📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. Shapiro needs massive policy victories for 2028. Senate odd couple proving friendship can walk down the aisle. The PA Senate passed a bill banning phones in schools.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. I want it all. Queen
Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️ Meadowville | Mostly dull, 21
🌤️ Williamsport | Mostly shining, 28
☀️ Easton | Sunny, 31
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (29-21) | Thu at Los Angeles Lakers
🏒 Flyers (25-20-10) | Thu vs. Ottawa
🏒 Penguins (28/15/12) | Thu in Buffalo
🔈 What we hear. “Listen, if all Republicans and Democrats did as well as John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, it would be great for the country.” – Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio)
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The most crucial story
1. Shapiro needs massive political victories for 2028. To achieve them, he is seeking the Democratic trifecta
“Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has made his ability to navigate a closely divided legislature a key part of his national sales pitch. But as 2028 approaches, what he really wants is the Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg.
Shapiro helped Democrats flip the House in 2022 when he won the governor’s mansion. But since then, the Republican-controlled Senate has been his Achilles’ heel, thwarting his attempts to pass key Democratic policies such as raising one of the lowest state minimum wages in the country. Last year, a divided Legislature embroiled Shapiro in a months-long budget dispute that withheld billions of dollars in state funds from counties, schools and nonprofits.
Now Shapiro is spearheading an effort to lend a hand Democrats wrest the chamber from Republican control with a slim 27-23 majority and expand their single-seat majority in the House — part of an aggressive downward-voting push the governor is making in parallel with his own re-election bid.” | POLICY
Elsewhere
Shapiro wants to “bold” into housing, with plans including a $1 billion infrastructure fund. “ In proposing a $53.2 billion budget on Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said “bold new steps” are needed to lower housing costs in Pennsylvania. The Democrat has proposed several policies and the creation of a $1 billion “critical infrastructure fund” as a cure for the home affordability crisis.” | THAT’S ALL
PA-03: Rebound numbers place candidates at competitive levels. “Q4 numbers often show how successful (or not) candidates are at selling their message to donors. They can be measured in terms of individual donors. They can be measured in terms of contributions from labor organizations or other political action committees. Either way, they have certainly broken down this large field into competitive tiers since February.” | PoliticsPA
That’s who’s financing Philadelphia’s crowded congressional race. “The race hasn’t yet attracted much funding from political action committees or donors outside the region. But that could change.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
PA-07: Who is leading the fundraising for the competitive Lehigh Valley congressional seat. “The crowded field of Democrats seeking to replace Republican Ryan Mackenzie in Congress has collectively raised more than $1 million in the last three months of 2025 as each candidate seeks an advantage in the May primary elections.” | Morning talk in Allentown
PA-01: Brian Fitzpatrick has more cash than any other Swing District Republican in the country. “The Bucks County lawmaker raised approximately $4.3 million in the last cycle, more than any other House candidate in the state and ranking 21st among all candidates seeking a seat in the 435-member chamber in 2026.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Country
2. The odd couple in the Senate proving friendship can walk down the hall
“A former Wall Street CEO in tailored suits and a tattooed politician in a Carhartt hoodie and gym shorts don’t seem like a natural political couple. But Pennsylvania Sense. Dave McCormick AND John Fetterman they created a scarce bipartisan partnership in a divided Congress.
Republicans and Democrats in the politically crucial purple state represent one of only three states divided by party in the Senate. In recent months, they have sponsored bills and booked joint media appearances known
Elsewhere
Shapiro talks about how to avoid another budget impasse in Pennsylvania. “Governor Josh Shapiro said compromise is needed from the House, Senate and even his role as governor to avoid a repeat of the budget gridlock he saw in Pennsylvania last year.” | CBS Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania’s top elections official responds to presidents’ comments on federalizing elections. “Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a statement that Pennsylvania maintains free, fair and secure elections through thousands of election officials who are Democrats, Republicans and Independents in all 67 counties.” | WGAL
In this Pennsylvania town, Republicans are struggling to maintain Latino support. “Trump has made gains with a demographic that has historically voted Democratic, but the economy and deportations pose mid-term headwinds.” | Wall Street Journal
The minimum wage is gaining renewed attention in Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania’s minimum hourly wage has remained unchanged for 16 years, even as neighboring states have reached double-digit levels. But unlike in years past, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Tuesday budget proposal places heavy emphasis on eventually raising the wage from $7.25 to $15, emphasizing that it is key to economic growth, entitlement reform and human security.” | Central Square
Around the Republic of Poland
3. AP Senate passes school phone ban bill, clearing the way for one of Shapiro’s priorities
“The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would ban students from using cell phones during the school day — about four hours later Governor Josh Shapiro he argued for a ban in his budget speech.
Last week, Shapiro supported a bell-to-bell ban in a social media post, but the idea has been floating around the Legislature for some time, and the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved the bill in December. | PennLive
Elsewhere
Philadelphia residents are frustrated with the city’s cleanup after a snowstorm. What does this mean for the mayor? “Mayor Cherelle L. Parker often says she is not a fan of “Monday morning quarterbacks” and “AOP experts” — her shorthand for so-called problem articulators who do not offer solutions. Now the whole city has them.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Democratic campaign manager charged in Chester County for allegedly submitting false signatures in 2024 primary election.. “Mariel Kornblith-Martin, 40, of Philadelphia, was charged with allegedly filing false nomination applications and other crimes while serving as campaign manager for Lehigh County Comptroller Mark Pinsley as he sought to secure a spot in the competitive Democratic primary.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
The first woman elected to the PA Supreme Court has died, leaving a legacy beyond the bench. “Retired Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, the first woman elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, died Monday. She was 87.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Trump brings out the worst in everyone. | Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens
- Data centers pose a major challenge to PA’s energy future | Tom Gilbert
- Illegal immigrants are making America’s money | David Mills
- Will Pennsylvania’s changing Gen Z voters break Democrats or Republicans? | Matt Zupon
- The Fiscal Reality of MIA at Shapiro Budget Address | Karol Gal
- The plague of online sports betting | Gabriela Gurley
- Justice Department’s involvement in Greenberg case shows failure of Pennsylvania’s transparency law | Wide + Freedom
- Mistakes: Why Pennsylvania Must Reject Shapiro’s Efforts to Legalize Marijuana | Dan Bartkowiak
- Shapiro’s leadership is crucial to the health of Chesapeake | Julia Krall
1 item
5. Olympic curling: the science behind the sweep
“Like shuffleboard or bowling, curling involves throwing an object at a target to score points. But there’s one big difference: players can influence shots after they’ve been thrown. That’s where sweep comes into play.”
Why it matters: Curling may seem straightforward, but it is a combination of strategy, physics and real-time athletics in a game that is decided by centimeters.
Between the lines: Sweepers consider strategic timing, angles, speed, and pressure while sweeping, while teammates shout “straight” and “curl up” while instructing the sweepers how to brush the ice. | Axles
Thank you for starting your Thursday with us
I’m still amazed that I’m drawn to curling at every Olympics
