I think that at least a good portion of the "RAAAAAH NEWSOME PRESIDENT???? NEVERRRRR" outrage is coming from people who are *actually afraid* that what he's doing will work and will be popular. Which, like, talk about being afraid of success.
Replies
No, it's because he sucks as a representative of the people and the working class. This stems from his image-based careerism and recent willingness to devolve into vulgarity instead of policy.
aug 24, 2025, 6:49 pm • 0 0 • view
But his decision to throw LGBT voters in the trash will cost him the base, he’ll have all the drawbacks of being a big liberal with moderate voters and none of the positives, and he’ll lose. If you want a centrist presidential candidate, pick Cooper or someone from Virginia.
aug 23, 2025, 11:09 pm • 0 0 • view
No it’s people horrified by watching Dems repeat the same failure over and over. No matter how hard Kamala pivoted to the center, low info voters treated her like a raving liberal because she’s from CA. The same thing will happen to Newsome no matter how much he throws LGBT voters in trash
aug 23, 2025, 11:08 pm • 3 0 • view
He hasn’t. You freaks are spending too much energy on a podcast in the aftermath of repubs looking like that issue was what got them in and nothing on what he’s actually done. You are deeply unserious and committed to keeping repubs in office
aug 24, 2025, 4:41 am • 0 0 • view
Harris didn't pivot to the center, tho.
aug 24, 2025, 12:33 am • 25 1 • view
Do what? Her campaign was almost exclusively pandering to moderate republicans. She did stops with Liz Cheney. None of it mattered, just like Newsom throwing trans people into a ditch won’t win him a single vote but will cost him tons and cost him activist support and grass roots volunteers.
aug 24, 2025, 12:36 am • 3 0 • view
Cheney's endorsement of Harris was about recognizing the alternative. Cheney and Harris couldn't be further apart policy wise, but she recognized the threat Trump posed. She had better awareness than some leftists on this app.
aug 24, 2025, 6:00 am • 2 0 • view
You're literally making shit up lmao. Harris didn't do any of that.
aug 24, 2025, 12:58 am • 24 1 • view
You are saying she didn’t spend the last two months of the campaign doing stops with Liz Cheney? That she didn’t run ads featuring Republican women encouraging them to vote for her because their husbands wouldn’t have to know?
aug 24, 2025, 1:01 am • 4 0 • view
5 events over 2 days. That was what Harris did with Liz Cheney. You're delusional. Seriously. None of this is "moving to the center". She changed literally none of her policies.
aug 24, 2025, 1:44 am • 10 1 • view
Name one single campaign concession, platform change, policy, or other such boon the Harris campaign offered in exchange for Cheney's support.
aug 24, 2025, 1:13 am • 27 3 • view
None of that is Harris moving to the center
aug 24, 2025, 1:09 am • 8 0 • view
Right? That's literally an attempt to pull right-leaning people *left.*
aug 24, 2025, 1:11 am • 10 0 • view
"She's encouraged Republicans to vote for her." Welcome to campaigning, dipshit.
aug 24, 2025, 1:22 am • 32 2 • view
That’s not the argument. The point is it didn’t do shit for her because the swing voters nowadays are extremely low info and aren’t hearing it. They vote on vibes and if you’re CA you’re a liberal. So trying to change that perception doesn’t win you any votes, it just loses liberals you need.
aug 24, 2025, 1:26 am • 2 0 • view
There's no evidence that campaigning with Liz Cheney lost any liberals.
aug 24, 2025, 1:44 am • 22 0 • view
Other than losing the fucking election, you mean? Michigan elected a liberal governor and voted for Trump anyway, I guess going on stage with Americas biggest Muslim hater didn’t help, did it?
aug 24, 2025, 1:50 am • 0 0 • view
She didn't lose the election because of Liz Cheney, you're a fuckin' loon.
aug 24, 2025, 3:16 am • 4 0 • view
Even further: while Harris lost in every state where she did a campaign event with Cheney, she lost by *smaller* margins than ones where she did not. Evidence strongly suggests the tactic worked, they just didn’t have a long enough time period for it to make a difference.
aug 24, 2025, 1:49 am • 32 7 • view
lmao you pathetic Nazi fuck
aug 24, 2025, 3:54 am • 0 0 • view
What’s fucking nuts is, www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
aug 24, 2025, 3:18 am • 0 0 • view
the point was to try to shed a marginal percentage of regular republican voters who harbored reservations about trump, again. leftists making a massive ordeal to what essentially amounted to a couple of days affair is just confirmation they were never going to vote for her anyway.
aug 24, 2025, 1:51 am • 5 0 • view
Okay man sure you guys are all correct Newsom throwing trans people under the bus will absolutely work and make him more electable. It’s absolutely smart politics and not just a moronic attempt to get campaign donations from Elon musk and other Silicon Valley freaks.
