News & Brews January 13, 2026
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Meta names Dina McCormick new president & vice chair
Axios reports, “Dina Powell McCormick, a prominent banking executive and former Republican official, is joining Meta full-time as president and vice chairman, reporting to CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg.” McCormick is married to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. Ms. McCormick previously served as a Meta board member, and she “joins Meta from BDT & MSD Partners, a powerful merchant bank based in Chicago. She previously spent 16 years in senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs.”
At press club, Garrity talks gubernatorial run
Speaking yesterday at the Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, state Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity reiterated that under Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania is lagging behind other states. “I know I struck a nerve when I recently said Josh Shapiro’s made Pennsylvania mediocre and that’s because the truth hurts,” she said. “Pennsylvania is not reaching our potential, and the buck stops at Josh Shapiro’s desk.” Garrity also tackled topics including AI and her support for school choice.
AFP yanks support from Obamacare-backing Republicans
If Republican U.S. House members who sided with Dems to back the extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies thought their defection would help them this election, they recently got some news to the contrary. POLITICO reports that Americans for Prosperity has said it’s pulling support for the 17 defectors—including Pennsylvania U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie, and Brian Fitzpatrick. Per an AFP spokesperson, the House Members’ votes were “a gut punch to every grassroots activist who gave up their nights and weekends to support each of these lawmakers. Trust is going to need to be rebuilt before AFP considers committing any more resources on their behalf.”
Q&A with Dem. Senate Leader Jay Costa
City & State PA interviewed Democrat Senate Leader Jay Costa on topics including education, energy, and his priorities for 2026. Guess what? He wants more spennndddddinnggggg! (Why are we not surprised?) On education? His solution is spending. On transportation? His solution is spending. On cutting massive government spending? Oh wait, that’s not on his agenda.
The collision of PJM, AI, and bad policies
The Wall Street Journal reports that “America’s AI boom is pushing the nation’s largest power-grid operator to the brink of a supply crisis.” That grid operator—PJM—encompasses 13 states, including Pennsylvania. But while many blame energy demands on AI data centers, bad state policies have also forced power plants to shut down. “State environmental policies have accounted for some of the closures. Illinois, Michigan, Maryland and other states on the PJM grid have shut down some coal and gas-fired units to reduce carbon emissions.” What’s more, “elected officials have made the problem worse by making it harder to build and operate power plants.” As PJM’s former CEO said, “We can do whatever we want in the markets, but if our plants run into a hostile siting and permitting regime, they will not get built.”