Newsom compares Bannon and Sanders' economic messages

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently compared the economic views of Steve Bannon, a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, to those of Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist senator. This unexpected comparison followed criticism of Newsom for having Bannon as a guest on his podcast. Many did not agree with Newsom’s choice, viewing it as a mistake to give a platform to someone known for spreading false claims about the 2020 election. During a podcast interview with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Newsom discussed the motivations behind the MAGA movement. He did not want to label it solely as “racism and misogyny.” Instead, he emphasized the importance of understanding what drives these beliefs. When Walz suggested these motivations were simply harmful prejudices, Newsom argued that the situation is more complex. He shared that when talking to Bannon, he was reminded of his grandfather discussing working-class issues. While noting Bannon’s election denialism and past actions on January 6, Newsom stressed that some of Bannon's economic messages echoed those of Bernie Sanders and earlier Democratic perspectives. He pointed out that Bannon is critical of wealth concentration, suggesting a shared concern for the middle class. Despite this comparison, Bannon has distanced himself from Sanders, praising other economic populist figures instead. Recently, he faced backlash for reportedly giving a Nazi salute at a conservative event, which he later explained was just a gesture.