California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently discussed the issue of transgender athletes participating in women's sports with conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on his new podcast. 

The Details: In Newsom's debut episode of This is Gavin Newsom, he deemed it “deeply unfair,” for transgender women to compete in women's sports, a stance that diverges from the typical Democratic perspective. He added, “There's also a humility and a grace… I saw how [Republicans] were able to weaponize that issue at another level… And the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well. So, both things I can hold in my hand.” Newsom is known for his support of LGBTQ+ rights and signed a law banning schools from notifying parents about their children's gender identity. 

How the Media Covered It: Across the political spectrum, outlets highlighted Newsom's break from the Democratic stance. Fox News (Right bias) and The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) also highlighted the backlash Newsom has received for his comments. NBC (Lean Left) underlined that Newsom's comments were made during a conversation with Kirk, who opposes same-sex marriage and has spoken out against what he terms the “LGBTQ agenda.” HuffPost (Left) and Daily Kos (Left) both focused on Newsom's agreement with Kirk. HuffPost highlighted Newsom's previous support for LGBTQ+ rights and contrasted this with his recent comments. Daily Kos emphasized the surprising nature of Newsom seeking advice from Kirk given their political differences. The New York Post (Lean Right) noted that Newsom did not correct Kirk when he referred to trans girls and women as “young men.” An editor revised and published this summary with the help of AllSides AI.