It was the kind of moment political insiders dread — and cable news junkies live for. Charlie Kirk and Tyrus, two of the most outspoken voices in conservative media, didn’t just criticize Gavin Newsom’s leadership — they tore it apart, piece by piece, in front of a live audience. What emerged was a devastating portrait of California’s governor as a man more concerned with his reflection than with the citizens he serves.
Their central claim? Gavin Newsom is the political world’s equivalent of a social media influencer — all filters, no substance. Behind the perfect hair and rehearsed charm, they argue, lies a record of broken promises, misplaced priorities, and a growing disconnect from the real-life struggles of Californians.
From Declining Approval to Public Disillusionment
They point to his plummeting approval ratings since the launch of his personal podcast — a project critics see as vanity over duty. To Kirk and Tyrus, it’s a symbol of Newsom’s governing style: spotlight over solutions, branding over results.
The conversation digs deep into California’s core problems — economic instability, public safety breakdowns, and a homelessness crisis that shows no sign of improving. The contrast they paint is stark: an image-obsessed governor presiding over a state that’s slipping further into decline.
Hypocrisy and Image-Driven Politics
The two didn’t shy away from calling out what they see as hypocrisy. While Newsom preaches progressive values, they say his policies fail to match his rhetoric, and the gap between his public persona and his actual results is widening. Tyrus even uses biting humor to underscore the absurdity of Newsom’s rosy claims about California’s prosperity, comparing them to the daily grind of single mothers and working-class families struggling under the weight of rising costs.
Politics as Performance
The critique goes beyond policy — it’s about the very culture of California politics. They accuse Newsom of turning crises into cinematic backdrops for his political brand, focusing on catching the right shot instead of finding real solutions. His style, they argue, is less about leadership and more about maintaining an aesthetic — “Instagram politics” dressed up as governance.
The Exodus and the Mindset
One of the most cutting observations comes when they discuss California’s population loss. For Kirk and Tyrus, it’s not just about people leaving for lower taxes or cheaper housing — it’s about escaping a mindset. They say residents are fleeing a state where leadership has been reduced to soundbites and photo ops, while crime, infrastructure decay, and economic decline worsen.
The Larger Warning
By the end, the conversation lands on a broader warning: Gavin Newsom’s leadership style — all appearance, little accountability — isn’t just a California problem. It’s a symptom of a political culture spreading across the country, where performance replaces policy and leaders are judged by their media presence instead of measurable results.
