Newsom launches another podcast, teases conversations with MAGA leaders

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday the launch of his new “This is Gavin Newsom” podcast, which the Democratic leader said will feature conversations with “some of the biggest leaders and architects in the MAGA movement.”

“I want to engage people that often I engage with in private and make public those conversations, and I think that’s what inspired this,” Newsom said at a news conference about his economic plan in Los Angeles. “I’ve had some interesting conversations with people I deeply disagree with, and we found a lot of common ground.”

The podcast marks the latest in a series of publicity moves from a governor who is seeking to expand his audience nationally and is widely expected to enter the 2028 presidential contest. Newsom launched a separate podcast in the summer and will release another book later this year.

The new project with iHeartRadio is expected to begin airing in March. In July, Newsom started a weekly sports and culture podcast, called “Politickin’,” with former NFL star running back Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch and sports agent Doug Hendrickson.

Newsom will probably participate more sporadically in “Politickin,” which includes interviews with celebrities such as comedian Chelsea Handler and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, once his new podcast takes off, said Anthony York, a spokesperson for Newsom. The show has aired less often since wildfires ignited in early January in Los Angeles County and commanded Newsom’s attention.

In a teaser promoting “This is Gavin Newsom,” the governor said it won’t be an ordinary politician’s podcast and he’ll be speaking to “people directly that I disagree with, as well as people I look up to.”

York said the unpaid podcast also gives the governor an opportunity to connect directly with Americans and share his perspective on the issues of the day.

“Part of his strength as a communicator is to help show folks a way forward, a way to articulate a message, and a way to fight back,” York said. “And I think that this podcast is conceived in that vein.”

The new podcast could suggest Newsom is growing tired of the more muted stance he’s taken toward the Trump administration since the wildfires broke out in the Los Angeles area.

The governor drew national attention in the 2024 presidential election cycle as a Democratic fighter against the GOP. He took jabs at Donald Trump, sat down for an interview with conservative host Sean Hannity and debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News, garnering praise for his refusal to back away from a scuffle with Republicans.

But Newsom shifted after the wildfires and has played the role of a disciplined statesman eager to work alongside, instead of clash with, the Trump administration.

In a tarmac greeting at Los Angeles International Airport, private phone calls and an in-person meeting at the White House, Newsom has sought to mend his ties with the president that appeared to fray after Trump’s first term. The governor has been able to work directly with Trump as he seeks federal disaster aid in response to the fires to benefit his constituents in California.

It’s unclear how he plans to maintain his relationship with Trump if his podcast becomes an avenue for him to criticize the president’s actions in Washington again. Newsom mentioned the cost of eggs, tariffs, the power of executive orders and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, the president’s chief cost-cutter, as topics he plans to explore in a video promoting the show.

On Wednesday, Newsom said he isn’t aiming to stoke political polarization and division with his upcoming venture.

“My intention is the opposite,” Newsom said, adding that he wants to understand the perspectives others bring and their motivations.