Governor Moore Reveals Trump White House Denied Disaster Aid to Republican Area After Floods
"I called up the Secretary of Homeland Security when she was there and I told her and I said, 'Madam Secretary, I know you think my entire state is Baltimore, but to be clear, the area that you just turned down, they voted for the president by 77%.' And once again, they turned down the aid."
About this episode
Host Ben Meiselas interviews Maryland Governor Wes Moore on the Fourth of July about patriotism, democracy, and resistance to the Trump administration's efforts to co-opt America's 250th birthday celebration. Moore, the first African-American governor in Maryland's history, rejects the notion that America's best days are behind it, calling the country the greatest experiment in world history despite its deeply uneven history. The governor announces Maryland will hold counterprogramming to Trump's politicized National Mall celebration, with Moore giving a speech in the nation's oldest operating state house, built by enslaved people. Moore defines patriotism as demanding the country fulfill its promises rather than blind nationalism, citing his grandfather who returned to America despite Ku Klux Klan threats because he believed the country would be incomplete without him. In a significant revelation, Moore discloses that the Trump White House twice denied federal disaster relief to Western Port, Maryland after catastrophic flooding, despite the area voting 77% for Trump. Moore ordered Maryland state resources to rebuild the town's infrastructure after federal aid was rejected. The governor emphasizes his principle of leaving no one behind applies universally, including to MAGA supporters, arguing that healing, reconciliation, and fighting oppression can happen simultaneously. Moore frames the current moment not as a time to surrender to cynicism but to let it be a companion rather than a captor in the work of democratic renewal.
Key takeaways
- Governor Wes Moore reveals Trump White House denied federal disaster relief twice to Western Port, Maryland after historic floods despite area voting 77% for Trump.
- Maryland will hold counterprogramming to Trump's politicized July 4th celebration with Moore speaking at nation's oldest operating state house built by enslaved people.
- Moore defines patriotism as demanding America fulfill its promises rather than blind nationalism, rejecting Trump's effort to make the 250th birthday celebration about one person.
- The governor argues Trump is uniquely incapable of rising to the moment and has no interest in thinking about the country's future.
- Moore says loving your country doesn't mean lying about its history, emphasizing America's deeply uneven past including Maryland's status as northernmost southern state.
- The governor's grandfather returned to America despite KKK threats believing the country would be incomplete without him, exemplifying patriotism as sacrifice for future generations.
- Moore states leave no one behind principle applies universally including MAGA supporters, arguing healing and fighting oppression can happen simultaneously.