News & Brews September 18, 2023
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Fetterman joins the picket line … in Michigan
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman drove to Michigan over the weekend to walk the picket line with striking UAW members. In a statement released by his office, Fetterman said, “I drove 290 miles from Braddock in my UAW-made Ford Bronco to stand in solidarity with these brave workers as they walk the picket line.” I wonder if anyone asked if Fetterman used any taxpayer dollars for this jaunt.
Shapiro: ‘Text me!’ (Or, rather, ‘Let me text you!’)
Gov. Josh Shapiro has joined the texting platform Community and is inviting Pennsylvanians to text him. But lest you think hearing from constituents is the only reason he’s joining, think again. The progressive Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports the more likely reason: “Shapiro said in the [news] release that his office will deliver messages to those who subscribe with information about his initiatives, provide first-hand updates on actions his administration is taking and ‘connect with Commonwealth resources.’” (Looks like Shapiro’s marketing team is hard at work.) But beware, the Capital-Star notes, “that even though it may not sell user data, Community’s Terms of Service state it can ‘use your information to send you emails, text messages, and other messages’ for its marketing and informational purposes.”
A look at tomorrow’s special House election
The AP gives details on tomorrow’s special House election, when voters in Allegheny County will choose between Democrat Lindsay Powell and Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith. The district is heavily Democrat, having voted decisively for Clinton, Biden, and Fetterman. Also … get ready as there may be yet another special election coming up.
5 Pa. congressional seats on national target lists
The Erie Times-News reports, “Arms of both major parties have already released listings of their priority seats to flip in the election next year.” And five of the 70 House seats on the lists are in Pennsylvania. They include Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Scott Perry and Democrat Reps. Susan Wild, Matt Cartwright, and Chris Deluzio.
Philly votes to ban supervised injection sites
On Thursday, the Philadelphia City Council voted 13-1 to ban supervised injection sites in most of the city. The lone council member voting against the ban was progressive Kendra Brooks, who has also supported defunding the police and who recently garnered the endorsement of Gov. Josh Shapiro in her re-election bid.
Op-Ed: ‘Political implications’ of Cavalcante’s escape
Arick Wierson, a former advisor for Michael Bloomberg, writes at CNN that Danelo Cavalcante’s escape could impact politics both in the U.S. and in Cavalcante’s native Brazil. “It is easy to see how the Cavalcante story might be used to play up the failures of the Biden administration in solving the immigration crisis at the border…,” he writes. “Moreover, the Cavalcante issue has the potential to put Pennsylvania – a closely divided state that both parties see as key to not only winning the White House but gaining control of the Senate – back in play as the state’s senior US senator, Democrat Bob Casey, is up for reelection.”