Actress Elizabeth Banks said women in real life, particularly Trump voters, should be more like the character she played in “The Hunger Games.”
The 52-year-old made the comments during an appearance on Bustle’s “One Nightstand” podcast this week.
“Effie for me is one of the characters that has the greatest arc that I’ve ever played because obviously she props up this fascist regime that she benefits from and it’s not until she really comes to care for and see how unfair it is when they want to pull Katniss and Peeta into the games again…” Banks said, referencing the plot of the popular films based on the dystopian book series. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="One Nightstand With Elizabeth Banks | Bustle" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I3nnXnxwt7w?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“I think in ‘Catching Fire’ when she’s like, ‘I want to be part of this team,’ and you really see her struggling and then by the end she’s like a revolutionary… I wish more of us were becoming revolutionaries!” she went on. “Effie is the model, guys! I don’t understand the 53% of white ladies that didn’t vote for Kamala.”
Banks played Effie in all four installments of “The Hunger Games” movie franchise between 2012 and 2015. The character is known for being flamboyant and completely devoted to the system at first, but eventually starts doubting their motives after developing relationships with contestants in the fight-to-the-death games that pit human beings against each other.
Banks is a well-known Democratic supporter and liberal activist who frequently engages in political discourse, shills for abortion access, and takes particular issue with the president. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, she compared Trump to her over-the-top character in the film series.
“Some of you know me from ‘The Hunger Games,’ in which I play a cruel, out-of-touch reality TV star who wears insane wigs while delivering long-winded speeches to a violent dystopia,” she <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/dnc-2016-elizabeth-banks-226250">said at the time</a>. “So when I tuned in to Cleveland last week I was like hey, that’s my act.”

Elizabeth Banks

Actress Targets Female Trump Voters, Urges Them To Think Like Her Dystopian Character

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Kamala Harris

Movies

Former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the national stage with a swipe at President Donald Trump, calling him a &#8220;mob boss&#8221; before breaking into an impersonation during a speech at the National Action Network Convention.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 WATCH: Kamala Harris mocks President Trump with horrible impersonation and refers to him as “mob boss” <a href="https://t.co/yl26o4ECTa">pic.twitter.com/yl26o4ECTa</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/2042636887261634603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
Harris made the remarks while speaking with Rev. Al Sharpton, where she also confirmed she is considering another run for president in 2028. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m thinking about it,&#8221; Harris said, adding that her decision will depend on whether she believes she is the best person for the job.
“I spent countless hours in my West Wing office, footsteps away from the Oval Office. Countless hours in the Oval Office and the Situation Room,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I know what the job is and I know what it requires.” 
Harris also emphasized her broader message to voters, arguing that Americans are frustrated with government inefficiency. Drawing on her travels across the country, she said people “don’t want process, they want progress,” and stressed a need to cut government bureaucracy.
Speculation about Harris’s 2028 plans has grown in recent months, particularly after she declined to run for governor of California. That decision was widely seen as keeping the door open for a presidential bid. 
While news of Harris possibly running again excited conservatives eager to see another &#8220;failed presidential run,&#8221; Sharpton praised her during the interview, telling the audience that Democrats had already effectively chosen her when they voted for President Joe Biden. 
“When we ended up with President Biden stepping back, there were some that said we need a primary, and we said we already had it. When we voted for Biden, we voted for Harris.” 
She went on to rip Trump&#8217;s SAVE America Act, equating it to a poll tax and urging voters to check their registration status, claiming Trump has &#8220;cleaned voter rolls.&#8221;

