🦅  Super Monday. Not much more to say other than E-A-G-L-E-S. Eagles.

🗞️  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

PA Weather
🌥️ Pittsburgh | Mostly Sunny, 35 (got six rings)
🌤️ Hershey | Sunny, 37 (won 13 Calder Cups)
🌤️ Philadelphia | Sunny, 40 (It’s always sunny in Philly)

PA Sports
🏈 Eagles (17-3) | Kansas City 40-22
🏀 Sixers (20-32) | Detroit 112-125 | Milwaukee 127-135 | Tue vs. Toronto
🏒 Flyers (24-26-7) | Pittsburgh 3-2 | Sat vs. Edmonton
🏒 Penguins (23-25-9) | NY Rangers 3-2 | Philadelphia 2-3 | Sat vs. Washington

🔊 What We’re Hearing. “The only one who had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving.” – President Donald Trump on the Berks County native.

🎂 Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Reps. Jack Rader and David Rowe.

📱 Social Media. Join us on Twitter and Bluesky at @PoliticsPA

Top Story

1. Fly, Eagles, Fly

“While breaking down the huddle after warmups ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Jalen Hurts reminded the Eagles of their dominance all season long.

“We did this [expletive] all year,” Hurts said. “Don’t stop now.”

They didn’t. The Eagles pulled off a 40-22 beatdown of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superdome, usurping the crown from the back-to-back Lombardi Trophy victors.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Trump Says He Will Announce 25% Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Monday, and More Import Duties Are Coming. “President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters Sunday on Air Force One, said the tariffs will apply to the metal imports from all countries. He didn’t specify when the duties would take effect.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trump: Nippon Steel Will Invest In U.S. Steel Rather Than Acquiring the Pittsburgh-Based Company. “Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel will provide an investment in Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel rather than continuing to pursue a $15 billion purchase of the former icon of American industrial might, President Donald Trump said Friday.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State

2. Shapiro’s Quest For PA Transit, Road and Bridge Money Looks Daunting

“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bring-sides-together mantra will be put to the test in upcoming budget negotiations, and one big-ticket challenge will be the linked budget pieces of public transit funding and road and bridge funding.

Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat, highlighted the link in his Tuesday budget address, saying, “It shouldn’t be either-or, it should be both-and.”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Rothman Wins PA GOP Chair Over Bachenberg. “Greg Rothman, a state senator from Cumberland County, was elected Pennsylvania Republican Party chair Saturday over Lehigh Valley businessman Bill Bachenberg by a 2-1 margin.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Shapiro’s Prison Closure Plan Draws Mixed Reactions. “What has turned out to be one of the more controversial pieces of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget proposal was never mentioned during his 90-plus minute speech laying out the spending plan Tuesday.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Device Debate: Governor’s Proposed Tax Rate Gets Pushback From Skill Game Operators. “Operators and manufacturers of electronic skill games say they’ve been anticipating Pennsylvania might soon take a tax bite from their revenue, but they protest that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 52% tax is excessive.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Pittsburgh-Area Lawmakers Look Ahead As State Budget Talks Get Underway. “Pittsburgh-area officials say upcoming hearings will focus on contentious topics that include education, public transit and energy policy.” (WESA)

Error-Filled Directory Leaves Thousands in PA Unable to Find Health Care Providers. “The information that thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on to find health care providers and schedule appointments is riddled with inaccuracies that often go months without being corrected, in violation of federal requirements, according to a study commissioned by the state Insurance Department.” (Spotlight PA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pittsburgh Mayoral Race Could Be A Test For the Progressive Movement

“Ed Gainey’s ascension to Pittsburgh mayor was significant for a number of reasons.

He was the first Black man elected to the job in the city’s 261-year history; he unseated an incumbent for the first time in nearly eight decades; and he was another notch in the belt of the region’s growing progressive movement.

The city’s Democratic mayoral primary this year could be a litmus test for how much that progressive movement has grown, or whether city Democrats remain split between a more moderate way of governing.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Gainey’s Choice of Ragland as Pittsburgh’s Top Cop Irks Some on City Council. “Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday nominated Christopher Ragland, the city’s acting police chief, to run the department on a permanent basis.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Tone Cook Announces Run For Harrisburg Mayor. “Another candidate has thrown his hat into the ring for Harrisburg mayor. Gun violence prevention advocate and lifelong Harrisburg resident Tone Cook announced his candidacy.” (abc27)

Budget Cuts and Confusion Fester at Penn State Branch Campuses. “The lobby of the brick-red Biomedical Building on the rural Penn State Fayette campus is quiet and sparsely populated when class is in session, but small items hint at its regular use as a communal space. But beneath the familiar campus scene is a layer of worry.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Trump’s Absurd Proposals Distract From His Damaging Actions. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Trump’s Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans. (New York Times)
• Pennsylvania Needs a True Consumer Advocate In the Office of the Consumer Advocate. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Trump’s Tariffs Could Squeeze the Supreme Court. (Ankush Khardori)
• Trump’s New Foreign Policy Doctrine: Kick Your Friends, Help Your Enemies. (Trudy Rubin)
• Lebanon County DA Graf Deserves a Formal Reprimand For Hoping Our Editor “Burns.” (PennLive)
• Pennsylvania Courts Should Choose Life Over Economics. (Josue Sierra)
• Government Waste is No Accident. (Rep. Seth Grove)
• The Eagles Left No Doubt in Super Bowl LIX: They’re the Best Philly Team of All Time. (Mike Sielski)
• Nick Sirianni is at the Doorstep of an Eagles Dynasty With Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and a Dominant Young Defense. (Marcus Hayes)

1 Thing

5. See Spot Run

“Team Fluff fetched the Lombarky Trophy to win the Puppy Bowl on Sunday. The team narrowly snatched a repeat win away from Team Ruff, which tailed by just 2 points for a final score of 68-66.

But it was Team Ruff who earned the Most Valuable Puppy Award. Foxtrot, a border collie who emerged as a clear contender after scoring his second touchdown of the game, earned the honor.” (WQLN)

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