Gavin Newsom on Money, Politics, and Your Financial Future

Summary

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Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

Episode: Gavin Newsom on Money, Politics, and Your Financial Future

Date: March 18, 2026
Host: Vivian Tu (“Your Rich BFF”)
Guest: Gavin Newsom (Governor of California)
Live from: South by Southwest

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Overview

In this special live episode, Vivian Tu sits down with California governor Gavin Newsom for a lively conversation spanning money, politics, personal finance, and the intersections of government with our wallets. The candid, unscripted dialogue covers Newsom’s upbringing between two economic worlds, the business of governing, America’s economic challenges, Trump-era policies, inequality, the K-shaped economy, housing, and visions for economic policy change. The tone is vibrant, humorous, and at times fiercely political, with Newsom unafraid to take shots at his political opponents. Both host and guest aim to demystify how political decisions directly shape everyday financial realities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Getting Personal: First Date Ice Breakers

[03:32–10:28]

• Vivian kicks off with rapid-fire questions to “get to know” Gavin Newsom, setting a playful, first-date vibe.
• Screen Time: Newsom, father of four, dodges specifics but alludes:
  “Eric Schmidt said it. Right. We have two states: asleep and online.” [03:58]
• Favorite Food:
  “Italian. Italian, Italian, Italian. Pasta, pasta, pasta.” [04:09]
• First Money Memory:
  Newsom recalls being tipped $20 as a teenage busboy—
  “...a stranger... handed me a $20 bill... he said, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’... It’s impossible, incalculable to tell you how much that changed my life.” [04:32–05:47]
• Biggest Money Regret:
  “Oh, buying my 14-year-old a phone.... It is a seriously bad situation right now.” [06:13–06:47]
• Favorite Villain:
  “Definitely Trump is on my list right now.... I’m kind of a Nolan Batman trilogy guy... Heath Ledger, the Joker and... Bane—in particular... using populist language. Anti-elitism for cruelty and chaos. Kind of sums things up today, too.” [07:04–07:52]
• TSA Anecdote:
  Newsom recently froze at security watching Kristi Noem on TV; called CA airports to request removal.
• Hype Track:
  “The Gladiator song... just a crescendo energy. And... Dre and Eminem and ‘Forgot About Dre.’... I got a bad music selection though... it’s about my staff. Like, dad rock.” [09:20–10:28]

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2. Childhood, Class, and Becoming a Builder

[10:35–14:47]

• Newsom paints his upbringing as a study in contrasts—his mother a struggling, hustling single parent, his father adjacent to great wealth (the Getty family) but not of it.
• On always feeling like “an imposter” among the rich and learning the difference between proximity and power: “It was proximity to wealth without the wealth... always knew my relationship to... wasn’t who I was.... And this book is really that journey about discovering who I was.” [11:31–12:42]
• He candidly discusses insecurities, struggling with a learning disability, and efforts to be authentic: “This is not a 10-point plan to save America’s future. This is about me really scrutinizing, not sanitizing my life...” [13:36]

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3. Business vs. Politics (and Trump’s Impact)

[15:04–22:04]

• Newsom’s business origin story: started a wine shop in San Francisco, battled city bureaucracy, then got “pulled” into city commissions (“if you complain, come help fix it!”). “I grew that business to about 21 small businesses, about a thousand employees... I am just impressing upon you my passion for entrepreneurialism.” [15:47–16:47]
• He draws a sharp distinction between business and governance: “We’re not a for-profit business, right? And we can’t choose our customers, we can’t choose our zip code.” [17:20]
• Direct and passionate critique of Donald Trump’s economic policies: “Just like Donald Trump is a disaster. I mean, when it... tariffs... cost the average household $17. Look what it’s done to small businesses.” [18:00] “The terrorists [tariffs] was the biggest tax increase in our lifetime. A regressive tax on working folks and poor folks...” [19:20]
• Blistering detailing of what he calls “corruption” and “the great grift”: “His is about crony capitalism, state capitalism... What do tariffs, what’s the whole tariff regime have in common? Personal portfolio of Donald Trump.” [20:46]

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4. The Biggest Obstacle to American Economic Well-Being

[22:04–24:07]

• Vivian prompts Newsom for the “biggest obstacle” to a better quality of life for Americans.
• Newsom’s answer: “Donald Trump is the biggest obstacle, period, full stop. These tariffs... you’re all paying $166 billion. He’s about destruction, and destruction is not strength.” [22:27–23:11]
• Notable quote:
  “Any jackass can tear down a barn, but it takes a skilled carpenter to build one. Trump is a jackass.” [23:02]
• Critiques Trump’s use of AI videos:
  “You want unsettling? You’re in the middle of a war... and he’s out there with video game images and AI generated images. This is madness.” [24:10]

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5. California’s Extreme Contrasts: Billionaires & Homelessness

[28:37–36:07]

• Vivian spotlights CA’s paradox: rich in billionaires, but also massive homelessness.
• Newsom frames California as a state of pluralism and contrasts to “regressive” tax states like Texas and Florida. “It’s a majority-minority state... we don’t tolerate our diversity, we at our best celebrate our diversity.” [30:17]
• Defends progressive taxation, economic mobility infrastructure (education, R&D), and recent sizable decrease in unsheltered homeless.
• On state’s housing crisis and tackling “the original sin:” “...NIMBYism, localism, killed us. Supply, demand imbalance... exacerbated those conditions in profound and consequential ways... We just are breaking through that local mindset.” [35:04]

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6. Advice for Struggling Young People in High-Cost Cities

[36:07–41:12]

• Vivian: “What do you say to a 28-year-old in LA/SF who hustles but can’t get ahead?”
• Newsom admits failures of accommodation and calls for “real leadership and accountability:” “We need a liberalism that builds... Not just manage, but lead, to solve them.” [36:45–37:54] “Two questions you have to ask yourself every single day... how can I lower costs and how can I increase wages? The only two things that matter.” [38:35]
• Warns of vast upcoming generational wealth transfer; blasts unfair tax havens.

