Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Mar 26, 2025
Contributors
Joel Kotkin
Photo from Office of the California Governor via Wikimedia Commons

Does Gavin Newsom Believe in Anything?

Contributors
Joel Kotkin
Joel Kotkin
Senior Research Fellow
Joel Kotkin
Summary
Tech elites are his one lodestar.
Summary
Tech elites are his one lodestar.
Listen to this article

Gavin Newsom’s new podcast reveals not only a media-savvy politico seeking more exposure to a bigger audience. It also reflects a concerted drive by the onetime self-anointed leader of the #Resistance to reinvent himself as the unique progressive breaking through to MAGA World, as evidenced by his decision to invite Right-wing firebrands like Charlie Kirk, Michael Savage, and Steve Bannon as his initial guests.

This shift away from liberal orthodoxy has shocked Newsom’s long-time progressive allies, who see it as an act of treachery. Yet if they had been paying attention to Newsom’s career — above all, his willingness to morph into whatever identity best serves his quest for power — this wouldn’t be so surprising.

Conservatives, too, will discover that Newsom isn’t a tool of the progressive Left, or a typical California progressives with “communistic” policies, as one conservative outlet described them. On the contrary, Newsom, unlike his predecessor, Jerry Brown, has been a committed, shameless sniffer of political winds throughout his career.

Continue reading at UnHerd

10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

The 529 Education Revolution Is Here

Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 28, 2025

Why Israel May Sue the New York Times

Politics
Aug 28, 2025
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.

Raúl Rodríguez
Politics
Feb 25, 2025
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts

Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 13, 2024
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Trump Victory Driven by Voters Who Reject Status Quo

The poll asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in America.

Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 11, 2024

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
DC and LA Failures Play Into Trump’s Hands

Although clearly violating America’s long-standing federalist principles, Trump’s incursions are being justified by the incompetence of most blue-city leaders.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Climate Lawyers Try a New Approach

Heatstroke killed Julie Leon on a 108-degree day. A lawsuit blames oil companies.

Michael Toth
Politics
Aug 11, 2025
Reading the New Conservatives

Richard Reinsch reviews The New Conservatives by Oren Cass.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Jul 31, 2025
The Specter of Chaos in New York

Could a Mayor Mamdani keep the city safe during Luigi Mangione’s trial?

Michael Toth
Politics
Jul 30, 2025

Kotkin: Non-Aligned Nations Navigating a Multipolar World

Politics
Aug 19, 2025
1:05

Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Takes On the Conservative Judiciary

Politics
Jun 2, 2025
1:05

Trump’s Drug Pricing Plan: Consequences for Innovation and Patient Access

Politics
May 13, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: The DOJ Is Being ‘Tricky’ but They May Be Right

Politics
Mar 18, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: How Will Trump Try to ‘Redirect’ the Justice Department Toward ‘Public Order and Safety’?

Politics
Mar 14, 2025
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
Why Israel May Sue the New York Times

Jed Rubenfeld was wrong to argue that Israel could not bring a civil action against the New York Times in a New York court.

Richard Epstein
Politics
Aug 28, 2025
The Constitutional Questions Swirling Around the District of Columbia’s Disorder

D.C. officials are always exercising delegated federal authority.

Zack Smith
Politics
Aug 25, 2025
Chicago: The First Domino to Fall?

The Windy City is put on shaky financial ground.

Thomas Savidge
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
The Truth That Frank Meyer Knew

Brian Anderson reviews The Man Who Invented Conservatism, Daniel Flynn's new biography of Frank Meyer.

Brian C. Anderson
Politics
Aug 13, 2025
No items found.