aug 24, 2025, 1:57 am • 0 0 • view
Good christ, nobody is saying that, you're throwing a tantrum.
aug 24, 2025, 3:17 am • 4 0 • view
You have no argument. You're just making up bullshit and screaming at people who know things.
aug 24, 2025, 1:31 am • 12 2 • view
And I know this because in absolutely no possible way did Kamala Harris "pander exclusively to Republicans." You know this, too, but you've decided on this narrative because you'd prefer to be a fucking idiot for some reason.
aug 24, 2025, 1:32 am • 13 2 • view
i'd ask what fucking planet you're living on but it's clearly one where having "MmmPooFoo" as your display name is a good idea and that answers all the questions I had right off the bat
aug 24, 2025, 1:45 am • 16 2 • view
That is not my recollection of the campaign
aug 24, 2025, 12:43 am • 1 0 • view
Ah yes, this is certainly the agenda favored by moderate Republicans. Dumbass
aug 24, 2025, 3:22 am • 3 0 • view
If it's between him and Trump, I'll gladly pick Newsom.
aug 23, 2025, 6:10 pm • 7 0 • view
I feel like 2028 is a million years away so I'm not getting fussed about WHO WILL BE OUR MAGICAL LEADER AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET? (Not saying YOU'RE doing that -- just that it's not even worth gaming out at this point from my perspective. There are other races to worry about first.)
aug 23, 2025, 8:30 pm • 3 0 • view
Yeah, this is where I am too. Every year is an election year! There are no special elections in my area currently, but there are always lots of them happening, across the nation. There will be more in 2026, including regularly scheduled ones, and of course midterms too. These races need our focus.
aug 23, 2025, 8:35 pm • 2 0 • view
People who love Newsom (and my gov, Pritzker) should ALSO realize that getting control of state legislatures should be a priority because that is what gives them the power to move forward with their plans!
aug 23, 2025, 8:45 pm • 3 0 • view
Illinois General Assembly has Dems in charge of the house and senate, which is why some good things are getting done.
aug 23, 2025, 8:46 pm • 2 0 • view
Newsom for president? Idk Newsom for warchief? yee
aug 24, 2025, 9:54 am • 0 0 • view
You see a different part of this site than I do! The people I see are against him as POTUS because he's platformed racists and is throwing some trans people under the bus. They are all for the redistricting and are big fans of his social media team. Are you talking about contractions & doomers?
aug 23, 2025, 7:29 pm • 5 0 • view
I think that the Discourse of Newsom The 2028 Dem Choice is primarily being foisted upon us by contrarians and doomers, yes. "He's fighting Trump now which means he'll win" is kind of absurd, IMO.
aug 23, 2025, 7:40 pm • 10 0 • view
PS thank you for realizing I meant contrarians and not contractions!
aug 23, 2025, 8:59 pm • 1 0 • view
I’m glad I don’t see that content because I’d concuss myself rolling my eyes.
aug 23, 2025, 8:58 pm • 0 0 • view
Outside of your feed and few others I think I’m done with BSky. The amount of ‘Newsom hates trans’ takes that fly in complete opposition of his legislative history protecting trans people is just crazy. And you get flagged as a transphobe just for pointing it out.
aug 23, 2025, 6:37 pm • 6 0 • view
I am NOT saying anything about the original issue BUT Please understand that on Bluesky, there are accounts that try and divide the movement. I’m not saying this is everyone or that ppl don’t have legitimate feelings on this, I’m just suggesting that we all recognize the benefit to the fascists
aug 24, 2025, 1:12 am • 1 1 • view
Of splitting the left over any and all big issues that come up. We know this happened with Gaza during the election, and it continues to happen with other issues.
aug 24, 2025, 1:12 am • 1 0 • view
He’s going on right wing podcasts and throwing trans people under the bus now. Yes his history is progressive, but he is actively throwing trans and homeless under the bus now. He has signed pro trans legislation, but he’s signaling that he will betray trans people to get votes Now.
aug 23, 2025, 6:57 pm • 5 0 • view
It is not unreasonable for people to show concern. Is he better than the Nazi in the White House, yes. But that doesn’t make him good. Going from trans genocide to just trying to make trans people second class citizens is not a way to get progressives to support him unless they are also bigots.
aug 23, 2025, 6:57 pm • 4 0 • view
Your take is so far removed from the facts. This is the problem I’m having with BSky ATM. For you one measured response on his own podcast = making trans 2nd class citizens. Once again despite all of the pro-trans legislation he’s signed. Despite him making CA a trans youth sanctuary state. 🤷🏻♂️
aug 23, 2025, 7:15 pm • 7 0 • view
It is the difference between a political issue and a moral issue. He is treating trans people as a political issue where compromise is possible. To many of us, it is a moral issue where there is no compromise that is acceptable. The measured response in of itself is offensive to the core.
