California Governor Gavin Newsom appears to be testing out his media strategy for an all-but-certain 2028 presidential run — and in doing so, may have taken a page straight from Kamala Harris’ playbook.
In an effort to show his “relatable” side, Newsom joined former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on their hit show, All The Smoke. But instead of coming across as down-to-earth, the governor raised eyebrows when he seemed to slip into a forced “blaccent” — an exaggerated tone and rhythm of speech often used to mimic African American vernacular — while chatting about his upbringing and “hustler” mentality.
“It Was About Paying the Bills, Man”
Trying to paint himself as a scrappy underdog, Newsom told the hosts: “It was about paying the bills, man. And it was just like, hustling. I was out there kind of raising myself. Turning on the TV, getting obsessed, sitting there with the Wonder Bread and five stacks of peanut butter… Kraft macaroni and cheese — that’s how I grew up, bro. Every day in the backyard, just bouncing the basketball.”
The clip — featuring Newsom’s sudden change in tone and casual slang — quickly went viral. Critics online accused the governor of “performing relatability,” with many calling the interview an awkward attempt to connect with working-class and black audiences ahead of 2028.
“I was half expecting him to start with, ‘I was born a poor Black child,’” one commenter joked, referencing Steve Martin’s satirical monologue from The Jerk.
The Internet Wasn’t Buying It
Social media users flooded the comments section, mocking the governor’s story and delivery.
Newsom’s claim of a rough-and-tumble youth — “bouncing the ball up and down and throwing the ball against the wall” — only fueled more ridicule. “That’s right up there with ‘running the pick-six play,’” one user quipped, referencing past political gaffes where candidates tried to sound like “regular guys” and failed spectacularly.
Despite Newsom’s best efforts to sound like he grew up “on the streets,” his real-life upbringing was anything but. The California governor was born into one of the most well-connected families in San Francisco high society. His father, William Alfred Newsom III, was a state appeals court judge and longtime administrator of the Getty family trust, one of the wealthiest and most influential dynasties in America. Newsom spent his life surrounded by privilege, attending elite Catholic schools, and rubbing shoulders with California’s political and business tycoons — hardly the “Wonder Bread and peanut butter” struggle he described on All the Smoke.
It’s not the first time a prominent Democrat has tried to rewrite their biography to appear more relatable. During her 2024 presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed she worked at McDonald’s and cooked collard greens “in a bathtub” — stories that were immediately called into question and are widely believed to be false.
Democrats’ Code-Switching Problem
The interview revived a familiar critique of Democratic politicians — the tendency to “code-switch” depending on the audience. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have faced similar criticism for adopting folksy or urban cadences in certain settings.
Barnes and Jackson — both known for their unfiltered takes — didn’t call it out. Instead, they nodded along, laughing and encouraging Newsom’s story.
Setting the Stage for 2028
If nothing else, Newsom’s appearance on All The Smoke underscores his growing comfort with the national spotlight.
But the backlash suggests a recurring problem for Democrats trying to win back younger and working-class male voters: authenticity. When a polished politician tries to shed the prestige of their upbringing to manufacture common ground that doesn’t exist, it tends to backfire.
If Kamala Harris’ campaign is any indicator, this probably won’t be his last accent or unbelievable anecdote.