thepennsylvaniapatriot.com – The Pennsylvania Patriot

In Pennsylvania, the data center wars have made their way to the ballot box

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:27:22 +0000

This article was produced by Capital and principal. It has been republished here with permission.

In Archbald, a district carved out of aged anthracite land northeast of Scranton, data centers are being built on the same blighted land that coal companies dug up and abandoned generations ago, becoming a barometer of voter sentiment as Pennsylvanians decide who to support in November.

Kelsey Pazanski Wargoa registered nurse who lives less than 400 acres from the proposed 400-acre data center elaborate wrote in a text message that she had a basic test for the politicians running the construction: “Will NOT vote for anyone who hasn’t spoken out against them.”

One hundred miles south in Skippack, health care advocate Peg Eitl – who didn’t just vote Governor Josh Shapiro in 2022, but she was courting him and claims to have been registered as both a Democrat and a Republican in the past – she made her own statement.

“I respect and appreciate many of his policies,” she said, “but I will NOT vote for him unless he insists on a moratorium,” adding that she would not vote for his Republican opponent, Stacy Garrityor.

No woman is an exception. This was shown by a Muhlenberg College study conducted in March 64% of adults in Pennsylvania view data centers as a crisis or problem. Anger over data center projects and skyrocketing utility bills he dragged the state’s long-fought fight over its energy future – natural gas vs. renewables, mining vs. regulation – from committee rooms to the center of the governor’s race.

Nationally, support for data centers has declined over the past eight months. In December, 42% of U.S. voters opposed building data centers in or near their communities, according to an Emerson College poll. your latest survey conducted at the end of July, this number increased to 63%. The bipartisan wave of opposition to data centers has included environmental issues — such as massive water apply for cooling, high demand for electricity straining local grids, and air pollution from backup generators — which has become a way for people across the political spectrum to discuss controversial topics like climate change.

“I think this is the first year in Pennsylvania that data centers have become an extremely significant issue,” he said Chris Borickprofessor of political science at Lehigh University, citing crowds at local meetings, protests and polls. “Data centers, in particular, were among the most important issues this year,” he said, bringing together the most crucial issue in voters’ minds: affordability.

Shapiro and Garrity, state treasurer, offer competing visionsand each says their plan will make energy more affordable.

Garrity, speaking before the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Hershey in June, promised an agenda focused primarily on natural gas: removing barriers to drilling, expediting permits for pipelines and power plants, and rolling back renewable energy and efficiency mandates. In a statement to Spotlight PA in early July, Garrity stated that she opposed the “clean energy mandate” included in the state’s data center legislation. “We need to take advantage of the abundant natural gas resources under our feet, which currently account for 60 percent of our global energy supply [the] electricity generation in the Commonwealth,” she said.

Shapiro’s evolution is a story in itself. Started out as a data center specialist – “I’m heartened to know that thanks to Amazon, the future of artificial intelligence will be right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” he said in June 2025 following the announcement that the tech giant would invest $20 billion to build two data center campuses in Bucks and Luzerne counties. But it has changed since thenissuing proposed standards in June that would require data centers to power at least 32% of their operations with tidy energy and sign community benefit agreements in exchange for existing tax breaks.

“We must choose the projects that are built here,” he said in his February speech to the General Assembly.

Tap dancing has its own logic. “It’s fun to watch them try to balance positions on Pennsylvania’s importance as a leader in artificial intelligence,” Borick said, “while still being aware that this is a dangerous issue among the electorate right now.”

Blocked accounts

Recently, Shapiro leads Garrity 50% to 28%. Franklin & Marshall College Survey — well beyond the margin of error — the sharper question may be what Shapiro’s second term will actually deliver. The answer lies in the state Senate.

HB 1834which passed the House in March, would ensure that the Public Utility Commission controls data center connection costs so that they are not passed on to ratepayers. Its main sponsor, a Democrat Representative Robert Matzie from Beaver County, he called it “at the heart of the Data Center Payer Protection Act.” His legislation included a provision aimed at skeptics: a data center could still get 90% of its electricity from fossil fuels, and its initial tidy energy demand of 10% could be met with nuclear power, which already provides 40% of Pennsylvania’s mix. It didn’t matter. It was adopted by a majority of 104 to 95, with every “no” vote being a Republican, and since March 31 he has been a member of the Senate committee.

Companion bill sponsored by Representative Paul Friel passed 201-1 and banned data centers from seeking public utility status – no local zoning preemption, no eminent domain.

Katie Blumepolitical director of Conservation Voters of PA, said the consensus in polls is striking: People may not want data centers next door, “but if they’re going to come here, they want it regulated.

“Pennsylvania now has a chance to do what we didn’t do with fracking,” she added, as the debate split between pro and con, “but everyone forgot about really strong regulations to protect workers, our communities and the environment.”

Blume suspects Republicans in the state Senate are participating in the same poll.

“We’re seeing people in the Senate introducing a bunch of bills to regulate data centers, whereas a year ago they were introducing bills to welcome them with open arms and get rid of the regulations,” she said. “People get angry when rich corporations show up.”

Burned earlier

Public reaction to data centers has led to the formation of the usual coalitions.

Construction unions, which have long worked with tech companies to organize workers and have been allied with Democrats, are “full-frontal” on data centers, Lehigh University’s Borick said, “which makes for strange bedfellows,” while MAGA voters and progressives have rarely found unanimity in opposing data center projects on the grounds that they allow wealthy outside interests to profit at local expense. Found a survey from last fall approximately 61% of adults in Pennsylvania believes data centers will likely create recent jobs in the state, but Borick expresses skepticism that those jobs will be long-term.

“Where I grew up in Scranton, there’s a big data center area in the northern part of the valley — old mining areas, places that have been hit hard over the years,” Borick said. “People have been skeptical of energy interests from the beginning. They’ve been burned a few times. There’s this kind of simmering skepticism in Pennsylvania about when an industry comes in, takes it, and then leaves a lot of problems in its wake.”

Garrity has tried to change that scenario in Homer City, where a former coal plant is being converted into energy data centers, which she says is proof that rural brownfields can benefit.

