Apr 8, 2026 · 1h 2m
Governor Josh Shapiro champions bipartisan permitting reform and economic growth
Josh Shapiro on Trump, Iran War Chaos, Israel's Failure, the Economy, and 2028 Race
As national divisions deepen, Pennsylvania's governor offers a rare, pragmatic model for achieving economic progress through bipartisan cooperation.
- 1Pragmatic state-level reforms like permitting streamlining can accelerate economic development and job creation across party lines.
- 2The Democratic Party needs to re-evaluate its outreach strategies to better connect with working-class voters on economic issues.
- 3Bipartisan cooperation is essential for addressing complex national challenges ranging from workforce development to foreign policy.
Don't miss
Josh Shapiro delivers a sharp critique of Donald Trump's foreign policy approach to Iran and outlines how it impacted Middle Eastern stability.
The brief
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joins the All-In podcast to discuss how pragmatic governance and bipartisan cooperation can drive economic growth in a highly polarized political climate.
Shapiro argues that the Democratic Party must reform its outreach efforts to connect with working-class voters, emphasizing tangible economic results over ideological purity.
The governor details his administration's focus on permitting reform and workforce development in Pennsylvania as a blueprint for national competitiveness and job creation.
Shapiro delivers a sharp critique of Donald Trump's economic policies and foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding the administration's historical approach to Iran.
What was said on this episode
42 statements · 21 positive · 19 negative · 2 neutral
Pennsylvania has created more jobs than all but two states.
“We've created more jobs in all but two states in the entire country.”
Listen at 2:48
Pennsylvania has cut taxes seven times to improve competitiveness.
“We've cut taxes seven different times to be more competitive.”
Listen at 2:51
Pennsylvania is the only growing economy in the Northeast.
“We are now the only growing economy in the northeastern part of the United States.”
Listen at 3:33
Pennsylvania unemployment has stayed below the national rate for 32 months.
“I'm proud that we've got an unemployment rate below the national rate consistently over the last 32 months.”
Listen at 3:55
Faster, more predictable permits encourage business investment in Pennsylvania.
“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 gonna be open in six months instead of three years, right. Because the permit took too long, then you're gonna wanna invest here.”
Listen at 5:24
Pennsylvania permitting should approve projects while protecting safety and health.
“we want to get to yes.”
Listen at 5:55
Pennsylvania's permit refund guarantee makes bureaucracy more accountable.
“that money back guarantee holds the bureaucracy accountable.”
Listen at 6:01
Pennsylvania now issues barber licenses on the same day.
“Today you get it, same day, you get it within that day.”
Listen at 7:12
Quicker government processing creates jobs and increases people’s income.
“the quicker you are, the more jobs you create and the more money you put in people's pockets.”
Listen at 7:52
Government dysfunction increases distrust and creates openings for political extremists.
“when that happens, I think that that creates more distrust in our system and it creates more opportunity for, I think, frankly, dark voices on extremes to come in and take advantage of people.”
Listen at 9:40
Pennsylvania has among the most Medicaid fraud prosecutions nationally.
“we've had more Medicaid fraud prosecutions in Pennsylvania, I think any other state, maybe there was one other.”
Listen at 12:14
Governments should adopt zero tolerance for public-sector fraud.
“We should have a zero tolerance policy for that.”
Listen at 12:32
Pennsylvania's tax environment helps life-science startups survive and remain in the state.
“because of our tax environment in Pennsylvania, because of our pro growth approach in Pennsylvania, we're seeing more of those small businesses, more of those small companies, especially in life sciences, survive that sort of valley where a lot of those companies go out of business and sustain themselves here.”
Listen at 15:43
Pennsylvania's working tax credit will benefit about 940,000 people by over $800 each.
“about 940,000, almost a million Pennsylvanians are going to qualify for a little over 800 bucks back in their pockets.”
Listen at 18:16
Federal budget changes will cause 500,000 Pennsylvanians to lose health coverage.
“I've got 500,000 Pennsylvanians who are going to lose their health care.”
Listen at 19:09
Medicaid cuts are likely to cause 26 financially strained rural Pennsylvania hospitals to close.
“I've got 26 rural hospitals that are likely to shutter because these are rural hospitals that are working on an operating deficit, and they're relying so much on Medicaid, which has been slashed by the federal government.”
Listen at 19:24
Trump’s federal tax-and-Medicaid policy will weaken the entire economy.
“that is gonna hold back our entire economy.”
