Gavin Newsom recently launched a podcast, and in its first episode, he voiced opposition to trans women’s participation in women’s sports—a topic often weaponized to justify policies that harm all women athletes.
Why is he doing this?
Newsom’s approach suggests he is managing, not leading, adjusting his platform based on focus groups rather than standing firm on principle. Some data now suggests that defending certain trans rights is politically “tough” on the national stage. But instead of working to change hearts and minds, Newsom signals compromise. It’s the safer route—for him. But will this be the last ground he surrenders? As the far right aggressively shapes public narratives and redefines the political “normal,” will leaders like Newsom continue conceding, step by step?
What does true leadership look like?
I recently watched a powerful moment in the Montana State House. I saw Republican lawmakers crossing the aisle to vote down two anti-trans bills. One bill sought to criminalize drag performances based on vague, arbitrarily enforced definitions. The other aimed to strip custody from trans parents. The first lawmaker to speak against the drag ban was Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who was barred from the House floor in 2023 after fiercely opposing trans healthcare bans. Zooey reflected on the recent successes:
Rep. Zooey Zephyr and Rep. SJ Howell show us what leadership looks like, not in headlines, but in deep, persistent engagement. They remind us that what seems politically “tough” is often just a failure of courage. People change when they feel heard. Conversations—not polls, not clickbait—change minds. So, how can we all start leading like Zooey and Howell?
A lesson in bridge-building comes from native organizers fighting a pipeline in Nebraska and the Dakotas. They found unexpected allies in conservative landowners through shared distrust of eminent domain. Together, they stopped the pipeline—and, in the process, built grassroots support for native rights among AM radio-listening, Fox News-watching landowners.
The lesson? Connections open possibilities. Arguing doesn’t. We will always share democracy with people whose values differ from ours. If we don’t engage with them, we remain divided—and easily controlled. We must listen, identify shared priorities, and shape our message accordingly.
So, what do Americans agree on?
A brilliant pollster recently laid it out:
•The cost of living is crushing people.
•Americans want healthcare and housing reform.
•They want big money out of politics.
Messaging that speaks to these urgent concerns—clearly, concretely, and with immediate action—cuts through the noise. People respond when they feel genuinely heard. And right now, most Americans want radical change. We’ve seen that they will rally behind anyone who promises it, no matter how reckless their pitch. Our challenge is persuading them to trust our vision over the far right’s in the years ahead.
So how do we rebuild that trust?
We start now. Not just during election cycles. Not just online. In person, in communities. We organize at the grassroots level, recruit precinct organizers and block captains, and create networks of volunteers who connect people to real services.
We don’t have to wait for election years to build momentum. We can generate grassroots support for legislation that addresses the struggles most Americans face: healthcare reform, cost-of-living relief, and getting big money out of politics. If we do the work now, we can earn the trust needed to elect leaders who will champion real change, not just talk about it.
The far right is dismantling institutions, but the future belongs to those who build.
Thank you for your time, your passion, and your power. I’m here because I’m more afraid than I’ve ever been—but I’ve also never felt more alive. Anything feels possible. If you’re in HD8 and want to knock doors with me, reach out. I’m a new, energized Denver Democrat who still believes in a better America. Especially now.
Call me "Hun" (she/they)
Co-Captain, HD8A
Co-Captain, Communications Team, DPOD
