California’s Democratic governor made his blistering remark during an interview with “Real Time” host Bill Maher.
California Governor Gavin Newsom received backlash online for his Friday comments about the Democratic Party when he called its brand “toxic” and criticized some in the party who are unwilling to “have a conversation” with their Republican counterparts during an interview with comedian and talk show host Bill Maher.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office directed Newsweek to Newsom’s comments during the Maher interview.Why It Matters
Newsom, a Democrat, has attempted a fresh approach to political divisiveness in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, which saw Republicans take control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
Launching the This Is Gavin Newsom podcast in late February, the governor has positioned his venture as a bipartisan exploration, with guests including conservative activist Charlie Kirk and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon as well as popular left-wing figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and New York Times opinion columnist Ezra Klein.What To Know
Newsom sat down with Maher on Friday during a segment of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher and addressed his podcast, saying he found it bewildering that some members of his party refuse to even speak with Republicans and are instead content to remain in “echo chambers.”
“These guys are crushing us. The Democratic brand is toxic right now”, Newsom said.
“We had a high watermark two weeks ago, and that was a CNN poll, at 29 percent favorability. It’s dropped in an NBC poll to 27 percent”, the governor said. “It’s one thing to make noise but you also have to make sense.”
Newsom defended his podcast as a chance to have the conversations the Democratic Party refuses to have and “not take cheap shots.