aug 23, 2025, 7:26 pm • 3 0 • view
I get that people find it offensive. But he might legit disagree with you on the subject. Personally I’d rather have a politician who maybe doesn’t agree with me on things but legislates in a way that protects and improves my rights.
aug 23, 2025, 7:41 pm • 7 0 • view
Sorry, I’m tired of politicians throwing my friends under the bus. I’m tired of voting for the lesser evil. Newsom fails the MORAL test for me, and I’m not going to support someone that is willing to throw my friends under the bus to please Nazis.
aug 23, 2025, 7:52 pm • 1 0 • view
The Democratic leadership have shown with Mamdani that “vote blue no matter who” was a lie to force us to accept politicians we find unacceptable. Newsom is reaping the fallout of those actions, as now progressives see no reason to accept the unacceptable just because they call themselves a Democrat
aug 23, 2025, 7:52 pm • 2 0 • view
Ah there it is. It all makes sense now. You’re just anti-Dem and filter everything so you can be more and more anti-Dem It’s weird how people like you don’t actually care about anyone’s rights or any legislation. You just hate centrists. Probably hate them more than fascists. It’s ridiculous. 👍🏼
aug 23, 2025, 7:59 pm • 5 0 • view
It is over 2 years before the primaries are in full swing. Demanding people settle for someone that disgusts us is why people are fed up with democrats. If both choices are willing to sacrifice my friends, why should I support either.
aug 23, 2025, 8:18 pm • 2 0 • view
See also: Kamala is A Cop, posting which started on Jan. 20, 2017.
aug 23, 2025, 6:42 pm • 24 3 • view
I saw a wrecker coming for Pritzker the other night. Newsom is a scumbag and an empty suit, but there is actual ratfucking afoot.
aug 23, 2025, 6:27 pm • 21 3 • view
Look I'm no fan of Newsom in that I don't want for him to be our nominee in 2028, but we'll trash the Democratic brand if we try to make a billionaire become our candidate for POTUS in the next campaign.
aug 23, 2025, 7:47 pm • 2 0 • view
With who? Anyone for whom this is a red line has already decided that the Democratic Party and the duopoly in general are irredeemably corrupt.
aug 23, 2025, 7:58 pm • 9 0 • view
We have to try to convince as many of the millions and millions of leftists who sat on their hands last year and let the fascists take power over all three branches of our federal government to choose to vote the GOP out of power. I don't think we'll make the case to them with a billionaire.
aug 23, 2025, 8:03 pm • 1 1 • view
Not sure how many of them there are but young people in general rarely vote I do think they serve a propaganda role in discouraging others from voting dem tho
aug 24, 2025, 3:42 am • 1 1 • view
Yes. Those are the people I was talking about. Pritzker being a billionaire is not going to be the problem.
aug 23, 2025, 8:07 pm • 3 0 • view
I can't say for sure that it will, but I sure get trolled by a bunch of leftists that tell me that Democrats only care about billionaires and not the "working class" all the time, hence my concern with Pritzker.
aug 23, 2025, 8:10 pm • 0 0 • view
Do you not see how this makes my point?
aug 23, 2025, 8:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Most of them will never vote for Democrats because of either their deep seated racism or some fundamental mental illness.
aug 24, 2025, 12:15 pm • 2 0 • view
Yes perhaps, I am really trying to never again predict what our electorate may choose to do. I am looking forward to seeing how the elections go in Virginia in few months. Hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised to see that many Americans are interested in helping to get the fascists out of power.
aug 24, 2025, 12:22 pm • 0 0 • view
When I talk with them, I find that for many of them the core political/ideological motivation is fury at Democrats who are failing to either "lead" as instructed ( by yelling or going to jail) or to get out of the way so these people can ascend to what they think they deserve.
aug 24, 2025, 1:10 pm • 1 0 • view
Point of order: there are not millions of leftists.
aug 23, 2025, 8:04 pm • 8 0 • view
Let's see there were ninety million eligible voters who chose not to vote last fall. According to this poll of them, 39% of those 90 million were people who vote for the left side of the aisle. That's 34M leftists who chose to sit on their hands and allow the fascists to take power.
aug 23, 2025, 8:08 pm • 1 0 • view
That seems like a pretty big fucking problem. They should probably get their shit together if they don't want to live under fascism.
aug 23, 2025, 8:10 pm • 4 0 • view
Surely they’ll learn the lesson this time? Lolsob
aug 23, 2025, 8:21 pm • 2 0 • view
That doesn't in any way indicate they're leftists, actually.
aug 23, 2025, 8:52 pm • 3 0 • view
I don't always adhere to it, but when I say leftists I'm referring to the fact that we have a two-party political landscape in the USA and try to use far-left for the Americans to the left of the Democratic Party. I was mistaken about how many registered Democrats failed to vote though.