National Action Network Holds Its Annual Convention In New York City

Kamala Harris Is Back With An Impersonation Of Trump As A Mob Boss

2028 presidential election

A California judge dismissed the case against pro-life investigator David Daleiden over undercover videos he released over a decade ago, showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts. 
Judge Brian Ferrall of the Superior Court of San Francisco approved the dismissal on Wednesday following an agreement between Daleiden and the state of California. The decision comes after state officials <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-finally-drops-prosecution-of-journo-who-exposed-planned-parenthood-with-damning-videos">agreed last year</a> to end the prosecution against Daleiden, but pro-abortion activists attempted to intervene and block the deal. 
“As promised, the final charge has been DISMISSED and the case completely expunged — after a couple months&#8217; administrative delay, and a truly bizarre last-minute ‘April Fool&#8217;s’ attempt by [Planned Parenthood] and [the National Abortion Federation] to overturn the State&#8217;s agreement,” Daleiden <a href="https://x.com/daviddaleiden/status/2039499385256751230">posted</a> on X. 
Court records show that groups like the Feminist Majority Foundation and the National Abortion Federation filed motions seeking to block the dismissal. 
The case against Daleiden was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-made-a-damning-planned-parenthood-video-disappear-now-its-public">launched</a> in 2016 by then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who would go on to become vice president during the Biden administration. It was over the videos released in 2015 by the Center for Medical Progress, a pro-life organization founded by Daleiden. The recordings showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue and organs. 
After the footage was released, California authorities raided Daleiden’s home and seized materials, claiming the videos were illegally recorded. The legal battle has stretched on for nearly a decade. 
In January 2025, the Center for Medical Progress said California prosecutors had agreed to end the case against Daleiden and fellow investigator Sandra Merritt. 
“The agreement — a negotiated settlement with zero punishment — is in exchange for a new ‘no contest’ plea by Daleiden and Merritt on a single video recording charge. It involves no jail time, no fines, no admission of wrongdoing, and no probation,” the Center for Medical Progress said at the time. 
According to the group, the no-contest plea would be entered as a misdemeanor and later converted to a not guilty plea before being dismissed and expunged.
The dismissal drew praise from Daleiden&#8217;s supporters, including Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Justice Department, Harmeet Dhillon, who had previously represented him.
&#8220;Praise God! One of my favorite clients of all 33+ years of law practice in service to advancing liberty!!&#8221; Dhillon <a href="https://x.com/HarmeetKDhillon/status/2039875112871113095">said</a>.
Live Action President Lila Rose also celebrated the outcome, saying, &#8220;After a decade of California bureaucrats attempting to prosecute, bankrupt and imprison [Daleiden] for his courageous and groundbreaking pro-life reporting, they have officially FAILED.&#8221;
&#8220;David beat Goliath, and he’s only getting started,&#8221; she added.

Pro-Life Activist David Daleiden Appears In Court Over Planned Parenthood Video Sting

He Exposed The Grim Reality Behind Planned Parenthood. His Decade-Long Battle Is Finally Over.

Abortion

California

Center for Medical Progress

David Daleiden

Planned Parenthood

<div class="gmail_default">
This week&#8217;s scheduled debate at USC between the plethora of Democrats vying for the California gubernatorial nomination had to be<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/peak-california-usc-backs-out-of-gov-debate-over-lack-of-diversity"> canceled</a>. Not for any of the normal reasons debates get canceled — disputes about rules, moderators, venue, or the metrics used to determine candidate eligibility — all those were in order and agreed upon in advance. No, it had to be canceled for a more<a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-23/california-leaders-call-to-boycott-debate-if-other-candidates-not-included"> basic reason</a>: all the candidates who qualified were noticeably, inconveniently, white. 
In an announcement, the university acknowledged that it canceled the debate because its selection criteria had “created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.” That selection criteria was based on a combination of polling and fundraising, a fairly standard measure of potential success. Unfortunately for Democrats who want to project an image of diversity (even if all their leading candidates in this race are white), this effectively excluded former HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former State Controller Betty Yee from the debate. That&#8217;s racist, criteria! Bad criteria, bad.
The hue and cry that followed blamed a USC election professor for coming up with the racist popularity + money = viability metric, which has never previously been applied to politics, as each candidate demanded to be included and the university was afraid of saying no. Think of it as similar to California&#8217;s inability to pick a single state nut — it currently has almonds, pistachios, walnuts and pecans all occupying the same vaunted role. “[W]e have four state nuts, nobody wanted to be left behind,” Alex Vassar, the communications manager for the California State Library,<a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2026/03/26/the-professor-at-the-center-of-the-debate-debacle-00845901"> told Politico</a> this week. Only four California nuts? Have you seen the debate stage? It has Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, AND Tom Steyer — there have to be more than four.
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<div id="attachment_1066875" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1066875" class="size-large wp-image-1066875" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258201958-864x576.jpg" alt="PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 28: (L-R) Eric Swalwell, Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Louise Bedsworth, Sammy Roth and Mary Creasman attend &quot;Our Climate Future: A Forum with California's Next Governor&quot; on January 28, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matei Horvath/Getty Images for California Environmental Voters)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258201958-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258201958-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258201958-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258201958.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Matei Horvath/Getty Images for California Environmental Voters</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<div class="gmail_default"></div>
<div>The problem that faced California Democrats presages the racial challenge they&#8217;re going to face in 2028, when their debate stage will almost certainly be dominated by white candidates. California&#8217;s own Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly all routinely rank in the top ten candidates in early polling for 2028. The only non-white candidates who share the same status are &#8220;falling out of a coconut tree&#8221; 2024 disaster Kamala Harris and Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Maybe if Jasmine Crockett had more of an opportunity in Texas, she&#8217;d sneak into the top ten — but no, the party chose another bland-looking white guy because they think that&#8217;s what dumb voters want.</div>
<div>
Republicans would be wise to recognize the opportunity here. Having built an elitist left coalition overwhelmingly dependent on identity politics above all else — while offering minority voters nothing of substance when they hold power — Democrats are ripe to correct for Kamala in 2028 and nominate some white guy who they think is &#8220;safe&#8221; from a pool of candidates who all have to wear SPF 70 and above. When all the left has to offer is checking a racial box, it leaves an opening for the right to build on Donald Trump&#8217;s success in attracting voters who are tired of the visual pandering California Democrats think is more important than actual policy. If what they have to offer in 2028 connects with what people actually care about, maybe they can even do it with a white guy from Ohio. And as Kamala Harris showed us, play stupid DEI games, win stupid DEI prizes.
</div>
</div>

