• California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to shield his state from retaliatory tariffs.
• Many countries are considering what to do in response to President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day."
• Newsom's actions reignite the long-running feud between the nation's most populous state and Trump.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said he will seek to talk to world leaders about why they should exempt his state from retaliatory actions to President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs.

"TO OUR TRADING PARTNERS AROUND THE GLOBE — California is here and ready to talk," Newsom wrote on X. "We will not sit idly by during Trump's tariff war."

In a video accompanying his message, Newsom said, "Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans."

"Today, I have directed my administration to look a new opportunities to expand trade and to remind our trading partners around the global that California remains a stable partner," Newsom said.

Trump roiled markets on Wednesday when he announced sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" for a long list of nations, including the European Union, South Korea, Japan, and India. China was hit particularly hard because Trump's latest round of tariffs was combined with existing ones, bringing the total on Chinese goods to 54%. Stocks continued to crater on Friday, with the Dow down roughly 4% as of the afternoon.

It's California v. Trump, again

Newsom's comments reignite the long-running feud between the nation's most populous state and Trump. The White House wasted little time firing back.

"Gavin Newsom should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in California instead of trying his hand at international dealmaking," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.

A potential 2028 challenger, Newsom is also coming close to, if not outright crossing, the legal line between federal and state power.

Trump's first administration sued California after then-Gov. Jerry Brown brokered a climate change agreement with the Canadian province of Québec after Trump announced his intention to pull the US out of the Paris Climate Accord. California won at the lower-court level, but the dispute was never fully resolved when President Joe Biden's Justice Department dropped the case in April 2021.

Newsom is on dicey legal grounds

Presidents have sweeping tariff powers, but the actual line between what states can do with foreign countries is a little hazy.

The Constitution requires states to obtain congressional approval "to enter into any Agreement or Compact" with a foreign country. Yet, many states have ignored that for decades, and lawmakers haven't seemed to mind.

As Curtis A. Bradley, a law professor at the University of Chicago, wrote in 2023, the federal government has sometimes encouraged states to strike their deals.

"In practice, U.S. states almost never seek congressional approval for their agreements with foreign governments, and the number of unapproved agreements has been growing substantially in recent years," Bradley wrote.

Many states send trade delegations overseas. In the past, some have also sought to restrict business with specific countries, most notably during the anti-Apartheid movement against South Africa in the 1980s.

In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Massachusetts could not on its own prohibit its government agencies from conducting business with Burma since Congress had already passed sanctions on Myanmar.

Congress has the ultimate power to check Trump's tariffs, but Republicans have proved reluctant to do so. On Wednesday, the Senate voted to block Trump's tariffs on Canada, though that bill is not expected to pass the Republican-controlled House.

EXCLUSIVE: California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans Friday morning directing the state to pursue "strategic" relationships with countries announcing retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., urging them to exclude California-made products from those taxes, Fox News Digital exclusively learned first.

"Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans," Newsom said in a video announcement posted to X. "And on behalf of 40 million Americans that live in the great state of California, the tentpole of the U.S. economy … the dominant manufacturing state in America, our state of mind is around supporting stable trading relationships around the globe."

Sources in Newsom's administration told Fox News Digital on Thursday night the announcement was a direct response to President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff plan, which sets out a baseline duty of 10% on all imports to the U.S. and some higher percentages for other top traders. 

HERE’S A CLOSER LOOK AT TRUMP’S TARIFF PLAN: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DUTIES

Newsom added he's directed his administration to seek out new opportunities to "expand trade" and "remind trading partners around the world that California remains a stable partner."

The Newsom administration is worried that California's almond industry, a major agricultural exporter, will lose billions of dollars as nations like China, India and the European Union move to impose retaliatory tariffs.

"Gavin Newsom should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in California instead of trying his hand at international dealmaking," White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Fox News Digital on Friday morning.

Individual states do not have the legal authority to independently negotiate or make global trading deals regarding tariffs, according to the Constiution. Trade policy, including tariffs, is a power reserved for the federal government. Specifically, the Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations in Article 1 Section 8, and this includes the power to impose tariffs and negotiate trade agreements.

Almonds, California's most valuable food export, account for about 20% of the state's $23.6 billion in agricultural sales abroad and 2.5% of its total exports, according to the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The state produces 80% of the world's supply and exports the majority of its almond crop. Other top agricultural exports include dairy products, pistachios, wine and walnuts.

PENCE GROUP LASHES OUT AT TRUMP TARIFFS AHEAD OF 'LIBERATION DAY' EVENT: 'TAX ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS'

California boasts of being the fifth-largest economy in the world, a vital engine for much of U.S. economic growth, with a gross domestic product of $3.9 trillion — 50% larger than Texas, the nation's second-largest state. The Golden State is the largest importer and second-largest exporter among U.S. states, with more than $675 billion in two-way trade supporting millions of jobs, state officials said.

Trade with Mexico, Canada and China are also key partners for California, as nearly half of the state's imports come from these countries, totaling $203 billion of the more than $491 billion in goods imported by California last year. 

A Newsom official said the new Trump tariffs also will affect access to critical supplies, like construction materials, needed to rebuild after the Los Angeles wildfires. The U.S. currently imposes a duty of over 14% on Canadian lumber, with the rate potentially rising to nearly 27% in 2025. 

TRUMP TOUTS RETURN OF ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ IN HISTORIC TARIFF ANNOUNCEMENT 

State officials charged the retaliatory tariffs will cause "major disruptions" to cross-border supply chains in the California-Baja region, arguing that if component goods are taxed each time they cross the border, the final price of the finished product will increase and be passed onto Californians.

"The markets are going to boom," Trump said Thursday leaving the White House. "The stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom, and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal."

"This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history. It's our declaration of economic independence. For years, hardworking American citizens were forced to sit on the sidelines as other nations got rich and powerful, much of it at our expense," Trump said. "But now it's our turn to prosper, and in so doing, use trillions and trillions of dollars to reduce our taxes and pay down our national debt, and it'll all happen very quickly."

Republican California Assemblyman Bill Essayli is pledging to "dismantle" his state's status as a popular sanctuary for illegal immigrants after President Donald Trump tapped him this week to head up a team of prosecutors for the nation's largest federal district court by population.

"I'm excited to get to work and to implement their vision and their mission for the Department of Justice," Essayli told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. "I think the first order of business is reassuring people and reinstilling trust into the Justice Department. I think for the last few years, it's been weaponized, has been politicized, and the President's made it clear that we're going to restore trust into our law enforcement agencies and into the Department of Justice."

