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Michael Herzing

@mherz67.bsky.social

1.2K followers 845 following 7.4K posts

Writer, Pennsylvanian, Progressive, Pragmatist

Posts Replies Media

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The registration deadline is Oct 19. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct 27. Voting by mail is safe, secure, and your ballot is verifiable on paper and subject to two audits. Apply today; return by 8pm on Election Day. Your vote is your voice — don't let anyone take it.

Mail-in ballots heading out as Pennsylvania voter registration deadline approaches • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Interested Pennsylvanian voters must apply for mail-in ballots by Oct. 17. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 19.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Clean air shouldn't be a partisan issue. Pennsylvania families deserve leaders who fight for their health, not billionaires who profit from pollution. Proud to see @governor.pa.gov standing up for our kids, our farmers, and our future. buff.ly/Un2qLay

https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania-politics/shapiro-joins-suit-against-trump-administration-over-power-plant-pollution-standards/?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%202%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The facts are clear: state health officials tried for days—multiple calls, emails, a 24/7 offer to talk—to reach the Lancaster County coroner before announcing measles deaths. Misinformation thrives in confusion, and anti-vaccine activists seized on it to cast doubt on real deaths in a real outbreak

A Pa. coroner doubted a measles-linked death, sparking anti-vaccine outcry. Records show the state tried to reach him.

A politically charged dispute kicked off after the Lancaster Coroner questioned a state-reported death tied to Pennsylvania's growing measles outbreak.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Nothing says 'closure for the victim's family' like a week-long medical crisis and a court filing. Great work, everyone.

Christa Pike Was Unconscious and on Ventilator After Execution Attempt

The Tennessee inmate was brought to a hospital with burned and blistered arms after an unsuccessful attempt at lethal injection, her lawyers said in a court filing.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Pennsylvanians are already squeezed by rising gas prices—and now UGI bills are climbing again. Democrats fought to cut this hike nearly in half and won real protections for low-income families. But working families shouldn't have to fight for every dollar. buff.ly/XWSae5I

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/10/ugi-gas-bills-will-go-up-293-on-average-under-deal-with-state-regulator.html?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%202%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Hateful, homophobic slurs have no place in Pennsylvania — not in a bar, not in the Capitol, not anywhere. Rep . Kenyatta is a dedicated public servant and a trailblazer. Rep. Bernstine should resign. Democrats stand with Malcolm and with every Pennsylvanian targeted by bigotry. 🏳️‍🌈 buff.ly/ZqUUoVN

https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2026/10/gop-state-lawmaker-denies-making-homophobic-remarks-about-gay-colleague-blames-political-attack.html?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%202%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Proud of what he accomplished" is a bold way to describe nine years of predicting the wrong team and getting paid $180M for it.

Tony Romo, CBS Sports part ways after July OWI arrest (Gift Article)

Romo was placed on indefinite leave shortly after the arrest and his place in CBS' No. 1 NFL was taken by J.J. Watt.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Democrats know the math: Pennsylvania is aging, and working families are paying the price. Instead of cutting Medicaid or shortchanging schools, we should expand home care, lower costs, and build an economy that works for every generation, not just the wealthy few. buff.ly/meM2yhQ

Ages of uncertainty

How the state, and its stakeholders, are strategizing around the slow-motion fallout of a rapidly aging population, a shrinking workforce pool and decreasing birth rates.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

GOP super PAC: "We believe in North Carolina!" cancels $18M in ads. "But also, Kansas is suddenly a swing state now, apparently."

As Prospects Dim, G.O.P. Pulls Money Out of North Carolina Senate Race

The Senate Leadership Fund is diverting money to Kansas, which has become a growing concern for the party as it seeks to hold its majority.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

100 million barrels over four months—about one day of global demand. Bold. At that pace, we'll solve the crisis right around the time the midterms are safely over.

U.S. and Allies Agree to Release Diesel Reserves as Prices Soar

The Group of 7, which includes Britain, France and Japan, announced the release of 100 million barrels over four months, effective immediately.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sending more Patriots to protect oil facilities while we edge toward another war with Iran isn't strategy — it's a recipe for deeper entanglement, higher gas prices, and more risk to our troops. buff.ly/1BwyNjZ

Scoop: U.S. sent more Patriots to protect Saudi, Qatari energy sites

The U.S. is preparing to launch major new combat operations.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The only thing faster than a DA passing the buck is a frat boy lawyering up.

Cornell Rape Case Live Updates: Hochul Rebukes Prosecutor's Handling of Allegations

“In what world would the police” not elevate allegations of a rape to the district attorney, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York asked.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sen. Schmitt accused Jack Smith of lying about attending an Atlanta Hawks game — but Smith was at an Iowa Hawkeyes game. Now the texts show no team names at all.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6124359-schmitt-perjury-claim-debunked/?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%202%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Gambling shouldn't be on every corner. PA's own data shows 1 in 4 skill game players are at-risk or problem gamblers — and they account for most of the money spent. We can protect jobs and small businesses without making addiction unavoidable on the way to get gas.

