(Image Credit: IMAGN) California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Newsom, listen to students from New College of Florida on Wednesday during Newsom's stop at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Sarasota on April 5, 2023.
California – California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from tech journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher for what she described as a surprisingly friendly interview with former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon. Speaking on The View Thursday, Swisher revealed that she texted Newsom earlier this week to ask, “What are you doing?”—though she admitted using “harsher” words in the actual message.
Swisher, known for her sharp political and tech industry commentary, took issue with how Newsom handled his discussion with Bannon on his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom. She argued that while political dialogue is important, Newsom failed to push back against misinformation and missed an opportunity for a substantive debate.
“When he was doing the DeSantis thing, I thought that was good because they’re having a good debate going back and forth, and it was based in fact,” Swisher said, referring to Newsom’s past debates with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “If you don’t push back on lies, they exist.”
Newsom’s podcast series features conversations with prominent MAGA figures, including Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, in what appears to be an effort to find common ground across political divides. However, Swisher argued that his approach with Bannon was ineffective.
“It’s not the platforming, because I don’t believe in that,” she clarified. “You should be talking to everybody, including Steve Bannon—he’s very powerful. But you have to push back and say, ‘That’s a lie, that’s a lie.’ It was a little too chummy.”
Rather than engaging in a rigorous debate, Newsom and Bannon appeared to connect most strongly over their shared criticisms of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Swisher saw this as a missed opportunity for deeper discussion. “He didn’t push back, and so what’s the use of having this dialogue if you’re going to not have a real dialogue, a real disagreement based in fact?” she asked.
The hosts of The View pressed Swisher on why she thought Newsom took such a different tone with Bannon compared to other political opponents. While she admitted she didn’t know for certain, she floated one possible explanation: political positioning.
“I think it’s because he politically wants to have MAGA on his side a little bit,” she speculated, suggesting that Newsom may be trying to soften potential attacks from the right as he considers a future presidential run.
Swisher, who has known Newsom since his early political career—including his marriage to Donald Trump Jr.’s ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle—suggested that this approach may be part of a larger strategy as he navigates national politics.
Newsom has not yet responded publicly to Swisher’s critique, but the conversation highlights the balancing act he faces as he builds his national profile—one that, according to Swisher, should include a stronger stance against misinformation.
