🈺 Thursday. Let’s go.
🗞️ 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
❄️ Stoneboro | Snow (1-3”), 26
❄️ Pottsville | Snow (1-2”), 24
⛅ Bala Cynwyd | Increasing Clouds, 32
PA Sports
🏈 Eagles (15-3) | Sun vs. LA Rams
🏒 Flyers (19-20-6) | Thu vs. NY Islanders
🏒 Penguins (18-20-8) | Fri vs. Buffalo
🏀 Sixers (15-24) | New York 119-125 | Sat vs. Indianapolis
🔊 What We’re Hearing. The Trump transition team is honing in on Sean Plankey, GM of Indigo Vault / Global Head of Cybersecurity Software and a veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard, as its choice to be the next director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA.
🔊 What We’re Hearing II. House Majority Forward, the issue advocacy affiliate of Democratic super PAC House Majority PAC, is rolling out new ads as part of its $10 million ad buy hitting GOP incumbents, including Reps. Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie and Scott Perry, on economic issues.
“President Joe Biden warned of a rising ultrawealthy “oligarchy” in America that poses a threat to the nation’s democracy, in a grave farewell address delivered Wednesday as he prepares to cede the White House back to Donald Trump.
Speaking for a final time from the Oval Office, Biden aired a range of concerns about the country’s future, urging Americans to defend U.S. institutions against “powerful forces” trying to reshape the pillars of society.” (POLITICO)
Elsewhere
Trump’s AG Nominee Won’t Say Who Won the 2020 Election But Repeats Fraud Claims About PA: ‘I Saw So Much.’ “Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, repeatedly brought up Pennsylvania as she declined to answer who won the 2020 presidential election in her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Fetterman’s Approach to Trump Stirs Speculation. “Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) open-minded approach to President-elect Trump is fueling questions about his motives and vexing some of his fellow Democrats.” (The Hill)
Democrats’ Crisis of the Future: The Biggest States That Back Them Are Shrinking. “Coming out of a presidential election where they lost all seven swing states, Democrats are facing a demographic challenge that could reduce their path to winning the U.S. House of Representatives or the White House for the long term.” (AP)
Energy Secretary Pick Tells McCormick He’s All-In On LNG, Boosting PA AI Industry Resources. “Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for energy secretary, says the U.S. should tap into Pennsylvania’s rich resources, including liquefied natural gas and nuclear power, to bolster the economy and national security and to become a leader in the burgeoning artificial intelligence industry.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“The Republican State Leadership Committee plans to invest millions into Wisconsin’s and Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court races as part of its efforts to secure conservative control in 2025.
“State supreme court races in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in 2025 will determine map-drawing at the federal and state level after our next redistricting cycle and for years to come,” incoming RSLC President Edith Jorge-Tuñón said in the email to investors.” (Washington Examiner)
Elsewhere
Group Weighs Potential and Peril of Performance Funding For PA Universities. “Currently, the three state-related schools collectively receive more than $550 million in state funding annually. The move to a performance-based funding formula has been supported by lawmakers from both parties, as well as Gov. Josh Shapiro.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Expanded Voter ID, Mail Ballot Changes on the Table As PA Lawmakers Begin New Session. “Pennsylvania lawmakers beginning their new legislative session this month are preparing to debate what changes, if any, should be made to the way the state’s elections are run.” (Votebeat Pennsylvania)
GOP Selects State Senate Committee Chairs. “The Republican majority caucus in the state Senate has selected its committee chairs for the upcoming 2025-26 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan Resigning. “The United States attorney tasked with prosecuting federal cases in the Western District of Pennsylvania is stepping down from the post.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)
Cicero Quits As State Consumer Advocate; Sunday Asks For Applicants to Succeed Him. “Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday said Wednesday that the current state Consumer Advocate Patrick Cicero did not wish to participate in Sunday’s process of considering any interested employee for positions under the discretion of the attorney general’s office.” (Indiana Gazette)
“When Pennsylvania members of the armed services are discharged, the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says there is one person in their area that they need to meet with as they make the transition to civilian life.
Except, in Philadelphia that’s not possible.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Elsewhere
As PA Sen. Laughlin Sued Erie Reader For Libel, Public Paid Some Legal Costs. “State Sen. Dan Laughlin said he used no public money to pay his lawyers in the Republican lawmaker’s libel suit against the Erie Reader newspaper. Public records show he tapped campaign funds to pay for his legal expenses, which exceeded $100,000.” (Erie Times-News)
Efforts to Restart a Ballot Referendum Process to Cut Pittsburgh Ties to Israel Underway. “After a failed attempt last summer, another effort has begun to get enough signatures to trigger a ballot referendum asking Pittsburgh residents if the Home Rule Charter should be amended to align the city’s finances with “moral standards,” which would include divesting from Israel. ” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Jason Richey, Former Candidate For Governor, Eyeing Allegheny County’s GOP Committee Chair. “A former Republican candidate for governor, and construction and energy law attorney at one of the world’s largest law firms, is running for chair of the county’s Republican committee.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
One Year In, Commissioner Justin Douglas Is Still Disrupting Dauphin County Government. “The move into the county’s top job caps a stunning trajectory for the career pastor, who wasn’t political, and who was talked into running for a political office in 2023.” (PennLive)
“U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
The agency said it was taking the action as a “matter of law” because some studies have found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. ” (LehighValleyNews.com)
Top Story
1. Biden Warns of Rising Democracy-Threatening ‘Oligarchy’ in Grim Farewell Speech
“President Joe Biden warned of a rising ultrawealthy “oligarchy” in America that poses a threat to the nation’s democracy, in a grave farewell address delivered Wednesday as he prepares to cede the White House back to Donald Trump.
