
Loading summary
Gavin Newsom
This is Gavin Newsom.
Podcast Advertiser (Lenovo/Intel)
Please welcome to the stage Governor Gavin.
Gavin Newsom
Newsom and President Bill Clinton. Morning, everybody. Good morning.
Bill Clinton
Morning. Thank you. All right.
Kal Penn
20 years.
Gavin Newsom
I saw that video. I was here, I think for 19 of. I mean, I've got more clinisms. I'm gonna enjoy this. This is gonna be so fun. The Howe business. I like that.
Bill Clinton
I met Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco and he looked like he was 12 years old. And I said, God, I hate this guy. He's so tall. Taller than I am, younger than I am, better looking than I am. There we go. But what really matters is he's a really good person and an extraordinarily gifted public servant, and he represents along with his family. Jennifer, where are you? Stand up there, man.
Gavin Newsom
Better. All right, wife.
Bill Clinton
Thank you.
iHeartRadio Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Advertiser (Lenovo/Intel)
In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth, high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech Search power up@lenovo.com.
iHeartRadio Announcer
Wishing.
Gavin Newsom
The holidays could come early. If you own or manage your business, they can. With help from iHeartradio. People are already shopping for their loved ones and hunting for deals wherever they can find them, including right here. They're listening to the radio.
iHeartRadio Announcer
They're listening to podcasts.
Gavin Newsom
They could be listening to you. Don't wait for everyone else to kick off the holidays. Get your best season of the year up and running today. Call 844-844-IHeart or visit iheartadvertising.com.
Kal Penn
Hey, I'm Kalpen, and on my new podcast, Here We Go Again, we'll take today's trends and headlines and ask, why does history keep repeating itself? Each week, I'm calling up my friends like Bill Nye, Lilly Singh, and Pete Buttigieg to talk about everything from the space race to movie remakes to psychedelics.
Gavin Newsom
Put another way, are you high?
Kal Penn
Look, the world can seem pretty scary right now, but my goal here is for you to listen and feel a little better about the future. Listen and subscribe to Here We Go Again with Kal Penn on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Kyle McLaughlin
Hey, I'm Kyle McLaughlin. You might know me as that guy from Twin Peaks, Sex and the City or just the Internet Stand? I have a new podcast called what Are Doing where I embark on a noble quest to understand the brilliant chaos of youth culture. Each week I invite someone fascinating to join me to talk about navigating this high speed rollercoaster we call reality. Join me and my delightful guests every Thursday and let's get weird together in a good way. Listen to what are we even doing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bloomberg News Host
The Big Take podcast from Bloomberg News keeps you on top of the biggest stories of the day.
Bill Clinton
My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day.
Bloomberg News Host
Stories that move markets.
iHeartRadio Announcer
Chair Powell opened the door to this.
Bloomberg News Host
First interest rate cut impact politics, change businesses. This is a really stunning development for the AI world and how you think about your bottom line. Listen to the big take from Bloomberg News every weekday afternoon on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bill Clinton
So I'm going to start with something that is easy, but I think it's important because it's amazing that a lot of people don't know anything about California except a lot of the stuff that's said.
Gavin Newsom
Yeah.
Bill Clinton
And I love it. I went to California. California had more problems than you can imagine when I was elected president. I went there 29 times in my first term, but they were good to me. And what I found was it was hundreds and hundreds of small towns in the cities and certainly beyond. I've been to the town in America that has the largest percentage of Japanese Americans. I went to a town campaigning for Hillary where the mayor, this little town in Northern California, the mayor was the son of the local judge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. When Hillary and I got married and went there to teach in the law school. And the old judge was a crusty old guy who let Hillary bring students into the legal aid program for the first time. And I'm standing in Northern California with the mayor. There's somebody there from everywhere. It's a fascinating place. So tell us. And I think it's now the fourth biggest economy in the world.
Gavin Newsom
That's right. Eat your heart out. Uk, Germany.
Bill Clinton
So tell us what you think we should know about what's going right in California.
