News & Brews January 23, 2025
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Krasner eyeing state charges against Jan. 6 folks Trump pardoned
Progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner should have enough on his hands tackling crime in Philly. But since he decided long ago not to do anything about that, he needs a new hobby. So he’s exploring ways to bring state charges against the January 6 folks whom President Trump recently pardoned. CNN reports, “Presidential pardons do not cover state offenses, but there would be significant legal hurdles for any state prosecution to move forward.”
Op-Ed: ‘School choice is critical issue in Pa.’
Next week is National School Choice Week. And as children, families, and education advocates prepare to celebrate and highlight school choice options, PA Families for Education Choice Founder Sharon Sedlar writes in PennLive that while the commonwealth “has some school choice strengths … it still has many challenges that need to be addressed, and families cannot wait any longer for these expanded education options.” Polling shows that in Pa., parents overwhelmingly support school choice options, making this issue central to any discussion of education in the commonwealth.
Philly won’t help in upholding immigration laws
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration says the city’s designation as a sanctuary city is still in effect—which means it does not cooperate with federal officials in upholding immigration law. Indeed, the City Council recently held a “Trump preparedness hearing”—not to examine ways to work with the new administration but instead to figure out how to buck it.
McCormick to chair foreign policy subcommittee
New U.S. Senator Dave McCormick has been named the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism. As the Delaware Valley Journal explains, “That puts him at the center of Congress’s debates over foreign policy regarding Israel and the Middle East.” A strong backer of Israel, McCormick said, “I am honored to chair a subcommittee on such critical issues. I see this as a great opportunity to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, expand the Abraham Accords, grow U.S.-India cooperation, and delve deeply into regional energy, economic, and security issues.”
Pittsburgh seeks to counter antisemitic ballot effort
Last year, I shared about the effort by anti-Israel activists in Pittsburgh to push an antisemitic referendum to block the city from doing business with any company that has ties to Israel. They were unable to collect enough signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. But they’re trying again, with an eye toward the May ballot. In response, “Pittsburgh City Council members want voters to make it official that the city cannot discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin or association with foreign nations when it conducts business,” the Tribune-Review reports.