Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. CNN’s Jake Tapper spent some quality time with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at his in-laws’ ranch in Montana, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. They went fly-fishing, which, as Tapper admits, he’s not exactly great at, and talked about everything from Newsom’s childhood to his potential presidential run in 2028. I mean, who wouldn’t want to chat about their personal life while standing waist-deep in a cold river?
Tapper had pitched this idea of a longform interview to Newsom, where they’d just talk about life, no ties, no makeup, no studio. Just two guys, a river, and some fish that refused to bite. Newsom, being the sport that he is, agreed, and they spent hours driving around the ranch and standing in the Bitterroot River. I’m pretty sure I’d need a few cups of coffee to keep up with these two.
Now, the big question on everyone’s mind is, will Newsom run for president in 2028? Well, according to him, it’s all dependent on whether his fellow Democrat, Kamala Harris, decides to run. He told Tapper, “I wouldn’t run if she ran.” Bless their hearts, I think they’re both trying to be polite, but come on, it’s politics, folks! You can’t make this stuff up.
Newsom explained that running against Harris would be “mutual assured destruction” and that it wouldn’t serve any greater good. He even said that every other Democrat would be praying for that to happen, and every Republican would be rooting for it too. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and I’m sure they’re already planning their next big story.
Tapper asked Newsom about the counterargument that Harris ran in 2019 and didn’t make it to 2020, and then ran again in 2024 and lost. Newsom acknowledged that was a good point, but he knows Harris’s base of supporters, and he wouldn’t put them through that. He said, “I know what that means. I know her base of supporters, I know her friends, the (Venn) diagram on that is just pure crossover … I wouldn’t do that to people.”
The conversation took a more personal turn when Newsom talked about his family, his dyslexia, his failed first marriage, and his governor’s race. He even mentioned his mother’s assisted suicide and a close friend telling him to get his life together. It’s clear that Newsom has been through a lot, and he’s not afraid to talk about it.
When asked about how he decides if he’s going to run for president, Newsom said, “I have no experience in this process, so I’m going through it.” He noted that some folks wished he had challenged President Joe Biden in 2024, but he said he wasn’t ready. He explained that he needs to have a big enough “why” to run, and if he doesn’t have that, he doesn’t belong in the race.
Newsom’s wife and school-aged children would also need to agree to a White House run, he said. “If they’re not on board, that’s a non-starter.” I’m sure that’s a tough conversation to have, but hey, at least they’re being honest about it.
As they stood in the river, Newsom checked his hook and cast his line again, looking upstream at the signs of the fish refusing to bite. He told Tapper that he needs to meet the moment and be honest with himself about whether he represents the zeitgeist. He said, “You just have to meet the moment. You got to be honest with yourself. Do you represent the zeitgeist in the moment, or are you wasting everybody’s time?” Well, folks, it looks like we’ll just have to wait and see what Newsom decides.
In the end, it’s clear that Newsom is a complex guy with a lot on his mind. He’s thinking about his family, his legacy, and his potential presidential run. And who knows, maybe he’ll even catch some fish along the way. As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what’s next for Newsom and the rest of the political world. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be an interesting ride. 🎣
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
