DONKEY: Fox News Host Blasts Gavin Newsom Over His Deliberate Imitation Of Trump's Erratic Tweets

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – “Donkey of the Day: Fox News Host Blasts Gavin Newsom Over His Deliberate Imitation Of Trump’s Erratic Tweets”

Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

Main Theme:
Charlamagne Tha God presents the “Donkey of the Day” segment, focusing on Fox News host Dana Perino’s criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom for adopting Donald Trump’s combative, erratic social media style. The discussion unpacks the deliberate “mirror effect” strategy Newsom employs on social media, the ensuing outrage from Fox News, and broader questions about political discourse and media hypocrisy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Controversy (03:00–04:49)

• Charlamagne introduces “Donkey of the Day,” awarded to Dana Perino.
• Outlines Gavin Newsom’s recent adoption of Trump-style all-caps, mocking social media posts, and how this has incensed conservative commentators.
• Background: Newsom’s podcast history, attempts at accessible political dialogue, and recent shift to a more provocative tone.

Charlamagne, on Newsom’s style shift:
“Gavin Newsom, for the past week and some change, has been doing what I’ve wanted a Democrat to do for a long time... Michelle Obama once said, ‘When they go low, we go high’... When they go low, you go to hell. And Gavin Newsom... has been going to hell with the Trump administration... Just matching energy and I like it.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [03:35]

2. News Segment – Newsom’s Trump-Style Tweets (04:49–05:51)

• MSNBC clips highlight the escalation between Trump and Newsom, including Trump’s aggressive federal interventions in California and Newsom’s subsequent trolling on X (Twitter).
• Newsom’s all-caps, taunting posts mirror Trump’s signature style (“Speaker Little Man Johnson... Donald Taco J. Trump”).

3. Explaining the “Mirror Effect” (05:51–06:36; 08:47–09:36)

• Charlamagne frames Newsom’s strategy through “Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect” from The 48 Laws of Power.
• The use of mirroring is described as a powerful psychological tactic to “confuse and gain the upper hand.”

Quote:
“Somebody has been reading the 48 Laws of Power. Law 44, Disarm and Infuriate with the mirror effect. And, oh, people like Dana Perino on Fox are absolutely infuriated.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [05:51]

4. Fox News Reaction & Hypocrisy (06:08–08:47)

• Dana Perino criticizes Newsom’s tweets, suggesting he’s making a fool of himself and lacks seriousness for higher office.
• Charlamagne calls out the double standard, questioning whether Perino and others hold Trump to the same standard.
• Clips from additional Fox News personalities mock Newsom’s approach, likening it to Kanye West and calling it “childish.”

Quote:
“Do you understand what the mirror effect is?... By reflecting their behavior, you can confuse them, make them overreact, and ultimately gain the upper hand.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [06:36]

5. Newsom’s Explanation (09:36–10:15)

• Newsom directly addresses his strategy, saying it’s meant as a “wake up call” and that if people have issues with his behavior, they should be more concerned with the normalization of Trump’s conduct.

Quote:
“I hope it’s a wake up call... If you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as president. But I think the deeper question is how have we allowed the normalization of his tweets... to go without similar scrutiny and notice?”
— Gavin Newsom [09:44]

• Charlamagne challenges Fox News to meaningfully answer Newsom’s question about normalization and selective outrage.

