✡️ Good morning! To those who celebrate, I wish you a Happy Passover.
🗞️ Headlines. Shapiro vows to ‘protect’ mail-in voting after Trump signs order to restrict it Could Harvie end Fitzpatrick’s term in Congress? Environmentalists, coal companies are testing the Shapiro Energy Balancing Act. Apple after 50.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Blitzkrieg Bop. Ramones
Weather in Pennsylvania
☔ Squirrel Hill | Showers, 65
⛈️ Harrisburg | Rain, thunderstorms, 76
🌤️ Abington | Partly clear, 78
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (2-3) | Washington 3-2 | Wednesday vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (2-3) | Cincinnati 8-3 | Wednesday in Cincinnati
🏀 Sixes (41-34) | Wednesday in Washington
🏒 Penguins (38-21-16) | Detroit 5-1 | Thu and Tampa Bay
🏒 Leaflets (37-25-12) | Washington 4-6 | Thu vs. Detroit
🔉 What we hear. Voters “will look to their members of Congress to see whether they will double down or choose an independent vote [on Iran]” Samuel Chensaid a Pennsylvania GOP strategist. “If they tighten up their effectiveness in tight spots in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and elsewhere, that could be the difference.”
💬 Tips. 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.
The most essential story
1. Shapiro vows to ‘protect’ mail-in voting after Trump signs order to restrict it and create a national voter roll
“Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro pushed back President Donald Trump executive order establishing a national list of eligible voters and restricting mail-in voting.
“President Trump can sign whatever he wants, but it won’t change the Constitution,” Shapiro, a Democrat, wrote in X’s post Tuesday evening after Trump signed the executive order. “The power to set our election rules rests with the states — and as governor, I will protect your right to vote. That includes your right to vote by mail.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
What’s at Risk If SCOTUS Sides with Trump in a Birthright Citizenship Case. “The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on President Trump’s executive order limiting citizenship by birth in a case that could determine who becomes an American. Why it matters: A ruling in Trump’s favor could change America’s racial structure and create a caste system that leaves millions without rights. ” | Axles
While Shapiro opposes ICE detention, his GOP opponent for PA governor remains unclear. “Stacy Garrity’s gubernatorial campaign will not clarify where Republicans stand on ICE detention centers, saying only that Pennsylvania’s proposals ‘warrant a major overhaul’ and that incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro’s opposition to them is ‘posturing.'” | PA reflector
Trump’s order to block funding for NPR and PBS was unlawful, a judge has ruled. “U.S. District Judge Randolph Daniel Moss wrote in a 62-page order that while many of the original issues in this case are no longer relevant after Congress defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a portion of the order calling on the agencies to end “all direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS” remains in effect.” | Penn Capital Star
McCormick says he wants more NIH funding amid reports of White House cuts. “During a Tuesday visit to Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania with National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, D-Pa., touted the impact the agency has had on the Keystone State and called for increased funding.” | Central Square
Country
2. Can Bob Harvie end Brian Fitzpatrick’s term in Congress?
“Ten years ago, an FBI supervisory special agent ran for and won the congressional seat previously held by his brother.
Over the last decade Representative Brian FitzpatrickMike’s younger brother, was targeted by Democrats in a mostly purple Bucks County district. And four times since he won re-election by defeat Scott Wallace (2018), Christina Finello (2020) i Ashley Ehasz (2022, 2024).
Now a Bucks County commissioner Bob Harviee attacks a former lawyer and special forces veteran. And Democrats, as always, are confident about the 54-year-old’s chances. | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Bucks County Democrats in Congress differ on health care and immigration. “Bucks County Commissioner and longtime former Falls Supervisor Bob Harvie is meeting with scientist and former U.S. Senate aide Lucia Simonelli. Here’s what both candidates said in separate interviews this month on several policy issues” | Bucks County Courier Times
AP Senate has hired former staffer as outside attorney – no solicitation required. “The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate have hired at least 70 private attorneys in recent years, but only one served dual duties – first as in-house counsel and later as an outside contractor.” | PennLive
Records show the AP House’s legal spending is less limpid than the Senate’s. “A PennLive investigation found that the House spent at least $559,400 on private attorneys from 2022 through mid-2025. That’s just a fraction of the $9.3 million the state Senate spent on legal bills during the same period.” | PennLive
Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss data center regulations. But will they walk? “As public opposition to AI data center development grows in Pennsylvania, politicians are vowing to protect local communities. Whether the state’s recalcitrant policies will bear fruit is another question.” | Inside Climate News
Adequacy funding is at the center of PA Ed budget debates. “Pennsylvania’s top lawmakers say they want school districts to demonstrate better performance before they guarantee additional rounds of adequacy dollars earmarked for the commonwealth’s historically underfunded school districts.” | WESA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Power play: Environmentalists and coal interests in western Pennsylvania check out the Shapiro Energy Balancing Act
“Company towns once occupied the landscape of the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, where early 20th-century coal mining fueled commerce and left a trail of environmental pollution that remains today.
(Melcroft) was also the site of the Battle of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro energy policy is working. The environmental group’s land reclamation efforts run counter to an industry that is no longer done extracting fossil fuels.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Judge orders UPenn to produce list of Jewish employees sought by Trump administration. “The University of Pennsylvania must comply with a Trump administration subpoena for information regarding Jewish employees, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.” | NBC News
County council limits application deadline due to refusal by sheriff from district attorney’s office. “Provisions that would allow Allegheny County voters to decide whether to implement term limits for elected officials remain in limbo after council members requested additional time before voting on the ordinance so they could consult with the county’s legal counsel.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Your guide to the 2026 primaries. “Primary elections like the one held in Philadelphia on May 19, 2026, typically have low turnout. They shouldn’t. The choices you make on May 19 have enormous potential to impact your daily life. ” | Citizen of Philadelphia
Q&A: How can Pittsburgh position itself as a place to return to after the NFL Draft? “Mayor Corey O’Connor’s term began with the largest crowd in Pittsburgh’s history. Today he discussed his hopes for the April event and the days that will follow. ” | Public source
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Apple over 50: How a garage start-up became a $3.5 trillion titan
“Celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, Apple has evolved from a 1976 garage into a powerhouse worth more than $3.5 trillion with 2.5 billion vigorous devices.
The secret to Apple’s dominance: a cult-like obsession with design, privacy and perfection that has created fierce loyalty among customers. | Los Angeles Times
Thank you for starting your day with us.
Happy Passover! See you tomorrow.
