🧑🏭 Let’s get back to it. I hope you had a nice holiday weekend.
Headlines. Summer of Sport and Politics. Feeling the impact of Trump’s tax law one year later. Echoes of the past in the fight between coal cities and data centers. Big brews, tiny cans.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Take me home, country roads. John Denver
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌧️ Beaver Falls | Showers, thunderstorms, 86
⛈️Lewistown | Showers, thunderstorms, 79
⛈️ Radnor | Showers, thunderstorms, 77
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (50-40) | Kansas City 2-5 | Monday in Kansas City
⚾ Pirates (46-45) | Washington 11-5 | Tue. vs. Atlanta
⚽ USMNT | Mon – Belgium (1/16 World Cup finals)
What we hear. DCCC excels Brian Fitzpatrick reps, Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan AND Scott Perry over what he calls “Excessive Costs, Corruption and Cruelty” with Meta’s five-figure ad buy per district.
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 crucial story
1. It’s the summer of sports and politics
“Rep. Brendan Boyle is a congressman from Pennsylvania, representing a district stretching along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, including the entire northeastern part of the city. Of course, his personal X-channel reflects this, but not because it’s full of updates on the impact of federal policy on the construction of I-95 or the price of Cheez Whiz.
His personal X-channel reflects this, as it is filled with warm sports shots.
This helps explain why so many politicians are focusing on football, soccer, basketball, college sports and a certain UFC fight this summer. And it’s not all about fun and games, because the clash of sports and politics goes far beyond X and stupid bets. | known
Elsewhere
Supreme Court upholds state law banning transgender girls from women’s sports teams. “The U.S. Supreme Court has launched another legal battle over transgender inclusion policies, upholding state laws prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.” | PoliticsPA
Perry calls for repealing the 17th Amendment and giving state legislatures the power to elect senators. “There are 27 amendments in the United States Constitution that have been the foundation of the American Republic for 250 years. Representative Scott Perry (R-10) wants to repeal one of them. ” | PoliticsPA
Shapiro and other Democratic governors are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw Trump’s election executive order plan. “A group of Democratic governors asked the U.S. Postal Service on Thursday to withdraw a proposed rule aimed at implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order to create a federally eligible voting list and potentially limit who can receive a mail-in ballot.” | AP
Harvie sends a cease and desist letter to Fitzpatrick alleging defamation in campaign ads. (*6*) | Questioner from Philadelphia
Country
2. Pennsylvanians are feeling the impact of Trump’s tax rules a year later
“One year after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans passed a massive tax and spending bill, Pennsylvanians are feeling the impact as they debate how gigantic and attractive ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ really was.
The legislation included $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, extending cuts enacted during Trump’s first term while lowering taxes on tips, Social Security, up-to-date American-made cars and overtime wages. But it also reduced spending on health care and nutrition programs by $1.4 trillion Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
Shapiro worries that Trump will do everything in his power to overturn the November election in his state. “Four months before the 2026 election, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro tells CNN he expects ‘Trump will try to do everything he can to overturn our election.'” | CNN
Western AP Democrats outside Allegheny County are losing ground in the state legislature. “State Rep. Rob Matzie is becoming an increasingly rare figure in western Pennsylvania state politics: an elected Democrat from outside Allegheny County.” | Grandstand overview
Could a tardy PA budget… actually be a good thing? “When it comes to the state budget, the last thing lawmakers should want is to push through legislation without considering the consequences.” | Tri-state alarm
Former state senator Shirley Kitchen dies at 79. “Kitchen, who represented the 3rd Senatorial District, was widely considered a steady voice for underserved communities in North Central Philadelphia, East Oak Lane and parts of Montgomery County.” | Philadelphia Tribune
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Echoes of the past in Pennsylvania’s coal towns’ fight against data centers
“Data center proposals in Hazle Township and nearby Kline Township are just two of more than 60 that emerged in Pennsylvania last year.
Residents of Pennsylvania’s coal regions are all too familiar with industry agreements that yield results quickly and leave destruction and little economic opportunity in their wake. As the local coal industry declined, manufacturing, waste disposal and storage facilities began to appear, some of which posed up-to-date health risks. There are three Superfund sites in Luzerne County, where Hazleton is located.
This story means that the development of the artificial intelligence boom brings additional alarm Inside climate news
Elsewhere
Republican Al Buchtan claims Washington County leaders influenced the election by trying to unseat state senator Bartolotta. “Federal lawsuit alleges defendants ‘collaborated with’ state Republican leaders to ‘interfere with the Republican primary election’ in the state’s 46th Senate District.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Charleroi is bracing for an uncertain future following a Supreme Court ruling that leaves Haitians in limbo. “The immigrant community that helped revitalize the borough faces fear as immigration enforcement surges following the Temporary Protected Status ruling.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
If Congress fails to pass the bill, Pennsylvanians will lose an average of $520 a month in Social Security benefits over six years.. “68 million Americans could be affected, including 255,000 Philadelphians.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Local nonprofits are playing a waiting game as the state delays online lottery ticket sales. “The Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department is selling tickets for a chance to win outdoor cooking equipment. This is a popular donation drive held at departments across the state. State law says they are not allowed to sell tickets online or accept electronic payments. ” | News from the Valley
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Why does Pennsylvania even have a budget deadline? | Grandstand overview
- Josh Shapiro’s Fall: Pennsylvania Governor Falls on the Political Wharf | Jonathan Turley
- A debate would aid all Pennsylvania voters | CNHI
- The Supreme Court Just Gave the Rich Even More Political Power | Barbara McQuade
- America turns 250 with a soul in balance | Questioner from Philadelphia
- Football proves what Trump denies: America’s strength comes from the world | Marek S. Singel
- Protect the line that made women’s sports possible | JD Longo and Riley Gaines
- Banning trans girls from sports impacts all children – why allowing strangers to examine children’s bodies could put all girls at risk of molestation | Megan Gandy
- How football saved our 250th | Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
1 item
5. Big brewers focus on vast beer cans
“The best brewers in America see gigantic business in tiny beers.
Sierra Nevada and Modelo maker Constellation Brands are among the companies bringing smaller cans and bottles, called ponies, to market, and sales are growing, analysts and industry executives say.
“We are optimistic about what ponies can add,” he said Craig PurserCEO of the National Association of Beer Wholesalers, which represents over 3,000 beer and beverage distributors. “Consumers don’t have to make a decision about 12 ounces.” | Wall Street Journal
Editor’s note. Takes me back to Skeller at Penn State and Rolling Rock 7oz ponies.
Thank you for starting the up-to-date week with us.
Wipe the sleep from your eyes. Here we go.