“The community is really improving. There will be new housing, there will be new jobs.” – she told reporters during a listening session at a data center in Montgomery County in June, while acknowledging that some residents “are not entirely happy with it.”

The stakes extend beyond the governor’s mansion. Pennsylvania has a divided legislature, with Republicans controlling the Senate and Democrats controlling the House. Both chambers are at stake in November, along with four congressional seats that Democrats have picked up in the fight for the U.S. House of Representatives. A largely unnamed climate looms over it all – what Borick called a policy pursued “in secret.”

Pennsylvanians are among the tens of millions of Americans in the Midwest and East Coast this summer survived the heatwave scientists said yes “virtually impossible” no global warming; In Philadelphia, the temperature reached 103 degrees canceled the Fourth of July parade. A record number of Pennsylvanians were identified earlier this year climate change as a crisiswith 44% of Pennsylvania adults now believing we are in a crisis, an enhance of 15 points from 2023.

According to Blume, public anger over rising utility bills fueled by data centers is not a distraction from climate policy – quite the contrary. “It’s hard to think about things like climate change when it seems so existential at times,” she said. “But when utility bills go up or you have a data center that says, ‘I’ll take all your water,’ environmental issues become much more tangible to voters.”

July 28 Guide: Boyle talks politics and political future

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:25:26 +0000

Good morning. It could be an lively day in the Commonwealth.

Headlines. Boyle gives a history lesson at the PA Press Club. McCormick argues that the costs of the Iran war will not be reflected in investments in defense technologies. More broadband money will flow to PA. Animal House at 46

Your morning, pick me up. Louie, Louie. King

Weather in Pennsylvania
Duquesne | Showers, 83
Burnham | Showers, 81
Emmaus | Showers, 78

Sports PA
Phillies (57-50, 5.5GB, +2.0GB WC) | Miami 7-8 | Tuesday in Miami
Pirates (55-52, 11.5 GB, – GB WC) | Arizona 3-2 | Tuesday vs. Arizona

What we hear. The National Republican Congressional Committee today launched a paid digital advertising campaign targeting Democrats Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti AND Janelle Stelson for opposing tariffs that would hold communist China accountable instead of protecting American workers.

What we also hear. Democrat Paige Cognetti in his Republican Party freshman challenge, he attacks artificial intelligence data centers Representative Rob Bresnahansaying “we are not for sale” in a fresh TV ad in Pennsylvania’s swing congressional district, where communities are fighting data center projects.

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 critical story

1. Boyle gives history lessons, advice for other Democrats and insight into the political future

“Left alone, Rep. Brendan Boyle I’d rather talk about sports.

But the six-term congressman from Philadelphia felt it would be more appropriate to give a brief history lesson and answer questions about politics and his political future during a luncheon Monday at the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg. | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Trump violated ethical standards. Will voters trust Democrats to fix them? “Democrats like Republican Jamie Raskin are convincing voters across the country that now is the time to pursue anti-corruption reforms — not just to check Trump, but to overhaul the entire political system that voter polls show has been co-opted against their interests.” | NPR

The Trump administration is calling on the Supreme Court to allow mail-in voting before intermediate deadlines. “The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow President Donald Trump to issue an executive order that could dramatically change mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections.” | AP

Democratic power rankings for 2028, now. “What Axios’ Alex Thompson hears from Democratic insiders about the most likely Democratic candidates in 2028.” | Axles

Polling expert warns Trump could crush Democrats in 2026. Here are the reasons for the ‘red flags’. “CNN data chief Harry Enten said that while Democrats are favored in the 2026 midterm elections, the GOP still has many advantages heading into the November elections. He stressed that Republicans have significantly more cash on hand than Democrats.” | PennLive

Country

2. McCormick says the costs of the Iran war will not reduce U.S. investment in fresh defense technology

“Six months after the start of the US-Iran conflict, Senator Dave McCormick said he was not interested in balancing the costs of war with investments in fresh defense technologies, although he said he supported efforts to further boost the country’s defense budget.

McCormick traveled to Lititz on Monday to visit a local defense company, saying the United States is financially prepared to continue the war while making fresh investments in national security.” | LNP

Elsewhere

Deluzio introduces the Build America plan to reindustrialize America. “Rep. Chris Deluzio says Democrats must offer more than just opposition to Trump’s industrial policy tariffs — and he’s introducing a three-bill package aimed at rebuilding American manufacturing and strengthening the nation’s industrial base.” | Policy

Shapiro, Democrats sharply criticized Trump’s “conspiracy theories.” That message has not changed following the release of noncitizen voting information in New Jersey. “New Jersey’s disclosure has fueled the message of Trump allies who are calling for more federal power in elections. Shapiro and other 2028 Democratic candidates are not flinching.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Lawmakers and workers plan to continue pushing for Pennsylvania to raise its minimum wage. “State Sen. Christine Tartaglione rises at the end of each legislative session with one message for lawmakers. ‘It’s been 7,309 days since Pennsylvania last raised its minimum wage,’ she said at the end of the session on July 12, right after the Legislature passed this year’s budget without a wage increase.” Penn Capital Star

Around the Republic of Poland

3. More broadband money will flow to PA when the Trump administration agrees to restore the subsidy program

“The broadband subsidy program that the Trump administration abruptly canceled last year can be restored without language that allowed race to be a factor in awarding funds, a federal judge has ruled.

