Gov. Wes Moore: Trans Kids, Newsom's Failures & 2028 Dark Horse | PBD #791
5/5/20262 hr 4 min
Maryland Governor Wes Moore sits down with Patrick Bet-David for one of the most unfiltered political conversations of 2026. A Bronze Star Army combat vet. The first Black governor in Maryland's history.
A man who was polling at 1% - and won anyway.
But is he the Democrat who could shake up 2028? PBD makes the case.
In this episode, Governor Moore doesn't hold back. He calls Trump's Venezuela operation "a ridiculous military operation." He praises Trump's Baby Bonds while calling out what he says are illegal federal overreaches. He admits he was personally disinvited from the White House governors dinner — and to this day has no idea why. He reveals what Trump said to his face the first time they met. And when pushed on transgender kids, puberty blockers, and whether he'd support his own son through a transition — he gives an answer that will have people talking.
Plus - the story nobody knows: how a young Wes Moore turned down college basketball scholarships, played against Kobe Bryant in high school, and chose the 82nd Airborne instead.
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Clips
Showing 10 of 12Transcript preview
First 90 secondsPatrick Bet-David· Host0:00
I got a bunch of things I'm going through just saying, "Wait a minute, is this guy a Republican or a Democrat?" [laughs] Member of the College Republicans at Valley Forge Military?
Wes Moore· Guest0:08
When I ran for governor, I was not the Democrats' choice in my life.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:13
Were you an underdog at the highest level?
Wes Moore· Guest0:14
I was polling at 1%- Oh, wow ... in my first poll.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:17
When you look at the current Democratic Party and you watch the positions they're taking, your son comes in saying he wants to transition, what do you do?
Wes Moore· Guest0:26
Um- I've been asked that.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:28
Do you see Trump as your enemy?
Wes Moore· Guest0:30
If you come after my people, if you say something against the folks of Maryland, will I respond? Absolutely, that's my job. You can come to Maryland to learn, but don't come here to lecture.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:38
This is a call you guys had?
Wes Moore· Guest0:39
Yeah. Then, and, and then it, but it turned into a back and forth on Twitter.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:42
Crime, you'll typically hear Baltimore being the top five.
Wes Moore· Guest0:45
Listen, I refuse to be a governor who's just giving thoughts and prayers and offering eulogies for eight years- Mm-hmm ... and not doing nothing about the violence. We're now seeing how Maryland's population is the fastest growing population we've had in Maryland in over a decade.
Patrick Bet-David· Host0:59
Your net migration isn't impressive. You're still ranked at the same place.
Wes Moore· Guest1:03
Yeah.
Patrick Bet-David· Host1:03
45th. I don't even know if it's a fair question to ask you. You're a governor, you run a state. Newsom runs a state, he's a governor. You've been able to fix the state. He hasn't been able to fix the state. What do you think has happened in the state of California with the way Gavin Newsom's led versus the way you've led?
Wes Moore· Guest1:18
I, I can tell you about what we've done in Maryland and why it's worked.
Patrick Bet-David· Host1:22
You're gonna play it safe. You can't give me that answer. You're- Well, no.
Wes Moore· Guest1:25
So I- You're, you're leading all of these guys.