aug 23, 2025, 9:00 pm • 0 0 • view
One reason I'm assuming that it was the Americans that think Democrats are Republican-lite is because they've been saying that as they attack Democrats in the lead up to and post-election.
aug 23, 2025, 9:00 pm • 0 0 • view
This still in no way suggests there are millions of them
aug 24, 2025, 1:34 am • 4 0 • view
There's a *whole* lot of ideological space between "checked D on a box" and "is a leftist."
aug 23, 2025, 8:43 pm • 1 0 • view
They did not check D on a box. They were determined to be left of the aisle voters by the pollsters. Very few registered Democrats chose to not last fall as far as I know.
aug 23, 2025, 8:48 pm • 0 0 • view
The chart you posted identifies potential voters by registration.
aug 23, 2025, 8:51 pm • 1 0 • view
I was mistaken. I had applied this, The numbers come from asking voters and non-voters the question: “Generally, do you think of yourself as a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Other?” to the data in the graph.
aug 23, 2025, 8:57 pm • 0 0 • view
beyond a reach to call those people leftists. they are swing voters at best, but mostly dont care about politics
aug 23, 2025, 8:38 pm • 2 0 • view
@tinavstammy.bsky.social data4democracy.substack.com/p/did-non-vo...
aug 23, 2025, 8:49 pm • 0 0 • view
My mistake, there were millions of registered Democrats who didn't vote last fall. I had hoped actual Democrats were smart enough to know they should do all they can to keep fascists out of power. data4democracy.substack.com/p/does-highe...
aug 23, 2025, 8:55 pm • 0 0 • view
but if theyre registered dems wouldnt it be better for the dems to try to appeal to their voters instead of compromising with republicans? kamala proudly said she would have republicans in her cabinet, that stuff alienates people
aug 23, 2025, 8:58 pm • 0 0 • view
look i dont have the time to verify the legitimacy of this substack post but even if its accurate i think youre misapplying the term "leftist" which usually means left wing partisan, not someone who is generally apathetic towards politics but leans dem
aug 23, 2025, 8:53 pm • 0 0 • view
Remember the Roosevelts? Each was born to wealthy families. As POTUS, each got progressive legislation enacted. I'm still in the getting acquainted phase with Pritzker, but he interests me.
aug 23, 2025, 9:08 pm • 1 0 • view
I get it. I'm just worried that the Democratic brand is damaged right now and don't see having a billionaire at the top of the ticket helping us to become more popular on the left is all. I like what I've seen and heard of Pritzker too.
aug 23, 2025, 9:13 pm • 1 0 • view
🙄
aug 23, 2025, 8:39 pm • 1 0 • view
Not a newsom super fan, but the people here who are so certain that he is a trans hater, probably don't know that he is a hero on gay marriage to many people of a certain age. Look at his history as mayor.
aug 23, 2025, 10:47 pm • 3 0 • view
If Newsom’s plan works it cripples the GOP *and* the far left.
aug 23, 2025, 7:02 pm • 7 0 • view
Bingo! The far left fear him the most because he is actually doing what they want and it's working. But he's considered a "corporate Dem" so that can't happen. Their heads are exploding..
aug 23, 2025, 7:54 pm • 5 0 • view
That’s exactly what they want.
aug 24, 2025, 3:45 am • 0 0 • view
You think the far left's political goal is more influence for fascists like Bannon? I have to disagree.
aug 24, 2025, 4:05 am • 4 0 • view
I mean, no, I think that's a perfectly reasonable fear if you also think Gavin Newsom will sell you out after riding to power exploiting people's hopes & fears with the promise of Ending Trump, & in doing so doom queer and homeless rights on the Left to exile.
aug 23, 2025, 6:14 pm • 22 0 • view
Shitty politicians often get power by exploiting popular misery and fury at intolerable situations, Newsom riding to power on the back of "only I can defeat Trump!" while still sucking up to the reactionary right would be no different, & be potentially a permanent capture by the reactionary right.
aug 23, 2025, 6:16 pm • 3 0 • view
If Newsom really wants to show he's changed, he can do it with public apologies and stands in favor of trans rights for young trans folks to disavow his past statements. It probably won't work, but that's because everyone would recognize he's a weathervane politician anyways.
aug 23, 2025, 6:23 pm • 3 1 • view
Or he can just talk about his legislative history so maybe you’ll all see how pro-trans he has been historically instead of going with the sound bite outrage. I mean, you’re aware that Gavin Newsom made CA a youth trans sanctuary state, right? Seems bigger than one measured statement in a podcast.
aug 23, 2025, 6:34 pm • 0 0 • view
That's not an "or," that's an "and."
aug 23, 2025, 6:36 pm • 0 0 • view
Nah, it’s an or. He’s a ‘weathervane’ politician with a solid history of pro-trans and progressive legislation. He gave one measure answer and you can’t think past that. Voters not caring about the facts and basing their entire stance on soundbites is 100% the problem with politics in America.