California Governor Gavin Newsom Continues Book Tour In San Francisco

2028 So White: Why California’s Canceled Debate Shows Democrats’ Incoming Race Problem

2028 So White: Why California's Canceled Debate Shows Democrats' Incoming Race Problem

Democratic Debate

Democrats

Gavin Newsom

Opinion

Actor Jerry O’Connell said his wife, Rebecca Romijn, and the couple’s two teenage daughters &#8220;became physical” with him on election night after he commented on Kamala Harris’ campaign failures.
The 52-year-old “Stand By Me” alum said as much during an interview with Bill Maher released earlier this week. 
&#8220;If I say this, will I stay married?&#8221; he joked with the “Club Random” podcast host. O’Connell went on to describe how Romijn and their children weren’t open to hearing honest feedback. 
&#8220;I said something along the lines of &#8216;there was no planning. This is what they get. There should have been a primary.&#8217; I said something along those lines, you know, like I was just spit-balling ideas. It was a shock. My wife and daughters, without saying anything, became physical with me. They were filled with rage,&#8221; O&#8217;Connell said.
&#8220;So if I am being careful with you in how I say things, yes, I live in California. I live with not one, not two, but three people who, if I made any kind of joke, they&#8217;d become very angry with me,&#8221; the actor added.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Jerry O&#039;Connell | Club Random with Bill Maher" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g_7IpYkjCIc?start=3517&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Maher replied by saying he wouldn’t do well with that kind of behavior in his house.
&#8220;Whatever household situation I&#8217;m in, I say what I truly think, and if it makes you angry, I&#8217;m sorry. We&#8217;ll have to work that out. But I am not going to tuck my tail between my legs and just shut the f*** up,&#8221; Maher said.
O’Connell has been married to former supermodel Romijn since 2007, and their twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie, were born in 2008.
He actively supported Harris during the 2024 presidential election, even <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-EPwB9sGRE/">attending a rally</a> in Georgia.
Maher and O’Connell’s discussion about the 2024 presidential election came just after Maher criticized Hollywood for not recognizing Paramount+ hit “Landman” because it’s seen as a “conservative show.”
“First of all, even if it was a conservative show, that should be allowed,” Maher said. “This is f***ing America, you a**holes.”
He continued, “I mean, it’s just not exactly what you are. And so we have to ignore that and pretend it doesn’t exist. You want to know why people vote for Trump? That’s why. Your sh***y attitude is a real turnoff.”

Jerrry O’Connell Rebecca Romijn

Jerry O’Connell Says His Family ‘Became Physical’ With Him After Kamala Lost To Trump