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7. Modern Political Communication (and Fighting “the Ops”)

[41:12–46:35]

• On using podcasts and irreverent social media:
  “I can’t do this anymore. I’m losing. I mean, I’m coming out with 10 point [plans]. None of you care less.” [42:59]
• Why government officials need to communicate boldly: “We’re going to lose this country if we don’t recognize we’re up against asymmetry... we’ve got to call this out again with conviction and clarity.” [41:59–42:15]
• On combating right-wing media and historical revisionism:
  “It is an attention economy... He [Trump] doesn’t care if he’s the hero... only that he’s the star.... They are putting America in reverse... We will lose this country.” [43:45–46:00]

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8. Regrets and Risk in Politics

[46:35–52:56]

• Vivian asks about political regret.
• Newsom recalls his 2004 decision to marry same-sex couples as mayor—deeply right but perhaps premature with heavy unintended consequences: “No one was applauding then. The Democratic Party was furious... Some people said I was responsible [for election fallout].... For years [I] had doubt—not about doing the right thing... but was it the right time?” [47:07–48:21]
• Advice: take more risks without recklessness, and engage the opposition directly:
  “It’s the art of war... gotta understand the opposition... because again, this Donald Trump... is an invasive species.” [51:26]

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9. Magic Wand Policy: Universal Basic Capital?

[53:03–55:51]

• Vivian: “If you could pass one economic policy tomorrow, what would it be?”
• Newsom’s wish:
  “Universal basic capital... not just UBI... [but] ownership in... a sovereign wealth fund... this notion we rise and fall together.” [54:00]
• Emphasizes asset-building, financial literacy, pre-distribution over redistribution.

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10. The Second Date (and the 2028 Subtext)

[55:51–58:49]

• Vivian cheekily invites Newsom for a “second date” in November 2028.
• Newsom pivots to political necessity:
  “I do not believe we will have a fair and free election as we know it in 2028 if we don’t take back the House... That’s how important a Speaker Jeffries is.... If we can do that, then you and I could go on a second date.” [56:51–57:44]
• Shout-out to his wife and a wink to the audience re: “running” in 2028.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Any jackass can tear down a barn, but it takes a skilled carpenter to build one. Trump is a jackass.”
— Gavin Newsom [23:02]

“It takes more risks without being reckless, more iterative. That’s why I’ve got this podcast, meeting with folks—even those who dislike me.”
— Gavin Newsom [51:38]

“We will lose this country. And so we got to win the messaging war as well. And that’s why we have to be more aggressive and clear.”
— Gavin Newsom [45:36]

“We’re living in a country where 10% of people own two thirds the wealth. If you’re 30, you’re the first American generation not doing better than your parents.”
— Gavin Newsom [32:12]

“The only two things that matter: how can I lower costs and how can I increase wages?”
— Gavin Newsom [38:35]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Icebreaker Rapid-Fire Q&A: 03:32–10:28
• Upbringing, Class, Authenticity: 10:35–14:47
• Business vs. Government, Trump Critique: 15:04–22:04
• Tariffs & Economic Obstacles: 22:04–24:07
• CA’s Inequality, Taxation, Housing: 28:37–36:07
• K-shaped Economy, Youth Struggles: 36:07–41:12
• Social Media & Political Messaging: 41:12–46:35
• Political Regrets & Taking Risks: 46:35–52:56
• Magic Wand Economic Policy: 53:03–55:51
• 2028 “Second Date” Callback: 55:51–58:49

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Final Thoughts

With high energy and candor, Newsom weaves his personal story, policy vision, and barbed political insights into a conversation that demystifies how deeply government influences everyday financial lives. He makes a fervent case for progressive governance, open communication, and the courage to risk (and regret) for bigger change—always with a dash of humor and plenty of “dad rock” humility. For those tracking the economic and cultural crossroads of 2026, this episode is both a primer and a call to action.

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Transcript

[Gavin Newsom]

I mean, literally, Donald Trump is the biggest obstacle, period, full stop. I mean, these tariffs and then he re established under this new section 150 day version of the tariffs. Just doubling down on stupid again. A regressive tax. All of you are paying $166 billion that needs to be sent back. He's about destruction, and destruction is not strength. Any jackass can tear down a barn, but it takes a skilled carpenter to build one. Trump is a jackass.

[Vivian Tu]

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[Gavin Newsom]

All right, all right. No booze yet for a Californian in Texas. Nice to see y'. All.

[Vivian Tu]

I don't think we're gonna get too many boos today at all.

[Gavin Newsom]

I don't know. I love it. Great. This is fancy. I've always wanted to do this, so it's good to be up here with everybody.

[Vivian Tu]

Well, thank you, Vivian. Thank you for being here. My honor, lucky for all of our in person listeners, we have a very special episode of Net Worth and Chill. Live from south by Southwest. I'm your host, Vivian Tu, AKA Urich, bff and your favorite Wall street girly. Today I want to talk about right rent and groceries and medical bills and everything else. That kind of feels like it's just too damn expensive. When I was beginning my personal finance journey, it felt like I had to figure all of these huge, big things out on my own. I was getting scammed by my landlord, paying way too much for eggs and stressing about going to the doctor because I wasn't sure what it would actually cost me. I felt like I was doing it all on my own. But then as I began to learn a little bit more, I realized there's actually one place I can go to for help. My local government. I could file complaints against my landlord, fight to get my utility bill down, and even find resources to make sure my doctor's visits were actually covered. I didn't realize just how closely the government and my wallet were intertwined. That's why, on this very special south by Southwest episode of Net Worth and Chill, I'm excited to talk to our guests about how the government should actually be helping you and how you can take advantage of it to make sure you feel less alone in your personal finance journey. You know him as the California governor and my close personal friend, Gavin Newsom.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yes.

[Vivian Tu]

He's done incredible work on infrastructure and LGBTQIA rights. You might know him from his viral tiktoks, and he has just released a memoir, Young man in a Hurry. We'll talk about his journey, what he thinks are the most pressing issues facing Americans today, and what government resources currently exist to help protect your wallet. Governor Newsom, thank you for joining us.

[Gavin Newsom]

It's good to be with you. It's good to be with you. I know it's, like, so new. It's a new. I know you're all confused. A politician with a book. So I just get your arms wrapped around it. It is good to be here.

[Vivian Tu]

So since we're just starting to get to know each other, I thought it would be really fun for myself and the audience to get to go on a first date with you. So I've got some fun little questions. Just give me the first thing that comes to mind, and it's short answers. You got it?

[Gavin Newsom]

I'm short answers. I'm not sure I got that. We'll try.

[Vivian Tu]

You got. You got it.

[Gavin Newsom]

Okay, bring it on.

[Vivian Tu]

First up, what is your weekly screen time?

[Gavin Newsom]

I got four kids, so I don't want to tell anybody. What the real screen time. I was. Eric Schmidt said it. Right. He said we have two states asleep and online. I'll just leave it at that.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay. What about your favorite food?

[Gavin Newsom]

Oh, that ain't this. Italian. Italian, Italian, Italian, Italian. Pasta, pasta, pasta.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yeah.

[Vivian Tu]

What is your first.

[Gavin Newsom]

Is this what you do on your first dates? These are the questions?

