😎 Hello, Tuesday. Just 84 days until the midterm elections.

The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. 

🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. Ring of Fire. Johnny Cash

PA Weather
🌤️  Erie | Becoming Partly Sunny, 78
🌂  State College | Mostly Cloudy, Chance of Rain, 82
☀️  Allentown | Mostly Sunny, Chance of Rain Late, 88

PA Sports 
⚾  Phillies (64-56, 7.5 GB, – GB WC) | St. Louis 6-5 | Tue at St. Louis
⚾  Pirates (58-62, -6.0 GB WC) | Tue at Miami
⚽  Union (4W, 4D, 10L) | Thu vs. Santos Laguna (Leagues Cup) 

What’s Happening Today. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday will announce action against TikTok regarding the social media company’s failures to protect children from accessing adult-themed material on its app, as well as TikTok’s efforts to promote product addictiveness.

What We’re Hearing. House Majority Forward launched four new television ads in PA-01, PA-07, PA-08, and PA-10, calling on Republican members of Congress to support legislation that places Pennsylvanians ahead of billionaires, corporate interests, and their own financial interests.

Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s premier source for nonpartisan political news and analysis. Tips or press releases can be sent to [email protected].

Top Story

1.   The Senate’s Newest Odd Couple Is Raising Republican Eyebrows — and Democratic Alarms

“Sens. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, a Republican, have promoted domestic and foreign policy initiatives hand in hand — including efforts to combat drug trafficking, antisemitism and even spotted lanternflies — all while insisting they don’t agree on everything, yet rarely voicing such disputes.

But as the relationship between Fetterman and McCormick reaches new heights, it is perplexing members of both parties. Most notably, a joint fundraising committee the duo established triggered a wave of Democratic criticism of Fetterman, who has toyed with the possibility of leaving the party.” | NBC News

Elsewhere

PA-10: Rep. Scott Perry Tells Supporters It’s Either Him or “Crazy” Democrats in 2026 Election. “Rep. Scott Perry opened up the home stretch of his re-election campaign taking dead aim at progressive Democrats he says will ruin America.” | PennLive

PA-01: Bob Harvie Sues GOP PAC Over Bucks County Congressional Race Claims Sign. “The Aug. 5 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court For Eastern Pennsylvania alleges Chris Pack and Defending America have “repeatedly and recklessly” published false and defamatory statements.” | The Keystone

PA-09: Rachel Wallace Calls For Debate At 75th Mondays With Meuser. “Democratic candidate for the 9th congressional district Rachel Wallace called on incumbent Republican Dan Meuser to participate in a live debate during the 75th Mondays with Meuser protest outside the Lebanon County Courthouse on Monday.” | LebTown

Thompson Mourns Failure of Senate Panel to Advance Latest Farm Bill Effort. “The latest attempt at a new federal Farm Bill has faltered. On Thursday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson said the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry failed to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026 because of unreasonable Democrat demands.” | Indiana Gazette

State

2.   How Josh Shapiro’s Early Embrace of Data Centers Is Testing His High Popularity in Pennsylvania

“Gov. Josh Shapiro made a declaration in the early days of his administration: Pennsylvania is open for business.

It was with this same spirit last summer that Shapiro announced the largest single private sector investment in Pennsylvania history: Amazon committed $20 billion in Pennsylvania that included two data center campuses in Luzerne and Bucks Counties. Pennsylvania scored the project because of its promise to fast-track permitting and use tax breaks for the massive developments.