Gavin Newsom
I appreciate the context. Look, you know, California is America, but only more so. We're the most. In the spirit of your introductory remarks, just to set the scene, it's the size of 21 state populations combined. It's the most diverse state in the world's most diverse democracy. 27% of my state is foreign born. We practice pluralism. It's a point of pride. I say that because it needs to be said and you reinforce it here today. It's in that diversity that we have achieved so much strength. We dominate in every critical industry. Yes, we're the fourth largest economy in the world, $4.1 trillion, but we dominate with more engineers, more scientists, more Nobel laureates, more venture capital, the finest system of higher education, public higher education in the world. In business startups, number one in two way trade, number one in direct foreign investment. In every category, the dominant manufacturing state, the dominant farming state, the dominant state. As it relates to hunting jobs. You didn't know that? Jobs related in every category. We have no peers. We talk about the future. You're talking about what's next. California's in the future business. But we're also in the spirit of the video, in the how business. And so it's not about what and why. And this notion of the future is what animates California and the future. As you said final words, you said word manifest. Future is not something to experience, it's something to manifest. It's decisions, not conditions that determine our fate and future. And I think that mindset is the thing that defines the game played in California versus the game played many other parts of the country.
Bill Clinton
How have you used that to deal with the fires and the aftermath of it?
Gavin Newsom
It depends which fire you're referring to. You know, the physical fire coming 29 times. I'm just glad Trump has only come one time. And it's, it's a hell of a time for us. Look, as it relates to fires, you know, we talk about the future happens in California first, where America's coming to traction. Well, that definitely relates to what's going on around us as it relates to the hots getting hotter, the dry is getting drier, the wet's getting wetter. This notion that we're dealing with extreme heat, extreme weather, and as a consequence, the challenges that we're presented as it relates to large scale wildfires. And California had one of its most devastating wildfires earlier this year in the middle of winter. And I just want to remind people, in the middle of winter in Los Angeles, in the most resourced region in the United States of America, more firefighters per capita in LA county than any other part of the globe. In a state that has the largest civilian fleet of aircraft for fire suppression anywhere in the world, in a state where I've doubled the budget in terms of the state fire investments and 10x the investments in forest management and vegetation management. And yet still we lost 16,000 structures, homes and buildings because we had a fire that was attached to 100 mile an hour winds in the middle of winter in Southern California. And so I take that issue very seriously. Places, lifestyles, traditions being wiped off the map. If you don't believe in science, you got to believe your own eyes. And this notion you talk about small towns in California, Grizzly Flats, Greenville, Paradise, California, been around 150 years, disappearing. And so I'm here with you. I'm also here the UN Climate Week. Reasserting California's leadership in this space. In the absence of national leadership, California once again is reasserting itself on low carbon green growth. Reasserting itself in the work we're doing to address the challenges of climate change. And fire is a huge part of that. And if I may just extend, forgive the extended point. We also dominated innovation in this space and it didn't feel that way in the aftermath of those fires. You're like, what the hell? How did you not prevent these? We had 104 engines that we had pre positioned down there from the state two days in advance. I told you about the resources next level. Well, the world literally, we have people from around the globe that come to California to learn about the latest technology, the latest innovation, 1,200 AI cameras. We were the first to demonstrate the benefits of those. A FYRUS system, partnerships with Lockheed, the Pentagon, next level weather strategies and fusion centers and technology that we've integrated all of those things, drone technology, all of that. And yet still we face the realities of these wildfires. And it's not just in California, it's all over the western United States for that matter, across the globe. And I think the issue is that is so under resourced in terms of mind share is the insurance issue. And I think this issue, I really believe this from a global perspective may be one of the most pressing global issues as it relates to the issues of climate change. The inability to purchase a home, let alone to get a mortgage on a home, to develop a home with an insurance market that simply is no longer viable because people are unwilling to take the risk and make the kind of capital outlays and investments to address that issue. I think this issue requires leadership at the national level. It is under resourced, under focused. It's a challenge for me. It's a challenge for Ron DeSantis in Florida, for governors in most states, but it's not, I think top of mind. And we need to be more focused on it.
Bill Clinton
The, well, what do you think should be done about it? I mean, I'm not trying to get you into a different job right now.
