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July 31st Playbook

Gov. Tom Wolf calls for a GOP state rep to be censured after his letter on the “unmasked community,” while VP Mike Pence made a campaign visit to western PA on Thursday. Here is the Playbook.

F&M Poll: Biden 50, Trump 41: President Trump receives his highest marks on the economy, although his lowest ratings are on his handling of COVID-19, which voters say is the most important issue facing Pennsylvania today.

Reschenthaler Self-Quarantining After Contact With Texas Congressman Who Tested Positive for COVID-19: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) told KDKA on Wednesday that he will be self-quarantining for 14 days after he was in close contact with Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday morning.

Wolf Calls For Diamond To Be Censured After ‘Unmasked Community’ Letter: Gov. Tom Wolf described state Rep. Russ Diamond’s press release as “nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community” and Sec. Rachel Levine. Diamond responded in a release of his own calling for Wolf to fire Levine, then resign as governor.

Booker To Discuss Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ Plan in Virtual Philly Event: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) will detail the fourth plank of Biden’s “Build Back Better” economic recovery plan aimed at addressing systemic racism and advancing “real economic equity” in Pennsylvania.

CNBC/Change Research Poll: Biden 48, Trump 46: Likely voters are locked at 50-to-50 on which candidate and party would do a better job recovering from the economic impact of coronavirus. Biden and the Democrats lead Trump and Republicans by 4 points, 52-to-48, over who would be trusted more to handle COVID-19.

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Lawmaker mimics top health official’s call for transgender acceptance to defend not wearing a mask 
Spotlight PA: Minority-owned small businesses were largely shut out of Pa.’s first coronavirus loan program
AP: ‘You won’t be safe,’ Pence warns in Pennsylvania campaign
AP: GOP rep blasted over parody of appeal for trans tolerance
AP: Pennsylvania reports 860 new virus cases, 14 deaths
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf calls for censure of state Rep. Russ Diamond over ‘thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community’ 
Patriot News: Russ Diamond: Instead of censuring me over mask statement, Gov. Wolf and health secretary Levine should leave
Patriot News: New poll shows Trump struggling in Pa., with many planning to vote ‘against’ him
Patriot News: Majority of Pennsylvanians favor face masks, support Gov. Wolf amid pandemic, new poll says
Patriot News: How three state senators got their COVID test results in two days (or less), when it might take you two weeks
Patriot News: HEALS Act: Use this calculator to figure out how much you might be getting when second stimulus checks are issued
Patriot News: Manufacturer of Power Stick products is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Pa.
Patriot News: Where are Pennsylvania’s 111,078 coronavirus cases? July 30 map, county-by-county breakdown
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. lawmaker compares treatment of anti-maskers to transphobic bigotry 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: While Pence pitches for cops, Westmoreland Co. advocates work to improve their community 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Poll: Pennsylvania voters split on party lines when it comes to mask wearing 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Fitzpatrick votes with Dems as House passes package to rescue child care industry
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s mail ballot problems kept tens of thousands from voting in a pandemic primary   
National Journal: Pennsylvania’s success—or failure—at vote-by-mail could be the story of 2020
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. coronavirus recovery: Gov. Wolf seeks censure against lawmaker for ‘misinformation’ 
PLSReporter: Wolf calls on Pa. lawmaker to be censured following controversial remarks 
PLSReporter: F&M poll: 55 percent hold favorable view of Wolf; 2 in 3 say wearing masks is ‘extremely important’
PLSReporter: COVID-19 by the numbers: A statewide look at the coronavirus in Pa.
LNP | LancasterOnline: Biden leads Trump in Pa. F&M poll with fewer than 100 days until the election 
WESA: Pence Argues ‘Security Is The Foundation Of Our Prosperity’ At Greensburg Rally 
Fox News: Pennsylvania uses ‘weighted lottery’ to distribute lifesaving remdesivir in favor of low-income patients
Fox News: 8 indicted in Pittsburgh’s May riots: ‘Throwing IEDs and bricks at police officers’
Reading Eagle: Franklin & Marshall College poll reveals how Pennsylanians view the coronavirus crisis
Reading Eagle: Joe Biden leads Donald Trump In Pennsylvania, according to Franklin & Marshall College poll
Tribune Review: Pence draws crowd at Cops for Trump event in Greensburg
Tribune Review: Voice of Westmoreland holds ‘Rally for Black Lives’ in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park
Tribune Review: 2 Pittsburgh motorcycle officers hurt in crash during Pence’s travel to Greensburg  
The Hill: Biden leads Trump by 9 points in Pennsylvania: poll
The Hill: Pence campaign bus involved in minor accident in PA
KDKA: Vice President Pence Spreads Message of ‘Law And Order’ During Visit To Greensburg
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Calls On Legislature To Censure State Rep. Russ Diamond Over Statement About The ‘Unmasked Community’
KDKA: Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Thinks We’ll Be Dealing With The Novel Coronavirus For The Next 2 Years 
KDKA: Vice President Mike Pence’s Campaign Bus Involved In Minor Crash; 2 Pittsburgh Police Officers Injured Following 2nd Collision
KYW Newsradio: Wolf says state has no plans to tell schools how, when to reopen
Morning Call: What will Congress do about the expired $600 federal boost to weekly unemployment benefits?
Politico: Poll: Gen Z Democrats say Trump is swamping Biden in digital ads
Post-Gazette: Pence reaffirms administration’s support of law enforcement in Greensburg speech
Post-Gazette: Black Lives Matter demonstration in Greensburg counters VP Pence’s visit just blocks away 
CNN: Biden’s climate plan won praise from progressives. Now he needs their votes.
City Paper: Pa. legislator says the “unmasked community” faces harassment because people were mean to him online