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah. Because I want to make sure they're cool.

[Gavin Newsom]

No, it's interesting. I like that. That's good.

[Vivian Tu]

All right, what's your first money memory as a kid?

[Gavin Newsom]

You are a tough first date. That's interesting.

[Vivian Tu]

First off, you should be talking about money on the first date.

[Gavin Newsom]

The first memory I have. And in fact, literally true, coincidentally, it's in the book. I was working as a busboy at Ramona's restaurant in San Rafael, California, and working my tail off. And there was a guy eating there alone, early diner. And he got up, came over to me. I'll never forget this. Handed me a $20 bill. I never got a tip before. I didn't even get recognized, just out there hustling. And he said, keep doing what you're doing. It's impossible, incalculable to tell you how much that changed my life. So much so just very briefly that when I became a county supervisor in San Francisco, it was at first a part time job and it was about $13,000 a year. And I just, I felt compelled to take my paycheck and convert it to cash. And I would give the money away, including never forget one of the great memories I ever had. I still get. My heart still pounds on the Golden Gate Bridge back when they had toll takers. And you get in that long line waiting a dollar, a dollar, a dollar. And I gave the guy $700. And I said, buy 700 people behind me. Because I always dreamt of someone buying me the ticket. I just remember. And the feeling of the people sort of driving fast, going to the side with a thumbs up was like, oh, man. And so that's my first money memory. A guy stranger that I'll don't know him. I wish I could thank him. And how just a simple act like that. 20 bucks was a lot of money back then, changed everything for me. Profound.

[Vivian Tu]

I love that. On the flip side, what is the worst purchase you have ever made? Something you regret?

[Gavin Newsom]

Oh, buying my 14 year old a phone.

[Vivian Tu]

Real.

[Gavin Newsom]

Oh, no. And man, we went to. There's not an advertisement for Verizon, but we went to the mall, Verizon, and she was like crying. I was crying. She got to pick her number and then she called me first.

[Vivian Tu]

Aww.

[Gavin Newsom]

And we had that. And then we took a selfie. We signed a contract. A week later we did an amendment to the contract and you know, the rest is history. It is a seriously bad situation right now.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yeah. So sorry. Worst purchase ever.

[Vivian Tu]

Who is your favorite villain? Real or imaginary? The date's going well.

[Gavin Newsom]

I don't know what you guys all thinking about, Trump or Patrick Bateman? I don't know. Where are you guys going? Definitely Trump is on my list right now. But that's. I don't want to get to that so soon. But like actually real life. And I. And some of you are saying, what about Stephen Miller? I'm with you. You're right. Stephen Miller, the black heart of the operation. I'm kind of a Nolan Batman trilogy guy. I mean, just like Heath Ledger, the Joker and what, you know, Bane in particular. Right. Just back to using populist language. Anti elitism for cruelty and chaos. Kind of sums things up today a little Bit, too. Wow.

[Vivian Tu]

I feel like the date's going amazing. Weirdest reason you've ever gotten stopped by TSA in an airport.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, recently, it was because I just stood there and didn't move. And I was like, what is Kristi Noem doing up on the screen? And they're like, sir, move along. I'm like, no. And by the way, we did. We. We were able to. It's. God, it's good to be governor. I was able to call all our airport authorities and said, take that stuff down. That is not going to happen. Not in my state. Not in California. No. No. She's out of there. Finally. Sorry. I'm already going so partisan. I don't want to lose everybody too quickly.

[Vivian Tu]

You're not losing anybody.

[Gavin Newsom]

Okay, good. I know. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay. Particularly the animal lovers to wrap up our. Wow.

[Gavin Newsom]

Sorry.

[Vivian Tu]

That came out of nowhere.

[Gavin Newsom]

Just want to see if people are paying attention.

[Vivian Tu]

So, to wrap up our first date.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yes.

[Vivian Tu]

What was the highest.

[Gavin Newsom]

I was paying the bill, by the way.

[Vivian Tu]

First off, you.

[Gavin Newsom]

I definitely. I don't want. Yeah.

[Vivian Tu]

I want to be chivalrous.

[Gavin Newsom]

Splitting it.

[Vivian Tu]

We're at an Italian restaurant. You're picking up the tab.

[Gavin Newsom]

All right, good.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay. So what is the Hype up song you listen to before this interview?

[Gavin Newsom]

Before? I should have. Oh, I. I should have. I should have listened to it. You know what?

[Vivian Tu]

I. Oh, so he didn't have to hype up for the day.

[Gavin Newsom]

I didn't know. No, I'm just naturally. So. I was so excited for this date.

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

Okay. This is, like, I've been waiting, but I didn't need to get all hyped up. I already was there. I was in my current state of being. That's interesting. Uh, I would see. I. I have my real answer. But then you're all gonna yawn. And then I could be cool and hip, and, you know, then you're like, oh, that guy's cool and hip. But then I'm inauthentic, and that's. You know, my entire book is about not being that guy. Um, you know what? I. So here's the one I love. I just do that. The Gladiator song. You know, about the. Come on at the end of the Gladiator. I'm sorry. This is, like, one of the great. And just gets in the. Just a crescendo energy. And then I'm like, you know, because I'm California man. Just the whole. Just so much about Dre and Eminem and Forgot about Dre Nowadays. Everybody want to talk about something to say. Nothing comes out in the movie. Wow, man, that's so good. We got a couple bars, another one. So that's it. Yeah.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yeah. And, you know, but. And then I. I got a bad music selection, though, the truth be told, you don't want to know. It's about my staff. Like, dad rock. Like, why is it dad rock. Why? That's embarrassing, man. That embarrassing.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay, Amazing. So the appetizers during our date went incredibly well. Now we're moving on to the main course. Okay, you ready?

[Gavin Newsom]

All right.

[Vivian Tu]

Okay. So now that we know you a little bit better, in your book, Young man in a Hurry, you write about growing up in between two worlds. Your mom working multiple jobs, your dad's connections to the Getty family. How do you think about those differences, and how does it shape your perspective on wealth, power, and opportunity?