But in a year’s time, the politics — and public opinion on both sides of the aisle — have dramatically shifted on data center development. Shapiro’s early welcome of data centers has created an opening for criticism from his gubernatorial opponent and members of his own party.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Elsewhere

Garrity’s Right-To-Work Group Endorsement Draws Union Backlash In PA Governor’s Race. “A right-to-work group’s endorsement of Republican challenger Stacy Garrity has ignited a harsh response from trade unions backing Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in the governor’s race.” | PennLive

HD-12 Special Election Preview. “The first of two elections between Democrat Brandon Dukes and Republican Scott Timko will take place on Tuesday, August 18, with a special election to fill the remainder of the term of Stephenie Scialabba in the 12th Legislative District in Butler County.” | PoliticsPA

HD-12: Special Election in Butler County Tests Voter Mood Ahead of November. “On Aug. 18, voters in Pennsylvania’s 12th legislative district will head to the polls to vote for either Democrat Brandon Dukes or Republican Scott Timko. The red-leaning district will see the state’s last balloting until the midterms.” | Public Source

PA Has Quietly Passed a Law Undermining a Court Decision on Lucrative Mineral Rights. “A law quietly passed this summer aimed to end a complicated, decade-plus legal fight over who owns an estimated $1 billion in Pennsylvania natural gas. It may have only begun a new, even messier chapter.” | Spotlight PA

House Passes Bill Targeting Cryptocurrency Corruption. “Public officials would be banned from promoting cryptocurrency when they have a financial interest under legislation passed by the House recently.” | CapitolWire

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Legislature’s Second-Degree Murder Sentencing Mess Highlighted At Hearing

“Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday on Monday gave Republican lawmakers good news on crime rates and new law enforcement units, but also confronted them with a major problem that has not gone away – the lack of a sentencing framework for “felony murder.”

“Right now, I believe the only crime that exists on our books that does not have a sentencing structure by statute is the crime of felony murder, which is second-degree murder,” Sunday told Republicans at a joint hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and the House Republican Policy Committee, held in Hazleton. “We are really at a place that is just unacceptable without having statutory standards in place.”” | The Center Square

Elsewhere

As PA Crime Rates Fall to Record Lows, Law Enforcement Flags Ongoing Challenges. “Violent crime rates are down across the nation and commonwealth, and 2026 numbers appear to be even lower so far. Homicides alone fell by 23% between 2023 and 2024, which is near historic lows.” | Penn Capital-Star

What Happens in Pennsylvania If the Highway Trust Fund Runs Dry? “A major funding source for Pennsylvania’s transportation department could soon vanish if Congress does not reauthorize and boost subsidies for the Federal Highway Trust.” | USA Today Network

ICE is ‘Evaluating Options’ For Immigrant Detention Capacity in Pennsylvania. “Activists worry ICE might buy Moshannon Valley Processing Center or contract directly with GEO Group and cut out Clearfield County” | Spotlight PA State College

U.S. Steel Could Have Prevented 2025 Clairton Coke Works Explosion, Federal Investigators Say. “On the eve of the one-year anniversary of a deadly explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, federal investigators released a long and sharply worded report, accusing U.S. Steel and its contractor of not just ignoring procedures to ensure safety but not even having them.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Pennsylvania’s Data Center Boom Needs A Pause | Philadelphia Inquirer 
• The Battle to ‘de-Trumpify’ America Starts Now | Nicholas Guyett
• How New SNAP Restrictions Could Hit Greater Pittsburgh’s Food Access and Economy | Amelia Finaret
• The Hidden Inflation Driving Up Costs for Every Pennsylvanian | Curt Schroder
• Purple-County Dems Should Be Wary of the Rising Left | Pat Wandling
• Left v. Liberal: What Tuesday’s Primary Means for the Future of the Democratic Party (Nothing) | Jim Saksa

1 Thing

5.   We Tasted 14 Grocery Store Pickles — This Is Our No. 1 Pick

“The pickle aisle may seem straightforward, but not every jar delivers the same crunch, flavor, or look. To find the best grocery store pickles, Food & Wine food stylist Julian Hensarling and pickle expert Levon Wallace put 14 of the most popular brands to the test.

“My perfect pickle has a crisp, clean aroma, a firm texture, smells and tastes of garlic and dill, and isn’t mushy,” Wallace said about what he’s looking for in an ideal pickle. Hensarling was equally specific, adding, “I’m looking for something that’s not too brown and not too neon green. I want it to still look like what it was when it was a cucumber.”” | Food & Wine

Thank you for starting your Tuesday with us.
Pickle-up and we’ll be back again tomorrow.