In an unique interview with Robert Costa for “CBS Sunday Morning,” California Governor Gavin Newsom described the Democrats’ redistricting in his state as an effort to make sure “the way forward for this republic” – and a essential measure to counter President Trump’s push to develop Republican beneficial properties within the U.S. Home and safe its slender majority.
The vote on Proposition 50 this November 4 was simply one of many points the Democrat mentioned, together with his personal plans for the 2028 election.
Proposition 50
Newsom has been stumping throughout his state advocating for redistricting, in response to President Trump’s redistricting push in Republican-controlled states, like Texas.
Reasonably than gerrymander districts within the state legislature, as Texas did, California is placing a poll initiative, Proposition 50, earlier than the voters on November 4 as a way to permit for redistricting in subsequent 12 months’s midterm election.
If Proposition 50 succeeds subsequent week, Democrats will change the boundaries of U.S. Home districts in California, making it simpler for his or her occasion to win as much as 5 extra seats. (The state at present has 43 U.S. Home seats held by Democrats, and 9 by Republicans.)
Newsom is framing the trouble as one thing about greater than California’s Congressional delegation, however about oversight of the Trump administration. “I believe it is about our democracy,” he mentioned. “It is about the way forward for this republic. I believe it is about, you realize, what the founding fathers lived and died for, this notion of the rule of regulation, and never the rule of Don. This rule of in style sovereignty essentially, of co-equal branches of presidency, system of checks and balances.
Newsom believes that if his occasion takes again management of the Home and replaces Republican Speaker Mike Johnson with a Democrat, the Trump presidency will successfully be over. “[Trump’s] presidency de facto ends, if we’re profitable, we the individuals are profitable, in taking again the Home,” he mentioned. “You will have rebalanced the system. Co-equal department of presidency begins to claim itself. It seems once more.”
However he fears what could occur if Democrats don’t achieve management within the Home: “If in case you have a Speaker Johnson, we could have a third-term of President Trump, I actually imagine that,” a nod to Mr. Trump’s public musing about in search of a 3rd time period regardless of the U.S. Structure limiting presidents to 2 phrases in workplace.
Trump’s army deployments
Newsom has fought Mr. Trump’s deployment of federal brokers in California – from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Los Angeles, to the specter of federalized Nationwide Guard troops in San Francisco and the Bay Space (which the president later pulled again). In reality, the state has filed 43 lawsuits in opposition to the Trump administration since Inauguration Day.
Costa requested, “What’s it is like being the governor of the state of California, and never figuring out, day-to-day, if the federal authorities’s going to be sending brokers or to not your state?”
“It is a hell of a option to govern,” Newsom replied. “I imply, we’re simply governing simply profound uncertainty, the type of tectonic plates that we’re conversant in out right here on the West Coast, however on the character of our politics. I’ve mentioned this – is probably not a type of prudent factor to say a few President of the USA – however I imply, he is an invasive species.”
“For California?”
“For the nation. For the world,” Newsom mentioned. “He is a wrecking ball. Not simply the symbolism and substance of the East Wing; he is wrecking alliances, fact, belief, custom, establishments.”
He additionally rejected strategies that ICE brokers are wanted in California due to what the White Home known as “third-world revolt riots on American soil.”
“California cooperates because it pertains to criminals,” he mentioned. “We proceed to cooperate out of our state penitentiary system lots of of individuals each month that we coordinate with ICE to go after the ‘worst of the worst.’ That is not what that is about, and everyone is aware of it. You do not simply randomly present up at a automotive wash and inform me it is concerning the ‘worst of the worst.’ You do not randomly present up on the showrooms or the parking a lot of each Residence Depot.”
Podcasting as a method to grasp Trump supporters
Newsom is not simply opposing Mr. Trump; he is additionally making an attempt to grasp the MAGA motion. His podcast, “This Is Gavin Newsom,” not solely welcomes figures on his aspect of the political aisle, but in addition the president’s allies, from Steve Bannon and Newt Gingrich to the late Charlie Kirk.
Newsom mentioned his personal son has reminded him about taking note of different voices. “We have a disaster on this nation moreover the disaster that we have mentioned round the way forward for this republic,” he mentioned. “We even have a disaster with masculinity and males. Males are struggling. … I imply, suicide charges are off the chart, dropout charges, suspension charges, loneliness, despair, depths of despair. It is a critical disaster, what is going on on on this nation.
“Democrats have not centered on that challenge. And I am very happy with the work, substantive work we’re doing on this, however I’ve additionally been utilizing the podcast to focus on that.”
Mocking Trump on social media
The governor additionally makes use of satire to tweak the president, aping Mr. Trump’s prolific use of social media. Newsom’s communications workforce repeatedly parodies President Trump’s use of all-caps and AI-generated pictures, even signing off, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. — GCN”
CBS Information
Newsom has mentioned that his social-media posts are pushed by each his need so as to add a humorousness to politics, and to problem President Trump by utilizing Trump-style techniques.
2028 plans
This previous July, “Sunday Morning” spent a day following Newsom throughout South Carolina, a key state within the 2028 presidential race. Newsom labored the crowds, shaking fingers and even pulling espresso photographs at a espresso bar.
Newsom’s go to sparked curiosity amongst these at his occasions and in political circles that he is likely to be mulling his personal White Home bid.
“I am trying ahead to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that second. And that is the query for the American individuals. They will make that dedication,” Newsom mentioned within the interview this previous week.
Costa requested, “Is it honest to say after the 2026 midterms, you are going to give it critical thought?”
“Yeah. I would be mendacity in any other case. I would just be mendacity. And I am – I am unable to try this.”
He mentioned it will be essential for a candidate to impart to voters precisely why they’re operating. “Nietzsche mentioned, ‘If in case you have a compelling why, you’ll be able to endure any how.’ And so, I believe the largest problem for anybody who runs for any workplace is individuals see proper by means of you if you do not have that why. You are doing it for the unsuitable causes.”
“Once I noticed you slinging photographs behind the espresso bar, I assumed, ‘This man may run for president.'” Costa mentioned.
Newsom, who as a baby was recognized with dyslexia, mentioned, “The concept a man who acquired 960 on his SAT, that also struggles to learn scripts, that was all the time behind the classroom – the concept that you even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary,” he laughed. “Who the hell is aware of?”
Story produced by Ed Forgotson and John Goodwin. Editor: Chad Cardin.
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