Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "Gavin Newsom is Going HARD Against Trump. Will It Work?"

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: JVL (The Bulwark)
Guest: Hannah Yost

Main Theme

This episode dissects California Governor Gavin Newsom’s new, aggressive “Dark Woke” online persona, as he mirrors Trumpian tactics and takes the fight to the MAGA right with memes, shitposting, and direct online engagement. JVL and Hannah explore whether this strategy invigorates Democrats, how it is received across the political spectrum, and what it signals about American political branding going into 2026. The conversation also touches on wider Democratic strategies, the asymmetry of political standards, and the evolving landscape of political communication.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction – Newsom’s Evolution (00:00-01:39)

• JVL sets the stage with Newsom’s recent pivot from outreach efforts—like launching podcasts to engage conservative figures—to embracing a combative, Trump-like persona online.
• Hannah observes that Newsom has become a “full poster,” referencing his attempt at different outreach modes, and notes Democratic discomfort with “needing a sociopath of our own” but balking when they get one.
  • Quote: “The left, they're like, we need a sociopath of our own. And then they get mad when he does sociopath things.” (00:56, Hannah)

2. Newsom’s Trumpian Posting: Memes, Nicknames, Outrage (02:06–03:24)

• Newsom has adopted all-caps tweets, AI-generated memes (e.g., himself on Mount Rushmore, being prayed over by Tucker Carlson and Hulk Hogan), and mocking nicknames—mirroring Trump’s style.
• MAGA figures and Fox News call him "childish," yet that is, JVL points out, “the point”—it’s a deliberate parody.
  • Quote: “He’s just doing a Trump impression. Are you surprised the MAGAs are upset about this?” (02:29, JVL)

3. Asymmetry of Political Standards: Why is Trump Excused and Dems Aren’t? (03:24–04:24)

• Discussion centers on how Trump’s bad behavior is normalized (“like being mad at a fish for swimming”) while Democrats are held to higher standards by both right-wing and mainstream media.
  • Quote: “Trump is taken as a force of nature... Like, it just is. Everybody else is expected to be treated like a normal human being.” (03:46, JVL)

4. Democrats’ Self-Policing & The “Weird” Attack Backstory (04:24–05:37)

• Hannah criticizes Democrats’ excessive self-policing, referencing how Tim Walz was told to drop calling J.D. Vance “weird” ahead of debates—a missed opportunity for a more direct attack style.

5. The Utility and Risks of Shitposting (05:37–07:39)

• JVL draws parallels to John Fetterman’s Twitter-centric campaign, questioning if Newsom’s shitposting resonates as well.
• Hannah notes mixed feelings: center-left finds it fun, leftists resist it as beneath Democrats; MAGA supporters are confused or hostile but not constructive in their criticism.
  • Discussion moves to online bullying of J.D. Vance, including viral high school photo comparisons with Newsom—a play on right-wing standards of “manliness.”
  • Quote: “For one side, which praises manual manliness... that’s kind of funny. I don’t know. I’m into it. Is it wrong that I’m into Dark woke?” (07:19, JVL)
  • Hannah responds: “I think having any kind of positive energy on the left... is good and healthy and necessary.” (07:39)

6. The Aesthetic Battle and “Hot” Politicians (08:19–09:24)

• JVL jokes about Newsom as “Patrick Bateman” (American Psycho), noting his looks are both an advantage and a problem.
• Hannah reminisces about women’s political activism for resistance but notes the ‘best hope’ now seems to be two white guys—Newsom and Pete Buttigieg.

7. Newsom’s Brand: From California Liberal to Ruthless SOB (09:24–11:18)

• JVL suggests Newsom’s old liability (“California pretty boy”) is being repackaged, possibly turning “too tough and mean” into a political asset, referencing classic job-interview “greatest fault” tropes.

8. Visibility and the National Stage (11:59–13:08)

• Newsom’s aim is to reach household name status, arguing that no publicity is bad. His podcast lags only behind Ted Cruz’s in downloads—far above other Democrats.
  • Quote: “What Gavin is doing is closing the gap of becoming a household name... there is no such thing as bad press.” (11:59, Hannah)

9. “Try-hard” Politicians and the Thirst for Attention (13:08–13:49)

• Historically, “try-hard” tactics look unseemly in politics, but Hannah and JVL agree that voters do respond to effort and ambition.

10. Liabilities, Decadence, and the Internet’s Judgment (13:49–14:35)

• They discuss the infamous Newsom-Kimberly Guilfoyle photo and how younger voters see it as a sign of his “game,” evidence that image often trumps substance.