Pennsylvania was supposed to receive more than $35 million before the grants were canceled.” | PA reflector

Elsewhere

Measles cases are rising in Pennsylvania. “Measles cases are rising rapidly in Pennsylvania and across the United States to levels not seen in years. As of yesterday, Pennsylvania had reported 142 cases of measles — well above last year’s total (16). This is the highest annual total in the state in at least 25 years.” | Axios Philadelphia

Internal email shows that Delaware County hid the true size of its budget deficit from taxpayers. “An internal email obtained by Broad + Liberty shows that Delaware County officials knew – and concealed – that the 24% property tax increase passed in December 2024 covered only about half of the county’s actual $75 million structural deficit.” | (*28*)Wide + Freedom

Candidates are lining up to fill the vacant Lehigh County commissioner position. Here is the list of those interested. “The 14 candidates hope to join the nine-member board that creates local regulations, approves funding for county programs and sets tax rates and the county budget.” | Morning talk in Allentown

Criminal fines and fees in Philadelphia fall most in the poorest neighborhoods. “When people think about the punishment of the criminal justice system, they may imagine a prison cell or a crew picking up roadside trash to complete community service hours. But for millions of Americans, for years after serving their sentence, another punishment quietly follows: debt. | Conversation

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

1 item

5. “Fat, drunk and stupid is not the way to go in life, son”

“On July 28, 1978, in National Lampoon’s Animal House, a parody of the 1960s college frat movie starring John Belushi, opened in US theaters. Produced on an estimated budget of $3 million, Animal House became a massive, multimillion-dollar box office hit, spawning a slew of theatrical imitations and has become part of pop culture history with such memorable lines as “You can’t get through life fat, drunk and stupid, son.” | History.com

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Key showdowns: Millions flow into three Pa. races that could decide control of the U.S. House

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:49:20 +0000

Poll workers wait for voters at the Garfield School Gymnasium polling place in Johnstown on May 19, 2026. (Photo by John Beale for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

This article was originally published by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that tracks money in politics. See original article.

Millions of dollars have been pumped into three toss-up U.S. House races in Pennsylvania that could determine which party takes control of the chamber in November.

According to the Cook Political Report Home Race Ratingsin which the competitiveness of all 435 chamber elections is assessed, 18 competitions are assessed as a draw. Pennsylvania hosts three such races, the most of any state. All three districts are currently represented by Republicans and have played key roles in Democrats’ path to regaining the House majority, making Pennsylvania’s races some of the most closely watched.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), in particular, has not been shy about investing in these races. Just this month, Shapiro announced a multimillion-dollar statewide campaign to lend a hand run Democratic elections across Pennsylvania, signaling the importance of these races to Democrats.

The Republican outperformed the Democrat in two of the three races through June 30, but two of the Democrats entered with more money.

7th District (Lehigh Valley)

Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie does raised over $4.3 million as of June 30 inclusive $631,000 in the second quarter of the year. Almost half of them are funds for the second quarter ($300,000) came from joint fundraising committees. JFC led by Speaker Mike Johnson (La.) – the Grow the Majority PAC – contributed $88,281 to the campaign, while Defend Our Majority, another committee affiliated with Johnson and the National Republican Congressional Committee, contributed $49,244. Emmer Majority Builders, a committee associated with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), contributed $32,495.

Another joint fundraising committee, Mackenzie for America, is affiliated with the National Republican Congressional Committee and is solely concerned with Mackenzie’s re-election, directs $76,225 for his campaign. Mackenzie just finished $2.9 million in cash as the race enters its final months.

Mackenzie who was approved by President Donald Trump in 2024, he secured the presidency again support as he runs for a second term.

Opposite Mackenzie on the ballot is Democrat Bob Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Firefighters Association. Brooks almost raised $2.4 million as of June 30 and most of this money ($1.9 million) came from individual contributions.

Stronger Together PA, a super PAC, spent over $1.8 million in ads supporting Brooks. It is funded primarily by unions such as the International Association of Firefighters, the Kamala Harris-affiliated Future Forward PAC and The Bench, a political action committee focused on “recruiting and supporting” the next generation of Democratic leaders, according to his website.

Brooks just finished 1 million dollars in cash as of June 30, after spending most of his war chest on: a very controversial primary school in May.

While Mackenzie continues to maintain a significant fundraising lead, Brooks significantly outperformed him in the second quarter, surpassing $1.2 million from April to June compared to Mackenzie $631,000. Brooks’ forceful second-quarter fundraising suggests Democrats are increasing investment in a seat they believe is within reach.

8th District (Scranton/Northeastern Pennsylvania)

Republican Rob Bresnahan, who is finishing his first term in Congress, raised his total: $5.2 million this election cycle, spent $2.6 million. Bresnahan had $2.6 million in cash as of June 30.

In August 2025, End Citizens United – which advocates for campaign finance reforms – filed a proposal ethical complaint with the Office of Congressional Proceedings against Bresnahan, accusing him of failing to disclose ownership of a $1.5 million helicopter. Legislators are required to report in their annual financial reports any income received or assets worth more than $1,000.

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

Bresnan donated $55,836 to his campaign committee to Rob from the AP from January 31 to June 30. He also received $1.9 million in PAC contributions, while his rival, Democrat Paige Cognetti, received $429,599 from PACs.

Cognetti is the current mayor of Scranton, the largest city in the 8th District, and as of June 30, she had raised $4.6 million and spent more than $1.2 million. Nearly 90% of its funding comes from individual donations.

Late in the second quarter, Cognetti had it just over $3.4 million in cash compared to Bresnahan $2.6 millionputting her in a fundraising leadership role as November approaches.

10th District (Harrisburg/York)

Democrat Janelle Stelson raised $6.4 million from June 30, which makes it highest fundraiser Candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last year. Stelson’s fundraising lead grew in the last quarter, with the former TV host raising $1.7 million between April and June.

Individual contributions total almost 77% of the funds collected by Stelson $4.9 million.

Stelson $45,000 paid between January 2024 and October 2025, Voting for America produced four podcast episodes titled “Voices of Central Pennsylvania With Janelle Stelson”, which are no longer available online.

Vote for America is led by alumni of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Tax records show the group had total income of less than $50,000 in 2025.

As of June 30, Stelson did almost $4.5 million in cash as she prepares for a rematch with Rep. Scott Perry (R), who defeated her by just over 1% in 2024

Perry, who served seven terms in Congress, including as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2022 to 2024, raised $5.2 million and spent $2.4 million, leaving him $2.8 million in cash.

The veteran lawmaker’s coffers are dominated by individual contributions, accounting for 60% of his total dollars, with more than half coming from donors who gave more than $200 to the campaign. Perry also received over $650,000 in PAC contributionsWith $31,000 comes from the American Israel Public Affairs Commission and $77,430 comes from a PAC associated with the Club for Development, which supporters for free enterprise.
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Senator John Fetterman: Why I Changed My Mind About Filibuster

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:13:34 +0000

It’s not often you hear someone in Washington admit that they were wrong, let alone that they were terribly wrong – and the entire Democratic Party, including me, did.

