In a Sunday interview, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his optimism about America’s future and concerns about “executive chaos.”
Shapiro gave CNN a tour of some of Philadelphia’s landmarks Dana Basiahost of “State of the Union”, showcasing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the President’s House.
He expressed his amazement at what was accomplished 250 years ago in Philadelphia and why he is optimistic about America today.
“It’s extraordinary. Right here, in this relatively small room in Philadelphia, all these differences of interest came together and came through to declare our independence from the king and then set up barriers,” he said. (Benjamin Franklin) rose and told the founders of our nation that vivid days were coming. Even after he talked about the imperfections of the Constitution, he still felt optimistic about this fresh nation. Today I share this optimism.”
Shapiro also drew on the lessons of the founding fathers when he declared independence from England.
“I think things are difficult right now because of the excesses, corruption and chaos in the executive branch that our founders debated and reflected on in this room,” he said.
“They were worried about creating a government in which a king could be reconstituted, in which one person could amass so much power that tyranny would reign again. I’m afraid we’re back to that. We have an executive that has amassed much more power than our founders expected or wished, that tries to limit freedom, that tries to put a litmus test on who gets more freedom than others.”
Shapiro also called out Vice President J.D. Vance for his language in speeches abroad, calling it “truly dangerous and destructive.”
The governor was critical of Congress for ceding much of its power as one of three coequal branches of government.
“I think that, unfortunately, there are some deeply and woefully weak people in Congress who could learn a few lessons from the strong foundation that the founders laid for us here in this room,” Shapiro said.
Bash said a recent CNN poll found that just 28 percent of Americans had a favorable view of the Democratic Party, and Shapiro said it was because Democrats must “deliver things that make people’s lives better.”
“We need to focus, not only as a party but in politics in general, on whether we can really achieve benefits for the people, on how we can do something for the people and get away from this performative politics that only makes noise but does not improve anyone’s life,” he said.
He also spoke about the challenges facing his party, especially his opposition to some candidates who are making noise within the party Darializ Avila Chevalier New York.
The socialist congressional candidate for Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx has previously advocated many far-left views, such as abolishing prisons, eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling former President Joe Biden a rapist and bragged about wiping her filthy hands on the American flag.
“I have deep differences with this particular candidate,” Shapiro said, “based on the quotes you just read there. ‘And she’s not someone I would superficially agree with on many issues or who shares similar values. She ran on the Democratic ticket, I believe, as a socialist. Her voters in this district have decided that she is the one they want to represent her.’
Still, the governor said what Democrats will go through in the next 12 to 18 months will be positive.
“I think what our party needs to go through is something that will be very healthy, and something that we haven’t really done since the 1992 election cycle is fight for what we believe in, fight for ideas that we will hold on to and campaign on and then implement to make people’s lives better,” he said.
“And I expect that our party over the next year or so will fight the battle for what we believe in and then emerge united in a way that we can take the fight to the other side and truly work for the American people.”
He also deflected a question about his thoughts on running for president as a Jew in 2028.
“I have been very open about how my faith and family guide me in a life of service,” Shapiro said. “Over my years of service in government, I have found that society wants you to be who you are, to be authentic. Let them know what motivates you to serve and why you do this work. My faith teaches me that no one is obligated to do this task, but we cannot refrain from doing it either, much like what Ben Franklin preached about citizen participation in our community, in our country, in the perfection of our union.”