Essayli, a lightning rod in California legislative politics who frequently spars with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, said his commitment is to "restore law and order" in his new post as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. "We're going to get back to work," he said. "We're going to go after these transnational organizations, which the president designated as terrorist organizations."

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"We're going to go after criminal illegal immigration," Essayli continued. 

Setting himself up for a potential showdown in the coming months with Newsom, who "Trump-proofed" the state with a $50 million legal fund to protect illegal immigrants in the state, Essayli vowed to "dismantle the sanctuary state status that they've enjoyed here in California."

Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Newsom's office, told Fox News Digital in a previous statement that "none of this funding will be used to support immigration-related services for criminals. Period."

Additionally, Essayli said as U.S. attorney, his office will tackle public corruption, noting, "I don't think we've had robust public corruption cases and investigations. It's long overdue."

When asked if Newsom had reached out to him since his appointment, Essayli laughed.

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

"No," he said. "We don't talk."

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Essayli has gone head-to-head with Newsom's administration throughout his Republican career in the state, criticizing the state over its handling of wildfire management, public safety, reparations and, most notably, parental rights in schools. It was not uncommon in the last several years to see Essayli at school board meetings voicing his opposition to policies that prohibited parental notification of their child's gender identity.

When asked how he would go about removing sanctuary state protections for illegal immigrants, Essayli responded he will be working "hand in hand" with the Trump Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi. 

"We're gonna put a plan together," he said. "That's not something I'm obviously prepared to discuss or signal at this point, but I assure you that something will be done, and when we do, it will be very well known in public."

MAINE UNIVERSITIES AGREE TO KEEP TRANSGENDER ATHLETES OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS AFTER TRUMP ADMIN PAUSES FUNDING

Just hours before his appointment to be the next top federal prosecutor in the district that includes Los Angeles County, Essayli introduced Assembly Bill 844, which sought to reverse California's existing law that allows biological males to participate in girls' and women's sports teams corresponding to their gender identity. But the Assembly's Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism rejected AB 844 along party lines on Tuesday.

Essayli called the tolerance of trans girls in girls' sports "not just bad policy, it’s also a flagrant violation of Title IX and puts California schools at risk of losing billions in federal funding," during the committee hearing. "I believe California will come into compliance with Title IX, either through this legislative process or the court process."

He resigned from his post as assemblyman that evening to accept the federal position. 

In a news release, the U.S. attorney's office said Essayli, born to two Lebanese immigrants, was sworn into the country's largest attorney’s office outside of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. The office, with over 250 lawyers on staff, serves roughly 20 million residents across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Essayli previously founded the law firm Essayli & Brown LLP in 2019 and worked as a federal prosecutor from 2014 to 2018 in the Los Angeles and Riverside offices. During his time as an assistant U.S. attorney, Essayli handled high-profile cases, including the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack and a significant opioid prescription case. Prior to his federal role, he was a deputy district attorney in Riverside County and worked as an associate attorney at Paul Hastings LLP.

Essayli's nomination to U.S. attorney requires Senate confirmation, but the president has the authority to appoint someone to the position on an interim basis before Senate confirmation.

Xavier Becerra, who served as Department of Health and Human Services secretary throughout most of former President Joe Biden's White House tenure, has announced a California gubernatorial bid.

"From housing to healthcare, childcare to college, working families are facing an affordability crisis. The California Dream is slipping away. I’m running for Governor to fight for that dream, to build a stronger, affordable California for everyone, and to take on bullies who get in our way," Becerra noted, according to his campaign website.

"We need a leader who will reward hard work, innovation, and endurance again. We need a leader who has rolled up his sleeves as a construction worker, an executive, and a lawmaker. I’m that leader, and as Governor I’ll be ready to build a California that’s rising again," he asserted.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS GRILL HHS SECRETARY BECERRA OVER MIGRANT CHILDREN: ‘WOULD NOT WANT TO BE YOU’

Prior to helming HHS, Becerra served as the Golden State's attorney general, and before that he spent more than two decades serving as a lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Becerra joins the field of candidates vying to replace current California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is currently serving his second term and is not eligible to run again since the state's constitution stipulates, "No Governor may serve more than 2 terms."

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and California's current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis are some of the other candidates jockeying for the job.

Politico reported that at a pre-Oscars party, Harris was asked by someone when she would decide about a gubernatorial bid. Her answer was the end of the summer, according to two people with knowledge of the talk, the outlet reported.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has told allies that she will decide by the end of the summer whether to mount a bid for the role, a source in her political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

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Harris is mulling whether to seek the governorship next year, the presidency in 2028, or a position outside elected office, according to an individual with knowledge of her deliberations, the New York Times reported.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

FIRST ON FOX: Republican lawmakers are pushing to stop states from imposing excise taxes on gun and ammunition sales, a condemnation of a measure California enforced in 2024. 

In 2023, California became the first state to adopt a measure imposing an excise tax targeting the gun industry. The legislation sets an 11% excise tax on guns and ammunition sales and directs the revenue toward gun relinquishment programs and other gun control initiatives. 

Colorado is also poised to impose a 6.5% excise tax on similar purchases in April. Other states like Maryland, New York and Massachusetts are considering similar pieces of legislation. 

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But these initiatives amount to unconstitutional tax that undermines the Second Amendment, according to Republican lawmakers.

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who introduced the Freedom of Unfair Gun Taxes Act to their respective chambers of Congress Thursday, are seeking to bar states from adopting these measures. 

"Blue states that implement an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives are exploiting the Second Amendment," Risch said Thursday in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act ensures states do not place a significant financial burden on law-abiding gun owners to advance their anti-Second Amendment agenda."

Issa said states like California historically have introduced "extreme" policies targeting gun owners that jeopardize their Second Amendment rights. 

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS BIDEN ADMIN ‘GHOST GUN’ REGULATION

"The latest attack is California’s imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition," Issa said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

Specifically, Issa claimed California’s new law, which requires gun sellers to foot the bill for the excise tax, is an "outrageous and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens." 

Excise taxes target specific goods or services for manufacturers, consumers or retailers. California's new excise tax is coupled with the 10% to 11% federal excise tax gun dealers already pay that goes toward wildlife conservation efforts. 

California Assembly member Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat representing the San Fernando Valley, spearheaded legislation known as the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act in 2023 to impose the excise tax to raise revenue to support programs, including the California Violence Intervention and Prevention program. 

The law also allocates revenue from the excise tax toward a court-based gun relinquishment program that revokes gun ownership from domestic abusers and convicted criminals and law enforcement initiatives focused on gun investigations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on the law in September 2023, and it took effect in July. 

