Jennifer Welch, the host of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, claiming his suggestion that Democrats should “become more culturally normal” is akin to “political suicide.” This comment came in response to Newsom’s recent CNN interview where he urged the party to prioritize affordability over niche cultural topics.
“Tactically speaking, and I mean politically, there’s a strong case for Democrats needing to appear, I guess, more culturally normal,” Newsom remarked. He expressed a shift in his focus towards everyday issues, such as rising costs for electricity, childcare, and housing, rather than getting caught up in discussions about identity or pronouns.
Welch called out Newsom, stating that his efforts to seem moderate are essentially capitulating to Republican narratives. “Governor Newsom, your remarks are deeply troubling,” she asserted. “You’re allowing the Republican narrative to shape how free individuals who care about their well-being and others are defined. It’s downright shameful.”
Welch, who has gained a following among Democratic figures through her podcast, also voiced her discontent over what she sees as Newsom’s alignment with “corporate Democrats” as he drifts toward centrist politics. “He’s opposed to a tax on billionaires, which I think should be an easy call. That’s not a liberal stance; it’s quite moderate. Yet, here we have Newsom seemingly on a path towards centrism,” she noted.
She mentioned other politicians, like New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, as examples of Democrats successfully elected while maintaining progressive stances.
“This situation with Gavin is just incredibly unfortunate. It’s troubling that he’s conceding to bigots and letting them dictate how he’s perceived. I really think this could lead to his political undoing. There’s no need to throw anyone under the bus,” Welch concluded.
Newsom has faced criticism from within his party for his moderate takes on transgender rights, although he maintains his strong support for the transgender community.
