😎 It’s Friday. Weekend job.
Headlines. Why America’s elections are so complicated – and secure. Rabb says Fetterman “betrayed the nation of Pennsylvania.” Shapiro is betting on deputies without voting. Debate on constant daylight saving time.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Smoke From A Distant Fire. The Sanford Townsend Band
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What we hear. “I think he needs to forget about the 2020 election. That’s what I think.” – Representative Brian Fitzpatrick
What we also hear. “Four members of Congress, incl Representative Dan Meuser (R-09), who serve on committees that directly regulate Elon Musk’s SpaceX, have together purchased SpaceX shares worth up to $130,000 since the company’s initial public offering, which took place on June 12.
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. Why America’s elections are so complicated – and secure
“In his Thursday evening address to the nation President Donald Trump said Americans deserved secure elections and claimed he was using federal power to prevent their “theft.”
In fact, one of the strongest safeguards in US elections is the fact that they are not conducted at the federal level. America votes in over 10,000 different electoral jurisdictions, each with different rules set by state and sometimes local governments.
This structure makes the country’s elections extremely complicated, as well as unthreatening from widespread fraud. And when misconduct does occur – rarely – security protocols often catch it.” | AP
Elsewhere
Trump’s murky warning about the US election: 4 takeaways. “President Trump described the US elections as under siege on Thursday evening, describing a system rife with loopholes that are being exploited by hostile foreign actors and unauthorized immigrants.” | Axles
Democrats are outperforming Republican incumbents in competitive PA House districts — except for one. “With control of the U.S. House of Representatives at stake in November, Pennsylvania swing district candidates are building up their war chests for a key election, but one Democrat is lagging behind their counterparts.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Republican campaigns see immigration as a winning midterm issue. “Republicans are leaning toward immigration enforcement as one of their most important campaign issues this midterm cycle — despite a rocky start to the year in terms of communicating the president’s top policies.” | NPR
Mackenzie has a cash advantage over Brooks, but the gap has narrowed. “Republican Congressman Ryan Mackenzie has a nearly 3-1 money lead over his Democratic opponent Bob Brooks as the 7th District campaign shifts focus from the May primary to the November election. However, Brooks has closed the money gap since the last reporting period, which ended on March 31, when Mackenzie had a nearly 5-1 advantage.” | Lehigh Valley Chair
Country
2. Rabb Says Fetterman ‘Betrayed the Nation of Pennsylvania’
“Rep. Chris RabbDemocratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat became vacant due to retirement Representative Dwight Evansduring a recent podcast interview, he used robust words when talking about some of his fellow statewide Democrats.
While speaking on the PoliticsPA “Voices of Reason” podcast, Rabb called Senator John Fetterman “sellout” and said it was unfortunate that Pennsylvanians “had to find out who he was after he took office.”
A rabbi who has served in the statehouse since 2016 and has seen Governor Josh Shapiro as a legislator, attorney general and governor, he also said that Shapiro would not be acceptable to the Democratic Socialists as a presidential candidate.” | PolitykaPA
Elsewhere
Voices of reason: Is democratic socialism a winning message for Democrats in the medium term? “In this episode of our podcast, Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Rabb, a self-described democratic socialist and candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, and Sarah Niebler, a political science professor at Dickinson College, answer these questions and more.” | PoliticsPA
Fetterman warns that Democrats’ lack of support for Israel will result in him leaving the party. “Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman drew the line at his continued participation in the Democratic Party on Wednesday.” | PoliticsPA
Mastriano raged about Trump’s election subversion and bias during his confirmation hearing. “State Senator Doug Mastriano learned Thursday that he faces significant Democratic opposition over his confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic.” | PennLive
PA Lawmakers Propose Changes to Save Money After PennLive Disclosures $34M in Technology Bills. “State Representatives Paul Friel and Joe Ciresi announced on July 16 that they would introduce a bill requiring the four legislative caucuses to standardize IT spending.” | PennLive
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Josh Shapiro goes strenuous on the downvote
“Josh Shapiro is playing its biggest mid-term match yet – with a likely date of 2028.
Pennsylvania’s governor will commit $3.3 million to a coordinated campaign starting this weekend to facilitate Democrats in the nation’s largest swing state flip four congressional seats and secure a trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in three decades.
Shapiro’s cash infusion funds what the Pennsylvania Democratic Party calls “the largest coordinated mid-term effort” in state history. | Policy
Elsewhere
The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority works with Amtrak. “The Schuylkill River Passenger Railroad Authority has partnered to restore passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia with stops in Pottstown and Phoenixville.” | Reading the Eagle
Pennsylvanians can operate Medicaid to cover abortion costs — at least for now. “A Commonwealth Court judge has ruled that Pennsylvanians can use Medicaid to cover abortion costs, at least temporarily invalidating a decades-old ban.” | Penn Capital Star
The Democracy Summit commemorates America’s 250th anniversary by looking beyond the celebration. “As Philadelphia marked the nation’s 250th anniversary, civic leaders, elected officials, judges, journalists and scientists gathered for two days to discuss one question: What does American democracy need to survive the next 250 years?” | WHY
A novel look at Appalachia: Is the future of manufacturing lurking in the shadows – and ready to reemerge – here in Pittsburgh? “Seeds of opportunity can be found among closed coal plants and generations of industrial expertise hidden in the Appalachian region — that is the proposal of Reimagine Appalachia, a labor coalition trying to revitalize and re-introduce the region to cleaner, more modern manufacturing.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Trump’s obsession with costs for democracy | Peter Baker
- Four people killed by ICE agents. Illegal administration. This won’t end unless voters act. | Questioner from Philadelphia
- The Hidden Cost of Pennsylvania’s Zoning Laws: Fewer Children, Fewer Residents, Less Prosperity | Elizabeth Stelle and Luca Gattoni-Celli
- Behavioral health organizations in Pennsylvania are quietly failing. Here’s how to save them | Deja Gilbert
- Allegheny County faces significant financial challenges | Colin McNickle
- The costs of the policy appear on your electricity bill | Karol Gal
1 item
5. Discussable: Permanent daylight saving time
“There is broad, bipartisan enthusiasm in Congress for ending twice-yearly daylight saving time across most of the U.S. The problem is that lawmakers can’t quite agree on the right solution.
This week, the House passed a bill making daylight saving time constant by a 308-117 vote, with supporters arguing that such a move would boost economic activity and improve safety by adding more sunlight in the evening.
However, the measure faces hurdles in the Senate due to concerns about the impact of limiting morning sunlight. Senator Tom CottonR-Ark., expressed concerns about safety risks for children who commuted to school after murky, as well as for employees working early in the morning.” | Traffic lights
Thank you for starting your Friday with us.
Have a nice weekend. See you on Monday.