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I had. It's interesting. My mom was 19, pregnant, and a couple years later, she's on her own. She came from no wealth, nothing. She worked two, three jobs. She was the waitress at that restaurant. That's why I became the busboy at that restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Ramona's. And so she was always hustling. Bookkeeper. Worked for Aid to Adoption of Special kids, the devolved family. Kids with intellectual and physical disabilities. And she just was a grinder. Hard work. We always had roommates. She would literally, you know, I'd show up, and there's, like, two people in her room, and she'd be in the living room. She's just one of those people. And you know them well. You may be that person yourself. You may know that from your own experience. Single moms, these rock stars, these heroes. And so it's true. And so here she is. She was a kid raising two kids after my father made the mistake of trying to get into politics. Ran for county supervisor in San Francisco, lost. Ran for state senate, and lost. And said he was broke and broken and kind of had a breakdown and just took off. He became a big part of my life later on, but not in those early years, but later on. His relationship with a very wealthy family shaped so much of my time with him, which was the week every summer where we go on some exotic and extraordinary vacation. It was proximity to wealth without the wealth, and it was a different reality at home in a significant way. And so I've always had this sort of. This relationship to both and. And this sense that I was an imposter in my father's world. And I'll give you an example. There's. I write about it in the book one of these crazy trips and we. There's some really interesting stories, legitimately crazy. King Juan Carlos, private plane, the ridiculous stuff. And I'll never forget being there. Getty family's a wealthy family and they had four boys. I was same age. And I'll never forget being at the party and this woman, wonderful. It's like, oh, it's so wonderful to have you and your brothers here at this wonderful event. And which, which one are you? Which, which one of the Getty boys are you? And I said, oh, my name's Gavin. She goes, which, which number are you? I said, well, Gavin Newsom. And she goes, oh. And then immediately turned and talked to everybody else. I'm like, damn. So always knew my relationship to. It wasn't who I was. And this book is really that journey about discovering who I was, you know, with the single mom, that sort of grinding and then this father and the adventures and all this. And, and the fact, you know, I talk about, you know, I think it was Oscar Wilde who said, the first duty in life is to assume a pose. The second duty, no one really knows. And, and so I assumed this pose, trying to be something maybe I was not. And I put a mask on and my face started to grow into it a little bit and that inauthenticity started to show and I really, this is why this is not a typical politician's book in any way shape. This is not a 10 point plan to save America's future. This is about me really scrutinizing, not sanitizing my life and going deeper and all the mistakes I made and you know, and who I am today, my insecurities, my anxieties, those struggles, and a lot of them were not only shaped in the relationship, these two worlds and my father being more distant, but also with a pretty profound learning disability that I still struggle with today. And as a consequence, I don't read speeches. The president had some fun, my expense the other day on that, mocking me literally two days ago on his affordability tour, decided to talk about new scum

[Vivian Tu]

and governor in that issue, mentioning the affordability tour, mentioning wealth. If I can be really candid, people claim that the country should be led like a business. And the economy is in large part why Trump. Trump has been elected and continues to be supported by.

[Gavin Newsom]

How's that going for you?

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah, not great. No, but I actually learned from your book that you actually used to run a small business. So can you give me your take on this? What do people get wrong or what are they not understanding about business versus politics.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I'm a. If you ask me my identity, I'm a small business person. Started right out of college. Pen to paper. One part time employee, pat Kelly raised $175,000 in. In $7,500 increments. I was the managing general partner. Borrowed $5,000 from my father and it was a point of deep pride. Eventually I was able to pay him back. He never thought he'd see the money again. That business took two and a half years to open. It was a little wine store in San Francisco, was carpeted. I was ready to open the doors and the city came in. The health department said, where's your mop sink? And I mopsync. It's carpeted, there's nothing to mop. They said, well, it's a food establishment. And I said it's a wine store. They said, well, it's under the code wine and food, so you need to do mop sync. It delayed the business opening for another few months. I was in an apartment building. We had to literally do a pipe up four stories. It was a major thing. And so I started ra just raging against the machine saying San Francisco's the worst damn place to do business. And there was a new mayor by this guy named Willie Brown and he was. I got in this. Some of you are not old enough, but there's this famous columnist in San Francisco called Herb Kane. And I got into Herb Kane saying this place sucks to do business. This new, you know. And he was talking and Willie Brown calls me up the new mayor. And this is literally my. This is the origin story how I got in politics. Willie Brown said, hey, Newsom, you know what the hell's going on? Why are you screaming? I said, well, this impossible to all this. I said, I'm going to make. I'm going to shut you up. I said, you can't shut me up because I'm going to shut you up. I'm going to name you to be on the police commit. What was it? It was the parking and traffic commission in San Francisco says now you're going to be, you know, so you can't complain because now you're part of the problem. And it literally. Yeah, it's going to. So all of a sudden I'm. I got immediately placed on the other side in order to get out of the penalty box of being on that side of being a critique. So I've always had this entrepreneur mindset to your question. I've always had and I grew that business to about 21 small businesses, about a thousand employees. And I literally am in the wrong place to try to impress anyone. I'm just impressing upon you my passion for entrepreneurialism. People that put everything on the line for risks take that risk for riches and new beginnings. And so it's shaped me. And that entrepreneur mindset is about agency, that you can shape the future. You're not a victim. No one cares about how much, you know, how much your competition is doing everything. They just got to show up every single day. And I grew that some restaurants, hotels and a few wineries up in Napa now. And so I think it's important to have a business like mindset in terms of how we govern. But we're not a for profit business, right? And we can't choose our customers, we can't choose our zip code. And this whole. And most of these guys come in top down. They're disasters, just like Donald Trump is a disaster. I mean, when it, I mean, come on, promise to make us, you know, wealthier and healthier, we're sicker, we're poor. Look at these tariffs. Cost the average household $17. Look what it's done to small businesses.

[Vivian Tu]

We're waiting longer in the TSA line,

[Gavin Newsom]

including a government shutdown over his own incompetency. Back to Kristi Noem's own incompetency. Secret police, masked men on the streets all across the United States of America, communities on edge. It's not the rule of law, it's the rule of dawn. And I hope it's dawn in everyone how precious this moment is and how we have to meet this moment and how we have to call this out with clarity and conviction. We'll lose our country if we do not. And instead of losing my mind, I'm just trying to do something about it and frame it in the context of pushing back. And I hope you've seen some of our social media relations trying to put a mirror up to Trump and Trumpism and how none of this is normal. The terrorists was the biggest tax increase in our lifetime. A regressive tax on working folks and poor folks, on those small businesses like mine, on ranchers and farmers. I mean, across the spectrum, you saw the GDP numbers 0.7%. You saw last month's job numbers minus 92,000 145,000 less blue collar jobs than there were a year ago. The cuts to Medicaid, the cuts to food stamps, the big tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. The hell is going on in this country? And I haven't even gotten into that first week of a war and can't figure out the end game. They can't figure out, you know, the real reason. If the real reason would just, you know, if you're here, please stand up. How the hell we're going to get out of this? It's a wrecking ball presidency and it's one. Forgive me. I'll close on this. You don't believe in the spirit that I'm about Free enterprise, healthy horse pulling a sturdy wagon. His is about crony capitalism, state capitalism. You saw the TikTok deal. $10 billion going to the government. 10% of intel going to the government. 25% of AMD Nvidia going to the government. MP materials, the golden shares. What do terrorists, what's the whole tariff regime have in common? Personal portfolio of Donald Trump. He lowered the tariffs 26% in Vietnam after he got the golf course approved. The $1.5 billion golf course. They fast tracked the approval in Vietnam. Ask Witkoff. Jared Kushner, the great grift. The board of peace in the Middle east is about getting a peace of the deals, the $2 billion to World Liberty Financial in return, high value computer chips, national security questions in the uae, all these foreign trips. What does it have in common? He sends out the envoys for the business deal, for the personal portfolio first to set the tone and tenor for the great grift. And I haven't even gotten to the $10 billion he's negotiating of your money with the IRS, with himself, the 230 million at the Department of Justice. We don't even have to remind you of the plane. It's not just the $400 million gift there. It was the 900 plus million dollars that was in the big beautiful bill. Tax cuts for billionaires, cuts to poor people and working folks, and $900 million to retrofit his airplane. This is a corruption story the likes of which we've never experienced in modern American history. Forgive me. So more business like just no businessmen running.

