Gov. Wes Moore Talks Trump, Democrats, DOGE — and Running in 2028?

On with Kara Swisher

New York Magazine

News Commentary, News, Society & Culture

4.2 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Governor Wes Moore of Maryland was elected less than three years ago, but he’s already on the shortlist of potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2028. In 2022, the former combat veteran, investment banker and nonprofit CEO became just the third Black person ever elected governor in the United States. But with a large port and one in ten workers on the federal payroll, Maryland is particularly vulnerable to DOGE cuts and President Trump’s trade war. Plus, the state just had to raise taxes and cut $2 billion in spending to close a $3 billion budget deficit. Kara and Gov. Moore and Kara discuss how this approach to Trump has evolved, whether he’ll run in 2028 (like George Clooney and many others seem to want him to), his advice to the Democratic Party, and how Maryland’s latest tax reform and budget cuts could be a “roadmap” for the rest of the country. Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Do you work out with pizza hexath?
0:01.9	Because he likes very perform.
0:03.5	Oh, no.
0:04.0	No.
0:04.4	I don't think he wants to work out with me.
0:06.0	I'd like to see a push-up contest.
0:19.3	Hi, everyone, from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
0:22.7	This is on with Kara Swisher, and I'm Kara Swisher.
0:25.5	My guest today is Governor Westmore of Maryland.
0:28.3	Moore is a former combat veteran, investment banker, a nonprofit CEO who's charismatic and photogenic.
0:35.1	And he is a great personal story.
0:36.8	Moore was raised by a single mom,
0:38.4	got in trouble with the law as a kid,
0:39.9	and then became just the third black person
0:42.3	ever elected governor in the United States.
0:45.4	Not surprisingly, he's on the short list
0:47.3	for potential Democratic candidates in 2028.
0:50.3	And more than a few Republicans seem worried about him.
0:53.2	He is the name I hear from them more than anyone.
0:56.2	And having recently spent some time with him, I can see why he's compelling, well-spoken, just sharp as a tack, everything you want in a politician.
1:04.4	And he's also very funny. People also noticed over this dinner stare at him, which is really interesting.
1:11.7	You don't see that a lot with politicians, but he seems to be somewhat of a star.
	...

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