2024 Election

Bill Maher

Liberals

California Democrats are warning their own candidates that a crowded gubernatorial primary could create an unexpected risk in the state&#8217;s top-two election system.
In a <a href="https://cadem.org/open-letter-to-the-democratic-candidates-for-governor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to the wide pool of Democrats seeking to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, a former union boss, urged candidates to assess whether they have a shot at advancing to the general election.
Under California&#8217;s &#8220;jungle primary&#8221; system in June, all candidates appear on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November regardless of party. Some Democrats fear vote-splitting among their candidates could allow two Republicans to advance to the general election. There are more than a dozen Democrats in the race, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. Newsom has not publicly endorsed anyone.
Meanwhile, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are considered the leading Republicans in the race. Some polls have shown Bianco and Hilton within striking distance of the top two, while others suggest both could advance if Democratic support fragments.
“Despite the ongoing chatter, the likelihood of two Republicans effectively ‘locking out’ California Democrats from the contest for Governor in the General Election is relatively low,” Hicks wrote. “However, while it is implausible, it is not impossible.”
Hicks called on the Democratic candidates to &#8220;honestly assess the viability of their candidacy,” suggesting those without a viable path of finishing in the top two consider dropping out &#8220;on or before April 15th.&#8221;
Hicks further added that if Republicans successfully lock out the Democrats, it could lead to “depressed Democratic turnout” and damage the party’s chances in other critical down-ballot races.
“The result would present a real risk to winning the congressional seats required and imperil Democrats’ chances to retake the House, cut Donald Trump’s term in half, and spare our Nation from the pain many have endured since January 2025. We simply can’t let that happen,” he wrote.
The primary is scheduled for June 2.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-keep-jumping-into-california-gov-race-it-might-accidentally-boost-republicans">Democrats Keep Jumping Into California Gov Race. It Might Accidentally Boost Republicans.</a>

Rusty Hicks

California Dem Chair Warns Party Could Be Shut Out Of Governor’s Race

2026 election

Elections

Eric Swalwell

Politics

Former Vice President Kamala Harris hinted on Tuesday at a possible return to the presidential campaign trail in 2028, saying that she &#8220;might&#8221; throw her hat into what&#8217;s likely to be a crowded Democratic primary ring.
Harris spoke with podcast host and author Sharon McMahon, and was asked point blank whether she planned — after bowing out of the 2020 primary before the first vote and then losing in spectacular fashion in 2024 — to run for president a third time.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Harris on running in 2028: “I might” <a href="https://t.co/PbPalTRHsw">pic.twitter.com/PbPalTRHsw</a>
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexThomp/status/2026408268155740247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Will you run again?&#8221; McMahon asked.
&#8220;I haven&#8217;t decided,&#8221; Harris replied.
&#8220;You&#8217;re still thinking about it,&#8221; McMahon added.
&#8220;I might,&#8221; Harris said, her voice creeping up an octave as she shrugged.
McMahon said she&#8217;d expected no less, adding, &#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve been saying. That&#8217;s what — I&#8217;m like — I closed the book and I&#8217;m like, oh, she wants to, she&#8217;s just thinking about it.&#8221;
Early polls, according to CNN chief data analyst <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/theyve-lost-cnn-chief-data-guru-says-2028-democrat-bench-is-a-total-clown-car">Harry Enten</a>, have not been kind to the twice-failed candidate. He told host John Berman that Harris, polling at just 18% — and second to Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) — was in a precarious position if she intended to drop in on a Democratic primary. In addition to Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are polling at 13% and 12%, respectively.
&#8220;Quite a weak number for [Harris], given that, of course, she was the nominee last time around,&#8221; Enten said, adding, &#8220;This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear frontrunner at this particular point on the Democratic side. Who the heck knows who the nominee is going to be in two years?&#8221;
Enten also suggested that flagging interest in Newsom — despite his new memoir just hitting bookstores — meant that even the likely favorite was &#8220;flailing&#8221; a bit.
Newsom, during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-laughs-off-potential-face-off-with-kamala-in-2028-thats-fate-if-it-happens">recent interview</a>, spoke with CNN anchor Dana Bash about the upcoming presidential election cycle and how he might handle it if his career path ended up on a collision course with that of his old friend, Harris.
&#8220;That’s — you know, fate will determine that,” Newsom shrugged. “And I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition, ever. I haven’t. And I don’t imagine I would in the future. But I don’t —”
&#8220;But if you run against each other for president —” Bash tried again.
&#8220;That’s fate,” Newsom said again.
But during another recent interview, the California Governor took a swipe at Harris — and attributed her rapid rise in the California political world to her romantic relationship with then San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Governor Newsom tonight: &#8220;You would not know Kamala Harris without Willie Brown&#8221;
Fact-check: TRUE 😂🤣 <a href="https://t.co/VEoRtcyGLB">pic.twitter.com/VEoRtcyGLB</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2026092664546799693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;For those that don&#8217;t know Willie Brown — you wouldn&#8217;t know Kamala Harris without Willie Brown,&#8221; Newsom said during a recent book event.

