News & Brews November 21, 2025
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Shapiro’s ‘evolution of a scandal’
Gov. Josh Shapiro continues to stonewall on transparency when it comes to the sexual harassment scandal involving his former secretary of legislative affairs, Mike Vereb. Broad + Liberty reports that Shapiro is now “fighting in two separate lawsuits to block the release of documents and other information that could shed more light on the … allegations that forced [Vereb’s] resignation” two years ago. “The evolution of the scandal suggests more of an unraveling than of anything being put to rest.” In the latest development, Shapiro’s office on Monday appealed to the Commonwealth Court to fight an Office of Open Records order that Shapiro release some information.
Why ‘No’ lost on Election Day
Our president and CEO, Matt Brouillette, took to the virtual pages of RealClear Pennsylvania to analyze why the Vote No on Retention effort came up short this past Election Day. Interestingly, even the Left agreed the Vote No strategy was good, and the media also observed that it was working to change minds. But “as one observer noted,” Matt writes, “our side seemed to ‘pull the plug.’ And that’s because more groups on the Right still aren’t convinced of the importance of winning Pennsylvania.”
Lawmakers move to subpoena Shapiro over secretive security upgrades
Spotlight PA reports that lawmakers are “moving to subpoena the Shapiro administration for records related to the $1 million in taxpayer-funded security upgrades underway at the Democratic governor’s personal home in the Philadelphia suburbs.” Following the arson attack on the governor’s mansion in April, in which the arsonist was inexplicably able to roam the grounds and get inside the mansion with nary a peep of response from security, the administration undertook millions of dollars in repairs to the mansion as well as more recent security upgrades to Shapiro’s private home. The administration has balked at requests for transparency, however.
‘The Dems who attack billionaires, then take their money’
The Free Press has a fun story on Democrats’ pattern of “attacking billionaires and big corporations all while still taking money from the superrich and corporate-funded PACs.” The story focuses on Democrats outside of Pa. But our research shows those in Pa. do the same thing. For example, the Left-wing group Pennsylvania Stands Up organized a rally against billionaires earlier this year. But a review of public reports shows Pennsylvania Stands Up is backed by a group that gets funding from billionaires including Bill Gates, George Soros, Mark Zuckerberg, Pierre Omidyar, and Hansjorg Wyss.
Conversation on faith, family, & business
Siblings P.J. Dempsey and Kristin Dempsey—entrepreneurs, CP friends, and president and vice president of Dempsey Uniform—participated in a forum on Faith, Family, and Business, co-hosted by our friends at Open Discourse Coalition. Watch the event here!