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Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️Clearfield | Mostly overcast, 22
🌤️ Hannover | Mostly sunlit, 28
⛅ Wilkes-Barre | Partly sunlit, 30
Sports PA
🏈 Eagles (15-3) | Sun vs. LA Rams
🏒 Penguins (18-20-8) | Seattle 2-4 | Friday vs. Buffalo
🏒 Flyers (19-20-6) | Columbus 2-3 (SO) | Thu vs. Inhabitants of the New York Islands
🏀 Sixes (15-23) | Oklahoma City 102-118 | Wednesday vs. New York
🔉 What we hear. “It has been an honor to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else in the world could a kid with a stutter from humble beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States. I gave my heart and soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times over with the love and support of the American people.” – President Joe Biden
📱 Social media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media sites where you can get the latest political news from across the Commonwealth: Twitter | Blue | Facebook | LinkedIn
The most essential story
1. House Republicans passed a bill banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports
“The first step toward banning transgender students from participating in girls’ track and field events came on Tuesday when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act.”
The bill – H.R. 28 – would amend Title IX to prohibit schools from allowing transgender female athletes to participate in athletic programs or activities “designated for women or girls.”
It defines gender as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Biden reflects on Pennsylvania’s achievements before his farewell speech. “As the final days of his administration draw to a close, President Joe Biden looks back on his accomplishments, especially those in his adopted home state of Pennsylvania. Others notice it too.” (PoliticsPA)
Biden will deliver a farewell speech, ending his 5-year political career. “The president has sought to portray his administration as transformative, but his speech Wednesday was delivered in a context in which he is not leaving on his own terms.” (New York Times)
Crisis of the leadership of the Democratic Party: “I don’t know” and “Nobody” in the Polsat poll. “In 2025, the Democratic Party will have a leadership crisis. Don’t take my word for it, we polled this question last week. When asked for the name of the Democratic Party leader, nearly half of all registered voters nationwide at our USA TODAY Suffolk University could name no person or volunteered “Nobody.”USA today)
Country
2. Special Counsel Report: Trump Tried to Rescind $300,000 votes in Philadelphia
“President-elect Donald Trump his team tried to declare Philadelphia’s 300,000 votes unlawful and illegal as part of his effort to stay in power, according to a 174-page report released today by the special counsel Jack Smith.
Although the plan was never implemented, it was discussed among its staunchest supporters, including: Rudy GiulianiTrump’s personal lawyer at the time. Giuliani said their main goal was “simply to completely change the vote, subtract that number of votes from – consider these votes, 300,000 votes in Philadelphia, illegal, illegal. Reduce that number by 300,000.” (PolitykaPA)
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania lawmaker on Trump’s tax cuts: Everyone should pay their fair share, especially foreigners. “Debauchery. Scott Perry, R-Pa., joins ‘FOX Business Live’ to discuss Trump on creating a third-party revenue service, the House GOP looking to give Trump eternal tax cuts and send disaster aid to California.” (Lisa’s business)
Abortion rights in Pennsylvania may survive fall judicial elections. “Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Pittsburgh City Paper reviews Pennsylvania’s current political landscape and its impact on abortion and reproductive rights. The battle rages through a reproductive health clinic in Pittsburgh, a landmark Pennsylvania Supreme Court case and upcoming judicial elections. (Pittsburgh City Document)
The PA panel is attempting to tie the share of funding for two other Pitt universities to performance. “A new board gathered on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to start considering how to earn at least some of the more than half a billion dollars the state sends each year to Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University based on academic performance. ” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Gainey and O’Connor discuss youth programs during the first political debate in the 2025 mayoral race.
“The first political debate for the 2025 Pittsburgh mayoral race began in bitter cold outside the closed Cowley Recreation Center in Troy Hill, where the challenger Corey O’Connor promised to increase resources for youth and families.
He pointed to the building behind him as an example of a community resource Mayor Ed Gainey the administration was negligent.” (THAT’S ALL)
Elsewhere
A former Philadelphia judge announces a run for district attorney, setting up a likely Democratic primary. “Former Philadelphia judge Patrick Dugan announced Tuesday that he will run for district attorney, setting up a Democratic primary between him and incumbent Larry Krasner.” (WHY)
The fate of Crozer-Chester Medical Center in connection with bankruptcy will be known early next week. “A new operator for Crozer Health could be selected as soon as next week, or a decision could be made to close Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital,” a bankruptcy attorney told Prospect. (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Pennsylvania establishes Rural Revitalization Commission. “By 2050, Pennsylvania’s rural population is expected to decline by 5.8%. The state legislature wants to reverse this drain by establishing a new commission.” (WVIA)
Judge Ammerman announces his retirement at the end of 2025. “President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman of Clearfield announced that after 31 years in office he is resigning at the end of 2025. He also said that Judge Paul E. Cherry of DuBois will assume the presidency in 2026.” (DuBois Courier Express)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 Marriage case
5. Waiting until Wednesday
Pennsylvanians decide to take this step later in life.
- By the numbers: According to census data, the average age of people getting married for the first time in the Keystone State in 2023 was 30.3.
That’s up from 28 in 2010, according to census data. (Axios Philadelphia)
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