Louder with Crowder - Episode Summary
"The Gavin Newsom 2028 Campaign Begins... And It Sucks"
Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Steven Crowder
Guests: Nick DiPaolo and crew
Overview
In this jam-packed episode, Steven Crowder and his co-hosts wade through an array of cultural and political touchstones, centering their focus on what they see as media manipulation around Gavin Newsom's presumed presidential ambitions for 2028—and, in Crowder's words, why that "sucks." Other major topics include celebrity divorce dynamics (Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari), the red vs. blue divide in crime reporting, the racial politics of major cities, and the increasing polarization regarding marriage and dating in modern America. The crew also lampoons virtue signaling in sports and mainstream institutions, pokes fun at multicultural snafus, and highlights the lack of open debate between political opponents.
Key Discussion Points & Segments
1. Gavin Newsom's "Campaign" and Public Perception
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Newsom’s Low Approval Ratings: The crew discusses Gavin Newsom’s unfavorable (47%) vs. favorable (29%) ratings, puzzled that Democratic strategists and media keep pushing him as presidential material.
[26:07-27:08]- Crowder: “It's kind of a marvel… they're trying rabidly to make Gavin Newsom a thing.”
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Media & Social Media Attempts at Image-Building:
The episode mocks left-wing attempts to elevate Newsom’s “cool” factor through social media memes, and draws a satirical comparison between young Newsom and J.D. Vance. [29:14-32:35]- Crowder: “They believe this is a good comparison… Look at a drum circle hippie and a guy who came from a meth family and then made it into the Marines…”
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Comparisons to J.D. Vance:
Highlighting that Vance is self-made, contrasted with Newsom’s elite background and lack of “struggle.”
[31:18-32:35] -
Left-Leaning Social Media Tone-Deafness:
The panel argues the left can’t meme effectively and lacks self-awareness.
[29:49-30:43]- Crowder: “The left is incapable of being funny because they cannot laugh at themselves.”
2. Statistics & “Lies” About Crime, Red States, and Blue Cities
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Newsom’s Claim on Red State Crime:
Newsom is said to be recycling an old talking point that red states have higher crime rates, which Crowder and crew rebut by noting blue cities within red states drive those statistics.
[34:54-37:12]- Crowder: “19 of 20 cities with the highest murder rates, blue mayors, sure, some in red states, but it's a city issue.”
[36:08-36:56]
- Crowder: “19 of 20 cities with the highest murder rates, blue mayors, sure, some in red states, but it's a city issue.”
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Demographic Context:
The group discusses how comparing murder rates often omits essential demographic and governance details.
[36:56-37:20]- Crowder: “Seven of the top 10 murdered states also have the highest black populations. Same thing, of course, it gets worse with those cities.”
3. The Jay Cutler & Kristin Cavallari Divorce: A Cautionary Tale
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Breakdown of the “He Gave Me Nothing” Claim:
Crowder highlights NFL quarterback Jay Cutler’s pushback on ex-wife Cavallari’s narrative that she received nothing in the divorce, critiquing media and feminist takes on high-profile divorces.
[09:45-13:15]- Cutler: “It's irresponsible… It's borderline slander to insinuate that there was $0 split.”
- Crowder: “You could be a billionaire…never cheated… and she can get bored. And this can be you. That's the law.”
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Broader Implications on Marriage:
The show uses this celebrity case to lament the risks for men in modern marriage, with stats that most divorces are initiated by women, and “unmet emotional needs” or “work-life balance” issues outpace abuse or cheating as causes.
[17:27-18:12]- Crowder: “Women initiate 70% of divorces... Cheating, infidelity, physical abuse are not amongst the top reasons at all…”
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Cultural Framing of Marriage and Risk Aversion:
The panel argues that men are increasingly hesitant about marriage due to legal and cultural shifts, and calls for radical reforms or at least more “prenups.”
[20:45-21:58]
4. Virtue Signaling & Identity Politics in Cities and Sports
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Virtue Signaling in Boston:
Nick DiPaolo recounts experiences with Boston’s political climate and sports crowd, expressing frustration at what he sees as forced displays of racial virtue.
[41:08-43:55]- DiPaolo: “What happened to my city?... It's all about virtue signaling, right? Oh, look at me. I'm on TV and I'm telling them to get the little black [kid the ball]. That's all that is.”
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Boston Mayor Refuses ICE Cooperation:
Discussion on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s public statement refusing to cooperate with ICE, framed as lawless and virtue-driven.
