VINCE Podcast Episode 114: "Gavin Newsom Is A Major Trump Fan"

Host: Vince Coglianese
Date: August 29, 2025
Podcast Network: Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode features host Vince Coglianese’s signature mix of wit and political analysis, tackling the week’s political chaos. Vince discusses California Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to emulate Trump, scrutinizes the Democrats’ 2028 prospects, dissects recent CDC shake-ups, covers the controversy surrounding Kamala Harris’s Secret Service protection, and examines the national response to the tragic church shooting in Minneapolis. The episode balances biting satire with serious reflection, providing Vince’s perspective on the current state of American politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gavin Newsom's Trump Obsession and 2028 Democratic Landscape

[05:30-18:30]

Newsom’s Rise

• Vince highlights poll results showing Gavin Newsom leading the Democratic field for 2028, noting a jump to 25% support in the latest Emerson College poll.
• Newsom’s social media strategy is described as mimicking Trump to “troll” Republicans and win over Democrats:

  “All you have to do is tweet about pretending to be Trump, and sure enough, they're like, that guy’s a lot like Trump. He can be our Trump!” (Vince, 08:00)

MAGA Hat Trolling Fiasco

• Vince describes how Trump supporters started sending Newsom “Trump 2028” hats, leading to Newsom’s emotional meltdown on stage about the threat posed by Trump.
• Newsom claims Trump wants to “end elections” in the US, citing the hat campaign as “evidence.”
• Vince plays a clip of Newsom and gleefully notes the audience laughing at his expense:

  “People are sending you Trump 2028 hats, and Newsom’s like, he wants to end elections!” (Vince, 14:10)

Trump’s “Moniker Room” and Personal Anecdotes

• Discussion of Trump’s “Moniker Room” in the White House, filled with MAGA hats—including “Trump 2028” hats, gifting them to visitors.
• Vince shares his own story of receiving a signed Trump hat:

  “I literally selected this hat from that room. The President showed me the room and said, would you take a hat? And I took a hat. Then he signed this hat for me at the Resolute desk.” (Vince, 17:00)

Democrats' Leadership Vacuum

• Vince points out that even Newsom’s support is only a quarter of the party, highlighting Democrat fragmentation for 2028.

2. Kamala Harris’s Extended Secret Service Detail

[19:00-26:00]

Discovery of Undisclosed Protection

• The Biden administration secretly extended Kamala Harris’s Secret Service detail past the legal window post-vice presidency.
• Trump canceled the extension upon learning of it, leading to media spin blaming Trump:

  “Trump cancels Kamala Harris’s Secret Service detail that was extended by undisclosed Biden order. Isn’t that unreal?” (Vince, 20:40)

Media Justification and Critique of Identity Politics

• Media claims Harris faces special threats as the first woman and first black woman VP—Vince ridicules this as cynical identity politics:

  “What does that have to do with her security threats? Unless they’re saying she’s weak. Is that what they’re saying?” (Vince, 22:00)

• Critiques the expectation that taxpayers should fund security for Harris’s book tour.

3. CDC Leadership Purge under RFK Jr.

[28:00-48:00]

Sudden Firings and Resignations

• CDC Director Susan Monterez fired after refusing to resign when requested due to policy clashes with the Trump/RFK Jr. administration.
• Multiple senior CDC officials, including Deborah Hori, Daniel Jernigan, and Dimitri Daskalakis, resign in protest.

Daskalakis Profile and Controversy

• Extended criticism of Dimitri Daskalakis (“Dr. Monkeypox”), focusing on his public persona and communication style.

• Vince excoriates Daskalakis for “woke” language (“pregnant people”) and left-wing identity displays:

  “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a clearer example of why someone deserved to be fired.” (Vince, 38:10)

• Mocks Daskalakis’s monkeypox public messaging:

  “One person’s idea of risk is another person’s idea of a great festival or Friday night for that matter.” (Daskalakis, [clip 43:30])
  “He should be trying to stop people from transmitting diseases, rather than encouraging them to do it!” (Vince, 44:00)

4. Reflection and Mourning: Minneapolis Church Shooting

[50:00-1:13:30]

J.D. Vance’s Response

• Vince lauds Vice President J.D. Vance’s sensitive, faith-led remarks at a memorial for child victims of the church shooting:

  “If you are the praying type, I would ask you to join me in prayer…Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord…” (J.D. Vance, 1:01:40)

• Contrasts Vance’s empathy with Democrats who belittled prayers and Christians in their reactions.

