News & Brews January 16, 2026
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Shapiro sues vendor to save face over his admin’s miss
Well, this tells you a lot about Gov. Shapiro. In the wake of the news that 3.4 million pieces of state agency mail were not delivered—and Shapiro’s administration didn’t catch the mistake for a month—Shapiro is suing the vendor who failed to deliver the mail. Here’s the thing. Did the vendor goof? Quite possibly. Did the Shapiro administration goof for not even noticing anything was wrong for a month? Quite possibly. The vendor allegedly told the state he had cut staff during last year’s budget impasse—when vendors weren’t paid but were expected still to do their contracted work. Looks a whole lot like Shapiro is trying to save his own face after his administration’s flop by spending taxpayer dollars to go after a vendor.
Source: Shapiro heading to the White House today
Per a “source” (gotta love those sources!), Gov. Shapiro will attend an event at the White House today “aimed at addressing a rising concern among voters about the enormous amount of power used for artificial intelligence ahead of elections later this year,” the AP reports. “The White House said its National Energy Dominance Council and the governors of several states … want to try to compel PJM Interconnection to hold a power auction for tech companies to bid on contracts to build new power plants. The Trump administration and governors will sign a statement of principles toward that end Friday.” Of course, as we’ve pointed out before, a big reason power supply isn’t keeping up with data center demands is that terrible state policies prevent it from doing so.
Philly ‘teach-in’ on MLK day will promote antisemitism
PennLive reports that Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is slamming an anti-Israel event slated to be held Monday for Philly students, organized by “Philadelphia Educators for Palestine and Students For Justice in Palestine Philadelphia Coalition.” The event, titled (and I quote) “From Philly To Palestine: How Our Struggles Intertwine,” will include topics including “weapons manufacturers in Philly fueling massacres, lack of state funding for public schools as our taxes fund genocide & occupation” and “student experiences with racism & Islamophobia in Philly schools.” Fetterman rightly noted on X, “Martin Luther King Day should be reserved to teach and celebrate his profound legacy to our nation. I strongly reject indoctrination steeped in antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric, normalizing violence under the auspice of ‘resistance.’”
Ellen Greenberg probe could reach Shapiro
WGAL reports that the newly revealed federal probe of Ellen Greenberg’s 2011 death with more than 20 stab wounds “could bring scrutiny” on Gov. Shapiro—who as attorney general reviewed the case and upheld a “suicide” ruling. The feds have issued subpoenas in the case, and WGAL further details that “Philadelphia’s Police Department, Medical Examiner’s Office and Law Department are some of the organizations reportedly subpoenaed – as well as the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office,” which, of course, was formerly led by Shapiro.
Deluzio faces lawsuit from fired staff member
A fired staff member has sued U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17) in federal court, “alleging his office refused to accommodate her disabilities like anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder,” the Center Square reports. The former staffer claims she faced “hostile treatment” for the disability, which she didn’t tell Deluzio’s office about until a year after she was hired. She also claims her request to bring her therapy dog to work was first approved but later she wasn’t allowed to do so. (A therapy dog is different from a service animal. The latter are specially and extensively trained and recognized by law; the former are not.)