😉   TGIF. I hate these long work weeks, don’t you? 

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PA Weather
🌨️ Erie | Lake Effect Snow Showers, 30
❄️ Altoona | Snow Showers, 31
☁️ Reading | Cloudy, Chance of Snow, 37

PA Sports
🏈 Steelers (10-6) | Sat vs. Cincinnati
🏈 Eagles (13-3) | Sun vs. NY Giants
🏈 Penn State (12-2) | Thu vs. Notre Dame
🏀 Sixers (13-18) | Golden State 105-139 | Sat vs. Brooklyn
🏒 Penguins (17-17-5) | Fri vs. Florida | Sun vs. Carolina
🏒 Flyers (17-18-4) | Vegas 2-5 | Sun vs. Toronto

🎂  Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Tim Briggs and former Gov. Ed Rendell (Sun.)

📱  Social Media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media outlets for you to get the latest political news from around the Commonwealth: Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | LinkedIn

Top Story

1. Report: President Biden Will Block U.S. Steel-Nippon Deal

“President Joe Biden will reportedly block the sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to the Japanese-owned Nippon Steel, ending a tumultuous year for workers and officials in the region who until the final hours remained split over the fate of an industrial icon.

The Washington Post first reported the news late Thursday night — that Biden will block the $14.9 billion deal, dealing a broad blow to a key ally in Japan and siding with top union leadership who have encountered growing pushback from workers rallying in support of the Japanese steelmaker’s bid.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

​​Dave McCormick Gets Sworn In As Pennsylvania’s Newest Senator Today. “Dave McCormick will take the oath Friday as Pennsylvania’s junior senator, bringing a new voice to Washington and giving Republicans a Senate seat in the state after two years of sole ownership by Democrats.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mike Johnson Only Has Hours to Convince ‘Undecided’ Republicans. “Publicly, some 15 Republican members are at least undecided on Johnson. Twelve of those have seemed doubtful, including Reps. Andy Biggs, Scott Perry and Andy Ogles.” (NOTUS)

Meet Pennsylvania’s New Members of Congress As They Take the Oath Today. “Pennsylvania’s 17-person U.S. House delegation gains two Republican members Friday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bresnahan Names Legislative Staff. “Rep.-elect Rob Bresnahan (R-08) has selected the members of his staff as he begins his term in the 119th Congress on Friday.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Top Western Pa. Lawmakers Keeping U.S. Steel, Energy and Education as High Priorities For New Legislative Session

“The top Republican and Democratic senators from southwestern Pennsylvania see a full plate of issues — electricity generation, education, and transit and transportation among them — as lawmakers prepare for a return to the Capitol next week.

Sen. Kim Ward, the Republican Senate president pro tempore from Westmoreland County, and Sen. Jay Costa, the Democratic minority leader from Allegheny County, laid out their thoughts in separate interviews with the Post-Gazette on Thursday. The Legislature holds its first formal gathering of the 2025-26 session Tuesday with swearing-in ceremonies.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

PA State Rep. Brett Miller Enters 36th District Race, Opposing Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons For GOP Nomination. “State Rep. Brett Miller said Thursday he will run for the vacated 36th Senate District seat in an upcoming special election, putting him on a collision course with Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons for the Republican nomination.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Special Elections Cost PA at Least $1M Last Legislative Session. “The million-dollar price tag does not capture the full cost to taxpayers. Philadelphia held two special elections during the latest session, but a spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about the cost. The city has also not filed to have its costs reimbursed by the Department of State.” (Spotlight PA)

Farm Show Says Agriculture ‘Powering Pennsylvania’ “The theme is a testament to the power of agriculture in every region of Pennsylvania. It’s the engine that powers our economy, builds our community, and drives the quality of life in our state,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. What We’re Watching in 2025: Fetterman + McCormick + Trump, An Ugly Pittsburgh Mayoral Race and More

“Fair warning: This is one of those “things to watch for in 2025” pieces that everyone does this time of year. And maybe you don’t want to watch for anything. Maybe you’ve already seen too much.

I get it. But hey: The holidays are over, and stuff is about to start happening. We may as well get used to it.” (WESA Politics)

Elsewhere

PA Was Right, County Was Wrong In Handling Election Machines: Court. “A Pennsylvania court on Tuesday ruled 6-1 that the secretary of state has the authority to direct counties not to allow “unauthorized third party access” to voting machines or risk having those machines decertified and unable to be deployed for elections.” (AP)

New Tax Reinvestment Zone to Make Reading a ‘City Of Opportunity,’ Mayor Says. “Community leaders in Reading celebrated the city’s inclusion this year in a Pennsylvania program to incentivize redevelopment and job creation by reinvesting new tax revenue in the community.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State Government Poised to Help Erie Explore Home Rule Charter at Upcoming Study Session. “Erie City Council is poised to get advice and guidance from state government as it explores whether the city should move to a new form of government.” (Erie Times-News)

U.S. Attorney For Middle District of PA Announces Resignation. “United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Gerard M. Karam has announced his resignation following over two years of service.” (WFXG)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Whom Does a Profiteering Congress Truly Represent? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• For Pennsylvania’s Sake, Let’s Root For the Eagles — and the Steelers. (Eric Hartman)
• What the State’s Independent Colleges and Universities Bring. (Thomas P. Foley)
• The View From the Left As A New Trump Term Approaches. (Natalie Bencivenga)
• Democrats Need An “Industrial Evolution” to Regain Worker Trust. (T.J. Rooney)
• Why Trump Should Switch Sides on the US Steel-Nippon Steel Merger (but probably won’t) (Keith Naughton)
• Republicans Will Learn That Governing Is Harder Than Winning. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
• Hello? Is It PA Voters You’re Looking For? (Mustafa Rashed)

1 Thing

5. 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show Butter Sculpture Celebrates Dairy Cows As “Superheroes”

“One thousand pounds of Pennsylvania-made butter have formed a work of art celebrating the dairy farmers of the Keystone State and their cattle.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show unveiled its annual butter sculpture for the 2025 event on Thursday. The sculpture is called “From Moo to Marvel: Dairy Cows Power Pennsylvania.” (CBS Philadelphia)

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