The senator and the governor have opposite approaches when it comes to public-facing appearances.
Where Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro focuses on being relatable to Pennsylvania voters on podcasts, Senator John Fetterman is focused on criticizing the Democratic Party.
Pennsylvania’s two statewide elected Democrats have different approaches when it comes to media appearances and even staying within party lines in their politics.
Shapiro recently joined former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett on “Pod Save America”, while Fetterman engaged in conversation with venture capitalists on “All-In.”
“Right now our party is governed by the TDS,” Fetterman said, referring to Trump Derangement Syndrome. The senator has been openly critical of his own party and the Democrats’ unwillingness to work with Republicans.
Most recently, Fetterman crossed party lines as the lone Democrat to vote with Senate Republicans to reopen the federal government. He has also voted to confirm multiple appointees of President Trump.
While Fetterman has broken with Democrats, Shapiro turned his criticism on members of the Trump administration.
“Pete Hegseth is wildly incompetent. He’s like an eight-year-old playing with toy soldiers every day,” the governor said in an interview.
Shapiro and Fetterman experienced similar rises to power through the ranks of local and state politics.
Shapiro is widely referred to as a potential 2028 presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, while Democrats are increasingly frustrated with Fetterman’s support of Republican-backed proposals in Congress.
In a recent memoir published last year, Fetterman devotes an entire chapter to the governor titled “The Shapiro Affair,” recounting the details of the pair’s souring relationship.
“He is a credit to the state and may one day be a credit to the country. I remember fondly the days when we were nobodies trying to climb the ladder. Even if we no longer speak,” Fetterman wrote.
Fetterman and Shapiro have a frayed relationship that dates back to when the senator served as lieutenant governor while Shapiro was attorney general.