Kamala Harris Fuels 2028 Speculation With Two-Word Tease

Media

CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten is not impressed with the Democratic bench going into the 2028 presidential election cycle — and he&#8217;s not holding back his overall assessment of the likely candidates: &#8220;a total clown car.&#8221;
Enten joined CNN anchor John Berman on Tuesday to discuss the likely candidates just as a new memoir from Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) — considered a heavy favorite to jump in the race — hit shelves, and his take was that Newsom was &#8220;flailing.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CNN&#8217;s Harry Enten just ROASTED Gavin Newsom&#8217;s 2028 ambitions &#8220;He&#8217;s definitely flailing&#8221;:
&#8220;This is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side.&#8221;
&#8220;This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear front-runner at this particular point on… <a href="https://t.co/TYijTMGKWt">pic.twitter.com/TYijTMGKWt</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2026310210013286885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Enten&#8217;s concern, as he broke down the numbers for Berman, was that there was no clear leader in the Democratic Party — and no one seemed poise for the kind of surge that would be necessary to push them to the front of the pack going into the 2028 primaries.
&#8220;Yeah, they’re all running and this is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side,&#8221; Enten said, noting that the early polls showed Newsom (at 19%) just barely in the lead over former Vice President Kamala Harris (at 18%) and that his advantage was slim enough to be within the margin of error.
&#8220;Quite a weak number for [Harris], given that, of course, she was the nominee last time around,&#8221; Enten noted.
He went on to say that other likely contenders — such as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who polled at 13% and 12%, respectively — were not doing any better.
&#8220;This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear frontrunner at this particular point on the Democratic side. Who the heck knows who the nominee is going to be in two years?&#8221; Enten added. &#8220;It was been a long time, this is very unusual for the Democratic side to not have a clear frontrunner at this point. You have to go all the way back, all the way back from when I wasn’t even in elementary school yet, not even in pre-K yet, to 1992, that was the last cycle in which there was no clear frontrunner at this point. Very unusual.&#8221;
The analyst then singled out Newsom, saying that in particular, he appeared to be losing ground — and popularity — even as he moves to market his memoir.
&#8220;It seems to me that Gavin Newsom is flailing a little bit, at least compared to where he was prior,” he said, explaining that betting markets were cooling off as far as Newsom was concerned. &#8220;Three months ago, according to the prediction market, look at that, it was a 37% chance, now it’s just at 28%. Down he goes. He’s definitely flailing a little bit.&#8221;

California Governor Gavin Newsom Interview

They’ve Lost CNN: Chief Data Guru Says 2028 Democrat Bench Is A ‘Total Clown Car’

They've Lost CNN: Chief Data Guru Says 2028 Democrat Bench Is A 'Total Clown Car'

