Gavin Newsom
Governor of California · Democratic Party
Mostly straight talk
Bluff24%Spin17%
Our model rated these statements. Lower is better.
Answers questions
83%
64 questions rated. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.
Answered 45Partly answered 14Declined openly 2Dodged 3
... who had to work three jobs to keep things afloat.
AnsweredInvited to talk about his mother working three jobs. Describes his father leaving and his mother raising the children alone.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Yes. I mean, you talk about that grit. You talk about your mom giving you that grit and your dad teaching you other things like the love of the outdoors and poetry.
But it really is striking to me how distant you describe -- and you're really detailed and pretty raw about how distant you felt from both of your parents, especially your mom. You call her impenetrable to you.
AnsweredAsked about how distant he felt from his parents. Describes his mother's voicemail, her illness and her death.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
"I kept holding onto her hand tighter and tighter and sobbing."
AnsweredRead a passage about his mother's death. Describes the day in detail and says he was angry with her.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
AnsweredAsked why he was angry. Says the death was not peaceful and that he never had the chance to thank her.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
There's -- there's a connection that you have to so much history and also key players in San Francisco and national politics, which is -- which is interesting, because, again, the book, you're trying to fill out who you are.
AnsweredTold the book tries to fill out who he is. Says he is more than a caricature and that the book is about agency and resilience.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Are you trying to redefine and fill out or maybe even get the narrative set in a different way than it is now?
AnsweredAsked whether he is trying to reset the narrative before a run. Says he wishes it were that intentional, and describes dropping a pose.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
And she described you as a child with a disability, a scrambled brain who required a certain touch. Your parents' failure to even seek out the right professional help for you left you on an island all alone. "That's kind of abuse, abuse by omission."
AnsweredRead his aunt's view that his parents' failure to get help was abuse by omission. Defends his mother and describes his struggles at school.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
But you also say that dyslexia is kind of a superpower as a politician.
AnsweredAsked about calling dyslexia a superpower. Says it is the greatest thing that happened to him and explains why.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
But it's also your E.Q., being able to read...
AnsweredAsked about emotional intelligence. Agrees and describes how dyslexia shaped it.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
She was prosecutor, California DA, and senator. You were San Francisco mayor, lieutenant governor and governor.
What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide? (LAUGHTER)
DodgedAsked what happens if his career and Harris's collide. Replies with a joke about living in different cities.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
I'm talking about running for president in 2028, the whole country.
Partly answeredAsked about running against Harris for president in 2028. Says fate will decide and he has never got in her way, without saying what he would do.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
The Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump's tariffs this week. He's already using different authorities to impose a 15 percent global tariff, vowing to forge ahead even without Congress. What do you do?
Partly answeredAsked what he does about Trump's new 15 percent global tariff. Calls it a farce, says California sued first and that the money should be refunded, without saying what he will do about the new tariff.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
AnsweredAsked how refunds would work. Says it can be done electronically through tariff codes, then moves to the wider economy.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
I do want to, while we're on the economy, ask about affordability, because, yes, people are struggling all across the country.
California has the highest cost of living in the nation. The state's prices are 11 percent higher than the national average. We were actually out to dinner here in Nashville last night. We met a couple from California. They moved out of California because they couldn't afford the rent or even to buy a home and also start a family.
Partly answeredGiven California's high cost of living and a couple who left over rent. Says people are moving in and the economy has grown, without addressing the cost of living.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
But people are struggling to afford things, like your mom was.
AnsweredTold people are struggling to afford things. Lists state measures on insulin, health care, childcare, wages and housing.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Last question.
What are the metrics that will determine whether you run for president?
Partly answeredAsked what metrics will decide whether he runs. Names his family, without giving other measures.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Do they want you to run?
AnsweredAsked whether his children want him to run. Says he does not know, it depends on the day, and recounts his son's text.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
And then, going back to the book, your mother didn't want you to even get this far in politics.
AnsweredTold his mother did not want him in politics. Says any decision will be made as a family.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
But I would say, this was not ... Just to be clear, this was a private enterprise endorsed by the State Department, but these are a lot of decisions are being made by private companies right now. This is a capital, this is probably the central global gathering of CEOs, and I guess I wonder if you can give me a review how you see these folks. And you know your way around this world. How you see those people behaving.
AnsweredAsked how he sees chief executives behaving towards the administration. The reply says many are complicit and 'selling out', then widens to the state of American democracy.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Should you, I mean, is that kind of discourse from you from them good for America?
