Josh Shapiro Puts Kamala Harris on Blast Over “Blatant Lies”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro | Former United States Vice President and presidential contender Kamala Harris (photos via Getty Images)

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Josh Shapiro Puts Kamala Harris on Blast Over “Blatant Lies”

If you’ve yet to consume the new, nearly 8,000-word piece about our governor Josh Shapiro in The Atlantic — “The Operator – Josh Shapiro has spent his life preparing to lead an America that might no longer exist” — I suggest adding it to your weekend reading list.

There’s plenty to absorb there, but one of the most remarkable moments in the article is when Shapiro – usually an imperturbable leader who speaks in measured, Obama-like tones — loses his cool when he learns (for the first time, claims the reporter) what Kamala Harris said about Shapiro in her new memoir, . Our governor, of course, had been in the running to be Harris’ running mate (she eventually selected folksy Minnesota Gov. Tim. Walz).

In her book, she described Shapiro as “poised, polished, and personable” before claiming that the guv told her that he wanted to be in the room for each and every decision that she made. “I told him bluntly that was an unrealistic expectation,” Harris wrote. “A vice president is not a co-president. I had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership… I had to be able to completely trust the person in that role.”

Josh Shapiro and Kamala Harris share a moment in happier times (Getty Images)

Then there was this: Harris also shared that before she even had the chance to sit down with Shapiro, he asked the manager of the official vice presidential residence how many bedrooms there were in the compound and whether the Smithsonian would loan him art from its collection to decorate the place.

When previously asked about the claims Harris made in the book, Shapiro basically shrugged them off. His responses were always studied. Apparently, he has now taken off the gloves.

In the Atlantic article, Shapiro refers to some of her claims as “complete and utter bullshit” and adds that “her accounts are just blatant lies.” He also said that Harris wrote what she wrote because “she’s trying to sell books and cover her ass.” He then caught himself and said, “I shouldn’t say ‘cover her ass,’ I think that’s not appropriate… She’s trying to sell books, period.”

Should Shapiro and Harris both decide to run for president in 2028, well, the debates should be fun.

Oh Look: We Made Another List

It seems like publications can’t stop putting Philadelphia on their lists, fortunately for good reasons (even though we sometimes disagree with those designations). The latest list to feature Philadelphia? Travel + Leisure’s 50 must-visit destinations around the world. Philadelphia made the cut thanks to (what else?) our food scene.

SEPTA Watch

You know those SEPTA Silverliner Regional Rail cars that have an unfortunate propensity to catch fire and that the federal government has ordered SEPTA to repair? Well, there’s reportedly a delay in the repairs because SEPTA can’t find the wires (yes, wires) it needs to comply with the order.

Top Cop

In this just-published in-depth interview, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel talks plummeting homicides, horrible drivers, and the rise of ICE raids.

Making New Friends

What would it be like to attend a dinner party at a Center City restaurant where you know no one at the party and where you can’t look at your cell phone even once during the entire dinner? My colleague Laura Brzyski answers that question for you in this fascinating personal essay.

By the Numbers

12 p.m.: Time on Friday when something called the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place. Apparently, there are watch parties for the announcement. Then, on Saturday, we’ll find out which teams will play in Philadelphia next year, including on July 4th. I dunno. Wake me when baseball season starts.

37,000: Number of abandoned vehicle complaints the city has received each year (on average) for the last four years. WHYY has this informative piece on what to do if there’s an abandoned car in your neighborhood.

$76 million: Appraised value of Northeast Philly’s Franklin Mall (nee Franklin Mills), which is for sale. That value in 2012 was north of $200 million. Ouch. That said, there’s still a Cinnabon there, so all is not lost.

7,297 (and counting): Strangers that this Philadelphia man has met over the last seven years. His goal is to hit 10,000.

Local Talent

If you’re a Meek Mill fan, you’ll want to know that the hometown rap hero is taking to the stage at Xfinity Mobile Arena (fka Wells Fargo Center) on Friday night with some unspecified friends. And if that’s not exactly your cup of tea, here are plenty of other ideas for how to spend your weekend. My personal suggestions: Hadestown at the Forrest, Homo for the Holigays (imagine a comedy show hosted by a gay bee) at Punch Line, and Sunday’s Open Streets event, which will see Walnut Street from Broad to 19th and 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut closed to vehicular traffic.