Can you tell us more about how he is aligning with them?

@janbb Sorry, I just assumed it was common knowledge. He had Charlie Kirk on for his first podcast. Kirk got Newsom to agree with him about transgender discrimination. In his last podcast he had Bannon on and starts agreeing with Bannon on protectionism and tariffs.

He’s gearing up for a presidential run, and cozying up to the right and courting Trump supporters is part of the Democratic playbook. Distancing oneself from trans issues is especially important. I remain unconvinced that being “Republican lite” is how Democrats win, but many Democrats are convinced it is the way to the White House. I guess we shall see.

@Demosthenes
Because that strategy worked so well for Harris.
Styling yourself as the “lesser evil” is not going to work on people who are not going to settle for the “lesser” of the evils. All you are doing is legitimising evil.

@Demosthenes The irony for me is that I am no firebrand progressive. I’m a conservative anti-populist at heart. But if Democrats keep throwing milquetoast weasels at us the fascists will keep winning. I agree with gorilla and tom in that we need a leftist, or at least a left-leaning populist.

Left-leaning populist. How to get there if there is no left-leaning popular media?

I heard Newsom stated somewhere that he was against transwomen in sports that he said it was about fairness in competition.

I figured he was positioning himself for a presidential run in 2028. I don’t know the stats, but I’m pretty sure most Democrats are against transwomen in female sports for most competitions.

I didn’t know he did a podcast with Bannon?! WTF?! Bannon doesn’t represent Republicans or Independents who might vote for a Democrat, Bannon plays with the far right religious Dominionists and J6er crowd. WTH?

Side note: if you haven’t seen the documentary Arnold on Netflix I highly recommend it. Only mentioning it since you mentioned him in the OP. Three episodes, I think the last was about his time in office. I thought the whole thing was great, but especially the episode about his time in politics.

Harris lost because she was Black and a woman. I don’t disagree with there being other factors in why she lost but let’s call sexism and racism what they are.

As for candidates who are more leftist winning, I just don’t know. I think Dems lose the working class on immigration and culture war issues and I don’t know the solution to that.

Newsom wants to run for president and is trying to move himself to the center. It is that simple.

He figures that the democrats have no one to run in 2028 – he wants to be the one chosen.

Newsome has always been an odd duck. He is probably one of the most progressive democrats around today, but every once in a while he does a complete 180 from his typical platform. This is hardly the first time.

As @Demosthenes said, he is planning a presidential run and starting to court the other side.

Sorry for going off-topic above. I was responding to an earlier post about Harris.

To answer the question, I think we’re seeing a lot of strange bedfellows and agree that Newsom is trying to position himself as the next candidate for President. For my money, I’d take Chris Murphy of Jamie Raskin any day of the week.

I’ll add, I have always said I hope Newsom isn’t the Democratic nominee, because I think he’s too far to the left, too “progressive.” I could name examples, but I don’t want to go too far down that tangent and derail the Q.

As far as Harris, she was perceived as progressive, because of her primary run in 2020. Plus, she was terrible in interviews and townhalls when Biden stepped aside. She wasn’t answering questions well at all. If she had been a white man Democrats still would have had a problem.

Edit: I’ve been on many zoom meetings with Jamie Raskin and I hope he doesn’t wind up being our candidate either. He’s ok, but I’ve seen him speak to the crowd using all sort of party lines that I just find annoying. Plus, I’m not sure a Jewish candidate could win. Maybe.

Harris was never progressive. She just played one on TV.

@Caravanfan Same difference.

I think some people are basically “following the money” and hype. Being republican is hip and cool now, so it’s easy to ride the wave.

Something I’ve personally noticed about some people while traveling is how conservative they are, to a cruel and sociopathic extent.

I understand life is cruel and tough and unforgiving, but having class and grace and empathy is what helps us move on from being cavemen.

It’s sad to see people so quick to say “screw the illegals” or “screw the homeless” so callously.

@JLeslie “Same difference.”

