News & Brews January 15, 2025
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Nippon Steel: ‘Why we’re suing Biden’
Nippon Steel Vice Chairman and Representative Director Takahiro Mori took to the pages of the Wall Street Journal to outline the company’s lawsuit against President Biden. “We didn’t take this decision lightly, but the Cfius [Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States] review failed to meet the most basic requirements of due process and fairness. We believe that Mr. Biden twisted the process to achieve predetermined political ends.” Mori continues, “We don’t believe there was any national-security concern to begin with; Japan is one of America’s staunchest allies. Cfius didn’t send us a single written comment on or serious question about our proposals before referring the transaction to the president.” Notably, he adds, “Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel will do whatever it takes to close this transaction. It is the only viable deal that will keep U.S. Steel intact, keep unionized blast furnaces running, and protect jobs.”
‘How a single state took Harris down’
CNN—which is still mourning its election night loss—has a (rather long) story on how Trump’s victory in Pennsylvania “was the nail in the coffin” for the Harris campaign. “What makes the state so important?” queries CNN’s Michael Smerconish. “Democrats dominate the two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but spread out in between are rural territories favoring Republican candidates. And over time the state’s suburbs have become uniquely purple.”
Butler first responders to join Trump inaugural parade
After President-elect Trump takes the oath of office Monday, he’ll head down Pennsylvania Avenue in the traditional inaugural parade. First in marching order is the U.S. Army, but coming second will be first responders from Butler, Pa., the site of the first assassination attempt against Trump. In a statement, the Butler County First Responders said, “We hope all Americans will pause today to remember the bravery and sacrifice of their own first responders…we are honored to be here to represent them all, and immensely proud to salute our fellow life-savers nationwide by marching together in the Inaugural Parade.”
PGH mayor’s race sees first debate
It’s pretty early in the game, but WESA reports, “The first policy debate of Pittsburgh’s 2025 mayoral race began in the bitter cold outside Troy Hill’s shuttered Cowley Recreation Center, where challenger Corey O’Connor vowed to expand resources for youth and families.” He accused incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey of ‘neglecting’ this ‘community resource’. “In response, Gainey’s administration provided a fact sheet which said there is a total of $8.6 million set aside in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan for work to rehabilitate the structure. A contract to do so was executed last month, the administration said.” Buckle up, we’ve got another 10 months to go.
County judge running for Pa. Superior Court
Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge Brandon Neuman, a Democrat, has announced his intent to run for an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Superior Court this year. Neuman, who won election as a judge in 2017, previously served for several years in the Pa. House. The Washington Observer-Reporter reports, “A seat on the Superior Court opened up last year after Daniel McCaffery ran and won his race for state Supreme Court in 2023, leaving the position on the lower court vacant…. This will be the second time Neuman has run for statewide office after being a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014, when he finished fifth in the Democratic primary.”