All-In

Josh Shapiro on Trump, Iran War Chaos, Israel's Failure, the Economy, and 2028 Race

with Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
8 Apr 2026 22 min read 2h 1m
TL;DR

Shapiro argues that effective governance—not ideology—wins elections, pointing to Pennsylvania's economic growth, crime reduction, and permitting reforms as proof. He criticizes Trump's tariffs and tax cuts for the wealthy while defending the Democratic Party's ability to compete in 2028 by showcasing competent alternatives to chaos. The real dividing line isn't left vs. right, but whether government works for people or itself.

Key Moments
Josh Shapiro
“If we, the government, can move at the speed of business, if I can give you as a CEO predictability to know your business is going to be open in 6 months instead of 3 years, right? Because the permit took too long, then you're going to want to invest here.”
Explaining how Pennsylvania fixed its dysfunctional permitting process that was previously in the bottom five nationally
▶ 5:25
Josh Shapiro
“I mean, look, I I can't speak to how it's done in California. I'll just tell you in Pennsylvania, the way we start the conversation is by recognizing permits are critically important to economic development and to creating jobs, right?”
Addressing why Pennsylvania succeeded at permitting reform while states like California continue to struggle
▶ 5:12
Josh Shapiro
“What I would not do cuz you asked what I would do. What I would not do is what President Trump did at the federal level with an aid and assist from a whole bunch of sycophants in Congress by passing that budget bill or the beautiful budget bill or whatever the hell they call it. In effect, what they did was they gave a tax cut for those who simply do not need it, right?”
Criticizing Trump's tax cuts and their impact on Medicaid coverage and rural hospitals in Pennsylvania
▶ 18:37
Josh Shapiro
“I called Sunday evening after she and I met and had a really candid conversation uh to inform her that I did not want to be considered. I thought she had some really good people to choose from.”
Clarifying that he withdrew from VP consideration with Kamala Harris 48 hours before she picked Tim Walz, not because of his faith
▶ 24:46
Josh Shapiro
“Donald Trump chose to push the tariff button, right? And as a result, here in Pennsylvania, what we're seeing is coffee prices are up 30%. Beef is up 19%. OJ, orange juice, is up 9%. The fertilizers my farmers rely on here in Pennsylvania up 36%.”
Detailing the economic pain Trump's tariffs are causing ordinary Pennsylvanians heading into 2026 midterms
▶ 29:01
About Josh Shapiro
›
Josh Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania, maintaining a 60% approval rating with a track record of moderate, results-focused governance. He's known for aggressive permitting reform, fraud prosecution (particularly Medicaid fraud), tax cuts, and workforce development initiatives. Before becoming governor, he served as Pennsylvania's Attorney General and has a nuanced stance on Israel and national politics.
Takeaways
1
Permitting speed drives regional competitiveness Pennsylvania's shift from bottom-five to top-five permitting timelines directly correlates with business attraction and job creation. A money-back guarantee on permit timelines holds bureaucracy accountable and removes 3-year delays that kill deal economics. This is replicable at state level and should be studied by tech hubs struggling with local zoning and building code delays.
2
Moderate governance model outperforms ideology Shapiro's approach—pro-growth taxes, aggressive fraud elimination, workforce development, and public safety—attracts both business and voters across party lines. This contrasts with California and New York's progressive policies that are reportedly driving talent and capital exodus. The lesson: operational excellence and "getting done" appeal more broadly than ideological purity.
3
Democrats must pivot from opposition to execution Simply attacking Trump's tariffs and chaos is insufficient; Democrats need to articulate a positive alternative of competent governance, economic growth, and visible results. Pennsylvania's crime reduction (12% violent crime down, 42% gun violence down) and education improvements show this contrast is winnable. 2028 success depends on governors like Shapiro who can prove government works for ordinary people, not slogans.