Podcast Summary: Get Real With David Desrosiers – February 8, 2026

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: David Desrosiers
Guests:

• Joel Kotkin (Demographer, Author of The Coming Neo-Feudalism)
• Will Marshall (President, Progressive Policy Institute)
• Susan Crabtree (National Political Correspondent, RealClear Politics; Author of Fool’s Gold)
• Ingrid Jacques (Columnist, USA Today)

Episode Overview

This episode of Get Real With David Desrosiers dives into America’s deepening political and cultural divides, centering on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s political trajectory, the state of American education, immigration debates, and predictions for the near political future. The panel of experts brings diverse ideological perspectives, aiming to move beyond partisanship and seek productive dialogue on the nation’s most pressing issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Purpose and Soul of the Show (01:15–05:39)

• David Desrosiers introduces the mission behind Get Real: bridging the dangerous divide in American politics by fostering discussions “where the differences are of degree, not kind” (02:01), inspired by the method of viewpoint diversity at RealClear.
• “I don't think we the people are doing well. ...The American mind is dangerously divided.” — David Desrosiers (01:24)

2. Governor Gavin Newsom & The State of California

Newsom's Image and Reality (05:41–12:22)

• Desrosiers reads from a Vogue article portraying Newsom as “embarrassingly handsome” and a technocrat, then turns to Susan Crabtree, whose book critically assesses the Governor.
• Susan Crabtree debunks Newsom’s “self-made” narrative, describing deep privilege via the Getty family and patronage politics:
  “He had a Rolodex and he was running around in a Porsche at Santa Clara on… a so-called baseball scholarship. ...This story has so many holes in it and they just bought it hook, line, and sinker.” (07:58)
• Joel Kotkin labels Newsom the “epitome of neo-feudalism” (09:06), criticizing the state’s growing class divide, outmigration, unaffordability, and economic bifurcation.
• Ingrid Jacques emphasizes that Newsom’s progressive policies have led to an embarrassing record: high taxes, business exodus, and minimum wage hikes leading to closures.
  “Vogue might think that Newsom is embarrassingly handsome, but I think it's more embarrassing the policies that he's presided over.” (11:11)

Newsom's Appeal and Political Maneuvering (12:22–15:47)

• Will Marshall offers a centrist-liberal assessment: praises Newsom’s intelligence, debating acumen, and charisma, while noting policy challenges, especially on taxes and energy.
  “He is a wonk… He likes to try to penetrate to the essence of something before rushing to judgment.” (13:47)
• Marshall highlights Newsom’s skill as a leading troll of Trump/MAGA online, suggesting his national profile will grow as the 2028 race nears.

3. Pathways for Democrats: Policy, Strategy & Future Battles (16:12–21:32)

• Will Marshall identifies the party’s core issue as the loss of working-class, non-college-educated voters. He urges moderation on cultural issues and smarter policies on climate, immigration, and economics (17:31). “We need a smarter approach… and a different economic offer to working class Americans who feel like the party has been catering to well-educated elites and not them.” (17:50)
• Kotkin sees Newsom as policy-flexible but warns Democratic primaries are likely to reward further-left candidates, making it difficult for moderates to prevail. He repeats that Newsom’s track record undermines his national prospects with the middle class.

4. Newsom vs. National Republican Contenders (22:29–27:02)

• Desrosiers and Crabtree both challenge the portrayal of Newsom as a centrist, painting him as stylistically moderate but substantively progressive and deeply linked to the Democratic power apparatus. Crabtree denounces his record on fires, taxes, education, and homelessness as dismal. “It's all performative with Gavin. It's all about his style, no substance. And I guess that's what the Democrats are embracing right now because he's leading in the polls.” — Crabtree (26:13)
• Crabtree details specific controversies over Newsom-era education and homelessness policy failures, suggesting these will hamper any presidential ambitions.

