News & Brews September 16, 2026
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
Trifecta ramifications would be ‘huge’
The New Republic reports that “right now there are 23 GOP ‘trifecta’ states, and only 16 Democratic ones. That may change big time—and the ramifications are huge.” A trifecta exists when one party controls the governor’s office and both chambers of the legislature. This story, written from a far-left perspective (so keep that in mind when reading :), explains how states are actually where important policy happens. And Democrats are eyeing the trifecta prize—particularly in a handful of states including Pennsylvania. The story says “it’s great and super-important news that Democrats could … flip a number of state legislatures and governorships this November, ending the GOP’s total grip on many states and giving Democrats complete power in several others.”
Can Trump’s $138M blitz save Republicans?
For months, political observers have wondered if President Trump will deploy his $400M-plus war chest to help Republicans in November. And the New York Times reports, “Some Republicans … have criticized Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., for not seriously engaging in the midterms despite its huge war chest.“ This criticism has been particularly earnest as Republicans face an abysmal political environment this year.
Well, now Trump’s war chest is on the move. A new super PAC linked to MAGA Inc. “has booked more than $95 million worth of ads, according to data from AdImpact, a media tracking firm.” Moreover, “Another $27 million worth of ads is slated to come from another new super PAC called Safety and Affordability PAC Inc. The group is financially backed by MAGA Inc.” Combined with MAGA Inc.’s own spending, the “groups are slated to spend about $138 million on ads, mail and texts to help Republican candidates in about 50 general-election races.”
Judge refers Krasner to DOJ for criminal probe
A federal judge has referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the U.S. Department of Justice for a possible criminal investigation. 6ABC explains, “In a stinging 40-page document handed down Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond says that testimony before his court raises the possibility that Krasner and a top deputy may have pressured prosecutors to lie in court.” Diamond wrote, “I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law. In these circumstances … I refer the DAO, Mr. Krasner, and [Matthew] Stiegler to this District’s United States Attorney’s Office for investigation and other appropriate action.” The issue stems from a 2009 case in which an individual is seeking to have his murder conviction overturned.
FBI thwarts ISIS-inspired attack by Pa. man
Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced federal charges against a 21-year old Pennsylvania resident, Jonathan Hunter Kramer, for “receiving a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit terrorism on behalf of ISIS.” An FBI “investigation confirmed that Kramer had been using the online persona of ‘Hamza Al Rashid’ who claimed affiliation with ISIS, offered to share explosive manuals with others, and expressed his intent to prepare for his ‘mission’ and that he was just missing a ‘weapon.’” Notably, this is not the first time Kramer has planned violence. “Kramer has been known to the FBI since an earlier investigation in 2023, which resulted in Kramer, then a minor, being charged and adjudicated delinquent by Pennsylvania state authorities for his role in a plot to commit a mass casualty incident.”
‘Former Fetterman staffers’ takedown that wasn’t?
Earlier this month, a self-described group of “Former Fetterman Staffers” made national news for starting an anonymous X account and claiming they would reveal utterly juicy and damning things about their old boss. In their first X thread on September 4, the group said, “We’ve come together to share our stories (and screenshots 👀) to show Pennsylvanians exactly who their Senator is. Set your calendar for September 14th — the day the Senate is back in session — for our first drop. (Let’s be honest, maybe the 15th: he’ll skip Monday’s votes).”
Well, the political world set its calendar for September 14. Then September 15. Now, it’s September 16 and the X page has released nothing and gone silent. Where’s the supposed bombshell?