Pennsylvania’s skill games are officially gambling – so should they be at every gas station?

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court says skill games are gambling. As lawmakers rush to tax them, a CMU scholar says the debate skips a more fundamental question.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

29,000 jobs? Cool, so the labor market's "surprising strength" is now just a rounding error. But hey, at least AI is hiring — oh wait, no, it's firing those people too.

Jobs Report Live Updates: Growth Cools and Unemployment Rises to 4.2%

U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent, as inflation has maintained pressure on markets and raised costs.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Two failed executions in one year, and Tennessee’s response is… maybe we should investigate why the government can’t successfully carry out its own death penalty. What could possibly go wrong?

Live Updates: Christa Pike in Critical Condition After Botched Tennessee Execution

The inmate, Christa Pike, was “alive right now” after surviving an attempt to execute her by lethal injection, her lawyer said. He called on Gov. Bill Lee to reduce her sentence to life in prison.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Another preventable death in Lancaster County. Three lives lost to measles, a disease the MMR vaccine prevents. This is what happens when vaccination rates fall and public health information is withheld. We need access to vaccines, transparent data, and leaders who trust science.

3rd person with measles dies in Lancaster County: Pa health department

An unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles has died, bringing to three the number of measles-associated deaths here and five total in the state, according to the

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Three decades is long enough. Bucks and Montgomery voters have a real chance to flip the #PASenate, break the GOP blockade, and deliver affordability, a higher minimum wage, and transportation funding. The path to a Democratic trifecta runs through the Philly suburbs.

Bucks and Montgomery counties could determine which party gets control of the Pa. state Senate

Democrats have not controlled the Pa. Senate for three decades. Their path to flipping it likely runs through the Philly suburbs.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Malcolm Kenyatta is a dedicated public servant and a respected leader in the Democratic Party. The hateful, homophobic slurs reportedly directed at him last night are disgusting and have no place in Pennsylvania — or anywhere. buff.ly/22tpgRA

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Nothing says 'totally not involved' like your foreign minister tweeting conspiracy theories while your dual nationals keep getting arrested near US bomber bases.

U.K.-Iranian Man Arrested in Connection to RAF Fairford Air Base Incident

British counterterrorism police said that a 27-year-old British-Iranian dual national had been arrested on Thursday.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fitzpatrick's "news" headlines? Written by a campaign-paid wedding guest on an unedited blog. That's not journalism — that's a scam on voters. PA-01 deserves honesty, not fake headlines. buff.ly/horyjQF

The source of Brian Fitzpatrick’s campaign ad attack fodder: A guest at his own wedding

Self-published articles from a longtime ally are showing up in the vulnerable Pennsylvania Republican’s attack ads.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The fact that it took a Reddit comment calling her a gang-rape victim for her to realize she was one, and not the doctor, the UTIs, or her own roommates, is somehow the most Cornell thing I've read all year.

How a Cornell Student Went From Shame to Action

The woman known as “Jane Doe” was initially embarrassed about what happened at a fraternity party in 2024, but soon concluded: “I was assaulted.”

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fetterman's out here fundraising off GOP donor lists while calling himself a Democrat. Pennsylvania deserves a senator who actually fights for them, not one chasing Republican cash and Fox News hits. If it walks like a Republican and raises money like one... 🤷‍♂️ #PASen buff.ly/fbz2FlZ

'He's Basically a Republican Now': Fetterman Asks GOP Donors For Cash

John Fetterman, who Democrats fear might join the GOP, is argeting Republican donors with "reject Socialism" emails ahead of a possible re-election bid in 2028.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Justice for Renee Good: the family is suing the ICE agent who shot her, plus Noem, Miller, Homan, and other top officials. Because apparently, "standing in front of a car" is now a capital offense, but shooting an unarmed U.S. citizen is just a regular Tuesday.

Renee Good’s Family Sues ICE Agent and Top Officials Over Minnesota Killing

The fatal shooting of Ms. Good set off protests during the Trump administration’s immigration operation early this year in Minnesota.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Scott Perry says "America First" — but he voted against lower drug prices, tried to overturn your vote, and wants to cut Social Security and Medicare to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Pennsylvanians deserve a rep who puts them first. buff.ly/mfIWbpf

‘We are putting America first’: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry campaigns with Mark Teixeira in PA’s 10th Congressional District

The Republican was joined by the former All-Star first baseman at a campaign event Wednesday in Harrisburg.

