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🎶 Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Born To Run. The Boss.

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📅  What’s Happening Today. The House convenes at 11 a.m. for a voting session, while the Senate convenes at 1 p.m.

🔊  What We’re Hearing. The Election Truth Alliance is seeking plaintiffs for a lawsuit to force an audit of the 2024 election. They have secured a legal team in Philadelphia and are moving forward. Pennsylvanians who voted in the 2024 election in Philadelphia, Allegheny and Erie counties should send an email to [email protected] with the subject “PENNSYLVANIA.”

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

Top Story

1. Damning National Story on Sen. John Fetterman Gets Mixed Reaction in PA

“The reaction Monday to an explosive article about serious concerns over Sen. John Fetterman’s mental health ranged from hoping that he gets help to calling for him to resign.

New York Magazine’s story last week detailing Fetterman’s struggles, and the fears expressed by some of his current and former staff members, including his ex chief-of-staff, has rocked the state’s political landscape and fueled speculation about the first-term Democratic senator’s ability to continue serving.” (PennLive)

Elsewhere

One of John Fetterman’s Closest Friends in the Senate Is ‘Concerned’ about Him. “Sen. Peter Welch’s comments follow a New York Magazine piece detailing concerns from Fetterman staffers about the Pennsylvania senator’s mental health and fitness for office.” (NOTUS)

Why the Lehigh Valley Is Ground Zero For a New Effort to Stop Potential Medicaid, SNAP Cuts. “A national Latino political group’s campaign urging House Republicans not to approve cuts to Medicaid or SNAP food assistance in the next federal budget began Monday in Allentown.” (Allentown Morning Call)

In Pennsylvania Town, Immigrants, Natives Face Uncertainty of Deportations, Closed Factory. “Charleroi’s Haitian population, arriving largely under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), has revitalized the town but faces potential deportation under the Trump administration.” (Erie Times-News)

State

2. Could Changes Finally Be Coming to PA Election Laws?

“Since late 2019, when the General Assembly passed Act 77 that enacted no-excuse mail voting in the Commonwealth, both Republicans and Democrats have fought to a stalemate over the unintended consequences of the law.

That freeze may be showing signs of a thaw.

The House State Government Committee will vote on two bills on Tuesday that would shake up the status quo and set the stage for major wheeling and dealing on the floor of both chambers of the Assembly over the next two months.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Gov. Shapiro Has Two Major Obstacles In Philly Area — Crozer Hospital and SEPTA’s Budget. “Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has two major concerns affecting constituents in his southeastern base that must be addressed, according to political insiders — SEPTA’s anticipated budget deficit and the sudden closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

James Malone Sworn In As PA State Senator. “Former East Petersburg Mayor James Malone was officially sworn in as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate at the start of Monday’s session.” (PoliticsPA)

Another Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Introduced in PA House. “Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Another bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would legalize marijuana in the Commonwealth.” (PoliticsPA)

Spooked by Alabama ‘Embryonic Personhood’ Ruling, PA Lawmakers Aim to Expand and Protect IVF Access. “Two bills in the Pennsylvania legislature target insurance costs for infertility treatments. Another would make access to such services a protected right.” (New Castle News)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Trump’s Plan To Defund Public Broadcasting Could Imperil Rural News Access

“The Trump administration’s war on PBS and NPR could have an outsized impact on rural communities’ access to basic information about local events, from severe storms to high school football games, lawmakers, public media advocates and researchers say.

“Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options,” Trump wrote.

But rural Americans’ options for places to get reliable information about their communities are anything but “abundant” and “diverse,” advocates, researchers and lawmakers said Friday.” (NOTUS)

Elsewhere

Haverford President Apologizes to Members of the Jewish Community As She Faces Congressional Hearing on Antisemitism. “While much attention was on antisemitism complaints at the University of Pennsylvania over the last year and a half, the much smaller Haverford College was weathering a storm of its own.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Gettysburg College Effort to Enroll ‘20% Students of Color’ Prompts Federal Complaint. “A civil rights complaint has been filed against Gettysburg College for its apparent policy to seek to enroll “20% domestic students of color” as an alleged violation of federal anti-discrimination laws and the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in admissions.” (Broad + Liberty)

Gainey, Lawmakers Push Ban on Price Gouging in Emergencies. “Mayor Ed Gainey, joined by County Executive Sara Innamorato and state lawmakers, is pushing to amend Pennsylvania’s Price Gouging Act to cover local disasters on the heels of last week’s deadly storm.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

You’re Part of the Story — Welcome to The Independence. “Wherever we Americans come from, we tend to see our home as unlike anywhere else. This is often hyperbole, but not in Bucks County. It has been exceptional for as long as our nation has existed. Longer, even. This unique place merits a media outlet dedicated to covering its affairs vigilantly, factually, and thoughtfully, free of tired journalistic prepossessions.” (Broad + Liberty)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Trump Stokes Outrage to Distract From Outrageous Graft. (Philadelphia Inquirer) 
• Congress, Defend PBS. We Knew You Could. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Transparency Versus Security Over Arson at Governor’s Residence. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Tell Gov. Shapiro to Hold the Line on Pennsylvania’s Budget. (State Sen. Dawn Keefer and State Reps. Seth Grove, Kate Klunk, Wendy Fink, Mike Jones, Marc Anderson, and Joseph D’Orsie)
• A SEPTA Bailout Is As Predictable As It Is Irresponsible. (Nathan Benefield and Andrew Holman)
• The Town Hall Conundrum. (Lowman Henry)
• The Pennsylvania Republicans’ New Motto: Make Pennsylvania Florida. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
• Proposed Revisions to State Newspaper Laws Would Hurt Adams County Taxpayers and Gettysburg Connection. (Charles Stangor)

1 Thing

5. We’re Number … #41?

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro often says that he is tired of losing to Ohio. So he won’t be pleased to see the latest “rankings” from U.S. News and World Report about the “Best States in the U.S.”

Not only is the Keystone State (#41) behind the Buckeye State (#38), we also trail neighboring Delaware (#18), New Jersey (#19), Maryland (#20) and New York (#22).

Utah took the top spot, followed by New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota and Nebraska.

Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook