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SAN DIEGO -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a new baby, and it's the talk of the state.

Newsom recently launched a video podcast, and he's done a great job of getting it the oxygen necessary for every one of the more than 3 million shows that currently populate the podcast universe: publicity.

No surprise there. As those of us who are lucky enough to live in California already know, Newsom is not just a gifted politician but also a master salesman. And the product he loves to sell most is coincidentally the one thing that he loves most: himself.

The Democrat failed in his two terms of governor because of a string of boneheaded decisions. At the top of the list: closing the public schools for more than a year and retreating to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, not for the safety of students but to do the bidding of powerful teachers unions whose members were afraid to return to the classroom.

Yet, as California Republicans know firsthand, Newsom's political skills are razor-sharp. Underestimate him at your peril. Think former President Bill Clinton with a modicum of discipline. Or President Donald Trump with a functioning brain.

The podcast -- titled "This is Gavin Newsom" -- allows the governor to pitch himself to the nation as a viable Democratic presidential nominee for 2028. It also presents himself as someone who will buy into new ideas, new messaging and a new approach if he gets a good pitch from someone he normally disagrees with.

Which brings us to the first way that Newsom has received attention for the podcast, which in turn brings attention to him. He invites onto the show conservative activists, Republican operatives and right-wing media personalities and then tries to find out what makes them tick. Already, he has interviewed Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and far-right conservative talk radio host Michael Savage.

Also, Newsom uses those interviews with conservative Republicans to publicly challenge Democratic orthodoxy and skewer sacred cows of the left. For instance, in March, during his conversation with Kirk, Newsom -- who has long advocated for the LGBTQ+ community -- called it "deeply unfair" for transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports. The fact that Newsom can think outside the box will make it harder for Republicans to put him in one.

Finally, Newsom also snags eyeballs by acknowledging that some criticism of the Democratic Party is valid. He thinks Democrats need to connect with everyday Americans, who liberals either talk down to or lord over. He is not fond of open borders, cancel culture, defunding the police or using the word "Latinx" to describe Latinos. In fact, during a recent appearance on HBO's "Real Time," he told host Bill Maher "the Democratic brand is toxic right now."

"It's one thing to make noise, but you also have to make sense. And I think what this podcast and having the opportunity to dialog with people I disagree with, it's an opportunity to try to find common ground and not take cheap shots," Newsom told Maher.

Newsom is not wrong about the Democratic Party facing hard times -- not to mention terrible polling numbers.

In a recent CNN poll, the favorability of the Democratic Party fell to just 29% - the lowest approval rating the poll has recorded since 1992. The same poll shows Republicans with a 36% approval rating.

During interviews, I'm often asked what I think ails Democrats and which magic elixir I believe will cure it.

The Democrats are lying flat on the mat because they have terrible candidates, champion so-called "80-20" issues (where they enjoy the support of just 1 in 5 voters) and fail miserably in terms of messaging. Worse than all that, they don't who to be anymore.

The fix is -- well, never mind. It really doesn't matter what I say, or what Newsom says, or what anyone says. Because Democrats are really bad at listening. They tune out criticism, even the constructive sort. Dissent from the ranks is not tolerated, and those who engage in it risk being punished. Most Democrats are only interested in hearing praise from those who agree with them. That's all they can handle.

By the way, all that makes Democrats a perfect match for Republicans who are exactly the same way.

The ancient Chinese proverb dictates that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

It's obvious that Democrats aren't ready to learn how to start winning. So they might as well get comfortable with losing.

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To find out more about Ruben Navarrette and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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