AnsweredAsked whether the insults from both sides are good for America. The reply says no, it is unbecoming, and defends his posts as holding up a mirror.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
It was Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney the day before who talked about, I don't know, in large terms, the middle powers, everybody except for China and the US, really have to adapt permanently to a world without American leadership. I guess I wonder, I mean, that's in some sense a pretty anti-American point of view. That's a view that America is gone from the world stage, that whether the next president is JD Vance, Gavin Newsom, somebody else, this isn't a deviation, as he said, this is permanent. Do you buy that? Do you buy Carney's point of view?
Partly answeredAsked whether he agrees with Carney that the break in American leadership is permanent. The reply praises the speech and its courage and describes the damage to alliances, without saying whether the change is permanent; the follow-up in x13 asks again.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
... a different American leader can bring...
AnsweredAsked again whether a different American leader could restore relationships. The reply says yes: the relationships are dormant, not dead.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
I mean, I suppose do you think post-Trump there's a path back? Because you see this everywhere, the kind of insult politics that you're doing here, which you said you don't really enjoy, you kind of seem to.
Partly answeredAsked whether there is a path back from insult politics after Trump. The reply defends his new style as the only approach that breaks through, without addressing the path back; it continues after an aside (x17).Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
And I think one of the main reasons that he has been successful is because the Democratic Party is so discredited in the eyes of so many voters. I have a couple of questions about that. One is big picture about California. People... You are in the midst of a enormous economic boom right now, and yet the state is on one hand running deficits, and on the other not always delivering services, from education to healthcare that your citizens are delighted with. And I guess, I wonder how are voters looking at California, looking at New York, looking at Chicago, supposed to say, "Yeah, this is the model we want."
Partly answeredAsked how voters can see California's governance, with deficits and uneven services, as a model. The reply lists the state's companies, research and universities rather than its governance; the follow-up in x19 asks about governance directly.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
California's wonderful, but what about the governance?
AnsweredAsked about governance. The reply points to the state's uninsured rate and its latest education report.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Do you reject the idea that these blue states are spending more for less results?
AnsweredAsked whether he rejects the idea that blue states spend more for worse results. The reply begins 'I don't know' and then rejects it with outcome measures and the state's net contribution to federal funds.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
For instance, you're supporting the mayor of LA for reelection after these terrible fires that a lot of your citizens do feel was part in part because of government mismanagement. Do you just reject that narrative that the government has anything to do with these things?
AnsweredAsked whether he rejects the view that government mismanagement played a part in the Los Angeles fires. The reply accepts accountability and the need for reform in general but rejects the fire hydrant explanation.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
So, behind you are the flags of the United States, Texas and California. California, I get. United States, I get. Why are we in Texas?
AnsweredAsked why the interview is in Texas. Says he came to thank the Texas legislators and that their walkout and Gene Wu's call launched Prop 50.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
And, ultimately, it didn't -- I didn't know it was going to be...
AnsweredTold the polls were against Prop 50 and the outcome was uncertain. Cites the first poll and explains why California could not hold back while other states redrew maps.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Do you think that's part of why we are now in a government shutdown?
I mean, just -- House Democrats voted against the government funding bill. Senate Democrats continue to vote against the government funding bill? Now, I understand why. They're doing so because they oppose the Medicaid cuts. They're doing so because they want the Republicans to extend the Obamacare subsidies. Insurance premiums are about the skyrocket.
So I understand why, but Democrats are the ones keeping this government shutdown going. Do you agree with the strategy?
AnsweredAsked whether he agrees with the Democrats' shutdown strategy. Blames Trump for the shutdown, then says Democrats have been right to focus on health care.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
So there are a lot of repercussions for this government shutdown. Obviously, air travel is a mess. And then SNAP benefits, food benefits, food stamp benefits, for 42 million Americans, as we sit here, the Trump administration is fighting a court order to tell them to pay out full SNAP benefits.
Vice President J.D. Vance called the judges' ruling that the U.S. needs to pay, that the Trump administration needs to pay these SNAP benefits, he called the ruling absurd. He said the administration is -- quote -- "not going to do it under the orders of a federal judge."
Now, I know that's -- five million Californians receive SNAP benefits.
