Gavin Newsom’s ‘Brat Summer’

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of trolling people online. I am not a huge fan when Trump does it, and not a fan when others do or try to do it either. 

But I have to admit that it has worked well for him, and if done well, it can be a very effective tool in the political toolbox. 

Democrats can’t do it well. It’s a variation of the “Democrats can’t meme” phenomenon.

your husband keeps poop and porn in his pockets. kinda weird.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 17, 2025

Kamala Harris’ campaign tried to ignite her campaign with “Brat Summer,” and it was totally inorganic. Kamala Harris as cool is as plausible as, well, me being a fashion icon. No matter how much push the media gives the meme, it is so absurd and inorganic that it cannot stick. 

Man, that whole “No Kings” thing lasted about five minutes, didn’t it? https://t.co/kgNXWOJGVn

— Amy Curtis (@RantyAmyCurtis) August 17, 2025

Newsom, who is looking for a lane to run in for the 2028 Democratic Party nomination, tried the “moderate Democrat” lane for a moment, but found that it only alienated liberals and gained him nothing with sane people, so he dropped that idea like a hot coal. He’s no longer sitting down with conservative icons discussing the nuances of putting boys in girls’ locker rooms, because telling people he understands their concerns while shoving the alphabet policies down everybody’s throats is a political loser. 

Pro tip for Trump: If you want to master the deal, try walking in like you own the room. pic.twitter.com/Xnr4GdfiWq

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025

So his current shtick is being an alternate universe Trump. His goal, as far as I can gather, is to trigger Trump or at least MAGA influencers and to give liberals the impression that he is a fighter. He is the Democrat who can take on Trump and the Republicans, so everybody should rally behind him. 

WOW! WHAT AN HONOR! ON MOUNT RUSHMORE, THANK YOU!! — GCN https://t.co/Y7Govaliwz

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025

A lot of media folks are echoing that Narrative™, and paid social media influencers are doing the “Brat Summer” strategy–creating an inorganic echo chamber that makes it appear that a movement is being born. 

I ACCEPT! — GCN pic.twitter.com/DLWF65DraJ

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025

In a sense, a movement is happening, but the sort of movement that leaves a big pile of crap when it is finished. Nobody in MAGA is being triggered, and I have to wonder what group of people outside the MSNBC (or MSNOW, now) crowd are excited to see Newsom pretend to be an alternate universe Trump. 

A highly anticipated “showdown” https://t.co/dKbAFiTEVl pic.twitter.com/Td8WZsjTsC

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025

Personally, I feel a bit like I would after evil Spock hit me with an agonizer, only one turned to minimum setting. I am a bit repelled, but only in the way that looking at a Brutalist building or Barack Obama’s Presidential Library would make me feel. 

so nice! pic.twitter.com/mkOMRvAalh

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 17, 2025

Mild disgust is, I think, the best way to put it. Mixed in with a bit of contempt for the greasy douchebag. 

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT pic.twitter.com/lm1AjI6S2K

— sean (@_sn_n) August 18, 2025

Some of Newsom’s “influencers” are trying to rag on J.D. Vance, but those memes, if anything, are worse than the ones Newsom’s press office is putting out. Newsom looks like that jerk you hated in high school, and Vance like the kid you liked to hang out with. 

Newsom looks uncannily like the rich kid villain in every 80s teen movie. Vance looks like a normal kid. https://t.co/zyvgBMIIKM

— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) August 18, 2025

Gavin Newsom vs JD Vance after high school graduation https://t.co/6JVYM7cOYW pic.twitter.com/uaQfJhdXO2

— KelFitton (@KelFitton) August 18, 2025

Nobody I knew in High School wanted to be around the Gavin Newsom-types, who projected arrogance and the kind of ambition that made you wonder whose soul he would sell to the Devil to get ahead. 

In any John Hughes movie from the 80s, Newsom would be the villain. His dad was the California attorney for Getty Oil, and clearly, Gavin used some of that product to make his hair perfect. He looks smug and self-satisfied. Vance, having grown up poor and in a very troubled family, made something of himself through sheer grit and determination. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s tweets are written by these two pic.twitter.com/OJGbAHepfk

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 19, 2025

Perhaps the guy born on third base with the slick hair and vineyard is what the Democrats want, but they also want the votes of people who work for a living. Nobody in the working class looks at Gavin and identifies with him. 

Expect that this style will fizzle out. It will get tiresome fast, and Newsom will be on to the next thing. 

Until then, enjoy Brat Summer. 

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