While Democrats held the presidency and a majority in both chambers, they became frustrated with the 60-vote threshold needed to advance legislation. Senate Democrats tried this to end the filibuster, to force it through President Joe Biden agenda – an effort I fully supported during my 2022 campaign.

Halfway through my first term, I realize how critical the filibuster is and what a state our country would be without it.

I thought ending the filibuster was necessary to bring results to working families. I thought it was unlikely that Republicans, who were in the minority, would find common ground on legislation proposed by Democrats. I thought Democrats weren’t as ruthless as Republicans and we had to be at that level if we wanted to alleviate the anger voters felt.

On reflection, the pursuit of these short-term victories obscured the bigger picture and the lasting impact of a Senate without a filibuster – a Senate that ignored the voices of minorities and ordinary people.

History has proved the former senators right Christmas Cinema (Arizona) i Joe Manchin III (West Virginia), two people vilified by the Democratic Party for supporting the filibuster and whose courageous efforts damaged their political careers. A rule is a critical line of defense that prevents President Donald Trump from having the government fill in the blanks with modern regulations, deregulations or procedures of their choosing.

And while I was once vocal in criticizing Manchin and many of his decisions in the Senate, I now wholeheartedly agree with his assessment that eliminating the filibuster is part of “extreme election-year politics that puts party power ahead of everything else.” We cannot become a smaller version of the House of Representatives.

Even with the filibuster intact, Biden and Senate Democrats delivered huge victories for working families. Some of these successes – such as: Act on infrastructure investments and employment and legislation to support veterans exposed to toxins in Iraq and Afghanistan – were the result of bipartisanship and compromise. Senate Democrats could not pass this critical legislation along party lines and had to operate across the aisle. We are now in the same situation, with the power dynamics reversed.

Trump’s victory and Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress quickly showed how disordered basic majority voting in the Senate can be. The media and political pundits are regularly concerned and outraged by the constant changes to modern policies introduced by the current administration. And if Americans are terrified now, imagine what the law would be like today if Democrats eliminated the filibuster.

We would have Save America Act so far, what I don’t support it. We could have extreme policies like nationwide restrictions on abortion, rollbacks of LGBT rights, repeal of birthright citizenship, and constrained voting rights nationwide. Having an established government troika, many regulations Project 2025 would be easily passed. Republicans could essentially change the entire government and country with a basic majority vote.

The only thing that has stopped many unpopular policies since the beginning of 2025 is not Democrats – but the filibuster.

As the midterms approach, Democrats may regain control of Congress. If we win the Senate, we won’t have enough votes to cross the 60-vote threshold on our own and will once again have to find common ground with our Republican colleagues, assuming the Democratic Party’s narrative on the filibuster remains what it has become under Trump: that we like it. As a party, we will need to abandon our worst impulses and work together to find solutions to the problems facing Americans.

Some of my colleagues, including myself, were frustrated with dealing with minorities. But this process isn’t a bug — it’s one of the Senate’s best features. We have a wonderful democracy that is imperfect but requires cooperation.

If we don’t do it voluntarily, the filibuster will force us to. That’s how it should be.

July 24 Advisory: General Assembly to Miss Court’s term

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:54:14 +0000

Weekend.

Headlines. Deadline to reform state murder statute missed. Administrator Shapiro consulted with Amazon and data centers about the security of his tent. Podcast: Election Integrity. The smoothest cheeses for a weekend burger.

Your morning, pick me up. Saturday night is alright (to fight). Elton John

Weather in Pennsylvania
Presque Island | Sunny, 80
Raystown | Rising clouds, 82
Pocono Mountain | Sunny, 77

Sports PA
Phillies (56-47, 4.5GB, +2GB WC) | Free vs. NY Yankees
Pirates (53-50, 11.5 GB, 1 GB WC) | Friday vs. Chicago Cubs
Union (2W, 3D, 11L) | Saturday vs. Seattle

What we hear. “Senate Republicans take public safety and securing our communities seriously, which is why we have acted decisively and in a bipartisan manner. Since the day the House announced their return to session this week, we have not been contacted by the Governor or Democratic leaders in the House. The lack of commitment on such an important issue is seriously troubling and represents a complete failure of leadership.”

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. Under pressure from a deadline, the AP House passes a bill reforming the murder sentencing statute

“On the eve of a court-mandated Friday deadline for the Legislature to reform the state’s murder law, the House narrowly passed a bill updating the controversial law.

But because the bill differs significantly from the bill passed by the Republican-controlled Senate in June, the Legislature still misses the deadline set by the state Supreme Court.

The changes in the law could impact the approximately 1,100 people in prisons across the state who have been convicted of second-degree murder, as well as every person convicted of this crime in the future.’ | Grandstand overview

Elsewhere

Shapiro joins lawsuit challenging immigration elections and conditions on federal grants. “In response to the Trump administration’s latest efforts to impose conditions on federal grants owed to the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has joined more than two dozen other state leaders in the lawsuit.” | Penn Capital Star

House votes to end Iran war, but Senate Republicans vote to let Trump continue waging war. “The House approved a Democrat-led proposal to end the war in Iran by ordering President Donald Trump to withdraw military forces from hostilities. However, the resolution is not binding. The House voted 214 to 208, with four Republicans including Representative Brian Fitzpatrickjoining with all Democrats who will cast the deciding votes for this measure. The Senate voted 47 to 49 to reject a “joint resolution” to end the war with Iran, which would have had the force of law but would have been subject to a presidential veto. Senator John Fetterman I voted against the resolution.” | NBC News

100 Days Away: House GOP in danger zone. “Sunday is 100 days before the midterm elections. The House is out for five weeks. And things look bleak for most Republicans in the House.” | Punchbowl News

The US Senate has confirmed a up-to-date federal judge in Philadelphia. “Antonio Pozos will become the first new district court judge in the region appointed by President Donald Trump during his second term.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Country

2. Administrator Shapiro consulted with Amazon and data centers about the security of his tent, the Records Show

“Governor Josh Shapiro spent months preparing a set of standards that he promised would “hold data center developers accountable.”