Democrat

Harry Enten

Pete Buttigieg

The 2028 presidential primaries may have just begun to peek over the horizon, but media personalities are already starting to put their thumbs on the scales as they go about interviewing those who seem likely to throw a hat into the ring.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
On Sunday, two competing interviews — one with Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week&#8221; and the other with Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; — gave viewers a glimpse of what they might expect from legacy media as the next presidential election approached.
Early polling suggests that both Shapiro and Newsom could be considering a 2028 run for the White House, and as is often a precursor to such a campaign, both have published recent memoirs in an effort to test the waters. But the tone of those interviews shed some light on how the legacy media might treat the two governors differently during a presidential campaign.
On &#8220;This Week,&#8221; host Martha Raddatz was conciliatory toward Shapiro as long as he was keeping the attack focused on President Donald Trump.
At one point, knowing that Shapiro had been at a meeting with the president at the time, she asked him to describe Trump&#8217;s demeanor when he learned that his tariffs had been shot down by the Supreme Court.
Shapiro said that Trump had been taking questions from the governors at the meeting when an aide approached and handed him a piece of paper detailing the ruling. &#8220;I think he said, ‘we lost?’, as a question, the aide nodded in affirmation.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gov. Josh Shapiro describes what happened when President Trump found out about the Supreme Court ruling during a meeting at the White House: “I think he said, ‘we lost?’, as a question, the aide nodded in affirmation.” <a href="https://t.co/ZpBwNhvycr">https://t.co/ZpBwNhvycr</a> <a href="https://t.co/vimv2UdJcN">pic.twitter.com/vimv2UdJcN</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2025595617683333368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Raddatz went on to ask about Trump&#8217;s new plan — to use Section 122 to levy tariffs rather than the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as he had previously — and Shapiro once again condemned Trump.
&#8220;I wish he would just adhere to the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling and stop the pain for the American people,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on President Trump’s plan to use Section 122 to levy tariffs: “I wish he would just adhere to the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling and stop the pain for the American people.” <a href="https://t.co/oAxlKTXb3i">https://t.co/oAxlKTXb3i</a> <a href="https://t.co/gcKLdxKBFU">pic.twitter.com/gcKLdxKBFU</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2025600792900878810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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When asked about the possibility of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surge in Pennsylvania, Shapiro toed the party line: &#8220;We do not want that kind of chaos in our communities in Pennsylvania, so don&#8217;t come. But if you come, we are prepared to address it.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania is preparing for a potential ICE surge: “We do not want that kind of chaos in our communities in Pennsylvania, so don&#8217;t come. But if you come, we are prepared to address it.” <a href="https://t.co/KOQRly9D1A">https://t.co/KOQRly9D1A</a> <a href="https://t.co/ISi98wnkw2">pic.twitter.com/ISi98wnkw2</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2025602518022340772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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But then Raddatz pointed to a recent New York Times piece about a long-running feud between Shapiro and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). Shapiro, clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, said only that his relationship with Fetterman was &#8220;constructive&#8221; — and would not commit to supporting the senator if he chose to run for reelection.
&#8220;I think he needs to decide if he&#8217;s running, and then we&#8217;ll make a decision from there,&#8221; Shapiro said, arguing that the feud was a fabrication on the part of journalists attempting to stir up drama.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gov. Josh Shapiro says he has a “constructive relationship” with Sen. John Fetterman, but did not say if he would support a re-election bid: “I think he needs to decide if he&#8217;s running, and then we&#8217;ll make a decision from there.” <a href="https://t.co/dGjJbpGGuw">https://t.co/dGjJbpGGuw</a> <a href="https://t.co/uxs577D8Oy">pic.twitter.com/uxs577D8Oy</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/2025602050915221871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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On &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; the tone shift was slight but noticeable. Newsom was given a lot of the same opportunities to bash Trump — &#8220;he&#8217;s flailing,&#8221; the California governor said of the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling striking down the tariffs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Newsom reacts to Supreme Court ruling striking down most of Trump&#8217;s tariffs: &#8220;He&#8217;s flailing&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/tI1yiSoZw1">pic.twitter.com/tI1yiSoZw1</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2025602757479084482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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But then Newsom was given far more room to sell himself throughout the interview, from questions about how he dealt with the death of his mother to a detailed explanation about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia and how he now views that as a &#8220;superpower.&#8221;
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Gavin Newsom on his lifelong struggle with dyslexia: &#8220;I do think it&#8217;s a superpower&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/7Q0J8d0xks">pic.twitter.com/7Q0J8d0xks</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2025602206624292896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The most difficult question posed to Newsom was how he planned to handle it if his career and the career of his old friend — former Vice President Kamala Harris — ended up on a collision course in 2028. When Newsom <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-laughs-off-potential-face-off-with-kamala-in-2028-thats-fate-if-it-happens">dismissed the question</a> out of hand as up to &#8220;fate,&#8221; Bash simply let the matter drop and allowed him to pivot right back to talking about his book.
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Gavin Newsom on possibly facing Kamala Harris in the 2028 presidential primary: &#8220;I&#8217;ve never gotten in the way of her ambition&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/PDm8CmkR96">pic.twitter.com/PDm8CmkR96</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2025602268746145959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“That’s — you know, fate will determine that,” Newsom shrugged. “And I’ve never gotten in the way of her ambition, ever. I haven’t. And I don’t imagine I would in the future. But I don’t —”
“But if you run against each other for president —” Bash tried again.
“That’s fate,” Newsom said again, dismissing the question entirely. “You only can control what you can control. I think this entire book is that fundamental lesson. And this notion of controlling what you control, and taking responsibility for what you control, is a big part of what I try to communicate in this book. That’s the third thing, it’s like how this book will be received. It’s the third thing, I can’t control it. I can’t control whatever decisions she makes.”
As the primaries approach, the delineation will get clearer — but it&#8217;s already clear that Newsom has the media&#8217;s attention, and media outlets want to be sure he has yours too.

