Newsom tells Tapper he won't run against Harris in 2028
Source: POLITICO · All POLITICO reports
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Summary
This installment of POLITICO's "The Cartoon Kitchen" series features editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker reviewing a CNN interview in which California Gov. Gavin Newsom went fly-fishing with Jake Tapper in Montana. The segment focuses on Newsom stating he would not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris does, calling a primary fight "mutually assured destruction" due to overlapping supporters and donors. Wuerker mocks the inauthentic-looking fishing as stagey and reminiscent of Dukakis in a tank, speculates that Newsom's deference suggests he knows Harris is not running, and notes Newsom's caricaturist-friendly features like his hair. The piece frames the river as a metaphor for the path to 2028. Sourcing is primarily the recent CNN video itself, with no additional named experts or graphics beyond the cartoonist's observations.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast is a breezy, opinion-driven cartoonist's take rather than straight news, so viewers should not expect deep reporting. Newsom's quoted remarks are verified across multiple outlets including CNN, POLITICO, The New York Times and Bloomberg. The critique of the fishing as performative is widely corroborated by expert anglers and conservative commentators who called the casts incorrect for fly-fishing. What viewers miss is that Newsom has long signaled 2028 interest, Harris has only said she is "thinking about" another run while focusing on 2026 midterms, and early polling shows her leading potential Democratic fields. The presenter's conjecture that Newsom must already know Harris's plans adds an unsupported layer of cynicism that could skew perceptions toward viewing the deference as insincere theater. Overall, it is entertaining commentary but leans on humor and speculation over new facts.
Key Moments
Newsom said he would not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris runs
Direct quote from the CNN "Out of Office" interview released Sept. 14, 2026, corroborated by NYT, POLITICO, Bloomberg and others
The fly-fishing scene looked fake and unconvincing, like Dukakis in a tank
Multiple fly-fishing experts including C.J. Box and Paul Ulrich criticized the casting technique, wrist breaks and positioning as performative and incorrect
Newsom only said this because he already knows Harris is not running
Speculation by the cartoonist; Harris has repeatedly said she is thinking about 2028 while focusing on midterms, and no evidence of private knowledge is presented
Newsom and Harris are long-time friend-enemies with overlapping donor and strategist circles in California
Well-documented decades-long relationship in San Francisco politics; multiple outlets note the Venn diagram of supporters is nearly identical
The river is a metaphor for the path to the 2028 White House
Humorous framing in the segment; omits that both politicians remain undeclared and the Democratic field is still fluid post-2024 loss
Notable Concerns
- Unsupported speculation that Newsom knows Harris is not running
- Heavy emphasis on optics and mockery over substantive policy discussion
- Limited sourcing beyond the original CNN clip and cartoonist's personal view
Sources Consulted
- Gavin Newsom tells CNN’s Jake Tapper he won’t run for president if Kamala Harris runs in 2028
- Newsom says he won’t run for president if Harris runs again
- Gavin Newsom Says He Won’t Run in 2028 if Kamala Harris Does
- C.J. Box Says Everything About Newsom And Tapper Fly Fishing Is “Wrong”
- Newsom roasted online for 'staged' fly-fishing interview with CNN anchor where he dropped major 2028 hint
- Kamala Harris is sticking to her own timeline on a 2028 decision
- A Kamala River Runs Through Newsom’s 2028 Presidential Campaign
- Gavin Newsom Says He Won’t Run For President If Kamala Harris Does