6. Segment Wrap-Up & “Hee-Haw” Award (10:15–11:01)

• Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God underscore Dana Perino’s hypocrisy with their signature “hee haw” donkey sound.
• The segment transitions to lighter Breakfast Club banter and new phone-in topics, signalling the end of the “Donkey of the Day.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God on the “mirror effect”:
  “Governor Gavin Newsom is biting Donald Trump’s whole flow, word for word, bar for bar. It is a deliberate imitation of Donald Trump’s nut ass social media style... It’s brilliant.” [06:36]
• Fox commentator mocking Newsom:
  “I feel like he’s trying so hard to be Trump, but he’s coming off like Kanye West. He seems absolutely insane.” [08:39]
• Newsom explaining his social strategy:
  “If you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as president.” [09:44]
• Charlamagne, on hypocrisy:
  “Fox News... you would be better off saying it’s time for all of this type of foolishness to stop. You would be better off saying we really don’t like it from President Trump. And this isn’t something to be imitated. But to act like it’s cool when Trump do it, but it’s a problem when Gavin does it? Knock it off. The hypocrisy is disgusting.” [06:36]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:00] Donkey of the Day introduction – Charlamagne singles out Dana Perino
• [04:49] MSNBC news clip details Newsom’s Trump-style social media mocking
• [05:51] Law 44: “The Mirror Effect” explained
• [06:08] Dana Perino’s Fox News critique
• [06:36] Charlamagne calls out Fox News hypocrisy
• [08:03] More Fox News reactions and ridicule
• [08:47] Charlamagne: “The hypocrisy is disgusting”
• [09:36] Newsom explains his posting strategy
• [10:15] Charlamagne: The issue of normalization
• [10:55] Angela Yee: “Hee haw” conclusion

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Overall Tone and Style

• The segment mixes Charlamagne’s signature blend of sharp social critique with humor and pop-culture references.
• The tone is unapologetically direct, irreverent, and combative—mirroring the energy of the behaviors under discussion.
• The hosts openly challenge political hypocrisy, using satire and candor to prod their targets.

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Summary

This episode’s “Donkey of the Day” sharply critiques Fox News’s double standards and Dana Perino’s outrage at Gavin Newsom’s deliberate imitation of Trump’s social media tactics. Charlamagne Tha God praises Newsom for giving conservatives “a taste of their own medicine,” carefully explains the psychological wartime usage of the “mirror effect,” and calls for honest reflection on why Trump’s erratic style has been accepted for so long. The segment is rich in media analysis and debate around political authenticity, strategy, and the persistent normalization of low-road rhetoric in American politics.

Transcript

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Think.

[Angela Yee]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is America.

[News Reporter]

There is no question that there are problems in this country between police and community.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, you are a donkey to the latest on that police killing of a black man.

[News Reporter]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And yesterday was a really bad day.

[Gavin Newsom]

For him, and this is what he did.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And so we are in a state of emergency, okay?

White supremacist violence is and always have been the number one threat to our society. But I'm also very proud that my wife is white.

[News Reporter]

All right, Charlene, please tell me, why was I your donkey of the day?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Listen, donkey of the day for Tuesday, August 19th goes to Fox News host Dana Perino. Okay? There is something going on in the Democratic Party that I actually like, and I haven't liked. A lot of things this person has done because a lot of things he's done have seemed very inauthentic, okay? Very fake. I'm talking about California Governor Gavin Newsom. Now, I have given Gavin credit for being ahead of the curve in regards to having his own platform, okay? He launched the podcast with iHeart called Politickin last summer, and his co hosts were Marshawn lynch and an agent by the name of Doug Hendrickson. I enjoyed it. I thought that he was able to speak politics in a very digestible way. And Marshawn kept Gavin's boots on the ground and didn't let him speak over people's heads. I thought it was very impactful. And then Gavin Newsom launched another podcast called this is Gavin Newsom, also with iHeartra. And I didn't like that podcast, okay? Nope. Okay. I like the concept. All right? He said he wanted to have conversations with people that he agrees and disagrees with, which I'm all for. Okay? He had Steve Bannon on Charlie Kirk. Those two episodes didn't move me, so I didn't care to revisit. All right? The reason I didn't care to revisit is because I expected more from a governor, okay? In regards to pushback on people like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon, it felt like he was just sucking their kneecaps and licking their boots. I didn't like it. But let me tell you something. Gavin Newsom, for the past week and some change, has been doing what I've wanted a Democrat to do for a long time, okay? See, Michelle Obama once said, when they go low, we go high. And your Uncle Charlotte has never agreed with that, okay? When they go low, either you ignore them and mind your business, stay doing the work, or when they go low, you go to hell. Okay? And Gavin Newsom, over the last week and a half, has been going to hell with the Trump administration, not even really going to hell. Just matching energy and I like it. Would you like to hear what he's been doing? Let's go to MSNBC News for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

