Progressives tell Newsom to 'grow a spine' after he walks back on ICE 'te**orism' remark

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: California Gov Gavin Newsom is facing sharp backlash from progressives after walking back his administration’s description of ICE as engaging in “state-sponsored te**orism,” language his press office used following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.

The criticism erupted after, during a recent episode of his podcast 'This Is Gavin Newsom', the Democrat agreed with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro that calling ICE “te**orists” is a step too far.

From ‘state-sponsored te**orism’ to ‘that’s fair’

The controversy stems from a January 7 incident in Minneapolis, where an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three. 

According to reports, the agent stepped in front of Good's vehicle and shot her in the head as she attempted to drive away.

Video footage captured the agent referring to Good as a “f*****g bitch,” and witnesses said federal agents blocked emergency medical services from reaching her.

In the aftermath, Newsom’s press office described the killing and ICE’s conduct as “state-sponsored te**orism,” a characterization that resonated with critics of the agency. 

However, on his podcast, Newsom retreated from that framing.

Shapiro pointed out that Newsom's press office has used the phrase "state-sponsored te**orism," adding that such rhetoric worsens political discourse.  

"Your press office tweeted out that it was state-sponsored terrorism, which, I mean, Governor, I just have to ask you about that. That sort of thing makes our politics worse, and it does,” the conservative commentator said.

“Yeah,” Newsom replied, and Shapiro added, “Our ICE officers obviously are not te**orists. A tragic situation is not state-sponsored te**orism.”

“Yeah, I think that’s fair,” the California governor responded.

A clip of the exchange, amplified by Shapiro’s outlet The Daily Wire, spread rapidly, triggering backlash from the left. 

Gavin Newsom boasts about cooperation with ICE

During the podcast, Shapiro challenged California’s reputation as a “sanctuary state” and suggested it should “cooperate with ICE in the vast majority of cases.” Newsom replied, “That’s exactly what they do in California.”

He further claimed that "there have been over 10,000” deportations during his tenure as governor, adding that California has likely worked with ICE transfers more than other states. 

“California has cooperated with more ICE transfers, probably, than any other state in the country,” Newsom said, adding, “I vetoed multiple pieces of legislation that have come from my legislature to stop the ability for the state of California to do that.”

Advocates have long criticized California’s sanctuary laws, arguing that they still allow cooperation leading to deportations of individuals who were never convicted of crimes or whose cases were dismissed.

Newsom has vetoed at least two Democratic-backed bills aimed at tightening those restrictions: one in 2019 and another in 2023.

Gavin Newsom rejects calls to abolish ICE

Shapiro also pressed Newsom on whether he supported calls from some Democrats calling to abolish ICE following Good’s death, including Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“I disagree,” Newsom said. He added, “I believe a candidate for president by the name of Harris said that in the last campaign. I remember later saying, ‘I think that’s a mistake.’”

That claim drew pushback. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has never called to abolish ICE and said as far back as 2018, “ICE has a purpose. ICE has a role. ICE should exist.” 

Progressives ask Newsom to 'stop chasing Republican moderates' 

Newsom's remarks sparked widespread criticism from progressive activists and commentators. 

Several accused the governor of political weakness and attempting to appease conservatives at the expense of his base. Others warned his performance raised concerns about his national viability. Left-wing commentator Mason, host of 'One Hand Politics', called Newsom’s posture politically disastrous.

“This is an unbelievably stupid move from Gavin Newsom,” he wrote, urging the governor to “grow a fu**ing spine and stop chasing Republican moderates that don’t exist. They all hate you.”

Brian Tashman, a strategist at the ACLU, added that Newsom is “not willing to push back against Ben Shapiro but will push back against labor organizers trying to enact a billionaire tax that would affect a few hundred people.”

Joe Mayall, another progressive commentator, framed the episode as a warning for 2028.

“If you get cooked by Ben Shapiro,” he wrote, “you don’t have a chance against Vance.”

The backlash comes as public opinion appears to be shifting. An Economist/YouGov poll released earlier this week found that for the first time, more Americans support abolishing ICE (46%) than oppose it (43%). Among Democratic-leaning respondents, 80% supported the abolition of ICE. 

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