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Pennsylvania voters are completely polarized on the coronavirus pandemic 
Inquirer: Pat Toomey is walking a political tightrope on Trump’s threat to send federal agents to Philly 
Inquirer: 2020 Census efforts are targeting Philadelphia area households that haven’t responded 
Inquirer: How Philly’s new food-delivery law changes the rules for Grubhub, DoorDash, and other services 
Inquirer: Jury trials will resume in some courtrooms across the Philly region after months of coronavirus restrictions 
Inquirer: It’s official: Philly’s school year to begin fully remotely 
Inquirer: Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania voters were disenfranchised | Morning Newsletter
Inquirer: Coronavirus trends still rising in Philly and South Jersey; jury trials will resume in some Philly courtrooms; minority-owned small businesses excluded from Pa.’s loan program 
WHYY Newsworks: Philly school district approves plan to start year online
Philadelphia Magazine: How Will COVID-19 Affect Philly in the Fall?
Philadelphia Tribune: HBCUs launch COVID-19 testing program
KYW Newsradio: Rising new cases of COVID-19 won’t stop Philly pre-K from in-person reopening
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia school board signs off on revised all-digital start to new school year
Philly Voice: Philly officials to make decision on indoor dining by Aug. 21 
Philly Voice: COVID-19 cases, hot weather to blame for Philly’s trash backup, Kenney says

SEPA
Daily Local News: Chester County commissioners appoint new law firm for pipeline suit
Bucks County Courier Times: Montgomery County signs deal for quick coronavirus test results 
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County sees upward trend in daily coronavirus numbers

