9/22 Playbook: Shapiro Meets the Press

September 22, 2025 | 8:10 AM EDT

Steve Ulrich

???? The Last Day of Summer. And Shanah Tovah to all who celebrate.

????️ In Today’s Playbook. Shapiro Criticizes Trump, Says Nation ‘At a Really Dangerous Moment.’ Garrity Gains Endorsement For Governor. Guide to Supreme Court Retention Candidates. Airport Lounge Boom.

???? Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. I Won’t Back Down. Tom Petty

PA Weather
☂️ Beaver Falls | Showers, 82
⛅ Harrisburg | Partly Sunny, 82
☀️ East Stroudsburg | Mostly Sunny, 80

????️ What’s Happening Today. The House is back for a non-voting session beginning at noon.

???? What They’re Saying. “I am not running for governor as a stepping stone to something bigger. I’m running for governor of Pennsylvania to serve you. I know what it means to serve.” – Stacy Garrity

???? 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. Shapiro Criticizes Trump, Says Nation ‘At a Really Dangerous Moment’ in MTP Interview

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro did not mince words on the disturbing trend of political violence in this country, the risk of censorship by the government, and the move to stifle dissent by the Administration in a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s “Meet The Press.”

Speaking with moderator Kristen Welker, Shapiro was critical of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, who he said, always “cloaked themselves in this blanket of patriotism and freedom.”” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Says He Told Biden Directly That He Saw Troubling Signs For His Reelection Prospects. ““I made a point to speak to the people around the president repeatedly about what I saw were worrying signs here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro told Kristen Welker on NBC News’ Meet the Press.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Trump’s Economic Promises to Black Voters Fall Short After a Modest Shift in Support For Him In 2024. “But with Trump back in office since January, an already fragile financial situation for Black Americans has worsened. A recent spate of economic data shows a widening racial wealth gap.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Trump to Link Autism to Tylenol Use During Pregnancy. “The mention of a connection, first reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, would revive a medical controversy over the use of Tylenol’s active ingredient acetaminophen early in a pregnancy.” (Axios)

DCCC Crushes NRCC in August Fundraising. “House Democrats’ campaign arm raised $7.1 million in what was their lowest month of 2025 so far. The NRCC raised less than $4 million in August — a little more than half of what the DCCC brought in.” (Punchbowl News)

State

2. Garrity Gains Endorsement For Governor From PA GOP

“It is now official.

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania gave its endorsement to State Treasurer Stacy Garrity as its candidate for governor.

The endorsement, which was not unanimous via voice vote, comes from a vote of the full body of the Republican State Committee at the group’s Fall State Committee Meeting on Saturday in State College.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania’s State Budget Is Nearly 3 Months Late. Leaders Still Can’t Agree on the Basics. “Despite the contentious issue of mass transit funding being off the table, top Pennsylvania legislative leaders are still unable to agree on the most basic question when it comes to state budget negotiations: how much money they should spend.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Conor Lamb Is Stepping Back Into the Political Spotlight. “In recent months, he’s stepped back into the spotlight as many Pennsylvania progressives have grown frustrated with Mr. Fetterman and are looking ruefully at what could have been had Mr. Lamb won that Senate seat.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fight Over Pennsylvania’s Mail-Ballot Date Requirement Approaches the Endgame. “After years of back-and-forth court rulings, voters may finally get some clarity on a disputed election rule.” (Votebeat Pennsylvania)

PA Republican Reps Aim to Immediately Ban ‘Biological Males’ From Girls’ Sports. “A group of Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers have introduced House Bill 1849, titled “Dads Defending Daughters,” which would require public schools and higher education institutions to designate sports as male, female, or co-ed, and prohibit biological males from competing in female-designated sports.” (NorthCentralPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. A Complete Guide to Supreme Court Retention Candidates

“Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are up for retention on Nov. 4, in elections that could set the stage for a total remaking of the court.

Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht were all elected as Democrats in 2015, and their party has held a majority on the state’s high court since. Republicans are pushing Pennsylvanians to vote “no” on their retention, which would lead to contested, partisan elections in 2027.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Campaign Heats Up Around Retention of 3 PA Supreme Court Justices. “The state Supreme Court, which has had the final Pennsylvania say in high-profile election fights, is itself in the middle of an unusual election fight.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

13 Governors Meeting In Philly to Consider Solutions For Energy Needs. “Amid concern about the viability of the power grid that serves all of Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro and the governors of 12 other states will meet Monday in Philadelphia to discuss potential changes the manager of their shared wholesale electrical market can make to rein in rapidly growing energy costs.” (New Castle News)

Pennsylvania Was Once a National Leader in Renewable Energy. What Happened? “Natural gas was pitched as a stopgap between fossil fuels and renewables. Instead, it has derailed Pennsylvania’s energy transition.” (Inside Climate News)

Bethlehem: A Barometer of Trump’s America in Charts and Maps. “Bethlehem, a former steelmaking town tucked along the Lehigh river, is a microcosm of the swing state’s politics and economy ” (Financial Times / paywall)

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

Trump’s Attacks on Free Speech Are Only the Beginning. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Real Cause of American Political Violence Isn’t the Rhetoric. (Bruce Ledewitz)
York County Tragedy Shows Why “A Good Guy With A Gun” Isn’t Enough. (Joe McHugh)
Welcome to the New Dark Age of American Democracy. (Robert Kimball Shinkoskey)
Yes, This Is Who We Are — America’s 250-Year History of Political Violence. (Maurizio Valsania)
Jimmy Kimmel’s Right to Satirize. (Roxanne Patel Shepelavy)
Keep Politics Out of PJM to Protect America’s Power Grid. (Michelle Bloodworth)

1 Thing

5. Airport Lounge Boom

“Airports are adding more and more luxurious lounges, featuring raw bars, cheesemongers, spa-like showers and private security lines.

The big picture: “Exclusive lounges — one of the few aspects of flying that travelers seem to enjoy — are driving increased loyalty for credit-card companies and airlines.”

Case in point: Terminal 4 at New York’s JFK airport is a lounge battleground. It has more than 135,000 square feet of lounge space, half of which was added since 2023.” (Wall Street Journal)

Thanks for starting your week with us.
Let’s make it a great one, shall we?

Steve Ulrich

Ulrich has worked as managing editor of PoliticsPA since January 2022 after spending two years as the Director of Elections in York (Pa.) County. Prior to that, he spent 35 years as a college athletics administrator. Send email to [email protected]