😃 Good morning on Thursday morning.
Headlines. A year later, the AP congressional delegation is still divided on the gigantic handsome bill. The hidden costs of low-tax states. Buchtan is suing after losing a state Senate challenge to Bartolotta. “The Pitt” leads with 25 Emmy nominations.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Volunteers. Jefferson’s plane
Weather in Pennsylvania
☀️ Monessen | Showers, thunderstorms, 86
☀️ Blossburg | Shrinking clouds, 84
☀️ Mount Carmel | Afternoon showers, thunderstorms, 82
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (51-42, 3GB) | Cincinnati 5-11 | Thu in Cincinnati
⚾ Pirates (47-46, 11.5 GB) | Atlanta 0-3 | Thu vs. Atlanta
What we hear. “On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Republican Party released an announcement Image generated by artificial intelligence Democratic candidate for Congress Bob Brooks standing nearby Graham Platner. The doctored image is part of the Republican Party’s campaign to link him to Platner for using Fight Agency, the political firm behind Platner and Zohran Mamdani mayor’s victory.
What else will we hear?. Planned Parenthood Votes – pumps in over $47 million in midterms in a bid to defeat Republicans who cut off abortion provider funding last year. This near-record investment will fund advertising and voter outreach efforts targeting Republicans in 10 battleground districts in seven states, including Brian Fitzpatrick AND Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania.
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. One year later, the AP congressional delegation is still divided on the gigantic handsome bill
“A year later President Donald Trump signed his sweeping domestic policy bill — the One Big Beautiful Bill — members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation still disagree on whether Trump’s signed tax bill will do more to support — or hurt — Pennsylvanians.
The president’s allies, like U.S. Representative Mike Kellysaid ahead of the bill’s one-year anniversary that the bill — which he called not the president’s own nickname, but “tax cuts for working families” — “uses the tax code to work for Americans, not against them.”
U.S. Representative Brendan Boyleon Wednesday, the media reported that the bill reduced taxes for the country’s highest earners at the expense of financing health care and food aid (*9*)City and state
Elsewhere
Most American Jews do not feel supported by either party or President Trump, a up-to-date AP-NORC poll finds. “A majority of American Jews, 63%, say anti-Jewish prejudice is an “extremely” or “very” stern problem in the US. At the same time, few believe that either side is doing a good job supporting the Jewish people in the United States.” | AP
Jewish Democrats Eyeing 2028 Presidential Bids Confronting Party’s Hostility Toward Israel. “Rahm Emanuel delivers a tough love message in Israel that has implications for his party’s policies at home” | Wall Street Journal
“Freedom Fuel”: The White House promotes a network selling cheaper gas in Pennsylvania. “The White House announced on social media the launch of a network of gas stations selling gasoline at “$3.47 for our 47th president.” The Freedom Fuel Network website lists 25 locations, most of them in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs. | PennLive
Country
2. Hidden costs of low-tax states
“State governments in America currently rely on two very different tax mechanisms: income in many coastal and professional-class states, and consumption in much of the Sun Belt and low tax growth belt.
States that advertise themselves as low-tax havens often still reap gigantic sums from shopping, gas, insurance, tourism and other transactions, while many blue and purple states rely more heavily on wages, capital gains and corporate profits.
In 2025, 27 states received the largest share of tax revenue from sales and gross income taxes, while 21 relied most heavily on income taxes – combined for individuals and corporations, according to an Axios analysis of up-to-date Census state tax data. | Axles
Elsewhere
Feds threaten PA election chief with criminal charges over foreigners voting. “Pennsylvania’s top election official received a letter this week from the federal Department of Justice suggesting that he and his staff could face criminal charges if non-citizens are allowed to vote in November.” | PennLive
Gov. Shapiro cannot be sued by Abington neighbors over a property dispute, a judge rules. But Josh Shapiro, the owner of the house, Can. “A federal judge had good news for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro this week, but not so much for Montgomery County resident Josh Shapiro.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Where gubernatorial candidates Garrity and Shapiro advocate for marijuana, hemp and more. “Voters who have strong opinions on whether Pennsylvania should legalize marijuana for adult use will find a stark difference between the major candidates for governor this year.” | PA reflector
State police arrest Delco man after anti-Semitic tirade and threats against Shapiro. “Richard Franklin, 65, of Brookhaven was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police early Wednesday morning for allegedly threatening to burn down Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence and using anti-Semitic slurs.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Buchtan sues Washington County officials after losing state Senate against Bartolotta
“Less than two months after the Republican election Bartolotta’s room She was defending her southwestern Pennsylvania state Senate seat against her rival, a Greene County businessman Al Buchtan — filed a federal lawsuit alleging interference by local officials and the Senate GOP’s campaign arm.
Buchtan told WESA the lawsuit has two goals: “To clear his name with these lies – they are just blatant – and to expose how [these local officials] work.” | THAT’S ALL
Elsewhere
Legislature wants to remove “state” from York Fair and others. “You can take the boy out of the country, but not the country out of the boy. But if parliamentarian Catherine Wallen has her way, you will be able to take the “state” out of the Fair. | PolitykaPA
Philadelphia law prohibits judge from blocking masked ICE agents. “Last week, U.S. District Judge Chad Kenney of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued a preliminary injunction preventing the City of Philadelphia from enforcing Act 260060, an ordinance that would make it a crime for law enforcement officers, including federal officers, to wear face masks or conceal identification or other identifying information.” | Central Square
Pennsylvania Society Names Evan Frazier President. “The Pennsylvania Society announced that Evan S. Frazier has been named president of the organization, succeeding Patricia D. Wellenbach, who has completed her term.” | PoliticsPA
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. “The Pitt” leads the Emmy nominations with 25 nominations
“The Pitt” will dominate this year’s Emmy Awards.
The Pittsburgh medical drama earned a total of 25 Emmy nominations on Wednesday.
Although the drama takes place mainly in the Los Angeles area, for the first two seasons the production visits Pittsburgh for a few days. His fictional emergency department, Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, draws inspiration from Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Thank you for starting your Thursday with us.
We’re turning the corner and heading into the weekend.

