Overview

• Newsom opened his Substack on June 17 with an op-ed accusing Trump of seeking to “destroy democracy” and urging citizens to defend individual freedom.
• He wrote that the platform will allow him to “break through the noise” by flooding the zone against right-wing disinformation, engaging readers directly.
• The move follows his March launch of the “This Is Gavin Newsom” podcast, where he has hosted both liberal allies and pro-Trump figures such as Charlie Kirk and Newt Gingrich.
• Earlier this month, Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Trump administration over its deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, winning a district court order that was stayed on appeal.
• Political analysts view his media expansion and legal challenges as steps toward positioning for a potential 2028 presidential bid.