Speaking for a final time from the Oval Office, Biden aired a range of concerns about the country’s future, urging Americans to defend U.S. institutions against “powerful forces” trying to reshape the pillars of society.” (POLITICO)
Elsewhere
Trump’s AG Nominee Won’t Say Who Won the 2020 Election But Repeats Fraud Claims About PA: ‘I Saw So Much.’ “Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, repeatedly brought up Pennsylvania as she declined to answer who won the 2020 presidential election in her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Fetterman’s Approach to Trump Stirs Speculation. “Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) open-minded approach to President-elect Trump is fueling questions about his motives and vexing some of his fellow Democrats.” (The Hill)
Democrats’ Crisis of the Future: The Biggest States That Back Them Are Shrinking. “Coming out of a presidential election where they lost all seven swing states, Democrats are facing a demographic challenge that could reduce their path to winning the U.S. House of Representatives or the White House for the long term.” (AP)
Energy Secretary Pick Tells McCormick He’s All-In On LNG, Boosting PA AI Industry Resources. “Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for energy secretary, says the U.S. should tap into Pennsylvania’s rich resources, including liquefied natural gas and nuclear power, to bolster the economy and national security and to become a leader in the burgeoning artificial intelligence industry.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
State
2. RSLC Outlines Strategy to Capture State Supreme Court Majorities
“The Republican State Leadership Committee plans to invest millions into Wisconsin’s and Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court races as part of its efforts to secure conservative control in 2025.
“State supreme court races in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in 2025 will determine map-drawing at the federal and state level after our next redistricting cycle and for years to come,” incoming RSLC President Edith Jorge-Tuñón said in the email to investors.” (Washington Examiner)
Elsewhere
Group Weighs Potential and Peril of Performance Funding For PA Universities. “Currently, the three state-related schools collectively receive more than $550 million in state funding annually. The move to a performance-based funding formula has been supported by lawmakers from both parties, as well as Gov. Josh Shapiro.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Expanded Voter ID, Mail Ballot Changes on the Table As PA Lawmakers Begin New Session. “Pennsylvania lawmakers beginning their new legislative session this month are preparing to debate what changes, if any, should be made to the way the state’s elections are run.” (Votebeat Pennsylvania)
GOP Selects State Senate Committee Chairs. “The Republican majority caucus in the state Senate has selected its committee chairs for the upcoming 2025-26 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan Resigning. “The United States attorney tasked with prosecuting federal cases in the Western District of Pennsylvania is stepping down from the post.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)
Cicero Quits As State Consumer Advocate; Sunday Asks For Applicants to Succeed Him. “Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday said Wednesday that the current state Consumer Advocate Patrick Cicero did not wish to participate in Sunday’s process of considering any interested employee for positions under the discretion of the attorney general’s office.” (Indiana Gazette)
Around The Commonwealth
3. Philadelphia is the Only County In PA Without the Mandated Veterans Affairs Director. Vets Want Answers
“When Pennsylvania members of the armed services are discharged, the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says there is one person in their area that they need to meet with as they make the transition to civilian life.
Except, in Philadelphia that’s not possible.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Elsewhere
As PA Sen. Laughlin Sued Erie Reader For Libel, Public Paid Some Legal Costs. “State Sen. Dan Laughlin said he used no public money to pay his lawyers in the Republican lawmaker’s libel suit against the Erie Reader newspaper. Public records show he tapped campaign funds to pay for his legal expenses, which exceeded $100,000.” (Erie Times-News)
Efforts to Restart a Ballot Referendum Process to Cut Pittsburgh Ties to Israel Underway. “After a failed attempt last summer, another effort has begun to get enough signatures to trigger a ballot referendum asking Pittsburgh residents if the Home Rule Charter should be amended to align the city’s finances with “moral standards,” which would include divesting from Israel. ” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Jason Richey, Former Candidate For Governor, Eyeing Allegheny County’s GOP Committee Chair. “A former Republican candidate for governor, and construction and energy law attorney at one of the world’s largest law firms, is running for chair of the county’s Republican committee.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
One Year In, Commissioner Justin Douglas Is Still Disrupting Dauphin County Government. “The move into the county’s top job caps a stunning trajectory for the career pastor, who wasn’t political, and who was talked into running for a political office in 2023.” (PennLive)
Editorial
4. What’s On Your Mind
- This ‘Different’ John Fetterman Isn’t New – He’s Always Been Different. (John Baer)
- Are Fetterman and Trump Buds? Their Meeting Proves Sanity Still Exists in Politics. (Ingrid Jacques)
- Off the Cliffs: Bizarre CEO Rant Shows Why Trump Should Reverse Biden’s Nippon Block. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- How Pennsylvania House Democrats May Derail Shapiro’s National Ambitions. (Erik Telford)
- Increasing Use of Coarse Language in Seats of Power Reflects a Broader Decline. (Kansas City Star)
1 Thing
5. FDA Bans Red Dye in Food Production
“U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
The agency said it was taking the action as a “matter of law” because some studies have found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. ” (LehighValleyNews.com)
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One Response
GOP not hiding its desire to capture State Supreme Courts so it can rig election districts. Disgraceful objective. Courts are meant to ensure justice, not political majorities.