[Vivian Tu]

You know, I think you just literally rattled off so many financial obstacles that we are now facing as a country that that individuals are feeling directly in their own pocketbooks. What do you think is the biggest one that we are that is essentially standing in the way of a better quality of life for average Americans. And what could the government be doing to actually improve?

[Gavin Newsom]

I mean, literally, Donald Trump is the biggest obstacle, period, full stop. Look, I mean, these tariffs. We were the first state to sue on the tariffs, by the way, stating they were completely illegal. Under the ieepa. I mean it was a no brainer the fact that it'd take this long and you still have members of the Supreme Court that were in dissent on that. And then he reestablished under this new section 150 day version of the tariffs, just doubling down on stupid again. A regressive tax. All of you are paying 166 billion. I mean you see different numbers, but the number that is popping up more often is $166 billion that needs to be sent back. You know what he's, the whole theory of his, he's, he's, he's about destruction and destruction is not strength. You know, if you go into, any of you've been to D.C. there's the Ryburn building and Sam Ryburn had a wonderful quote. He said any jackass can tear down a barn, but it takes a skilled carpenter to build one. Trump is a jackass. He is. Our alliance is truth trust, tariffs. The grift. I'm sorry to be. You know, I don't want to lose you by being too flippant. I mean this is the guy who calls me new scum, okay? The President United States. He's 80 years old. I write in the book about an 8 year old that used to call me new scum. The bully of Baltimore. The President United States. You know, the guy dresses cosplays as the Pope and Superman. Picture on the side of Mount Rushmore, all caps.

[Vivian Tu]

Don't forget the AI videos. They're very unsettling.

[Gavin Newsom]

And the AI videos and you want unsettling. You're in the middle of a war. 13 human beings, American soldiers died, 140 maimed. Lives will maybe never recover. And he's out there with video game images and AI generated images. This is madness. It's madness. And we're the only. This is it, it's you, it's me, it's all of us. You know, I, I came back. It's interesting. Just forgive me, I. One of the privileges of being here with you is the privilege of also being back into Texas because you're a big part of the origin story here. Donald Trump tried to, let's not forget, I won't spend too much time on this, but tried to light democracy on fire on January 6th. He tried to wreck the this country democracies for suckers. His words basically, not mine. He tried to dial in for 12,000 votes in Georgia and what did he do? Once again, he tried to rig the election. But in this case, before one vote is cast this November by Calling up your governor, Greg Abbott, saying he was, quote, unquote, you're definitely listening, saying he was entitled to five seats again, for things to change, we have to change. And I think with respect to me, at times, mistakes that I've made, a little timidity, I'm not leading, I'm managing. And that moment was sort of an existential moment for us in California. What can we do? I sent out a tweet saying it's wrong. And I got like 600 likes. It was amazing. It was like. And I was like, that's a pretty good tweet, wasn't it? It's so wrong. And my daughter came to me, she goes, I didn't know you had so many followers. I said, honey, I know, I know. And then the legislature, your legislator, the Texas legislature came and said, that ain't good enough. I said, what do you mean? I said, no, I'm working on an op ed. And then I could, maybe I'll get it in the New York Times. And I had this mindset, we just need to win the argument that we just have to be right. But the other side, they're ruthless again, rigging the election before one vote is cast, mid dictate redistricting. And so that's why we did this thing in California called Prop 50. We drew new lines and we stood our ground and we fighting fire with fire, man. And just I'll remind you, remember all this stuff, that's all that anxiety we're all feeling, not just about this economy that's wobbling now and uncertainty and chaos in the world. But I'll remind you, future happened in California first. Last June, 4,000 National Guard were federalized. 700 active duty Marines were not sent overseas. They were sent to an American city, Los Angeles. We said at the time that was a preview of things to come. You saw what happened in D.C. you saw what happened in Chicago. You saw what happened in Minnesota. We said when Greg Bovino, the great Greg Bovino, showed up with masked men and his secret police to our campaign kickoff, we said that was a preview of things to come. Election Day in California just a few months ago, what did Trump do? Sent out a truth social saying our election was rigged. Send out the Department of Justice as election monitors to file a lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court. He sent out BORTAC teams, border patrol tactical units. These are the guys cosplaying with all the Apache helicopters. Sent them to Dodger Stadium the morning of the election to tell diverse communities already on edge bother to vote that is a preview of things to come this November. They're not screwing around. He's trying to nationalize the election. The SAVE act is not about voter id. It's about choosing who votes and who doesn't. It is a precious moment. So forgive me, as I answered your question, the biggest impediment. Yes, Donald Trump.

[Vivian Tu]

I mean, this date just keeps getting better. Guys,

[Gavin Newsom]

we are not even dessert yet.

[Vivian Tu]

No, we're not even close. Please, please. This is a long one. You know, the kitchen's taking a little bit longer. That's fine. I'm enjoying myself, so. So I want to actually focus a little bit on California now. So, California has more billionaires than any other state, but it also has one of the largest populations of unhoused people. You're governor to both groups.

[Gavin Newsom]

Yeah.

