News & Brews January 30, 2026
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Shapiro dodges on endorsing Fetterman
Pennsylvanians have become used to Gov. Josh Shapiro ducking and dodging on key issues. From school choice to RGGI to how his own office handled a sexual harassment scandal, the governor often has a tough time giving straight answers. But you’d think something as easy as endorsing a sitting senator from your own party would be an exception. For Shapiro, it’s not. Apparently trying to walk the tight rope of political indecision again, Shapiro recently avoided saying whether he would endorse fellow Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman if the latter runs for re-election.
‘Will Shapiro lead—or keep hiding?’
And speaking of Shapiro’s indecision, Beth Ann Rosica asks in Broad + Liberty, “Will Josh Shapiro lead—or keep hiding—on school choice and girls’ sports?” On the former, Rosica notes that while multiple governors have already announced their opt-in to the new federal school choice program, Shapiro still hasn’t given a straight answer. “The question remains whether Shapiro will break with the progressive side of his party and sign onto the program.” Further, “On the topic of boys in girls’ sports and spaces, Shapiro is noncommittal.” Indeed, his position seems to morph depending on his audience and the political climate.
Richey announces for Lt. Gov., Garrity endorses
Allegheny County Attorney Jason Richey, who serves as chair of the county Republican committee and previously ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022, has announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor. “Following the announcement, Garrity said, “Pennsylvania has a wealth of leaders who believe we can and should do better than we are under Josh Shapiro’s failed administration, and through those discussions, one candidate rose to the top to join our campaign as my running mate: Jason Richey.” PennLive notes, “Several other Republicans have announced campaigns for lieutenant governor this year, but the endorsement from Garrity – who is thus far uncontested in the race for the GOP governor’s nomination – makes Richey a strong front-runner.”
Union workers on P-G future
After union demands played a central role in the Post-Gazette’s recent announcement that it would cease operations, union workers are now trying to “launch an entity that organizers say will be dedicated to imagining a future for the paper beyond its current ownership…. The organization, called Pittsburgh Alliance for People Empowered Reporting, or PAPER for short, seeks to look into possible models to continue reporting,” WESA reports. Let’s see if union demands make that PAPER’s operation unsustainable too.
Philly council backs ‘ICE out’ proposal
Fifteen members of Philly’s 17-member council have signed onto a package of legislation that “would codify Philly’s ‘sanctuary city’ status, ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from operating on city-owned property, and prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of immigration status,” the Inquirer reports. Never mind for a moment the questionable legality of a city trying to impose a ban on a federal agency. Mayor Cherelle Parker has not embraced the far-Left’s abolish ICE stance. “Administration officials will testify when the bills are called up for committee hearings. If they are approved, Parker will have the choice of signing the bills into law, vetoing them, or letting them become law without her signature.”