[44:54-46:16] -
Attitudes on NFL’s “End Racism” Campaign:
The show derides end-zone messaging as hollow pandering. [44:03-44:52]
5. Cultural Satire: The Kingdom of Kabbalah & Multiculturalism
- Mockery of a “Tribe” Camping in Scotland:
Crew lampoons a supposed African “Kingdom of Kabbalah” settling in Scotland as an example of multiculturalism gone awry and failed immigration policy.
[04:46-08:24]- Crowder: “This is the failure of multiculturalism…you can’t just come in from another continent and set up Congo throw up flip tents…”
6. Partisan Media Ecosystem & Lack of Debate
- Lack of Cross-Ideological Discourse:
Longing for more direct debates, Crowder and DiPaolo critique how left and right figures rarely face off outside of presidential debates.
[53:38-54:44]- DiPaolo: “You notice how you never see a real liberal politician and a conservative in the same room until… a presidential debate.”
7. Satire and Over-the-top Parody
- Includes exaggerated accents and stereotypes for comedic effect, especially in segments involving “Josh” reporting from Boston, and food culture jokes.
[55:16-59:12] - Panel laments that no one but them attempts this style and wonders tongue-in-cheek why that might be.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Newsom’s Image Campaign:
- Crowder (29:30): “He’s that calculating. Do that and make it look like I’m dressing the President down…You have lady fingers. I get it.”
On Leftist Humor:
- Crowder (30:43): “The left is incapable of being funny because they cannot laugh at themselves.”
On divorces and men’s risk:
- Crowder (13:15): “You could be a billionaire with a 12-inch Swanson who's done nothing wrong, never cheated, never raised your voice, and she can get bored. And this can be you. That’s the law.”
On reasons for divorce:
- Crowder (17:27): “Cheating, infidelity, physical abuse are not amongst the top reasons at all. The top reasons for 70% of the divorce filings are unmet emotional needs, work-life balance...”
DiPaolo on Boston crowd’s virtue signaling:
- DiPaolo (43:13): “It’s all about virtue signaling, right? Oh, look at me. I’m on TV and I’m telling them to get the little black [kid the ball]. That's all that is.”
On GOP’s approach to demographics:
- Crowder (39:50): “If you say Gavin Newsom, good, better than J.D. Vance, because white, that is no longer logical. And that means you’re a racist in my opinion.”
On mayor Wu & ICE:
- Crowder (44:59): “She was acting tough, which is very hard for a Wu to do, saying that she’s not going to comply with ICE.”
Timestamps of Important Segments
- [04:46-08:24]: Satire on the “Kingdom of Kabbalah” in Scotland and multiculturalism
- [09:45-13:15]: Jay Cutler/Kristin Cavallari divorce discussion
- [17:27-18:12]: Divorce statistics and cultural commentary
- [26:07-27:08]: Gavin Newsom’s approval ratings and media campaign
- [29:14-32:35]: Meme battle: Newsom vs. Vance, left-wing PR failures
- [34:54-37:12]: Newsom’s claims about red state crime rates; blue cities rebuttal
- [41:08-43:55]: DiPaolo discusses Boston’s political and cultural scene
- [44:54-46:16]: Michelle Wu refusing ICE cooperation
- [53:38-54:44]: Absence of true debate between major ideological factions
- [55:16-59:12]: Racist parody segment; comedic/satirical wrap-up
Tone & Style
The tone is highly irreverent, satirical, and intentionally provocative. Crowder and crew freely mix serious conservative social commentary with biting comedy, over-the-top impressions, and ridicule of opposing political and cultural views. They lean heavily on directness and self-described “political incorrectness,” often using edgy or shocking humor to underscore their points.
In Conclusion
- The episode lambastes the notion that Gavin Newsom could be a future presidential contender, painting efforts to rebrand him as desperate and absurd.
- It uses high-profile divorces as allegories for perceived broader legal/cultural injustices toward men.
- The podcast repeatedly spotlights what they see as left-wing failures in narrative control, humor, and authentic debate—arguing the left is stuck in a feedback loop of ineffective virtue signaling and weak public relations.
- Throughout, the show’s content is laced with controversial satirical bits, underscoring their claim that only platforms like Rumble allow for this degree of free-wheeling, uncensored speech.
This engaging, brash, and polarizing style ensures both fervent fans and heated critics, but for listeners eager for unfiltered conservative commentary (and laughter), it’s core “Louder with Crowder.”