Is Gavin Newsom stuck in political purgatory as California's lt. governor?

Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom delivers a speech inside City Hall in San Francisco, after the US Supreme Court made their ruling on gay marriage on June 26, 2013. The US Supreme Court struck down The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) today, and declared that same-sex couples who are legally married deserve equal rights to the benefits under federal law that go to all other married couples. In another ruling, the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California as the justices, in a prcedural ruling, turned away the defenders of Proposition 8.

Filling in while Gov. Brown is away is one of the top duties of the lieutenant governor. In fact, it's one of the only things a lieutenant governor does. That may mean Gavin Newsom feels a bit bored, to say the least.

For the next two weeks, Gavin Newsom is in charge while Governor Jerry Brown goes on vacation in Europe. Filling in while the head honcho is away is one of the top duties of the lieutenant governor.

In fact, it's one of the only things a lieutenant governor does. That may mean Gavin Newsom feels a bit bored, to say the least.

The former mayor of San Francisco was once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, but these days, he seems stuck in political purgatory. L.A. Times reporter Michael Mishak joins the show to tell us why.