4 Recent Head-Scratching Moments From CA Governor Newsom

CALIFORNIA — From mailing out "burner" phones to big tech CEOs to breaking with his party on transgender issues in his uncharacteristically middle-leaning podcast, Gavin Newsom has elicited a collective "huh?" from both supporters and opponents alike lately.

Newsom is reaching the final stretch of his two-term tenure as the Golden State's tart-tongued defender of liberal positions — but recent actions appear to be a departure from that persona. Following President Donald Trump's reelection and the state's failure to get the wildfire disaster aid that the outgoing Biden Administration had promised, some speculate that Newsom could be testing moderate waters.

In an age of rigid partisanship, talking with the other side is "so rarely a part of public discourse it seems like either bravery or lunacy," said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego. "While there are clear risks, he is trying to align his national reputation ... in a slightly unpredictable middle."

Newsom's Chummy Talks With Conservatives On His Podcast

The governor's new podcast This Is Gavin Newsom has seen the progressive sit down with the conservative likes of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, and Steve Bannon, the architect of Trump's first campaign and a driver of Trump's stolen election narrative in 2020.

Initially, Newsom's decision to depart from a heavy-partisan trend by inviting opposing viewpoints on his show received praise. But it's also provoked his base, particularly when he appeared to agree with his Republican guests on issues that he just recently seemed staunchly against.

"He leaves wild right-wing claims unchallenged and repeatedly concedes Republican premises," New York Times political columnist Michelle Goldberg critiqued. "When Bannon described rebuilding his movement after what he claimed was the stolen 2020 election, Newsom’s response was, 'Well, I appreciate the notion of agency.'"

After spotlighting Bannon, Kirk and conservative radio personality Michael Savage, Newsom will quickly diversify his lineup: His next guest is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, last year's Democratic vice presidential nominee. But some Democrats say the governor, who is widely viewed as having presidential ambitions, is selling out Liberal values in favor of his own political aspirations.

Aimee Allison, the founder and president of She the People, a national organizing hub for electing women of color, said Newsom is betraying California and “showing his weakness and naked ambition.” Allison was among Democrats who helped Newsom defeat a 2021 recall attempt.

Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, credited Newsom with trying to reach voters who might not engage with traditional media.

“I think there are going to be a lot of people this alienates in the short term,” Burton said. But, he added, Democrats “have to take a lot of big swings.”

The governor — who called Trump a threat to American democracy throughout last year’s campaign — has been trying to navigate a tenuous relationship with the White House as the state recovers from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January. He's requested $40 billion in federal aid.

Newsom, while progressive, has never been locked into one ideological position: He's broken at times with more liberal factions in the Legislature. His shift this time may be to head off the kind of criticism Republicans have aimed at former Vice President Kamala Harris, also of California, or edge toward positions more closely in line with majority public opinion.
During the podcast episodes released so far, Newsom has been mostly affable and agreeable, though he's challenged his guests at times.

Newsom called dismantling police departments “lunacy” and remained silent when Steve Bannon, an architect of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, falsely said Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

Newsom said his choice of podcast guests reflects his interest in knowing more about how Republicans organized in the last election, when Trump swept every battleground state and Republicans locked up majorities in the House and Senate.

“I think we all agreed after the last election that it’s important for Democrats to explore new and unique ways of talking to people,” he added in an email to supporters.

But this is not the Newsom voters recognize and not the man who appeared in a 2023 televised debate with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom he described as weak and pathetic, or who called the state legislature into special session last year to attempt to safeguard the state’s progressive policies under a Trump administration.

Sending 'Bat Phones' To Tech CEOs

Newsom has been sending cheap prepaid phones, otherwise cheekily dubbed "burner" or "bat" phones, to big tech's CEOs. According to Politico, about 100 leaders of companies headquartered in California have received a package in recent months containing a phone with Newsom's direct line programmed.

“If you ever need anything, I’m a phone call away,” Newsom wrote under his official letterhead to one big tech firm's CEO, who gave the tip to Politico under the condition of anonymity.

Newsom's office confirmed the action to KCRA on Monday night.

This was the governor's idea to connect more directly with business leaders in the state. The feedback has been positive, and it's led to valuable interactions," Izzy Gardon, the governor's communications director, told the station.

An About-Face On Transgender Issues

During his first podcast episode with Kirk, Newsom made headlines when he agreed with the conservative on the issue of transgender women competing in women's sports.

"I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that," he said to Kirk. "It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair. I’m not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you."

Newsom's surprising about-face on the issue quickly drew vitriol from LGBTQ+ advocates.

“We are profoundly disappointed and angered by Governor Newsom’s comments about transgender youth and their ability to participate in sports,” Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, said in a statement. “Transgender kids — like all kids — deserve the chance to play sports alongside their teammates and learn important values like leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Transgender young people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

“We need a governor that will defend California’s values, support vulnerable children, LGBTQ+ people, Black people, women, and everyone else who’s in the line (of) fire of the Trump administration. Instead he is making the worst moves possible in a time of rising fascism. He’s trying to remake himself to be acceptable to MAGA,” Allison wrote in an email, referring to supporters of Trump's “Make America Great Again” movement.

Newsom Mandates State Workers Return To The Office

In a dramatic departure from the governor's support of a remote work model he pushed for during and coming out of the pandemic, Newsom issued an executive order directing all state workers back to the office four days a week, according to his office.

All agencies and departments in the state were given the order to update their hybrid telework policies to a default of at least four days per week by July 1.

The action has reignited tensions between the governor and labor unions, who previously pushed back against Newsom's earlier order to return the state government's workforce to the office two days per week.

The return-to-office push mirrors similar sentiment by President Donald Trump for workers on the federal level.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.