5. Education in Crisis: School Choice, Culture Wars, and Policy (27:28–37:14)

• Desrosiers opens with a stark vignette about the link between third-grade reading scores and prison populations, then calls US education a “mess.”
• Ingrid Jacques covers Trump-era school choice expansions and the resulting blue and purple state interest in more options.
  “Trump has really delivered on his promises to promote school choice even more this time around… it's an interesting way to introduce those options to families in states that might have been resistant.” (29:07)
• Will Marshall supports charter schools and public school reform, criticizes Biden for ceding ground to teacher’s unions, and doubts large-scale private school choice as a panacea. “We have a vacuum of national leadership for school reform. Frankly, I don't trust Donald Trump to fill that gap…” (31:22)
• Crabtree describes “wokification” in California public schools, leading to families leaving for charters. She details high-profile controversies over LGBTQ material and declining academic performance. “You see an emptying out of those schools in the last two years just because of… the wokification of… California schools is extreme.” (34:06)

6. Immigration and Identity: Enforcement, Polls & Political Risks (37:37–44:49)

• Kotkin presents polling data—most Americans support immigration enforcement but not extreme measures or punishing otherwise law-abiding undocumented families.
  “There is certainly in terms of what the ideas are… but if it’s going and removing a respectable family... they don’t support that.” (38:52)
• Ingrid Jacques and Will Marshall warn Democrats risk overcorrecting in the opposite direction, with the public supporting order at the border but not “abolish ICE” rhetoric. Marshall confirms a sharp drop in public support for Trump’s aggressive enforcement tactics, which he sees as political liabilities.
  “This occupation of Minnesota has gone down terribly for Trump, and that’s why he’s pulling back.” — Marshall (43:41)

7. Final Predictions & Closing Thoughts (46:38–51:01)

Predictions Roundtable (46:38 onward)

• Kotkin: Predicts pressure on Kamala Harris to exit the race, and business elites shifting away from Trump in search of moderate Democrats.
• Marshall: Sees Democrats uniting around reforming and depoliticizing ICE, expects leadership changes in enforcement agencies.
• Crabtree: Foresees more clashes between protestors and enforcement in Minnesota, and speculates about new GOP faces rising.
• Jacques: Shares concern about Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother and expects Kamala Harris rebranding her campaign further.

Memorable Closing Quotes

• “This was, quite frankly, more light than heat, and I think that’s what we need.” — David Desrosiers (50:51)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “He was the unum that connected the pluribus of American politics, the maga, the America first and the boomer Republicanism.” — Desrosiers (02:48)
• “California has become increasingly unequal, dominated by a very few number of mostly tech, some other executives.” — Joel Kotkin (09:13)
• “I just don't see what he [Newsom] runs on other than performance.” — Susan Crabtree (26:48)
• “Instead of teaching Johnny and Sally… the three Rs… we're creating a generation of woke boneless wonders.” — David Desrosiers (28:34)
• “It's all performative with Gavin. It's all about his style, no substance.” — Susan Crabtree (26:13)
• “We have a vacuum of national leadership for school reform. Frankly, I don't trust Donald Trump to fill that gap…” — Will Marshall (31:22)
• “People agree basically with the idea of controlling the border… but… not much support for going and rooting out, you know, the guys hanging out in front of the Home Depot.” — Kotkin (38:52)
• “This was… more light than heat, and I think that’s what we need.” — Desrosiers (50:51)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:15 — Show’s purpose and David’s opening manifesto
• 05:41 — Panel opens on Newsom’s Vogue profile & California discussion
• 09:06 — Joel Kotkin: Newsom as a “neo-feudalist”
• 13:47 — Will Marshall on Newsom as a centrist wonk
• 22:29 — Is Newsom really a centrist? Crabtree’s rebuttal
• 27:28 — Shift to American education, school choice, and fallout of culture wars
• 34:05 — Crabtree on ‘wokification’ and real examples from California schools
• 37:37 — Immigration polling, ICE, and public sentiment
• 46:38 — Predictions roundtable
• 50:51 — Closing remarks

Overall Tone

• Inquisitive, direct, critical of both mainstream and progressive narratives.
• Spirited, with each guest bringing urgency and specific expertise.
• Occasional exasperation with both party establishments.
• A clear focus on substance over spectacle, with colorful, sometimes confrontational language.

This episode provides a spirited, rigorous, and at times pointed critique of present political leadership and policy, shining a particularly bright light on California and its national implications, while inviting debate and seeking room for common ground.