🎉 I’ve got Friday on my mind. We hope you have a nice weekend. See you on Monday.
🗞️ PoliticsPA Guide is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free.
Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️ Seven Sources | Mostly dull, 22
🌤️Lewis Berry | Rising clouds, 33
☀️ Pocono Mountain | Mostly sunlit, 27
Sports PA
🏈 Penn State (12-3) | Notre-Dame, 24-27
🏈 Steelers (10-7) | Saturday vs. Baltimore
🏈 Eagles (14-3) | Sun vs. Green Bay
🏒 Penguins (18-17-8) | Edmonton 5-3 | Saturday vs. Ottawa | Sun vs. Tampa Bay
🏒 Flyers (17-20-5) | Dallas 1-4 | Saturday vs. Anaheim
🏀 Sixes (15-20) | Friday vs. New Orleans | Sun vs. Orlando
🔉 What we hear. Jeh Johnsondirector of US Steel, resigned immediately from the board. He served in key national security positions throughout the Obama/Biden administration, including as Secretary of Homeland Security (2013–2017), and remains a member of MetLife’s board of directors.
📱 Social media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media sites where you can get the latest political news from across the Commonwealth: Twitter | Blue | Facebook | LinkedIn
The most crucial story
1. Fetterman will meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the culmination of months of more open work with the Republican Party
“Dream. John Fetterman will be the first Democratic senator we meet President-elect Donald Trump at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, a culmination of the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s sustained public openness to working with Republicans in Washington.
This weekend’s meeting comes as Democrats re-examine their long-held resistance to Trump since he took office. Fetterman has repeatedly said that his party needs to stop hand-wringing and figure out how to get along with Republicans in Washington under Trump.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Elsewhere
Toretti is getting another chance in the foreign service as Trump’s envoy to Sweden. “Christine Jack Toretti, an Indiana businesswoman and prominent representative of the Indiana Republican Party – who survived the July 13 assassination of Donald J. Trump – has been named by the president-elect as the next United States ambassador to Sweden.” (Indiana newspaper)
New federal clean energy rebates remain in limbo for Pennsylvanians. “Nearly a dozen states are offering new rebates for home improvements like electric heat pumps and insulation, funded under the climate bill signed by President Joe Biden. However, some fear that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump could jeopardize funds intended for residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.” (WHY)
Country
2. McCormick joins Fetterman in his first Senate vote in supporting Laken Riley’s bill
“The newest U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, a Republican Dave McCormickcast his first vote in favor of the proposed Laken Riley Act, and was joined by his colleague from the Keystone State, Senator John Fetterman.
Senators voted 84-9 Tuesday, with bipartisan support from 32 Democrats, to invoke a shutdown and avoid a filibuster once debate on the bill begins. “Further consideration is expected when senators return to the floor on Monday.” (CNHI News)
Elsewhere
Citing the low reading scores of Pennsylvania students, advocates form a coalition to improve literacy skills. “A new statewide coalition aims to respond to alarming data showing that only 1 in 3 students in Pennsylvania – and even fewer in Philadelphia – can read proficiently by fourth grade.” (Penn Capital Star)
Shapiro says this “interrupted process” can lead to higher electricity costs. “Pennsylvania residents could pay higher electricity bills if federal regulators fail to force the state grid operator to fix a ‘broken process’ that artificially affects supplies, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration says.” (PA reflector)
Rep. Dan Meuser is considering running for governor. “I’m considering it,” Meuser told The Hill on Thursday. “I mean, if I get in, it’s because I think I can win, and that means beating the incumbent, which is Josh Shapiro. So it’s not an easy task.” (Hill)
Report: Pennsylvania third best state to start a family. “A new report released by ConsumerAffairs ranks Pennsylvania as the third best place to start a family. The report ranked each state on affordability, safety, education, pediatric health care and quality of life.” (Central Square)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Changes are coming to the Allegheny County Council with multiple openings
“Allegheny County Council races tend to be sleepier than other local contests: Council members work part-time and largely balance day jobs with government responsibilities.
“But the 15-member body will see significant turnover this year as one of the first true progressives on the council plans to step down, along with its longest-serving Democrat and most prominent Republican.” (WESA policy)
Elsewhere
Montgomery County seeks to reassure immigrants as concerns grow over Trump’s threat of mass deportations. “On Thursday, county commissioners voted to create a new position: director of immigration affairs. Neil Makhija, the new chairman of the board, said his role is intended to ensure immigrants living in the county feel safe and continue to contribute to the community.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Rural schools find safety in armed teachers. “In October, the South Side School District Board of Directors unanimously approved several employees, including the superintendent and principal, to serve concurrently as school police officers. As designated school police officers, both the superintendent and principal may carry firearms on school property and respond to emergencies.” (Wide + Freedom)
Norovirus is making a splash again. Here’s what you need to know. “Norovirus, a stomach infection, is on the rise across the country and in Allegheny County, according to health officials.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- A delusional Emperor Trump partying while Los Angeles burns. (Will Bunch)
- We cannot allow PA legislators to choose their voters. (Doug Webster)
- The truth will set us free, but not on Facebook (Nancy Eshelman)
- When democracy dies in broad daylight. (Tony Norman)
- Why I risked my health by photographing disability rights advocates climbing the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol. (Nolan Trowe)
- Seeing faces in the PA Farm Show crowd. (Stephanie Speicher)
1 item
5. TikTok’s fate is decided before the Supreme Court in a clash between free speech and national security
“In one of the most important cases of the social media era, free speech and national security collided before the Supreme Court on Friday in arguments over the fate of TikTok, the wildly popular digital platform that roughly half of the U.S. population uses for entertainment and information.
“TikTok says it plans to shut down the social networking site in the U.S. by January 19 unless the Supreme Court overturns or otherwise delays the effective date of a law aimed at forcing the sale of TikTok by its Chinese parent company.” (AP)
