????  Thursday. Another day closer to the weekend.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Rock This Town. The Stray Cats

PA Weather
⛈️  Butler | Partly Sunny, chance of storms, 84
☁️  Hollidaysburg | Mostly Cloudy, 87
☁️  Lancaster | Mostly Cloudy, 86

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (54-39) | San Francisco 13-0 | Fri-Sun vs. San Diego
⚾  Pirates (38-56) | Kansas City 3-4 | Fri-Sun vs. Minnesota
⚽  Union (12-4-5) | NY Red Bulls ppd | Sat vs. NY Red Bulls

????  What We’re Hearing. Carol Obando-Derstine, a Democratic candidate in PA-07, has been endorsed by BOLD PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ political arm. PA-03 Democratic candidate Dave Oxman has raised $282,000 in his campaign.

????️  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.   How PA Democrats Could Capitalize on GOP Spending Bill in 2026 House Races

“President Donald Trump’s tax and budget bill has been a rallying cry for Democrats in Pennsylvania, who believe its cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other programs in the coming years will have devastating impacts on working and low-income residents statewide.

Some politicos say Congress’ action could be the ammo Democrats need to win swing districts throughout the state in the 2026 midterm elections.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

PA-03: Meet Dave Oxman, the Philly Doctor Running For Congress Who Says Healthcare Is ‘Broken As Hell’. “Dave Oxman has never run for office before. The intensive-care physician and medical school professor at Thomas Jefferson University has spent his career taking care of critically ill Philadelphians. Now, he’s running as a largely unknown candidate in Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Deluzio Introduces New Insurrection Act Proposal. “Responding to concerns that President Donald Trump could use the Insurrection Act to deploy troops domestically, Congressman Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., introduced a bill to limit presidential power on Tuesday.” (The Center Square)

U.S. Justice Department Presses Pennsylvania For Answers On How It Manages Voter Rolls. “In a June 23 letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, the department asked for 14 categories of information on the state’s voter registration activities, including how voters are added to and removed from the voter roll, and how the state prevents unauthorized access to its system.” (Votebeat)

State

2.   A Long Weekend Reveals What Pennsylvanians Really Think About The Issues

“What would the voters of Pennsylvania really think about the issues if they discussed them in depth in a civil and evidence-based environment for a long weekend? 

That could never happen, you say? The folks who run “America in One Room” beg to differ.

In a process called “Deliberative Polling,” here is what Pennsylvanians had to say about what is happening in the neighborhood, their state, and their country.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Governor Repeals Sunday Hunting Ban in Pennsylvania. “It was a great morning for hunters in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Wednesday as Gov. Josh Shapiro put his signature on legislation that repealed the state’s longstanding ban on Sunday hunting.” (PoliticsPA)

Should PA Increase Penalties For Interfering With ICE Agents? This Lawmaker Thinks So. “GOP senators in Pennsylvania want to stiffen criminal penalties for people who are convicted of assaulting, threatening or obstructing federal immigration officers in the commonwealth.” (USA Today Network)

PA House Republicans Forced — But Dems Blocked — A Debate on Transgender Girls In School Sports. “Republicans in Harrisburg this week used a rare measure to force lawmakers to vote on a bill that would prohibit transgender girls from girls’ sports in schools. But state House Democrats sidestepped the vote, leaving Pittsburgh Rep. Dan Frankel, who chairs a key committee, in charge of the bill’s fate.” (WESA)

PA Senator Questions Shapiro Administration Use of Taxpayer-Funded Flights. “Allegheny County Airport was one of the stops during a multi-segment flight in mid-January, made by a state-chartered plane at a cost to taxpayers of more than $10,000. But who was on the flight?” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Will Garrity Be Pennsylvania’s First Woman Governor? “With Republican Rep. Dan Meuser’s announcement this week that he will not run for governor against incumbent Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro, the field is clear for Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity to throw her hat into the ring.” (DV Journal)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  Medicaid Cuts in Trump’s Tax Bill Will ‘Devastate’ Access to Care in Rural Pennsylvania, Critics Say

“President Donald Trump signed the “big, beautiful” budget bill into law last week, celebrating it as a win for taxpayers and a fulfillment of key campaign promises.

In rural Pennsylvania — where hospitals operate on thin margins and Medicaid helps keep the lights on — critics warn the cuts and new requirements will burden states with paperwork, make it harder for patients to access care, and push health facilities to their breaking point.” (Spotlight PA State College)

Elsewhere

Local Election Officials Start Looking to States After Trump Cuts. “Most local election officials say they need more funding and help from state governments to offset the Trump administration’s cuts to the country’s top cybersecurity agency, according to a new Brennan Center poll released Thursday.” (Axios)

‘With or Without Ed Zucal’? Allentown Mayor Shadowboxing In Re-Election Bid. “Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk in May cruised to the Democratic nomination for re-election, easily seeing off Councilman Ed Zucal’s bid to stop him from winning a second term. A more-than-60-point margin of victory in a Democratic primary would mean an uncontested general election and certain win in most years.” (LehighValleyNews)

DuBois Official Affirms Consolidation With Sandy Twp. Despite Legislative Concerns. “City of DuBois Co-Manager Ben Kafferlin addressed public concerns about a recent piece of state legislation during Monday night’s council meeting, reaffirming that the planned 2026 consolidation with Sandy Township remains on track.” (DuBois Courier Express)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• By Bringing the Trash Strike to An End With a New Deal For DC 33, Parker Passes a Major Test. (Philadelphia Inquirer) 
• Trump’s Worst Nomination Yet. And That Says a Lot. (Tom Moran)
• Shapiro’s Unsustainable Budget. (Broad + Liberty)
• If Fitzpatrick Wants the Votes He’ll Need Next Year, He Needs to Grow a Spine. (Joe Linus)
• Questioning How Funds Are Spent Is How Oversight Works. (TribLIVE)
• Funding Transit is Essential to the Justice System. (Katayun I. Jaffari)

1 Thing

5.   How On Earth Did Live Aid Even Wind Up in Philadelphia?

“Back in 1985, Philadelphia wasn’t exactly the hot spot it is today. This was long before national publications recognized our food scene. This was long before Lonely Planet would declare Philadelphia the fifth best place to travel to in the world. Neighborhoods now considered highly desirable (say, Fishtown and Northern Liberties) were considered by many to be desolate in 1985. Philadelphia was headed in the direction of bankruptcy. And let us not forget that in May of that year we gained the dubious distinction of becoming the only American city to bomb its own citizens. So it was by no means a no-brainer to pick Philadelphia for Live Aid.” (Philadelphia Magazine)

Thanks for starting your Thursday with us.
Make it a great day and we’ll see you tomorrow.