The Bay Area-Silicon Valley Summit turned into a political thunderdome this week, where Governor Gavin Newsom and former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway traded verbal punches about California’s future and national politics.

The event was a spicy mix of partisan perspectives that had tech executives and political junkies on the edge of their seats. Conway, still riding the Trump train, defended her former boss’s policies with the enthusiasm of a die-hard fan, while Newsom served up some classic California comeback energy.

The Trump Defense Squad

Conway didn’t hold back, praising Trump’s approach to government efficiency and border security. She claimed border crossings were down and criminality was reduced, painting a rosy picture of the Trump administration that felt more like fan fiction than policy analysis. Her defense of tariffs as a revenue-raising mechanism seemed more like wishful thinking in a room full of skeptical Bay Area professionals.

Newsom’s Reality Check

Newsom, not one to be outdone, fired back with some harsh truths. He described the current political landscape as “America in reverse,” criticizing what he sees as a regression to pre-1960s policies. The governor didn’t shy away from tough talk about California’s challenges, especially calling out the housing crisis and pushing for aggressive homeless encampment clearances.

A Fragile Political Truce

Interestingly, both speakers seemed to recognize the need for some political olive branch waving. Newsom spoke about working across party lines and even admitted the Democratic Party needs some serious soul-searching after recent election losses. Conway, meanwhile, talked about finding common ground - a refreshing moment of potential bipartisan sanity in an otherwise divided political landscape.

As the summit wrapped up, one thing was clear: California’s political drama is far from over, and the Bay Area remains the epicenter of some of the most fascinating political conversations in the country.