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Zenlitened

(9,513 posts)
Thu Mar 6, 2025, 11:35 PM Mar 6

CA Gov Gavin Newsom "Completely Aligns" With Charlie Kirk On Trans Issues In Podcast

Well there you have it: trans lives don’t matter worth a damn to this so-called standard-bearer of the party’s future. This is utterly inexcusable, and no politician — of ANY party — who so eagerly sanctions harm to trans people will ever have my support. What a sickening disgrace.

On Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched his new podcast, This is Gavin Newsom. His first guest? Notorious anti-LGBTQ+ extremist Charlie Kirk. The episode covered a wide range of grievances Kirk and other far-right activists have with Newsom, touching on topics from Black Lives Matter to COVID policies. However, the issue of transgender rights surfaced repeatedly. At one point, Newsom stated he was "completely aligned" with Kirk on transgender participation in sports. He also appeared to express agreement with restrictions on medical care for incarcerated transgender people and limits on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth.

The conversation first turned to transgender athletes when Charlie Kirk referenced a transgender athlete in California, stating, "You, as the governor, should step out and say no, no." Newsom responded, "Right… I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It’s deeply unfair," later adding, "Boy did I see how you guys were able to weaponize that issue." Kirk pushed back, insisting he wasn’t "weaponizing" the issue. Newsom quickly walked back his comment, replying, "You’re right." He then later said that he “agreed” with Charlie Kirk that it was not right transgender athletes should play and that he was “completely aligned” with Charlie Kirk on this issue, blaming a law put in place before he became governor: “It turns out in 2014, years before I was governor, there was a law established that established the legal principles that allow trans athletes in women’s sports. The issue of fairness is completely legit. I completely align with you, we have to acknowledge it.”

The conversation didn’t stop there. Charlie Kirk quickly pivoted to other transgender issues, bringing up Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for incarcerated transgender people. Newsom agreed that the Kamala is for they/them ads were politically damaging, calling them "devastating." When asked about transgender incarcerated people, Newsom responded, "This was even more challenging… because this is issues of people who are incarcerated getting taxpayer-funded gender reassignment… that is a 90/10 [issue]," referring to how he believes such policies poll. He also appeared frustrated that Harris "was in the video and expressed support."

At the close of the podcast, Charlie Kirk shifted the discussion to transgender healthcare, stating, "I encourage you to learn about the butchery that is happening under chemical castration in this state. The American people are overwhelmingly against it." Newsom responded, "Yeah. I think we have to be more sensitized to that."


Source:
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/ca-gov-gavin-newsom-completely-aligns


35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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CA Gov Gavin Newsom "Completely Aligns" With Charlie Kirk On Trans Issues In Podcast (Original Post) Zenlitened Mar 6 OP
Just sad... we should NEVER forsake our athletes in the trans community!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 6 #1
Post removed Post removed Mar 6 #2
What was the point of platforming a bigot? Especially at a time when the focus right now is on the economy tulipsandroses Mar 7 #3
Right? Debut episode of his new podcast... Zenlitened Mar 7 #4
He has killed his hope of leading the party Easterncedar Mar 7 #6
Yes, only candidates who stand up for the trans community stand a chance in 2028!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 7 #20
very short sighted of Newsom 4catsmom Mar 7 #16
Absolutely! SheltieLover Mar 7 #23
Agreed! I read he also just ordered att state workers bk to offices SheltieLover Mar 7 #7
I'm so confused... what's GN's strategy in doing all this?? InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 7 #21
Dunno SheltieLover Mar 7 #24
To try to win battleground states in '28 SilasSouleII Mar 8 #34
Just hope that move does not risk alienating a key component of Democratic voters. InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 8 #35
Is bird flu gone TommyT139 Mar 7 #5
I'm shocked and disappointed. NoMoreRepugs Mar 7 #8
I'm more disappointed than shocked. InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 7 #22
Post removed Post removed Mar 7 #9
So much for California being a safe state FirstLight Mar 7 #10
Well, no decent person wants transgender to be picked on or discriminated against oldmanlynn Mar 7 #11
And you're telling trans people to go to the back of the bus in a safe haven.... why? BootOutTheGoons Mar 7 #12
Post removed Post removed Mar 7 #13
It sickens me how we continue to be punched down on here BootOutTheGoons Mar 7 #14
Trans folks do not deserve fewer rights SheltieLover Mar 7 #25
Thank you BootOutTheGoons Mar 7 #30
Yw! We are all deserving of equal rights & respect SheltieLover Mar 7 #32
I stand with you Keepthesoulalive Mar 7 #29
Thank you BootOutTheGoons Mar 7 #31
No, that's what you're saying. What I'm saying. oldmanlynn Mar 7 #17
Tell that to the trans people being attacked and losing their rights!!!!!! BootOutTheGoons Mar 7 #18
It' not Democracy if one's life, dignity and safety is at stake Quiet Em Mar 7 #19
Post removed Post removed Mar 7 #15
Wasn't newsom paired up with that screamy rightwing woman that don jr. was dating? Think. Again. Mar 7 #26
Milwaukee Irish julmur Mar 7 #27
I always thought he was politically smart stillcool Mar 7 #28
If there is a JustAnotherGen Mar 7 #33

InAbLuEsTaTe

(25,024 posts)
1. Just sad... we should NEVER forsake our athletes in the trans community!!
Thu Mar 6, 2025, 11:44 PM
Mar 6

They need our support... they'll ALWAYS have mine!!

