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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Roll With It. Steve Winwood

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What’s Happening Today. Both chambers of the General Assembly convene at 11 a.m.

What We’re Hearing. “I asked for help in Pennsylvania & no one helped us.” – Scott Presler

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Top Story

1. Stunner in Lancaster As Malone Defeats Parsons For 36th Senate Seat

“In a stunning outcome, Democrat James Andrew Malone defeated Republican Josh Parsons to win the 36th Senatorial District seat in Harrisburg.

President Donald Trump rolled to a +15 victory in the district back in November, but northern Lancaster County voters made a statement heard ’round the Keystone State on Tuesday.

The district has only had four representatives since 1983 – all Republican – Noah Wenger, Philip Price, Mike Brubaker and Ryan Aument. And the closest race since 2000 was a 23,000-vote victory for Brubaker in 2006.” (PoliticsPA)

• Democrat James Malone Narrowly Edges Republican Josh Parsons in 36th Senate Race; Some Votes Still To Be Counted. (LNP)
• In Major Upset, Democrats On Track to Flip a Lancaster County State Senate Seat That Trump Won by 15 points. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Calls Trump Tariffs ‘Dumbest Economic Decision’ He’s Ever Seen By a President. “Gov. Josh Shapiro ripped into the administration of President Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying it has “injected chaos into literally every hour of every day” and that the president’s tariffs are the “dumbest economic decision I have seen a president make.”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trump Signs Order to Overhaul Federal Elections Process. “President Trump signed Tuesday an executive order to make sweeping changes to federal elections that includes a proof of citizenship requirement and aims to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. States that don’t comply with the new requirements could have federal funding cut, according to the order.” (Axios)

Deluzio: ‘Era of the Spineless Democratic Party Must End’ to Take on Trump, Deliver For Voters. “Western Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Deluzio, who has struck a confrontational tone in the early days of the Trump Administration, took to the House floor Tuesday, urging his colleagues that “the era of the spineless Democratic Party must end.”” (WESA)

In Telephone Town Hall, Bresnahan Vows to Preserve Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. “U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan promised Tuesday to oppose gutting Medicaid, support extending expiring tax cuts and advocate for an agriculture bill that aids family-owned farms.” (WVIA)

PA Congressional Dems React to Signal Chat Gaffe. “How is Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation and others reacting to the leak?” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. HD-35: Goughnour Victory Keeps State House in Democratic Hands

“Dan Goughnour, captain of the detective unit for the McKeesport Police Department, has a new title tonight – State Representative.

The 39-year-old Democrat handily defeated Republican Charles ‘Chuck’ Davis, 63-35%, to keep the seat won by the late Matt Gergely firmly in blue hands and allows state Democrats to remain in the majority by a single seat in Harrisburg.

The Mon Valley 35th district is a largely Democrat region with a nearly 2-to-1 voter registration advantage. Gergely won the seat in a special election in 2023 by a 75-25% margin, and former Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by double digits last fall.” (PoliticsPA)

• Goughnour Wins Special Election In Mon Valley, Cementing Democratic Control of State House. (WESA)

Elsewhere

Energy Department Considering Cutting Hydrogen Projects in Democratic States. “On the cut list: the Pacific Northwest hub spanning Oregon, Washington and Montana; the ARCHES hub in California; the Midwest regional hub linking Illinois, Indiana and Michigan; and the Mid-Atlantic hub in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.” (POLITICO)

Shapiro Admin Asks USDA to Reconsider $13 Million in Cuts to Pennsylvania Food Banks. “Shapiro said Tuesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture illegally canceled a three-year contract the agency and the state had agreed to in December. In response, he said, Pennsylvania’s secretary of agriculture will file an internal appeal with the agency challenging the cancellation.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mackenzie Proposes Eliminating All DEI Programs at PA Colleges and Universities. “DEI is an organizational framework that aims to promote fair treatment and full participation for all, particularly those who have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against. Rep. Milou Mackenzie wants that framework eliminated at publicly-funded Pennsylvania colleges and universities.” (PoliticsPA)

York County Republican Lawmakers Back Host of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in the Legislature. “Anti-LGBTQ+ policies adopted by several York County public school districts are gaining traction in the Pennsylvania Legislature, with a proposed ban on transgender student athletes expected to go up for a committee vote on Wednesday.” (York Dispatch)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA House Again Passes Bills to Enshrine Obamacare In State Law With Dwindling GOP Support

“For the second time in less than six months, the state House passed bills that would enshrine the core elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – popularly known as Obamacare – into state law.

And for the second day in a row, the legislature showed a deeper divide on an issue that had previously elicited more bipartisan support.” (PennLive)

Elsewhere

‘It’s Been a Chaotic Few Months,’ Innamorato Says About Current Federal Funding Picture. “Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato told County Council Tuesday that recent action by Congress to avoid a government shutdown has resulted in millions of dollars of cuts to Allegheny County — from multiple infrastructure projects to potential huge decreases in Medicaid funding.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Treasurer Garrity For Governor? ‘It’s Something I’m Interested In’ “When DVJournal asked Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity if she’s considering a 2026 run for governor, she said it’s a question she gets “every single day.” In the latest DVJournal podcast, Garrity said a race for governor — which would likely involve challenging incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro — “is something I’m interested in.”” (DV Journal)

Mayor Paints Portrait of Scranton On a Positive Path Forward. “Mayor Paige Cognetti on Tuesday described a city where federal, state and private investments are being made in public safety, infrastructure, parks and the economy.” (WVIA)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Pennsylvania Should Guard Against the Power of Lobbying Money. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Elon Musk Doesn’t Understand How Efficient the Government He’s Wrecking Is. (Kathryn Anne Edwards)
• Representation Matters: Why We Need Diverse Teachers In Pennsylvania Schools. (Lacey Anderson)
• Shapiro Energy Policy Goes From Bad to Worse. (Sen. Scott Martin)
• Avoiding Your Neighbors Because of How They Voted? Try This Instead. (Betsy Sinclair)

1 Wayback Thing

5. Napster Pioneered Music Sharing Over 25 Years Ago. It Just Got Bought For $207 Million

“A quarter century ago, Napster was notorious on the internet for allowing people to swap songs for free, long before the music industry had come up with a model for the digital age.

The service was shuttered in 2001 amid mounting legal battles, and filed for bankruptcy the following year. But the brand isn’t dead.” (CNBC)

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