Parental rights, 'book bans': 5 highlights from Gavin Newsom's podcast debut

3. Newsom describes most ‘boneheaded’ move of his life 

During the COVID-19 pandemic that saw widespread lockdowns and strict, prolonged restrictions on in-person gatherings in some areas, Newsom generated outrage for dining at the French Laundry, an upscale restaurant in his state. Newsom decided to dine at the French Laundry in November 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparked a recall effort against him. He ultimately survived the attempt to remove him from office in September 2021. 

Newsom then talked about how Americans found themselves in “bubbles” based on their political ideology. As Newsom described how he and other Democrats felt “safe over here at MSNBC and CNN, reading The New York Times, feeling really great about things and having a nice glass of chardonnay listening to Rachel Maddow ...” Kirk jumped in and exclaimed that Newsom was caught “at the French laundry.” 

After Newsom sarcastically referred to the French Laundry as “the only place I eat,” the conversation switched topics briefly before Kirk encouraged the governor to resume talking about his “wining and dining at the French Laundry.”

Newsom then characterized his decision to hold a fundraiser there as other residents of his state were prevented from holding such gatherings as the “dumbest bonehead move of my life.” He defined his approach to the controversy as to “own it, move on, grow up.”