California Governor Gavin Newsom, a staunch progressive, made an unexpected concession on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports, admitting it’s “deeply unfair” for biological males to compete against female athletes, as reported by The New York Post.
The revelation came during the first episode of his podcast, This is Gavin Newsom, where he engaged in a discussion with conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Newsom, who has long championed LGBTQ+ causes, stopped short of advocating for a ban but acknowledged the fairness issue.
“I think it’s an issue of fairness; I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness—it’s deeply unfair.”
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For years, Newsom has been one of the most aggressive governors in pushing transgender policies.
He signed a law preventing schools from informing parents if their child identifies as another gender and has repeatedly attacked red states for enacting protections for women’s sports.
Just two years ago, Newsom declared:
“Trans kids and their families should be celebrated—not targeted by the state! They are heroes.”
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Yet, when pressed by Kirk about transgender athletes, Newsom appeared to struggle with his response. He insisted that conservatives have “weaponized” the debate but admitted, “I totally agree with you” on the fairness issue.
LOL!
Here’s California Gov. Gavin Newsom – who signed into law one of the most extreme transgender laws in the nation – now suddenly believing it’s unfair for trans athletes to compete in female sports:
Charlie Kirk: “Would you say no men in female sports?”
Gov. Newsom: “I… pic.twitter.com/dZr8aH0A8i
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) March 6, 2025
However, he quickly shifted to the left’s usual talking points, lamenting the struggles of transgender individuals.
“These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.”
Newsom attempted to balance his newfound stance with progressive rhetoric.
The timing of Newsom’s apparent shift is notable. The governor, who is barred from seeking reelection in 2026, has been vetoing progressive bills in recent months.
Just last month, he promised to strike down legislation that would have blocked state prisons from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
While he has been a vocal supporter of Joe Biden during the 2024 election cycle, speculation about his own presidential ambitions in 2028 continues to swirl.
Some Democrats see him as a more electable alternative to Vice President Kamala Harris, whose approval ratings remain abysmal.
Perhaps the most surprising moment in the podcast came when Newsom outright asked Kirk for advice on how Democrats can compete with conservatives.
“What do you do? Seriously, Charlie Kirk, give us some advice.”
Kirk, never one to hold back, told him bluntly, you guys need to ‘get better ideas.’ He also mocked the Democratic Party’s tendency to purge moderates while conservatives have been able to attract disaffected liberals.
“You guys kicked out like your best people. We’re the ones that have Democrats in our cabinet, winning the electoral majority vote… look at that ideological diversity. You could say diversity is our strength.”
Newsom even praised a Trump campaign ad that took a shot at Kamala Harris, calling it “brutal” and “a great ad.”
He admitted that Democrats were struggling against the right’s messaging machine, saying, “We are losing,” and lamenting the impact of conservative media figures like Elon Musk and Kirk himself.
“How the hell do we compete? We’re toast.”
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Newsom’s podcast debut and his willingness to engage with Kirk could be an attempt to position himself as a more moderate Democrat ahead of a potential 2028 run.
But at the end of the day, his track record of extreme leftist policies speaks for itself. No matter how much he acknowledges the realities of fairness in sports or praises conservative strategy, he remains one of the most radical governors in America.
One thing is clear—conservatives are winning the cultural debate, and even Democrats like Newsom are starting to take notice.
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It has been law in California to allow men and women sports since 2013 when Jerry Brown signed the bill.
Seems he wasn’t too concerned about it for 12 years what changed other than Polling and election time
Whenever Gov Newsom is on view, I am reminded of a story. A woman friend told me some years ago about going to a townhall with her daughter, then age 13. The meeting featured one of our elected officials, who of course took questions, townhall-style. After the meeting the mom asked her daughter for her impressions. “It was like trying to stab a worm with a fork, a lot of wiggling and avoiding. I didn’t hear one real answer.” Smart girl.
As I grow older and more cynical, I find myself quoting more often the king of the cynics, H.L. Mencken. He observed, “If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.”