California Governor Gavin Newsom faced a series of pointed questions regarding his state’s leadership during a Friday night appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
While the segment was intended to promote Newsom’s new memoir, the conversation quickly shifted to the economic and logistical hurdles currently facing the Golden State.
Maher, a long-time supporter who has previously suggested Newsom should run for president, took a critical tone when discussing California’s high-speed rail project. The host cited a projected price tag of $231 billion for the infrastructure endeavor.
“I say this as a friend, you got to let that train go!” Maher told the governor. “Let the train go.”
The governor’s expression visibly shifted as Maher transitioned from the rail project to broader economic concerns, including the state’s high gas prices and rising rent costs.
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Newsom attempted to pivot the conversation toward California’s global standing. “Good! Fourth-largest economy. Let’s go!” Newsom said.
Maher was quick to counter, asking if voters would feel the same way about the “litany” of costs associated with living in the state. He pressed the governor on whether the “fourth-largest economy” argument would resonate with citizens struggling with the cost of living.
The interview also touched on national politics and the current political climate following the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Newsom criticized the former president’s influence on the country’s discourse.
“He’s not doing anything to try to unite this country in any way, shape, or form,” Newsom stated. “To me, that’s the biggest reflection of this moment, just the sewer we’re now living in because of Donald Trump.”
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Maher challenged this assessment, suggesting that Newsom’s own political tactics, specifically his legal threats against Fox News, mirror the “trolling” style of his opponents. “Many people would say that you are imitating him,” Maher noted. “Suing media?”
Newsom defended his stance against the network, stating, “Fox better look to settle right now or apologize for defamation.”
When Maher argued that such actions sound similar to the tactics Newsom was criticizing, the governor replied, “Well, don’t defame, don’t lie.”
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