Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro Calls for 28th Amendment to Counter Presidential Corruption
"I could make an argument that we need a 28th Amendment to our Constitution to bake in some stricter guardrails to protect the American people from a president of the United States that lacks integrity and ethics and honor the way this president does. I think everything needs to be on the table. We need real reform."
About this episode
The podcast features commentary from host Ben Meiselas and an interview with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro focused on declining support for Donald Trump in Pennsylvania and the impact of his administration's policies on the state. Meiselas opens by citing polling data showing Trump's approval in Pennsylvania has dropped to 29 percent overall according to Franklin and Marshall College, a 10-point decline from March, with particularly steep drops in economic approval ratings falling from 31 percent to 17 percent. The economy, including housing costs and inflation, is cited as the top concern among Pennsylvania voters across all partisan groups. Governor Shapiro provides the most newsworthy content, revealing that over 510,000 Pennsylvanians are projected to lose healthcare coverage under Trump administration cuts, with 150,000 already affected, and that 140,000 residents will lose food assistance. Shapiro alleges Trump has made $2 billion during his presidency through cryptocurrency schemes and Mar-a-Lago operations, characterizing the administration as defined by chaos, cruelty, and corruption. Most significantly, Shapiro explicitly calls for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to create stricter anti-corruption guardrails against presidential abuses, arguing that Supreme Court immunity decisions have enabled presidential corruption. The governor criticizes Trump for abandoning a bipartisan housing affordability bill and frames upcoming midterm elections as a national referendum on Trump's presidency. The interview concludes with Shapiro invoking Benjamin Franklin's warning about maintaining the republic and emphasizing citizen responsibility heading into Independence Day and the nation's 250th anniversary.
Key takeaways
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro calls for a 28th Amendment to establish constitutional anti-corruption protections against presidential abuses of power and conflicts of interest
- Over 510,000 Pennsylvanians are projected to lose healthcare coverage under Trump administration policies, with 150,000 already having lost coverage to fund tax cuts
- Governor Shapiro alleges Trump has earned $2 billion during his presidency through cryptocurrency schemes and Mar-a-Lago operations while in office
- Trump's approval rating in Pennsylvania has dropped to 29 percent overall, a 10-point decline since March, according to Franklin and Marshall College polling
- Approximately 140,000 Pennsylvania residents are expected to lose SNAP food assistance benefits, with 90,000 already affected by administration cuts
- Trump's economic approval in Pennsylvania plummeted from 31 percent to 17 percent, with the economy cited as the top voter concern
- Shapiro criticizes Trump for abandoning bipartisan housing affordability legislation and characterizes his presidency as defined by chaos, cruelty, and corruption