The discussion of Democratic ethos and strategy came just a few weeks out from November’s midterm elections. Newsom has polled well in his own reelection bid, but in Congress, a number of his fellow Democrats are expected to face a largely uphill battle.

While Newsom acknowledged the party has some substantive challenges as well, he said Democrats could do a better job messaging on issues like crime. For example, nearly all states with the top 10 highest murder rates are Republican-run, Newsom said, “and we’re losing that message.”

Asked whether President Joe Biden’s efforts to find a unifying national message was “a fool’s errand,” Newsom said, “I think the president’s learned that the hard way.”

“I mean, he’s hard-wired for a different world, but that world is gone,” the governor continued, saying of Biden: “He wants to find our better angels.”

Newsom also addressed his recent ad buys in red states, characterizing the actions of Republican governors as frustrating and worthy of being challenged across state lines; he specifically called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for DeSantis’s recent flying of migrants from Texas to other parts of the country.

He denied the intention behind those advertisements was promoting his profile ahead of an eventual future presidential bid.

“No, and then no, and then, no, no, no,” Newsom said in response.