Thanks, professor!
10.03.2026 20:09
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Thanks, professor!
Some personal news: My last day covering the state Capitol for WITF will be March 20th. I’m leaving on good terms for another gig in journalism (stay tuned).
Thanks to everyone at WITF who has been so welcoming and generous with their time as I’ve taken on audio reporting.
ICE asked nine south central Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies last fall if they wanted to cooperate on a 30 day immigration enforcement surge. Local officials said no, citing either limited capacity or need.
www.witf.org/2026/03/09/i...
Just spotted GOP influencer Scott Presler filing petition signatures to run for Pennsylvania's Republican State Committee. If successful, he'd represent a district in Beaver County.
Presler declined to chat when I asked him about the SAVE America Act.
Read more about PA's seemingly endless string of special elections here, from Votebeat's
@bycarterwalker.bsky.social www.votebeat.org/pennsylvania...
Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, says she will reintroduce her proposal to eliminate special elections in Pennsylvania by requiring vacancies be filled in the "next regularly scheduled" primary/general.
palegis.us/senate/co-sp...
Gov. Shapiro is ahead (48%) of GOP opponent Stacy Garrity (28%) in his reelection campaign for governor, F&M's latest poll found.
F&M political scientist Berwood Yost says those numbers are very likely to change closer to November
lancasteronline.com/news/politic...
A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood PA PAC said Malone did not seek an endorsement this year.
PP supported his election bid last year, but was among the list of groups upset over Malone's support last year of SB9, which seeks to ban trans athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports.
2025 endorsement here: plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-pare...
Sen. James Malone was seemingly snubbed for an endorsement from Planned Parenthood PA PAC in his bid for reelection.
Malone is a Democrat from Lancaster County whom the GOP is looking to oust this year after his surprise special election win last year
ICYMI: A quick follow-up on my reporting last week about Garrity receiving Trump's endorsement after one question.
From Florida to Philly, a political consultant kept working as fraud claims piled up against her
- Excellent story by Anna Orso at the Inquirer
www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
TikTok investor Jeff Yass avoided paying $1 billion in taxes while largely escaping public scrutiny.
He then poured that money into campaigns to cut taxes and support election deniers.
(Published 2022)
Republican Stacy Garrity should disclose question that led to Trump’s endorsement, Democrats say www.witf.org/2026/02/27/r...
ICYMI: The audio story is now embedded, where you can listen to much of the recording.
Talking to GOP insiders this month, Pa. Treasurer Stacy Garrity revealed how she secured a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump in this year’s governor’s race.
In her telling, Garrity landed Trump’s support by answering a single question.
www.witf.org/2026/02/26/o...
If we can see the project of press freedom in this broader framework— as a critical means of assuring that we all enjoy all of our basic liberties— we can help secure not only journalism but society as a whole.
As Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy put it: Sen. John Fetterman "maintains the warm embrace of a healthy number of Republicans."
73% of Pa. Republicans approve of Fetterman's work, while 62% of Dems disapprove.
- Per new QU poll
Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said the following in a news release:
"Shapiro maintains solid numbers as governor. Do Pennsylvanian voters think he's up to the job in the Oval Office? Not exactly a ringing endorsement."
Shapiro leads his 2026 GOP opponent, Stacy Garrity, by double digits - 55% to 37%.
Josh Shapiro boasts a 56% approval rating as governor among Pennsylvanians. But only 40% of voters say he'd be a good president — as he faces rumors of a bid — compared to 43% who say he wouldn't.
Per new Quinnipiac Poll poll.qu.edu/poll-release...
To be clear: Their appointments will not impact my coverage of state government or the gubernatorial race.
WITF’s parent company appointed new members to its board today, including Donna Malpezzi (a longtime attorney for state Senate Republicans) and Thomas Waters (chief investment officer of the Treasury, led by GOP governor candidate Stacy Garrity)
New: Pennsylvania's nonprofit rape crisis centers, which provide support groups, counseling, legal aid, and crisis intervention hotlines, have been flat funded in 6 of the commonwealth's last 10 budgets. Now they say they are at their fiscal limit.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/02...
2 Treasury staff will accompany her. Each of the 3 will have a hotel room costing $416.26.
“This opportunity will allow her to gain valuable insights into national issues that could impact Pennsylvanians and the services provided by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department,” her spox said, noting leaders from both parties have attended in the past.
... her trip to DC coincided with a previously scheduled National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) Legislative Conference. And Garrity will meet with members of Congress to talk "Pennsylvania and national state treasury issues including ABLE and SURCH."
GOP gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity will attend President Trump’s SOTU speech tomorrow in her formal capacity as Pa. state Treasurer – meaning taxpayers will foot the bill for her travel expenses.
Garrity's spox said ... 🧵
"(Shapiro is) now trying to hedge his bet as data centers absorb a nationwide backlash from voters increasingly concerned about their impact on electricity bills."
... via @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...