Good Monday Morning. Today is the final day to register to vote for the May 20 primary.

Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Stayin Alive. Walk into Monday like John Travolta.

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

What We’re Hearing. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is heading to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for a town hall Saturday. Gallego will be in Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s district to try to pressure moderate Republicans on reconciliation and Medicaid cuts. But the locale is also stoking some speculation about Gallego and the 2028 shadow presidential primary.

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.  Sanders and Allies Took Shots at Trump, Musk and Scott Perry in Harrisburg Rally

“Senator Bernie Sanders took the stage at the Farm Show Complex to the cheers of more than a thousand supporters for his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go from Here” tour.

The repeated message was one of defiance against the massive influence of money in politics – influence that they claimed the Trump administration was fostering – as well as the growing wealth of the richest Americans, at the expense of the working class.” (PennLive)

Elsewhere

6 Noteworthy Moments From Trump’s “Meet The Press” Interview. “The wide-ranging interview saw Trump expound on everything from a planned military parade in June, the possibility of a third term, and his views on Canada and Greenland’s future.” (Axios)

• What Trump Said Off-Air: NBC Cuts Reveal Key Claims on Tariffs, Bezos, and Recession. (Meidas News)

Dean: ‘It Seems Like We’re In a Trade War With Ourselves.” “Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) argued that under President Trump’s tariff plan, it appears that the United States is “in a trade war with ourselves.” “I applaud the notion that we want to bring manufacturing back, but you can’t do it this way.”” (The Hill)

ICYMI: Fetterman Staffers “No Longer Recognize The Man They Once Knew” “John Fetterman insists he is in good health. But staffers past and present say they no longer recognize the man they once knew.” (PoliticsPA)

“Wanton Cruelty”: Trans Athletes See Sports Ban As Step Toward Societal Erasure. “For some transgender athletes, the Trump administration’s sports ban feels like just one play in a broader societal erasure of millions of Americans.”If you can dictate my identity on a sports field, why can’t you then dictate my identity in different areas of public life?” asked Sydney Bauer, a rower, runner and journalist who covers sports and LGBTQ+ rights.” (Axios)

State

2. ‘A Deal is a Deal’ Shapiro Says of Trump Cuts to Funding For PA Farmers

“Since March, Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Trump administration have been sparring over the cancellation of a program that provides millions in funding for Pennsylvania farmers who provide products for local food banks. There have been threats of a lawsuit, letters and public comments by state and federal officials.

“This isn’t some hope of mine that we would fund our farmers and our food banks,” Shapiro said during a press conference on April 21. “We had a three-year contract that the federal government broke in month four.”” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

Why Election Policy Is Still One of Harrisburg’s Thorniest Issues. “In theory, Democratic support for a GOP priority should make it easier for Pennsylvania’s divided legislature to reach a deal that brings the state’s Election Code into the 21st century. The reality is much more complicated. To understand why, it’s important to consider the transactional politics of Harrisburg.” (Votebeat)

Grove Announces He Will Not Seek Reelection. “State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) announced on Friday that he will not run for reelection in the 196th Legislative District.” (PoliticsPA)

Review of PA Governor’s Mansion Security Failings Is Complete, But Findings Are Not Released. ““The sensitive nature of the specific findings uncovered as a result of our review precludes their release to the public for obvious reasons,” said security consultant Jeffrey B. Miller in a statement.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

How Eliminating Federal Funding For PBS, NPR Could Affect Pittsburgh. “According to the CPB’s website, that amounted to over $3 million in the Pittsburgh region, granted to local PBS station WQED; South Side-based company Fred Rogers Productions, which develops children’s programming for PBS; and WYEP, a local radio station that along with NPR affiliate WESA is part of the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corp.” (Pittsburgh Business Times)

Around The Commonwealth

3. A $10 Billion Power Plant Would Transform a Former Coal Town — But Into What?

“The power needs of energy-hungry artificial intelligence [AI] bring a new generation of natural gas-related plants and expansions to Western Pennsylvania, including developments in Westmoreland and Washington counties.

Homer City’s transformation may be the most dramatic.

Some see jobs, but ask if there are local workers to fill them. Others want tax revenue, but are anxious that it can come soon enough. And a few question how a huge gas plant would coexist with other options, like nature tourism and agriculture.” (Public Source)

Elsewhere

Downingtown May Be the First Pennsylvania Community to Elect An Openly Transgender Mayor. “Erica Deuso, the endorsed Democrat in the May primary for Downingtown mayor, would make history as Pennsylvania’s first out transgender mayor.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Anti-Krasner Ads Funded By a Super PAC Hit the Airwaves With Just Weeks Left in Philly DA Race. “A new political group funded by Philadelphia unions and building industry is running television and radio advertising to oppose District Attorney Larry Krasner, the progressive prosecutor seeking his third term in office.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Falling Revenue, Soaring Costs Threaten Pittsburgh’s Financial Future. “Officials warn of stagnating growth and budget-busting costs that could spark a fiscal ‘disaster’” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Where Did All the Democrats Go? In Suburban Pittsburgh Counties, They’re Harder to Find in Elected Office. “Democrats are disappearing from elected office in the six counties surrounding Allegheny County. Just 13 Democrats combined serve as county commissioners or row officers in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties, compared to 57 Republicans.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• The Trump Family is Taking Crypto Payoffs in the Middle of Fifth Avenue. Who Will Stop Them? (Will Bunch)
• PBS, NPR and Being the Helpers Mister Rogers Talked About. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Gov. Shapiro’s Proposal to Protect Our Seniors and the Lottery Deserves Bipartisan Support. (James Howell) 
• Private Equity Greed is Behind PA Hospital Closures. (Eileen Appelbaum)
• Trump’s Economic “Balderdash” is Ruining the American Economy. (Mark S. Singel)
• The GOP’s Medicaid Moment of Truth. (Wall Street Journal)
• The Real Scandal Is That Any Journalist Ever Believed Joe Biden in the First Place. (Becket Adams)
• Gainey Should Be Prepared to Lose PGH Mayoral Primary. (Oliver Bateman)
• Applying for Real ID is a Hassle For Many Women. The SAVE Act Would Impose a Poll Tax. (LNP)

1 Thing

5. Shapiro Joins Broad Street Run Spectators to Cheer on First Lady, Daughter

“About 40,000 runners from across the region, including members of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s family, participated in the 46th annual Broad Street Run Sunday morning.

Shapiro and his two sons hung out at the finish line to cheer on first lady Lori Shapiro and their daughter, Sophia Shapiro.” (CBS Philadelphia)

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