you to keep pushing the Democrats to unify under one big umbrella of opposition - with a charismatic spokesman who is everyday holding press conferences to point out Trump/Musk actions and how they are affecting everyday Americans - to shine a light on how we are losing our freedoms and will continue to if they are not put in check now. Where are our former Presidents and other influential leaders? They were willing to speak out during the campaign - we need them now even more!! We have a great organic resistance moving forward but we need leadership and unity and a party that is representing the opposition and presenting it with a united voice. We are crying for and begging for unity and leadership to help stop the destruction of our democracy. Please do what you can to speak to our leaders and to spread the word.
Karen, I've recently learned that Tim Walz is getting out there telling it like it is and should be invited into coalition-building discussions.
I am totally with you on this one. I have no clue why Gavin Newsome feels the need to rub elbows with these guys. I understand facing off and standing up to MAGA, but this makes no sense to me. I was a fan of the Governor before when he was standing up to The Felon.
Likely has designs on British Columbia—the water, and a straight path to Alaska through Oregon and Washington state….the whole western seaboard
I write to my congressman weekly. He's a Trump agenda fan. Unfortunately for him, I have the time to continue writing. He's suppose to represent all his constituents, not just his fellow Trumpers. He forgets he works for me too, not Trump! My voice won't be silenced. Thank you for your continued fight for democracy. I wished you were still in Congress bringing some sanity to the chaos. Had Harris won, I could see where she would have tapped you for her Administration.
I was hoping Newsom‘s podcast was going to be more like an intellectual debate, instead, I found it to be very disturbing as he accepted what they said as reasonable. Mother’s for liberty just concerned moms who don’t want their kids to see porn, really! It sounded as if Newsom had not prepared for the interview. He let so much of what Kirk said go unchallenged that I had to stop listening, stop following, and give him the lowest star rating I possibly could. Very disappointed, and very surprised.
I've definitely soured on Newsom lately; it seems like he's losing it.
All I needed to know about Bannon was his rallying cry to "flood the zone with s--t." Nothing he said or will say after that means anything. I'll be surprised if Newsom gets as far as a primary in 2028 (if we still have elections by then). I wouldn't even be surprised if he becomes a Republican.
I am a registered Democrat but I vote for candidates who I believe will do the best for my whole state, or for the nation in national voting. I rarely agree on a candidate's every policy and think it is unrealistic to believe anyone is a "perfect" match. That said, I am as disgusted with Democrats who continue to pander to criminals and maga folks for any damned reason, as I am with the lunatic party that currently holds the majority in our nation's government. While I am encouraged with the growing protests against the 🍊 Felon and his minions, I find myself unconvinced that the Democrats in Congress will be united in fighting against the party who is hell-bent on obliterating our democracy and deliberately hurting people. For whatever Newsom's reasons for giving attention to these individuals, it is appalling to me, and I hope folks raise hell with him for giving another platform to traitorous individuals.