June 3: Budget Season

Just Another Manic Monday. Make it a great week.

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Phillies (41-19) | St. Louis 4-5 (10) | Mon-Wed vs. Milwaukee


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What’s Happening Today. The stretch run begins as the House and Senate are both back in session.

Did You Know? In 2024, Jeff Yass holds the title of Pennsylvania’s wealthiest individual, boasting an impressive net worth of $27.6 billion.

Pennsylvania. The Ultimate Swing State. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Biden’s Big Weakness vs Trump: Voters Without College Degrees

“President Joe Biden is hemorrhaging support among voters without college degrees – a large group that includes Black people, Hispanic women, young voters and suburban women – producing a far tighter rematch against his Republican predecessor Donald Trump than seen in 2020, Reuters/Ipsos polling reveals.

Biden’s support among voters without a four-year degree is down 10 percentage points, compared to this point in the 2020 campaign, the analysis of around 24,000 registered voter responses to Reuters/Ipsos polls in 2020 and 2024 shows.” (Reuters)

Related

RFK Jr. Scrambles To Make Debate Stage With Biden and Trump. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using every tool at his disposal to get to the first debate with President Biden and former President Trump, though he faces a rocky path to qualify before June 27.” (The Hill)

The Upside-Down American Flag Goes Mainstream As A Form of Right-Wing Protest. “After former President Donald Trump’s historic felony conviction, many of his supporters protested the verdict by posting images of an American flag flipped upside down on social media.” (WQLN)

Black Leaders Call Out Trump’s Criminal Justice Contradictions As He Rails Against Guilty Verdict. “Donald Trump lambasted the guilty verdict of his hush money trial this week from the same Manhattan courthouse that was the site of one of the most notorious examples of injustice in recent New York history that he had a part in.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Trump Joins Tiktok and Calls It ‘An Honor.’ As President He Once Tried To Ban The Video-Sharing App. “Donald Trump has joined the popular video-sharing app TikTok, a platform he once tried to ban while in the White House, and posted from a UFC fight two days after he became the first former president and presumptive major party nominee in U.S. history to be found guilty on felony charges.” (AP)

State

2. The Fight For School Vouchers In PA Is Back — And Both Sides Have New Strategies

“The debate over school vouchers is heating up again.

And this time, both sides are coming to the fight, a lot more organized — and a lot more well-funded than last year.

School vouchers are poised to again be a sticking point that could stall the state budget past the June 30 deadline, with Democratic leaders in the House and Republican leaders in the Senate all promising they won’t back down on the issue.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Smucker, Other Republicans Ask US Supreme Court To Revive Lawsuit Against Joe Biden, Josh Shapiro Election Policies. “Congressman Lloyd Smucker of Lancaster is part of an effort to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to look at a lawsuit opposing get-out-the-vote efforts in Pennsylvania and beyond.” (WITF)

How PA Republicans Are Doing Damage Control After Trump’s Conviction. “For former President Donald Trump’s most fervent Pennsylvania supporters, Thursday’s guilty verdict does little to change their faith. If anything, it motivates them.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Shapiro, Kavulich Unveil 10-Year ‘Roadmap’ To Improve Senior Services in Pennsylvania. “An estimated 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians will be 60 or over by 2030, outnumbering every other age group in the state, surpassing 3.8 million people. Gov. Josh Shapiro formally unveiled a 10-year strategic plan today called “Aging Our Way, PA,” which is designed to serve as a roadmap for providing older adult services in Pennsylvania.” (WVIA)

Fairness Pennsylvania Looks to Bring LGBTQ+ Lobbying to Harrisburg. “Pennsylvania has its first full-time lobbyist focused on LGBTQ+ issues.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Wait Is On For Commonwealth Court Rulings in Cabell/Walsh Race

“The wait is on for Commonwealth Court rulings in the tight race for the Republican 117th House District contest because all required court briefs have been filed.

Incumbent Michael Cabell and challenger Jamie Walsh are currently three votes apart, with Walsh in the lead. The Republican April 23 primary victor is essentially assured the seat because there were no Democratic candidates or write-in nominees to appear on the November general ballot.

Three appeals of county Court of Common Pleas decisions are pending in Commonwealth Court.” (Times Leader)

Related

First Lady Jill Biden To Community College Grads: Erie Doesn’t Do ‘Can’t’ “First lady Jill Biden encouraged more than 80 graduates of the Erie County Community College to ignore people who tell them they “can’t” and pursue their dreams anyway, while also advocating for one of President Joe Biden’s key educational initiatives — two years of free community college — during a commencement address Saturday in the bellwether county.” (Erie Times-News)

Who Is George Soros, and Why Is He An Issue in Western PA? “Investor George Soros, a funder of progressive groups and Democratic candidates, has been a Republican boogeyman for years. He’s taken on a prominent role this year in Western Pennsylvania as Republicans significantly feature him in their efforts to defeat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio in the region’s only two competitive congressional races this fall.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Can Trump’s Conviction Sway Pennsylvania Voters? A ‘Sliver Of Voters’ Could Decide in November. “With polls suggesting the outcome of Donald Trump’s latest criminal trial will have a minimal impact on voters this fall, however, it’s not clear precisely what it all means for Pennsylvania politics.” (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Courting Voters of Color, Biden’s Record In Office Stands Against Trump’s History of Racism. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• In Trump Drama, A Sign Of Hope In A Jury Of Everyday Americans. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Former President Trump Is Now A Convicted Felon: A Sad Time In American History. (PennLive)
• Donald Trump and the Uses of Violence. (Andrew Moss)
• Trump’s Not Wrong. The System Is Broken. Everyday Americans Saved Us. (Will Bunch)
• Trump’s Prosecution Stretched The Law To Find Him Guilty. (Kyle Sammin)
• Many Americans Can’t Support a Convicted Felon in the White House. (Mark S. Singel)
• Bon Appetit, Trump’s Zombies. (James E. Garcia)
• Trump Is Guilty. But This Is No Time To Celebrate, Says Former Bucks County Solicitor. (Joe Khan)
• Trump Wins ‘Popular Vote’, 34-0. (Chris Kelly)
• The Democrats and Their Unconventional Means. (Andy Bloom)
• The Concern With Justice Alito’s Ethics Isn’t About Ethics. (May Mailman)
• Older Pennsylvanians Are The Most Important Voting Bloc This Year. (Bill Johnston-Walsh)
• State Overdue For School Funding Reform. (Sharon Herald)
• Scanlon and The Squad. (Wally Nunn)
• Historic Tax Cuts for ALL Pennsylvanians. (Rep. Tim O’Neal)

1 Thing

5. The Cheese ‘Cosmo’

“Growing up in North Central Pennsylvania meant reaping the culinary benefits of being situated between Philly and New York City. The pizza and sandwiches, particularly the cheesesteaks, are staples of Williamsport, Pa. fast-casual menus, and were something I missed after moving to Pittsburgh. While I’ve found local substitutions for the big New York-style slices and subs of my youth (thanks for the seitan cheesesteak, Spak), one food item eluded me — the cheese Cosmo.

How to define the cheese Cosmo. It’s not grilled cheese, it’s not a simple cheese sandwich. A generous slab of cheese (I usually ordered provolone) comes hot and ready on a sub roll with various toppings — you can do “in the garden” with lettuce, tomato, and onion, along with vinegary dressings, condiments, and that lovely, spicy sandwich pepper spread. You can also add meat or grilled veggies. While this type of sandwich goes by many names, a 2011 article on the PA Eats website claims that Williamsport is the only place that calls it a “Cosmo.” (Pittsburgh City Paper)

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