Ron DeSantis is “fundamentally authoritarian”, but Donald Trump’s quest for “vengeance” poses an even greater threat to democracy, California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said on Sunday.

Newsom took aim at the leading two candidates for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination during a hard-hitting and wide-ranging interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, the final episode with its long-time host Chuck Todd.

“I worry about democracy,” he said. “I worry about the fetishness for autocracy that we’re seeing not just from Trump, but around the world, and notably across this country.

“I’ve made the point about DeSantis that I think he’s functionally authoritarian. I’m worried more, in many respects, about Trumpism, which transcends well beyond his term and time in tenure.”

Newsom added: “The vengeance in Donald Trump’s heart right now is more of a threat.”

  • @some_guy
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    2610 months ago

    “Her term expires – she’s not running for re-election. So this time next year we’ll be in a very different place. I don’t want to make another appointment, and I don’t think the people of California want me to make another appointment.

    Excuse me, I’m a Californian and I want her ass outta there last week.

    • SpaceBar
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      2110 months ago

      Dianne Feinstein is the majority vote on the judiciary committee. Her vote is the only reason liberal judges are being appointed.

      If she resigns, the committee goes to 50 - 50 Democrat / Republican. To replace her on the committee with someone appointed by Newsom, the Republicans would have to agree.

      There is ZERO chance Republicans would allow anyone to join the committee and break that 50/50 tie. Republicans only want conservative judges appointed.

      After the blatant partisan moves by Mitch McConnell with the Supreme Court, do you really think anything else would happen?

    • roguetrick
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      1210 months ago

      When he says the people of California he means his donors, and when he says they don’t want him to make an appointment he means they have too many different people they want him to appoint and doing so would piss too many off.

      • gregorum
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        410 months ago

        He just committed to not appointing anyone currently running for office, should Feinstein not finish her term for whatever reason.