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler Will Not Get Coronavirus Test After Being In ‘Very Close Proximity With’ Texas Congressman Who Tested Positive
KDKA: ‘Something That Dictators Do’: Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto Responds To President Trump’s ‘Delay The Election’ Tweet 
KDKA: Extra $500 Cash? Mayor Bill Peduto Signs Up Pittsburgh For ‘Guaranteed Income’ Pilot Program 
KDKA: Union Representing Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Journalists To Take Strike Vote 
KDKA: Vice President Mike Pence’s Campaign Bus Involved In Minor Crash; 2 Pittsburgh Police Officers Injured Following 2nd Collision 
KDKA: Some School District Superintendents Looking For More Safety Guidance From Allegheny Co. Health Dept. 
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 132 New Coronavirus Cases, Total Countywide Cases Rise To 7,850 
Post-Gazette: City controller willing to audit PPS device inventory 
Post-Gazette: House subcommittee seeks bid documents from Pittsburgh company over COVID-19 contract 
Post-Gazette: 2 Pittsburgh police officers injured in Pence motorcade enroute to VP campaign stop 
Post-Gazette: In updated dress code policy, Port Authority forbids social justice and political statements on face masks 
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Western Pa. reports 263 new cases; Allegheny has highest single-day hospitalizations
Tribune Review: 2 Pittsburgh motorcycle officers hurt in crash during Pence’s travel to Greensburg 
Tribune Review: Worst economic quarter impacts Western Pa. professionals
Tribune Review: Allegheny County data shows parties becoming a growing source of coronavirus
Tribune Review: Allegheny County sets record for new coronavirus hospitalizations; sees triple-digit cases for 8th straight day
WESA: OSHA Complaints About COVID-19 Concerns Could Impact Thousands In Pittsburgh Area 
WESA: Public Responds Favorably To PPS Board Member Proposal To Start School Year Fully Online
WESA: July 27-31 Explained: Trump’s White Base Shrinks, Activists Face Charges & PPS Weighs Its Options

SWPA 
Beaver County Times: Pence talks economy, COVID during stop in Somerset County 
Beaver County Times: Brighton Rehab says state knew it used hydroxychloroquine 
Beaver County Times: Lamb announces bipartisan bill for water resource projects
Beaver County Times: Commissioners mull landslide repairs in Old Economy Park 
WESA: Pence Argues ‘Security Is The Foundation Of Our Prosperity’ At Greensburg Rally
Observer-Reporter: Libertarian presidential candidate coming to fairgrounds, Cedar Creek Park 
Observer-Reporter: Washington County experiences a new COVID-19 death
KDKA: Vice President Pence Spreads Message of ‘Law And Order’ During Visit To Greensburg
KDKA: Vice President Mike Pence’s Campaign Bus Involved In Minor Crash; 2 Pittsburgh Police Officers Injured Following 2nd Collision
Post-Gazette: Pence reaffirms administration’s support of law enforcement in Greensburg speech
Post-Gazette: Black Lives Matter demonstration in Greensburg counters VP Pence’s visit just blocks away 
Tribune Review: Pence draws crowd at Cops for Trump event in Greensburg
Tribune Review: Voice of Westmoreland holds ‘Rally for Black Lives’ in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park
Tribune Review: 2 Pittsburgh motorcycle officers hurt in crash during Pence’s travel to Greensburg 
Tribune Review: 31 new coronavirus cases reported in Westmoreland County
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: WATCH VIDEO | Pence touts businesses pushing through pandemic during Somerset stop 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria-Somerset Tea Party to hold meeting
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Blair County adds third COVID-19 death; 860 new positive cases statewide
Altoona Mirror: Unity march today

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Cognetti endorses Biden for president
Times-Tribune: Scranton School District releases proposed hybrid, virtual plans for the fall 
Times-Tribune: Activist burns Trump flag outside Lackawanna County Courthouse 
Times-Tribune: No new deaths from COVID-19 in local counties
Citizens Voice: Simmering tensions on county council boil over after tax vote 
Citizens Voice: Vough issues orders for re-opening courts 
Citizens Voice: Activist burning Trump flags at courthouse taunted by counter-protesters 
Citizens Voice: 14 new COVID-19 cases in county
The Times Leader: Luzerne County to give out coronavirus aid
The Times Leader: Luzerne County courts, buildings prepare to reopen
The Times Leader: Stilp burns flags outside courthouse as pro-Trump counter-demonstrators jeer
The Times Leader: Bridge building between governments leads to new Division Street span