aug 23, 2025, 6:40 pm • 1 0 • view
It seems like the conclusion here is that there's no incentive for him to change because everyone's already decided what he is. In which case, great, use and discard him, don't spend time worrying about 2028, we've got many years between now and then.
aug 23, 2025, 7:31 pm • 0 0 • view
That’s still better than Repubs. What the shit kind of effort do you think you’re doing
aug 24, 2025, 4:55 am • 0 0 • view
I think if that's the case, people would be doing the same to many other Dems, not just Newsom. Hell, they'd probably be doing that to Bernie as well.
aug 23, 2025, 7:28 pm • 13 1 • view
Newsom is the most prominent candidate seen as flirting with hatred for trans people and the homeless. Others have also gotten this push back but largely are not thought to be running
aug 23, 2025, 7:29 pm • 9 0 • view
I think it's interesting to note how "thought to be running" has turned into "he's won the 2028 primary" in the Discourse. We kinda skipped over like 5 steps of the process, including the interceding years, all so we could do another round of (hypothetical) voting Discourse.
aug 23, 2025, 7:33 pm • 29 3 • view
It just feels like the Discourse is being foisted upon us by people who genuinely do not want to deal with the fact that there's 3+ years between now and the 2028 election, and instead just want to discuss how unacceptable the Democratic options are being. There's still time! Throw your hat in!
aug 23, 2025, 7:39 pm • 35 7 • view
Please note that most of these people live online and have a stake in the Dems failing in order to uphold their self righteousness and purity politics. Those of us who actually volunteer for the Dem party are too busy with taking back both houses in 2026.
aug 23, 2025, 8:00 pm • 19 3 • view
A discussion of people's rights - especially the most intimate right of someone to not be confined in a body they hate - is not about "purity politics," and it's incredibly dismissive to reduce it to such.
aug 23, 2025, 8:02 pm • 12 0 • view
I simply don't believe there wouldn't be a substantial difference in terms of trans rights between any Republican choice for president and Newsom.
aug 23, 2025, 8:07 pm • 18 1 • view
How about not prescribing Newsom's policies until he's actually running for president and talks about a policy. You're falling into the trap you described by assuming he's a 2028 presidential candidate.
aug 23, 2025, 10:36 pm • 0 0 • view
He agreed outright with shithead regressive transphobic talking points man, I don't know what to tell you
aug 23, 2025, 8:09 pm • 8 0 • view
He agreed that on an extreme case, there was a fairness issue. Not ideal, but his follow up was a poorly executed argument that competitive fairness is not the only consideration.
aug 23, 2025, 8:26 pm • 0 0 • view
I think it's possible for both of these things to be true, and that one doesn't invalidate the other.
aug 23, 2025, 8:20 pm • 6 0 • view
I think both of these statements can be true: 1) Newsom would be worse on trans issues than any other major D 2) Newsom would not be as bad on trans issues than any R Like he sucks here - a lot - but he has also signed pro-trans legislation as recently as last summer www.kcra.com/article/gov-...
aug 23, 2025, 8:11 pm • 28 6 • view
And if he is bad, that’s a good problem to have. It means everything else is going okay
aug 24, 2025, 4:58 am • 0 0 • view
Hi, I'm trans. It abso-fucking-lutely is purity politics as The Discourse is currently going.
aug 23, 2025, 8:21 pm • 7 1 • view
Hi, I can cite multiple trans people to me right now of who have said they will under zero circumstances will they vote Newsom, so let's not play this game "I deploy the identity to win the argument," queer people, like Jews, are human beings & thus disagree regularly.
aug 23, 2025, 8:24 pm • 2 0 • view
I can also cite multiple trans people who say that, and they're fucking idiots who will condemn all of us to camps because of their purity pony horseshit (just as they did with Harris). But thank you for playing.
aug 23, 2025, 8:27 pm • 5 0 • view
It just proves they’re anti democrat. They demanded Dems fight like republicans. Newsom does but it’s still not the right way.
aug 23, 2025, 8:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Success for Democrats terrifies them. Their employers would be mad.
aug 23, 2025, 6:16 pm • 1 0 • view
No, its because he will throw my trans wife under the bus to get an extra 500 votes. You can't do shit like that. Trans people are people, I'm sorry that conservatives find them icky.
aug 23, 2025, 6:09 pm • 12 0 • view
I will happily appreciate his media strategy and his fighting against Trump. I will not, under any circumstances, support him for the Dem nomination. And I really really hope he doesn't get the nom so I dont have to seriously soul-search about my general election vote-or-not decision.
aug 23, 2025, 6:11 pm • 11 0 • view
bsky.app/profile/aman...
aug 23, 2025, 6:12 pm • 5 0 • view
And he vetoed the insulin cap claiming CA was going to create our own. We did not, in fact, create our own.
