In a recent episode of her 'Next Question' podcast, journalist Katie Couric questioned California Governor Gavin Newsom about whether his appearance hinders his political authenticity. The exchange referenced a Vogue profile describing him as 'embarrassingly handsome.' Newsom, who faces term limits this year, responded by emphasizing his genuine self.
Katie Couric, the first woman to solo-host the CBS Evening News, featured California Governor Gavin Newsom on her podcast 'Next Question.' The interview covered policy topics but included a lighthearted segment on Newsom's public image.
Couric asked, 'Do you have a Zoolander problem? Are you just ridiculously good looking as Vogue said? What do you do about that?' Newsom replied, 'You don’t do anything about it…It’s just who I am.' He elaborated, laughing, 'Oh, Jesus,' and added, 'Because if you’re going to do something about it then you’re bullsh*tting people. You know what? I am who I am. It’s fine. You don’t have to like me.' Couric noted that she raised the point in relation to Newsom's emphasis on authenticity, suggesting it sometimes works against him. Newsom repeated, 'Yeah, it’s just who I am.'
This discussion followed a Vogue Spring 2026 profile by Maya Singer, which stated, 'Let’s get this out of the way: He is embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence as he delivers his final State of the State address.' The article described Newsom as 'lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque,' and mentioned his family and background as a self-made millionaire leading California for seven years.
Couric used the clip in her podcast introduction, captioning it on YouTube: 'California Governor Gavin Newsom has spent his career outrunning a public image that reduces him to a caricature—slick, ambitious, and impossibly polished.' Newsom is set to leave office due to term limits at the end of the year and is widely expected to pursue a presidential run in 2028.