Gavin Newsom
But I don't want. People didn't come here to talk about insurance, but I, you know, we just put out our sustainable insurance strategy. We just had four of our emitted market come back in. In the last fact two days ago, we had our fourth come back in. We had a lot of folks who were leaving the market simply said, we can't insure folks here, it's too expensive and the losses are too significant. We had to address the reinsurance market, we had to address the capital needs of these companies and we also had to address the fact that California, and you wouldn't know this is among the most affordable insurance markets in the country because the voters initiated a framework on regulation that denied significant rate increases. As a consequence of that, people started exiting the market. The reforms we've just put into place allow for more rapid rate increases. That's the pressure point now as we move from about average to below average in our rates. We're now starting to see those tick up. But the benefit of that now part of the strategy is a requirement to come into California market and also to ensure in what we refer to as the wui, which is the wild lab and urban interface, and to cover 85% of the WUI in return for those rate increases. That is not something that on the macro is the solution from the US prism or the global perspective, but at the state level is advancing our reforms.
Bill Clinton
But this insurance issue is favoring facing every state in one form or another, the globe.
Gavin Newsom
I mean, it's just, it's not sustainable. And again, it should unite everybody. I mean there's no Republican, no Democratic thermometer. I heard, you know, and forgive me, I didn't come up here to take cheap shots. But that's pretty, pretty remarkable. What was said by the current president yesterday at the UN about climate. What the hell is that? It just, it can't be normalized. It can't be normalized. This notion that it's a hoax, I mean the vandalism, what this guy has done. Look, I live in a state and Mr. President, you'll appreciate this. You know, former presidents, you know, well for me one of them was a governor. Ronald Reagan established the modern Environmental Movement in 1967, Year of My birth, with the California Air Resources Board. And he did so because of the smog in Los Angeles was a business driven decision. Business community said we simply can't do business in LA Mr. Governor and he established the Air Resources Board. Three years later was Richard Nixon that codified that under the Clean Air act and gave California a waiver that allowed us to pursue aggressive environmental policy. And that's why California has dominated the national debate in this space. What this President has done in eight months is jaw dropping. What he has done to the epa, what he's done to California's leadership, he's neutralized. He's eliminated under that Clean Air act our authority to regulate tailpipe emissions. What he continues to do in terms of trying to stop California's global leadership as it relates to our partnerships around not only the country at a sub national level, but around the globe in relationship to our cap and trade program, in relationship to our other partnerships that we've established as it relates to carbon capture and direct air capture. And the technology in the space cannot be understated. And so we are, you know, we're the last, we're only game in town right now as it relates to large scale environmental leadership. And I'll just close on this. We have six times more green collar jobs, green tech jobs than we do fossil fuel jobs. We're on the other side of the debate and I think this is a point that should be emphasized. You talk about California more than I emphasize it. 67% of our electricity grid is completely green and clean. And we have run, which is not bad, but get this, nine out of 10 days in 2025, we've run the fourth largest economy in the world at 100% clean green energy. 100% as of last Friday, 217 out of 243, 100% clean energy. We're proving the paradigm, the genius of Ann versus the tyranny of Ore. And I think there's power and emulation success. Leslie Cruz and I think California's been an interesting and successful model in this space. And we're just trying to navigate this new space as it relates to the macro. Headwinds coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Bill Clinton
Tell our audience here a little more about what the components of your clean energy are.
Gavin Newsom
Well, I think the thing that we've dominated in is the electricity architecture. And we dominate in clean cars. I signed the first executive order in the United States to require alternative fuel vehicles by 2035. That was just taken away by Congress, the supine Congress and the President. But we created the market. There is no Elon Musk, there's no Tesla. Without California's regulatory framework, period, full stop, it wouldn't exist. It was because of the regulations because of those signals and the subsidies, over $3.2 billion direct subsidies that Tesla received just in my state alone that built this market. Over a quarter of all new car purchases in California are alternative fuel vehicles. What Trump has just done, and with respect, some of the automobile manufacturers is they've ceded this to China. They've ceded our competitiveness to China. And it's not just the electric vehicles, it's the tech stack that's part of these electric vehicles. It's the mobility space more broadly defined. It is an act of vandalism on an economic basis, not just an environmental basis. That is deeply alarming. And I hope people wake up to how China is just flooding the zone globally in this space. And we have doubled down on stupid, but we're trying to recreate the 19th century. We really have. You talk about what's next. It's not going to be American automobile manufacturers. Bill Ford may run contrary to that. He seems to get it deeply. I give him tremendous credit. Remarkable iconic brand. But I cannot impress upon you more how proud I am. 60 headquartered manufacturer EV companies in the state of California supply chain was one of our biggest exports five years ago. And it's all about innovation. It's all about that entrepreneurial spirit. And you see if any of you have been to San Francisco, half the damn cars are driving themselves. It's here, it's happening. All the bidirectional opportunities, the two way charging, the fact that these cars are little power plants on wheels, all this extraordinary opportunity and it's seen, it's slipping away because of bad policy making and short termism. So we're going to continue to push back against that. But I think from a tech and innovation stack, that's our biggest area of focus.