SPIN CYCLE: Two Interviews Reveal How The Press Is Framing 2028

Dana Bash

Josh Shapiro

Martha Raddatz

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) laughed off the prospect of a 2028 Democratic primary face-off between himself and former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that if that were to come to fruition it would be because &#8220;it&#8217;s fate.&#8221;
The California governor — who will soon be term-limited out and tops the list of potential Democratic presidential contenders — discussed the possibility with CNN anchor and &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; host Dana Bash, who asked how he might handle standing across the debate stage from the former vice president.
WATCH:
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Gavin Newsom on possibly facing Kamala Harris in the 2028 presidential primary: &#8220;I&#8217;ve never gotten in the way of her ambition&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/PDm8CmkR96">pic.twitter.com/PDm8CmkR96</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2025602268746145959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Kamala Harris. You write about the fact that you&#8217;ve been friends with her for a very long time, you came up together,&#8221; Bash began, referencing Newsom&#8217;s recent memoir. &#8220;You talk about your parallel careers: she was prosecutor, California D.A., and Senator; you were San Francisco Mayor, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor.&#8221;
&#8220;What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide?&#8221; she asked, and Newsom began to laugh long before she was able to finish the question.
&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m San Francisco and she&#8217;s L.A., so we&#8217;re a little bit — there&#8217;s a little distance between the two of us,&#8221; Newsom protested, but Bash pointed out the fact that she was talking about national politics.
&#8220;2028. The whole country,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s — you know, fate will determine that,&#8221; Newsom shrugged. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve never gotten in the way of her ambition, ever. I haven&#8217;t. And I don&#8217;t imagine I would in the future. But I don&#8217;t —&#8221;
&#8220;But if you run against each other for president —&#8221; Bash tried again.
&#8220;That&#8217;s fate,&#8221; Newsom said again, dismissing the question entirely. &#8220;You only can control what you can control. I think this entire book is that fundamental lesson. And this notion of controlling what you control, and taking responsibility for what you control, is a big part of what I try to communicate in this book. That&#8217;s the third thing, it&#8217;s like how this book will be received. It&#8217;s the third thing, I can&#8217;t control it. I can&#8217;t control whatever decisions she makes.&#8221;

Gavin Newsom Laughs Off Potential Face-Off With Kamala In 2028: ‘That’s Fate’ If It Happens

Gavin Newsom Laughs Off Potential Face-Off With Kamala In 2028: 'That's Fate' If It Happens

Former Vice President Kamala Harris mounted a digital comeback on Wednesday, rebranding her social media presence into a youth mobilization organization named &#8220;Headquarters.&#8221; In partnership with People for the American Way, the <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/2026-midterm-elections/kamala-hq-rebrand-headquarters-campaigning/">project</a> aims to recruit &#8220;next-generation&#8221; voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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<a href="https://t.co/SuJgYZ64XV">pic.twitter.com/SuJgYZ64XV</a>
— HQ (@headquarters_67) <a href="https://twitter.com/headquarters_67/status/2019197348178788725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Welcome to Headquarters, the new Gen-Z led progressive content hub. <a href="https://t.co/7EQyz3DFpd">pic.twitter.com/7EQyz3DFpd</a>
— HQ (@headquarters_67) <a href="https://twitter.com/headquarters_67/status/2019404025507225735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Harris&#8217;s new initiative faces the steep challenge of repairing her standing with a demographic that largely abandoned the Harris-Tim Walz ticket in 2024. Statistics from Tufts University’s CIRCLE <a href="https://circle.tufts.edu/2024-election">highlight</a> a stark decline in youth engagement:
<blockquote>• Turnout Drop: Youth voter turnout (ages 18-29) fell from over 50% in 2020 to an estimated 42% in 2024. 
• Vanishing Margins: While Joe Biden won the youth vote by roughly 25 points in 2020, Harris’s margin shriveled to just 4 points in 2024. 
• Economic Discontent: This 20-point swing is largely attributed to the &#8220;original sin&#8221; of the American Rescue Plan and subsequent inflation. Under the Biden-Harris administration, youth-critical costs soared, including:
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Rent: +22%</li>
<li>Groceries: +21.6%</li>
<li>Gasoline: +50.5%</li>
<li>Average Weekly Earnings: Down -3.9%</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
As vice president, Harris was the tie‑breaking vote for the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in 2021, which critics on the Left and Right argue helped unleash the worst inflation in four decades. Economists such as Larry Summers, Olivier Blanchard, and Steven Rattner had warned at the time that the stimulus was oversized and risked serious inflation. Later analyses argued they were proved right. Harris compounded this vulnerability by embracing ideas such as the Green New Deal, aggressive climate regulation, and even price controls — policies critics say would worsen shortages, growth, and inflation rather than fix them.
Despite the 2024 &#8220;electoral landslide&#8221; loss to Donald Trump, Harris has signaled she is &#8220;not going anywhere.&#8221; While she is widely rumored to be eyeing the California governorship in 2026 — a race already crowded with Democrats like Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa — her immediate focus is reclaiming the &#8220;Gen Z&#8221; and Millennial audience through &#8220;Headquarters.&#8221;
The rebrand utilizes the same social media infrastructure that garnered 5 million TikTok followers, attempting to pivot from a failed 2024 presidential campaign to a broader &#8220;pro-democracy&#8221; movement. Critics, however, argue that her policy history — including support for the Green New Deal and corporate tax hikes — may continue to alienate young voters who are increasingly sensitive to the &#8220;fear&#8221; of economic instability. Her “Headquarters” relaunch is thus an attempt to turn the same online generation hurt by her policies into the engine of her political future.
As Harris assumes the role of chair emerita for this new venture, the 2026 midterms will serve as the ultimate litmus test: can a digital rebrand overcome the &#8220;Told You So&#8221; reality of 2024’s economic record?

