????  Wednesday. All downhill from here, right?

????️  In Today’s PoliticsPA Playbook. What Josh Shapiro Believes. Trump Administration Says It Will Withhold SNAP From Democrat-Led States. Allegheny County Council Unanimously Backs Innamorato 2026 Budget. NEPA Snack Lovers Race To Eat Middleswarth Chips.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. I’m A Believer. Smash Mouth

PA Weather
????️  Murrysville | Decreasing Clouds, 34
☀️  Lykens | Mostly Sunny, 37
☀️  Oaks | Sunny, 39

PA Sports
????  Sixers (11-9) | Washington 121-102 | Thu vs. Golden State
????  Flyers (14-8-3) | Wed vs. Buffalo
????  Penguins (13-7-5) | Thu at Tampa Bay

????  The Pennsylvania Society. The calendar of events for Dec. 11-13 can be found here. 

????  What We’re Hearing. According to a survey of 549 voters in PA-10, Rep. Scott Perry is behind “his Democratic opponent” by 7% and has a job approval rating of -17%.

????️‍????️  What We’re Seeing. Rep. Rob Bresnahan received the endorsement of IBEW Local 163 – reportedly the first time the union has backed a GOP candidate for PA-08.

????  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.   What Josh Shapiro Believes

“It is a rare thing to see Josh Shapiro sweat. For all the grief the Pennsylvania governor gets for imitating Barack Obama—the staggered cadence, the side-of-the-mouth delivery for effect—their essential shared trait is self-possession. If Pennsylvania’s governor has a superpower, it is an unflappability that allows him to stay cool and composed and to communicate precisely what he wants to communicate. 

Most of the time.” | The Atlantic

Elsewhere

McCormick Says He Supports Health Care Subsidies Extension During Tele-Town Hall. “With frustrated constituents in their ears, Pennsylvania’s federal lawmakers on Tuesday were confronting the possibility that health care premiums could soon skyrocket for millions of people if Congress fails to act on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Progressive Group Targets Fetterman for Backing Trump’s Judicial Nominees. “A progressive group is targeting two Senate Democrats, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, and an independent senator who voted to confirm some of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, promising to spend more than $1 million in hopes of pushing congressional Democrats to take a stronger stand against the Republican president.” | AP

Legislation From Summer Lee, Democratic Colleagues Would Combat Discriminatory AI. “Artificial intelligence is transforming the world, one algorithm at a time. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, wants to make sure those algorithms don’t violate people’s civil rights.” | TribLIVE

State

2.  Trump Administration Says It Will Withhold SNAP From Democrat-Led States If They Don’t Provide Data

“President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless those states provide information about those receiving the assistance.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is looming because those states are refusing to provide data the department requested such as the names and immigration status of aid recipients.” | WHYY

Elsewhere

State Budget Sent $5 Million To A Struggling School District Represented By the PA House Speaker. “Buried in a code bill passed with the 2025-26 state budget is a provision giving a single school district $5 million, outside of the typical formulas that are used to distribute funds to Pennsylvania’s school districts.” | Penn Capital-Star

How Affordable Care Act Premiums Are Estimated To Rise Across The Region. “If they’re not extended, here is how much premiums could increase across the region, according to estimates by KFF, an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Shapiro Named Chair of Chesapeake Executive Council. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was unanimously elected as chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, which establishes the vision and strategic direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.” | PoliticsPA

Democratic Trifecta Hinges On Lancaster County Senate Seat. “State Sen. James Malone stunned with a special election win in Lancaster County. Now, his reelection could give Pennsylvania Democrats to flip the chamber and control the General Assembly.” | The Keystone

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Allegheny County Council Unanimously Backs Innamorato 2026 Budget With No Tax Increase

“With no dissent, Allegheny County Council passed a budget on Tuesday that avoids a property tax increase while staving off program cuts and layoffs.

County Executive Sara Innamorato’s proposal included a total of $3 billion in operating and capital spending.” | WESA

Elsewhere

Chester County Might Be The Only Philly Suburb Not Raising Taxes Next Year. “The decision sets Chester County apart from its peers in a year that has been marked by budget uncertainty at the state and federal levels.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Dublin Councilman Announces Campaign For State Representative. “Tim Hayes, a veteran of the Army National Guard, Dublin Borough Council President, and State Policy Manager for an environmental advocacy group, has announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania State Representative in the 143rd Legislative District.” | Doylestown Patch

Pittsburgh’s People of Year 2025 — Politics: Alex Rose. “Whatever may be happening at the national level, progressives in Pittsburgh are undeterred. The local Democratic Party has shored up and built on its base. Prominent left-leaning candidates now hold office everywhere from the county to Congress. Among their number is Labor Party candidate Alex Rose.” | Pittsburgh City Paper

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• A Budget Failure Doesn’t Earn A Pay Raise | TribLIVE
• Quick Legislative Fix Needed After Court Ruling | Daily Item
• The GOP Tried Loyalty, Then Rebellion. Both Failed | Ronald Brownstein
• Western PA Schools Go To Court Over Cyber-Charter Funding | Wayne Brookhart
• Conservatives Must Protect Free Speech Against The President | Kenin M. Spivak
• Pennsylvania Is Losing The School Choice Race To Its Neighbors | Marc LeBlond and Myles Slade-Bowers
• Future of AI in PA Begins With Regulatory Reform | Kenny Stein

1 Thing

5.  NEPA Snack Lovers Race To Eat Middleswarth Chips For Contest Bragging Rights

“Cade Neal and 27 other brave eaters lined a long table at Sabatini’s Bar and Bottle Shop in Exeter. They had a choice: regular or barbecue potato chips. Most, like Neal, chose barbecue.

They crowded around the table for the Middleswarth Potato Chip Eating Contest, a 10-year tradition in Luzerne County held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The contest draws snackers and spectators to see who can eat the most in five minutes.

Middleswarth, a brand of potato chips produced in Snyder County and found only in Pennsylvania, has gained a cult following. Fans — including homesick Pennsylvania expatriates — scramble to buy them at stores in the state, as well as through online retailers.” | WVIA

Thanks for starting your Wednesday with us.
You’re halfway to the weekend. See you tomorrow.