🌅 Good morning! I hope you had a nice weekend.
🗞️ Headlines. Fetterman says “moral clarity” is driving his deepening break with Democrats. Republican election officials say Trump’s mail-in voting order will be invalidated. Bucks County drivers worry about gas prices, Trump and Iran. Josh Shapiro, floor general.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Rock The Casbah. Collision
Weather in Pennsylvania
❄️ Erie | AM Snow showers, 39
🌤️ State Higher School | Mostly shining, 51
🌥️ Allentown | Rising Clouds, 55
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (5-4) | Colorado 1-4 | Mon vs. San Francisco
⚾ Pirates (6-3) | Baltimore 8-2 | Mon vs. San Diego
🏀 Sixes (43-35) | Minnesota 115-103 | Detroit 93-116 | Monday in San Antonio
🏒 Penguins (40-22-16) | Florida 9-4 | Florida 5-2 | Thu in New Jersey
🏒 Leaflets (39-26-12) | NY Islanders 4-1 | Boston 2-1 (OT) |
⚽ Union (0-0-6) | Apple pie 1-2 | Saturday vs. Montreal
🏀Gannon (34-3) | Lander 84-61 (NCAA DII Men’s Championship)
🔉 What we read. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day in Iran, all rolled into one. There will be nothing like this!!! Open the Fucking Strait you crazy bastards or you will live in hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
💬 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 significant story
1. Fetterman Claims ‘Moral Clarity’ Causes His Deepening Break with the Democratic Party
“Senator John Fetterman said Saturday that his guiding principle was “moral clarity” rather than party politics, describing a deepening break with Democratic Party colleagues over his support for Israel and opposition to the ongoing government shutdown.
“There was a split between me and my party… first and foremost, it was Israel,” Fetterman told Life, Liberty & Levin, noting that he was one of the few Democrats to support Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
“It could isolate me politically, but I don’t regret it because I always thought that was what moral clarity was and I never checked what politics was behind it,” he said. | Fox News
Elsewhere
The competitive race in Philadelphia, USA is narrowing, but significant questions remain. “With about six weeks until Election Day, here are the biggest questions facing the three top candidates vying for the congressional seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro is suing Trump over efforts to restrict mail-in voting and amass a national list of eligible voters. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined Democratic officials from 22 other states on Friday in filing a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that restricts mail-in voting and directs federal agencies to create a national list of eligible voters.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
The FCC is looking at changes to rules for broadcasting live sports events amid fan frustration. “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is opening the door to rewriting its rules on local blackout restrictions for live sports broadcasts, which could be the first step in potentially changing the broadcast landscape for professional leagues and their media partners.” | Hill
Country
2. Two Republican election officials say Trump’s mail-in voting order will be invalidated
“Current and former Republican election officials said Sunday they expect to rescind President Donald Trump’s executive order to restrict mail-in voting.
“We want voters to know that elections will be free, fair and secure, and that everyone knows the rules before participating.” – Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Al Schmidt he said. “That’s why confusion is never a positive thing unless it seeks to sow distrust in the election result.” | POLICY
Elsewhere
Shapiro says more school funding helps underfunded schools raise test scores, but skeptics object. “Since taking office in 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro has focused his budget proposals on “adequate funding” for under-resourced school districts. Now, with a second term ahead and a third straight year of funding increases, he and other Democratic state leaders say the increased investment is paying off. | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Thanks to Trump’s budget cuts, Pennsylvania could lose millions used to facilitate people pay their heating bills. “The Trump administration proposes eliminating a program that helps low-income families pay their heating bills, potentially adding to the list of disappearing federal programs that Pennsylvania will have to cover or cut.” | PennLive
Davis talks about tax cuts, inclusionary procurement and housing investments to enhance opportunity across the state. “Austin Davis is one of five Black lieutenant governors across the United States. Last month, he spoke with two of them at the Black Economic Alliance’s Solutions Summit, discussing policymaking to advance opportunity and prosperity. ” | Philadelphia Tribune
The judge keeps Buchtan on the ballot in an attempt to challenge Bartolotta for the Pennsylvania State Senate. “A state judge says Republican Al Buchtan can continue to challenge incumbent state Sen. Camera Bartolotta in the 46th Senate District — despite finding that, at least for legal reasons, Buchtan doesn’t live where he thinks he lives.” | WESA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Bucks County drivers worry about gas prices, Trump and Iran: ‘The average American won’t survive this’
“John Heim looked quizzically at the gas pump as the price display flashed too quickly for him to register.
Those prices irritate Heim and other residents of Bucks County, a key political battleground where voters narrowly elected President Donald Trump in 2024 — marking the first time a Republican has won a presidential race in the county since the 1980s.
Several Bucks drivers lamented the war and blamed Trump for costing them at the pump. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
O’Connor’s partnership approach brings millions to nonprofits and tax-exempt corporations. “In less than four months in office, Mayor Corey O’Connor has secured more than $18 million in commitments from nonprofits, corporations and labor groups, representing a notable shift in the way Pittsburgh has engaged with its largest tax-exempt institutions.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Republicans applaud the detention of immigrants – until they are in their backyards. “In Social Circle, Georgia, and Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, located in counties that gave Trump more than 70% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election, local leaders oppose the government’s purchase of two large-format warehouses. In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said he opposes the Schuylkill detention center and another proposed facility, and noted that opposition is not coming solely from Democrats. | Penn Capital Star
Questions concern police officers’ cooperation with ICE in Pennsylvania. “Several police officers from across the state said they tried to get involved in the program but were told their participation was suspended.” | WESA
PA County Jails Make Millions of Dollars Detaining Immigrants for ICE. “A group of Pennsylvania counties has billed the federal government more than $21 million in recent years for keeping immigrants in jail, a first-of-its-kind review by Spotlight PA found.” | PA reflector
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Before becoming governor, Josh Shapiro was the “general” of a high school team that proved his worth
“Akiba Hebrew Academy went 25-3 in 1991 and won the league basketball championship thanks to an offense orchestrated by the future governor of Pennsylvania. Amy Eden the middle one played, Aaron Hahn Taper was a 6-foot-3 shooting guard after a growth spurt and Josh Shapiro he played as quarterback.
Today, Shapiro is the 48th Pennsylvania governor to run for re-election, and there are rumors that he will be a presidential candidate in 2028. Thirty-five years ago, he ran for a point for a high school team that loved to prove its worth. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Thank you for starting your week with us.
The holidays are over… let’s get back to work. See you tomorrow.
