Oh, Gavin!
Gavin Newsom and many of his fellow Democrats are failing us. Good thing we don’t need them to oppose Trump.
Gavin Newsom’s 13-year-old son listens to far-right podcasts. A situation that many parents of teenage boys are dealing with currently or concerned about dealing with in the future. Newsom is the current Democratic governor of California and a likely presidential candidate in 2028. I have no idea how he dealt with this concerning situation as a parent, but as a public figure, he decided to launch his own podcast where he interviews far-right figures. His first guest was MAGA influencer darling and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
This isn’t new territory for Newsom. In 2023, Newsom participated in a prime time debate with Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, on Fox News. A media stunt for both men that generated a lot of media and online attention. I thought debating DeSantis was dumb, but at least then the headlines for Newsom were about the contrast between these two men and their worldviews. The fallout from the Kirk interview is that Newsom, who has enjoyed a reputation as a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, threw the Trans community under the bus by agreeing with Kirk on trans athletes participating in sports and asked Kirk to give the Democratic party advice.
If Newsom’s goal is to generate attention for attention’s sake, he’ll certainly get it with this podcast. But let’s not pretend this does anything to help his constituents or mount a resistance to Trump. It’s a vanity exercise, an effort that will only amplify extremists and further normalize and mainstream their views. Frankly, it’s also a slap in the face to his constituents who were counting on him to be on the frontlines, opposing the Trump regime.
As I’ve written previously, elites won’t lead the way. It’s on us to hold them accountable and push them to meet the moment. This week, as I watched Democrats in Congress embarrass themselves by wearing pink or holding up tiny auction signs in response to Trump’s speech to Congress, I was reminded of just how little leadership our elected officials seem capable of showing. Only Rep. Al Green, who 10 Democrats just voted to censure for his protest, seemed to have a plan, and he was acting alone. Some Democratic members who chose to walk out during Trump’s speech were reprimanded by leadership, and that reprimand was then leaked to Axios. The Democrats who attended and did not walk out became mere props for Trump to mock during the speech. Probably a bigger humiliation than having House Leadership scold you publicly.
The anger at elected Democrats is understandable. Americans deserve better leadership from the Democratic party than we currently have, and I have a feeling we’re about to see a flood of primaries for midterm races. But I also hope we continue to build our own grassroots power, self-organize, and work to move past these folks. We need to grow the opposition and create a groundswell so large that elected officials will be forced to follow.
Gavin Newsom can spend his time breaking bread with MAGA influencers, and Democratic members of Congress can continue with their strategy of On Tuesdays, we wear pink. If their behavior makes you angry, I suggest putting that rage to good use and showing these folks what leadership looks like. Here are three things you can do that will help grow our momentum and build power:
Join a local organizing effort. There has never been a better time to meet your values-aligned neighbors and build community. There are efforts underway in all 50 states and the US territories. You can look for actions on Mobilize, join your local Indivisible Chapter, or attend a Tesla Takedown event. You can find values-aligned parents at your child’s school, members of your faith community, or on your neighborhood listserv or Facebook group. Even in deep red states, I promise you you’re not alone, and there’s community and a way to get involved.
Make sure your people know that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are stealing from them. Elon Musk is currently gutting the Federal government and stealing from you and your family for his own gain. The Trump regime is coming for Medicaid, Medicare, social security, foreign aid, and assistance for Veterans. They’re stealing from children and college students by gutting the Department of Education. All to further enrich themselves. Trump voters and people who’ve largely tuned out of politics are now coming up against reality. Which is why members of Congress in deep red districts were getting berated at town halls, and Republican members are starting to ask Elon Musk actual questions about DOGE. It’s worth pointing this out to people in your life at every opportunity. Don’t worry about the politics. Focus on the theft. No one likes a thief stealing from them.
Get creative and try new things. One of the reasons we need new leadership is because we also need new ideas. Now is the time to try new tactics or consider new actions. Especially ones that push economic levers building off of ideas like last week’s day of Economic Blackout. My personal view is that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of how to wield our collective economic power, and if these guys are going to steal from us, we need to make them and their shareholders experience some pressure. But don’t limit yourself to my line of thinking or anyone else’s. Try stuff out and see what sticks.
We’re not there yet, but the pressure is starting to pay off. The Trump Administration just leaked that cabinet secretaries, not Elon Musk and DOGE, are in charge of their departments, and any cuts and firings should be done through them. DOGE can only make recommendations. This change likely came about at least in part because Republican electeds were feeling the heat from constituents. Keep it up!
ICYMI
Social Security Workers Aren’t Allowed to Read This Story (Wired)
This draconian nonsense censorship is brought to you by the same people who are shouting about how they’ve brought free speech back to government.
The Blake Lively Story That Isn't Being Told (Splitfire News)
Reporter Kat Tenbarge has launched her own newsletter, and one of her first editions covers my favorite topic: how easy it is to manipulate social media and how unaware of this fact most consumers remain. Worth reading and subscribing.
Why Techdirt Is Now A Democracy Blog (Whether We Like It Or Not) (TechDirt)
I’ve been a Techdirt reader for years, and while I haven’t always agreed with Mike Masnick, he’s absolutely right that anyone who covers tech is now covering democracy and related issues. Key quote: “When the very institutions that made American innovation possible are being systematically dismantled, it’s not a 'political' story anymore. It’s a story about whether the environment that enabled all the other stories we cover will continue to exist.”
What Would It Look Like If Librarians Ran the Government Instead of These Fools? (TruthOut)
A fun piece to end with. Personally, I’m excited about the idea of librarians running for and holding elected office.
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Coda
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I want to make clear that there is no place for transphobia in my comments section and I will delete those comments immediately. I'm astounded that I have to say this but apparently I do.
I'm very proud of my Govenor, JB Pritzker for standing up to Trump and his horrendous policies. I really had hope that Gavin Newsom would as well. I understand reaching across the aisle but this is very disappointing.