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PA Weather
☀️  Clearfield | Mostly Sunny, 92
☀️  Mill Hall | Mostly Sunny, 96
☀️  Easton | Sunny, 97

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (60-46) | White Sox 2-6 | Tue-Wed vs. Chicago White Sox
⚾  Pirates (45-62) | San Francisco 6-5 | Tue-Wed vs. San Francisco

????️  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.  Pittsburgh Pushes to Become the World’s AI Capital

“Pittsburgh’s “AI Strike Force” is aiming high to define and become a global leader in physical AI, the space in which artificial intelligence meets material goods in the form of robotics, defense systems, transportation, and more.

For its part, Pittsburgh has made a strong start of it, not just pivoting its industrial reputation but capitalizing on the manufacturing demands of new technologies to maintain the relevance of its foundation in steel. Combined with leading research institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, the city makes a good case for its potential.” (The Center Square)

Elsewhere

Shapiro, McCormick to Headline AI Summit in Pittsburgh This Fall. “Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Dave McCormick will headline yet another AI summit this year — this time, all about Pittsburgh’s deployment of its artificial intelligence innovations across the globe.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

‘Full Transparency’: Pennsylvania Members of Congress Field Questions Over the Epstein Files in Telephone Town Halls. “Democrats are pushing the issue by passing a vote for a subpoena of the records and running Epstein-related TV ads in swing districts, including in Pennsylvania.” (WHYY)

New Whistleblower Accounts Emerge Expressing Concerns About Trump’s Controversial Pick To Be A Philly-Based Federal Appeals Judge. “The new account is the latest development as Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official and Trump’s former personal attorney, faces a future confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2.   Ethics Panel Says Kelly Violated Code of Conduct During Investigation Into Wife’s Stock Trades

“The House Ethics Committee concluded there was “substantial evidence” that Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) violated the congressional code of conduct, following a four-year-long investigation into stock trades made by his wife.

Although the bipartisan committee’s investigation found no evidence of insider trading, an ethics report released Friday reproached Kelly, who represents Butler County, for failing to “meet his duty of candor” during the investigation and urged him and his wife, Victoria Kelly, to divest of any remaining stocks in the steel company Cleveland-Cliffs.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Gov. Shapiro Awaiting More Details on Federal Tax Credit That Could Widen School Choice Debate. “The credit becomes available for the 2027 tax year in states that choose to participate, and is conceptually similar to Pennsylvania’s own Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), which has been the subject of political wrangling since it was first created in 2001.” (PennLive)

PA Dems Accused Garrity of Voting For ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Even Though She Isn’t in Congress. “The Pennsylvania Democratic Party mistakenly referred to the state’s treasurer, Stacy Garrity, a Republican being floated for governor, as a member of Congress in a fundraising email that tried to riff on a popular game.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Wine Producers Hope Unique Session With Legislators Will Put the Ag Back in the Industry. “At a time when wine and other alcoholic beverages are already seeing a decline in interest, the problems with licensing and enforcement only exacerbate those trying to make a living making wines and growing grapes in Pennsylvania.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  PA Game Commission Approves 13 Sundays of Hunting, Capping ‘Historic’ Reversal of Ban

“The Pennsylvania Game Commission has approved Sunday hunting on 13 consecutive Sundays from Sept. 14 through Dec. 7, starting this year.

Previously, there were three Sundays annually when the state permitted hunting.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Long-Term Budget Plans Get Green Light, Despite Fears Over Federal Funding Cuts. “The vote by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority is the final step in the city’s annual budgeting process.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rural Hospitals Brace For Medicaid Cuts. “State healthcare experts fear what the fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill will mean for Pennsylvania’s smaller hospitals – and the insurance coverage that keeps them running.” (City & State)

Multiple Pharmacists’ Suicides in Lancaster Spark Concerns Over Workload, Patient Safety Concerns. “The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association is aware of the recent suicides. It says pharmacy professionals face demanding workloads, increasing administrative burdens, and at times difficult interactions with patients, all of which contribute to high levels of stress and burnout.” (WGAL)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• Setting the Record Straight on the One Big Beautiful Bill. (Rep. Lloyd Smucker)
• Trump’s Mass Deportation Effort is a Study in Cruelty. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Can a PA Democrat Replicate Mamdani’s Success? (Mark Nicastre) 
• When Our Politics Define Us, Can We Still Change Our Minds? (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• Pennsylvania Needs to Raise the Minimum Wage – Now. (Rachele Fortier)
• Community Solar in PA: Bypassing the Energy Bottleneck. (Alice Lu, Elowyn Corby, Justin Mason)
• Withdraw From Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to ‘Get (Stuff) Done’. (Lowman Henry)
• Shapiro Rebukes Trump on TV For Promises Unkept. (Tim Balch)
• What is Next For Closing Penn State Campuses? (TribLIVE)

1 Thing

5.   First Pittsburgh Walk of Fame Honorees Unveiled

“Pittsburgh’s Strip District is finally set for a star-studded upgrade where city legends will soon leave their mark. 

George Benson, Nellie Bly, Andrew Carnegie, Rachel Carson, Roberto Clemente, Michael Keaton, Fred Rogers, Jonas Salk, Andy Warhol, and August Wilson will have their names etched in concrete in one of the city’s most bustling neighborhoods.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

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