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"It’s shameful that gun manufacturers are reaping record profits at the same time that gun violence has become the leading cause of death for kids in the United States," Gabriel said in a statement in July. "This law will generate $160 million annually to fund critical violence prevention and school safety programs that will save lives and protect communities across the State of California."

Co-sponsors of the Senate’s version of the Freedom of Unfair Gun Taxes Act include Republican senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Jim Justice of West Virginia and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska.  

Republican representatives Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Doug LaMalfa of California also co-sponsored the House’s version of the measure. 

The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation of the California Department of Education over alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) after a new California law went into effect that bars schools from disclosing a child's "gender identity" to their parents. 

FERPA ensures parents have the right to access their children's educational information, and the Trump administration says that includes interactions with school employees pertaining to gender identity and mental health.

"Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 

"It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s well-being from parents and guardians."

MAINE UNIVERSITIES AGREE TO KEEP TRANSGENDER ATHLETES OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS AFTER TRUMP ADMIN PAUSES FUNDING

California Gov. Gavin Newsom spokesperson Elana Ross told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday that "Parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student's education records, as required by federal law."

"If the U.S. Department of Education still had staff, this would be a quick investigation — all they would need to do is read the law the Governor signed," Ross said.

Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1955 into law last year, which prohibits school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools from adopting or enforcing policies that require employees or contractors to disclose information related to a student's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression without the student's consent, unless otherwise mandated by law.

Newsom's office argues the bill strengthens California's existing protections against "forced outings" of students in schools and ensures that teachers and staff do not interfere with parent-child relationships. The administration previously sued the Chino Valley Unified School District in August 2023 concerning its policy that mandates parental notification when a student changes gender identification or pronouns.

On Thursday, McMahon separately sent a warning to Newsom to comply with federal law barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The warning and investigation comes after California made itself the first "sanctuary" state in the nation for transgender minors and has engaged in a multiyear battle with local school districts over their notification policies. 

"Allowing participation in sex-separated activities based on 'gender identity' places schools at risk of Title IX violations and loss of federal funding. As Governor, you have a duty to inform California school districts of this risk," McMahon wrote in the letter.

"As Secretary of Education, I am officially asking you to inform this Department whether you will remind schools in California to comply with federal law by protecting sex-separated spaces and activities. I am also officially asking you to publicly assure parents that California teachers will not facilitate the fantasy of ‘gender transitions’ for their children."

JASMINE CROCKETT DISMISSES AMERICANS IMPACTED BY TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' SPORTS

In a viral clip of a nearly-hour-and-a-half-long episode earlier this month, Newsom conceded to Truning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk that it is "deeply unfair" to have biological males compete against female athletes. However, he would not condemn a trans athlete in his own state who crushed female track competitors in the long jump.

Kirk shared the letter on X and praised the secretary for "holding [Newsom] and the state of California accountable."

TPUSA contributor Riley Gaines, who famously competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, praised McMahon for issuing the warning. Gaines challenged Newsom to take action saying, "Time to put your money where your mouth is."

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

On Feb. 5, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring trans athletes from competing in women’s sports.

"In recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports. This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports," the order reads.

This followed an executive order that Trump signed on his first day in office, which made it federal policy that the government only recognizes two genders. This was a major shift from the Biden administration, which was open about its pro-trans stance, and even had former President Joe Biden sit down for an interview with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation of the California Department of Education over alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA ensures parents have the right to access their children's educational data. The Education Department believes a California law prohibiting schools from requiring personnel to disclose a child's gender identity to a parent could violate the act.

"Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. "It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s well-being from parents and guardians."

On Thursday, McMahon allegedly sent a warning to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to comply with federal law barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The warning seemed to stem from the governor’s comments in the debut episode of his podcast in which he interviewed Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk. 

MAINE UNIVERSITIES AGREE TO KEEP TRANSGENDER ATHLETES OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS AFTER TRUMP ADMIN PAUSES FUNDING

In a viral clip of the nearly-hour-and-a-half-long episode, Newsom concedes to Kirk that it is "deeply unfair" to have biological males compete against female athletes. However, he would not condemn a trans athlete in his own state who crushed female track competitors in the long jump.

"Allowing participation in sex-separated activities based on 'gender identity' places schools at risk of Title IX violations and loss of federal funding. As Governor, you have a duty to inform California school districts of this risk," McMahon wrote in the warning.

"As Secretary of Education, I am officially asking you to inform this Department whether you will remind schools in California to comply with federal law by protecting sex-separated spaces and activities. I am also officially asking you to publicly assure parents that California teachers will not facilitate the fantasy of ‘gender transitions’ for their children."

JASMINE CROCKETT DISMISSES AMERICANS IMPACTED BY TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' SPORTS

Kirk shared the letter on X and praised the secretary for "holding [Newsom] and the state of California accountable."

TPUSA contributor Riley Gaines, who famously competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, praised McMahon for issuing the warning. Gaines challenged Newsom to take action saying, "Time to put your money where your mouth is."

On Feb. 5, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring trans athletes from competing in women’s sports.

"In recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports. This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports," the order reads.

This followed an executive order that Trump signed on his first day in office, which made it federal policy that the government only recognizes two genders. This was a major shift from the Biden administration, which was open about its pro-trans stance, and even had former President Joe Biden sit down for an interview with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Nicole Shanahan, Silicon Valley philanthropist and Robert F. Kennedy's running mate during his 2024 presidential race, has ruled out a gubernatorial run in California for the 2026 election to replace the termed-out liberal Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Shannahan made the announcement Friday on Steve Hilton's podcast when asked about her priorities in the Golden State.

"My priorities are and, you know, Steve, I'm just gonna share with you now; I'm giving you the exclusive. I'm not running for governor in 2026," Shanahan told Hilton, a Fox News contributor.

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"I believe that my job in 2026 is to get people to break out of their political orthodoxy, to think about what is really in the best interest of California," she said. "I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican, I am an independent, and I'm here to support the revival of California."

She continued, saying "now is the time for people to step up" and that she will be "watching closely" and "supporting" individuals who "continue to be brave enough to stand up against harmful political ideology to do what is right for the people."

Shanahan has been involved in several political efforts in California, including being a major donor in the effort to recall Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

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As Kennedy faced high-stakes congressional confirmation hearings to lead the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, Shanahan singled out several senators, warning that she would financially support primary challengers if they voted against his confirmation as secretary.

"Dear U.S. Senators, Bobby may play nice; I won’t," she wrote in a post on X.

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Several candidates have announced their intentions to run for governor of California in the 2026 election, while others are still considering their options.

