When Halle Berry took the stage at The New York Times DealBook Summit in New York on December 4, 2025, she didn’t mince words. The Oscar-winning actress and outspoken women’s health advocate delivered a pointed critique of California Governor Gavin Newsom, lambasting him for vetoing a menopause care bill—twice. Her message was clear, and it reverberated well beyond the conference hall: "Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one but two years in a row," Berry told the audience. "But that’s okay, because he’s not going to be governor forever. And with the way he’s overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us in midlife, he probably should not be our next president either."
Berry’s remarks, delivered with passion and precision, zeroed in on Newsom’s decision to veto the Menopause Care Equity Act—known as AB 432—for the second consecutive year, most recently in October 2025. The legislation aimed to expand healthcare coverage and education for women experiencing menopause symptoms, and would have mandated that health plans and insurers provide recommendations for menopause-related treatments. It also required additional training for healthcare professionals on menopause care, according to a press release from Assemblymember Bauer-Kahn, the bill’s sponsor.
The issue has struck a nerve not only in California but across the country, as the conversation touches on broader themes of women’s health equity, the rising cost of healthcare, and the political ambitions of one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures. As rumors swirl about Newsom’s potential run for the White House in 2028, Berry’s critique has added a new wrinkle to the governor’s carefully managed public profile.
Governor Newsom, for his part, was also present at the DealBook Summit and responded to Berry’s comments with a mix of conciliation and explanation. According to TMZ, Newsom said he had spoken with Berry’s manager and that they were "reconciling" the issue, noting, "I’ve included it in the budget next year. She didn’t know that." His spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, reiterated the governor’s rationale for the veto: "The Governor has deep admiration for Ms. Berry’s advocacy and looks forward to working with her and other stakeholders on this critical issue. He shares her goal of expanding access to menopause care that too many women struggle to get. He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and working families already stretched thin—something he’s determined to avoid. We’re confident that by working together this year, we can expand access to essential menopause treatment while protecting women from higher bills."
The core of the disagreement comes down to costs and priorities. Newsom has repeatedly argued that the Menopause Care Equity Act, as drafted, was "too far-reaching" and could drive up insurance premiums for families already struggling with healthcare expenses. Berry, meanwhile, has countered that insurance premiums would not be substantially changed by the bill, and that the veto represents "a failure of Gov. Newsom’s commitment to women," as she wrote in a recent Time Magazine column. She has called for Newsom and other policymakers to step up and advocate for more research and care for women’s health issues, particularly those affecting women in midlife.
The debate has drawn in voices across the political and cultural spectrum. On December 5, 2025, Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, defended Newsom against Berry’s criticism, arguing that the governor was justified in his actions and touting his record of defending women. "In an effort to keep healthcare costs down, he has to veto it because they’re not tailoring the bill, and he has done a lot for women," Hostin said. She cited Newsom’s recent legislative actions, including signing measures that allow healthcare providers to prescribe abortion medication anonymously, require state-regulated health plans to cover abortion pills regardless of federal approval, and increase legal protections for providers against criminal prosecution. Hostin also noted Newsom’s efforts to regulate ingredients in products used by women, such as hair and menstrual products and prenatal vitamins. "He has done a lot for women, but he is thinking about the health of the country and the rising costs of healthcare," she concluded.
Newsom’s political balancing act is nothing new. He has made a name for himself by standing up to the Trump administration and positioning California as a bulwark against conservative policies on issues ranging from homelessness to redistricting. According to a press release cited by Mediaite, California limited its homelessness increase to 3% in 2024, compared to a national increase of over 18%, and the state achieved the nation’s largest reduction in veteran homelessness. Newsom has also supported a Supreme Court decision giving local governments more authority to clear homeless encampments, a move aimed at reassuring both progressive and moderate voters that California’s deep-rooted problems will be addressed with care and pragmatism.
But Newsom’s approach has not been without controversy. While he’s sought to reassure the left that issues like homelessness and women’s health will be addressed, he’s also communicated to moderates and centrists that disorder and unsustainable spending will not be tolerated. This tightrope walk is evident in his evolving rhetoric. At the DealBook Summit, Newsom urged Democrats to be more "normal" and less judgmental if they want to win elections. "We have to be more culturally normal. We have to be a little less judgmental," he said, according to reporting from the summit. Newsom, who once championed marriage equality and LGBTQ rights, has become more centrist in recent years, questioning aspects of "woke culture" and expressing opposition to certain trans issues, such as trans women competing in women’s sports. He’s also launched his own podcast, using it as a platform to discuss economic inequality, the challenges facing younger generations, and the need for a "compelling economic vision."
When pressed about his presidential ambitions, Newsom has been coy but not dismissive. At the summit, he stated, "I’m trying to meet this moment, and I’m trying to be accountable to this moment." He admitted that he has considered a 2028 run, but insisted, "Not to the degree that you think, and perhaps others that are more cynical. I really am serious about this. For me, it was all about 2025, fighting fire with fire. It was about being accountable, not just rhetorically, but substantively, to address what Donald Trump is trying to do to this country." In October, he told CBS News he would give a White House bid "serious consideration," but not until after the 2026 midterm elections.
The political stakes are high. As Newsom weighs a possible presidential run, his record on issues like women’s health, homelessness, and economic inequality will be scrutinized by supporters and critics alike. For many, the debate over the Menopause Care Equity Act is emblematic of a broader struggle over priorities, values, and the future direction of the Democratic Party. Whether Newsom’s attempts to bridge the gap between progressives and centrists will succeed—or whether the criticism from figures like Halle Berry will leave a lasting mark—remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the conversation about women’s health, healthcare costs, and political leadership is far from over.