South Central 
Lebanon Daily News: Wolf calls for Diamond to be censured over mocking letter about ‘unmasked Pennsylvanians’
York Dispatch: Sen. Mastriano blasts clergy in Facebook video, deletes it
York Dispatch: York County’s COVID-19 death toll hits 85, 20 new cases
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf calls for censure of state Rep. Russ Diamond over ‘thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community’ 
Patriot News: Russ Diamond: Instead of censuring me over mask statement, Gov. Wolf and health secretary Levine should leave
Patriot News: Black Lives Matter, other nonprofits offer free bus trip to ‘Commitment March on Washington’ next month
Patriot News: Coronavirus in Pa.: 860 new cases, 14 new deaths reported Thursday
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: Cumberland County reports 9 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday
York Daily Record: Wolf condems Diamond for anti-mask rhetoric 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Pa. officials thank first responders, say Lancaster County has done excellent job fighting COVID-19
LNP | LancasterOnline: COVID-19 taking smaller bites out of Lancaster County workforce, new report shows
LNP | LancasterOnline: Thursday’s COVID-19 updates: Pa. up to 111K total cases; Lancaster County has 5.4K

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Allentown City Council debates police reform proposals, including reallocation of funds
Morning Call: Allentown looks to borrow more than $16 million
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 860 more cases added on Thursday; Gov. Wolf says PA ‘paying the price’ for lax restrictions elsewhere
Reading Eagle: Berks County election board votes to continue higher poll worker pay
Reading Eagle: Peaceful protest against injustice planned in memory of Reading man killed by bulldozer
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council struggles to find ways to reduce loud gatherings at the Pagoda
Patriot News: Manufacturer of Power Stick products is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Pa.
Express Times: After controversial restraint, Allentown police chief and city council debate reforms
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 860 new cases, 111K total; Lehigh Valley goes 4 straight days with no COVID-19 deaths; state may pilot contact-tracing app | Pa. COVID-19 county case map (07/30/20)

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Centre County set to host 1st presidential candidate of the 2020 election on Sunday
Centre Daily Times: Here’s how Penn State plans to test students, faculty and staff for COVID-19, before and after classes start
Centre Daily Times: Delay the election? Centre County, Pa. elected officials respond to Trump tweet on mail-in voting
Centre Daily Times: Reopening updates: 24 Centre County cases deemed invalid, removed from total, DOH says
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County eight new COVID-19 cases
Erie Times-News: Erie County Board of Elections not to blame for Laughlin letter
Erie Times-News: Erie mayor proposes new department 
Erie Times-News: City could create online portal on Erie authorities

Opinion  
John Baer: Joe Biden will win the state because he’s the kind of guy Pennsylvanians like 
Art Haywood: The true fight for police reform is in statehouses across the U.S. This is why
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Time to reassess ‘mascots’ 
Inquirer Editorial Board: Independent review of Philly’s response to protests is best bet to answer questions 
Inquirer Staff: What’s best for Philly schools this year? Educators weigh in.  
Inquirer Staff: Educators: What do you want to happen for Philly’s school year? Share your ideas with the Inquirer. 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: State higher ed faces its future 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Deal with health insurance crisis
Diana Polson: Pa. needs HEROES Act to pass
Larry Platt: An Argument For Funding The Police
John L. Micek: Panned on the pandemic, Trump lags Biden in Pa. in new poll | Thursday Morning Coffee
Will Bunch: From 9/11 to Portland, it was inevitable ‘Homeland Security’ would be turned on the American people 
Anwar Curtis: The pandemic has us all stuck in a rut. Remember to take time to look around 
Tony Norman: Save the date (Election Day)!
Chris Kelly: Coronavirus Diaries Day 133: John Lewis Was a Giant; Trump is a Troll
Trudy Rubin: Trump’s promotion of ‘demon sperm’ doctor bodes ill for any second term

8 Responses

  1. Where’s Clean Sweep when we need them to take the broom to Russ Diamond?

  2. My good freind Russ “whiskey” Diamond better get an up arrow today.
    Coronavirus is a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats party.
    MAGA

    1. 142,000 dead in a few months from a highly transferable virus is not a hoax. Economies don’t collapse because libs tell it do to so. Joe M MCCarthy had great success stoking the crowd’s ignorance and fear. Public health and masks are not political tools.

    2. Fake numbers from a fake hoax spewed by and fake people with fake aliases. My buddy Doug “big pecker” Mastrianomarkioooooo told me PA will be postponing the November election. He and Russ “whiskey” Diamond have my total and complete support

      1. Shitface name thief cannot even decide which name iteration he wants to steal. PoliticsPA lets him choose several. All the while blocking the original name owner. How despicable.

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