Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Affordability, Iran War, and AI Guardrails

America, Actually host Astead Herndon spoke with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore about how Democrats can wield their new power following strong midterm election results, as speculation mounts regarding a potential 2028 presidential run by the governor.

Moving Fast on Affordability and Housing

Voters pushed Republicans out and kept Democrats like Moore in office partly due to anxieties surrounding the rising cost of living, the Iran war, and the growing dominance of artificial intelligence and data centers. Cruising to reelection with roughly 63 percent of the vote in Maryland, Moore argued that the party must act rapidly to address these core economic concerns rather than relying on prolonged research initiatives.

Affordable housing serves as a primary battleground for these cost pressures. Moore pointed to Maryland’s implementation of permitting reform to speed up housing construction around transit nodes and state-owned land as a model for decisive action. Childcare costs also demand immediate intervention, according to the governor, who noted that families frequently spend thirty to forty percent of their paychecks on care.

Maryland Implements State-Level Structural Adjustments to Address Healthcare Expenses

Addressing healthcare expenses requires state-level structural adjustments, such as Maryland’s Total Cost of Care Model. The initiative establishes universal hospital budgets designed to break the cost curve and expand coverage simultaneously.

Regarding wealth distribution, Moore stated that he loses no sleep over the number of billionaires, focusing instead on children growing up in poverty. The state implemented tax cuts for the middle class and military veterans while asking wealthier residents to contribute more toward public safety improvements and public school performance metrics.

Congress Needs to Assert Constitutional Authority to End the Conflict

As a veteran who served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division, Moore criticized the ongoing funding of the war involving Iran. He asserted that the president lacks the constitutional authority to wage unilateral war without congressional approval. Congress needs to assert its authority in the first hundred hours to end the conflict.

Guardrails for Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers

Data center expansion faced severe voter pushback during the midterms. While acknowledging the potential utility of artificial intelligence in healthcare and education, Moore emphasized the necessity of strict regulatory guardrails.