[Vivian Tu]

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[Gavin Newsom]

Well, look, it's interesting I want to answer that specifically, but just paint a picture. Just give you a sense. Those of you not from California may have a sense of it. And some of you may have a perverse sense with the California derangement syndrome that's out there. Took me my friends on Fox News and one American News Newsmax. And, well, I can go down the list. With the size of 21 state populations combined, 27% of the state is foreign born. It's a majority minority state and it's a state in terms of the context of representation that practices pluralism. We think we're all better off and we're all better off. We don't tolerate our diversity. We at our best celebrate our diversity. Yes, we're the richest and poorest state and I'm very mindful of that. And I'm mindful about wealth inequality, not just income inequality. I'm also reminded we're living in a country where 10% of people own two thirds the wealth. We're living in a country if you're 30 years old, you're the first generation American history not doing better than your parents. I'm deeply mindful, as we talk about democracy, that if we don't democratize the economy, we will lose our democracy. Thus Trump and Trumpism and the populism that's so much part of vernacular language, even Bane, you go back to that Nolan film. And so that issue has to fundamentally be addressed. California, we finally, for the first time in 15 years, saw close to a double digit decline in our unsheltered homeless population. We have not seen that again in years and years. Finally making real progress. We have the most progressive tax rates in America. Texas, the most regressive. Texas taxes poor folks more than we taxed our riches. The question for you is, who's the higher tax state, California or Texas? Who are you for? Are you just for the 1% or are you for the 99? And so our whole approach, that's what a progressive tax. Florida is the other regressive tax state. Your middle class pay more taxes in Texas than our middle class in California. It's a great mythology. It's just the richest of the rich come here because they can avoid paying a damn penny. They don't have to pay any capital gains. They come here after they cash out, make their billions. Elon, why? Well, because of regulations in California, there's no Tesla without the California Air Resources Board. There's no Tesla without tailpipe emission standards, no Tesla without rules and regulations that created the market conditions to make the kind of investments, the energy and daring that is Elon in his entrepreneurial spirit that is still alive and well, unlike any other state. More scientists, engineers, more researchers, more Nobel laureates in my state than any other state in America. The finest system of higher education anywhere on the planet. 18% of the world's R&D. Four new Nobel laureates from the UC. You talk about quantum, talk about robotics, you talk about AI. You're talking about 32 of the top 50 market cap companies, all in the state of California. You talk about the future of space, you talk about the future of new energy technologies, including nuclear. You're talking about California and you're talking about a disparity that is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. And that's plutarch in around 50 A.D. warning the Athenians. The imbalance between the rich and the poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. Warning the Athenians 2,000 years ago. Wake up. So this notion of progressive taxation allows California to do more things in more ways on more days than most states. When it comes to paid family leave, when it comes to paid sick care, the Highest minimum wage, $25 for healthcare workers, highest minimum wage for fast food workers, $20. United States of America $11. Insulin, brand new grade preschool for all. Massive subsidies, 369,000 for child care workers. The ability to start to address these things. But the original sin in California, you know it well wherever you are from housing, and we've been as dumb as we want to be. Back to this idea of NIMBYism, localism, and it's killed us. Supply, demand imbalance for decades has exacerbated those conditions in profound and consequential ways. And it was profound and I believe, consequential. This year we had that abundant mindset and we did some things that for 30 years we never thought was possible. And we did some of the most significant housing reforms in American history, CEQA reforms, land use reforms. And we just are breaking through that local mindset. We're holding local governments accountable to finally building more housing. This is the original sin of California is one of the great challenges in the United States of America that supply, demand imbalance. And one of the great challenges for young folks. And so I can't make up for 50 years, but I'm very, very proud of my state and the state of mind of our legislature and that finally broke through that gate and finally moving forward with real, real reforms to address those issues.

[Vivian Tu]

So you talked a little bit about essentially what is called the K shaped economy. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. And I think it's really frustrating right now for so many people to feel like they can't get ahead no matter how hard they work. Your book is literally called Young man in a Hurry. A lot of people today feel like they hustle and hustle and hustle and it's like running on a treadmill. What do you say to a 28 year old in a high cost of living city like Maybe in LA or San Francisco, who's doing everything right, and they still can barely afford to live there, let alone dream of purchasing that home or starting a family.

[Gavin Newsom]

I think just rewind the tape. In many respects, I mean, it's just, look, you have to own that. And look, we have to own that. You know, I say it all the time. We need a liberalism that builds. You know, I'm not process focused. And we, look, I get it. We were, I think, biggest mistake I've made as governor, maybe mayor. Look back even further, is accommodation. So many special interests. You know, again, a state is large. 21 state population, 58 counties, 478 cities, 1050 school boards. It's a bottom. It's a very decentralized construct of government and governance. Planning commissions, city administrators, boards of supervisors, mayors, accommodations, all of those thickets. And you just try to again, manage and just land the plane as opposed to lead. And that mindset, to your question, the shift is what I tell them is it's time for real leadership and accountability again, for things to change. I got to change. We have to change. And this notion, you know, the only reason we were able to get any housing reforms done, of the size and scope we did, is I did something that had never been done. It couldn't get done legislatively. I couldn't get it out. We had to accommodate all those interest groups. So I attached it to the budget and I said, no big deal, we don't have to have a budget. And I literally. We had up until a few hours until the state budget was passed. We didn't know we would have a budget. And they tested my resolve. I said, fine by me. I got all summer. I'm happy not to have a budget. Fourth largest economy in the world. We don't need a budget. We need housing reforms. We need to address affordability. We need to address this crisis of young kids. I'm doing all this stuff. I went to TwitchCon, I'm doing Fortnite Fridays, I got a podcast. And meanwhile, these guys, I'm like, there's. There's a nihilism that sort of creeps in. And Trump exploited the hell out of that. And you see it, how it's impacting our boys. You know, we can do a Vox Scott Galloway moment here, right, and talk about this crisis of what's happening, men and boys. I've got Richard Rees coming in this week. We're doing some really exciting work in this space to address the issue of men and boys and 4x, the suicide rate and dropout rates and the crisis there. But how Trump Turning Point USA and others exploited that and haven't solved it, but at least they spoke about it. And to those folks, my party, we weren't doing that. We haven't been doing that. We have to own that. And so I think it's recognizing those challenges, it's taking responsibility. Not just identify the problem, but to lead, to solve them. And the two questions you have to ask yourselves every single day, it's the two questions that you deserve answered is how can I lower costs and how can I increase wages? The only two things that matter. And it's animating all of our lives right now. And it's hard in a country where 20 states still have seven minimum wages can start there, where corporations are getting the subsidy of your tax dollars because those same folks working full time are ending up on food stamps, are ending up on welfare programs. And the windfalls to the folks on top, all that has to be called out. We're about to go through the greatest transfer of wealth world history in the next two decades. By some estimates, $124 trillion. And the tax haven that is part of those estates, trillions of dollars won't be taxed. All that has to change. And again, Trump just reinforced all that. And that's why it should infuriate everybody here. I say it all the time. Businesses can't thrive in a world that's failing. Can't be pro job and anti business either. But businesses can't thrive in a world that's failing. It's this notion of we're all better off and we're all better off. It's a core value. And I just, you know, I think this notion of zero sum versus this abundance frame is deeply the zeitgeist of how we have to respond to that concern.