Simplisafe Advertiser
There's a new way to keep your home safe that you have to know about. It's called Simplisafe. And it's completely different from what you think of when you think of home security. Typical security systems don't really prevent someone from entering your home. They only react once someone is already inside your home. That's too late. Real security stops a crime before it even starts. That's why over 4 million Americans trust SimpliSafe to keep their homes and families safe. The moment someone steps onto your property, AI security cameras identify the threat and alert Simplisafe's professional monitoring agents. The agents take action immediately, confronting the criminal and if they need to, triggering sirens and spotlights and dispatching the police. Simplisafe is like having your own personal security guard and with a 60 day money back guarantee and no long term contracts, SimpliSafe earns your business by keeping you safe and satisfied every day. To get 50% off your new system, go to SimpliSafe.com Gavin that's SimpliSafe.com Gavin For 50% off, there's no safe like Simplisafe.
Podcast Advertiser (Lenovo/Intel)
In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6 and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech Search power up@lenovo.com.
Washable Sofas Advertiser
There'S nothing like sinking into luxury. At washablesofas.com, you'll find the Annabe sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric, slip covers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Nyx Underwear Advertiser
For period protection, you can put on and forget about nothing. Beats NYX Leakproof Underwear, North America's number one leak proof underwear brand. Let's face it, life can be unpredictable, but your leak proof underwear underwear shouldn't be. That's why millions of people choose Nyx for periods for light leaks for everyday freshness. Nyx undies are super comfy, super absorbent and made to handle whatever your day throws at you. Day two of your period covered your daily run. No problem. That big sneeze? You know the one? Yup. We've got you. And with styles like bikinis, boy shorts, thongs and high rise plus sizes from extra small to 4XL, NYX makes it easy to find your perfect fit. Say goodbye to stress and leaks and say hello to undies that work just as hard as you do, no matter the leak. Find the style and level of protection you want@nyx.com and use code flow15 for 15% off. That's K-N-I x.com code flow15 for 15% off. Nix for your leaks for your life.
iHeartRadio Announcer
Run a business and not thinking about podcasting, think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers are into, true crime, sports, comedy, culture, they'll hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. And all this reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for you. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show you at iheartadvertising.com that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844 iHeart. One more time, call 844-844 iHEART and get podcasting working for you.
Bill Clinton
To say a little bit about, as a practical matter, where you are right now with AI and is there, has there been any obvious downside and if so, what is it and how should we manage it?
Gavin Newsom
Well, and I sound like I'm bloviating and I can, I can get all the real problems in my state, affordability being number one, two, three. But we dominate in artificial intelligence. We have no peers. 32 of the top 50 market cap companies on the globe, in the globe, are in California. And for obvious reasons, back to this conveyor belt for talent. The UCS and the CSUs and Caltech and Stanford University research and development, the Lawrence Livermore Labs and Sandia Labs and all the investments we're making in science. And so it's happening there because the human capital is there. It's why, you know, Elon talks a big game about Texas, but all his folks are in the Bay Area. They're all in California. All those AI folks are there. His global headquarters for R and D is in California, which by the way, is 18% of the globe's R and D, China, Germany and California. 18% of the global R and D in the state of California. So it's unsurprising we're driving that innovation. But it's all about truth. It's all about trust, promise, peril. And as a consequence of having so much leadership residing in such a concentrated place, California, we have a sense of responsibility and accountability to lead. So we support risk taking, but not recklessness. From a regulatory frame, we're pretty much the only game in town as well. You're seeing what they're trying to do federally to preempt states from regulating. Ted Cruz a few days ago, doubling down on that, that California needs to be neutered. He says, in this space, even though we're dominating in this space. And so we have worked with Fei, Fei Li, the godmother of AI, we're working with Stanford, mit, we've worked with Berkeley, and we put out a comprehensive white paper that really analyzed where we were from a regulatory frame. We've signed dozens, I've signed dozens of bills in this space, did the first executive order in the country in this space. But in relationship to the unwinding of President Biden's leadership in this space and the new focus on just let it rip coming out of the White House that David Sachs and others are promoting, and we have a bill, forgive me, that's on my desk that we think strikes the right balance. And we worked with industry, but we didn't submit to industry. We're not doing things to them, but we're not doing things necessarily for them. And we're trying to answer that question from a policy perspective and find that right balance where we can continue to dominate in this space, continue to support the ecosystem, at the same time, address that peril and the concerns that legitimate people have.