Response to Zenlitened (Original post)

tulipsandroses

(7,089 posts)
3. What was the point of platforming a bigot? Especially at a time when the focus right now is on the economy
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 12:05 AM
Mar 7

and how trump is fucking everything up. globally. Newsom puts on a look at me stunt in the middle of all this???

A better use of his first podcast would have been to platform disaffected farmers and federal workers that voted for trump. The trans issue aside ( I don't say that to be demeaning. I fully support my trans brothers and sisters and the way I see it, my existence as a black woman is not up for debate. Nobody's existence should be. ). My overall point is, it is complete chaos right now. Job losses, the stock market, trade wars. The new world order as the USA is now allied with Russia. Europe is arming itself and no longer considers the US an ally. Now is the time to keep those issues at the forefront and keep reminding folks what a fuck up trump is as well as the entire GOP. Folks are actually paying attention to issues that really matter.

Here he is doing a look at me stunt. C'mon!

Zenlitened

(9,513 posts)
4. Right? Debut episode of his new podcast...
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 12:16 AM
Mar 7

…and THIS seemed like the way to go? Newsom just told us everything we need to know about his judgment and credibility as a “party leader.”

Bowing and scraping ever-rightward is a fool’s errand and always has been. But now? At this juncture in history? It’s an outright betrayal.

SheltieLover

(65,619 posts)
7. Agreed! I read he also just ordered att state workers bk to offices
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 12:31 AM
Mar 7

Why would he make that order, esp now, with tfg's tariff bs hiking fuel costs & contributing to workers' stress sitting in traffic daily?

Something just does not seem.right about any of this.

TommyT139

(1,102 posts)
5. Is bird flu gone
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 12:17 AM
Mar 7

...from all the farms in California, that Newsome has so much free time on his hands?

We won't forget this.

Response to Zenlitened (Original post)

FirstLight

(14,814 posts)
10. So much for California being a safe state
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 01:17 AM
Mar 7

My trans kid and their boyfriend are in North Carolina, and planning to come back here to California because it was supposedly safer. I'm really disappointed. I don't know what he's thinking...but playing to the other side has never been a good idea. 😒

oldmanlynn

(628 posts)
11. Well, no decent person wants transgender to be picked on or discriminated against
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 01:51 AM
Mar 7

The Democratic Party does care about protecting transgender people rights but it shouldn’t be even in the top 10 of issues that Democrats need to focus in on. Sorry

BootOutTheGoons

(292 posts)
12. And you're telling trans people to go to the back of the bus in a safe haven.... why?
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 02:02 AM
Mar 7

This is supposed to be a safe place for the LGBT community. Not a place to be told to wait our turn or that our rights are less important than yours

Response to BootOutTheGoons (Reply #12)

BootOutTheGoons

(292 posts)
14. It sickens me how we continue to be punched down on here
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 02:21 AM
Mar 7

We're trying to live our lives in peace. We're not hurting anyone. Yet we have MAGA trying to erase us as Dems like Newsom and Moulton and many on DU want to play Let's Make A Deal with our rights and lives... Or worse, flat out attack us

I'm trying of hearing how I deserve fewer rights than cisgender people. I'm tired of being called a losing issue. I'm tired of being told it's not my time. I'm tired of being falsely accused of shit I don't do. And I'm beyond tired of hearing that I cost Dems the election

Keepthesoulalive

(1,119 posts)
29. I stand with you
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 07:08 PM
Mar 7

We should not be punching down. If he will sell out trans people, who will he sell out next for power.

BootOutTheGoons

(292 posts)
31. Thank you
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 07:28 PM
Mar 7

And that is what I fear

It sure feels like we're the canaries in the coal mine for a lot of people

oldmanlynn

(628 posts)
17. No, that's what you're saying. What I'm saying.
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 04:02 PM
Mar 7

Is there are far more important issues in the world like the democracy so although making sure transgender people don’t get discriminated against should be something that we focus in on it should not be the most important thing that’s what I’m saying

BootOutTheGoons

(292 posts)
18. Tell that to the trans people being attacked and losing their rights!!!!!!
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 04:06 PM
Mar 7

DO NOT TELL US OUR RIGHTS AND LIVES DON'T MATTER AND ARE A LOW PRIORITY!! ESPECIALLY HERE!!

I don't care how you phrased it!!! You told us to shut up, quit being uppity and to go to back of the bus!!!!

In a safe space no less!!!!

Quiet Em

(1,733 posts)
19. It' not Democracy if one's life, dignity and safety is at stake
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 04:21 PM
Mar 7

There is nothing more important than basic human rights. Democrats can talk about and defend more than one issue at a time. If it's not important to you then I'm not sure why you are in this forum which is dedicated to the rights of transgender people.

Response to oldmanlynn (Reply #11)

stillcool

(33,474 posts)
28. I always thought he was politically smart
Fri Mar 7, 2025, 06:56 PM
Mar 7

this seems like a Jekyll/Hyde thing. Political suicide. In California? Makes no sense.

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