Katie Porter, the former liberal congresswoman, has launched her bid, focusing on advocating for working families and opposing former President Trump's policies. Eleni Kounalakis, California’s lieutenant governor, has officially entered the race, seeking to continue Newsom's policies.

Other candidates include Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff who is running on the Republican ticket. Bianco’s platform centerson law enforcement issues and border security.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also rumored to be considering a 2026 run, and her decision could have a major impact on the race, particularly among Democratic voters.

EXCLUSIVE: A Medicaid and Medicare fraud crackdown is anticipated with a bipartisan congressional proposal to check Social Security Administration death records.

The legislation, dubbed the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, would mandate state governments to see if the Social Security Death Master Files show physicians who are still considered part of the government programs meant for seniors and low-income Americans. The check is meant to ensure that the doctor’s National Provider Identifier will not be used by bad actors to commit fraud.  

"We must eliminate and be proactive against fraud within Medicaid and Medicare to protect the programs for those who truly need it. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act to advocate for access to quality health care for Americans who rely on these programs." Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., who is running the bill with Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

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Legislation under the same name was introduced by former Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., and Peters last year. The bill passed the House and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, but no further action was taken after that point.  

"Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid hurts the rightful beneficiaries of those programs and all taxpayers," Peters said in a statement at the time. 

"Our bipartisan bill will prevent one of the most egregious forms of fraud in our healthcare system. As we work to put our country on a better fiscal path and tackle our enormous debt, we must do everything we can to stop taxpayer dollars from being misspent," the congressman added.

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The legislation’s introduction comes as there is heightened scrutiny on the program at both the state and federal levels. In Evans’ home state of Colorado, $7.3 million was given to insurance companies to care for deceased Medicaid recipients, The Denver Post reported.

Meanwhile, California is facing scrutiny for a $9.5 billion price tag for its Medicaid affiliate, Medi-Cal, despite originally only expecting it to cost $6 billion.

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While California Gov. Gavin Newsom did say that illegal immigrants now being able to enroll in the program is part of the issue, he argued that the Golden State is like Colorado, Pennsylvania and Indiana when it comes to higher costs for operating the program across the board.

In fiscal year 2024, there were $54.3 billion in "improper payments" for Medicare and $31.1 billion for Medicaid, according to the Government Accountability Office. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly looked into government healthcare program spending. 

President Donald Trump offered up some advice for former Vice President Kamala Harris if she decides to make a run for governor of California.

"One thing she's gotta do, she's gotta start doing interviews," Trump said during an interview with OutKick's Clay Travis aboard Air Force One. "You can't get away with both of them, during COVID he did no interviews, and he got away with it because of COVID," Trump added, referencing former President Joe Biden.

The comments come as Harris is "seriously considering" a run for governor of California, according to a report from CBS News, with a person close to the former vice president's decision-making process telling the outlet that Harris would likely make the decision by the end of summer.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who many consider to be a presidential contender in 2028, is term limited from running again in 2026, opening the door to what is expected to be a large field of potential Democratic candidates to seek the highest office in the dependably progressive state.

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One former Harris advisor told CBS News that the former vice president would be a "great" fit for the job, noting her experience at both the national and state level.

"On a national level, what Newsom has been able to do with that job, there is a lot of upside with what she can do as the governor of the fifth-largest economy with her name ID, when our party is looking for national leadership and California looking for good governance – especially at a time when California is going through a lot," the former advisor said.

But Harris also faces questions over how she handled her bid for president, which included accusations that she consistently shied away from doing interviews.

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE

After Biden dropped out of the race and immediately endorsed Harris, the vice president went 39 days without sitting down for an interview before appearing in one with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on Aug. 29.

As accusations continued to fly that Harris was dodging interviews, she picked up the pace of her appearances with both national and local outlets, but then faced accusations of dodging difficult questions.

Perhaps most damning was a reported potential interview with influential podcaster Joe Rogan that fell through, with Rogan suggesting that the Harris team put conditions on questions the host could ask the candidate.

Trump famously did appear on Rogan's podcast, an interview that eventually led to the podcaster endorsing Trump's bid for the White House.

President Donald Trump said former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, contributed to the Democrats' loss in the 2024 election. 

Trump’s comments came in response to statements Walz provided in a podcast with California Gov. Gavin Newsom that aired on Tuesday, in which Walz predicted he could kick the "a--" of most Trump supporters. 

"Well, he's a loser. Yeah. No, I think so. He lost an election," Trump said Friday in the Oval Office of the White House. "He played a part. You know, usually a vice president doesn't play a part. They say. I think Tim played a part. I think he was so bad that he hurt her. But she hurt herself. And Joe hurt them both. They didn't have a great group, but I would probably put him at the bottom of the group." 

A spokesperson for Walz did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

WWE LEGEND KANE, NOW A TENNESSEE MAYOR, CHALLENGES TIM WALZ TO CHARITY WRESTLING MATCH AFTER GOV'S BOLD CLAIMS 

Walz’s comments originated during a discussion with Newsom about toxic masculinity. While Newsom discussed why he has brought on conservative figures like Charlie Kirk on his podcast because he believes one shouldn’t write someone off for having different views, Walz questioned how to challenge Trump backers. 

"How do you fight it? I think I could kick most of their a--. I do think that," Walz said in response. "But I don’t know if we’re going to fall into that place where we want to— okay, we challenge you to a WWE fight here type thing."

Walz also told Newsom he believes "I scare them a little bit" and that he's received scrutiny from Republicans, prompting Newsom to laugh. 

"No, I’m serious, because they know I can fix a truck, they know I’m not bulls—-ing on this," Walz said. 

GAVIN NEWSOM ASKS CHARLIE KIRK TO GIVE HIS PARTY ‘ADVICE’ IN ONE-ON-ONE PODCAST INTERVIEW 

Meanwhile, Walz received some criticism for his comments on the podcast. 

Caitlyn Jenner, a trans woman formerly known as Bruce Jenner and former Olympic gold-medal decathlete, joked in an X post of being more "masculine" than Walz. 

Vice President JD Vance also addressed Walz’ comments in an interview with The Daily Caller’s Vince Coglianese that aired Thursday. 

"I have to say, Vince, I was never physically intimidated by Tim Walz," Vance said. 

Vance also addressed speculation that Walz may attempt to run for the U.S. Senate, following his bid as Harris’ running mate in the 2024 election.

"I’m not too worried about Tim Walz as a political talent," Vance said. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been sending out cellphones, funded by a closely-tied nonprofit, to CEOs of California companies with his personal number pre-programmed into them in an effort to "connect more directly with business leaders in the state."

"The feedback has been positive, and it’s led to valuable interactions," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

The state's public disclosure rules still apply, meaning both the nonprofit – which was formed in 2002 under former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration – and Newsom must still comply with the rules for making public records available upon request regarding correspondence on the phones. 

