California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on a Tuesday podcast episode that conservative media figure Steve Bannon sounds a lot like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and “what Democrats said 20, 30 years ago.”
“When you talk to a guy like Steve Bannon, you know, he reminded me a little bit of my grandfather when he talks about working folks and he talks about how we hollowed out the industrial core of this country,” Newsom said on an episode of his “This is Gavin Newsom” podcast that featured Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), in comments highlighted by Mediaite.
Walz cut in, trying to point out that former President Biden’s election victory in 2020 has been rejected by Bannon.
“I understand that … we can dismiss the notion of election denialism, we could completely dismiss what he did on Jan. 6, but I don’t think you can dismiss what he’s saying. Reminds me a lot of what Bernie Sanders was saying. Reminded me a lot of what Democrats said 20, 30 years ago.”
On Newsom’s Tuesday podcast episode, the California governor told Walz that Bannon “hates [Elon] Musk, he hates the oligarchy, he totally agrees with you on the concentration of monopolistic powers.”
Bannon has previously referred to the tech billionaire, who is now a part of President Trump’s administration, as “a parasitic illegal immigrant” and “a truly evil guy, a very bad guy.”
Newsom’s podcast has resulted in speculation about the California governor looking toward a White House bid in 2028. Democrats have been bothered by the podcast’s guests and comments Newsom made about issues including transgender rights.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) recently went after Newsom over hosting Bannon on his new podcast, saying in a social media post last week that he was “in shock at the stupidity of [Newsom] inviting Steve Bannon on his podcast.”
“Many of us on the right sacrificed careers to fight Bannon, and Newsom is trying to make a career and a presidential run by building him up,” Kinzinger added.
The Hill has reached out to the White House and Bannon’s “War Room” show for comment.