News & Brews May 1, 2026
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Antisemitism takes center stage in Philly congressional race
In the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans in Philadelphia, the winner of the Democrat primary is the assumed winner of the general election, as the district is one of the most Democrat districts in the country. Well, the Inquirer reports that Democrat state Rep. Chris Rabb—one of the Dems running for the seat— had his “anti-Israel platform” get a “massive megaphone” as he appeared on Hasan Piker’s show. Now, Hasan Piker is avowedly antisemitic and he has said that “Hamas is a thousand times better” than Israel. But Rabb claimed the criticism he would get for being on the show is because he’s a “Black progressive.” Um, no. It’s because Piker likes terrorists and hates Jews.
Shapiro doubles down on internet claim
Broad + Liberty reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro is doubling down on the claim that he never uses commonwealth-owned devices to browse the internet. Last month in response to appeal, the Office of Open Records ordered the governor’s “office to either produce Shapiro’s browser history or submit a detailed affidavit describing an actual search…. The office did neither.” Instead, Shapiro’s open records officer “attests that he spoke with the governor’s chief of staff, who ‘directly inquired with the Governor who confirmed that the Governor does not and has not used Commonwealth resources to browse the internet.’” The story notes that the claim “although technically possible, nevertheless defies common sense in an era when virtually all government work involves web-based platforms.”
Fetterman still against ICE detention centers in Pa.
PennLive reports that in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman reiterated “his opposition to two proposed ICE detention centers in Pennsylvania.” Fetterman wrote, “While I have been clear in my support for the enforcement of federal immigration law, this decision will do significant damage to these local tax bases, set back decades-long efforts to boost economic development, and place undue burdens on limited existing infrastructure in these communities.”
Philly school board votes to close 17 schools
The Philadelphia school board last evening approved a measure that “would close 17 schools and renovate 169 over the next decade,” the Inquirer reports. “The vote came amid intense opposition and over the objections of hundreds of students, parents, and teachers who begged the board to spare their schools.” The $3 billion plan “relies on $2 billion from yet-unsecured state and philanthropic sources.” And this is a problem, as the ‘yet-unsecured’ part refers to un-promised funding in the yet-to-be-passed state budget.
Op-Ed: On gun laws, don’t bring Va. to Pa.
Attorney and business owner Jonathan Goldstein writes in Broad + Liberty that “when it comes to gun laws and gun-involved homicides, the facts matter. Unfortunately, facts are all too often missing from the public debate — particularly among those trying to cancel Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms.” He points to Democrats’ mad rush to restrict gun ownership in Virginia—which they embarked upon immediately upon gaining a trifecta. And he warns that Democrats have already shown they would do the same thing in Pennsylvania if they gain a governing trifecta here.