Wes Moore's reparations moment

Politico

28-05-2025

What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda:
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces an early test of his viability on the national stage as he is set to headline a dinner and fundraiser for South Carolina Democrats on Friday.
The opportunity to address party insiders of an early presidential nominating state comes as Moore is facing some headwinds back home — and, perhaps, increasingly from other parts of the Democratic base — over his recent decision to veto a reparations bill in Maryland. The bill called for a study of historic race-based inequality in the state.
The veto surprised many of Moore's supporters, especially his fellow Democrats in the state Legislature who presumed Maryland's first, and currently the nation's only, Black governor would sign the bill. It comes at a fraught moment for Moore, as he looks to bolster his national standing within the party and position himself as a potential presidential candidate. (Why else would he be traveling to South Carolina?) That's despite the fact that he's repeatedly said he's not looking to make a White House run, for now.
The veto also prompted one South Carolina Democrat, state Rep. John King, to lobby state party officials to disinvite Moore from the Blue Palmetto Dinner. Writing in an open letter on Facebook, King characterized Moore's veto this way: 'It was a rejection of the very acknowledgment that the wounds of slavery still bleed into the lives of our people today.'
In an interview with The Recast, King took it a step further, explaining that while he would be open to supporting Moore should he run for president in the future, the governor's veto of a reparations bill sends the message that the historic pain suffered by Black Americans, who make up the base of the Democratic Party, can easily be ignored.
'His decision to veto a bill that simply studies reparations, gives political cover, in my opinion, to opponents of racial justice, not just in Maryland, but across the country,' he said. 'It sends a message that even Black leadership at the highest level sees reparations as politically untenable, and that makes it even harder for us as Black legislators to introduce or defend, and in many cases advance, meaningful legislation on reparational justice.'
Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here.
You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy.
The reparations issue has gained traction in a handful of states in recent years, including in California, New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia, which have each enacted commissions to study the long-term effects of slavery on Black Americans. Some local municipalities including Providence, Rhode Island, have also established similar bodies. But the issue has gone nowhere on the federal level, having been introduced every session of Congress since 1989 without being passed. Most recently, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) introduced a 'Reparations Now' resolution earlier this month, which is not expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled House.
Reparations remains a politically fraught issue nationally, with Black and white survey respondents expressing markedly different opinions. In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, some 77 percent of African American respondents supported reparations, while just 18 percent of white respondents said the same.
A person familiar with Moore's thinking granted anonymity to speak candidly told The Recast it is unclear to them whether Moore will address the reparations veto directly in his South Carolina remarks but expects the governor to point to efforts during his time as governor that have addressed racial disparities in the state, echoing sentiments in the governor's veto letter.
'Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study,' Moore wrote in his May 16 letter, listing items including increasing the number of mortgages to help first-time homeowners, which has helped some 1,500 pursue homeownership, and investing more than $1.3 million in the state's historically Black colleges and universities.
'We've made real progress both to undo bad policies of the past and craft good policies that will lead us toward a brighter future,' Moore continued in his letter, promising to introduce more policies in the next legislative session, which convenes in January 2026.
Maryland Democrats, who enjoy a supermajority in the state Legislature, are already floating talks of overriding the governor's veto.
We'll continue to monitor this space and report back on how it will be playing out — both in South Carolina and in Maryland.
All the best,The Recast Team
REMEMBRANCES FOR CHARLES RANGEL
The political world continues to mourn the death of the legendary Harlem, New York, Congressman Charles Rangel.
During a congressional career that spanned nearly half a century, he came to be known as the 'Lion of Lennox Avenue' and was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which included other towering political figures like the late Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Ron Dellums of California and fellow New Yorker Shirley Chisholm. He also became the first Black lawmaker to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee, first taking the gavel in 2007.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black party leader of either chamber, remembered Rangel as 'friend and mentor,' while also praising him as 'change agent and champion for justice.' He listed numerous accomplishments, including being a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient fighting in the Korean War, establishing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit that helped usher in new and affordable housing units across the country and, in the late 1980s, established the so-called Rangel Amendment, which blocked foreign tax credits to U.S. businesses investing in South Africa, which at the time was ruled by the apartheid system.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who prior to serving in that post was elected twice as New York senator, also praised Rangel for his military service and helping to urge her to enter politics after eight years of being first lady.
'He was a proud veteran who loved serving his Harlem constituents,' Clinton said on X. 'He urged me to run for the Senate and later was an invaluable colleague.'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also added on X: 'The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it.'
While many of his mourners focused on his many achievements, there were less rosy moments of his career, including when his colleagues in the U.S. House overwhelmingly voted to censure him in 2010 for several ethics violations, including receiving gifts and improper use of influence.
Still, voters in his Harlem district reelected him the following cycle by a wide margin, and he didn't retire until after his 17th term, when he decided not to seek reelection in 2016.
Rangel was 94 years old.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK
California GOP would love a Harris run — Republicans in the Golden State love to hate the former vice president. But what they would love even more is if she would run for California governor. Kamala Harris is still reportedly months away from a decision on that race — as she mulls a gubernatorial run or a perhaps another go at the White House in 2028 — but for California's GOP the mere prospect of her running for governor is seen as beneficial, as the party expect it to energize donors and the conservative rank and file, reports POLITICO's Jeremy B. White.
What else we're watching:
TODAY'S CULTURE RECS
Hoop Dreams — The NBA's Eastern and Western Conference playoffs have been a ratings bonanza, according to one metric, which is likely making that 'cha-ching' sound' for the league's new partners including NBCU, Amazon and Disney, which inked massive deals set to kick in when the new league season tips off in the fall.
Take me back — Every genre has 'em, every decade loves 'em. Rolling Stone is out with their ranking of the 50 best one-hit wonders of the 2000s. See who topped the list and who missed the cut.
Janet Jackson takes center stage — The American Music Awards was this past weekend. Didn't watch? No problem. Here's a list of winners, snubs and surprises.
And a look at icon Janet Jackson's performance.