aug 23, 2025, 6:20 pm • 6 0 • view
Tbh, I'm imagining him getting the nom and losing the LGBTQ vote because of triangulating on trans stuff, and then gaining ZERO votes from the cehter/right because he first got nationally famous for "illegally" marrying same sex couples as SF mayor. 1/
aug 23, 2025, 6:33 pm • 0 0 • view
(Imagine those ads!) "ILLEGAL!" "Even communist California judges slapped him down!" He has no upside in either direction! 2/end
aug 23, 2025, 6:33 pm • 0 0 • view
He can’t carry California in a primary.
aug 23, 2025, 6:33 pm • 1 0 • view
He burned ALL his bridges and played every chip he had and called in every favor just to get THIS far.
aug 23, 2025, 6:35 pm • 0 0 • view
If he hadn't come up in San Fran / California, he'd be a Republican. Its like Tulsi, good fucking luck getting elected as a Repub in Hawaii or San Fran or, like, Portland Oregon, you know?
aug 23, 2025, 6:21 pm • 3 0 • view
They're nervous, and it shows. Newsom would be kryptonite for leftist candidates in a primary. He's a complete political animal, and that makes him a serious threat to other contenders.
aug 23, 2025, 6:58 pm • 3 1 • view
They're probably magas
aug 24, 2025, 3:01 am • 0 0 • view
I just want him to stop attacking trans and homeless folk. I genuinely don't think that's too much to ask. It makes genuinely no sense that people are celebrating him more than, say, Walz, who has been perpetually mocking Trump since his 'failed' campaign.
aug 23, 2025, 8:45 pm • 4 0 • view
Just like Jeb Bush didn't go anywhere, someone who was politically born and bred in a Deep Blue state simply doesn't have the juice on a national stage.
aug 23, 2025, 6:07 pm • 51 9 • view
It's not even just that, Gavin Newsom is *specifically* not especially popular as a governor in CA anymore and basically only gets really positive press when he's fighting Republicans or stoking blue state CA resentment. His own state dislikes the idea of him as President.
aug 23, 2025, 6:08 pm • 34 7 • view
Also, much of America (wrongly imo but nonetheless) has a visceral negative reaction to the word “California.” He’ll stoke turnout among republicans, fueled by “don’t California my (insert purple state here)” signs.
aug 23, 2025, 7:38 pm • 3 1 • view
Precisely!
aug 23, 2025, 7:26 pm • 1 0 • view
Dear Loud Penitent, We in California put him BACK into office with a huge majority. It's not so much that he would be a great presidential candidate as it is that PresiPedo has poisoned the well. GOP now stands for Guardians Of Pedos party. Republican now means complicit, treasonous, liar.
aug 28, 2025, 9:35 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm in California. I am very familiar with Newsom's public approval
aug 28, 2025, 9:42 pm • 0 0 • view
Right, and, like, sorry, we haven't even come to the Discourse Conclusion over whether or not deplatforming is a moral necessity or if it's not worked at all. I think we're several steps away from Deciding That Newsom Has Already Won the 2028 Primary.
aug 23, 2025, 7:36 pm • 38 7 • view
This whole subthread is exactly what I'm trying to say. bsky.app/profile/segf...
aug 23, 2025, 7:59 pm • 17 2 • view
Trans rights is a "First they came for…" issue. He's flipped on it. Will he flip on immigration tomorrow? What about tariffs? If Newsom became the Democratic Presidential nominee, I would vote for him, but I do not trust him.
aug 23, 2025, 6:59 pm • 9 0 • view
This sort of garbage is what I would fear in a Newsom administration. Labour was elected to reverse the damage the Tories had done, not continue it, and has entirely betrayed its mandate.
aug 23, 2025, 8:40 pm • 1 0 • view
Just blocked someone who was Very Intelligent. I can deal with disagreement, but evasive nitpicking is just a waste of time. Such people get one answer and then a block if they don't give it up.
aug 23, 2025, 9:35 pm • 0 0 • view
yeah I mean "I'd vote for him if I had to but it's hard to imagine ever trusting him" is definitely a reasonable place to be emotionally imo (it's where I'm at!), but that's not the tenor of the Discourse even remotely and I think we're all better served by acknowledging that
aug 23, 2025, 7:42 pm • 31 3 • view
Assuming regular-order elections, the 2028 Democratic nominee is a full-bore beneficiary of the "if Hitler invaded hell..." principle. Newsom clears that bar, handily. He mega sucks, though. And also will not be the nominee, because of, y'know, how he sucks.
aug 23, 2025, 7:44 pm • 9 1 • view
It’s actively sabotaging a chance of a Dem win because everyone saying this is encouraging others and themselves to just not vote for it
aug 24, 2025, 5:01 am • 0 0 • view
I know. Perhaps I ought to say nothing.