Newsom's office began sending out cell phones on a rolling basis in November to some of the state's top 100 companies. The phones are being funded by the California State Protocol Foundation – which functions similarly to presidential inaugural committees – which has three board members, two of whom are former Newsom staffers. 

TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE'S GOP: 'MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN'

The foundation is funded largely by businesses and private donations, according to reports, and has funded several previous governors on business trips at no cost to taxpayers. According to a Sacramento Bee report last May, the nonprofit funded Newsom's international trips, including visits to El Salvador in 2019 and to Israel and China in 2023. 

However, charity watchdog group Charity Navigator gives the foundation a poor rating, noting issues such as no website, a high liabilities-to-assets ratio, no financial statements and having no known whistleblower nor document retention and destruction policies on record.

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

The foundation's principal officer, Steve Kawa, is a seasoned Democratic strategist who previously worked in the governor’s office, serving as chief of staff when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Other board members include Jim DeBoo, who is also a Democratic strategist and served as former executive secretary to Newsom and Matina Kolokotronis, the chief operating officer for the Sacramento Kings NBA team. 

NEWSOM ASKS FOR NEARLY ANOTHER $3B FOR STATE HEALTH PROGRAM OVERWHELMED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The move to give companies a direct line to Newsom comes as the blue-state governor has come under fire in recent years for the state's high cost of doing business, with several high-profile companies such as Chevron, Oracle and Tesla moving their headquarters to more business-friendly red states like Texas. 

Attempts by Fox News Digital to reach the California State Protocol Foundation for comment were unsuccessful.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted that the high Medi-Cal spending, which is the state's version of the Medicaid program for low-income Golden Staters, is partly due to illegal immigrants being allowed to take part in the program, but that it’s part of a larger cost issue nationwide.

"That’s partial," Newsom said when asked by a KCRA reporter about the $9.5 billion price tag for the program, which the Newsom administration is having to ask for $6.2 billion in loans to help cover.

A $3.4 million loan was first requested last week, then another $2.8 million was asked for. He further told the local outlet that it was "something we previewed in the January budget."

CALIFORNIA EXPLOITING MEDICAID 'LOOPHOLE' TO PAY BILLIONS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS' HEALTHCARE, STUDY SAYS

"Yeah," he said when asked by the outlet if it would be the end of requests made by the state’s Executive Branch for more funding this fiscal year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

"With tough fiscal choices ahead, Governor Newsom, jointly with Pro Tem McGuire and Speaker Rivas, will evaluate proposals to rein in long-term spending — including in Medi-Cal — while working to protect the core health and social services Californians rely on," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement Tuesday to Fox News Digital.

Newsom and the governor’s office have argued that similar problems in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Indiana make the Golden State's situation less unique. 

TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE'S GOP: 'MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN'

Medi-Cal is the state's affiliate of Medicaid, which is a health insurance program for low-income residents in the Golden State. The program receives taxpayer dollars at both the state and federal levels. 

The $9.5 billion cost was a major increase to the $6 billion projected for the program. It has earned the criticism of numerous Republican lawmakers because of the ability to enroll when "immigration status doesn’t matter," according to the California Department of Health Care services. 

"That’s a staggering $6.2 billion over budget...and the costs keep climbing with no end in sight," California Senate Republican Minority Leader Brian Jones, said in a post on X on Monday. "Californians should not be forced to shoulder the burden of radical Democrats' reckless financial mismanagement."

"Even Jerry Brown refused to expand Medi-Cal to all illegal immigrants because he knew it was fiscally irresponsible and unsustainable," Jones added. "Now under Newsom, legal residents are paying the price both financially and in reduced access to healthcare. The public deserves answers: Why are the costs so much higher than what Newsom promised? What is Newsom’s plan to fix the financial disaster he created?"

NEWSOM ASKS FOR NEARLY ANOTHER $3B FOR STATE HEALTH PROGRAM OVERWHELMED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Of the 15 million people in the Medi-Cal program, an estimated 1.6 million are in the United States without proper documentation, according to the state.

Fox News' Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is requesting an additional $2.8 billion loan to address a bloated deficit in the state's Medicaid program, which has surpassed budget expectations largely due to coverage for illegal immigrants. 

The new request comes after the Democratic governor asked lawmakers last week for a $3.4 billion loan from the general fund to cover outstanding costs for Medi-Cal, one of the state's primary healthcare programs that takes both federal and state taxpayer dollars.

"With tough fiscal choices ahead, Governor Newsom, jointly with Pro Tem McGuire and Speaker Rivas, will evaluate proposals to rein in long-term spending — including in Medi-Cal — while working to protect the core health and social services Californians rely on," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital in a statement Tuesday. 

TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE'S GOP: 'MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN'

The additional $2.8 billion would keep the healthcare program afloat through June.

Newsom's office pushed back on the skyrocketing healthcare costs being solely due to illegal immigrants on the programs. Instead, they attribute the increases to higher overall enrollment for all populations and pharmaceutical costs. The administration also pointed to other states, Pennsylvania and Indiana, which are also facing budget shortfalls in their Medicaid programs.

However, Republicans in the legislature, who have been hounding against increased spending in the state for years, blame the state's policies as the culprit for the under-projection.

"That’s a staggering $6.2 billion over budget...and the costs keep climbing with no end in sight," California Senate Republican Minority Leader, Brian Jones, wrote in a post on X on Monday. "Californians should not be forced to shoulder the burden of radical Democrats' reckless financial mismanagement."

"Even Jerry Brown refused to expand Medi-Cal to all illegal immigrants because he knew it was fiscally irresponsible and unsustainable," Jones wrote. "Now under Newsom, legal residents are paying the price both financially and in reduced access to healthcare. The public deserves answers: Why are the costs so much higher than what Newsom promised? What is Newsom’s plan to fix the financial disaster he created?"

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

Last year, California expanded Medi-Cal to cover all low-income adults ages 26 through 49, regardless of immigration status, making it the first state to do so. Roughly 1.6 million illegal immigrants are enrolled in the state's healthcare program, according to state data, and 15 million California residents are enrolled.

"Both lawfully present and not lawfully present individuals can apply through Covered California to see if they are eligible for a health plan through Covered California or Medi-Cal," the state's healthcare marketplace, Covered California, says on its website. "There is no 'waiting period' or 'five-year bar.'"

The state initially estimated the program would cost just under $6 billion in FY 2024 to 2025. However, one year into the program, that budget has ballooned. In response, House Republicans recently advanced a proposal to cut $880 billion from a group of programs, mainly Medicaid, over the next 10 years. 