Listen at 19:50
The Democratic Party is positioned to regain political power.
“ultimately, I think our party's poised to take back power”
Listen at 22:50
Donald Trump has brought chaos and corruption to the institutions he controls.
“Donald Trump has injected chaos and corruption into everything he touched.”
Listen at 26:58
Pennsylvania added 2,000 officers while violent crime fell 12% and fatal gun violence 42%.
“we've hired 2,000 more police officers, invested in community violence prevention, and violent Crime is down 12%. Fatal gun violence is down 42%.”
Listen at 27:32
Trump’s tariffs have increased costs for Pennsylvania consumers and businesses.
“Everything costs more because of the. The recklessness and the chaotic approach Donald Trump's taking our economy with these tariffs.”
Listen at 29:26
The Iran war has raised gas prices and they may take years to decline.
“Obviously, this war has spiked gas prices up today about 415, 416 here in Pennsylvania. Similar across the country, probably years before those gas prices come down, even if the war, you know, hopefully ends very, very soon.”
Listen at 29:35
Shapiro supports energy and job growth focused on rural and neglected communities.
“I'm for a pro growth economy where we generate more energy, we generate more jobs, where we create more opportunities, particularly in our rural communities and forgotten communities that have been too often left behind.”
Listen at 32:03
Shapiro advocates freedom as a core Democratic Party principle.
“I am for freedom.”
Listen at 32:17
Shapiro proposes a $1 billion Pennsylvania housing construction and repair fund.
“I've asked the legislature for a $1 billion fund to be able to build more housing in Pennsylvania and repair existing housing.”
Listen at 33:51
Pennsylvania should sharply reduce regulatory barriers to housing construction.
“We also have to eliminate or damn near eliminate the red tape that exists when it comes to building housing.”
Listen at 34:11
About 60% of Pennsylvania state hires lack college degrees.
“now 60%, 6, 0, 60% of all of our hires in state government don't have a college degree.”
Listen at 34:50
Welders in South Philadelphia shipyards can earn six-figure incomes.
“You want to go learn to be a welder, you're going to make six figures working in a shipyard in South Philadelphia.”
Listen at 35:17
Congressional deference to Trump has weakened Congress’s constitutional power over tariffs and war.
“When the Congress of the United States walks away from their responsibilities, whether on tariffs or whether on declaring war, and ultimately just kind of empower the President. Again, agree or disagree, obviously I have profound disagreements from the president on those things. Then what you've really done is you've limited the power of the Congress.”
Listen at 39:51
The Trump administration will eventually face accountability for alleged corruption.
“But there will be a reckoning on this one day.”
Listen at 42:45
The United States can eventually restore political norms and ethical governance.
“I'm hopeful that we can find our way back to that.”
Listen at 46:41
Antisemitism is present on both the political left and right.
“anti Semitism is a problem in our society and is a problem on the left, and it is a problem on the right.”
Listen at 48:32
Bigotry directed at any religious group makes society less safe.
“it makes us all less safe.”
Listen at 49:09
Netanyahu has led Israel toward greater danger and international isolation.
“I think Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, is someone who's been leading Israel down a dangerous and isolated path.”
Listen at 51:32
Netanyahu has damaged previously bipartisan American support for Israel.
“He has fractured, really, what used to be a nonpartisan or bipartisan American support for Israel.”
Listen at 51:47
Shapiro supports a peaceful two-state solution involving Israel and Palestine.
“it would be my hope that you would have two states living peacefully side by side, Israel and a Palestinian state.”
Listen at 52:19
A future Palestinian state should not be governed by Hamas.
“that Palestinian state cannot be led by Hamas, which is a terrorist organization.”
Listen at 52:36
The Iran war was an optional conflict chosen by the president.
“this was a war of choice.”
Listen at 52:53
The Iran war has harmed U.S. national security and economic conditions.
“America's national security interests have not been well served by this. And economically, you've talked about this. Economically, we are worse off because of this war.”
Listen at 53:34
The Iran mission has failed because the president never defined its purpose.
“this has been a failed and compromised mission from the beginning because he never made clear why he was going in.”
Listen at 57:07
U.S. foreign policy should not be dictated by another country.
“America should never be led around by any other nation.”
Listen at 57:33
Public debate should allow nuance on Israel, Iran, and broader Middle East policy.
“we have to protect a place for nuance when it comes to Mideast policy, when it comes to Israel, when it comes to Iran, and, and. And anything happening in the Middle East.”
Listen at 59:40
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