Bill Clinton
I want to change the subject a minute.
Gavin Newsom
Back to insurance. Yes.
Bill Clinton
No. Everywhere in the country we read that now men are alienated, that they. They're not going to college as much as they did. They are not necessarily proud, prepared for other jobs they can have. And you actually tried to address this in a fairly comprehensive way. And I'd be surprised if almost anybody in the audience who's not from California knows anything about it. So tell us a little about what you've tried to do to help young men.
Gavin Newsom
I'm going back to your opening remarks. Look, I was here 20 years ago because you tapped me on the shoulder. Part of America's promise. You tapped me on the shoulder in a bipartisan way with General Powell. And I'll never forget General Powell coming here, said, no one stands taller than when he or she bends down on one knee to lift someone else up. I love that. I wrote that down and I repeat it all the time. California now has a service corps that's Larger than the Peace Corps. It's the largest service corps in America. College Corps, climate Corps in every category. Building on your work, building on AmeriCorps. So we just announced to your question, in order to address the crisis of men and boys, the crisis of men and boys. And I say that because it's hard for members of my own party to say that, because we some feel it's a zero sum game, that we have to address the issues of women and girls and solve for them before we can get to the crisis. And when I say crisis, look at the suicide rates, look at the dropout rates, look at the deaths of despair, look at the issues around loneliness, look at every critical category. It's just blinking red lights for young men. And in order to address this, we've been working with Richard Reeves, we've been working Institute of Boys and Men, we've been working with a lot of other folks to develop a framework, a plan to implement that builds on the constructs that you have framed around service, around mentorship, around tutoring, the work my wife has done, who's done a number of documentaries in this space, including one called Mask youk Live in, about the crisis of masculinity, and begin to substantially address these underlying issues and target interventions. Service is at the core, but it's a component part of a larger strategy that we've just advanced at scale in California. And I'll just end on this. I know our time's up. Just as an example, one of the areas that I never fully appreciated was the lack of men educating our kids. I didn't fully appreciate how few men are in those kindergarten classes, in those second, third grade classes in middle schools. And so it begins with just simple interventions, but we also have to acknowledge it. Final word. I love open hand, not a closed fist. You know, I got a lot of closed fists when I did a podcast I started a few months ago, and my first guest was Charlie Kirk, who flew out and visited with me. And second was Steve Bannon. And the reason I had them on was this issue because they have weaponized this grievance, and electorally, they achieved remarkable results. Charlie Kirk's ability, what he was able to achieve in terms of organizing the campuses, engaging these young men, addressing their grievances, giving them some sense of hope that someone cared, that they mattered, that they were seen, he was able to produce and organize around that in a deeply meaningful way. And the Democratic Party was nowhere to be found on the issue. And Bannon as well. And so I say that to say this we need to address the issue because it's the right thing to do, but it's also the smart thing to do.
Bill Clinton
We have to wrap up. But I. If you were to say to this crowd, you have lots of concerns, you know a lot about everything, which is why I like talking to you. But a group like this, if we could emphasize one thing that we could do in America in the midst of all this political BS that we're dealing with every day, what would you ask us to do? What do you think the most important thing in terms of citizen action is that we could be doing?
