Joe Yerardi

Jenkintown’s Abbey Road

As US bombs Iran, a judge rules on the battle for hearts and minds. A federal court says Kari Lake didn’t have legal standing to gut federally funded broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

A federal court says Kari Lake didn’t have legal standing to gut federally funded broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. Read Jem Bartholomew. www.cjr.org/the_media_to...

GitHub - juliaingram/asylum-denial-rates-nicar26 Contribute to juliaingram/asylum-denial-rates-nicar26 development by creating an account on GitHub.

Here's the repo for me and Julia Ingram's "Using immigration data to tell stories in your community" #NICAR26 session: github.com/juliaingram/... And feel free to email me with any questions (whether or not you were able to attend)! joe.yerardi@gmail.com

As Josh Shapiro seeks reelection, his business-friendly brand has drawn millions from CEOs — including some with interests in Harrisburg Dozens of CEOs in industries ranging from coal mining to gambling to real estate are helping to bankroll Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s campaign. His fundraising could invite scrutiny ahead of 2028.

As Josh Shapiro seeks reelection, his business-friendly brand has drawn millions from CEOs — including some with interests in Harrisburg share.inquirer.com/xIQuM3

Judge: IRS broke law ‘approximately 42,695 times’ in giving DHS data A court on Thursday issued an opinion on a data-sharing agreement between the taxpayer agency and federal immigration authorities.

Breaking news: A federal judge found that the IRS violated federal law “approximately 42,695 times” when it shared confidential taxpayer addresses with immigration enforcement officials last summer.

City agrees to fix yearslong ‘courtesy’ tow problem. A judge still needs to approve the court settlement.

After a protracted legal battle in federal court — and six years’ worth of Inquirer stories — lawyers for the city have tentatively agreed to start tracking towed cars.

Record 129 press members killed in 2025; Israel responsible for 2/3 of deaths - Committee to Protect Journalists Key findings Introduction At a time when armed conflict has reached historic levels around the world, journalist killings also reached an all-time high primarily due to the actions of one government: ...

CPJ finds 129 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025 — the highest annual toll since CPJ began collecting data in 1992. It marks the second consecutive annual record for press death.

Israel was responsible for more than two-thirds of the global total in 2025.

cpj.org/special-repo...

How a land dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro and his neighbor is shaking up a sleepy Abington neighborhood — and why he says it’s a ‘political stunt’

Abington has became the battleground for dueling lawsuits between Gov. Josh Shapiro and his neighbors, bringing tension to a tranquil community.

Relase release petitions filed by detained immigrants used to be rare in Philly’s federal court, just a couple a year.

Now more than 1-in-6 cases filed in the court are habeas petitions.

And all judges are granting them, including those appointed by Trump.

Story: www.inquirer.com/news/mandato...

Big-money and out-of-state donors helped Josh Shapiro raise $30 million while Stacy Garrity raised $1.5 million from Pa.’s grassroots The Inquirer analyzed the candidates' latest campaign finance filings to find who — and how much money — is pouring into the Pennsylvania governor's race.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro out-raised Republican opponent and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity 16-1 last year. How did he do it? Lots of six-figure checks from out-of-state billionaires, for one thing. The latest in the money race share.inquirer.com/KsGT0V

Philly federal judges are growing frustrated with ICE policy to detain most undocumented immigrants ICE “continues to act contrary to law, to spend taxpayer money needlessly, and to waste the scarce resources of the judiciary," one judge wrote.

You heard about the prosecutor defending ICE who broke in court said “the system sucks. This job sucks.”

She isn’t the only one frustrated.

Philly’s federal judges are reaching to Greek mythology metaphors to express their frustration.

🧵 www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

Here’s who is funding Philly’s crowded race for Congress The race has yet to attract much money from political action committees or from donors outside the region. But that may change.

It's the marquee race of Philly's 2026 election calendar. But so far, the Democratic primary to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans hasn't seen much investment from PACs or fired-up Democratic partisans from outside the district. share.inquirer.com/3SJYTC

It takes all of us to make The Washington Post. Every section works together to create this authoritative, entertaining, worldwide news report.

So, Jeff Bezos, #SaveThePost.

New Epstein files show years of email exchanges with Sixers co-owner Josh Harris The Sixers owner shows up scores of times in emails released Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice, covering a period after Epstein's conviction for solicitation of sex with a minor.

www.inquirer.com/news/josh-ha...

The astonishing arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. In an interview, Fort described a challenge in her work documenting news in the Twin Cities: “Every independent journalist is kind of every person for themselves.” Two days later, officers came to her...

