☕ Halfway home for a week. Let’s also say goodbye to July.
Pennsylvania Weather
☀️ Kearsarge | Mostly sunlit, 85
☀️ Three Springs | Mostly Sunny, 93
☔ Pocono Mountains | Mostly gloomy, showers, 80
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (65-42) | NY Yankees, 6-7 (12) | Wed. vs. NY Yankees
⚾ Pirates (55-52) | Houston 6-2 | Wed. vs. Houston
👂 What do we hear. Harris’ campaign is pushing Wall Street donors to write checks as quickly as possible, citing a financial rule that bars contributions to tickets involving a sitting governor.
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Senator Judy Schwank.
🗞️ 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 working day at 8am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The best story
1. Trump heads to Harrisburg for first rally after Pennsylvania shooting
“Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returns to Pennsylvania on Wednesday for his first event in the state since the assassination attempt on his life in Butler.
Former president with Republican Party candidate for Senate Dave McCormickHe is scheduled to address supporters at the New Holland Arena in Harrisburg at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. It is his first rally in Pennsylvania since officially securing the party nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.” (Erie Times-News)
Related
Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign with a running mate in Philadelphia next Tuesday to kick off her Swing State Tour“The timing of the visit means Harris is likely to make his long-awaited choice of vice presidential candidate within the next six days and introduce a candidate in the Pennsylvania territory.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Heritage Foundation Project 2025 Director Resigns. “Paul Dans, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, has resigned from his position at the conservative group.” (PoliticsPA)
RFK Jr. has signatures that qualify him for the Pennsylvania ballot, but he hasn’t gotten on it yet“The Kennedy campaign said the former Democrat had added his name to three state ballots and submitted signatures to gain ballot access in nine more states, including Pennsylvania.” (PennLive)
Biden administration to notify 25 million student loan borrowers about debt relief options“The proposed legislation had been developed as a plan B since President Joe Biden’s initial attempt to forgive some or all of the debt owed by 43 million people was rejected by the Supreme Court last summer.” (ABC news)
Country
2. Josh Shapiro’s rise wasn’t accidental. Just ask those who helped him get there — or felt betrayed along the way.
“With a major election approaching, Democratic leaders began to fear that their aging incumbent was no longer capable of winning and considered removing him from the ticket.
Josh Shapiro was ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
Race? The 2011 Campaign for Montgomery County Board.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Related
Who’s afraid of Josh Shapiro? “A lab-designed politician to help Democrats win key Rust Belt states would probably look a lot like Josh Shapiro.” (Atlantic)
Would Electing Josh Shapiro Actually Help Harris in Pennsylvania?“Based on those maths, the choice of a governor who boasts a 60 percent approval rating in the most valuable battleground state might seem obvious.” (Voice)
Shapiro ‘not happy’ with Nippon Steel’s upcoming takeover of US Steel“U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday declined to answer questions about the upcoming $14.9 billion sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Japanese company Nippon Steel.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Casey Bill Would Cut Co-Payments for Mental and Behavioral Health Visits for Military Families“Active military members and veterans would see lower costs for mental and behavioral health care under legislation that Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan plan to introduce Wednesday.” (PennLive)
Pennsylvania casinos ask court to force state to tax skill games in same way as slot machines“Owners of 12 Pennsylvania casinos have asked the state’s highest court to rule that a tax on slot machine revenue is unconstitutional because the state does not broadly impose it on cash-dispensing electronic gaming terminals, known as arcade games, that can be found in many bars and convenience stores.” (AP)
Pennsylvania to Have Free IRS Tax Filing Program Available to Taxpayers for 2025 Tax Season. “U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday that Pennsylvania is the latest state to join the Internal Revenue Service’s new free tax preparation system.” (PoliticsPA)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. How 9 Incorrectly Rejected Ballots in Luzerne Contributed to Trump’s Lies About the 2020 Election
“New details about the 2020 Luzerne County ballot-tipping case show how the Justice Department’s handling of the FBI investigation contributed to then-President Donald Trump false narrative of a stolen election — despite department policies designed to prevent such situations.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Pennsylvania Supreme Court refuses to hear Walsh’s appeal of six mail-in ballots“There remains only one case pending before the state Supreme Court, as the court agreed to hear Walsh’s appeal in two interlocutory votes.” (Leader of the times)
‘Every Last Vote Counts’: Where Asian Voters Stand in the Presidential Election“When Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, Democrats lost their lead in their home state of Pennsylvania. But given Kamala Harris’ Native American heritage, Asian Americans could be the party’s key to unlocking the swing state’s 19 electoral votes in this fall’s election.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Mansfield political science professor, Williamsport lawyer weigh in on rapid evolution of electoral politics“The amount of news that comes out every day about the race to occupy the White House can be overwhelming, and keeping up with it and getting the latest and most accurate information can be a daunting task.” (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)
Podcast: Meet and Greet with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams“Whether you’re a retiree in Scranton, a college student in Philadelphia, taking a morning stroll in Erie, sitting in traffic commuting to Pittsburgh, or a thousand miles away and simply curious about Pennsylvania politics, we welcome every listener to our kitchen table.” (Politics at the Kitchen Table)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 thing
5. Catch a wave… and take an iconic photo
“When the AFP photographer Jerome Brouillet When he set out to film the third day of Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti on Monday, he could have never guessed he would capture one of the most iconic moments of the Games.
Brazilian three-time world champion Gabriel Medinawho has just jumped out of the barrel of a treacherous wave, raises his hand towards the sky, pointing upwards. His surfboard, tied to his ankle, is also hurtling through the air – and in that millisecond captured by Brouillet, it is perfectly parallel to Medina.” (NPR)