But behind the scenes, Shapiro’s top administration advisers were drafting the structure with input from Amazon and the powerful data center lobby, then sharing early drafts with company officials before making them public, records show.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia

Elsewhere

DCCC is targeting Republican-held seats with digital advertising to mark 100 days until the midterm elections. “The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee marks 100 days until the midterm elections with a new digital ad. Among the 25 targeted districts are Pennsylvania’s 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th districts. ” | Roll call

Perry, Stelson 10th Congressional District Race Most Expensive in Pennsylvania. “With more than $11.5 million raised so far this cycle and $4.3 million already spent this election cycle, the congressional race in Pennsylvania’s 10th District is the most expensive in the state.” | WITF

PA-09: Wallace confident in the fight for Meuser’s congressional seat. “Rachel Wallace faces several challenges in Pennsylvania’s heavily conservative 9th Congressional District, but in remarks at a fundraising event, she expressed confidence in unseating Rep. Dan Meuser after his four terms, calling him a “hilariously underrated villain who deserves to be fired.”” | NorthCentralPA.com

PA Health Insurers Want a Major Obamacare Rate Increase for 2027. “Pennsylvanians who insure themselves under the state’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) will face double-digit percentage increases next year, another shock to a market already reeling from the expiration of additional federal subsidies.” | PennLive

Around the Republic of Poland

3. Voices of reason: election integrity

In this episode of Voices of Reason, PoliticsPA’s Steve Ulrich and his guests discuss election integrity. What does election integrity mean to you? Is an ID document required to vote? Does he make sure non-citizens don’t vote? Do you want the government to have Pennsylvania voter rolls?

Mercer County Elections Director Thad Hall and Senior Advisor to the Committee of Seventy for Election Administration Benyo Team will share their thoughts on absentee ballots, the SAVE Act, and more. | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

We asked, you answered: How confident are you that the PA election process is fair and secure? “With Pennsylvania’s elections approaching and the president once again attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of the election, we asked Keystone newsletter readers whether they believe Pennsylvania’s elections are fair and secure.” | (*24*)Key

Former DuBois City Manager Suplizio pleads guilty in federal corruption case. “The long-running public corruption case in DuBois appears to be coming to an end. Former DuBois City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to two felony charges stemming from the theft and misuse of city funds. | PoliticsPA

The elephant in the room: Views from the top of the defense, the Philadelphia election ruling and praise for Boyle and Fitzpatrick. “Pennsylvania companies large and small, along with universities, stood proud during the recent two-day Defense Summit at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, hosted by Senator Dave McCormick.” | Wide + Freedom

Trump administration withdraws demands for list of UPenn Jewish employees. “Court documents filed Thursday show that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the university have reached an agreement in which the agency will not enforce its subpoena for information on university employees. Penn will instead file a stipulation of dismissal.” | Policy

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

1 item

5. The tastiest burger cheeses, tested and rated

“A great burger will be even better with a layer of melted cheese. Whether you’re grilling thick pub-style burgers over hot coals or pressing thin burgers in a blazing hot cast iron skillet, great cheese really makes a difference.”

This got me thinking: what cheese melts best on burgers? I’m not talking about the tastiest cheese, just the meltiest. While I had a clear favorite in the melting department, all of the cheeses I tested melted well and would be a worthy addition to any burger. | Food and wine

Thank you for starting your day with us.
Enjoy your weekend. See you on Monday.

Rep. Ben Waxman: Ethics matter for public trust in government

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:02:35 +0000

When people believe the rules are rigged, trust in government declines.

Public trust is arduous to build and effortless to destroy. It disappears when elected officials appear to be using public office to enrich themselves, their families or their business partners. Therefore, ethical regulations are not a side issue. They are necessary for the functioning of democracy.

New financial assets, particularly cryptocurrency, have created modern opportunities for corruption and self-employment. Our laws need to catch up.

I sponsored cryptocurrency corruption legislation that recently passed the Pennsylvania House. But these protections are needed at every level of government.

Congress is currently considering the CLARITY Act, legislation that would establish federal rules for the cryptocurrency industry. But the bill doesn’t answer the most obvious ethical question: Should elected officials be able to profit from the industry while they write the laws to regulate it?

The answer should be no.

The Trump family has developed a enormous and growing financial interest in cryptocurrencies through digital asset companies, token offerings and related business partnerships. At the same time, the Trump administration and Congress are making decisions that could determine the future of the industry.

Regardless of your opinion on cryptocurrency or Donald Trumpthis is an obvious conflict of interest.

No president, member of Congress, cabinet official, or immediate family member should be able to make money from policies that person is responsible for creating, enforcing, or influencing. This standard should apply equally to Republicans and Democrats.

The risk is not theoretical. Before President Trump returned to office, a UAE-backed company poured hundreds of millions of dollars into a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family. The administration later eased restrictions on the export of advanced artificial intelligence technology to the United Arab Emirates.

At the very least, this sequence of events raises earnest questions about whether American policy is shaped by the national interest or the private financial interests of those close to the president.

Congress should not ignore these questions.

The solution is elementary. The CLARITY Act should prohibit elected officials, senior executive appointees, and their immediate family members from owning, issuing, promoting, or profiting from cryptocurrency-related ventures while those officials are in office.

These rules should be clear, enforceable and apply to everyone.

Pennsylvania senators have an significant role to play. Senator John Fetterman he has repeatedly presented himself as someone willing to challenge powerful interests on behalf of working people. He should insist that significant ethics protections be included before the Senate takes a final vote.

Without these protections, he should oppose the bill.

The problem is bigger than cryptocurrency. The issue is whether Americans can trust that public officials write laws for the public, not themselves.

Ethics cannot be an afterthought added after the industry gets what it wants. Ethics must be the basis of law.

Until Congress closes the door on independent trade, the CLARITY Act is not ready to become law.

Rep. Ben Waxman represents the 182nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Keystone Showdowns: Millions of people weigh in on three Pennsylvania races that could decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:02:51 +0000

Millions of dollars have been poured into three Pennsylvania House races that could determine which party controls the chamber in November.