It’s not at all the same difference. Until you and people like you understand why it’s not the same difference, I fear we’re going to keep getting Trumps and Vances and the rest of the fascists. We’d be enjoying the second term of Bernie right now if the “centrists” hadn’t rigged the 2020 primary, and remember that Biden would have lost 2020 if they’d managed to contain Covid before it got loose.

@gorillapaws Same difference because most of America just watches TV or social media, and they believe what they see. Perception is reality. If Harris was trying to play a progressive on TV, that’s her responsibility.

If Newsom is trying to play centrist, which I’m not sure what he is doing, because to me Bannon doesn’t make anyone a centrist, then he will live with his choices.

@JLeslie People who play progressives but vote conservative like Sinema are why we have Trump. People like Cory Booker tanked a bill to allow Americans to import drugs from Canada. Not a surprise when you see who they ACTUALLY represent.

I just don’t understand how people with such terrible political instincts think trying the same failed strategy over and over will eventually work. Running as a fascist with erectile disfunction isn’t appealing to fascists or to anyone to the left of fascism and bullying them into voting for that is ineffective, and it’s certainly not moderate.

Years ago I argued with @gorillapaws on this point, but it turns out he was right. Sure, he predicted a Biden loss the first time around, but it’s even worse now. At this point I’d even happily wave an AOC sign. Whatever. It. Takes.

@gorillapaws You are arguing a real progressive would win, but that is not really what I am talking about. I think you are accusing me of dismissing Harris as a progressive and that is why I wasn’t fond of her. What I remember is in the primary during a debate she was viscous about something that I thought was mean and wrong, and I don’t now remember what it was, but it was a huge turn off to me, and she was out for me. That was a final straw after some other minor things I didn’t perfectly align with her on.

I don’t agree with your thought process, except to say for years I warned that a shrinking middle class brings more likelihood of getting a more extreme candidate, either socialist, even borderline communist, or far right authoritarian. Extremists make promises the struggling masses like to hear. You like the farther left candidates so maybe that doesn’t trouble you. I don’t like the corporate influence in politics, there we agree.

@Caravanfan I don’t believe AOC can win. I would vote for her if she was the candidate in the end, but she would not be my choice in the primaries. I question if she would be fiscally responsible when funding all of the things she would want to get done. I do think she is a little more pragmatic now that when she was first elected though. Maybe she could win after Trump, because maybe any Democrat will be able to win after Trump.

I hate newsom for many reasons, but who he chooses to have on his podcast isn’t on the list. I don’t understand why you seem to think it’s so problematic, should he only have guests that are going to kiss his ass and agree with everything he says? That would be pretty fucking boring.

I don’t like him. I think he’s a phony. I have voted for him for governor, but I hope I won’t have to vote for him for president.

As for what he’s thinking, at this point which of them (all the “them”) isn’t thinking me-me-me? They’re seeming more alike than different.

@Jeruba Are they all alike? I thought most Democratic politicians were in favor of transwomen and biological men assigned female competing with women. I know most of our core jellies were in favor on a Q several months ago, I was one of the decenting opinions.

It will be interesting to see if they move a little on other issues. I’ll be curious to see what happens with birthright citizenship and some others.

I simply think he is caving to the King’s pressure.

@cheebdragon It’s now WHO he had on the podcast that bothered me. It’s WHAT he said to them.

@Forever_Free Do you mean Trump? How is Trump pressuring him?

Trans women in sports is the big issue now, even though they comprise <1% of women athletes?! What about trade wars and breaks with all of our good alliances? Non-enforcements of legal punishments against wealthy lawbreakers? Govt services that help the 99% of Americans?

@RocketGuy There was a UN report that transwomen have taken 900 medals. If the Democrats want to take that issue off of the table as what I guess you are saying is a distraction, then all they have to do is agree there is a problem. Just agree and it loses it’s fuel. Republicans won’t be able to say that is an issue that divides the parties anymore. Less than 1% of athlete’s is missing if they win disproportionately. If they win 30% of the time (I completely made that number up) then will it matter to you? My point is the <1% is insufficient information.

