April 3: Downward Spiral

John Fetterman

🌻 Good Monday Morning. Hello April.

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Greensburg | Mostly Sunny, 69
Gettysburg | Increasing Clouds, 66
Dallas | Mostly Sunny, 61

What We’re Hearing
“It’s been a massive defeat for the Democratic Party. They did not want to see Florida go red. They threw everything but the kitchen sink to stop us. And yet, we have left the Democratic Party for dead in the state of Florida.” – Ron DeSantis

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Top Story

1. Fetterman Describes ‘Downward Spiral’ Of Depression In TV Interview

Fetterman leaves Walter Reed with depression 'in remission' - ABC News

Sen. John Fetterman, in his first interview since leaving the hospital, revealed the “downward spiral” of depression that sent him to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for six weeks.

Despite the ongoing challenges of stroke recovery, the Pennsylvania Democrat had a lot going for him. Supported by his loving family and one of the most successful teams in politics, he had just flipped a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat in battleground Pennsylvania, edging out GOP challenger Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Though he won one of the most closely watched races in the country – and most expensive – that helped to determine which party controlled the Senate, somehow he felt like he lost.” (USA TODAY)

Related

Fetterman Opens Up About Depression In First Interview Since His Hospitalization. “John Fetterman had stopped eating, couldn’t get out of bed, and felt indifferent about life, he said in his first TV interview about his major struggle with depression and the optimism he now feels after seeking treatment.” (Inquirer)

  • Fetterman: I Was ‘Indifferent’ To Whether I Lived Or Died. (Post-Gazette)
  • Fetterman Talks About Battle With Depression: ‘I Had Stopped Leaving My Bed.’ (PennLive)

 

Fetterman Leaves Walter Reed With Depression ‘In Remission.’ “Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after six weeks of inpatient treatment for clinical depression, with plans to return to the Senate when the chamber resumes session in mid-April, his office said Friday.” (AP)

 

State

2. DeSantis Makes Swing-State Stop In PA

State of the State

“A bad case of early presidential fever swept through a ballroom at the Penn Harris Hotel here Saturday, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop as the scheduled headliner at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference.

Over the last four years the 44-year-old DeSantis has positioned himself – for the moment at least – as the strongest GOP alternative to Donald Trump, and he made sure his audience knew it Saturday in an address peppered with his accomplishments in “the free state of Florida.”” (PennLive)

Related

DeSantis Targets Biden In Swing State PA, Says Democratic Party ‘Dead’ In Florida. “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference 2023, called Biden a “floundering leader” and said the president’s poor performance contributed to Republican gains.” (Fox News)

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry Condemns Trump Indictment. “I feel like I am living in the Third World or a banana republic,” Perry said, commenting after an appearance at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, a major gathering of conservative activists in swing state Pennsylvania Saturday.” (PennLive)

With Democratic House Majority, Advocates Hopeful Progressive Policy Goals Will Become Law. “In the month after securing their 101-vote majority, Pennsylvania House Democrats have held hearings on gun safety, raising the minimum wage, and expanding access to reproductive health care.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

PA Democrats Aim To Appeal To Democratic Voters With Policy, Symbolism, And Some Anger. “As politics in Pennsylvania and nationally have shifted, and Republicans have gained ground with white working-class voters — epitomized by Donald Trump’s crucial victory in the state in 2016 — the GOP has portrayed Democrats as the party of a snobbish elite, attacking liberals as scolds who have lost touch with everyday workers while trying to impose their views on race, gender, guns, and the environment.” (Inquirer)

Greene Says Democratic Party Driven By Pedophiles In Controversial Interview. “Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Georgia Republican, baselessly claimed in a “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday that the Democratic Party is driven by pedophiles.” (PennLive)

Plan To Improve PA’s Voting And Licensing Databases Met With Skepticism. “The Department of State says it could improve two of its key internal systems with more funding, but some state lawmakers are skeptical about whether more money would make a difference.” (WESA)

  • Fresh Start For Beleaguered Department Of State. (ABC27)

 

DOJ, EPA File Complaint Against Norfolk Southern For Unlawful Discharge Of Pollutants and Hazardous Substances. “The complaint seeks penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment on liability for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).” (PoliticsPA)

