California Governor Gavin Newsom's biggest problem is that he embodies everything the Democrats are supposed to be against. His commitment to the status quo of corporate interests and his willingness to work with billionaires make him anathema to those who claim to be progressive. In fact, Newsom's record suggests that he may be too centrist for some liberals.
Newsom's stance on the billionaire tax was a telling sign of where he stands. He opposed the bill, which would have imposed a one-time 5% levy on residents worth $1 billion or more. This move solidified his position as a politician beholden to the wealthy elite, who will stop at nothing to maintain their power and privilege.
Newsom's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos was another example of his pro-corporate agenda. There, he scolded European leaders for being too soft on Trump, suggesting that they should stand up to him or face the consequences. This kind of rhetoric is more characteristic of a politician who wants to appease the right-wing elite than one who genuinely seeks to challenge their power.
Newsom's review of TikTok's moderation practices was also telling. He accused the platform of suppressing critical content after it agreed to transfer ownership to a consortium of pro-Israel, Trump-loving billionaires. This move only serves to further cement Newsom's ties to the same corporate interests he claims to oppose.
His podcast, "This Is Gavin Newsom," where he sits down with far-right celebrities like Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk, is another example of his lack of principle. The conversations are more about Newsom trying to look reasonable and centrist than engaging in meaningful dialogue or challenging the status quo.
Critics like Marc Novicoff and Jonathan Chait argue that Newsom's record suggests he may be perceived as too progressive by some on the left. However, their assessment misses the point entirely. What should concern progressives is not whether Newsom is "too liberal," but rather how far to the right he is willing to move to appease the corporate elite.
Newsom's palling around with right-wing pseudo-intellectuals like Kirk and Shapiro only serves to further erode his credibility among progressive voters. His assurances that he does not favor abolishing death squads, despite their violent tactics in Minnesota, are laughable. The fact that he fails to condemn these groups while embracing them as a necessary evil shows just how far Newsom is willing to go to maintain the status quo.
The progressive left should be wary of candidates like Newsom who claim to represent their values but ultimately serve the interests of the powerful. If they want to defeat American fascism, they need to demand more than token gestures or platitudes; they require genuine commitment to challenging the power of corporations and billionaires. Anything less will only perpetuate the cycle of inequality and oppression that Newsom embodies.
Newsom's stance on the billionaire tax was a telling sign of where he stands. He opposed the bill, which would have imposed a one-time 5% levy on residents worth $1 billion or more. This move solidified his position as a politician beholden to the wealthy elite, who will stop at nothing to maintain their power and privilege.
Newsom's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos was another example of his pro-corporate agenda. There, he scolded European leaders for being too soft on Trump, suggesting that they should stand up to him or face the consequences. This kind of rhetoric is more characteristic of a politician who wants to appease the right-wing elite than one who genuinely seeks to challenge their power.
Newsom's review of TikTok's moderation practices was also telling. He accused the platform of suppressing critical content after it agreed to transfer ownership to a consortium of pro-Israel, Trump-loving billionaires. This move only serves to further cement Newsom's ties to the same corporate interests he claims to oppose.
His podcast, "This Is Gavin Newsom," where he sits down with far-right celebrities like Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk, is another example of his lack of principle. The conversations are more about Newsom trying to look reasonable and centrist than engaging in meaningful dialogue or challenging the status quo.
Critics like Marc Novicoff and Jonathan Chait argue that Newsom's record suggests he may be perceived as too progressive by some on the left. However, their assessment misses the point entirely. What should concern progressives is not whether Newsom is "too liberal," but rather how far to the right he is willing to move to appease the corporate elite.
Newsom's palling around with right-wing pseudo-intellectuals like Kirk and Shapiro only serves to further erode his credibility among progressive voters. His assurances that he does not favor abolishing death squads, despite their violent tactics in Minnesota, are laughable. The fact that he fails to condemn these groups while embracing them as a necessary evil shows just how far Newsom is willing to go to maintain the status quo.
The progressive left should be wary of candidates like Newsom who claim to represent their values but ultimately serve the interests of the powerful. If they want to defeat American fascism, they need to demand more than token gestures or platitudes; they require genuine commitment to challenging the power of corporations and billionaires. Anything less will only perpetuate the cycle of inequality and oppression that Newsom embodies.
! He's literally selling his soul to the corporate devil and we're supposed to be cheering him on? I mean, what's next, is he gonna start wearing a suit made out of Apple logos and attending Bilderberg meetings? 
The billionaire tax thing was a major red flag, like seriously who opposes that kind of legislation? And then there's this whole Davos debacle where he's basically trying to tell European leaders how to be tougher on Trump... please 
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. Like what, is Newsom trying to prove that he can hang out with far-right extremists without losing his mind? I need some actual substance from my politicians, not just empty words and a smile for the cameras. And honestly, if he thinks that's being "centrist", then we're all in trouble 
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. He's all about maintaining the status quo and appeasing the corporate elite, even if it means compromising on some of our most basic values. I mean, come on, how can we trust someone who thinks that death squads are "necessary evils"? 
, not ones who are too scared to do so. So yeah, let's keep calling out Newsom for his lack of principle and demand more from our leaders 
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. Like, who does Newsom think he is, trying to sound reasonable while having far-right celebrities on? It just shows how desperate he is to cling to the center and appease the corporate elite.
. If we want to defeat American fascism, we need people who are willing to take on the powers that be and challenge corporate interests head-on. Anything less is just settling for a watered-down version of progress 
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. I mean, come on, a billionaire tax bill he opposes? That's like saying "yeah, let's give more power to the rich guys who already have too much" 
. I'm all for being centrist, but not at the expense of our values, you know? Progressives need to be more vigilant about who they're supporting and what their actual record is 
. Like, I get it, centrism can be a necessary evil in politics, but when you're on the left, it feels like you're compromising your values. He's got ties to billionaires and big corps, which is wild considering he claims to oppose them. It's like he's more concerned with being elected than actually making a difference 
. Plus, his podcast is just him trying too hard to be centrist 
. What's the point of being a progresive if you're just gonna pander to the right-wing crowd?
If he can work with billionaires and still claim to be progressive, that's a pretty big deal. It's not like he's the only one who's compromised his values to get elected. 
. I think Newsom is trying to find a middle ground that works for everyone, even if it means making some tough choices. Can't we just focus on finding common ground instead of demonizing politicians who are trying to do the right thing? 
and his review of TikTok's moderation practices is just a joke 
The real question is, what's his true agenda? Is he really on the side of the people or just playing both sides against each other? 
like what is going on there?! Newsom's whole thing is just about appearing reasonable and centrist, not actually engaging with any real issues or challenges... it's all just a big show 
. The fact that he's palling around with right-wing pseudo-intellectuals who are literally promoting violence against marginalized groups is just, like, so sickening 
. Progressives need to wake up and demand more from their leaders if they want to actually create real change... anything less is just perpetuating the status quo 
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newsom's podcast convo w/ them is just a bunch of him tryin to look all centrist & reasonable lol but honestly it's just more proof that he's willin' to do whatever it takes to stay in power. 
. Otherwise, we're stuck with more of the same old watered-down politics 
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. Maybe instead of tearing him apart, we should be working together to build a more inclusive and equitable society 
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. We want our leaders to be champions of justice, equality, and progress 
. Can we hold him accountable for his actions while also acknowledging our own complicity in perpetuating the status quo? 
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... but what bothers me is that Newsom's whole platform feels like a mixed bag 
... he's got some good policies, but then he backs out or compromises on others