Background
In February 2025, iHeartMedia and Gavin Newsom announced their collaboration on his new podcast, This is Gavin Newsom. [5] Its trailer was released subsequently thereafter. [6] On the episodes of This is Gavin Newsom, Newsom discusses political and social issues with his guests. [7] They are structured to be one-on-one conversations. Newsom aims to release a new podcast every week; each episode aims to be around 45 minutes long, but the length can vary. [8] Notable guests such as Charlie Kirk, Tim Walz and Ezra Klein have also made interviews on his podcast. [9] Newsom choose his guests to widen his understanding of Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 United States presidential election, reflecting his interest of the Republican Party's prior branding for Trump's presidential campaign. [10] He converses with them to explore differing viewpoints across the political spectrum. [11] Newsweek said that "Newsom defended his podcast as a chance to have the conversations the Democratic Party refuses to have…" [12]
Although most episodes feature conservatives, some contain liberal voices. Newsom believes his podcast gave him the opportunity to interview with people he disagrees with. [13] He has touted his podcast as a form of understanding the motivations of the MAGA movement; also referencing how the Democratic Party can proceed after the loss of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. [8] Newsom discusses the effects of political divides in his podcast by conversing with these people. [14] Newsom’s podcast is arranged with iHeartMedia, an American mass media corporation; he does not receive any compensation from it. [15]
Reception
Vulture describes Newsom's podcast "as the governor's more direct effort at political outreach across the aisle." [16] It has received exposure due to its exploration of differing political viewpoints. [17] The New Yorker suggests that he needs his podcast to distance himself from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. [18] California Senator Ben Allen valued Newsom's goal of emphasizing these viewpoints by noting the importance of open dialogue. [19] Kentucky governor Andy Beshear publicly supported Newsom's podcast, but criticized his choice to interview Steve Bannon. [20] The left wing blog Daily Kos said that his status as a Democrat could be a significant influence in the realm of podcasting, which is dominated by right-wing voices. [21]
Newsom garnered publicity for his rhetoric on the first episode ("And, This is Charlie Kirk"); he shared his opposition to the term Latinx, [22] [23] suggested his opposition to gender transition surgeries for inmates [24] and said that it was "deeply unfair" for transgender women to participate in women's sports. Newsom originally said to Kirk about this issue: "I think it's an issue of fairness; I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness, it's deeply unfair." [25] MSNBC said that "the governor's comments [were] a departure from his relatively progressive record on LGBTQ rights," [26] due to his influence on LGBTQ rights in the United States. [27]
Newsom was criticized by some Democrats for his willingness to converse with conservatives; he said that his podcast explores how the Republican Party's messaging in the 2024 election win voters. [28] Some people believe his podcast plays him more politically moderate with ongoing speculation he is preparing himself as a potential Democratic candidate for president in the 2028 election, in which both the party’s next presidential primaries and the next election will be held for Newsom to launch his own possible presidential bid after leaving office as California governor at the end of his term in January 2027. [29] [30] [31] [32] As of April 2, 2025, This is Gavin Newsom is ranked as the 40th most popular podcast on Spotify and ranked as 53rd on iHeart's "Podcasts Top 100 list. [33] [34]
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