Dashboard/Gavin Newsom/CNN State of the Union interview with Dana Bash: his memoir and 2028

Interview · 22 Feb 2026

CNN State of the Union interview with Dana Bash: his memoir and 2028

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

Broadcaster's transcript: CNN: State of the Union transcript. Retrieved 7 Oct 2026.

Mostly straight talkProvisional

271 sentences · 18 checked claims · 18 questions

Answers questions

83%

18 questions rated. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.

Answered 13Partly answered 4Declined openly 0Dodged 1

BASH

... who had to work three jobs to keep things afloat.

AnsweredInvited to talk about his mother working three jobs. Describes his father leaving and his mother raising the children alone.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

Yes. I mean, you talk about that grit. You talk about your mom giving you that grit and your dad teaching you other things like the love of the outdoors and poetry. But it really is striking to me how distant you describe -- and you're really detailed and pretty raw about how distant you felt from both of your parents, especially your mom. You call her impenetrable to you.

AnsweredAsked about how distant he felt from his parents. Describes his mother's voicemail, her illness and her death.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

"I kept holding onto her hand tighter and tighter and sobbing."

AnsweredRead a passage about his mother's death. Describes the day in detail and says he was angry with her.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

Why?

AnsweredAsked why he was angry. Says the death was not peaceful and that he never had the chance to thank her.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

There's -- there's a connection that you have to so much history and also key players in San Francisco and national politics, which is -- which is interesting, because, again, the book, you're trying to fill out who you are.

AnsweredTold the book tries to fill out who he is. Says he is more than a caricature and that the book is about agency and resilience.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

Are you trying to redefine and fill out or maybe even get the narrative set in a different way than it is now?

AnsweredAsked whether he is trying to reset the narrative before a run. Says he wishes it were that intentional, and describes dropping a pose.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

And she described you as a child with a disability, a scrambled brain who required a certain touch. Your parents' failure to even seek out the right professional help for you left you on an island all alone. "That's kind of abuse, abuse by omission."

AnsweredRead his aunt's view that his parents' failure to get help was abuse by omission. Defends his mother and describes his struggles at school.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

But you also say that dyslexia is kind of a superpower as a politician.

AnsweredAsked about calling dyslexia a superpower. Says it is the greatest thing that happened to him and explains why.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

But it's also your E.Q., being able to read...

AnsweredAsked about emotional intelligence. Agrees and describes how dyslexia shaped it.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

She was prosecutor, California DA, and senator. You were San Francisco mayor, lieutenant governor and governor. What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide? (LAUGHTER)

DodgedAsked what happens if his career and Harris's collide. Replies with a joke about living in different cities.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

I'm talking about running for president in 2028, the whole country.

Partly answeredAsked about running against Harris for president in 2028. Says fate will decide and he has never got in her way, without saying what he would do.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

The Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump's tariffs this week. He's already using different authorities to impose a 15 percent global tariff, vowing to forge ahead even without Congress. What do you do?

Partly answeredAsked what he does about Trump's new 15 percent global tariff. Calls it a farce, says California sued first and that the money should be refunded, without saying what he will do about the new tariff.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

How?

AnsweredAsked how refunds would work. Says it can be done electronically through tariff codes, then moves to the wider economy.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

I do want to, while we're on the economy, ask about affordability, because, yes, people are struggling all across the country. California has the highest cost of living in the nation. The state's prices are 11 percent higher than the national average. We were actually out to dinner here in Nashville last night. We met a couple from California. They moved out of California because they couldn't afford the rent or even to buy a home and also start a family.

Partly answeredGiven California's high cost of living and a couple who left over rent. Says people are moving in and the economy has grown, without addressing the cost of living.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

But people are struggling to afford things, like your mom was.

AnsweredTold people are struggling to afford things. Lists state measures on insulin, health care, childcare, wages and housing.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

Last question. What are the metrics that will determine whether you run for president?

Partly answeredAsked what metrics will decide whether he runs. Names his family, without giving other measures.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

Do they want you to run?

AnsweredAsked whether his children want him to run. Says he does not know, it depends on the day, and recounts his son's text.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

BASH

And then, going back to the book, your mother didn't want you to even get this far in politics.

AnsweredTold his mother did not want him in politics. Says any decision will be made as a family.Our model rated this Not yet reviewed by a person

14 further exchange(s) not rated: procedural or ceremonial questions (a tribute, thanks or condolence that asks for nothing), or questions the speaker did not take.