Vice President Kamala Harris hold a campaign rally in North Las Vegas

Kamala Launches ‘Headquarters’ Rebrand To Woo Youth After 2024 Drubbing

Former vice president and failed presidential hopeful Kamala Harris may have just proved she doesn’t believe her own rhetoric.
According to multiple reports, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, recently purchased an $8.15 million home in Point Dume, an exclusive oceanside neighborhood in Malibu. The purchase is raising eyebrows after Harris spent years as a senator and vice president warning the public about climate change and coastline erosion.
The 4,000-square-foot property includes four bedrooms and six bathrooms situated on about three-quarters of an acre, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/13/real-estate/kamala-harris-buys-8m-mansion-in-malibus-celeb-packed-pt-dume/">the New York Post</a>. One real estate listing describes the home as “perched in a prime coastal location” with “breathtaking ocean views.” The house is located near Point Dume State Beach, a ritzy area that was identified as having a high risk for flooding and erosion.
A climate model previously endorsed by the Biden-Harris administration projected that Point Dume State Beach <a href="https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/#/layer/slr/1/-13224965.709481182/4029006.643276096/16.000/satellite/none/0.8/2050/interHigh/noAccretion/NOS_Minor">could suffer significant damage</a> from rising sea levels. That model was discontinued in June 2025 under the Trump administration, as noted by The Free Beacon. Also, a 2023 Interior Department study <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022JF006936">concluded</a> that up to 75 percent of California’s beaches could be eroded by the year 2100.
The Point Dume area also suffered significant damage during the 2018 Woolsey Fire and some damage during the 2025 Palisades Fire.
Harris has been sounding the alarm on climate change for years. “Glaciers are melting. Sea levels are rising. Climate change is real and we must act before it&#8217;s too late. That’s why I support a Green New Deal,” she tweeted in 2019. The same year, Harris sponsored the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1730">Living Shorelines Act</a>, which called for $50 million annually in federal funding to help address rising sea levels.
While serving as vice president, Harris was named the administration’s lead spokeswoman for the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative, a multibillion-dollar federal program. In April 2023, she announced $562 million in grants to benefit communities “on the front lines of the climate crisis.”
&#8220;The climate crisis represents a profound threat &#8212; as we all know &#8212; to our nation and to the world,” she said during a <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/04/21/vice-president-kamala-harris-climate-change-florida-sargassum/6561682032174/#">speech</a> at the University of Miami, claiming that &#8220;we still have time to make a difference.&#8221;
The home reportedly purchased by Harris and Emhoff includes features that the Biden-Harris administration found problematic, including a gas stove and fireplace, plus a tankless water heater. While serving as vice president, Harris advocated for <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO05/20230718/116246/HHRG-118-GO05-Transcript-20230718.pdf">energy efficiency regulations</a> that would have restricted certain gas stoves and tankless water heater models.
Point Dume is one of Malibu’s most exclusive neighborhoods, known for its privacy and gated access to Little Dume Beach. The area has attracted celebrities and tech moguls including Sean Penn, Gerard Butler, and Julia Roberts, as the New York Post noted.

Kamala ‘Climate Change Crisis’ Harris Just Bought Beachfront Property In Malibu

Kamala 'Climate Change Crisis' Harris Just Bought Beachfront Property In Malibu

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