Governor Josh Shapiro In particular, (D) did not hesitate to invest in these breeds. Just last week, Shapiro announced a multimillion-dollar statewide campaign to support elect Democrats across Pennsylvania, signaling the importance of these races to Democrats

The Republican outperformed the Democrat in two of the three races through June 30, but two Democrats enter the field with more money.

7th District (Lehigh Valley)

Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie has raised over $4.3 million as of June 30 inclusive $631,000 in the second quarter of the year. Almost half of them are funds for the second quarter ($300,000) came from joint fundraising committees. JFC headed by announcer Mike Johnson (R-La.) – Grow the Majority PAC – contributed $88,281 to the campaign, while Defend Our Majority, another committee associated with Johnson and the National Republican Congressional Committee, contributed $49,244. Emmer Majority Builders, a committee affiliated with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), $32,495 gift.

Mackenzie who was approved By President Donald Trump he secured the presidency again in 2024 support as he runs for a second term.

Opposite Mackenzie on the ballot is a Democrat Bob Brookspresident of the Pennsylvania Firefighters Association. Brooks almost raised $2.4 million as of June 30 and most of this money ($1.9 million) came from individual contributions.

Stronger Together PA, a super PAC, spent over $1.8 million in ads supporting Brooks. It is mainly funded by trade unions such as the International Association of Firefighters Kamala Harrisaffiliated with Future Forward PAC and The Bench, a political action committee focused on “recruiting and supporting” the next generation of Democratic leaders, according to its website.

Brooks just finished 1 million dollars in cash as of June 30, after spending most of his war chest on: a very controversial primary school in May.

While Mackenzie continues to maintain a significant fundraising lead, Brooks significantly outperformed him in the second quarter, surpassing $1.2 million from April to June compared to Mackenzie $631,000. Brooks’ sturdy second-quarter fundraising suggests Democrats are increasing investment in a seat they believe is within reach.

8th District (Scranton/Northeastern Pennsylvania)

Republican Representative Rob Bresnahanwho is completing his first term in Congress, has raised the total amount $5.2 million this election cycle, spent $2.6 million. Bresnahan had $2.6 million in cash as of June 30.

In August 2025, End Citizens United – which advocates for campaign finance reforms – filed a proposal ethics complaint with the Office of Congressional Proceedings against Bresnahan, accusing him of failing to disclose ownership of a $1.5 million helicopter. Legislators are required to report in their annual financial reports any income received or assets worth more than $1,000.

Bresnan donated $55,836 to his campaign committee, Rob of the AP, from January 31 to June 30. He also received $1.9 million in PAC contributions while his challenger, a Democrat Paige Cognetti, received $429,599 from PACs.

Late in the second quarter, Cognetti had it just over $3.4 million in cash compared to Bresnahan $2.6 millionputting her in a fundraising leadership role as November approaches.

10th District (Harrisburg/York)

Democrat Janelle Stelson picked up $6.4 million from June 30, which makes it highest fundraiser Candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last year. Stelson’s fundraising lead grew in the last quarter, with the former TV host raising $1.7 million between April and June.

Individual contributions total almost 77% of the funds collected by Stelson $4.9 million.

Vote for America is led by alumni of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Tax records show the group had total income of less than $50,000 in 2025.

As of June 30, Stelson did almost $4.5 million in cash, preparing for the rematch Rep. Scott Perry (R) who defeated her just over 1% in 2024

Perry, who served seven terms in Congress, including as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2022 to 2024, raised $5.2 million and spent $2.4 million, leaving him $2.8 million in cash.

120 Days Approaching: Senators Jay Costa and Amanda M. Cappelletti Address Legislature’s Responsibility to Respond to Commonwealth v. Lee

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 02:49:43 +0000

Harrisburg – July 23, 2026 – On March 26, 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found mandatory life sentences for people convicted of second-degree murder unconstitutional. The court’s landmark ruling was then put on hold, giving the Pennsylvania General Assembly 120 days to change the unconstitutional law and provide an alternative remedy for more than 1,100 incarcerated people who had been harshly or unjustly sentenced.

The legislator has no time left, and the deadline set by the Tribunal expires on Friday, July 24.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43, Allegheny) AND Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (D-17, Delaware/Montgomery)issued the following statement:

“The Tribunal’s ruling regarding Commonwealth v Lee gave the state legislature a historic opportunity to right long-standing injustices. Pennsylvania is one of only four states that provides life in prison without the possibility of parole for people convicted of second-degree murder. Such judgments do not take into account whether the actor intended to take his life when committing the crime. They also do not take into account the degree of their involvement in the crime. Essentially, the way Pennsylvania sentenced people convicted of murder was often disproportionate to the crimes committed and considered “cruel punishment” under the Pennsylvania Constitution.

“Legislator he knew regarding the July 24 deadline for considering the Tribunal’s ruling. Instead of taking action to ensure a fair resolution for incarcerated Pennsylvanians serving these sentences, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have spent the last 120 days spreading misinformation about the public safety importance of this ruling while refusing to cooperate.

“While Republican senators are content to perpetuate the false lie that more than 1,100 people serving these sentences will be released from prison on July 24, the truth is that if the Legislature fails to act, the actual expected result will be injuries. years process. It is likely that many inmates affected by this ruling could still receive life sentences. The verdicts require the full utilize of our court system, which will severely burden our public defenders and prosecutors and lead to inconsistent results across the state.

“It is also true that Senate Republicans claimed they were taking action by enactment Senate Bill 1400 in June. However, Republican senators not only proceeded without feedback, they also avoided participating in ongoing conversations among stakeholders as they worked to develop a comprehensive solution. Instead of acting in a bipartisan manner, they circulated the proposed legislation less than 24 hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee voted, without any input from interested parties or Democrats, in order to force a perfunctory resolution in the House. In our divided legislature, when bipartisan consensus is necessary, these performative measures are unacceptable.

“A real solution to this issue would be to provide an appropriate sentence for second-degree murder that is appropriate under Pennsylvania’s current sentencing guidelines and proportionate to the role the actor played in the crime, the possibility of parole for those currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for murder after serving the minimum number of years, and a process to ensure that a judge will reach a guilty verdict if a life sentence without parole is imposed.

