News & Brews September 11, 2024
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Harris & ABC debate Trump in Philly
Last night, former President Trump squared off against Vice President Harris and Harris acolytes disguised as ABC News moderators in the first debate of the newly configured presidential race. In the words of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, Trump let Harris off the hook, allowing her to bait him several times while not forcing her to “defend her policies.” Meanwhile, as the WSJ notes, Harris “had help from the ABC News moderators, who were clearly on her side. They fact-checked only Mr. Trump, several times, though Ms. Harris offered numerous whoppers….”
Pennsylvania remembers 9/11
Yesterday, a flag ceremony honoring the Flight 93 victims was held at the Pa. Capitol. Fox43 reports, “The Flight 93 Hero Flag was unfurled Tuesday, Sept. 10 in the State Capitol Rotunda. Those who attended the ceremony witnessed a rare moment as the Hero Flag is hardly ever unfurled.” The flag “has been used since the first remembrance ceremony at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pa.” And yesterday, “marked the last time the flag was opened before it goes to the Smithsonian.” The 23rd Annual September 11 Observance at the Flight 93 Memorial is scheduled to begin this morning at 9:45 a.m. See more details here.
Judge orders Johnny Doc & allies to repay ≈ $1.7M
Former Philly labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty and his co-defendants must repay IBEW Local 98 nearly $1.7 million, per an order issued money by a federal judge. The amount includes the money Dougherty and his allies stole from the union, along with almost $1.1 million in legal fees.
What will Pa. legislature do this fall?
Well, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s tenure has been marked by the fewest legislative accomplishments in decades. With “just over a dozen voting days” left between now and the end of this legislative session, what’s on lawmakers’ plates? Spotlight PA reports that it’s unlikely some issues requiring compromise will move forward. “But some less politicized issues could receive bipartisan support as lawmakers up for reelection finalize their closing pitch to voters, according to legislative leaders and other Capitol sources.”
UPenn says it will keep quiet on world affairs
After the debacle of a response to the war on Israel—a response that ultimately led to the resignation of university president Liz Magill—the University of Pennsylvania has said that it will no longer respond as a university to world events unless those events have “direct and significant bearing on University functions.” A statement from the university reads in part, “It is not the role of the institution to render opinions — doing so risks suppressing the creativity and academic freedom of our faculty and students…. The university will issue messages on local or world events rarely, and only when those events lie within our operational remit.” UPenn caveated, however, “No established lines separate what is or is not of direct concern to University operations, so we expect occasional disagreement about where those lines are drawn.”