You really can't make this stuff up anymore. Picture the Governor of California, a man usually seen in sharp suits behind a mahogany desk, hunched over a Nintendo Switch trying to figure out how to jump out of a flying bus. On October 3, 2025, Gavin Newsom actually joined streamer ConnorEatsPants for an episode of Fortnite Friday. It wasn't just a quick cameo either. It was an hour of pure, unadulterated digital chaos that felt like watching a dad try to use a VCR for the first time, except the VCR is a global gaming phenomenon and the dad is a potential presidential contender.
The stream was weird. Honestly, that’s the only way to describe it. Newsom logged in under the handle CAGovXL, and let’s just say his gaming skills won’t be winning him any esports trophies. He spent a good chunk of the time just spectating after getting eliminated almost immediately. He even complained about "stick drift" on his Switch, which is a classic gamer excuse, but in this case, it might have actually been true.
The "On My Hands and Knees" Moment
If you were watching the Twitch chat during the broadcast, it was a total furnace. Newsom kept saying he was "on my hands and knees" while trying to navigate the game mechanics. He clearly meant he was struggling or being metaphorically humble about his lack of skill. The internet, being the internet, took that phrase and ran with it. Twitch chat was absolutely losing its mind. Newsom seemed completely oblivious to the double entendre, which just made the whole thing feel more authentic and, frankly, more awkward.
The governor wasn't just there to play, though. He was there to talk. It’s no secret that the Democratic party feels like it’s losing the "attention economy." Newsom basically admitted as much, asking, "Where the hell is my party?" He pointed out that Republicans are absolutely crushing it on podcasts and alternative media while Democrats are stuck in their old-school silos.
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What They Actually Talked About
Between the gunfights and the looting, the conversation took some sharp turns. Connor, who is known for lulling guests into a false sense of security with his "unserious" backdrop, didn't hold back. They covered a massive range of topics:
- Foreign Policy: They got into a real back-and-forth about the Gaza war. Newsom stuck to his guns on the two-state solution, even when Connor pushed him on the reality of the situation on the ground.
- Trans Rights: This was a tense one. Connor challenged Newsom on his stance regarding trans athletes, pointing out that the numbers of trans athletes in scholastic sports are tiny and that the issue is often weaponized.
- The Saudi/EA Deal: They even talked about the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s acquisition of Electronic Arts. Newsom was asking Connor what young gamers actually thought about it.
- Housing: The chat kept spamming questions about SB 79, a major housing bill in California. Newsom acknowledged it, saying it was on his desk and he was reviewing it.
It’s kind of wild to hear a governor talk about a "two-state solution" while his character is wearing a Snoop Dogg skin and getting shot at by a 12-year-old from Ohio.
Why Do This?
You’ve gotta wonder what the strategy was here. Newsom mentioned that his kids were finally impressed by him. "I've got three out of my four kids that finally think that I am somebody," he joked. But beyond the "cool dad" points, this was a blatant attempt to reach Gen Z men. This demographic has been drifting away from the Democrats, and Newsom is clearly trying to figure out how to get them back.
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He made some "fellow kids" mistakes, for sure. He made a reference to Pong, which is about as dated as a reference can get in a Fortnite stream. He also tried to coin some nicknames, calling JD Vance "Just Dance Vance." It was cringey, but in that specific way that politicians are always cringey when they try to be hip.
The Hardware Struggle
One of the funniest parts of the night was the technical side. Newsom was playing on a Nintendo Switch, which isn't exactly the "pro" way to play Fortnite. He had trouble connecting to the lobby, accidentally joined public servers without Connor, and was frequently separated from his squad on the map. At one point, they got "stream sniped"—which basically means people were watching the stream to find out where they were in the game so they could kill them. Connor explained it, and Newsom just replied, "That ain't right."
Breaking the Silo
The Fortnite Friday appearance wasn't a one-off fluke. It’s part of a broader trend where Newsom is trying to bypass traditional news outlets. He’s been on various podcasts, some even hosted by people who don't like him. He’s clearly realized that the old way of doing press releases and staged town halls is dead. If you want to talk to people under 30, you have to go where they are.
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Whether it worked is up for debate. Some critics called it a "flop," saying he appeared self-absorbed and didn't take enough interest in Connor as a person. Others saw it as a brilliant, if slightly messy, first step into a new world.
What This Means for the Future
Expect more of this. Not just from Newsom, but from everyone. The "Battle Bus" is the new stump speech. If you want to understand why this matters, look at the engagement numbers. While a standard CNN interview might get a few hundred thousand views, these streams live on in clips, TikToks, and memes for weeks.
If you're looking to follow the fallout or watch the highlights, here is what you can do next:
- Check the VOD: The full stream is usually archived on the ConnorEatsPants LIVE YouTube channel. It’s worth a watch just for the "hands and knees" moments.
- Watch the Mood Board: Connor uses a "mood board" for his interviews instead of a list of questions. The Newsom one featured everything from Taylor Swift to the Israeli flag. It's a masterclass in chaotic visual storytelling.
- Look at the Legislation: Since the stream, Newsom has had to make hard calls on the very bills the chat was screaming about, like SB 79 and various trans health bills.
The era of the "Gamer Politician" is officially here. It’s awkward, it’s buggy, and there’s a lot of stick drift, but it’s definitely not boring.
Actionable Insights:
- To reach younger demographics, prioritize platforms like Twitch and YouTube over traditional cable.
- Expect "stream sniping" and technical hurdles when moving high-profile figures into live digital spaces.
- Authentic "failures" in gameplay often generate more engagement and "humanizing" moments than a perfect, scripted performance.
- Use interactive elements like live chat monitoring to address specific legislative concerns (like SB 79) in real-time.