“Together with our Senate Democratic colleagues, we look forward to passing collaborative, comprehensive and meaningful legislation that actually delivers justice.”

Read more at the Abolitionist Law Center about Commonwealth v. Lee.

Read the letter to the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission from Senators Costa and Cappelletti.

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Vance Boelter sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years for murdering Minnesota lawmaker and her husband

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:04:50 +0000

In this flyer provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Vance Luther Boelter poses for a photo during a reservation on June 16, 2025 in Green Isle, Minnesota.

Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed in less than 30 seconds on June 14, 2025, in a shocking act of political violence.

But their quick deaths provided little comfort to their son, Colin Hortman, who told a federal judge Thursday that he fell asleep every night imagining a waterfall of blood cascading down the steps of his childhood home in Brooklyn Park. It’s the same image he wakes up with.

The quick death of his parents was of little comfort, he said, because the last thing his mother saw before she died was her husband and the shooting of her beloved dog multiple times.

Now he has trouble remembering his parents, but not the bullet holes in their bodies.

The horror of the killing and the impact of the attacks on Minnesota’s political system were told in detail by Hortman’s children, Colin and Sophie, as well as 12 other victims in the federal courthouse in Minneapolis, who told how their lives were ruined by the man sitting next to them in an orange jumpsuit: Vance Boelter.

Boelter last month confessed to the murder of Melissa Hortman — a former Democratic House speaker and one of Minnesota’s most vital legislative leaders — and her husband, Mark, as well as the shooting of Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife.

Thursday’s hearing marks the latest chapter in a year-long saga that has scarred the state and introduced a novel level of fear into politics.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim sentenced Boelter to two consecutive life sentences plus an additional 40 years. There is no parole in the federal justice system, so it’s extremely likely that Boelter will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Tunheim said it was the longest sentence he had ever imposed on an individual out of thousands of cases he had heard in his career.

“I think it’s deserved,” Tunheim told Boelter.

Boelter read a low statement in court in which he apologized aloud to the victims: “I am truly sorry to anyone I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness or loneliness.”

Boelter has previously pleaded guilty to all charges against him government fees: two counts of stalking, Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman; two counts of murder in connection with the Hortman killings; and two firearm offenses in the shooting of the Hortmans and Hoffmans and the attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman, who managed to call 911 during the bloody attack.

He admitted in court that he planned the murders months in advance, writing down the addresses of his victims and buying a highly realistic silicone mask to impersonate a police officer.

In the early morning hours of June 14, Boelter drove to the Hoffman home and shot John and Yvette Hoffman through the front door. He then drove to Rep. Kristin Bahner’s home in Maple Grove, but she was on vacation. He then drove to Senator Ann Rest’s home, where he was spotted by a real police officer who assumed he was a police officer conducting a welfare check.

He then drove to the Hortmans in Brooklyn Park and parked his Ford Explorer in the driveway with phony police lights on. He rang the doorbell and said he was doing a welfare check. He told Mark Hortman he needed to meet Melissa, then shot him. He shot Melissa several times as she tried to escape down the stairs. Boelter then shot her in the head.

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen wrote in the government’s sentencing memo that Boelter “expressed great contempt” for the Democratic Party.

“And he knew that the Minnesota Legislature was so deeply divided that killing four state legislators would inevitably result in changing the balance of power in both legislative houses,” Rosen wrote. “The astonishing damage that Boelter inflicted on his victims and the state of Minnesota will never be repaired. Justice demands that Boelter never be free again.”

Bahner was the first to read her victim’s statement aloud. She told Boelter that she would have answered the door if she had been home that day because she trusted law enforcement. She told Boelter that he had failed in his mission because she was still alive, and he strengthened her resolve to continue to advocate for her constituents.

John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman and Hope Hoffman also reached out to Boelter. Hope Hoffman criticized the media, which incorrectly reported in the aftermath of the shooting that Yvette Hoffman jumped on top of her to save her from Boelter’s bullets.

John Hoffman read several Bible passages to Boelter, including Matthew 7:16: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Do they gather grapes from thorns and figs from thistles?”

These are, according to Hoffman, “words of faith that the defendant allegedly represented.”

He added: “(Boelter’s) actions spoke louder than any sermon he ever preached.”

Many people wiped away tears in the packed courtroom as lawmakers and family members told Boelter how his decision to kill their loved ones not only ruined their lives but also irrevocably changed Minnesota.

A woman prays in front of the caskets as Melissa and Mark Hortman lie in state with their dog Gilbert, Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Minnesota State Capitol. (Photo: Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

J. Carroll Hortman, Mark Hortman’s father, said his daughter-in-law Melissa was witty and brilliant. She had a radiant future ahead of her and had not yet experienced the joy of being a grandfather.

“I believe she could be the next governor of this state,” he said.

Mark Hortman’s family, including his brother and sister, told the judge they were upset that Boelter’s guilty plea deprived them of a trial and the opportunity to see Boelter receive the death penalty. They hated the idea of Boelter living a comfortable life in prison.

Carroll Hortman said he blames acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, who he believes did the country a disservice by agreeing to the settlement. He also questioned why on June 14, Brooklyn Park police watched from a distance as Boelter killed his son, then entered the home and shot his daughter-in-law.

The Hortmans’ daughter, Sophie Hortman, said she has been working on her testimony all year since she lost her parents.

“I miss my mom. I miss my dad. I miss my best friends and I miss my faith in the goodness of humanity. The pain will never go away,” she said.

She also detailed the heartbreaking decision to put down the family dog, Gilbert, who Boelter shot multiple times before killing Melissa Hortman.

On the morning of June 14, Sophie and Colin received conflicting information about whether Gilbert was alive and went to the vet.

The vet carried Gilbert into the room on a metal tray. Colin started screaming when he saw Gilbert. He was shot multiple times, including in the head. Despite his condition, Gilbert still wagged his tail when he saw the Hortman children and kissed them with his large tongue.

The Hortman children asked the vet if he would let their dog live with Gilbert’s condition. The vet said no.

“Colin and I agreed: Gilbert would like to be with his parents,” Sophie said. “I told him he would see his mom and dad soon.”