Gavin Newsom
I remember Justice Brandeis had a wonderful quote. He wrote a lot about citizenship, said in democracy. The most important office, Brandeis said, is not the office of presidency, with respect, certainly not governor or mayor, but it's the office of citizen. This notion of active, not inert, citizenship. And I think at the core of that is this idea that we have agency, that we can shape the future, that we're not bystanders in the world. And I think back to the spirit of your opening remarks is this notion that we have the capacity to shape our future. And we also have to recognize that we have to reconcile each other's futures in relationship. And forgive me, I'm closing with my deep cgi, absorbing what you've been about for all these years, this idea that divorce is not an option, as you say all the time. We have to define the terms of our future. And I think that spirit of grace and humility is also part of that as well. And so I just, I thank you. And final words. You know, two decades of preaching this gospel, but also practicing it. And I just think at this precious moment in our life, we need to be reminded that we all want to be loved. We all need to be loved. We all share, as you said, the same short moment in life. I want to be protected. We all want to be respected. We all want to be connected to something larger than ourselves. And I think in that space, we find the answer to your question.
Bill Clinton
A long time ago, when I met the mayor of San Francisco, I came home and told Hillary, I said, you know, I wanted to dislike this guy. I mean, he's good looking and he's tall. He's younger than I am, but there's something special about him. I still believe that. And I thank you for your service and I thank you for being here. Let's give him a hand.
Podcast Advertiser (Lenovo/Intel)
In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech@lenovo.com dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit so you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the Tech Search power up@lenovo.com.
iHeartRadio Announcer
You.
Simplisafe Advertiser
Know what your customers are doing right this second? The exact same thing. You are listening to me. Which, let's be honest, is kind of flattering. But my point Is, ads on iHeartRadio actually get heard in the car, at the gym, on the couch while people are walking their dogs.
Gavin Newsom
Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy.
Bill Clinton
That's right.
Simplisafe Advertiser
So why not make the next ad about you? Get started today. Call 844-844-IHEART or go to iheartadvertising.com that's 844-844, iheart or iheartadvertising.com hey, I'm Kalpen.
Kal Penn
And on my new podcast, Here We Go Again, we'll take today's trends and headlines and ask, why does history keep repeating itself? Each week I'm calling up my friends like Bill Nye, Lilly Singh and Pete Buttigieg to talk about everything from the space race to movie remakes to psychedelics.
Gavin Newsom
Put another way, are you high?
Kal Penn
Look, the world can seem pretty scary right now, but my goal here is for you to listen and feel a little better about the future. Listen and subscribe to Here We Go Again with Kal Penn on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Kyle McLaughlin
Hey, I'm Kyle McLaughlin. You might know me as that guy from Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, or just the Internet stand. I have a new podcast called what Are We Even Doing? Where I embark on a noble quest to understand the brilliant chaos of youth culture. Each week I invite someone fascinating to join me to talk about navigating this high speed rollercoaster we call reality. Join me and my delightful guests every Thursday and let's get weird together in a good way. Listen to what are we even doing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bloomberg News Host
The Big Take podcast from Bloomberg News keeps you on top of the biggest stories of the day.
Bill Clinton
My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day.
Bloomberg News Host
Stories that move markets.
iHeartRadio Announcer
Chair Powell opened the door to this first interest rate.
Bloomberg News Host
Cut impact politics, change businesses. This is a really stunning development for the AI world and how you think about your bottom line. Listen to the big take from Bloomberg News every weekday afternoon on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
iHeartRadio Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
Episode: How To Solve The Climate Crisis With President Clinton
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Gavin Newsom
Guest: President Bill Clinton
In this compelling conversation, Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Bill Clinton discuss the climate crisis, California’s leadership in environmental and technological innovation, the escalating threats and complexities faced by states, and the broader challenges facing American society. Moving beyond partisanship, the episode highlights actionable solutions, the intersection of policy and innovation, and the critical role of citizen engagement in shaping the nation's future. Notably, the conversation also delves into issues of insurance, AI, and the crisis facing young men, offering rich, candid insights from two high-profile public servants.
