Michael Ian Black, a comedian and CNN podcaster, isn’t thrilled about California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s online meme campaign aimed at President Donald Trump. He dislikes the notion of turning politicians into “cartoons.”
Black co-hosts the left-leaning, CNN-sponsored podcast Have I Got News for You with comedians Roy Wood, Jr., and Amber Ruffin. The show featured guest panelists comedian Dave Foley and Texas Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
In one episode segment, Wood asked the panel’s opinions on Gov. Newsom’s meme barrage. Newsom’s campaign team is inundating the Internet with ridiculous memes targeting Trump and praising Newsom as he prepares for a potential 2028 presidential run.
But, as it happens, Michael Ian Black is not a big fan of Newsom’s silly meme war.
“Uh, I hate this. I know I’m in the minority on this. I hate that he’s doing this. Because I hate that we’re reducing our politicians to cartoon characters. I don’t give a shit how well you control online. Do your fucking job. That’s what I care about,” Black expressed regarding Newsom’s online strategy.
Naturally, Rep. Crockett disagreed with Black, though in so doing didn’t see her own hypocrisy laid bare.
“Listen, and he’s my partner. This is my partner. We’re on the same team,” she said about Black. “But at the same time, your response was that MAGA is losing it right now.”
“And they’re like, ‘This is immature.’ Yes, that’s what we’ve been saying. That is what we’re trying to get you to see. It is immature. It is ignorant. And it does not prove that you should be holding the nuclear codes. like we want you to do better next time,” she remarked concerning the message to MAGA supporters.
Yet, even though she pronounced everything Newsom is doing to be “ignorant” and “immature,” she immaturely condones it as an “in your face” move.”
“So yes, I think it is necessary because we are putting a good old mirror up in your face to make you understand that y’all been supporting a real ignorant fool this whole time,” she quixotically exclaimed.
For his part, Canadian comedian Dave Foley thought Black’s desire to make politics a serious business was quaint. ” I think Michael’s antique desire for integrity is adorable,” he replied.
A few minutes later, Black returned to his criticism of Newsom’s online campaign and called the California Go. a “baby” who is “sucking at the teat of public attention.”
Black said others are replying in serious tones about today’s issues, “but doing it in a way that is mature, intelligent, rational, reasonable, and doesn’t come across like he’s just a needy little baby sucking at the teat of public attention, which I think is what Gavin Newsom is doing.”
But Amber Ruffin was not convinced. She insisted we don’t need the votes of people who appreciate a rational political discussion.
“Those people already vote Democrat,” she bellowed. “We don’t need their votes. We need the idiot votes. Let’s get stupid. Let’s do stupid memes. Let’s have cartoons.”