This story was originally produced by Minnesota reformerswhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

As death rates declined across the country, some states fared better than others

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:14 +0000

A patient walks into University Hospitals in Newark, New Jersey, according to a Stateline analysis. New Jersey has seen one of the largest declines in the death rate since 2015. (Photo by Terrence McDonald/New Jersey Monitor)

Youth deaths could fall to historic lows in 2025 as homicides of youthful people caused by drug overdoses, gun homicides and traffic accidents continued to decline in 2025, according to modern federal statistics.

However, according to Stateline’s analysis of interim data, states did not share the success equally. And the low attrition may reflect the effects of past health care expansion efforts that are threatened by today’s moves by the Trump administration to limit Medicaid expansion and cut funding for rural hospitals.

Some states in the Northeast saw the greatest declines in deaths between 2015 and 2025, led by New Jersey (down 8.3%), Rhode Island (down 8%), New York (down 7.9%), Massachusetts (down 7.4%), and the District of Columbia (down 7.0%). Some experts place the importance of states on health care, traffic problems and gun violence.

New Jersey took the lead in declines because of its long-term commitment to expanding health care coverage to low-income people, said Stephen Crystal, director of the Center for Health Services Research at Rutgers University.

Crystal said that even before the expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, New Jersey and Massachusetts, among others, pooled funding with hospitals to provide care to more low-income residents.

“New Jersey has been doing this for a long time and you can see the results in lower death rates for the big killers,” he said.

The state has the distinction of having less than half the national rate of gun deaths, both suicides and homicides, and deaths from heart and kidney disease caused by high blood pressure. The road accident death rate is also much lower than the national rate.

He added that in the northeast of the country there is also a more confrontational approach to speeding and less tolerance for weapons.

“Here’s something that upsets a lot of New Jerseyans. State troopers have the guts to pull you over if you’re driving on Highway 90. That’s not the case in Wyoming,” Crystal said. “And if you go to the West where gun ownership is very high, gun suicides become huge.”

Nationally, most of the declines in 2024–2025 concerned youthful age groups. The factors most likely to kill them have declined after a spike in the early phase of the pandemic, including drug overdoses, traffic accidents, gun violence and suicide, according to the study. analysis The death count was conducted by Mary Pat Campbell, an actuary and life insurance analyst in New York State.

She said the northeastern states have an advantage in solving these problems based on wealth.

“There has been an increasing disaggregation of mortality factors by socioeconomic status,” Campbell said, noting that traffic accidents are less common in places like New Jersey, in part because so many people commute to work by public transportation.

“In New Jersey’s case, it’s really a group of high-income people who have a lower-than-average death rate, just like people on Long Island and wealthy parts of Westchester [in New York state]– she added.

Some states have seen no improvement since 2015 in interim statistics analyzed by Stateline, which could change as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes modern age adjustments at the state level.

New Mexico’s age-adjusted death rate was 9% higher last year than it was 10 years ago, as drug overdose deaths continue to plague the state and are more than twice the national rate.

In June, Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called for such a solution restitution from the federal government over allegations that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials knowingly released supplies of fentanyl into the state during multiple presidential terms. In one case, a whistleblower alleged, agents were eyeing the trade of 1.8 million fentanyl pills in hopes of catching higher-ranking dealers and suppliers.

New Mexico also faces higher rates of deaths from alcohol-related liver disease and gun homicides. Neighboring Arizona, where the death rate is 5% higher than 10 years ago, also has a high rate of overdose deaths and a high rate of gun suicide.

Death rates in Iowa and Oklahoma also increased by 5% compared to 2015. Iowa has a higher than national rate of deaths from falls, typical of an aging rural population lacking daily supervision. Oklahoma has a similarly high rate of deaths from falls, as well as nearly four times the national rate of deaths from high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries – both problems that can be controlled with medications.

Iowa “recognizes fall-related deaths as a serious public health issue,” state Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Danielle Sample wrote in an emailed statement. This decline is related to older age groups and probably rural areas’ access to health care and preventive services, she added.

The state has a fall prevention system program which emphasizes exercises to maintain mobility and monitoring excess medications that can cause dizziness, destitute vision and unsafe home conditions.

Campbell told Stateline that almost two-thirds of the improvement in the nation’s death rate from 2024 to 2025 came from people aged 15 to 44.

The improvement was particularly enormous for youthful people ages 25 to 34, which includes younger Millennials and older Generation Z, which was hit tough early in the pandemic by homicides and drug overdose deaths, Campbell told Stateline. She said the accident rate, a category that includes drug overdoses, gun accidents and traffic accidents, dropped 6% in one year, and the homicide rate dropped 14%.

It’s tough to be sure how much the death rate has changed from 2024 to 2025 because the methodology has changed, Crystal noted, accusing the CDC of “grabbing a good news headline” by chronicling the seemingly historic decline prominently on the blog item.

For 2025, the CDC used a variety of methods to calculate the rates, including more adjustments to 2020 Census data serving as the basis for age adjustments, noting in the report that the results are subject to change and “should be interpreted with caution.”

When asked about the issue, the CDC said in a statement to Stateline that “because this is an interim report, we have not delved into changes in population denominators” and that it “plans a short report that will show the impact” of changes in death and birth rates in the modern statistics.

In any case, the Trump administration probably can’t take credit for the current decline in the death rate, which would reflect years-old policy changes that are slowly taking effect, Crystal said.

“This is not the time to see the impact of what Trump is doing now. It will take five years,” Crystal said.

Not a single youth killer has dropped: The gun suicide rate has increased 14% since 2015, according to a Stateline analysis. Suicide has affected youthful people from Generation Z to a greater extent than previous generations.

Rates for blacks and Latinos have increased over the past 10 years, while rates for other groups have declined, according to Stateline’s analysis.

“We are improving as a country. We should celebrate that. But many segments of the population are lagging behind,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington.

Mokdad credited medical advances with the reduction in heart disease that occurred despite increased obesity.

“The decline in cardiovascular disease was due to better blood pressure control,” Mokdad said. “Blood pressure medications were very expensive when they first came out. Now blood pressure medications are so cheap that you can buy a three-month supply of them for less than the price of a cup of coffee.”

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at: thenderson@stateline.org.

This story was originally produced by state linewhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.