AnsweredGiven the Vance quote on court-ordered SNAP payments. Corrects the California figure, says the state restored benefits and calls using food aid as a bargaining chip shameful.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Because it does seem like Democrats see fight in you. And a lot of them seem to be, at least the ones we just saw upstairs in Texas, like the fight.
I mean, Congressman Al Green introduced you as a future president of the United States.
DodgedAsked whether the response to Prop 50 has changed his thinking on a 2028 run. Talks about the National Guard deployment and Trump's conduct instead, without addressing his own plans.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION.
President Trump is skipping the worldwide climate conference this week, and you will never guess who the top-ranking U.S. official will be who's there instead.
More now of my interview with California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, including on his own political future.
After here in Houston, you're heading to Brazil for the U.N. climate conference. You will be the highest-profile or the highest- level U.S. official, because the Trump administration is not sending anyone.
Are you standing in for the president or are you just representing California? What is your role?
Partly answeredAsked whether he is standing in for the president or representing California at the climate conference. Says he is standing in for his children and common sense, and sets out his focus, without choosing either role.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Professor Galloway has this new book out talking about what a man is, what a man should be. There's all these questions and hand- wringing among Democrats about what is the reason that we're losing the male vote, and not just white men, increasingly Latino men, increasingly African-American men, not majorities, but they're heading, they're trending conservative.
AnsweredAsked why Democrats are losing male voters. Describes a crisis among men and boys and says Democrats ceded the ground while Trump exploited it.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
So, I have an 18-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son. Where is the Democratic Party able to access my son?
He is gaming. He's on YouTube.
AnsweredAsked where Democrats can reach a teenage boy who games and watches YouTube. Lists his Fortnite, TwitchCon and Charlie Kirk podcast appearances.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
I don't know. Why?
AnsweredAsked why he went on Charlie Kirk's podcast first. Says Kirk was organising young people and Democrats were slow to see it.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
When are you going to make a decision officially about 2028?
(LAUGHTER)
DodgedAsked when he will decide on 2028. Remarks that this is the third time he has been pushed and says he respects it, without giving a time.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
I cited Al Green. I asked you about the prop. And now I'm just saying, when will you make a decision?
It's a -- that's a perfectly reasonable question. When will you make a decision? After the midterms?
AnsweredAsked whether the decision will come after the midterms. Says 'Of course.'Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Do you have a why?
Partly answeredAsked whether he has a 'why' for running. Says a candidate has to find one and that it is years away, without saying whether he has one.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
Biden in 2020, bring back normalcy. Trump in 2024, bring down prices.
Partly answeredGiven Biden's and Trump's one-line messages, as a prompt for his own. Says it has nothing to do with him, then offers democratising the economy and rising prices as the issue of the time.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Yes, Steve, all eyes are going to be on New Jersey, that closer than expected race. Steve Kornacki, fascinating findings. Thank you so much. Well this week, I sat down with California Governor Gavin Newsom for a wide-ranging conversation and I started by asking him about the state of the Democratic Party.
Do you believe the Democratic brand is damaged right now?
AnsweredAsked whether the Democratic brand is damaged. The reply says not now and gives reasons: the coming elections and a united message on health care.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
We're going to talk about each of those issues that you just mentioned, but it sounds like you're predicting a big night for Democrats on November 4th.
AnsweredAsked whether he predicts a big night for Democrats. The reply says yes and gives reasons, mainly the president's poll ratings and prices.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Let's talk about the battle that you are waging here in California over Prop 50. For people who are watching, this would enable a redistricting effort here in the state to add additional Democratic seats. It comes after Republicans in Texas moved to redistrict to add up to five additional Republican seats there, at the direction of President Trump. Do you think that Prop 50 is going to pass on Tuesday, Governor?
AnsweredAsked whether Prop 50 will pass. The reply says he is deeply confident, cites early ballots, then turns to the redistricting push in other states that it responds to.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
What do you say to Governor Schwarzenegger who says, "The fight for Prop 50 is just a big scam"?
AnsweredAsked to respond to Schwarzenegger calling Prop 50 a scam. The reply takes his points in turn: the change is temporary, the maps are on the ballot and the commission stays.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
– including here in California. Do you trust the Justice Department to handle these cases?
AnsweredAsked whether he trusts the Justice Department with the troop deployment cases. The reply says absolutely not.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
You don't trust the Justice Department?
AnsweredA follow-up to the same question. The reply confirms it before the next question cuts in.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
– to handle these cases over troops?
