🏖️Hello, weekend
Headlines. Fitzpatrick leans on GOP cash to criticize leadership. Where Garrity and Shapiro advocate abortion. Even in a climate of male uproar, women still make profits. Exit with Mbappé.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. The house is spinning | Stevie Ray Vaughan
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌤️ Bethel Park | Getting sunnier, 81
🌤️Hershey | Mostly bright, 92
🌤️ Długi Staw | Mostly bright, 86
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (37-31) | Friday-Sunday in Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (35-34) | Los Angeles Dodgers 6-8 | Friday-Sunday vs. Miami
⚽ USMNT | Friday – Paraguay
What we hear. The Republican State Leadership Committee will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the launch of “States Don’t Wait” multi-point advertising campaign runs through five battleground states, including Pennsylvania. The ad will be supported by six-figure purchases on digital platforms and will focus on how state Republicans are cutting taxes while liberals support out-of-touch policies that would raise costs for Americans.
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. Fitzpatrick Increases Criticism of House GOP Leaders Even as He Begins to Rely on Their Campaign Cash
“How US Representative Brian Fitzpatrick as the fiercest re-election fight in years began over the last two months, a moderate Bucks County Republican called for restrictions President Donald Trump war in Iran and for prohibiting the creation of the so-called “anti-gun fund” that could reward the president’s allies.
He was talking about a Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro potential presidential candidate and said he would “100%” become independent if Pennsylvania didn’t have closed primaries.
But behind the scenes, Fitzpatrick has begun to leverage his party’s expansive resources to assist him win re-election and, Republicans hope, maintain GOP control of the narrowly divided, 435-member House.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
According to an AP-NORC poll, Trump has lost support among independent politicians. “The analysis by researchers at the Associated Press-NORC Public Affairs Research Center shows that while about half of non-college-educated independents had favorable views of Trump during the 2024 election period, his approval of that group dropped to about a quarter this spring.” | AP
Congress will hold a special gathering in Philadelphia to mark the 250th anniversary. (*12*) | TIME
The Department of Justice is pushing the boundaries of its authority over state elections. “The department once tried to stay out of state elections by urging caution. It now continues to make claims of fraud as President Trump returns to his baseless claims that elections cannot be trusted.” | New York Times
Bresnahan’s proposed legislation aims to maintain local control over data center development decisions. “U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan has introduced new legislation aimed at protecting small communities that reject data center applications from federal lawsuits.” | WVIA
Country
2. Governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro support abortion
“Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, countries have become the main battlefield for expanding or limiting access to abortion.
This November, Pennsylvania voters will choose between candidates for governor who have radically different positions on what the commonwealth should do.” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Garrity details plans to release natural gas in Pennsylvania. “You could call it a combination of ‘Drill Baby Drill’ and ‘Unleash the Beast.’ Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity revealed her plan to “unlock Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry” on Tuesday during a speech before the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Hershey. | PoliticsPA
Senate Democrats are trying to file a discharge petition in an attempt to raise the state’s minimum wage. “With a new arrow in their quiver, Senate Democrats have filed a discharge petition that will force Republicans to vote on legislation to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.” | PoliticsPA
Saval and Senate Democrats want to ban ICE on AP election sites. “Pennsylvania Senate Democrats’ legislation would prohibit ICE officials from being within 100 feet of polling places, ballot drop boxes and ballot drop-off areas.” | Key
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Even in an atmosphere of male adversity, women still make profits
“This is a testosterone-fueled and sometimes toxic moment in American politics. We have a White House that often lapses into swagger — and that’s when it’s on its best behavior. And Democrats are not immune to this.”
Controversy surrounding a candidate for the Maine State Senate Graham Platnerfor example, they led Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman demand a full accounting of any nude photos Platner may have transmitted, using terms that may themselves be more explicit than necessary. (Don’t stare at the photos too long, senator, so they don’t look at you!)
But a look beyond the headlines suggests that women continued to escalate their political power WESA
Elsewhere
Parker signs $7.1 billion budget after City Council approval. “The Philadelphia City Council approved a $7.1 billion city operating budget for fiscal year 2027, a week after rejecting many of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s controversial tax proposals.” | WHY
Dauphin County Democrats are choosing a novel chairman after a long, contentious leadership battle. “The Dauphin County Democratic Committee (DCDC) convened Thursday evening to reorganize, electing Steelton Mayor Ciera Dent as the new committee chair.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- The real victims of gerrymandering: independent voters | Anna Pingel
- Tired of GOP chaos? Do something about it | Eugene DePasquale
- ‘Dinosaur’ stumbles as Philadelphia’s Democratic machine loses ground in district elections | Daniel Pearson
- Stacy Garrity cashes in while Pennsylvania schools grapple with rising insurance costs | Scott Overland
- Is this all from the GOP Congress? | Wall Street Journal
- PA’s economy cannot sustain the proposed state budget | Emily Brey
- Mandatory parental leave will decimate diminutive businesses in Allegheny County | Andrew Lewis
1 item
5. Philly Kids have an unforgettable World Cup moment
“Gavin Hernandez had one item on his birthday wish list: an electric scooter.
That was before he found out he would spend his 12th birthday taking the field during a World Cup match against an international soccer star.
Why it matters: Gavin is one of 20 kids from a Kensington youth program selected for FIFA’s player escort program – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that puts local children at the center of the world’s biggest sporting event.’ | Axios Philadelphia
Thank you for starting your weekend with us.
Make the most of it. See you on Monday.