[Vivian Tu]

And you talked a little bit about your strategy. Yeah, let's give them a clap. You talked a little bit about your strategy of using new mediums, whether that be podcasts, your very famous social media. We love it.

[Gavin Newsom]

So I've dressed up as the Pope as well? Yes.

[Vivian Tu]

You are no stranger.

[Gavin Newsom]

My mom, if she was alive, would be looking for soap to wash my mouth out.

[Vivian Tu]

But you're no stranger to beefing with your opps. Do you think beeping with the ops, it's cool, right?

[Gavin Newsom]

This is a good first date.

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah, this is a great first date. So how do you think other government officials should take maybe a page out of your playbook to actually fight fire with fire and get on some of their opponents? Level.

[Gavin Newsom]

Look, I'll just reinforce it. We're going to lose this country if we don't recognize we're up against asymmetry. I mean, we were just talking in the back. Did you guys just see what Brendan Carr just said? He said that he's going to review all broadcast licenses unless they change their coverage of the war. I mean, Putin's proud, Orban's proud, Erdogan, the dictator's playbook. This mass consolidation of the media, complete, just total disregard of antitrust laws, crony capitalism, as I said, state capitalism and another. I mean, this imperial presidency. He's dyed purple. Picture on the side of the Department of Justice trumps, if you've seen it in dc. So I, you know, we're going to sit back and, you know, try to just, you know. Well, it's just so wrong. Maybe you have a candlelight visual. You know, I just. We're up against propaganda. Networks, Pravda. That's the primetime lineup. At Fox, it is Illusion rules, facts don't matter. We have to wake up to that and we've got to call this out again with conviction and clarity. And so, look, I started to do that after the federalization of the National Guard. And that's why I was like, I'm on the other side of this, man. I can't do it anymore. I have to be accountable. Like, I can't do this anymore. I'm losing. I mean, I'm coming out with 10 point. None of you care less. And, you know, it was great when I started doing those all cap tweets, it was the folks, thank you. But I did not get applause on Fox. You know, I don't know, like, on the Five, they're like, oh, my God, this is so unbecoming. Jesse, isn't that right? Jesse says, yes, it's your governor should act with more dignity. All the while completely situationally unaware of the Dear Leader. Not once did they said a damn word about this man child that for 10 years have dominated every conversation. And it just occurs to me, in terms of the clarity and how we communicate, it is about communication. Narrative matters. You've just got to drive. It's. It's always been an attention economy, but it's an attention. He understands shock and awe. He understands how to dominate every news cycle, every conversation. He doesn't care if he's the hero. He doesn't care if he's the heel. He cares only that he's the star. And to understand that, to understand the other side, all of a sudden it's the, you know, obstacle is the way. Right. What stands in the way becomes the way. The impediment to action becomes the action. And so that's why we shifted. And that's why I think it's incredibly important our party shift the way it communicates because we've been shape shifted. Crt, dei, esg, anything with three damn letters. These guys are weaponized. Meanwhile, they're rewriting history, censoring historical facts. You think I'm not making. I just came from Florida. Literally two years ago. They changed their social studies books and they eliminated the race of Rosa Parks under the anti woke act. 4340 books you can't check out at libraries or have access to in schools. They are putting America in reverse. Civil rights, voting rights, lgbtq, women's rights. They want to bring us back. Truly. Maybe it's not even a 1960s world. Sometimes I wonder if it's an 1860s world. We will lose this country. And so we got to win the messaging war as well. And that's why we have to be more aggressive and clear.

[Vivian Tu]

Wow. Those main dishes were absolutely amazing. But now. Okay, listen, I'm not gonna let you out too easy. I love dessert. What do you wanna eat for dessert?

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I love rocky road ice cream, but I'm not sure this restaurant has it.

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah, you know what? This restaurant has something a little different, but I wanna take it really big picture. Is there a political decision that you would personally reconsider either due to unintended consequences or because it wasn't just as impactful as you had hoped? Do you have any regrets?

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I talked about accommodation because it connects with so many that when I. When my mindset was more just managing situationally as opposed to leading more sustainably. All regrets. But it's interesting just in the frame of your question and it. I'm trying to also just connect a little bit back to the book. In 2004, sort of black and white movie days, I was mayor and I didn't know what I didn't know. The beginner's mind. Sort of the Roger Bannister theory of life. The guy who broke the four minute mile because no one told him he couldn't. And it's amazing. Just once the mind is stretched, it never goes back to its original form. How many people shortly after he broke the four minute mile. Broke the four minute mile. I just love that. And I think about that as a mindset. This notion we gotta erase so much of what we. No. Gets in the way of what we're capable of. So I didn't know any better. So in 2004, shortly after becoming mayor, I started marrying same sex couples. 4036 couples from 46 states and 6 countries and. But no one was applauding then. The Democratic Party was furious. There was a convention later that year and they said, you really should focus on dealing with the billionaires and the unhoused in your city. You don't need to go to Boston for the convention. Some of my heroes in politics read me the riot act. I didn't include all the names I really wanted to, but the unintended consequences. Back to your question of that I talk about in the book. Some people said I was responsible. How you feeling for the election? Going the wrong direction that November because I had sparked a debate that we didn't want to have back then. Remember 2004, we had just finished debating domestic partnerships. We weren't even into separate is equal debate, civil unions. We kind of leapfrogged that in this, what we call winter of love in San Francisco. And it was surround sound, 24,7 of people saying two magic words, I do. And it was extraordinary. And it wasn't at the same time. No images could be exploited. It was doctors, lawyers, it was nurses, it was your pilot, it was your Uncle Joe. It was maybe one or two of you. But the consequences of that I didn't think through. And for I've for years had doubt not about doing the right thing because it was the right thing to do, but was it the right time and was I responsible? And again, back to the book about scrutinizing, not sanitizing, all that. And in politics, it's, you know, it's the art of what's possible. There's a pragmatism. It's not an ideological. It's not a think tank. When you're in this stuff, it's how you deal with the cards that are dealt, how you actually move the needle. And so much of that, you know, that's stuff y' all hate. You know, no one likes to compromise. No one likes the sausage making. You know, we want the Sorkin music. We want West Wing. You know, I want it too. And that was, by the way, it was hard when we did redistricting because, you know, when they go low where I wanted to go high, I feel

[Vivian Tu]

like that doesn't work. But.

