Megyn Kelly, the renowned journalist, recently advised Mike Rowe to decline an invitation to feature on California Governor Gavin Newsom's podcast.
Kelly suggested that Newsom, a Democrat, was merely using his interactions with conservatives as a training ground for his potential presidential run in 2028.
According to Mediaite, Rowe disclosed during a conversation about former First Lady Michelle Obama's podcast that he had been invited to Newsom's newly established show. The Governor of California has been engaging with conservative commentators like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk on his podcast. "He's running for president," Kelly stated, referring to Newsom's podcasting endeavors.
Rowe, seeking Kelly's advice, asked, "He invited me on. What do you think I should do?" Kelly responded firmly, "I don't support it." She expressed her belief that Newsom was exploiting these opportunities to hone his debating skills against potential Republican nominees in the 2028 elections.
Rowe then posed a hypothetical scenario, "Even if someone goes on and cleans his clock?" Both Kelly and Rowe concurred that Kirk had performed well in his interview with Newsom, during which the governor had even sought Kirk's "advice" for Democrats.
Kelly maintained that regardless of whether Newsom lost a debate on his podcast, it would only serve to advance his political career. She drew a parallel with the fictional scenario of Americans training Russian boxer Ivan Drago to fight Rocky Balboa. "Gavin Newsom took some blows, but emerged having learned something probably that hell be better at handling in 2028," Kelly said. "I just dont think its the job of the right to help train this guy. Why would we help train the Russian?"
Rowe, the head of mikeroweWorks Foundation and former host, played the devil's advocate by referencing the backlash liberal comedian Bill Maher faced for visiting the White House and dining with President Donald Trump. Despite Maher's subsequent criticism of Trump, he described the president as "gracious" during their meeting, which was arranged by musician Kid Rock, a staunch Trump supporter.
Kelly responded, "If the president of the United States invites you for dinner, you should go. I would have gone if it were Joe Biden, Barack Obama. In a heartbeat I would do that," to which Rowe agreed wholeheartedly.
Their conversation continued:
MIKE ROWE: Whats happening with people at that level in podcasts? Whats Gavin Newsom doing?
MEGYN KELLY: Hes running for president. That one makes more sense to me strategically. [Michelle Obama] should be in her therapists office, her brother Craig is not
ROWE: He invited me on. What do you think I should do?
KELLY: I dont support it. Well, my feeling is Gavin Newsom is using people to build up his skills so that he can more effectively debate the Republican nominee in 2028.
ROWE: Even if somebody goes on and cleans his clock.
KELLY: Yeah, which basically happened with
ROWE: Charlie Kirk.
KELLY: Charlie Kirk. But its thats not good. Gavin Newsom took some blows, but emerged having learned something probably that hell be better at handling in 2028. And I just dont think its the job of the right to help train this guy. I likened it to the Rocky versus Drago fight in . Why would we help train the Russian?
ROWE: Do you think there was an argument that went the other way when Bill Maher went to the White House? Like, you hear Larry David wrote that editorial, My Dinner with Adolf, and theres this idea that its like, look, thats a bridge too far and youre just simply lending credibility by the very proximity of your presence. I get both, you know?
KELY: I think that makes no sense. If the president of the United States invites you for dinner, you should go no matter who it is. I would have gone if it were Joe Biden, Barack Obama, I would do that.
ROWE: Absolutely.
KELLY: You get to see the White House. Trump is very hes a gratuitous when you come there here. Hes gracious is the word Im looking for. He gives everybody a tour. It seems like almost everybody is shown the Lincoln Bedroom. Who wouldnt want to see that?
This exchange underscores the strategic maneuvers in the political landscape, where even casual conversations on podcasts can serve as training grounds for future political battles. It also highlights the importance of maintaining one's principles, even when faced with enticing opportunities.
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