The Astonishing Arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, by Carolina Abbott Galvão and @riddhisetty.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/news/astonis...

Georgia Fort, an independent journalist and vice president of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, was also arrested by federal agents this morning

I was sent this video of agents at her door:

Proposed Philly school closures would disproportionately impact Black students. Here’s a look at the data behind the decisions. The proposal to close 20 Philadelphia public schools would address mostly buildings with hundreds of unused seats. The district says the plan is designed to improve academic outcomes.

Looked into the impact of closing 20 schools in Philly with @newskag.bsky.social. These are recommendations, not final decisions. Getting info to the public now was the goal.

www.inquirer.com/education/ph...

DHS Unlawfully Ended Venezuelan Migrant Status, Ninth Cir. Says The Trump administration’s termination of humanitarian protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan and Haitian immigrants violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, a federal appeals court ...

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and Haitians was unlawful, a Ninth Circuit panel found.

It’s the first time an appellate court has ruled on the substance of Trump efforts to dismantle the TPS program.

This image shows a logo of The Washington Post Guild and our statement: The Post Guild vehemently opposes any more cuts to the staff of The Washington Post. As we’ve seen in recent years, continuing to eliminate scores of workers who make this storied institution what it is only stands to weaken the newspaper, drive away readers and undercut The Post’s mission: to hold power to account without fear or favor and provide critical insight into communities across the region, country and world. If Jeff Bezos no longer supports that mission, then The Post and its readers deserve a steward who does. If you value The Post’s journalism and its renowned past — if you care about its future — we ask that you join us in our call to #SaveThePost.

#SaveThePost, Jeff Bezos.

How some Philly-area workers make $100,000 without a bachelor’s degree It's possible, but not the norm. Here's a look at what industries and roles they're in.

About 7% of the Philly metro area's population without a bachelor's degree made $100,000 or more in 2024, compared with about 33% of those with a bachelor's or higher. Here are the industries and roles that offer such workers the best shot at a six-figure paycheck share.inquirer.com/NSCDRr

Feds buy former Pa. Big Lots warehouse for ICE detention center: reports The former distribution center is part of ICE's nationwide plan to create detention space for more than 80,000 immigrant detainees.

ICE expansion continues. A former Big Lots warehouse in Tremont Township, PA is being purchased by the federal government for an ICE detention facility. Fewer than 300 residents live there and the town will lose $400K annually in tax revenue.

www.pennlive.com/news/2026/01...

Remarkable impact expected with this storm.

Snow and ice interactive forecast maps: www.inquirer.com/weather/wint...

‘He reached his limit.’ Immigrant father of 5-year-old with brain cancer accepts deportation to Bolivia after months in ICE detention.

Despite community support and legal efforts, the detained immigrant father of a 5-year-old son with brain cancer has decided to drop efforts to stay in the United States and accept deportation to Bolivia.

We just dropped a self-updating snow map that gives the forecast for every 5 square kilometers of the Eastern U.S using NWS data. It updates four times a day and tells you when the snow is expected to fall.

(I’m kinda proud of this one)

🔗: www.inquirer.com/weather/snow...

As a NJ resident, it's my obligation to share my North-Central-South Jersey borders using our interactives desk's new you-draw-it tool.

You people who think Central Jersey starts south of New Brunswick are monsters.

www.inquirer.com/news/new-jer...

The FBI searched a Washington Post reporter’s home as part of an investigation into classified material, people familiar with the matter said. It is exceedingly rare for federal agents to search a journalist’s home. trib.al/tKsg85n

Outstanding 👏

Health officials urge vaccination as flu cases surge in Pennsylvania Cases in late December hit higher counts locally and statewide than at this time the year before, according to city and state data.

It's not too late to get your flu vaccine! Philly doctors say it's especially important now as flu cases are surging. www.inquirer.com/health/flu-s...

Trump prompted resignations are starting to show up in federal data. PA, NJ lost thousands of federal jobs in 2025.

via @joeyerardi.bsky.social, @fallonroth.bsky.social, Ariana Perez-Castells and John Duchneskie

www.inquirer.com/business/def...

Pa. and N.J. lost thousands of jobs after federal workers signed up for Trump resignation program The Trump administration offered federal workers the opportunity to resign with months of pay last year. New data indicates how many have left federal jobs in the region.

The number of federal government workers in the Philadelphia region plunged in October, likely reflecting the departure of thousands who opted into President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation program early in the year share.inquirer.com/uU3cU1 w/ Ariana Perez-Castells and @fallonroth.bsky.social