'NEEDS TO RESIGN': BLUE STATE BLASTED FOR ASKING FOR LOAN AMID SKYROCKETING IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE COSTS

Newsom's latest budget proposal projects that California will spend $8.4 billion to cover illegal immigrants in Medi-Cal for 2024-2025, followed by $7.4 billion in 2025-2026. During a budget hearing with legislators, Michelle Bass, director of the Department of Health Care Services – which manages Medi-Cal – the state significantly underestimated the number of illegal immigrant enrollees last year.

Bass said during the hearing the department had just one month of data on the new "unprecedented" policies before it had to make projections for the budget signed by Newsom, "and all happened at once."

California Republicans, energized by district gains made during the 2024 general election, selected their new party leader, Corrin Rankin, a former surrogate for President Donald Trump, over the weekend at the CAGOP annual convention in Sacramento. 

She is the first-ever Black woman to hold the position, and she's pro-MAGA.

"It’s time to end the Democrats’ one-party rule and make California great again," the new CAGOP chair said to delegates after her win on Sunday.

In an interview with Fox News Digital on Monday, Rankin said there is "an outcry for commonsense politicians in California" and that the party, which has noticeably been given new life by Trump, is strongly aligned with the president's national agenda. It's an uphill battle against the state's deep-blue Democrat trifecta, but it's one that Rankin has her eyes set on as she prepares to lead the party under a second Trump term.

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

"I've worked on every single one of his campaigns for the past 10 years, and I have a great relationship with the Trump administration, and I plan to continue that," Rankin said. "I want to welcome President Trump. We want to invite him to California. We would like to see him here as many times as we can."

In the 2024 general election, Trump flipped several California counties red that had supported former President Joe Biden in 2020. Those counties include Butte, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Merced, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Stanislaus.

"A lot of people are favoring his policies show that through the campaign, a lot of counties flipped from blue to red, and a lot of voters voted for the top of the ticket," said Rankin, who was the 2016 statewide coalition director for African Americans for Trump. "They voted for President Trump, and that goes across the aisle, people were voting for him."

NEWSOM CALLS BIOLOGICAL MEN IN WOMEN'S SPORTS 'DEEPLY UNFAIR' IN PODCAST WITH CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST

Rankin said there's an "underlying change" occurring in California, as the party is hopeful it can make the state less blue while more voters move to the center. The new GOP chair pointed to the newly elected mayor of San Francisco, Daniel Lurie, who is "a lot more moderate than the former mayor, London Breed," as an example of that change.

"I think that California is moving from the far left and more towards the center, and as the California Republicans, it's our job to make sure that we are offering solutions, that we're articulating our policies and our vision and how we want to represent our constituents," Rankin said.

The economy and public safety are going to be two major platform issues for the CAGOP moving forward, Rankin added. California has some of the highest state income and business taxes in the nation, and Republican lawmakers have doubled down in recent years, introducing bills to address affordability and the uptick in crime across the state's major cities. 

The Golden State will hold its gubernatorial election in November 2026, with the next governor replacing termed-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom. Rankin said the CAGOP has not favored any candidates yet and is waiting to see the full landscape of candidates who throw their hat in the race. 

NEWSOM SIGNS $50M 'TRUMP-PROOFING' LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

Regarding Trump's contentious relationship with Newsom, who signed a $50 million package bolstering the state's legal defense against potential threats from the administration, Rankin said the CAGOP's role will be contributing to the "ongoing conversation" between state and national politics. 

"We're going to make sure that our message is heard and that our message resonates with Californians and [Californians] know and understand the position of California Republicans," Rankin said. "And I think, at the end of the day, we take a look at Prop. 36 and how it passed overwhelmingly, and that was a Republican-led initiative to make sure that we are fighting back on these Newsom-led soft-on-crime policies; and Californians overwhelmingly voted with us, so we're going to take that same approach to every single issue."

The early moves in the next White House race, at least among the Democrats, have begun.

Pete Buttigieg on Thursday ruled out a run for an open Democrat-held Senate seat in his adopted home state of Michigan.

And the announcement by the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, who served four years as transportation secretary in former President Biden's administration, appears to clear the path for a potential 2028 White House bid by Buttigieg.

"While my own plans don’t include running for office in 2026, I remain intensely focused on consolidating, communicating and supporting a vision" that is an alternative to the "cruel chaos" of President Donald Trump's administration, Buttigieg said.

THESE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028

A source familiar with Buttigieg's thinking told Fox News the former transportation secretary is in a strong possible position to run for president in 2028 and that running for either senator or Michigan governor "in 2026 would have taken that off the table."

NEWSOM MAKES MAJOR HEADLINES IN INAUGURAL EDITION OF HIS NEW PODCAST

Across the country, term-limited California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has long been suspected of harboring national ambitions, is grabbing lots of attention and millions of YouTube hits, thanks to a new and high-profile podcast series.

The first two guests of the podcast were MAGA world superstars Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.

But that didn't sit well with two-term Gov. Andy Beshear, the Democrat in red state Kentucky who is also seen as a potential 2028 contender.

"I think that Gov. Newsom bringing on different voices is great," Beshear told reporters this past week. "We shouldn’t be afraid to talk and to debate just about anyone. But Steve Bannon espouses hatred and anger, and, even at some points, violence. And I don’t think we should give him oxygen on any platform — ever, anywhere."

Meanwhile, Democrat JB Pritzker, the billionaire two-term governor of blue state Illinois and one of his party's leaders in opposing President Donald Trump's second-term agenda, will head to New Hampshire next month to headline the state party's annual fundraising gala, sparking plenty of 2028 speculation.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR'S TRIP TO THIS KEY STATE SPARKING 2028 SPECULATION

Trips to New Hampshire, which, for over a century, has held the first primary in the race for the White House, are seen as an early indicator of a politician's interest in running for the presidency in the next election.

But there's more. 

There is plenty of focus on former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee last summer after he dropped out of the race amid mounting questions over his physical and mental stamina. 

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION

Harris, who lost November's White House race to Trump, is considering a 2026 bid to succeed Newsom in her home state of California. But a run for governor in 2026 would likely derail a 2028 White House bid.

A source in the former vice president's political orbit recently confirmed to Fox News Digital that Harris has told allies she will decide by the end of the summer whether to launch a gubernatorial campaign. 

And Harris earlier this month made a stop in Nevada, an early voting state on the Democrats' primary calendar.

Harris' 2024 running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is not ruling out a White House run of his own in 2028. Walz on Friday kicked off a high-profile town hall tour of red congressional districts. His first stop was in Iowa, the state that, through the 2020 cycle, kicked off the Democrats' presidential nominating calendar.

