Gavin Newsom Wants It. Do Democrats?

Plus: A toast to ‘East of Eden’; ‘Digger’; Lagerfeld’s shadow at Chanel; Trump’s government-funded campaign commercials

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September 30, 2026

Have you perhaps thought some unkind thoughts about Gavin Newsom in the last, oh, 20-odd years? The governor of California is aware. He knows you think he’s too slick; he knows you’re wondering how he could lead the nation when the Golden State is still a hotbed of income inequality, homelessness, and people who say “hella.” Still, he makes the case for himself in a new profile by Joe Hagan. The story is stuffed with rich detail and quotes like this on whether Newsom considers himself part of the establishment: “Well, I’m not. I’m not. I mean, I’ve been at this awhile. To the extent I’m established, in that context—but I’m notoriously a disrupter at heart. I’ve never been for the status quo. Quite the contrary. I have a record that consistently challenges the status quo, and I tend to take risks to a degree that few elected officials do.” Read the whole thing, then decide whether you’re going to take him at his word. Elsewhere, I review Tom Cruise’s new movie (the TL;DR: bad, but in a sort of interesting way?); the White House tells Savannah Walsh, with a straight face, that Trump’s new ads are “not political;” and Chris Murphy takes us inside the party VF threw to toast to our new cover star, Florence Pugh. (Well, technically he takes you inside; I was actually there too.) More tomorrow!

HILLARY BUSIS FEATURES EDITOR

Gavin Newsom Is Ready for His Next Act. Will Democrats Ever Give Him a Shot at the White House?   By Joe Hagan

As the governor looks beyond California, he opens up about his political ambitions, his vision for the country, and why he's chosen Bill Clinton as his 2028 spirit animal. Read more

Why this ad?

SCENE REPORT Florence Pugh, Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Vanity Fair, and More Toast to East of Eden   By Chris Murphy   Ahead of East of Eden’s premiere, an intimate crowd gathered at San Vicente in New York to toast to Zoe Kazan’s adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel starring Vanity Fair’s latest cover star. Read more

HOLLYWOOD   Digger, Tom Cruise’s Comeback Vehicle, Is Haunted by the Ghost of the Old Tom Cruise   By Hillary Busis   Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new film is the most interesting movie Cruise has made in 15 years—but it might not spark the renaissance Cruise seems to hope it will. Read more

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BOOKS   Virginie Viard Details Her Relationship With Karl Lagerfeld and Being Haunted by His Memory   By Olivier Bouchara   In a bombshell book, Un regard: Une vie chez Chanel, the former artistic director of Chanel describes the devastation of being reduced to an “intermission” and painstakingly attempts to carve out her own place in the fashion house’s history. Read more

Why this ad?

NEWS   The Widow’s Peak   By Clara Molot   One year after Charlie Kirk’s murder, the MAGA movement is fracturing and the future of Turning Point USA—the influential and lucrative conservative youth organization he founded at 18—is uncertain. His politically reluctant widow now finds herself both its leader and a victim of the conspiracy mentality Kirk fomented. With unprecedented access to her world, Clara Molot set out to answer the question: Who is Erika Kirk? Read more

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Technology — Senate Dems block data center bill

View Online Technology Technology The Big Story  Democrats block data center bill in Senate Senate Democrats blocked a bill that seeks to address data center electricity costs, calling it ineffective and “toothless.” Though the legislation passed the House with significant bipartisan support.  © Greg Nash Democrats did not provide the Ratepayer Protection Act with the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, blocking it in a procedural vote on Wednesday, 57-43.   Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) voted with Republicans in favor of the bill.   Ossoff faces a tough Senate race in November, while Klobuchar is running for governor of Minnesota.   The measure, which has been pushed in the Senate by vulnerable Republican Sen. Jon Husted (Ohio), would force states to consider adopting standards to make tech companies pay for the additional electricity costs caused by data centers.   It does not actually force states to adopt these standards and could ultimately lead to no action, which is why its detractors are calling the legislation ineffective.   Democrats have said the chamber should instead take up legislation that makes Big Tech cover the cost.   “Americans are demanding real guardrails on AI and data centers, but all the Republicans offer is a toothless messaging bill. The bill is a fraud. I can sum up the shortcomings of the Republican data center bill with one word: optional. The bill is optional,” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday on the Senate floor.   The legislation’s supporters note that, while it won’t fix the entire data center energy cost problem, it could spur consideration of such standards in states that were not already taking action.   The Hill's Rachel Frazin has more here. Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, we’re Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: Paul blocks push to unanimously pass Kids Online Safety Act Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an effort from Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Wednesday to pass by unanimous consent the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a long-sought bill aimed at protecting kids in the digital space.  KOSA, which aims to hold social media companies accountable for the alleged harms the platforms cause for minors and young kids, has long had support from the majority of …  Full Story CFTC is investigating Kinzinger’s Kalshi trades related to Biden pardons The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) launched an investigation into former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) over Kalshi trades related to pardons issued by former President Biden. The prediction market account — which was allegedly linked to the former lawmaker — made transactions between December 2024 and January 2025 concerning whether Kinzinger would receive a pardon, according to Politico, citing three people with …  Full Story Jeffries knocks Trump opposition to AI guardrails House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday knocked President Trump for opposing federal limits on the development of AI.  Jeffries said Trump’s approach of allowing the AI industry to police itself is a classic — and dangerous — case of letting the fox guard the henhouse.  “The notion of entering into a voluntary agreement that is entirely unenforceable, and that allows the industry writ large to police …  Full Story Boeing’s Starliner set for uncrewed test flight in December (NewsNation) — NASA is planning an uncrewed test flight of Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule for the end of the year, pushing ahead with the project after a failed crewed test flight. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced Monday that NASA would be putting extra money and support behind the project after its “Type A mishap,” a designation used for the most severe problems. An improved Starliner is set …  Full Story The Refresh  News we’ve flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: Meta disputes claim that Muse read a user's private messages without permission (TechCrunch) Wall Street's hopes for a blockbuster IPO season are fading (The Wall Street Journal)  In Other News  Branch out with other reads on The Hill: Trump finds close ally in Nvidia’s Huang at key AI juncture Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is becoming one of President Trump’s fiercest allies on AI at a critical juncture for the industry. Full Story Op-eds in The Hill Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: Debunking political fearmongering over data centers    You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Technology page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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