📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. Will MAGA forgive Trump’s Iran plan in November? One question gains Trump’s support for Garrity. The political consultant kept working even as fraud claims mounted. PennDOT says no to these vanity sign requests.
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The most vital story
1. A potential war in Iran is a huge departure from Trump’s campaign promises. Will this matter in November?
“The MAGA base has forgiven President Donald Trump too much, but the recent strikes in Iran may prove to be a turning point.
In the wake of the weekend’s launch of “major combat operations,” Trump repeatedly said something many of his supporters would never say: American sacrifices in regime change in a foreign country are necessary and worth making. | known
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania responds to attacks on Iran. “President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran early Saturday. How are Pennsylvania’s elected leaders reacting to this news?” | PoliticsPA
AP sources say US intelligence did not suggest a pre-emptive strike by Iran ahead of US-Israeli attacks. “Trump administration officials told congressional staff during private briefings on Sunday that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S., three people familiar with the briefings said.” | AP
Slavery exhibits at the President’s home on the Independence Mall could be permanently restored under modern Boyle Act. “U.S. Senator Brendan Boyle’s bill, called the Preserving American History Act, would restore the Presidential Chamber to its original state before the Trump administration dismantled it.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Country
2. One question led to Garrity winning Trump’s endorsement for PA governor
“Speaking earlier this month with members of the Republican Party in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity revealed how she gained the desired support President Donald Trump in this year’s governor’s race.
As she tells it, Garrity won Trump’s support by answering one question.
“I spoke on the phone with some members of the committee and Scott Perry starts blowing up my phone: “Hey, POTUS has a question. Call me,” Garrity said” | WITF
Elsewhere
No Fort Indiantown Gap protocol exists to keep Shapiro unthreatening, police commissioner says after GOP claims . “Pennsylvania’s acting police commissioner said the state never considered transferring Gov. Josh Shapiro to Fort Indiantown Gap, a National Guard base in Lebanon County, after the arson of his official residence in Harrisburg last year.” | abc27
PA has a way to cover lost federal health aid, it just needs dollars – and that’s a lot. “Pennsylvania has a mechanism that could stop or even reverse the loss of health insurance that has occurred since Congress failed to renew some tax breaks under the Affordable Care Act. The only drawback? It would cost $600 million to fully fund it, although less money could still make an impact. ” | PennLive
Senators encourage PA DEP to make efforts to expedite permitting for the modern power plant. “Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee asked Thursday about the administration’s plans to ensure the lights stay on for Pennsylvanians while Commonwealth Courts technology companies build their energy-intensive artificial intelligence infrastructure here.” | Penn Capital Star
Around the Republic of Poland
3. From Florida to Philadelphia, the political consultant worked even as fraud allegations against her mounted
“Candidate for Congress in Philadelphia Chris Rabb – this is one of many people who say Yolanda Brown he owes him money.
However, none of them managed to find her. And allegations of misconduct against the political consultant are mounting.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
‘Least worst option’: Carbon County community faces data center challenges. “Penn Forest Twp. has reviewed the final draft of a curative amendment to its zoning ordinance to allow data centers in an area that many residents say is not suitable for the industry. If approved, the amendment would add a zoning overlay on approximately 500 acres of land in a residential area of the township where Mele Brothers Realty plans to build a data center campus. ” | WVIA
Cannabis advocates in Pittsburgh say legalization talks have ‘weird vibe’ amid calls from City Council and Gov. Shapiro. “While state and local leaders on both sides of the political aisle support efforts to legalize marijuana, cannabis advocates in Pittsburgh fear there has actually been little progress.” | NEXTPittsburgh
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- The Fall of the Tyrant. Dangerous uncertainty begins | New York Times
- How to think about Trump’s war with Iran | Thomas L. Friedman
- Democrats’ view on ICE could determine midterm conditions | Jonathan D. Salant
- Senator McCormick Throws Voters and Election Workers Under the Bus | Kadida Kenner
- No presidential administration should be allowed to whitewash African American history | Kenyatta Johnson
- Both sides broke with two American principles | Piotr Kalisz
- Elites who want to rule populists — and America | Adrian Wooldridge
- Pennsylvania deserves better – and it’s finally getting it | Senator Greg Rothman
- Artificial Intelligence’s Growing Energy Appetite Puts Pennsylvania’s Aging Power Grid to the Test | ShixiangZhu
1 item
5. PennDOT said no to Pennsylvania’s request for vanity signs in 2025.
“Some Pennsylvania drivers who applied for a personalized license plate in 2025 had “0 FOX” to enter and chose to submit “FAFO” if the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approved their risky requests.
Pennsylvania’s 2025 vanity plate rejection list includes senior classics like the Seinfeld-inspired “ASSMAN,” “OMFG” and “EF CNCR,” as well as variations of recent words and phrases from the American lexicon like “GYATTT” and “HAWK2 UH.”
Others tried to sneak past PennDOT’s team of clever codebreakers using foreign languages. See, for example, the Italian-American slang word “FONGOOL” or the Russian “ZAEBIS”. | Erie Times-News
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