The Rest Is Politics: Leading 178. Gavin Newsom: The Next President Of The United States?
100 snips
Mar 2, 2026 
Gavin Newsom, California governor and former San Francisco mayor known for progressive policy on housing, climate and AI, discusses his dyslexia and upcoming memoir. He recounts a late-night Trump phone call and why he mimics Trump on social media. He weighs California’s national role, critiques media power, and reflects on a possible 2028 presidential run and the costs to family life.
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Authenticity Replaced Message Discipline
- Newsom argues modern politics demands authenticity and tolerance for failure because long polished messaging no longer holds in podcast and social media era.
- He cites extended podcasts and risky public conversations as the new norm versus five-minute vetted soundbites.
Trump's Leadership Is Experimental Theater
- Newsom sees Trump's offensives as iterative testing: throw ideas into the media cycle, watch what sticks, then amplify.
- He interprets recent policy pivots and rhetorical shifts (Greenland, alliances, domestic tactics) as evidence of mercurial, tactical decision-making.
How A Midnight Call Changed Newsom's Tactics
- Gavin Newsom pivoted his social media style after a late-night 19-minute phone call from Donald Trump that revealed Trump's focus on insults over policy.
- The call (1:30–2:00 AM Palm Beach time) and Trump's subsequent public actions—federalizing thousands of troops—prompted Newsom to mirror and troll Trump on social media.
