News & Brews November 11, 2026
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How Democrat trifecta will impact Pa. businesses
Policies (and elections) impact business climate. That’s a given. Writing in the Philadelphia Inquirer, business consultant Gene Marks gives his take on what Pennsylvania businesses should look out for with the new Democrat trifecta. Hint: It includes more mandates and higher labor costs. Marks believes “it won’t be long before [these] changes become reality. It’s important now for business owners to work closely with their advisers — labor attorneys, payroll companies, HR consultants — to ensure that they’re prepared and in compliance.”
‘Handicapping Pittsburgh’s pull in new legislature’
The Post-Gazette’s Brandon McGinley considers how much influence Pittsburgh will have in the new legislature. It looks like Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny County will likely become President Pro Tempore, but the rest of Senate leadership may hail from Philly. The House, meanwhile, “presents a bigger challenge for Pittsburgh interests.” McGinley argues, “The new legislative regime in Harrisburg, and in particular Pittsburgh’s weakness in the state House, is all the more reason for the county’s legislators — and, for that matter, others from around the southwest — to forge a regional bloc. That includes crossing party lines on issues of regional importance.”
Philly Jewish Federation blasts Rabb for silence
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is criticizing Democrat U.S. Rep.-Elect Chris Rabb “for his continued silence about the antisemitic bicycle rally that targeted Jewish- and Israeli-owned businesses in the heart of Philadelphia last weekend.” Rabb’s anti-Israel views are well-known, but Jewish Insider reports, “The federation said it is ‘deeply troubled’ by Rabb’s continued silence when officials up and down the state had spoken out against the antisemitic nature of the event. ‘His silence is therefore not simply a missed opportunity to comment on a troubling incident. It raises a fundamental question about how he intends to represent and stand up for all of his constituents, including Philadelphia’s Jewish community.’” As they say, silence is violence.
Why do bad Philly cops keep their jobs?
We believe the overwhelming number of police officers—in Philadelphia and elsewhere—are dedicated public servants who desire to uphold law and order. But as with any group made up of fallible human beings, there are some cops who simply aren’t good. Yet, even after bad (and sometimes criminal) behavior, they manage to win back their jobs. Why is that? (Hint: the answer includes something spelled u-n-i-o-n.) The Philadelphia Citizen has a deep dive into the problem—and how taxpayers foot the expensive bill for bad cops.
Dems ignore voters ‘at their peril’
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Democrat Rahm Emanuel has some post-election words of caution for his party: “The midterms were a repudiation of Mr. Trump, not a vindication of Democrats’ agenda. That distinction is important.” And moving forward, Democrats shouldn’t take the victory as an approval of far-left policies. Emanuel writes, “We shouldn’t focus on the most salient issues in blue-on-blue primaries, but those that defined campaigns in places that flipped from red to blue. Democrats didn’t win control of Congress by holding a Senate seat in Michigan or by succeeding the Democratic incumbents who represent Harlem and the Upper West Side. We prevailed by winning over McCain and Romney voters in battleground contests across the country.” We don’t agree with all of Emanuel’s policy proposals, but he’s right in his overarching conclusion.
