Monday Morning. Sad morning with the passing of Pope Francis.

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What We’re Listening To. On the latest edition of Voices of Reason, we talk with Pat Dugan, candidate for the Democratic nomination for District Attorney for the city of Philadelphia..

Top Story

1. Pope Francis Dies at 88

“Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88.

Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Farrell from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” said Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who takes charge after a pontiff’s death.” (AP)

Elsewhere

Core Democratic Groups Are Preparing to Be Targeted by the Trump Administration. “As President Donald Trump pushes the historical boundaries of executive power, some of the Democratic Party’s core political institutions are preparing for the possibility that the federal government may soon launch criminal investigations against them.” (AP)

Shapiro Administration Responds After USDA Accuses Governor of ‘Playing Games’ With Food Bank Cuts. “The fight between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over canceled funding for food banks escalated last week after USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins accused the governor of playing “political games” when he urged the department to restore a $13 million contract.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Thompson: Trump’s First Months ‘Very Effective’; McKean County GOP Hosts Spring Dinner. “U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson says no one should ever have expected President Donald Trump to embark on his second administration with “soft diplomacy.” The congressman insists that Trump is making good on promises made in the 2024 campaign and, for his part, Thompson says he is delighted with the early results.” (Bradford Era)

Dean Warns Montco Crowd Trump May Impose Martial Law, Says She Could Be ‘Disappeared’. “An emotional U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean told a packed crowd at the Montco Cultural Center in Blue Bell they are right to worry that President Donald Trump may impose martial law and said she is personally afraid she could be “disappeared” by the administration.” (DV Journal)

State

2. Up In Flames

“The pounding of fists on the governor’s bedroom door was loud and urgent. The mansion was on fire, a state trooper yelled, and Pennsylvania’s first family needed to get out immediately.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, jumped out of bed and rushed from room to room to wake their four children, their two dogs, and their extended family who had gathered earlier for the first night of Passover. They ran down a back staircase into the safety of the yard, where they huddled together in their pajamas beneath the blanket of the cool, misty air — now filling with billowing black smoke and illuminated by orange flames.

The family didn’t know it yet, but just moments earlier, a thin, bearded man had crept through the property under the cover of night on a mission to burn down the home — and, according to police, kill Shapiro and everyone else inside.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

It’s Not Up to Me to Decide If Arson Attack Was Hate Crime, Josh Shapiro Says. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said it would be inappropriate for him to label the fire last weekend at his official residence “a hate crime” — and didn’t think it was helpful for outsiders to do so either.” (Politico)

Cameras, Overnight Watch: How Pennsylvania Tries to Safeguard the Governor’s Mansion. “Pennsylvania State Police officials announced they have asked an outside expert — one of the agency’s former leaders — to conduct a review of the April 13 security breach, when an intruder allegedly broke into the Governor’s Mansion and set it ablaze.” (USA Today Network)

Focus Groups: Pennsylvania Swing Voters Aren’t Sold on Shapiro. “Gov. Josh Shapiro may have a perception problem among some Pennsylvania swing voters, recent Engagious/Sago focus groups suggest. Most comments about Shapiro in the recent focus groups were critical, with only two of the 13 Biden-to-Trump voters who participated supporting a potential Shapiro presidential run in 2028.” (Axios Philadelphia)​​

PA Libraries, Museums Brace For ‘Devastating Impact’ of Trump Cuts. “Arts and cultural programs across Pennsylvania could disappear after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency terminated over $1 million in grants for PA Humanities earlier this month.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Costa Pushes Multicounty Transit For Southwest PA

“Pennsylvania already has SEPTA, a multicounty transit agency for the counties around Philadelphia, but what about SWEPTA, a multicounty agency around Pittsburgh?

State Sen. Jay Costa said he thinks it is important for state leaders to consider forming another regional operation because transit agencies across the state are facing deficits as emergency federal money awarded during the pandemic is running out and the state hasn’t increased its subsidy funds for more than 12 years.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Elsewhere

Next Congressional Race Is Almost a Year Away, But Campaign Cash Is Pouring In. “U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has barely been in office for 100 days, yet fundraising efforts for the Lehigh Valley’s next congressional race are well underway.” (LehighValleyNews)

Made in America Is Back, But Made in Pittsburgh Is An Open Question. “Will manufacturing jobs here transition to the new economy, which is less location dependent compared to the state’s legacy industries of steel, coal and agricultural products?” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Poll Finds John Fetterman and Stephen A. Smith Nearly Tied as Top Dems Young Party Voters Can’t Stand the Most. “A new Yale poll finds that Sen. John Fettermann (D-Pa.) and ESPN host Stephen A. Smith are the only two individuals who registered negative net favorability ratings among more than a dozen names floated to Democratic voters recently.” (Mediaite)

Recipients of 2025 Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence. “Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger recognized Pennsylvania municipalities and local government officials for their dedication to strengthening their communities and better serving their residents during the 29th Annual Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence.” (PennWatch)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• By Flouting Judicial Orders and Ignoring Due Process, Trump Continues to Sneer at the Rule of Law. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The Conservative Legal Movement Does Not Defend the Constitution. (Bruce Ledewitz)
• Trump’s Cult of Ignorance Undermines Policy at Home and Abroad. (Trudy Rubin) 
• As Laws Are Ignored and Trampled, The Time For Dissent Is Now. (Mark S. Singel)
• The Attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro Is An Attack on Pennsylvania. (Jeffrey Lord)
• Gender Storytime at the Supreme Court. (Wall Street Journal)
• The Inevitable Federal-State Showdown on Education. (Beth Ann Rosica)
• The Financial Crisis of 2025? Better to be Ready. (Bloomberg)

1 Thing

5. Missing Managers

“The corporate world is getting flatter, as more companies look to get rid of managers.

Why it matters: The trend is accelerating as firms look for ways to hold down costs amid tariff threats.

44% of 2,000 professionals in the U.S. surveyed by Korn Ferry said their company has cut back at the manager level. About 40% of them say they feel “directionless” as a result.” (Axios)

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