????  Introducing, Thursday. 

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Cuts Like A Knife. Bryan Adams

PA Weather
☂️  Uniontown | PM Showers, 85
????️  Lebanon | Mostly Sunny, 93
☔  Wilkes-Barre | AM showers, 90

PA Sports
⚽  Union (14-4-5) | Montreal 2-1 | Sat vs. Houston

????  What’s Happening Today. The Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m.

???? What We’re Hearing. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is heading to Nantucket this weekend for a Saturday night fundraiser, according to the invite. Suggested donations range from $1,000 to $10,000.”

????️  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.   Senate Approves Cuts to NPR, PBS and Foreign Aid Programs

“The Senate has approved the Trump administration’s $9 billion rescission package aimed at clawing back money already allocated for public radio and television — a major step toward winding down nearly six decades of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

CPB stands to lose $1.1 billion dollars meant to fund it through the next two years, while the bill also cuts $7.9 billion in other programs. CPB acts as a conduit for federal money to NPR, PBS and their member stations.” (WHYY)

Elsewhere

In West Pittston, Vance Touts Trump Tax Cuts, But Ignores Medicaid Cuts. “In a West Pittston machine shop, Vice President JD Vance praised President Donald Trump on Wednesday for retooling the nation’s economy in favor of American workers.” (WVIA)

• Anecdotes From The Visit. (WVIA)

An Early Look at Q2 Fundraising. “July 15 has come and gone and the Federal Election Commission quarterly fundraising numbers are in.” (PoliticsPA)

Crosswell Leads Democrats in 7th in Fundraising As Incumbent Republican Mackenzie Surpasses Them All. “Ryan Crosswell was the last Democrat to announce his candidacy for the 7th Congressional District but leads his two Democratic opponents in raising money for the 2026 primary.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

900 DOJ Attorneys Urge Senate to Reject Bove Nomination. “More than 900 former Justice Department attorneys are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Emil Bove for a lifetime judicial appointment.” (The Hill)

State

2.   Shapiro Stands Out at High-Profile AI, Energy Summit

“While Tuesday’s groundbreaking Pittsburgh summit on artificial intelligence and energy was unquestionably driven by Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, it still marked another high-profile moment for Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to demonstrate his political chops and tout his administration’s work.

The event gave Mr. Shapiro — up for re-election in 2026 and widely considered a presidential candidate for 2028 — a platform to highlight his own wins in partnership with a divided legislature and the private sector.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Trump Administration Sued By 20 States, Including PA, Over FEMA Funding Cuts. “The Trump administration is being sued by 20 states who are seeking to block the cancellation of a grant program that helped protect against potential natural disasters.” (Axios)

Mon Valley Group Sues Gov. Shapiro, State Attorney General Over State Property Assessment System. “A Mon Valley-focused organization is suing two of the state’s top elected officials, saying property reassessments need to be conducted in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

More Than Half of PA’s Hospitals Lost Money Last Year or Broke Even: Report. “Less than half of all acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania last year operated within a sustainable margin. Over a three-year period, about 39% posted negative margins, which means on average they lost money in that time period.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  AI Data Centers Are Using More Power. Regular Customers Are Footing the Bill

“Regular energy consumers, not corporations, will bear the brunt of the increased costs of a boom in artificial intelligence that has contributed to a growth in data centers and a surge in power usage, recent research suggests.

At least 36 states, both conservative and liberal, offer tax incentives to companies planning on building data centers in their states. But the increased costs that customers are experiencing have made some wonder if the projects are the economic wins they were touted as.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

How Mayor Parker’s Administration Approached Contract Talks — And Eventually a Tentative Agreement — With AFSCME DC 47. “The deal, which must be ratified by members, will cost approximately $92 million over the course of five years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Montgomery County Raises Minimum Wage For County Employees. “County commissioners authorized a rate of $20.52 per hour for “current employees,” effective immediately, which, according to a county spokesperson, increased from the previous $16.51 per hour.” (Main Line Times & Suburban)

Standing-Room-Only Crowd Gets Detailed Look At Plan For Homer City Natural Gas Plant. “Members of the public got their first detailed look Wednesday evening at what would be the largest natural gas-fired power plant in the U.S. if it’s built: a 3,200-acre project in Homer City, Indiana County.” (TribLIVE)

Power Plant to Get $3.21 Billion Investment For Natural Gas Conversion. “$3.2 billion would be awarded to the New York-based Frontier Group to convert the Bruce Mansfield coal power plant in Shippingport into a natural gas facility.” (Beaver County Times)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• McCormick’s Summit Accomplished What It Set Out To. But What’s Next? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Energy and Innovation Aren’t the Same as Money and Power. (TribLIVE)
• Don’t Let Performative Crusades Waste Pittsburgh’s Chance. (Greg Teufel)
• Trump Bullish on the Golden Age of America at Pittsburgh Summit. (Salena Zito)
• Sharif Street Can Run For Congress, But He Shouldn’t Run the State Democratic Party at the Same Time. (Philadelphia Inquirer) 
• Let Independent Voters Vote. (Michael Smerconish)
• Don’t Fall For Scott Perry’s Latest Tall Tale. (Gary Blumenthal)
• After Two Decades of Driving Buses, I Know Public Transit Is No Luxury. (Lionel Randolph)
• It Is Time For Pennsylvania to Address the Child Care Teacher Staffing Crisis. (Leah Spangler, Zubeen Saeed, Denzel Henderson and Julie King)
• Do One Job and Do It Right. (Kyle Sammin)
• Lancaster Is Showing Central PA How to Grow a Tech Hub Without Losing Its Rural Roots. (Sarah Huffman)

1 Thing

5.   Become a Master of Evil With Darth Vader’s Actual Lightsaber

“io9 has covered a few notable Star Wars auctions lately, as rare toys and highly collectible props have come to market in surprisingly robust amounts. But maybe the most exciting example has just emerged: Darth Vader’s lightsaber. The actual, authentic, screen-matched hilt used by David Prowse and his stunt double in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 

As your mind reels at the possibility of owning such a prize, consider that it’s estimated to command $1 million at the lowest estimate and $3 million at the highest… and maybe more.” (Gizmodo)

Thanks for starting your Thursday with us.
I’m checking my bank account to bid. I’ll tell you how it went tomorrow.