  • Justice Dept. Sues Norfolk Southern Over Derailment. (AP)

 

Laughlin Wants To End Closed Primaries In Proposed Bill. “The chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee plans to introduce legislation to end closed primaries and provided his rationale in an op-ed published on the Broad + Liberty website.” (PoliticsPA)

Brooks Calls For Felony Penalties For False Emergency Threats Toward Schools. “State Sen. Michele Brooks is proposing legislation to create new, felony criminal penalties for falsely reporting emergency threats directed towards any educational facility in the Commonwealth.” (PoliticsPA) 

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Inquirer Board Endorses Rhynhart For Mayor

Montgomery County Leadership: Rebecca Rhynhart, Controller of City of Philadelphia

“The Editorial Board of The Philadelphia Inquirer has endorsed Rebecca Rhynhart for mayor, picking the former city controller over 10 other Democrats.

In an editorial published Saturday, the board — which operates separately from The Inquirer newsroom — wrote that Rhynhart “has the experience, independence, vision, and temperament needed to unite a diverse city and address the systemic problems of crime, schools, taxes, and poverty that have long plagued Philadelphia.” (Inquirer)

Related

The Power Of Philly’s Voting Blocs Keeps Shifting. Who Will Determine The Next Mayor? “When Philadelphia voters voice their pick for a new mayor next month, the outcome will depend in part on the influence of the city’s various blocs of Democrats. The strength of these groups shifts from election to election — and this year is no different.” (Inquirer)

Report: Allegheny County Loses 50,000 Jobs In 5 Years, More Than Any Other PA County. “Allegheny County’s economy was the worst performing urban core county of any major metropolitan region in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the report from Pittsburgh Works Together Inc. found.” (Post-Gazette)

Pitt Expected To Name Next Chancellor Monday Morning. “University of Pittsburgh trustees are expected to vote on a new chancellor Monday morning. A special meeting has been scheduled at 11 a.m. and will include “Remarks of the Chancellor Elect,” according to the agenda.” (Post-Gazette)

PA’s Physician-Legislator Venkat Talks Gun Control, Medical Debt Relief And School Funding. “Pennsylvania Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, is the first Indian-American elected to the state House and an emergency room physician.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Bucks County Dem Back With Another ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban Proposal. “Sen. Steve Santarsiero, along with Sen. John Kane (D-Delaware/Chester), wrote in a co-sponsorship memo last week they were planning “to introduce legislation that would enact an assault weapons ban in Pennsylvania.”” (Delaware Valley Journal)

Public Defenders Seek To Bring Reform To Local Justice System. “Two county public defenders are looking to shift their position in the courtroom, with one hoping to oust the six-term incumbent district attorney and another seeking to become a judge. (Union Progress)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

 

1 Thing

5. Our Masters Pool

PGA: The Masters - Practice Round - Awful Announcing

Are you a golfer? Do you like watching The Masters tournament every April? Well, have we got something for you.

Join our inaugural PoliticsPA fantasy golf tournament to make your viewing of this event even more enjoyable.

  • Pick any five players from the field to comprise your team
  • Low four rounds count for your daily team total
  • At least four players must make the 36-hole cut or your team is eliminated
  • Pick the winning 72-hole individual score as the tie-breaker

 

To make sure that we are above board, we will not charge an entry fee and we’ll do this for bragging rights only.

Send your five-person team and the winning 72-hole score (tiebreaker) to steve@www.politicspa.com. Please provide your name and email address. We will accept submissions until 8 a.m. EDT Thursday.

 

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3 Responses

  1. Great job PA voters! Picking someone unqualified (and thats an understatement) to represent you!

  2. Well. I held a campaign rally yesterday in Pittsburgh’s Homewood area for my District Attorney re election and only one person showed up. He ate 3 pieces of my fried chicken, drank 4 beers and refused to shake my hand, saying ‘he hate me.’
    From now on I am only going to campaign in the North Hills where everyone respects me as a very stable genuis. Everyone else in Allegheny County can kiss my ASSisted living lifestyle.

    1. Have heart. The next fundraiser you have at your house should include your Mom and wierd Uncle Fred. That way you’ll have two people at your next political event.





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