Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – “Democrats Are Winning… Now What?”

Host: Sarah Longwell | Guest: Governor Josh Shapiro (PA), November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this post-election episode, Sarah Longwell welcomes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to unpack Democrats’ sweeping wins across the country. The conversation explores what drove the victories, the current mood on the ground in Pennsylvania, and how Democrats should position themselves for the midterms and beyond. The discussion touches on building a big-tent coalition, addressing intra-party divides, and navigating complex foreign policy issues like Israel and Palestine.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Election Night Takeaways: “We Are Back”

• Sarah Longwell opens by celebrating the Democratic wins and asks Gov. Shapiro if the party is truly "back" ([01:06]).
• Gov. Shapiro:
  • Voters sent a "two-part message"—rejecting "the chaos and extremism of Donald Trump" and voting for candidates who want to actually solve people's problems ([01:20]).
  • Winning local races in key Pennsylvania swing counties was "a big, big deal" and represents a broader rejection of chaos and embrace of "pro-freedom, pro–problem solving" candidates ([01:20], [02:52]).

2. Surprising Margins and Local Success

• Longwell expresses shock at the large victory margins for Spanberger and Sherrill ([02:25]).
• Shapiro:
  • Credits Democratic enthusiasm and candidates’ focus on "making lives better" ([02:52]).
  • Highlights that Dems not only held the PA Supreme Court but swept every race in three Trump-won bellwether counties (DA, sheriff, county council, etc.) ([02:52]).

"It's an example of not only elevating really good candidates, but sending a message to Trump that we're against your chaos...we are against you taking away our freedoms."
— Josh Shapiro ([02:52])

3. What Drives Pennsylvania Voters?

• Longwell probes what’s happening on the ground in PA—are voters motivated by affordability? Do they regret voting for Trump? ([03:58])
• Shapiro shares two stories ([04:56]):
  • Philadelphia: People lined up for a food bank, likely due to lost SNAP benefits from GOP/Trump shutdowns.
  • Rural PA: A farmer who voted for both Trump and Shapiro complains about tariffs hurting farm income and increasing costs.
  • Many Trump voters see that "this guy I voted for is screwing me over. He's making my life harder."
  • Democrats’ job: "chip away and make your life a little bit better" on healthcare, housing, efficient government ([04:56]).

"Our job...is to chip away and make your life a little bit better...And I think folks are seeing that actually he's making their lives worse."
— Josh Shapiro ([05:48])

4. What Drove the Wins—Trump, Candidates, or Voter Makeup?

• Longwell asks if results were a referendum on Trump or a factor of off-year electorate ([07:21]).
• Shapiro: "It's both a rejection of Trump [and] really good candidates running who wanted to make people's lives better."
• Local candidates on issues: “They’re talking about substantive changes that they could make in people’s lives.” ([07:41])

5. The Battle for Pennsylvania’s Swing Seats

• Breakdown of competitive seats: “Are we going to win all four of the swing seats in Pennsylvania?” ([08:28])
• Shapiro:
  • Expresses optimism, touts party preparation and resources with Leader Jeffries ([08:53]).
  • Predicts PA will be the battleground: “This is going to be the state where folks are going to have to focus to win these races” ([08:53]).

6. Trump and the Filibuster

• Longwell: “What do you make of Trump trying to get rid of the filibuster?” ([10:05])
• Shapiro:
  • "He tries to rig the rules to suit his immediate needs ... the filibuster is just kind of the next thing." ([10:08])

7. Big Tent: Progressive, Moderate, or Both?

• Longwell wrestles with being in the "big, broad pro-democracy coalition" and asks about the balance between moderates and progressives (Zoran, DSA-aligned) ([11:31]).
• Shapiro rejects the binary:
  • "I totally reject the premise that we have to make a choice ... We need to elevate great candidates who are going to make people’s lives better."
  • The party shouldn’t be defined just by being “anti-Trump,” but by being “pro-you, pro the people that we're trying to serve” ([12:43]).

“I reject the choice that we've got to choose to be progressive or moderate. ... We need a party that's big, that finds ways to be united, and that makes people's lives better.”
— Josh Shapiro ([13:25])

8. Democratic Ethics and Scandals

• Longwell on “J. Jones” (scandal): Should Dems be “when they go low, we go high,” or fight fire with fire? ([14:53])
• Shapiro:
  • Immediately condemned Jones's violent rhetoric.
  • Emphasizes importance of accountability: "He has the burden of responsibility to speak directly ... and how he's gonna be a better person going forward. What he did was not okay" ([14:57]).

9. Healing the Party on Israel & Palestine

• Longwell: With party tensions rising around Israel/Palestine, what role can Shapiro play in healing the divide? ([15:48])
• Shapiro:
  • Shares his efforts to personally foster dialogue, bringing together Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish communities for open, honest conversations ([16:24]).
  • Outspoken criticism of Netanyahu for destabilizing Israel, but also clear: "It can't be Hamas. They're a terrorist organization. They must be disarmed ... then you can finally have a dialogue ... for a two-state solution" ([16:24]).
  • Stresses the need for both internal healing in the U.S. and clear-eyed foreign policy.

"We cannot allow differences on how we view the region to be an excuse for anti-Semitism ... Islamophobia, or any form of hatred and bigotry. ... Hate is not nuanced. We cannot allow space for that."
— Josh Shapiro ([20:25])

10. What’s Next: Democratic Posture Going Forward

• Longwell asks: “What do we do next? ... What is the posture Democrats should have ... to take back the House, at minimum, if not the Senate and govern effectively?” ([21:17])
• Transcript cuts off at the question; no answer provided.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the PA Turnpike:
  • “The turnpike gets a bad rep, but it’s beautiful going up and down the turnpike.” — Longwell ([00:52])
• Ice Cream Party for a Bridge Stoplight:
  • “When the stoplight came down, the whole town threw an ice cream party.” — Longwell ([00:33])

Notable Timestamps

• [01:06] “Are we so back?” – Framing the episode’s theme.
• [02:52] Shapiro outlines Democratic gains in PA’s bellwether counties.
• [04:56] Shapiro’s on-the-ground anecdotes about real Pennsylvanians hurt by Trump policies.
• [07:41] Shapiro: Rejecting Trump and why strong candidates matter.
• [13:25] Shapiro on the need for a big, united, pro-democracy party.
• [16:24] Shapiro’s nuanced take on Israel/Palestine and intra-party divisions.
• [20:25] “Hate is not nuanced” – a call for moral clarity.

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, energetic, and leans into the optimistic, solution-centered language of both host and guest. Longwell combines political insider savvy with authentic personal anecdotes, while Shapiro remains grounded, pragmatic, and direct in attributing Democratic success to positive, problem-solving candidates.

Summary

This episode offers a deep, grounded reflection on Democratic victories, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro and Sarah Longwell analyze what drove the wins—rejecting Trump, yes, but also running strong, locally relevant candidates. They dive into coalition-building and address the party’s ideological splits, stressing accountability and unity. The nuanced, honest discussion about Israel and Palestine stands out as a rare, empathetic political exchange. The episode closes (in the transcript provided) with anticipation for how Democrats proceed and govern with accountability in the lead-up to the midterms.