“California is America, but only more so... It's the size of 21 state populations combined. It's the most diverse state in the world's most diverse democracy. 27% of my state is foreign born.” — Gavin Newsom [06:22]
“We dominate with more engineers, more scientists, more Nobel laureates, more venture capital, the finest system of higher education…” — Gavin Newsom [06:40]
“Future is not something to experience, it's something to manifest. It’s decisions, not conditions, that determine our fate and future.” — Gavin Newsom [07:35]
“If you don't believe in science, you got to believe your own eyes… Grizzly Flats, Greenville, Paradise, California, been around 150 years, disappearing.” — Gavin Newsom [09:53]
“[Insurance] is under resourced, under focused. It’s a challenge for me, it’s a challenge for Ron DeSantis in Florida… We need to be more focused on it.” — Gavin Newsom [11:58]
“We just put out our sustainable insurance strategy... The reforms we've just put into place allow for more rapid rate increases. That's the pressure point now.” — Gavin Newsom [12:52]
“What this President has done in eight months is jaw-dropping... He's eliminated under that Clean Air Act our authority to regulate tailpipe emissions.” — Gavin Newsom [14:54]
“There’s no Republican, no Democratic thermometer… It can’t be normalized. This notion that [climate change] is a hoax…” — Newsom [14:37]
“There is no Elon Musk, there's no Tesla, without California's regulatory framework, period, full stop.” — Gavin Newsom [18:15]
“Over a quarter of all new car purchases in California are alternative fuel vehicles.” — Newsom [18:30]
“Nine out of 10 days in 2025, we’ve run the fourth largest economy in the world at 100% clean green energy. 217 out of 243, 100% clean energy.” — Gavin Newsom [17:34]
“We have no peers. 32 of the top 50 market cap companies on the globe… are in California.” — Gavin Newsom [25:57]
“We support risk taking, but not recklessness. From a regulatory frame, we're pretty much the only game in town as well.” — Newsom [26:49]
“It's hard for members of my own party to say that, because… we have to address the issues of women and girls and solve for them before we can get to the crisis [in boys].” — Gavin Newsom [29:43]
“Charlie Kirk… has weaponized this grievance, and electorally, they've achieved remarkable results… the Democratic Party was nowhere to be found on the issue.” — Newsom [32:22]
“Brandeis said…the most important office… is the office of citizen. This notion of active, not inert, citizenship.” — Gavin Newsom [34:07]
“We all want to be connected to something larger than ourselves. And I think in that space, we find the answer to your question.” — Newsom [35:39]
On California’s Global Role:
“California is America, but only more so.” — Gavin Newsom [06:22]
On Leadership in Crisis:
“Future is not something to experience, it's something to manifest. It's decisions, not conditions, that determine our fate and future.” — Gavin Newsom [07:35]
On Climate Catastrophe:
“If you don’t believe in science, you got to believe your own eyes.” — Gavin Newsom [09:53]
On Eco-Policy Backsliding:
“There’s no Republican, no Democratic thermometer… It can’t be normalized. This notion that [climate change] is a hoax…” — Gavin Newsom [14:37]
On Electric Cars and Innovation:
“There is no Elon Musk, there's no Tesla, without California’s regulatory framework, period, full stop.” — Gavin Newsom [18:15]
On the Crisis of Men and Boys:
“It’s just blinking red lights for young men… look at suicide rates, dropout rates, deaths of despair, issues around loneliness.” — Gavin Newsom [29:53]
On Citizenship:
“Brandeis said…the most important office… is the office of citizen. This notion of active, not inert, citizenship.” — Gavin Newsom [34:07]
Closing Words from Clinton:
“A long time ago… I wanted to dislike this guy. I mean, he's good looking and he's tall… but there's something special about him. I still believe that.” — Bill Clinton [35:57]
The conversation flows with humor, candor, and a sense of urgency—anchored in mutual respect and a drive for solutions. Both speakers blend personal anecdotes (Clinton’s longstanding perspective on Newsom), data-driven arguments, constructive critiques, and an openness to bipartisanship.
This episode offers a substantive, hopeful, and at times sobering blueprint for tackling the climate crisis and broader societal challenges. Newsom and Clinton make clear: solutions lie in bold policy, sustained innovation, and above all, sustained, engaged citizenship. The dialogue is an invitation to recognize agency—at every level—in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.