The Victims and Their Families

• Acknowledges the importance of focusing on child victims Fletcher Merkel (8) and Harper Moisky (10).
• Plays clip of Fletcher Merkel’s father urging empathy and urging parents to appreciate their children:

  “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was, and not the act that ended his life. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today…We love you, Fletcher.” (Fletcher’s father, 1:11:00)

Critique of Media and Mental Illness Narrative

• Vince criticizes the media’s handling (e.g., pronoun use) and politicization of the tragedy.
• Calls for more robust mental illness intervention and the right to self-defense.

5. National Security and Civil Rights Response

[1:13:30-1:22:30]

Administration’s Response

• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt condemns Jen Psaki’s derision of prayer in the wake of the tragedy:

  “It’s utterly disrespectful to deride the power of prayer…it’s disrespectful to millions of Americans of faith.” (Levitt, 1:16:00)

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard equates anti-God sentiment of critics to the shooter’s hate.

FBI & DOJ Action

• FBI Director Kash Patel confirms the agency is pursuing the Minneapolis case as a hate crime, emphasizing the anti-Christian, anti-Semitic manifesto of the shooter.

• DOJ Civil Rights chief Harmeet Dhillon hints at more investigations into Minnesota officials:

  “They’ve created a toxic environment for women [and] people of faith...and we have more investigations to come into Minnesota.” (Dhillon, 1:21:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Newsom & MAGA Hats:

  "People keep sending me Trump hats. And Newsom's like, he wants to end elections!" (Vince, 14:10)

• On Daskalakis’s “Pregnant People” Language:

  “What do we call pregnant people? Mothers. Women.” (Vince, 36:45)

• JD Vance’s Prayer:

  “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them...” (JD Vance, 1:01:40)

• On Kamala Harris’s Protection:

  “Harris does not need Secret Service paid for by you. ... She wants security, she can pay for it. I'm done with that!” (Vince, 24:47)

• On Media's Identity Spin:

  “Unless this is a way of saying that, hey, she's a woman so she's weak and needs more protection ... What are they even saying other than to offer ... that America is sexist and racist, and therefore she is subject to more threats because America sucks.” (Vince, 22:05)

• Caroline Levitt re: Prayer:

  “It’s utterly disrespectful to deride the power of prayer in this country. ... I would encourage Ms. Psaki to pray for these families.” (Levitt, 1:16:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:30 – Gavin Newsom’s imitation of Trump & polling update
• 09:00 – Democrats’ 2028 field disarray
• 13:00 – Newsom’s meltdown over MAGA hats; audience laughs at him
• 17:00 – Vince’s personal Trump hat story, Moniker Room discussion
• 19:00 – Kamala Harris’s extended security detail uncovered
• 22:00 – Media spin and identity politics on Harris's protection
• 28:00 – CDC shake-up: Monterez firing, mass resignations
• 36:45 – Vince critiques “pregnant people” terminology
• 43:30 – Daskalakis “Friday night” MSNBC quote
• 50:00 – Minneapolis church shooting coverage
• 1:01:40 – J.D. Vance’s prayer for victims
• 1:11:00 – Fletcher Merkel’s father’s statement
• 1:16:00 – Caroline Levitt’s comments on deriding prayer
• 1:21:30 – DOJ Civil Rights Division to investigate Minnesota officials

Tone & Style

Vince’s trademark sharp sarcasm and irreverence are front and center, especially in his running commentary on Democratic figures, media narratives, and “woke” bureaucrats. At the same time, he switches to a somber, compassionate tone when covering the Minneapolis tragedy, drawing clear moral and cultural lines.

Summary

This episode delivers a packed rundown of the week’s major political narratives through Vince’s unfiltered conservative lens. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the internal struggles within Democratic leadership, a fiery takedown of public health officials seen as politicized and out-of-touch, sharp criticism of media spin, and a heartfelt segment on the value of faith and decency in mourning public tragedies. Notably, the episode intertwines humor and gravity, ensuring listeners are informed, entertained, and urged to reflect on national values and leadership.