11. Archetypes Among Dem 2028 Contenders (14:35–16:07)

• Contrast among three Democrats:
  • Newsom: “Ruthless experimentation,” will try anything (like FDR).
  • Buttigieg: “Cerebral,” tries to talk America into sanity.
  • Wes Moore: Waiting his turn, “old politics.”
• Early name-recognition and regular content output are seen as huge advantages.

12. The Politics of Persona: Old Wealth, Masculinity, Populism (16:07–17:20)

• Newsom’s image (“old wealth style”) is contrasted with Republicans’ “common man” affect; Wes Moore has military masculinity, but Newsom brings aesthetic and status.

13. 2027 and Beyond: Newsom’s No-Day-Job Shitposting Future (17:20–18:13)

• When Newsom leaves the governor’s mansion, he’ll be free to turn up his online presence—presidential ambitions in full view.

14. The Power of AI-generated Political Iconography (18:13–18:48)

• Both acknowledge the powerful meme potential of AI images–“iconography” that shapes perceptions in an age where origin and fact matter less than imagery and vibe.
  • Quote: “It’s kind of like the Trump images... looks like iconography. That really, really is working and will work.” (17:47, Hannah)

15. Is “Dark Woke” Just the Left’s Authoritarianism? (18:48–19:02)

• JVL half-jokes about the U.S. evolving toward “two authoritarian parties instead of just one,” musing on the implications of left-wing meme warfare.

16. Gerrymandering and Asymmetrical Political Conduct (19:02–20:24)

• Hannah decries Texas Republicans’ redistricting as “rigging it,” reflective of GOP power-consolidation, adding that Dems feel pressured to play by traditional rules of fair play.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He has gone full poster and in what people are calling the dark woke. It's kind of exciting and thrilling, and it sends a tickle up my spine.”
  — JVL, 00:09

• “We hold Democrats to a much higher standard than we hold Trump and we expect [Democrats] to play on like this, like level, clean, not punching low field. Whereas Trump… can do whatever he wants.”
  — Hannah, 02:37

• “I feel like the shitposting is kind of useful. I mean, John Fetterman basically shit-posted his way into the Senate.”
  — JVL, 05:37

• “Maybe this becomes like the Michael Avenatti boomlet and people look back at it and like, eh, I don't know.”
  — JVL, 13:42

• “He's running like rent is due.”
  — Hannah, 17:32

• “I am looking forward to someday somebody… writing the treatise on the effect of AI slop like iconography, if you call it that, in American politics circa 2020.”
  — JVL, 18:13

• “It is like the fascist style of our time.”
  — Hannah, 18:31

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00: Show open, Newsom’s pivot to aggressive posting
• 02:06: Newsom’s all-caps, meme-based Trump impersonation
• 03:24: Discussion of Trump standards vs. Democratic standards
• 05:37: Effectiveness of “shitposting” as campaign strategy
• 07:07: Viral Vance vs. Newsom high school memes and “manliness”
• 09:24: Rebranding Newsom: from California liberal to “ruthless SOB”
• 11:59: Newsom’s media strategy and podcast metrics
• 13:49: Liabilities—the Kimberly Guilfoyle photo, image vs. reality
• 14:35: Three archetypal Democratic strategies (Newsom, Pete, Wes Moore)
• 17:20: Newsom’s future as a “full time presidential candidate”
• 18:13: AI iconography and meme culture in politics
• 19:07: Gerrymandering and the rigged rules of political engagement

Tone

Clever, self-aware, and a touch sardonic. Both JVL and Hannah balance earnest political analysis with dry humor and cultural references. They acknowledge the absurdities of current politics and pop-culturalize Democratic strategy, blending light-hearted banter with sharp critique.

Takeaways

• Newsom's embrace of “shitposting” and “Dark Woke” aesthetics is a conscious gamble to energize Democrats and goad Republicans.
• There’s real asymmetry in how Democrats vs. Republicans are judged for their rhetorical and stylistic choices.
• Image, visibility, and meme-ability matter more than facts in today’s politics.
• The Democratic bench is experimenting: Newsom (fighter), Pete (talker), Wes Moore (governor), but the party faces deep questions about the ethics and optics of adopting Trump-like tactics.
• Newsom’s strategy isn’t just about 2026—he’s laying groundwork for a bigger national brand in a post-governor role.

For further reading and memes referenced, check out Hannah’s piece on The Bulwark’s site, featuring “Laser Eyes Gavin Newsom.”