aug 24, 2025, 5:24 am • 2 0 • view
I know he’s not perfect on this issue but if the biggest problem in February 2029 is President Newsom’s anti trans athlete stance, that is a massive win for everyone including trans athletes. Even if he’s dragging the Dem Party as a whole that way, worry about it then
aug 24, 2025, 5:39 am • 2 0 • view
I'm more concerned. This is a "first they came for…" thing. Still, he's likely to be superior to any Republican.
aug 24, 2025, 5:42 am • 0 0 • view
Repubs are already worse on this than anywhere blue. The “first they came for” has come. It’s not going to keep coming under blue government
aug 24, 2025, 6:39 am • 1 0 • view
I wish I was sure of that. I'm old enough to remember the DLCC. Part of how we got here is that the Democrats compromised with this nascent fascist movement for decades. Which doesn't mean I want to see this crew of apocalyptic fanatics continue in power, but I wish I was sure of their opponents.
aug 24, 2025, 6:43 am • 0 0 • view
also I couldn't tell you if there's a white performance artist out there who *could* obtain the trust of the Black primary vote, ask me again closer to 2028, it's entirely possible that there is, but barring *significant, years-term changes* it's not gonna be Newsom,
aug 23, 2025, 7:42 pm • 18 4 • view
which means a LOT of this discourse is people who have a sufficiently Good Reason To Be Upset that nobody really wants to gainsay their emotions ignoring the actual activity of Newsom's administration vis a vis some shit he said on a podcast and preëmptively declaring they won't vote in '28
aug 23, 2025, 7:42 pm • 19 3 • view
Some of it is also a negative polarization response from interacting with the shittiest Stans on Bsky yelling at them their objections are handing the country to Trump or even jeering triumphantly about it. Never underestimate the siloing effect of social media.
aug 23, 2025, 8:07 pm • 6 1 • view
at some point you begin to wonder if they started with their conclusions and worked backwards in whatever way seemed the most defensible, whether or not they realised that's what they were doing
aug 23, 2025, 7:42 pm • 15 2 • view
I mean this as respectfully as possible: Republicans are already coming for trans rights. The best thing we could possibly do for trans rights is get Republicans out of office; the best thing we could possibly do for Americans, including trans Americans, is getting Republicans out of office.
aug 23, 2025, 7:04 pm • 8 0 • view
You're missing the point. If Newsom is willing to throw trans people under the bus, who else will he throw under the bus?
aug 23, 2025, 7:09 pm • 2 0 • view
I don't think being opposed to trans sports is throwing trans people under the bus, not the way Republicans are doing it, at least. I think Newsom would be better for trans people than the current administration by a country mile, and people in general, for that matter.
aug 23, 2025, 7:12 pm • 3 0 • view
He vetoed a trans discrimation law for minors that had to be overriden in the legislature. He blocked laws limiting billionaire legislation on AI slop, and he blocked universal insulin treatment in California.
aug 23, 2025, 7:16 pm • 0 0 • view
It's not just that Newsom is a spineless coward on trans people, he is also a spineless coward on everything else. He is constantly getting in arguments with the California legislature, and blocking any form of progressive legislation.
aug 23, 2025, 7:18 pm • 0 0 • view
Then it seems like he'll be a spineless coward fighting Trump, no?
aug 23, 2025, 7:37 pm • 1 0 • view
And I'm glad he's been standing up against Trump.
aug 23, 2025, 7:19 pm • 2 0 • view
I can’t find evidence that any of these statements are true.
aug 23, 2025, 9:06 pm • 2 0 • view
www.latimes.com/california/s...
aug 24, 2025, 4:41 am • 0 0 • view
www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/10...
aug 24, 2025, 4:49 am • 0 0 • view
“This week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a law that would cap the price of insulin for consumers at $35 a month, saying the state will focus instead on producing its own insulin for $30 per vial – a plan that Newsom announced last March.”
aug 24, 2025, 11:41 am • 2 0 • view
This law wouldn’t have prohibited discrimination, it would have just constrained the discretion of judges in child custody proceedings. A parent’s non-affirmation of their child’s gender identity will still be a relevant factor if it negatively affects the child’s health, safety, and welfare.
aug 24, 2025, 11:39 am • 1 0 • view
Can you post a link to this trans discrimination law?
aug 23, 2025, 7:46 pm • 3 0 • view
This point, also, is worth attention.
aug 23, 2025, 7:52 pm • 1 0 • view
At this stage, people should be demanding Newsom walk back his foolish choice to platform Charlie Kirk & give credence to the fiction that boys/men are going to declare they're trans in order to win at sports, not misconstruing his otherwise decent record on trans rights against discrimination.
aug 23, 2025, 11:46 pm • 2 0 • view
The GOP talking points are intended to create a panic & divide over something *that is not happening*. The rebuttal isn't to insist the fake thing they're trying to create a panic over should be condoned & yes, I've seen people insisting it doesn't matter even if it were happening.
