California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to debut his own podcast, where he will engage in in-depth conversations with prominent figures, including members of the Republican Party.
The podcast, titled This is Gavin Newsom, will be produced by iHeartPodcasts, the same network that already hosts Politickin, a sports and culture show that Newsom has appeared on in the past.
Unlike Politickin, however, this new project will focus specifically on political discourse, featuring a structured interview format that allows Newsom to explore key policy issues and ideological debates.
In an interview with Politico on Tuesday, Newsom outlined his vision for the podcast, emphasizing his desire to engage with voices from the opposite side of the political spectrum.
“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 explained. “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.”
Over the past few years, Newsom has actively sought opportunities to challenge conservative viewpoints and engage directly with right-wing figures. In 2023, he participated in a televised debate against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, which was moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Newsom has also made multiple appearances on Fox News and has funded ad campaigns in Republican-led states, particularly those with restrictive abortion policies, to highlight what he views as fundamental policy differences between Democratic and Republican leadership.
The launch of Newsom’s podcast comes amid continued speculation about his national political ambitions and at a time when the Democratic Party is seeking to counter the growing cultural and media influence of the Republican Party.
Many political analysts believe the podcast space has played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, particularly in the wake of Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.
The rise of conservative voices in this medium has led some Democratic strategists to consider expanding their outreach in podcasting as a way to engage with a broader audience.
“At the same time, I want Democrats to come on and sort of challenge where we are on a lot of these issues,” Newsom told Politico. “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 framed his approach as that of a “practitioner, not a pundit,” stressing that his goal is to engage in meaningful discussions that have real-world policy implications, particularly in California. He made it clear that the podcast would not simply be a platform for Democratic talking points but rather a space for open, critical discussions.
“I’m here to stress test positions, including my own, in a more transparent manner,” he said. “It’s not a place where 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. I’m in it as much or more than most elected officials in this country, because I’m in the largest state. I’m in a state that’s deeply on the mind of the administration. I’m in a state that is profoundly critical to the fate and future as it relates to some of the most critical industries, like artificial intelligence, and obviously in this remarkable moment as it relates to geopolitical re-calibration.”
Newsom cited comedian and political commentator Bill Maher as a major influence on his approach to the podcast. He praised Maher’s ability to take on both sides of the political spectrum, stating that Maher “takes shots at both parties” and “doesn’t have a problem in suffering fools on either side of the aisle.”
While Newsom did not disclose specific guests who have been confirmed for the podcast, he hinted at the types of figures he hopes to feature in conversations. He pointed to the lineup of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) as an indicator of the kind of voices he is interested in engaging with.
“It’s that crew. These are the guys right now who are enjoying their status, they’re enjoying their moment, and they’re having not just a moment here, but around the world. And we want to explore that,” he said.
As Newsom prepares to launch This is Gavin Newsom, political observers will be watching closely to see how his direct engagement with conservative voices shapes public discourse—and how it may influence his future political trajectory.