News & Brews December 16, 2025
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AG Sunday will defend AI laws against Trump
WESA reports that Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday has “said he would defend any artificial intelligence regulations passed by the General Assembly from Trump administration efforts to block them in court.” The president signed an executive order last week that “creates an AI task force under the U.S. Attorney General to challenge state laws the Trump administration deems too ‘burdensome’ on AI developments.” Sunday said, “If there’s a statute that is attacked for its constitutionality, then we will absolutely defend it.”
Pa. officials hold Menorah lighting in Capitol
Gov. Shapiro and other elected officials participated in a Menorah lighting last evening in the state Capitol, marking the second night of Hanukkah. The lighting comes amid rising antisemitism and just after Sunday’s horrific terror attack against Jewish gatherers in Australia on Sunday—an attack that many say stemmed from a refusal by the country to address rising antisemitism.
School layoffs follow funding cuts
PennLive reports that following about $175 million in funding cuts in the recently passed state budget, Pennsylvania cyber charter schools are beginning hundreds of layoffs. Union-funded lawmakers pushed for funding cuts to cyber charters as these lawmakers dislike any educational opportunity that lets kids leave government-run, union-controlled schools whose teachers and staff members are unionized and pay dues into union coffers. You won’t hear a peep of concern from these lawmakers about cyber charter employees losing their jobs.
Pa. Republicans ‘project relative calm’ heading into 2026
Even as closely-watched congressional races in Pennsylvania next year could determine which party controls the U.S. House, state Republicans “are projecting relative calm,” the Inquirer reports. U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick said, “At this point when I was running [for Senate in 2024], the betting market said there was a 3% chance I was going to win.” Meanwhile, regarding next year’s gubernatorial race and the effort to unseat Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pa. GOP Chair Greg Rothman said, “Anything can happen and the voters are smart, and all I can do is prepare the party to ride the waves and ignore the crashes, but I’m optimistic.”
Vance to visit Pa. today
Reuters reports, “U.S. Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley [today] to highlight the administration’s economic message, a week after President Donald Trump visited the battleground state and delivered remarks that strayed from a focused economic pitch. The visit underscores a broader White House effort to sharpen its economic message as Republicans look to retain power in the midterm elections, amid signs that voter frustration over costs is undercutting the party’s political standing despite upbeat rhetoric from the administration.”