aug 23, 2025, 11:49 pm • 2 0 • view
Meanwhile Donald Trump has done hundreds, if not thousands of worse things since he's become President. It's 2025, if you've got someone better than Newsom, start grooming them for the campaign, we've got time.
aug 23, 2025, 7:19 pm • 2 0 • view
What does this have to do with anything? He is not in power, he should not hold any power. Anyone would be better then Newsom, Pete is genuinely alright. Pritzker is really good. Etc...
aug 23, 2025, 7:24 pm • 0 0 • view
Then keep them in the headlines.
aug 23, 2025, 7:25 pm • 2 0 • view
We are roughly 3 yrs away from nominating the next Dem candidate for POTUS. That is a .... L O N G... stretch of road. Let Newsom cook now. Others should join in. Now is a good time to try stuff out, see what excites folks. We d/n have a news media to help. (Never did much, anyway.) So, LFG!
aug 23, 2025, 6:53 pm • 17 5 • view
I am sure a bunch of it are the same allegedly "left" people who loathe all Democrats, that absolutely is not the entire story given his recent complete shit takes about gender affirming care and trans people in sports. I can tell you right now, I will NEVER consider voting for him in any primary.
aug 23, 2025, 7:53 pm • 3 2 • view
I said the same thing about trump - twice.
aug 24, 2025, 4:27 am • 1 0 • view
No, it's because he acted like a douchebag and people didnt forget
aug 24, 2025, 3:35 am • 0 0 • view
I literally cannot live through another election where progressives refuse to vote democrat. My head will fucking explode.
aug 24, 2025, 3:10 pm • 17 3 • view
Get ready for it because progressive treat voting like marriage. They have to be wined and dined and fall in love and the Dem has to be their soulmate.
aug 24, 2025, 8:50 pm • 2 0 • view
Getting in the weeds here folks. Maybe let's get the Party to actually participate in our survival first. Figure out the nom. later. In the end, I'm voting 4 whoever the nom. turns out to be. Enough of this MAGA bullshit!
aug 24, 2025, 11:16 am • 1 0 • view
You don’t even need to like Gavin Newsom to appreciate what he’s been doing recently. Democrats can’t afford to play nice. They need to be assholes and use MAGA’s own tactics against them.
aug 23, 2025, 8:09 pm • 5 0 • view
no people just dont want a craven anti-homeless anti-trans politician to represent the democrats
aug 23, 2025, 8:36 pm • 4 0 • view
1. How did they feel about having a "cop" this last election? 2. Did they vote like they believed there was still meaningful daylight between a "cop" and a fascist, or did they stay home?
aug 23, 2025, 8:44 pm • 1 0 • view
Whataboutery and deflection is not an answer. Some people have principles that they refuse to betray, and they WILL NOT VOTE for a candidate willing to throwing homeless people and trans people under the bus.
aug 24, 2025, 8:35 am • 2 0 • view
Telling them "Please vote for a candidate because the alternative is even worse" won't work, because those voters fundamentally believe that the "lesser of two evils" is STILL EVIL. It also casts doubt on the candidate's integrity - who else will they throw under the bus when they're president?
aug 24, 2025, 8:35 am • 2 0 • view
That's literally how we ended up here, and absolutely nobody is in a better spot.
aug 24, 2025, 11:56 am • 1 0 • view
i really dont think the cop thing was as big of a deal as kamala refusing to distance herself from biden. in fact a lot of people liked that. i personally dont like cops but she wasnt really a cop was she? wasnt she like a DA? its super minority of people when she had much bigger problems going on.
aug 23, 2025, 8:49 pm • 0 0 • view
Wrecker expects a unicorn, got it. Good talk. 👋
aug 23, 2025, 8:51 pm • 0 0 • view
beyond ridiculous way to engage with political discourse, go play on the swings
aug 23, 2025, 8:54 pm • 0 0 • view
All you all had to do was stop the Nazi. But dammit, Dems had to be taught a lesson. Good talk.
aug 23, 2025, 8:57 pm • 0 0 • view
lmao cannot take you seriously
aug 23, 2025, 8:58 pm • 0 0 • view
They are terrified and toxic. They out there like “we’re never voting for him” like settle down huntie let’s survive next week first.”
aug 24, 2025, 3:10 am • 1 0 • view
I will have my pro con list in 2 years from now on each Presidential candidate. However, Newsom is currently doing the actions that are needed. And he’s already been picked for a fight by Trump. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be President. That means we have been without leadership for 6 mths.
aug 24, 2025, 7:02 pm • 1 0 • view
While I’m glad Newsom is doing what he can to help Dems for midterms, I know he’s not a lock for 2028 since a dark horse candidate will emerge. Just like in 2008
aug 23, 2025, 8:41 pm • 2 0 • view