🌅 Good morning! To those who celebrate, Happy Easter.
🗞️ Headlines. Group Behind Project 2025 assessed PA employees for their job performance. Pennsylvania could require paid family leave — if lawmakers can decide who will foot the bill. Final interview for PA-03. A fleeting moment of sunset – Phillyhenge.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Layla. Derek and Domino
Weather in Pennsylvania
☔ Pittsburg | Showers, 80’s
☁️ Harrisburg | Mostly dull, 75
🌤️ Philadelphia | Partly clear, 75
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (3-3) | Friday-Sunday in Colorado
⚾ Pirates (3-3) | Friday-Sunday vs. Baltimore
🏀 Sixes (42-34) | Friday vs. Minnesota | Saturday vs. Detroit
🏒 Penguins (38-22-16) | Tampa Bay 3-6 | Saturday-Sunday vs. Florida
🏒 Leaflets (37-25-12) | Detroit 2-4 | Friday at NY Islanders | Sun vs. Boston
⚽ Union (0-0-5) | Sat vs. Charlotte
🏀Gannon (33-3) | Sun vs. Lander (NCAA DII Men’s Championship)
🔉 What we hear. A majority of K Street leaders think it is likely (71%) that military action in Iran will lead to prolonged or further conflict in the Middle East, and a majority think it will hurt Republicans in the midterms (70%).
💬 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 crucial story
1. The group behind the 2025 project assessed PA employees for their work performance
“Because control of the U.S. House of Representatives after 2026 may depend on several races in Pennsylvania, an influential conservative organization has awarded degrees to every incumbent.
And a pair of battleground Republicans had very different results.
U.S. Representative Scott Perryfrom the R-10 district received a rating of 96%, the highest score of any member of the state’s congressional delegation. U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrickthe R-1st district received 23% of the result, which is the lowest result of all Republicans in Pennsylvania and equal US Senator Susan Collinsin R-Maine, the lowest showing of any Republican serving in either chamber.” | Central Square
Elsewhere
Perry uses conspiracy theories to blame Democrats for the DHS shutdown and airport chaos. “Rep. Scott Perry said Democrats are refusing to fund part of the Department of Homeland Security because ‘they don’t want any of their constituents to be deported’ – one of Perry’s proudest claims to date as he faces a tough re-election this year. | PennLive
Wealthy donors hide political money in secret nonprofits. “Using philanthropy to make campaign contributions is illegal. But an exemption for certain nonprofits has allowed Democratic Party billionaires like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg to remain anonymous when they want to play politics. ” | New York Times
Courts likely to block Trump’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting. “President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting through executive order are likely to be found illegal in at least one of several lawsuits filed this week, experts say, the latest in the president’s long-running effort to assert federal control of elections.” | Roll call
Country
2. Pennsylvania could require paid family leave — if lawmakers can decide who will pay for it
There is a real chance that Pennsylvania lawmakers could begin requiring employers to provide paid parental and medical leave, advocates say, although there are still critical disagreements over who should shoulder the costs.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a paid leave bill in overdue March, marking the first time such a policy has approved the chamber after at least seven years of debate on the issue.
One of the key issues dividing lawmakers, mainly along party lines, is whether they need to protect companies from the costs of leave.’ | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Shapiro’s campaign raised $10 million in the first three months of 2026. “They say money doesn’t buy happiness. Try telling that to the Shapiro For Pennsylvania campaign.” | PoliticsPA
Shapiro is gaining ground as a leading Democratic leadership candidate following California Gov. Newsom’s vote in DC. “In a new poll, Washington movers and shakers say Gov. Josh Shapiro is the second most likely incumbent to lead the Democratic Party in President Donald Trump’s second term.” | PennLive
Shapiro promotes tax breaks for working families. “With just over two weeks before the tax filing deadline, Pennsylvania officials are stepping up efforts to raise awareness of a new tax credit designed to provide direct financial relief to working families.” | WHY
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Final interview for the 3rd Congressional District
“The 3rd Congressional District – which includes vast swaths of West Philadelphia, Center City, and North and South Philadelphia, along with the Northwest – is rated as the most Democratic area in the country. Equally remarkable, only two people have represented this cross-section of the city in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1995: Chaka Fattahwho resigned in 2016 following convictions on racketeering and corruption charges, and served as congressman Dwight Evans.
So when Evans announced in June 2025 that he would not run for re-election after suffering a minor stroke, speculation immediately began to arise about who would be next in line. On Tuesday night, a trio of top contenders — Dr. Unfortunately, Stanford, State Senator Sharif StreetAND State Representative Chris Rabb — job interview in front of a packed audience in the Fitler Club ballroom. It wasn’t a debate.” | Citizen of Philadelphia
Elsewhere
‘Incredibly Chilling’: Advocacy Groups Raise Alarm Over Trump’s Demand for List of Jewish Faculty at Penn. “While the Trump administration says this information will aid its investigation into anti-Semitism at the university, some Jewish supporters say the government has used their community to support attacks and policies against higher education to restrict free speech on campuses.” | Hill
Which PA counties are growing and which are shrinking? View novel census estimates. “Nearly 57,000 more people are estimated to live in Pennsylvania than in 2020, and the state’s population has increased slightly since 2024.” | USA Today Network
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Big Phama vs. Pennsylvania | Paul Wilson
- Josh Shapiro created a tool to fight gun crime. Someone killed it | PennLive
- Pam Bondi Is Tapped As Attorney General | Wall Street Journal
- Pennsylvania’s energy leadership depends on competition | David Taylor
- Comedy in the age of Trump | Thom Nickels
- The democratic battle is between moderates and progressives for the soul of the party | Doug Schoen
1 item
5. Why you should chase that fleeting moment of sunset at Phillyhenge
“He took pictures of 17 Olympic games and photographed the previous ones President Bill Clinton for eight years – but there is one thing Gary Hershorn still chasing: Phillyhenge.
Why it matters: When the sun aligns perfectly with the Philadelphia grid twice a year, it attracts everyone with a lens, from die-hard photographers like Hershorn to amateurs and TikTokers chasing the perfect shot.
Current situation: Philadelphia coincides with Easter weekend this year, and many in the city’s photography community will be camping for hours near Dilworth Park, waiting for the moment when the sun will gently slide between Center City’s skyscrapers. | Axios Philadelphia
Thank you for starting your weekend with us.
Happy Christmas! See you on Monday