AnsweredAsked whether he trusts the legal system with the troop cases. The reply says he has confidence in the lower courts but not in the Supreme Court's emergency orders, then explains the Posse Comitatus point.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
You have been one of the most outspoken Democratic voices against President Trump. And part of your tactics is to imitate some of what we see online from President Trump, that you mimic his all-cap posts, you send out similar memes. Do you run the risk of normalizing that behavior?
AnsweredAsked whether imitating the president's posts risks normalising them. The reply says the opposite: it was meant to hold up a mirror to them.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
It reminds me of something Michelle Obama said once, "When they go low, we go high." Is there still room for that mindset for Democrats?
AnsweredAsked whether 'when they go low, we go high' still has a place. The reply says he would like to go back to it but politics has changed.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
So no?
AnsweredA follow-up ('So no?'). The reply confirms that the approach has changed and explains why his communications shifted.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
I wanna talk to you about the polarization, that very issue, in this country. Because you have reached across the aisle. In fact, in your first episode of your podcast you invited conservative activist Charlie Kirk to join you for a conversation. He was, of course, assassinated in September. Why did you want to speak to Charlie Kirk?
AnsweredAsked why he invited Charlie Kirk onto his podcast. The reply explains: Kirk was effective at organising young voters and Democrats knew little about him.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
What role do leaders like yourself have in turning down the temperature?
AnsweredAsked what role leaders have in lowering the temperature. The reply says violence must be called out by all sides, with a personal account of the day Kirk was shot.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
– to serve another four years?
AnsweredAsked whether he had concerns about Biden's capacity to serve four more years. The reply says his meetings gave him no doubt, except the Los Angeles fundraiser and the debate, and spends much of its length on the administration's record.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
If it gave you pause after the debate why didn't you sound the alarm then?
AnsweredAsked why he did not raise the alarm after the debate. The reply says he did so privately and explains why he chose not to go public.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Governor, did you legitimately believe that he was capable of serving as president until January of 2029?
Partly answeredAsked whether he believed Biden could serve until January 2029. The reply begins 'Yeah' but turns to his focus on defeating Trump and says nothing in his meetings suggested otherwise, without stating the belief directly.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
– about the mental acuity of President Biden, that they wish you'd sounded the alarm sooner, to give way for an open convention.
AnsweredAsked what he says to Americans who feel misled about Biden's acuity. The reply says he can speak only to his own meetings with Biden, which gave no such sign.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Let's talk about former Vice President Kamala Harris. She says she lost because she only had 107 days to run, among some other factors. In your view, why do you think she lost the 2024 race?
Declined openlyAsked why Harris lost in 2024. The reply says it needs deeper analysis and that he is still reading other people's views.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
What do you think was at the top of the list, Governor?
Partly answeredAsked what was at the top of the list. The reply says he does not know yet and lists many possible factors without ranking them.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Do you think if former President Biden had stayed in the race, given that you did stay with him till virtually the end, do you think he could've won?
Partly answeredAsked whether Biden could have won had he stayed in. The reply describes the headwinds (inflation, a wish for change) and says it would have been very challenging, without a yes or no.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
In her book, the former vice president writes that she scrambled to reach prominent Democrats hours after President Biden exited the race. And she said that you responded to her call, quote, by saying, "Gavin Newsom: ‘Hiking. Will call back.' He never did." Is that what happened?
AnsweredAsked whether Harris's account of his 'Hiking. Will call back' reply is accurate. The reply says yes and adds that he endorsed her minutes later.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
– at you in her book?
AnsweredAsked whether he felt Harris took a swipe at him in her book. The reply says he does not mind and thinks she was having fun.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
You've said, as we've discussed, you are considering a run for president. And you've said you'll make a decision about whether to run for president after the midterms.
Governor, let me ask you, why do you want to be president?
Declined openlyAsked why he wants to be president. The reply says he has not decided to run and is focused on Prop 50, and that he will decide later.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Understood. But if you're thinking about it, that why must be forming.
AnsweredAsked whether his reason for running must be forming. The reply says no.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
KRISTEN WELKER· Meet the Press interview, 2 Nov 2025
Well, if you decide to run, why would you want to do it?
Partly answeredAsked why he would run if he decided to. The reply sets out what any nominee should offer (repair and transformation, the future of work) rather than his own reasons.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
35 further exchange(s) not rated: procedural or ceremonial questions (a tribute, thanks or condolence that asks for nothing), or questions the speaker did not take.