📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. Electoral changes are taking center stage in the House of Representatives amid growing pressure on the right. Ward wonders if Shapiro is committed to AP, Bradford warns GOP that interim deadlines are approaching. Penn State Athletics’ debt has reached $535 million due to stadium renovations. These Pennsylvanians will compete in the Winter Olympics
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Take me. I see
Weather in Pennsylvania
❄️ Beaver Falls | Snow, 31
☁️ Harrisburg | Mostly murky, 30
☁️ Wilkes-Barre | Mostly murky, 29
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (30-21) | Los Angeles Lakers 115-119 | I was based in Phoenix
🏒 Flyers (25/20/11) | Ottawa 1-2 (OT) | February 25 in Washington
🏒 Penguins (29/15/12) | Buffalo 5-2 | February 26 vs. New Jersey
📚 What we are reading. Governor Josh Shapiro recent book “Where we keep the delicate” will debut on Sunday at No. 3 on the NYT nonfiction bestseller list.
🔈 What we hear. “Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija announced today that his campaign has raised $760,953.80 in 2025, the highest fundraising total ever for an AP County Commissioner with a full year prior to re-election.”
📅 What’s going to happen this weekend. The Pennsylvania Republican State Committee meets today and tomorrow in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party will hold endorsement meetings in Harrisburg on Saturday.
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The most crucial story
1. Electoral changes take center stage in the House of Representatives as pressure from the right mounts
“The House is scheduled to vote next week on a once-obscure election bill that has now become a household name among far-right activists and a major point of unification for an otherwise divided GOP.
The SAVE America Act, intended to tighten voter registration standards, faces a challenging road to passage despite an uncompromising pressure campaign from, among others, President Donald Trump and technology tycoon Elon Musk. Democrats are certain to defeat the bill in the Senate, and it is unlikely that the GOP will be willing to take extraordinary steps to overcome this obstacle.” | POLICY
Elsewhere
GOP’s New Fear: Losing the Senate in November. “Leading Republicans are increasingly concerned about private polls that paint a dire picture for the midterms — and it’s not just the House they fear losing, but the Senate as well. For the first time, GOP strategists tell Axios that losing the Senate — where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority — is a distinct possibility and that they will have to fight harder than expected to retain control.” | Axles
Slotkin and Houlahan refuse to participate in Justice Department interviews regarding the film “Illegal Orders.”. “Two Democratic lawmakers – Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Republican Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania – said Thursday they would not participate in interviews with the Justice Department over their participation in a video urging law enforcement officials to disobey illegal orders.” | CNN
Republican working on recent tidy energy tax. “One of only two House Republicans who voted against last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act intends to renew the fight for the clean energy tax credit. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania is preparing to introduce legislation that would restore solar and wind incentives that Republicans gutted last year, which he says is ‘nonsense.'” | POLICY
Country
2. Ward wonders if Shapiro is committed to AP, Bradford warns GOP midterms loom
“Governor Josh Shapiro This week’s $53.26 billion budget proposal captured the attention of lawmakers, but by criticizing or complimenting the governor’s 2026-2027 vision for Pennsylvania and beyond, two top members of the General Assembly showed that elections are never far away.
“I think one thing is important for all of us who will definitely still be here in 2028.” Senate President pro tempore Kim Ward he continued, in a clear shot at Shapiro, “the governor raised the issue of housing and bonds in 2028, when he plans to leave.”
Democratic Majority Leader Matt Bradford stated that the “political imperative” for Republicans is to start working with Shapiro, not against him New news about the castle
Elsewhere
PA-08: Shapiro supports Cognetti in NEPA Congressional race. “It’s a good day to be Paige Cognetti. The mayor of Scranton and the likely Democratic nominee in the 8th Congressional District just received an endorsement for the position from the highest elected official in the commonwealth.” | PoliticsPA
Tsai is making history in the Commonwealth Court. “The Right Honorable Stella Tsai has become the first Asian-American justice of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. On Thursday, she was sworn in during a special inauguration ceremony in University City. ” | 6abc
Dush withdraws from lieutenant governor race, endorses Jason Richey. “State Sen. Cris Dush has dropped his bid for lieutenant governor. Dush, who represents State College, said he will campaign for likely GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity.” | Daily Times Center
A former arcade game specialist pleads guilty to money laundering and tax fraud. “Ricky Goodling, a former state police corporal who worked as national compliance director for Georgia-based Pace-O-Matic until 2023, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Cumberland County Superior Court to money laundering. He also pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to a charge that he evaded paying more than $100,000 in taxes on illegal money laundering proceeds. ” | Penn Capital Star
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Penn State Athletics’ debt has reached $535 million due to stadium renovations
“According to the most recent NCAA college financial disclosures, Penn State University ended fiscal year 2025 with $534.7 million in athletics-related debt, more than three times the $163.1 million reported in the prior year.
This recent figure easily exceeds the $437 million in athletics-related debt for ’25 disclosed by Florida State, which released its NCAA report overdue last week, and positions Penn State as the apparent pacesetter among the most indebted athletic departments in the country.
The dramatic raise in the Nittany Lions’ outstanding liabilities is due to a $700 million renovation of Beaver Stadium, which is being financed by debt that the school says will be paid off through “fundraising, concessions, naming opportunities, sponsorships and ticket sales.” This responsibility will remain on the athletics department’s balance sheet for many years and will likely only raise. | Sporty
Elsewhere
The unmasking of ICE in Philadelphia could test the limits of local power over federal agents. “Philadelphia lawmakers appear poised to pass legislation that would prohibit all officers operating in the city – including local police – from concealing their identities by wearing masks or enforcing the law in front of unmarked cars. The question is whether the city can maintain this rule.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro’s housing proposal reflects initiatives already underway in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. “Seeing the growing housing shortage across Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro has outlined an action plan to address the problem, although many of his proposed initiatives are already being implemented or under consideration in Pittsburgh and Allegheny counties.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Tempers are running high in Chester County as investigators detail the causes of the poll error. “Many commenters thought they had the answer to the root cause of the problem: County Elections Director Karen Barsoum.” | Let him vote
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Pennsylvanians will participate in the Winter Olympics
“Several Pennsylvania athletes will compete for gold at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Why it matters: The opening ceremony takes place today and the competition will last over two weeks.
Current situation: Seven Keystone State athletes, mostly Olympic first-timers, will compete in a variety of sports. | Axios Philadelphia
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