Politics
Gavin Newsom Calls Democrats ‘Toxic,’ Faces Immediate Criticism
By Jake Beardslee · March 30, 2025
Newsom Labels Democratic Party ‘Toxic’ in HBO Interview
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing significant backlash after remarks he made during a recent appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. In the interview, Newsom described the Democratic Party as “toxic,” criticizing its reluctance to engage in bipartisan dialogue. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
Newsom Criticizes Democratic Echo Chambers
“These guys are crushing us. The Democratic brand is toxic right now,” Newsom told Maher. The comments were made while discussing his new podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, which launched in February as an effort to promote conversations across the political divide. The governor noted that some Democrats refuse to speak with Republicans, preferring to stay in “echo chambers.” JUAN CARLO/THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK
Podcast Guests Span Political Spectrum as Approval Dips
Newsom's podcast has featured guests ranging from conservative activists like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon to progressive figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. Despite this outreach, his approval ratings appear to be slipping. A Capitol Weekly poll found that his favorability dropped from 52% in early February to 47% in early March, after showing 1,000 California voters clips from his podcast. Seej Nguyen / Pexels
Newsom Defends Podcast as Effort to Bridge Political Divide
Newsom defended the podcast as a necessary platform for civil discourse: “It's one thing to make noise but you also have to make sense.” He emphasized that Democrats must “own our mistakes...own what's wrong with our party.” Bureau of Reclamation / Wikimedia
Democrats Push Back After Newsom Calls Party “Toxic”
Prominent figures responded swiftly. Representative Ro Khanna wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “With respect, [Gavin Newsom] the Democratic party is not ‘toxic.’ This is not the time to join the chorus in bashing our party.” State Representative Sam Liccardo likened Newsom’s remarks to a defendant seeking mercy after causing the very problem. U.S. Congress / Eric Connolly / Wikimedia
Liccardo Slams Newsom Over “Toxic” Party Remark
In a pointed post on X, California Democratic state Representative Sam Liccardo criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent comments about the Democratic Party. “Newsom calling the Democratic brand ‘toxic’ resembles the defendant who pleads for a judge’s mercy as an ‘orphan’ after killing his parents,” Liccardo wrote. He added, “I should know: [Gavin Newsom] & CA Dem Party endorsed my opponent last year…and I won by double digits.” The United States Senate - Office of Senator Kamala Harris / Wikimedia
Opponents Point to Newsom’s Record Amid Party Critique
Critics across the political spectrum, including political commentator Keith Olbermann and conservative activist Riley Gaines, accused Governor Gavin Newsom of hypocrisy following his recent media appearances.Olbermann wrote on X: “Nothing worse than politicians like [Gavin Newsom] and dyspeptic MCs who thought it was them and not their guests like [Bill Maher] mistaking their own collusion with the fascists as ‘insight.’ The toxicity is YOU, boys. You’re finished.”
Gaines posted a clip of Newsom’s interview and wrote on X: “Gavin Newsom’s ‘rebrand’ isn’t fooling anyone…at least no one who has been paying attention.” Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
Andrew Yang Signals Likely Newsom Presidential Run
Despite the backlash, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang posted that “the odds of Gavin Newsom running for President are approximately 100%.” However, Newsom has not officially declared any intention to run in 2028. Abhiram Juvvadi / Wikimedia