Biden did say at one point it probably is a problem at the high school level, but maybe not so much in the younger grades. Science says bio men have an advantage. Why are Democrats being so stubborn when the majority of voters actually are saying it’s unfair, and not because they are bigots or haters, but for legitimate reasons.

I think transgender children and adults are more at risk now that the issue became so huge, and the last thing I want is for anyone to feel afraid they are being targeted or feel unsafe just because they exist.

@JLeslie Show me the UN report please.

UN report, see page 5 https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/325

Other articles in the news:

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/education-ncaa-transgender-athletes-records-reversal-rcna191742

https://sports.ndtv.com/swimming/transgender-us-swimmer-wins-ivy-league-500-yard-womens-freestyle-2775787

https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/un-study-reveals-transgender-athletes-have-won-nearly-900-medals-in-womens-competitions-united-nations-sports-lgbt-gender-identity-title-ix-athletics

There are many other articles, plus video of female students at universities speaking out, photos of transwomen with medals around their necks who look quite obviously like men in stature and their face, which is a biproduct of testosterone levels as we know. I would have to google to find them, but I have seen them in the past. I doubt you care about any subjective photos anyway, and more for the actual science and statistical findings.

@JLeslie The UN article is useless. From your third link: “The 20-page document examined “violence against women and girls in sports” and claims more than 600 biologically female athletes have lost at least 890 medals to transgender competitors. These defeats occurred in over 400 competitions in 29 sports, though authors did not specify specific events, levels of competition or time periods.”

So they’re making claims yet not backing them up with any data. Got it.

And I’ll add that Thomas has lost races as well as winning others. So she is far from dominant. Fox News and Lauren Boebert just want you to focus on her wins to make her a political punching bag.

@Caravanfan I don’t watch Fox news or Lauren Boebert. You can’t look at just one athlete winning and losing. We need to look at the overall stats. If you feel the UN study is not significant then I can do some more research. Where does your POV come from? Do you have stats to back up your support for transwomen in sports? Do you think they should have to have a testosterone level within a certain range to compete with women, or you don’t think the T level matters?

My point of view is one of compassion, antidiscrimination, and inclusion. Where does your POV come from?

My POV is compassion and fairness for women. We are at a disadvantage enough in life, and one of the very obvious disadvantages is a physical disadvantage.

I am compassionate for transpeople. I care that they are accepted, feel safe, and can live as they see fit. Especially as a minority population, a population that is under attack, I care about their health and safety.

If I am right that they have an advantage in sports simply being biologically male, are you really ok with having them compete with women? A woman loses her spot on a sports team. Loses her chance to go to the Olympics. Loses her chance for a college scholarship. Loses her standing as the fastest in the world.

Why shouldn’t the transwoman compete with the men? They are biologically men. If women are to be in competition with transwomen, biological men, in the locker rooms, on the track, in the pool, why can’t a transgender woman be instead with men in a competition? Why are we favoring transgender people over non trans? Why are we favoring transgender women over women? That is assuming they do have a physical advantage.

@JLeslie Ah. So your understanding comes from a basic misunderstanding of the science, got it.

I recommend watching this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQplt7Chos

That video is starting out very elementary and it is a LOOONG video, Do you by any chance want to recommend where to fast forward to?

I know that gender can be a blurry thing and that people can have disambiguous genitelia, or be assigned a gender at birth and not know until puberty that they are the other sex like being XY and assigned as a female, because they present female. Plus, there is XXY, XYY, etc, etc. What specifically am I supposed to get out of the video?

Look, put the time into learning or don’t. I don’t really care. I’m not going to cherry pick it for you.

@Caravanfan I usually let people know where to cue to, so I’m not asking more of you than I am willing to do myself. I’m not starting from knowing nothing about biology and gender. I’ve taken biology classes. I don’t mind watching the whole thing, I just can’t do it right now.

Maybe you’ll change my mind, I’m open to it.