📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. PA moments in Trump’s State of the Union address. Cost of special elections. Increased tension on the PA-03 forum. How teenagers perceive artificial intelligence
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. CC Rider/Jenny go for a ride. Mitch Ryder
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌤️ Indiana | Partly sunlit, 42
☀️ Chambersburg | Mostly sunlit, 49
🌤️ Dallas | Partly sunlit, 39
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (32-26) | Indiana 135-114 | Thu vs. Miami
🏒 Flyers (25/20/11) | Thu in Washington
🏒 Penguins (29/15/12) | Friday vs. New Jersey
🔈 What we hear. “There are some things I agree with and many things I really don’t agree with,” he said Senator John Fetterman. “I don’t think he’s ever been a unifier. It’s just his personality.”
💬 Tips. There is no tax here. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
📕 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free.
The most crucial story
1. AP moments in Trump’s State of the Union address
“President Donald Trump he ended his historically long State of the Union address Tuesday night just as he began it – by talking about the 250th anniversary of the United States’ birth this summer.
He mentioned the “historic streets of Philadelphia”, Thomas Jefferson last breath and FIFA World Cup matches, some of which will take place in the city this summer.
However, his speech on the 250th anniversary celebration served as a prop for a speech in which he criticized immigrants, spread lies and attacked political opponents.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Trump hails ‘twist for the ages’ in record-long SOTU full of victories and warnings. “America has had a ‘turn for the ages,’” President Donald Trump celebrated at the U.S. Congress on Tuesday evening as he delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term. Trump delivered a lengthy speech that broke records as the longest in recent history as the president celebrated winding down diversity, equity and inclusion policies, securing the border, unleashing America’s energy, and most importantly, strengthening the economy and helping ordinary Americans.” | Fox News
Trump Show on Capitol Hill. “The State of the Union is typically a well-watched, if sepia-toned, tradition filled with half-promises, overblown policy prescriptions, and lofty goals. Trump’s State of the Union is more political theater than substance. He’s the master of ceremonies, and it’s all about the flash. Congressional Republicans are just along for the ride, wherever he goes.” | Punchbowl News
In response to Trump, Summer Lee proposes a different State of the Union. “President Donald Trump and Rep. Summer Lee offered very different views on the State of the Union on Tuesday.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Lee will present articles of impeachment against Attorney General Bondi. “On Tuesday, Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-12) announced on social media that she would introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in connection with the Epstein files. “The Department of Justice’s refusal to comply with our subpoena and the law has gone on for too long,” Lee wrote.” | PoliticsPA
Country
2. There are tons of special elections going on in Pennsylvania. This costs taxpayers millions
“If you feel like Pennsylvania voters are constantly going to the polls, it’s not your imagination.
Since 2017, Pennsylvania has held 47 special elections to fill open seats in the state legislature and Congress, including two on Tuesday for House seats in Allegheny and Lehigh counties, according to Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan online political encyclopedia. That’s more than any other state during that period.
It’s unclear why Pennsylvania had so many special elections, although observers pointed to the state’s huge, full-time Legislature as a possible factor. But what is more obvious is the cost.” | Vote for Pennsylvania
Elsewhere
Garrity attends SOTU; AP Democrats criticize her ‘cheerleading for Trump’. “Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity was one of the invited guests at the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C. Garrity was invited to the gallery to hear President Donald Trump address a joint session of Congress, led by Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-15).” | PoliticsPA
Mazzocco wins special election to fill Miller’s term in HD-42. “Teacher Jennifer Mazzocco won the special election in the 42nd Legislative District to fill the remaining term of Dan Miller, who resigned as an Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judge.” | PoliticsPA
Tiburcio wins special election in Lehigh Valley to fill Siegel’s term. “Ana Tiburcio won the special election in the 22nd Legislative District to fill the remaining term of Josh Siegel, who resigned as Lehigh County Executive.” | PoliticsPA
New poll shows PA voters’ balance on ICE and immigration. “The latest joint survey from RealClear Opinion Research and Emerson Polling examines attitudes toward immigration and immigration reform in Pennsylvania. Understanding attitudes in a critical battleground like the Keystone State is critical to discerning how these elections are shaping up.” | Real clear policy
Around the Republic of Poland
3. PA-03: Candidates vying for Dwight Evans’ success have a chance to ask each other questions. The situation became tense
“With a huge number of Democrats largely aligned on policy issues, it has been challenging to tell the candidates apart in this year’s race for an open congressional seat in Philadelphia.
But at a forum Monday night, the top candidates for the 3rd Congressional District, which is being vacated by a retiring Democrat, Dwight Evansthey started to make clear where the battle lines were – by shooting at each other.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
How a land dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro and his neighbor is rocking a sleepy Abington neighborhood. “When a messy land dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro and his backyard neighbor came to light earlier this month following federal court filings, it rocked the sleepy Montgomery County neighborhood.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Senate hearings on $40 million worth of work following arson attacks on the Governor’s Mansion and Shapiro’s home. “About $40 million spent on repairs and security at the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private home in Montgomery County involves artificial intelligence-based surveillance systems, state police said Tuesday, as Republicans continued to question the justification for some of the contracts.” | PennLive
Mercer County Commissioner Changes Voter Registration to Independent. “Mercer County Commissioner Tim McGonigle changed his voter rolls from Democrat to Independent, but when it comes to running for commissioner in a few years, he doesn’t know which he will run for.” | Meadville Grandstand
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- ‘An arduous and tiring performance’: The best and worst moments of Trump’s State of the Union address | New York Times opinion
- The founders’ vision of the limits of power is being tested | Michel J. Faulkner
- The real revolution is not about giving up on democracy — or each other | Kerry Sautner
- Politicians in Pennsylvania should focus on real issues, not cell phones | Jamie Walker
- Trump collected illegal tariffs, but did not expect the money back | Dick Polman
- Supreme Court ruling on tariffs sheds featherlight on the abyss of local government | TribLive
- Let Epstein’s toxic Bondi hearing be a wake-up call to all | Grant Filbeck and Philip Seaver-Hall
1 item
5. How teenagers exploit and perceive artificial intelligence
“Most American teenagers say they use AI chatbots, including about three in 10 who do so every day. But what are they using them for? And how do they think artificial intelligence (AI) will impact their lives?”
Teens turn to chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot and Character.ai for a variety of reasons – but research and homework top the list, while “for fun” isn’t far behind.
More than half of teenagers say they have used chatbots to find information (57%) or get facilitate with schoolwork (54%). And 47% say they did it for fun or entertainment.” | Pew research
Thank you for starting Wednesday with us.
Make the most of your day. See you tomorrow.