[Gavin Newsom]

But no. And the point is. And so it's just, you know, but we want that song again.

[Vivian Tu]

Yeah.

[Gavin Newsom]

And I think we all want to breathe again. This has been exhausting all our anxiety, our stress, everything you guys went through in Covid and how you haven't even given yourself enough time to reflect on that. The grace, social unrest. Remember that out on the street, sidewalks, what was happening post George Floyd right after. I mean, all in the middle of all that, then supply chains and inflation scars, interest rates through the roof. Still struggling with that. All of these things stacked on top of each other. And so I think in those terms, but in hindsight, look, we're all geniuses. And so the time, you're not. And so I do think the more I think about my life, I regret. Perhaps I'm like Lucille Ball, who said at the end of her life, she didn't regret. She was asked about regrets. She said, I only regret the things I didn't do, not the things I did. And I think about that in terms of that. Your question about business, how we can take more risks without being reckless, how we could be more iterative. That's what I'm trying on my social media. That's why I've got this podcast and I'm meeting with folks. You know, people are angry that I was platforming. I had Charlie Kirk on my first podcast. I had Steve Bannon on right afterwards, Newt Gingrich, who led my recall effort against me. And the iteration there is to understand, you know, it's the art of war, It's. I mean, we all had to read that. At least some of us political political science majors gotta understand the opposition. I don't want to say the enemy. Those terms feels like that most days in order to figure out a path and strategies to deal with it. Because again, this Donald Trump and what we're dealing with, he's an invasive species. This is unlike anything we've ever experienced in our lifetime. And so we cannot fall prey to conventional politics. Our politics needs to change.

[Vivian Tu]

And since I asked you about regrets, I also want to give you an opportunity to get a wish granted with this magic wand.

[Gavin Newsom]

Ooh, a magic wand.

[Vivian Tu]

If you could pass one economic policy tomorrow, no opposition, it just happens. What would it be?

[Gavin Newsom]

Jeez, I should ask. You just wrote a damn book about all this. You know, I've been playing around. You know, one of the responsibilities of being in a state of dreamers and doers and entrepreneurs is to lead, for example, on regulations around AI to address the issues of promise, peril, truth, trust. We did that with the first large language model, frontier model regulations in the United States. But to lead now on the anxiety that's dominating so much of particularly, I Think for you but I imagine for especially out of California, what's going to happen to my damn job? The robots coming, you know. Elon just converted his Tesla facility in I mean Fremont, which is his second largest Shanghai Fremont. He's got rid of the S and X and it's now just humanoid robotics. It's happening. You, I mean you're seeing all the Waymos, we're all Austin, we share a lot in common in that respect. I mean it's, you know, we're starting to do autonomous flights. The Olympics will be showcasing a lot of that and what's happening in that space. And so I think about this notion of displacement, speed and scale. And so we've been playing around and this is to answer your question of this notion of not UBI, not the old construct which I've done 50, 60 pilots on around universally basic income or min cum. It was referred years ago when it was novel in places like Canada. But universal basic capital. And we're playing around with that in a way looks like sovereign wealth fund. And if there's a magic wand it would be in this space where everyone feels part of they have ownership in that we all are in the game together again. This notion we rise and fall together, it's why I'm absolutely obsessed with service shared experiences. It's why we have the largest service corps, much bigger than the Peace Corps in California. It's one of the things I'm most proud of that we've accomplished. But this notion of universal basic capital, sovereign wealth and how we can try to level the playing field, create that baseline of support pre distribution focus, not just redistribution, build assets, financial literacy, that mindset, that growth mindset, this ownership mindset I think is incredibly important to deal with a lot of the cynicism that has shaped so much of our politics and people's feelings today.

[Vivian Tu]

And I have one final question for you.

[Gavin Newsom]

Is this the after dinner drink?

[Vivian Tu]

Yes, we're wrapping up. The bill is coming. Governor Newsom, I have had a really great time on this first date. I think everybody here at south by Southwest has had a great time on this first date.

[Gavin Newsom]

I appreciate. Are you going to pay for this date? I mean when the check comes we may take off. It's heroes.

[Vivian Tu]

I hope you have had just as good of a time on this first date. So I'm wondering would you be willing to go on a second date with us? And you don't know this, but I actually grabbed the calendar availability of every single person in this room and it's so crazy we're all actually available specifically November 2028.

[Gavin Newsom]

Are you serious?

[Vivian Tu]

Are you busy or do you have time to go out with us?

[Gavin Newsom]

Well done. Well done. Way to back into that. Yeah, way to back into that. Way to back into that.

[Vivian Tu]

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm asking for a second.

[Gavin Newsom]

That's funny. Can I say something serious about that? I really believe this and I, you know, you may not think today I've choose my language thoughtfully. I really, I feel like I could back up everything I said in terms of, you know, my feelings about this moment. You know, I've been on the receiving and we've just fought our 60th lawsuit against Trump. I mean, the assaults and attacks are next level. I do not believe we will have a fair and free election as we know it in 2028 if we don't take back the House of representatives in 2026. That's how important a Speaker Jeffries is. It's the whole thing. Nothing else matters. And I think one of my concerns, and we've, I've seen this, particularly in my party, we just, we love falling in love with a guy or gal and the white horse come save the day. And there's a romantic version of that. And I. And I again, I'm back to this Orka music. I want, you know, the credits of West Wing, but it is the hard work that you did here in Texas in this primary where Democrats showed up in record numbers more than Republicans. The hard work that's been done in 30 state races that we flipped blue from red. The work that needs to be done between now and then to get Speaker Jeffries that gavel. If we can do that, then you and I could go on a second date. By the way, my wife is here. She doesn't like any of that.

[Vivian Tu]

She's lovely, by the way.

[Gavin Newsom]

Love you, Jen.

[Vivian Tu]

Governor Newsom, thank you so much. I feel like this was the perfect first date and I so very look forward to our second date. But while I have everybody here, please grab a copy. Young man in a hurry. You can get it here at south by, anywhere you can buy your books.

[Gavin Newsom]

And the best way to buy it is in bulk. Thank you, guys.

[Vivian Tu]

Thank you guys for that.

[Gavin Newsom]

Thank you, everybody.

[Vivian Tu]

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Net Worth and Chill, part of the Vox Media podcast network. If you liked the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Got a burning financial question that you want covered in a future episode? Write to us via podcastourrichbff.com follow Net Worth and Chillpod on Instagram to stay up to date on all podcast related news. And you can follow me at yourrichbff for even more financial know how. See you next week. Bye.