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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Baba O’Riley. Classic Who.

PA Weather
Allison Park | Increasing Clouds, 50
Bellefonte | Sunny, 49
Jessup | Sunny, 47

PA Sports
Phillies (7-3) | Atlanta 5-7 | Wed-Thu vs. Atlanta
Pirates (4-8) | St. Louis 3-5 | Wed vs. St. Louis
Flyers (31-37-9) | Wed vs. NY Rangers
Penguins (32-35-12) | Chicago 5-0 | Fri vs. New Jersey
Sixers (23-55) | Wed vs. Washington

PA Money | Futures (as of 7:38 a.m.)
Dow  -542  |  NASDAQ -149.50 |  S&P  -61.50 

What We’re Hearing. “Democrats are pretty uniform, if not entirely uniform, in making the case that what’s happening right now is really dangerous,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio.

What’s Happening Today. The PA House convenes for a voting session at 11 AM. And Rep. Dan Meuser will hold a telephone town hall at 6:30 p.m.

Top Story

1. PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity Is Seriously Eyeing a Run For Governor as the GOP Race For 2026 Heats Up

“For months, Garrity ducked questions about whether she was considering a run for governor, while potential GOP candidates like U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser and failed 2022 gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Doug Mastriano started testing the waters to run in next year’s midterm election.

But in recent weeks, Garrity has teased a bid for the governor’s mansion on social media and in interviews, culminating in a speech she gave last weekend to the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in Harrisburg.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Where and When Are the PA Congressional Town Halls? “Here is a list compiled by PoliticsPA of past and future Town Hall events featuring the Commonwealth’s congressional representatives and senators.” (PoliticsPA)

What Democrat James Malone’s Surprise Win in a Trump +15 District Means For The 2026 Midterms. “A surprise Democratic win in a Pennsylvania Senate district that heavily voted for President Donald Trump bodes well for the party at large as the 2026 midterms approach.” (Spotlight PA)

Trump Tariffs Conjure Specter of Smoot-Hawley Act, A Depression-Era Blunder. “As President Donald Trump seeks to enforce steep, blanket tariffs, the Smoot-Hawley bill offers a cautionary tale of the detriments of protectionist barriers that result in trade wars, many economists say.” (Washington Post)

• Democrats Find Trump’s Haphazard Tariffs Are Uniting Them on Trade. (Politico)

State

2. Shapiro Warns Trump Tariffs ‘Roiled Our Domestic Markets,’ May Spark Trade War

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro laid into President Donald Trump on Tuesday, blaming the slew of tariff announcements for tanking the U.S. stock market and warning that a trade war will inevitably spike consumer prices.

Speaking at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau luncheon in Harrisburg, Shapiro — a Democrat rumored to be considering a 2028 presidential run — called Trump’s tariffs “reckless” and “dangerous,” saying they’re likely to force U.S. allies to implement retaliatory policies that would raise the cost of Pennsylvania-produced goods in their countries.” (LNP)

Elsewhere

Gun-Reformers, Lawmakers, Students Call For Gun Safety Laws, Increased Community Investment. “More than 100 gun-reform advocates, community leaders and students from across Pennsylvania made a pitch to lawmakers in Harrisburg Tuesday: Enhanced gun-safety laws could prevent 1,600 fatalities annually in Pennsylvania. ” (WESA)

Politics Stopping School Choice in Pennsylvania, State Senator Says. “The culture war and politics are interfering with education in the Keystone State, Pennsylvania state Sen. Scott Martin tells The Lion.” (The Lion)

Will PA Ever Legalize Weed? “And, can it possibly be the problem-solver advocates — including Gov. Shapiro — are looking for?” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Goughnour Sworn In As New State Representative. “State Rep. Dan Goughnour (D-Allegheny) took the oath of office at the state Capitol Monday to become the new state representative of Pennsylvania’s 35th Legislative District.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pennsylvania In-Home Care Crisis Worsening as Senior Population Grows

“It is the dream of most seniors in the Commonwealth to live out their ‘golden years’ in their own home. And more than 400,000 residents rely on in-home care to do so.

But the Pennsylvania Home Care Association (PHA) is sounding the alarm that the help needed for seniors to remain in their homes is running dry. And it plans to use its Advocacy Day on Wednesday to make sure that legislators in Harrisburg hear their concerns.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

A Closer Look at the Nationwide Impact of NIH Cuts. “Nearly half of all U.S. counties will experience economic losses of at least $250,000 as a result of the Trump administration’s planned cuts to indirect funding by the National Institutes of Health, per the Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project.” (Axios)

AARP: O’Connor Holds Significant Lead Over Gainey Among Over-50 Set. “It’s a small sample size that could mean more than you think. AARP commissioned a survey of 805 voters living in Pittsburgh. And while 805 is a relatively small number when looking at the entire city, the 50-and-older demographic polled is one that constitutes a significant voting bloc and could decide the next mayor.” (PoliticsPA)

Democratic State Officials Call Allegations Against Hartwick Serious, But Don’t Ask For Resignation. “Democratic Pennsylvania officials broke their silence on Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick’s vehicle crash and subsequent DUI charge but did not call for Hartwick to resign.” (PennLive)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• This Drug Changed My Life. More Americans Need Access. (Sen. John Fetterman)
• What Will Trump’s New Review Mean For U.S. Steel Deal? (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• PA Lawmakers Must Close Loophole On Signal, Other Apps That Could Subvert Transparency Laws. (LNP)
• As America Burns, a GOP War on Voting. (Will Bunch)
• This Isn’t How You Make America Healthy Again. (Lisa Jarvis)
• The Next Generation of Public Servants Is Being Disillusioned Before We Even Begin Our Careers. (Sofia Franco)
• Trump’s U. S. Steel-Nippon Steel Deal Will Revitalize PA Manufacturing. (Doug McLinko)
• Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act Would Hurt Pennsylvania and Fuel Inflation. (Greg Alvarez)
• Transportation Policy in Pennsylvania is a Tangled Mess. (Lowman Henry)

1 Thing

5. Sweet, Sticky and Sold Out Everywhere: Why Is There Such a Craze For Dubai Chocolate?

“If you don’t spend your life on TikTok, the latest viral food trend may have passed you by. But you won’t escape it for long. “Dubai chocolate” has gone mainstream.

The bars were first invented in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian living in Dubai. When she was pregnant with her second child, her cravings inspired her to come up with a chocolate bar containing a sweet, gooey filling of pistachio cream and tahini with the crunch of knafeh, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from shredded filo, soft cheese and syrup.” (The Guardian)

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