Three other prominent Democrats considered potential 2028 contenders — governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Beshear — addressed the House Democrats' annual policy retreat Thursday.

VANCE IN ‘CATBIRD SEAT,' BUT HERE ARE THE OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO MAY ALSO RUN IN 2028 

Even Rahm Emanuel, the former congressman from Illinois, White House chief of staff in President Obama's administration and Chicago mayor who most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Japan, is potentially mulling a 2028 run. Emanuel this week was the topic of a feature report by Politico.

While 2028 seems like a very long way away, the early moves in the next White House race begin early for the party out of power.

That was the case for the Republicans in the 2024 cycle. 

Iowa continues to kick off the GOP's presidential nominating schedule, and the first stop there during the 2024 cycle by a potential White House contender was in March 2021, just weeks after Biden assumed the presidency.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who eventually decided not to run for president, grabbed plenty of attention as he spoke to the Westside Conservative Club in suburban Des Moines that year.

"There's no sense in waiting," New Hampshire-based political strategist Lucas Meyer told Fox News. "If anyone is serious about running for president, they would probably be well served in getting after it now."

Meyer, a former president of the New Hampshire Young Democrats who chairs the advocacy group 603 Forward, called it a "wide-open field" for Democrats.

"The crowd of leadership at the top of the Democratic Party isn't very deep at the moment," he observed. "There's oxygen there for someone."

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear slammed fellow Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom for allowing Steve Bannon on his new podcast, saying that "I don’t think we should give him oxygen on any platform, ever, anywhere." 

Beshear made the remark Thursday during a Democratic policy retreat in Virginia, according to Politico. The episode of the "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast featuring Bannon was released the day before, describing him in the show notes as a "former Trump White House chief strategist and MAGA architect." 

"I think that Governor Newsom bringing on different voices is great, we shouldn’t be afraid to talk and to debate just about anyone," Beshear was quoted by Politico as saying. "But Steve Bannon espouses hatred and anger, and even at some points, violence, and I don’t think we should give him oxygen on any platform, ever, anywhere." 

Newsom’s podcast team did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment by Fox News Digital. 

HEATING UP: PRE-SEASON MOVES IN 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RACE GETTING UNDERWAY 

The governor told Politico Wednesday that it is "critically important" to understand President Donald Trump’s movement and that "I think we all agreed after the last election that it’s important for Democrats to explore new and unique ways of talking to people." 

Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger also criticized Newsom for bringing Bannon onto his show. 

GAVIN NEWSOM ASKS CHARLIE KIRK TO GIVE HIS PARTY ‘ADVICE’ IN ONE-ON-ONE PODCAST INTERVIEW 

"I am in shock at the stupidity of Gavin Newsom inviting Steve Bannon on his podcast. Many of us on the right sacrificed careers to fight Bannon, and Newsom is trying to make a career and a presidential run by building him up. Unforgivable and insane," Kinzinger wrote on X. 

Newsom previously sat down one-on-one with conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk for a frank discussion about his party's shortcomings in the 2024 presidential election.   

In the first episode of his new podcast, "This Is Gavin Newsom," the governor marveled at Kirk's success as the founder of Turning Point USA, which played a pivotal role in President Donald Trump making inroads with young voters. 

Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report. 

The early moves in the next White House race, at least among the Democrats, are getting underway.

Pete Buttigieg on Thursday ruled out a run for an open Democrat-held Senate seat in his adopted home state of Michigan.

And the announcement by the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, who served four years as transportation secretary in former President Biden's administration, appears to clear the path for a potential 2028 White House bid by Buttigieg.

Buttigieg highlighted that "while my own plans don’t include running for office in 2026, I remain intensely focused on consolidating, communicating, and supporting a vision" that is an alternative to what he called the "cruel chaos" of President Donald Trump's administration.

THESE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028

A source familiar with Buttigieg's thinking told Fox News that the former transportation secretary is in a strong possible position to run for president in 2028 and that running for either senator or Michigan governor "in 2026 would have taken that off the table."

NEWSOM MAKES MAJOR HEADLINES IN INAGURAL EDITION OF HIS NEW PODCAST

Across the country, term-limited California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has long been suspected of harboring national ambitions, is grabbing tons of attention and millions of YouTube hits, thanks to a new and very high-profile podcast series.

The first two guests were MAGA world superstars Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.

Democrat JB Pritzker, the billionaire two-term governor of blue state Illinois and one of his party's leaders in opposing President Donald Trump's second-term agenda, will head to New Hampshire next month to headline the state party's annual fundraising gala, sparking plenty of 2028 speculation.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR'S TRIP TO THIS KEY STATE SPARKING 2028 SPECULATION

Trips to New Hampshire – which for over a century has held the first primary in the race for the White House – are seen as an early indicator of a politician's interest in running for the presidency in the next election.

But there's more. 

There is plenty of focus on former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced then-President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee last summer after he dropped out of the race amid mounting questions over his physical and mental stamina. 

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION

Harris, who lost last November's White House election to Trump, is seriously considering a 2026 bid to succeed Newsom in her home state of California. But a run for governor in 2026 would likely derail her from making a 2028 White House bid.

A source in the former vice president's political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital that Harris has told allies she will decide by the end of the summer about whether to launch a gubernatorial campaign. 

And Harris recently made a stop in Nevada, an early-voting state on the Democrats' primary calendar.

Harris' 2024 running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is not ruling out a White House run of his own in 2028. Walz on Friday kicks off a high-profile town hall tour in Iowa, the state that, through the 2020 cycle, kicked off the Democrats' presidential nominating calendar.

Meanwhile, three other prominent Democrats considered potential 2028 contenders, Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, on Thursday are addressing the House Democrats annual policy retreat.

Even Rahm Emanuel, the former congressman from Illinois, White House chief of staff in President Obama's administration, and Chicago mayor who most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Japan, is potentially mulling a 2028 run. Emanuel this week was the topic of a feature report by Politico.

While 2028 seems like a very long way away, the early moves in the next White House race begin, well, early for the party out of power.

VANCE IN ‘CATBIRD SEAT,' BUT HERE ARE THE OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO MAY ALSO RUN IN 2028 

That was the case for the Republicans in the 2024 cycle. 

The first stop in Iowa, which continues to kick off the GOP's presidential nominating schedule, in the 2024 cycle by a potential White House contender came in March 2021 - just weeks after Biden assumed the presidency.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who eventually ended up not running for president, grabbed plenty of attention as he spoke to the Westside Conservative Club in suburban Des Moines.