Since Donald Trump returned to office, his feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom has intensified from social media through the courts. First, it started with Trump launching federal agents, often fully masked and disguised, to lead ICE raids across communities and workplaces in California. Then it escalated when Trump sent the National Guard and Marines into LA to go after protesters. So today, Newsom, like a true Internet troll, took directly to social media and started speaking Trump's language. He blasted out the following in Trumpian all caps. When Speaker Little Man Johnson is standing in the unemployment line, he can thank Donald Taco J. Trump. Trump missed a simple deadline, something he has often done with his many failed businesses. Now California will fire him with new, more beautiful maps. Highly anticipated historic press conference with your favorite governor, Gavin Christopher Newsom. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Somebody has been reading the 48 Laws of Power. Okay? Law 44, Disarm and Infuriate with the mirror effect. And, oh, people like Dana Perino on Fox are absolutely infuriated. Would you like to hear what she had to say about Gavin's tweets? Let's listen.

[Dana Perino]

The other thing for me is that for the last week, Gavin Newsom and why am I giving him advice? You have to stop it with the Twitter thing. I don't know where his wife is. If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself. Stop it. Do not let your staff tweet. And if you're doing it yourself, put the phone away and start over. And if you want, he's got a big job as governor of California, but if he wants an even bigger job, he has to be a little bit more serious.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Dana, have you ever told the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America to stop. Have you ever told the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America that they need to be more serious? Have you ever asked where the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America's wife, First Lady Melania Trump is? You do realize Governor Gavin Newsom is biting Donald Trump's whole flow word for word, bar for bar. It is a deliberate imitation of Donald Trump's nut ass social media style. Okay, law 44 and the 48 laws of power disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect. Okay? Do you understand what the mirror effect is? It's when you are mirroring an opponent's actions or words. It can be a powerful tool for deception and manipulation. Okay. By reflecting their behavior, you can confuse them, make them overreact, and ultimately gain the upper hand. This law, Law 44 and the 48 laws of power highlights the seductive nature of mirroring, exploiting the human tendency towards narcissism and a desire to be reflected. It's brilliant. Okay, Fox News. You would be better off saying it's time for all of this type of foolishness to stop. You would be better off saying we really don't like it from President Trump. And this isn't something to be imitated, but to act like it's cool when Trump do it, but it's a problem when Gavin does it. Knock it off. Okay? The hypocrisy is disgusting. I don't know this guy's name, but he was on Tracy Gallagher's show on Fox. Let's listen to him.

[Fox News Commentator]

Gavin Newsom. Meantime, posting this on X, Liz, using all capitals, of course, trying to mock Trump, use Trump style. He's been doing this for a while now. He says, quoting Trump, Trump just fled the podium with Putin. No questions, nothing. Total low energy. The man looked like he'd just eaten three buckets of KFC with Vlad. Admit it, Donny J. You're terrified because this was the worst week of your life. Because of me. Gavin C. Newsom. I think he's trying to be funny. I think, I mean, I don't know what he's trying to do, but. But it comes across as childish. And what are you, the governor of the biggest state in the union or what are you doing?

[News Reporter]

Honestly, I feel like he's trying so hard to be Trump, but he's coming off like Kanye West. He seems absolutely insane.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Once again, the hypocrisy is disgusting. We've been watching President Trump have his way for almost a decade now. Okay? Gavin Newsom gives you a week of your own medicine and you all become these fragile ass snowflakes. I love it. Okay. Salute to Camille Zapata. I think that's her name. Dropping the clues. Bombs for Camille Zapata. That's what I heard is behind Gavin Newsom social media. I don't know if it was your idea to incorporate the mirror effect, but bravo, bravo. The mirror effect, Law 44 is brilliant. When someone sees their own actions reflected back at them, especially by an adversary, it can be deeply unsettling and even infuriating. And this can lead to overreactions and strategic errors. I love it. Now Gavin Newsom has explained why he's tweeting exactly like Donald Trump. Let's listen.

What's going on with those posts on.

X that are clearly trolling the president, talking about that.

[News Reporter]

Is that like a strategy?

