Gavin Newsom Faces Backlash for Hosting Steve Bannon on Podcast

The California governor's decision to feature the controversial Trump ally has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

California Governor Gavin Newsom hosted Steve Bannon, a key figure in the MAGA movement, on the fourth episode of his podcast, 'This Is Gavin Newsom.'
Newsom's choice of Bannon as a guest has been criticized by progressives and former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who called it 'unforgivable and insane.'
The podcast discussion focused on economic issues, avoiding most culture war topics, although Bannon repeated false claims about the 2020 election without significant pushback.
Bannon's appearance follows other conservative guests, including Charlie Kirk, fueling speculation that Newsom may be positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run.
Critics accuse Newsom of 'platforming authoritarianism' and attempting to appeal to centrists by engaging with controversial right-wing figures.