What Next | Daily News and Analysis Bonus: I’ll Gav What She’s Gavin
Aug 29, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom is drawing attention for adopting a combative political style reminiscent of Donald Trump. The conversation dives into whether this reflects a trend in American politics. Social media tactics and gerrymandering are also analyzed as part of the strategy to galvanize voter support for upcoming elections. Is this the new playbook for future campaigns?
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Newsom Adopting A Trump-Like Persona
- Ben Mathis-Lilley observes Gavin Newsom is imitating Donald Trump's social-media persona, including all-caps posts and self-praise.
- This shift represents a deliberate public persona change rather than random behavior.
Persona Shift As Calculated Political Messaging
- Mathis-Lilley links Newsom's persona shift to political messaging tied to redistricting and ballot strategy.
- The tactic appears calculated to mobilize attention around placing redistricting on the November ballot.
Host Introduces Ben Filling In For Jim
- Mary Harris notes Ben Mathis-Lilley is filling in for Jim Newell while he's on paternity leave.
- She recommends subscribing to Jim's Surge newsletter and reading Ben's work on Slate.