Maryland Politics Podcast Summaries

Gov. Wes Moore on Iran, pardon power, and his future | NPR's Newsmakers

Up First from NPR

Mar 27, 2026

Maryland Governor Wes Moore challenges the Biden administration’s military strategy while offering a blueprint for high-speed governance. He argues that traditional philanthropy is failing and that the very power he used to pardon thousands should be stripped from every American leader to prevent systemic corruption.

Key insight: "I would take the pardon power away from the president and every single governor." Despite recently issuing 175,000 cannabis pardons, Moore argues the authority has become a vehicle for "disgusting grift."