🎸 Friday, Friday. I have to go on Friday. 28 songs, almost 3 hours. Thanks Bruce!
Pennsylvania Weather
🌂 Erie | Mostly murky, chance of showers, 82
🌤️ State College | Partly clear, 81
☀️ Allentown | Mostly clear, 88
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (71-50) | Washington 13-3 | Fri-Sun vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (56-64) | Friday-Sunday vs. Seattle
⚽ Union (League Cup quarter-finals) | Saturday vs. Mazatlán
👂 What do we hearDemocrats are introducing support because Representative Susan Wild will unveil a modern slate of endorsements from the nation’s most influential women’s rights and reproductive freedom groups, as the Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council endorses End Citizens United | Let America Vote Eugene DePasquale for the Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
🗞️ Pennsylvania Headlines >> Your Inbox. Where can you find the latest on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll bring you all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The most essential story
1. Inside the Crack That Could Define the Future of Pennsylvania Politics
“Jan Fetterman he was angry.
The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania prepares to speak at a news conference on the Bucks County disaster response July 16, 2023.
Governor Josh Shapiro provided an update on what his administration was doing to respond to the emergency. After a few minutes, Shapiro threw the microphone back to local first responders — not Fetterman. Moments later, the event ended without Fetterman speaking.
The episode highlighted the increasingly volatile relationship between two of Pennsylvania’s most ambitious elected officials, a Democratic rivalry that’s suddenly bursting into the spotlight and has the potential to shape state politics — and perhaps even the national stage — for years to come. (NBC News)
Related
Harris-Walz campaigns in Pennsylvania this weekend ahead of Democratic National Convention. “Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz’s bus tour to the Democratic National Convention may begin in Pittsburgh on Sunday, but the campaign has hundreds of events planned for this weekend across Pennsylvania.” (PennLive)
Donald Trump Asks Judge to Delay Sentencing in Hush Cash Case Until November Election“Trump’s lawyers wrote that the delay will give Trump time to consider his next steps after the judge presiding over the case, Juan M. Merchan, is scheduled to rule Sept. 16 on a defense motion to vacate the conviction and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July ruling on presidential immunity.” (AP)
Vance, Other Republicans Attack Tim Walz’s Service at Lower Burrell Campaign Stop“Republican U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance continued his criticism of his opponent’s military record and the current administration’s treatment of the military and veterans, while also emphasizing Trump’s core campaign messages on the economy and immigration.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Walz, Vance agree to Oct. 1 debate. “Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said Thursday he has accepted an invitation from CBS News to the Oct. 1 vice presidential debate. Earlier this week, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he had responded affirmatively to the invitation, guaranteeing at least one debate between the vice presidential candidates.” (PoliticsPA)
How Project 2025 Became the Republican Party’s Biggest Political Loser“It has also become a major liability for The Heritage Foundation — and the conservative think tank’s staff knows it.” (known)
Country
2. PA Tops Swing States in Presidential Campaign Ad Spending: Briefing Report
“Does it feel like presidential campaign ads are flooding the airwaves in central Pennsylvania?
Well, they are.
Campaign ad dollars are flowing into Pennsylvania at a faster rate than any other battleground state. The Wall Street Journal reports that about $42 million has been spent on ads in Pennsylvania since President Biden withdrew from the race on July 22.” (PennLive)
Related
Scott Perry, Janelle Stelson Unveil Tax, Manufacturing Plan in 10th District Race“The candidates share the same priorities, including opposition to parts of China’s economic power, but they take different positions on tax and manufacturing bills brought to Congress.” (WITF)
DCCC poll shows Stelson with slight lead over Perry. “In a poll commissioned by the DCCC, 600 likely voters in PA-10 gave Democrat Janelle Stelson a 48-47% lead over Republican incumbent Scott Perry. The difference is within the margin of error of plus or minus 4.0.” (PoliticsPA)
State Broadband Regulation and Cost Warning“As federal money continues to flow to expand broadband internet in Pennsylvania, a telecommunications industry group is warning against state regulations that could stymie that very expansion.” (Central Square)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. Push for increased student voter turnout
“Groups are stepping up efforts to boost support for young voters in the November general election.
Launched in 2020, the PA Campus Voting Challenge is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of State and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN), a national initiative that provides support to more than 75 participating colleges and universities to encourage young people to vote. (Sunbury Article of the Day)
Related
Referendum initiatives such as boycotting Israel do not always end as expected. “When local pro-Palestinian activists proposed a citywide boycott of entities affiliated with Israel, the debate was bound to be heated. But perhaps no one expected Mayor Ed Gainey’s communications director, Maria Montaño, to be the victim.” (WESA Policy)
Proposed Pittsburgh Anti-Israel Law Condemned by Pennsylvania Political Leaders“Critics say the broad measure, which is being challenged by the Pittsburgh City Controller, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and several synagogues, would halt essential city functions and could prevent Jewish institutions from accessing key city services. City officials say it could also violate state and federal law.” (Jewish Insider)
Rivera selected by Lanco Democrats to succeed Sturla in HD-96 race. “Nikki Rivera, chairwoman of the Manheim Township School Board, has been selected by members of the Lancaster County Democratic Committee to succeed Rep. Mike Sturla as their candidate for the 96th Legislative District seat.” (PoliticsPA)
Did PA Township, which is $532K short in taxes, have financial safeguards? Officials won’t say“When residents learned that Centre County was investigating the potential misuse of more than $532,000 by a suspended employee, many asked: How could such a large sum of public money disappear without being audited?”PA State College Spotlight)
Butler County Commissioners at odds over suggested Trump rally security deal“Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump’s July 13 rally apparently lacked sufficient funding” — a problem she attributed to a request by another commissioner that the Butler County Sheriff’s Office work under a contract to host the event. (Butler Eagle)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- Instead of getting offended, Republicans should get rid of their faint candidate. (And Hannah)
- The best candidate to run against Kamala Harris in the campaign is Donald Trump. (Susan B. Glasser)
- Will Josh Shapiro’s party forgive him for telling the truth? (Ruth R. Wisse)
- Kamala Harris must take the risk of implementing meaningful policy, or she will lose. (Matt Bai)
- Transparency is key for city officials dealing with potential conflicts of interest. (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
- A higher minimum wage is better for workers than not taxing tips. (Betsey Stevenson)
- Pennsylvania Democrats finally see gains in voter registration after Harris’ election. (Nick Field)
- Media bias, 2024 style. (Colin Hanna)
- Did you know that a literal government bureaucracy was born in York? Time to shorten it. (His. Kristin Phillips-Hill)
1 thing boss
5. Bruce Springsteen Leads in a Fascinating Return to Pittsburgh
“Eight years without a boss. Just Covid and a bunch of other problems.
Thankfully, that depressed streak came to an end on Thursday night when the E Street Band took the stage just after 7:37 p.m.
Given the E Street bodies’ eight consecutive years of service and performance, we naturally had to lower the bar of expectations for the 74-year-old rocker and his restoration crew.
Are you sure?
No, we didn’t do that.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
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