"There's no sense in waiting," New Hampshire-based political strategist Lucas Meyer told Fox News. "If anyone is serious about running for president, they would probably be well served in getting after it now."

Meyer, a former president of the New Hampshire Young Democrats who chairs the advocacy group 603 Forward, called it a "wide open field" for Democrats.

"The crowd of leadership at the top of the Democratic Party isn't very deep at the moment," he observed. "There's oxygen there for someone."

• Gavin Newsom has about two years to go before his term as California's governor ends.
• Newsom has been keeping busy with a podcast featuring guests like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.
• Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris hit the podcast circuit during their campaigns in 2024.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California is facing off against his right-wing opponents on their favorite medium — a podcast.

Newsom started his podcast "This is Gavin Newsom" in February. He's also the co-host of another podcast, "Politickin," which is focused more on sports and culture.

"I'm talking directly with people I disagree with, people I look up to, and you — the listeners. Egg prices? Tariffs? DOGE? We're tackling all your big questions," Newsom wrote in a February 26 Facebook post announcing his podcast.

Thus far, Newsom has been able to deliver on his promise. In his debut episode, Newsom spoke to Charlie Kirk, a right-wing influencer and founder of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA.

In his latest episode, which aired Wednesday, Newsom went head-to-head with right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon. Bannon was President Donald Trump's former chief strategist and executive chairman of Breitbart News, a far-right news outlet.

Common ground

People who tune in expecting nothing more than a high-octane war of words may be surprised. It seems that Newsom has found some common ground with Kirk and Bannon on at least two divisive issues.

For one, Newsom told Kirk that he found it "deeply unfair" that transgender athletes could participate in female sporting events.

"Would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports?" Kirk asked Newsom.

"I think it's an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. It is deeply unfair," Newsom replied.

While Newsom did go on to explain how he had a "hard time" reconciling the vulnerability of transgender athletes with ensuring fairness in sporting events, his reply to Kirk was surprising, considering his political record on LGBTQ+ rights.

In 2004, when Newsom was San Francisco's mayor, he took a stand in support of the LGBTQ+ community and allowed same-sex marriages to proceed in the city in defiance of federal regulations.

Then, in his interview with Bannon, Newsom said they both had a common dislike of Elon Musk. Bannon has been a vocal critic of Musk, calling him a "truly evil person" and criticizing Musk's views on immigration.

"We may share some commonality in terms of concern about what he's doing," Newsom told Bannon.

"Hang on, hang on. You guys loved all the oligarchs, in particular Elon, until they flipped," Bannon said. "And remember, all the rest of these oligarchs were all progressive Democrats."

"I refer to them as libertarian and I know these guys intimately, known them for decades," Newsom replied.

To be sure, this isn't the first time Newsom has sought to engage his political opponents directly in tough conversations.

In December 2023, Newsom participated in a televised debate with Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. At the time, both Newsom and DeSantis were seen as rising stars and potential presidential candidates.

Newsom 2028

It is unclear if Newsom's foray into podcasting is part of a plan to lay the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid.

To be sure, podcasting is a powerful campaign tool. Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris both hit the podcast circuit during their 2024 campaigns.

Newsom, who still has about two years to go before the end of his gubernatorial term, is often asked about his presidential ambitions.

In September 2023, Newsom was asked in an interview with "60 Minutes" correspondent Cecilia Vega if he would run for president after finishing his term as California's governor.

"Is that a yes or a no?" Vega asked Newsom.

"That was a — that was a never-ending response to your question," Newsom said.

A representative for Newsom did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to claims that he secretly helped fund a nearly $100,000 bronze bust of himself that sits inside San Francisco City Hall, calling them "categorically false."

"To imply the Governor personally funded or proposed this effort is categorically false," a spokesperson for Newsom said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "As is customary in the city, the effort was independently proposed by a nonprofit and funded by private donors — not taxpayers… This was reported at the time and isn’t news now." 

A new book, written by Susan Crabtree and Jedd McFatter, and titled "Fool's Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All," claims Newsom used something called "behested payments" – or contributions from donors that politicians ask them to make on their behalf – to help fund the statue. 

The book claims two companies owned by Newsom donated about $10,000 to a non-profit to help pay for the bronze bust on a black granite base that is meant to commemorate Newsom's time as mayor of the city.

COZY TIES BETWEEN TOP NEWSOM ALLY AND CCP OFFICIAL UNEARTHED ON NETWORKING SITE

The Democrat was mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. 

"Businesses tied to the Newsom family made a modest contribution to the privately funded initiative and raised funds for the effort as reported publicly at the time," Newsom's office said. "The contributions were not in any way ‘secret’ as falsely claimed by some now."

Back in 2015, San Francisco news outlet SFGate reported that Newsom called the bust a "strange thing," and quoted him as saying: "I’m just awkward about it... But now the word is out."

Newsom told SFGate the bust was the brainchild of his supporters and that it would be paid for with private funds. According to the outlet, Newsom said he didn't even know who the supporters and fundraisers were.

The outlet also reported that Newsom sat for the bust with artist Bruce Wolfe multiple times. The work was finished in 2018, according to the San Francisco Arts Commission.

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Newsom's office went on to blast the book itself, telling Fox News Digital:
"This publication should come with a free tinfoil hat, a lifetime subscription to InfoWars, and a VIP dinner with Elvis Presley and Bigfoot. The authors seem allergic to basic facts — especially the kind you can confirm with a 10-second Google search, like how many children the Governor has."

Crabtree, one of the authors of the book, told Fox News Digital that the book never claims that Newsom organized the bust, and that they stand by their reporting on the project.

According to the San Francisco Arts Commission, the bust includes a bronze plaque with the following quote from Newsom: 

"If you distill the essence of everything, what life is about, every single one of us is given a short moment in time on this planet and we all have one universal need and desire, and that is to love and be loved."

Newsom's office also pointed out that his bust sits next to several other busts of former city mayors, including Willie Brown, Dianne Feinstein and George Moscone.

Not surprisingly, the internet erupted with reaction to the bust – with many blasting Newsom.

"Who commissions a bust of themself? Gavin Newsom who clearly thinks very highly of himself," one user wrote on X. "That’s just kind of sick from a politician’s head. Look at me and see how great I am!"

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"Gavin Newsom’s new bust is the perfect symbol of his time as governor," another user wrote. "Expensive and ultimately [u]seless for the people of California."

"San Francisco needs a Bust Reduction! $97K Newscum Vanity Project," another user remarked.

Newsom has emerged as somewhat of a darling for the Democrat party. He served as a surrogate for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during their 2024 campaign. He is considered a top contender to run for president in 2028.