Gavin Newsom Calls Democratic Party Brand 'Toxic' in Candid Chat with Bill Maher

California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t pull any punches on Friday when he bluntly described the Democratic Party’s brand as "toxic" during an appearance on Bill Maher’s "Real Time." With party approval ratings scraping historic lows, Newsom’s assessment came as a wake-up call for Democrats grappling with their identity.

"The Democratic brand is toxic right now," Newsom declared, citing a CNN poll showing just 29% favorability – the lowest since the poll began in 1992. In an NBC poll, the numbers were even more dismal, sinking to 27%. For context, Republicans fared slightly better, with a 36% approval rating in the same CNN survey.

Large swaths of Democrats and their supporters are urging the party to adopt a more aggressive stance against former President Donald Trump’s agenda, but the internal strife seems far from over. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has been under fire for voting with Republicans on spending legislation to avert a government shutdown. The criticism reached fever pitch when New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez labeled Schumer’s move a "tremendous mistake." Talk about family drama.

Meanwhile, Newsom has been busy making waves with his new podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," where he’s been sitting down with conservative figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. The governor emphasized the need for meaningful dialogue, remarking that the platform gives him an opportunity to find common ground rather than resorting to "cheap shots." Whether you agree with his approach or not, it’s refreshing to see a politician trying to bridge the divide.

However, Maher didn’t let Newsom off the hook easily. The host grilled him on several "eighty-twenty issues" – topics where Democrats seem out of sync with the majority of Americans, including transgender policies. Maher pointed to a controversial law that critics say prevents schools from notifying parents if their child changes their gender identity. Newsom defended the legislation, clarifying that it simply prevents teachers from being jailed for not informing parents.

In a moment of introspection, Newsom called on Democrats to "mature" and take responsibility for how they engage with everyday Americans. He urged the party to address divisive issues like cancel culture and avoid coming across as judgmental. "Democrats tend to be a little more judgmental than we should be," Newsom admitted. "This notion of cancel culture, you’ve been living it. That’s real. And Democrats need to own up to that."

It’s not every day you hear such raw honesty from a high-profile party member, but with approval ratings in free fall, perhaps it’s time for Democrats to take Newsom’s advice and step up their game.