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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. We Got The Beat. The Go-Gos. Oh, that bass riff.

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Flyers (28-34-8) | Washington 2-3 | Sat vs. Dallas | Sun vs. Chicago
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What We’re Hearing. “There’s a lot more that can be done in that governor’s office unfortunately than I can do… in the U.S. House.” – Rep. Dan Meuser

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Louis C. Schmitt. Early returns for Reps. Joe Webster and Stephanie Borowicz (Sun.).

Social Media. Join us on Twitter and Bluesky at @PoliticsPA

Top Story

1. Trump Signed An Order To ‘Begin Eliminating’ the Department of Education. What Could Happen Next

“Actually eliminating the department — which is responsible for administering billions of dollars in funding to schools — would require congressional approval, and experts say it is an unlikely scenario. Trump is also likely to face legal challenges, with the American Federation of Teachers union promising a lawsuit.

For local schools, “we really don’t know how impactful this will be,” said Steven Ludwig, an attorney with the Fox Rothschild law firm, which provides legal services to schools across the Philadelphia region. But, he said, it could be “incredibly severe.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• More From | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Associated Press

Elsewhere

Rep. Lee and Residents Rail Against Trump and Musk at Packed Pittsburgh Town Hall. “U.S. Rep. Summer Lee made a case for bolder action from elected Democrats at a town hall event Thursday evening, speaking to hundreds of constituents as her party tries to find its footing during the chaotic first months of Donald Trump’s second term as president.” (Public Source)

Rep. Dan Meuser Came to Germantown and Made a Very Philly Pitch For His Likely Run Against Gov. Shapiro. “U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser’s comments were brief, but they had all the markings of a gubernatorial stump speech from an out-of-town congressman trying to appeal to Philadelphians.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Federal Money to Plug PA’s Dangerous Wells Is Unfrozen, But Trump Admin Uncertainty Plagues Contractors. “As Pennsylvania celebrates plugging 300 abandoned oil and gas wells since 2023, ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration over hundreds of millions of federal dollars are creating uncertainty for those doing the work on the ground.” (Spotlight PA)

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Holds 1st Telephone Town Hall Since Joining Congress. “The meeting, which took place by phone, saw more than 5,000 people join the call, according to Mackenzie spokesman Arnaud Armstrong. Three of the nine questions callers asked — more than any other topic — dealt with fears of cuts to Medicare or Medicaid.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

State

2. Control of PA House Up For Grabs As Mon Valley Voters Pick a Lawmaker

“The bakery and the bank and other businesses are gone, vacant storefronts are numerous, and as owner Carlitez Thompson cuts hair and talks inside the Royal Appearance Barbershop, it’s clear he wants government to focus on local economic development.

About 160 miles to the east, in the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Mr. Thompson’s locale is the subject of a lot of talk. But it’s about political advantage, not economic development.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania’s Dem. Senators United In Silence About Shapiro Administration’s Missing Emails. “Pennsylvania’s Democratic senators are united in their silence when it comes to new revelations that Governor Josh Shapiro’s office deleted emails for a young deputy in his administration who quit after claiming she was subjected to weeks worth of sexual harassment by one of the governor’s top aides.” (Broad + Liberty)

ACLU: ‘Notice and Cure’ Policies Helped 9,000 Pennsylvanians Have Their Votes Counted. “More than 9,000 Pennsylvanians successfully cast ballots in the 2024 election, after they initially made mistakes on vote-by-mail ballots, a voting rights group said. About half of the voters who made errors on their mail ballots were able to preserve their rights to vote.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Lancaster County Lawmaker Looks to Spur Immigration With ‘Office of New Pennsylvanians’ “State Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El plans to reintroduce legislation creating an “Office of New Pennsylvanians” to attract, retain and “embrace” immigrants statewide.” (LNP)

Latest Push to Require Display of Ten Commandments In Public Schools Reaches PA. “Two Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Doug Mastriano, the GOP’s 2022 gubernatorial nominee, are pushing to put the Ten Commandments in the state’s public schools despite court rulings against such requirements.” (Erie Times-News)

Around The Commonwealth

3. What 2021 Turnout In the Race For Pittsburgh Mayor Could Tell Us About the 2025 Primary

“In 2021, just 29% of registered voters cast a ballot in the mayoral primary. Remarkably, the 57,000 votes were a high-water mark for the city’s municipal elections.

Past mayoral elections saw turnout rates that hovered around the low 20% range, according to data from the county elections division. But calling a turnout of 29% high feels a bit disjointed — like trying to read a billboard without your glasses on. But for a Pittsburgh mayoral election, it is high relative to past elections.” (PG Politics)

Elsewhere

‘This Is A Crisis’: Pittsburgh Regional Transit Forecasts 35% Cut In Service, An Increase to $3 Basic Fare. “The agency outlined those cuts Thursday, and they may be even more impactful than expected. Faced with a $100 million deficit for the year that begins July 1, the agency is calling for a 35% reduction in service and a 25-cent increase in the base fare to $3, which would make it the fifth highest in the country.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Center 1968 Is On a Mission to Train and Elect More Black Women In Politics and Policy. “When Jasmine Sessoms observed the political landscape, she was disheartened to see that practically no Black women worked in public policy. After successfully training Black women to run for political office in her home state of Pennsylvania through her “She Can Run” program—resulting in graduates like Cherelle Parker, who went on to be elected Philadelphia’s first female mayor—Sessoms decided she needed to go a step further.” (The Grio)

From Poster to Press Secretary: How Kyla Gill’s Unconventional Background Led Her to Success. “If it feels like many politicians don’t understand where you’re coming from in this moment of political change …well, Emilia Rowland says that might have something to do with who gets hired to work for them.” (WESA Politics)

Judge Throws Bolus Off Republican Ballot For Scranton Mayor. “Scranton will have one fewer candidate for mayor. Lackawanna County Common Pleas Court Judge Terrence R. Nealon ruled Thursday that Republican candidate Bob Bolus remains ineligible to run for the office because of 1991 and 2012 felony convictions.” (WVIA)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• How to Really Shrink the Education Department. (Wall Street Journal)
• A Nation Trump Never Heard of Matters to America. (Dennis Jett)
• Donald Trump Wants to Privatize the Economy — and Make Americans Pay For Everything. (Patricia Lopez)
• I Was a Cyber Charter School Spokesman: They Need Reform Now More Than Ever in PA. (Scott Overland)

1 Thing

5. 16 of PA’s Quirkiest Man-Made Roadside Attractions

“Pennsylvania is home to plenty of eye-catching roadside attractions, but this list focuses solely on the quirkiest man-made ones.

These 16 attractions earn their place by sheer novelty – whether due to their unexpected size, unusual shape, or peculiar placement.” (PA Bucket List)

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