????  Friday, Friday. Gotta get down, it’s Friday.

????️  In Today’s Playbook. Late-Night Hosts React to Kimmel Suspension. York County DA Describes How Deadly Shooting Unfolded. How Failed PA Transit Funding Talks Could Affect Small Systems. Toy Hall of Fame Nominees.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Won’t Get Fooled Again. The Who

PA Weather
☀️  Mount Pocono | Sunny, 74
☀️  Mount Union | Sunny, 88
☀️  Mount Lebanon | Sunny, 85

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (91-62) | Fri-Sun vs. Arizona
⚾  Pirates (65-88) | Fri-Sun vs. Athletics
????  Eagles (2-0) | Sun vs. LA Rams
????  Steelers (1-0) | Sun vs. New England
????  Temple (2-1) | Sat vs. Georgia Tech
⚽  Union (17-6-7) | Sat vs. New England

????️  What’s Happening Today. The PA GOP begins a two-day meeting in State College where it is expected to endorse Stacy Garrity for governor.

????  What They’re Saying. “Congress left the dirty work [on Medicaid] to be done by the governors and state legislators, and that work will start very soon,” said Joan Alker, executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.

????  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.   Late-Night Hosts React to Kimmel Suspension

“Jon Stewart made a rare Thursday appearance for an “all-new government-approved Daily Show,” as late-night hosts responded to ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel’s program over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing.

While Stewart focused on a parody of an autocratic regime, Stephen Colbert used his CBS show that’s being canceled after next season to label the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” “blatant censorship.” Seth Meyers on his program said, “Trump promised to end government censorship and bring back free speech, and he’s doing the opposite.”” (Axios)

Elsewhere

Gov. Josh Shapiro Says Kamala Harris Will ‘Have to Answer’ For Not Speaking Out About Biden. “The Pennsylvania governor made the remarks about a possible 2028 rival — one who considered him as her running mate in 2024.” (NBC News)

Legal Experts Say Pulling Jimmy Kimmel From Air May Amount to Illegal ‘Jawboning’. “It’s shocking to First Amendment scholar Evelyn Douek, because she is a close-watcher of what’s known as “jawboning,” when regulators or government officials pressure private actors, like a social media company or broadcast network, to stifle speech. The libertarian Cato Institute calls the practice “censorship by proxy.”” (NPR)

Trump’s Ouster of Jimmy Kimmel Is Much Worse Than You Think It Is. “The startling decision by ABC to pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show under pressure from President Trump requires a real response from Democrats. It has to go well beyond expressions of outrage and defenses of the First Amendment—though those are critical—and spell out potential future consequences, political and possibly even legal, for those participating in this escalating lawlessness.” (The New Republic)

Following Kirk’s Assassination, Republicans Sour On Direction of the Country. “The share of Republicans who see the country headed in the right direction has fallen sharply in recent months. Today, only about half in the GOP see the nation on the right course, down from 70% in June.” (AP)

State

2.  York County DA Describes How Deadly Shooting Unfolded That Left Three Police Officers Dead

“York County’s top prosecutor and law enforcement leaders detailed how a gunman ambushed police officers on Wednesday afternoon that left the three of them dead, and two others wounded. It was one of the deadliest incidents for Pennsylvania police officers in nearly two decades.

“Each of these men represented the very best of policing,” Northern York County Regional Police Department Chief David Lash said of his fallen officers. “They served with professionalism, dedication and courage. They were leaders within our agency, committed to protecting this community and standing beside their fellow officers.”” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

PA State, Federal Officials on High Alert After Kirk Assassination. “The shooting of Charlie Kirk has prompted state and federal lawmakers without protective details to take stock and ensure across-the-board awareness, communication and coordination with state and local partners.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Corbett Endorses Garrity For PA Governor Ahead of State Party Meeting. “Republican Stacy Garrity picked up the endorsement from the last member of her party to occupy the Pennsylvania governor’s office, Tom Corbett, as she campaigns to unseat Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2026.” (New Castle News)

Medicaid Overhaul Shifts Tough Choices to States. “Republicans’ sweeping Medicaid overhaul has left a lot of the heavy lifting to governors and state health officials as the program launches the biggest package of changes in its 60-year history.” (Axios)

Pennsylvania Moves to Ban Crypto Trading by State Officials. “The questions it raises about political integrity and financial markets are national ones, and the outcome could shape how these issues are handled across the country.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  Cuts, Fare Hikes, Canceled Expansions: How Failed PA Transit Funding Talks Could Affect Small Systems

“Leaders of small transit agencies across Pennsylvania say they’re preparing to cut services, raise fares, and freeze hiring as early as next year now that additional funding won’t be in this year’s state budget.

These systems, which mainly run buses and on-demand shared ride services, serve tens of thousands of people in communities from Scranton to Canonsburg. Like many transit systems, they have struggled to make ends meet after the pandemic reduced ridership and subsequent federal aid ran out.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

How Three of Philly’s Collar Counties Are Rushing to Protect LGBTQ Residents in the Trump Era. “Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties have moved over the course of a month to enact policies that would bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and establish boards that would hear discrimination complaints.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Voters Aim to Remove Independent Lackawanna County Commissioner Candidate From Election Ballot. “Two Lackawanna County voters on Thursday challenged an independent county commissioner candidate’s right to remain on the special election ballot.” (WVIA)

Thousands Expected For Anti-Abortion March For Life Rally in Harrisburg. “Anti-abortion activists plan to gather at the Pennsylvania Capitol on Sept. 22 for the March for Life, an annual protest that has drawn thousands of people to downtown Harrisburg.” (USA Today Network)

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Trump Has Freedom of Speech. Do You? (New York Times)
• The FCC, Disney and Jimmy Kimmel. (Wall Street Journal)
• Charlie Kirk and the Better Angels of Our Nature. (Broad + Liberty)
• Kimmel Yanked: Sen. Fetterman, Can We Call It ‘Fascism’ Yet? (Will Bunch)
• Jimmy Kimmel’s Right to Satirize. (Roxanne Patel Shepelavy)
• Why Jimmy Kimmel’s Forced Hiatus Isn’t Just Another Cancel Culture Rampage. (Luis F. Carrasco)
• How Will Canceling Kimmel Play in Peoria? Scranton? (Brandon Wetherbee)
• Jimmy Kimmel Should Have Strong Odds at the Supreme Court. (Aziz Huq)
• PA Has a Budget Deficit. So Why Are Taxpayers Funding Lobbyists? (Megan Martin) 
• How Will the Shapiro-Garrity Match Play Out? (Christopher Nicholas)
• Let’s Learn the Right Lessons From the Murder of Charlie Kirk. (John Sigle)
• Turnpike’s Open-Road Tolling Is An Opportunity to Rethink the System. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

1 Thing

5.  Connect Four, Lightsabers, Furbies … and Snow: Which Playthings Belong in the Toy Hall of Fame?

“Later this year, the National Toy Hall of Fame could induct snow — yes, the cold, white stuff that falls from the sky. But only if it ices out enough of the competition — a group that features hugely popular board games, outdoor favorites and giggling plushies.

The Hall of Fame announced its 12 finalists for the Class of 2025 Wednesday and opened voting to the public and a panel of judges who will choose which few will be honored in November.

Along with snow, the contenders include tabletop favorites Battleship, Catan, Connect Four, Spirograph and Trivial Pursuit, as well as crowd-pleasers — scooters, slime and cornhole. The “Star Wars” lightsaber, Furby and Tickle Me Elmo round out the finalists chosen from among the thousands of nominees the Toy Hall of Fame receives each year.” (AP)

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