[Gavin Newsom]

I hope it's a wake up call. The President, United States. I'm sort of following his example. If you've got issues with what I'm putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he's putting out as president. So to the extent it's gotten some attention, I'm pleased. But I think the deeper question is how have we allowed the normalization of his tweets through social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's just that simple. If you are concerned about what Governor Gavin Newsom is putting out, then you should be more concerned about what the President of the United States of America is putting out and how his tweets have become so normalized. Okay, Fox News the Five, Jesse Waters, Dana Perino, can you discuss that? Just discuss what we just heard Gavin Newsom say. Answer that question. How have we allowed the normalization of President Trump's social media posts? And how come they not getting the same scrutiny you are currently giving Governor Gavin Newsom? Please let Chelsea Handler give Dana Perino and every other conservative talking head hypocrite.

[Angela Yee]

The biggest hee haw, hee haw, hee haw.

[Dana Perino]

That is way too much Dan Mayonnaise.

[Angela Yee]

All right, all right. Well, thank you for that donkey today, sir.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Angela Yee]

Now let's open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. Now, a mother is facing backlash because she was dropping her two kids to school.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

And while she was dropping her two kids to school, she was wearing a towel wrapped around her head, a bathrobe, and some flip flops. And people are saying this is a little disrespectful. You should get dressed when you take your kids to school.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Absolutely. Like, I'm, listen, I understand you waking up, up late, you trying to get. Yo, you can snatch the towel off your head. You can find a hat, you can find a pair of leggings, a pair of shorts, throwing a T shirt, big T shirt like, yo, a, a bathrobe, looking like you fresh out the bathroom with a towel on your head. At least a damn bonnet, which is even just, I, I don't even like having on bonnets, taking my kids to school. But I'm just saying, like, you wore.

A silk scarf to blast the breakfast.

Yeah, it was a scarf. It wasn't a Bonnet or tail, period. But. And then for me it's just the other people commenting, like supporting this. Like, at least she's walking him to school. My mother was hungover every morning for being in the bar the night before. I had to. And I had to walk myself to school. She got her babies to school. That's all that matters. Cut the bs. Cut it out. No, we should be presentable at all times. Even if you ain't. You ain't gotta walk in like Annelize Keaton. But God damn, you can wear. I'm talking about nightgown and the leggings. Leggings with a hoodie. Something. This is trash. This is crazy. And you're embarrassing your kids.

[Angela Yee]

Let's open up the phone lines. Let's discuss 800. 585-10-551.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm.

[Angela Yee]

What?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What the hell was that? What the hell was that?

I'm mad about it. Like.

Okay.

[Angela Yee]

5, 8, 5. 1051. We'll put it on the Breakfast Club page so you can see exactly the video that they're talking about. Many people reposted it, but that way you can see what we're talking about.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What if one of the kids classmates is like your mother dirty like. You know how kids are.

These little kids though, they don't know what's going on.

[Angela Yee]

They look like they one looks like she's about 70.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No.

So they definitely look like she could fight. So. Yes.

What?

Yes. You know, I did had a ponytail. I used to have the same ponytail. Like a fight.

[Angela Yee]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. But you. You putting your kids through it.

[Angela Yee]

I agree. 800-585- Goodbye.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She bedroom. Yeah. She ain't giving it up.

[Angela Yee]

What's wrong with you, baby?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

See what I'm saying?

You're looking at the back. You're looking at the back.

[Angela Yee]

Let's discuss. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning.

[Angela Yee]

Pull out your phone.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Call in right now. Add your opinion to the Breakfast Club topic. Break it down. 800-585-1051.

[Angela Yee]

The Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Angela Yee]

Into the shower with one goal to show up as the best version of me. This is where I set the tone, where I decide how I'm going to give today all I got. Confident, focused, 100% myself. Which is why Method Body Wash is part of my shower ritual. The fragrance is not just clean, it's a mindset shift. Suddenly, I'm not just washing off yesterday, I'm stepping into today with purpose. Empowered to take on the day. Moisturizing suds. No parabens, no phthalates. Cruelty free Method transforms you turn your everyday shower into a moment to remember and try Method Body Wash now. Balancing work, family and education isn't easy, but American Public University makes it possible with online courses, monthly start dates, and flexible schedules. APU is designed for busy professionals who need education that fits their lives. And affordability matters too. APU offers the Opportunity grant, giving students 10% off undergraduate and master's level tuition, helping you reach your goals without breaking the bank. Plus, they provide career services and 247 mental health support at no extra cost. Visit Apu Apus Edu to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is an iHeart podcast.