🎸 Friday, Friday. Gotta Get Down on Friday. 28 songs, nearly 3 hours. Thanks Bruce!

PA Weather
🌂 Erie | Mostly Cloudy, chance of showers, 82
🌤️ State College | Partly Sunny, 81
☀️ Allentown | Mostly Sunny, 88

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (71-50) | Washington 13-3 | Fri-Sun vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (56-64) | Fri-Sun vs. Seattle
⚽ Union (Leagues Cup Quarterfinal) | Sat vs. Mazatlán

👂 What We’re Hearing. Democrats are rolling out endorsements, as Rep. Susan Wild will unveil a new slate of endorsements from the most influential women’s rights and reproductive freedom groups across the country, while the Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council End Citizens United | Let America Vote will endorse Eugene DePasquale for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

🗞️ Pennsylvania Headlines >> Your Inbox. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Inside the Rift That Could Define the Future of Pennsylvania Politics

“John Fetterman was angry.

The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania was readying to speak at a disaster response press conference in Bucks County on July 16, 2023.

Gov. Josh Shapiro provided information on what his administration was doing to respond to the emergency. After a few minutes, Shapiro tossed the microphone back to the local responders — not Fetterman. Moments later, the event wrapped without Fetterman ever speaking.

The episode highlighted what has become an increasingly volatile relationship between Pennsylvania’s two most ambitious elected officials. It’s a Democratic Party rivalry that is suddenly spilling out into full view and has the potential to shape state politics — and maybe even the national political scene — for years to come.” (NBC News)

Related

Harris-Walz Campaign Blitzing PA This Weekend Ahead of the Democratic National Convention. “Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz’s bus tour to the Democratic National Convention might start in Pittsburgh on Sunday, but the campaign has hundreds of events planned for this weekend across Pennsylvania.” (PennLive)

Donald Trump Asks Judge to Delay Sentencing In His Hush Money Case Until After The November Election. “Trump’s lawyers wrote that a delay would also allow Trump time to weigh next steps after the trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, is expected to rule Sept. 16 on the defense’s request to overturn the verdict and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July presidential immunity ruling.” (AP)

Vance, Fellow Republicans Attack Tim Walz’s Service Record During Lower Burrell Campaign Stop. “Republican U.S. Sen. and vice presidential candidate JD Vance continued criticism of his opponent’s military record and the current administration’s treatment of the military and veterans while emphasizing the Trump campaign’s primary messages about the economy and immigration.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Walz, Vance Agree to Debate on October 1. “Ohio Sen. JD Vance said on Thursday that he has accepted an invitation from CBS News for a vice presidential debate on October 1. Earlier in the week, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said that he had said yes to the invitation, guaranteeing at least one debate between the vice presidential candidates.” (PoliticsPA)

How Project 2025 Turned Into the GOP’s Biggest Political Loser. “It’s also become a major liability for The Heritage Foundation — and staffers at the conservative think tank know it.” (NOTUS)

State

2. PA Tops Swing States in Presidential Campaign Ad Spending: News Report

“Does it seem like presidential campaign ads are blanketing the airwaves in central Pa.?

Well, they are.

Campaign advertising dollars are flowing into Pennsylvania at a rate higher than any other battleground state. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that about $42 million has been spent on ads in Pennsylvania since President Biden exited the race July 22.” (PennLive)

Related

Scott Perry, Janelle Stelson Lay Out Tax and Manufacturing Plan in 10th District Race. “The candidates have the same priorities, including opposing some of China’s economic power, but they take different positions on taxation and manufacturing bills brought up in Congress.” (WITF)

DCCC Poll Shows Stelson With Slight Edge on Perry. “In a poll commissioned by the DCCC, 600 likely voters in PA-10 gave Democrat Janelle Stelson a 48-47% edge over Republican incumbent Scott Perry. The difference is within the +/-4.0 margin of error.” (PoliticsPA)

Warning Issued About State Rules and Broadband Costs. “As plans for an infusion of federal money to expand broadband in Pennsylvania continue, a telecom trade group warns of state rules that could handicap that very expansion.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Push to Increase Voter Turnout Among College Students

“Groups are stepping up efforts to increase the youth vote in November’s general election.

Launched in 2020, the PA Campus Voting Challenge is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of State and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN), a national initiative that provides support to more than 75 participating colleges and universities for turning out the youth vote.” (Sunbury Daily Item)

Related

Ballot Initiatives Like the Israel Boycott Don’t Always Play Out As Expected. “When local pro-Palestine activists proposed a city boycott of entities with ties to Israel, the debate on the matter was bound to be contentious. But probably no one expected a casualty to be Mayor Ed Gainey’s communications director, Maria Montaño.” (WESA Politics)

Proposed Pittsburgh Anti-Israel Ballot Measure Condemned by Pennsylvania Political Leaders. “Critics say the broadly worded measure, which is being challenged by the Pittsburgh city controller, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and several synagogues, would stop basic city functions and could prevent Jewish institutions from accessing critical city services. City officials say it could also violate state and federal law.” (Jewish Insider)

Rivera Tapped by Lanco Democrats to Replace Sturla in HD-96 Race. “Nikki Rivera, president of the Manheim Township School Board, has been selected by Lancaster County Democratic Committee members to replace Rep. Mike Sturla as its candidate for the 96th Legislative District seat.” (PoliticsPA)

Did PA Township Missing $532K in Taxpayer Dollars Have Financial Safeguards? Officials Won’t Say. “When residents learned that a Centre County township is investigating the potential misuse of more than $532,000 by a suspended employee, many asked: How could such a large sum of public money disappear without scrutiny?” (Spotlight PA State College)

Butler County Commissioners At Odds Over Suggested Security Contract For Trump Rally. “Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said Wednesday that the July 13 rally for former President Donald Trump appeared to be “under resourced” — a problem she attributed to a fellow commissioner’s request that the Butler County Sheriff’s Office work under a contract for the event.” (Butler Eagle)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Instead of Sulking, Republicans Should Ditch Their Own Dud Candidate. (Dan Hannan)
• Kamala Harris’s Best Campaign Surrogate Is Donald Trump. (Susan B. Glasser)
• Can Josh Shapiro’s Party Forgive Him for Telling the Truth? (Ruth R. Wisse)
• Kamala Harris Must Risk Having Substantive Policies, or Lose. (Matt Bai)
• Transparency is Essential For City Officials Dealing With Potential Conflicts of Interest. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A Higher Minimum Wage Is Better For Workers Than Not Taxing Tips. (Betsey Stevenson)
• Pennsylvania Democrats Finally Make Voter Registration Gains After Harris’ Ascension. (Nick Field)
• Media Bias, 2024 Style. (Colin Hanna)
• Did You Know the Literal Government Red Tape Was Made in York? Time To Cut It. (Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill)

1 Boss Thing

5. Bruce Springsteen Is Commanding in a Riveting Return to Pittsburgh

“Eight years, no Boss. Just Covid and a bunch of other problems.

Thankfully, that regrettable streak came to an end Thursday night when the E Street Band stepped on the stage just after 7:37.

With eight more years of wear and tear on those E Street bodies, of course we needed to lower the bar of expectation for the 74-year-old rocker and his wrecking crew.

Or did we?

No, we didn’t.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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