News & Brews October 31, 2025
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Who’s funding pro-retention efforts?
Our review of campaign finance reports shows more than 20 Lefty committees have spent at least $12.5 million so far this year on pro-retention efforts for three Democrat state Supreme Court justices. And more reports are still to come. Among the big spenders are the trial lawyers’ PAC The Committee for a Better Tomorrow, which has spent more than $3.8 million, as well as Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, which has spent nearly $4.5 million (at least). Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness is funded in part by unions as well as a so-called “dark money” group that the media loves to hate (but only on the Right) since it doesn’t disclose its donors. Other spenders include the ACLU and pro-abortion groups. The AP also tracked some of the spending.
Pa. ranks 36th in tax competitiveness
Here’s some not-so-great news for a Friday. According to the 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index released by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranks a sad 36th. The ranking “compares each state on more than 150 variables in the five major areas of taxation (corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales and excise taxes, property and wealth taxes, and unemployment insurance taxes).” This is a two-spot drop from our standing in the previous ranking.
Budget talks … but still no budget deal
Last evening, top lawmakers gathered for closed-door budget talks in Gov. Shapiro’s office, but it looks like despite the talks—which have been repeated for several days—there are still no details on any deal. And lawmakers weren’t offering any comments on what the discussions were like.
Mamdani’s strategy firm is based in Philly
The Hill profiles the Democrat strategy firm that is driving far-left Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral campaign. Fight Agency, which launched earlier this year, includes partners who previously worked on campaigns for candidates including Sen. John Fetterman and Sen. Bernie Sanders. And even though they’re focused on electing an avowed socialist as mayor of New York City, the agency is based in Philadelphia.
50 million doses of fentanyl seized in Pa. this year
The Inquirer reports that per state Attorney General Dave Sunday, 50 million doses of fentanyl have been seized across Pennsylvania this year, with more than half—27 million doses—taken from the Philadelphia region. The AG’s office defines a “dose” as 2 milligrams. Announcing the news, Sunday said, “Fentanyl has replaced heroin as the opioid most commonly found in the commonwealth, and it’s not even close.”