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Reposted by Michael Herzing

PA House Majority Policy Committee @padempolicy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Senate GOP: No Raise for You // MAJORITY POLICY POINT

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Republicans spent years demanding Dems resign over tweets, but now that one of their own is attacking a colleague with hateful garbage, suddenly they've forgotten how to use the word "resign." Funny how that works. 🤔 #PApolitics

Chairs of PA Equality Caucus and Black Caucus call for Rep. Bernstine’s immediate resignation

HARRISBURG, Oct. 1 – The leaders of Pennsylvania’s Legislative Black and Equality caucuses have issued the following statement calling for the resignation of state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Butler/Lawre...

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

SCOTUS: "We'll hear arguments on whether due process applies to immigrants. Spoiler: we've already got a 6-3 draft ready."

Taking On Trump Immigration Agenda, Justices Will Review Migrant Detention Policy

The administration’s policy of detaining immigrants who crossed the border illegally years ago and holding them without a bond hearing has divided lower courts.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Tennessee has now botched two executions in five months. The question is not whether the state can fix its protocol—it is whether any protocol can guarantee a humane death. Democrats say the answer is no, and that the state should stop trying. buff.ly/0fjhGop

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/30/execution-tennessee-woman-blocked-by-federal-court-with-hours-spare/?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%201%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Medicare doesn't have to be a maze. PA MEDI offers free, unbiased counseling. No sales pitch, no commission, just help. Call 1-800-783-7067.

Medicare Programs and Events

Medicare Programs and Events

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Tennessee's new execution protocol: try, try again. Literally.

After Failed Attempt to Execute Christa Pike, Tennessee Pauses a Planned Execution

Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, ordered a review of the state’s lethal injection process after the botched attempt to put Christa Pike to death. She was hospitalized Wednesday.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Former President Obama publicly criticized Trump's hands-off approach, saying plainly that "voluntary standards set by a handful of tech companies are not enough," and called for federal law to address AI's impact on jobs, children, and safety. buff.ly/tCuCXZc

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/us/politics/trump-biden-ai.html?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%201%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Premiums tripling while care gets denied isn't a glitch — it's the system working exactly as designed for insurance profits, not patients. People shouldn't have to wonder whether they can afford an ambulance while struggling to breathe. buff.ly/7Rcg0yy

https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2026/09/my-health-insurance-premium-tripled-and-i-still-fear-the-cost-of-getting-sick-opinion.html?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20October%201%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Human trafficking is happening in PA communities — and lawmakers from both parties just came together to pass new protections and public education on warning signs, signed by Gov. Shapiro. This is what governing should look like. Bipartisan, focused on protecting the most vulnerable. 💙 #Pennsylvania

Pa. Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus celebrates new legislation

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Human trafficking has been a major problem in Pennsylvania. State lawmakers from both sides of the aisle held a news conference together in recognition of Gov. Josh S…

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

PA House panel unanimously advanced a kratom regulation bill: sales to 21+, child-resistant packaging, and a ban on high-potency 7-OH products. 33 overdose deaths in PA since 2025 and rising poison control calls make this common sense. Regulate, don't ban. #Pennsylvania #Kratom buff.ly/obblkxA

Pa. House panel advances bill to regulate kratom • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Under the proposed law, retailers who register with the state would be allowed to sell natural leaf kratom products to people 21 and over. But those products would have to meet strict packaging…

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Bipartisan passage of H.B. 1925 ensures AI in healthcare stays transparent, accountable, and human-led. Patients deserve to know how AI is used in their care, and that a qualified professional always makes the final call. A smart step forward! Time for the state Senate to act.

Pa. House passes bipartisan legislation to regulate artificial intelligence usage in healthcare

HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – The Pennsylvania House today passed bipartisan legislation that would regulate the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare, ensuring that all Pennsylvanians can hav...

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Data centers are critical infrastructure — but in an emergency, first responders need to know what's inside. HB 2535 (Sappey) boosts emergency preparedness at large data centers.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Jewish students deserve to feel safe at school, full stop. But letting the AG criminally investigate a district that already settled with the feds and has anti-bias programs in place raises real questions. Combating antisemitism is essential — criminalizing school districts isn't the answer.

State reps ask Pa. attorney general to investigate the Philly schools for alleged discrimination of Jewish students

The Republican representatives, including Martina White of Philadelphia, asked Sunday to "investigate this matter to determine if any criminal activity occurred".

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

AI is entering healthcare fast—but a machine should never make decisions about your care alone. HB 1925 keeps humans in the loop: ✅ Human oversight of AI in medical & insurance decisions ✅ Patients informed when AI is used ✅ Final calls made by people, based on each patient's unique circumstances

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The "vaccines made me do it" defense is certainly a bold legal strategy. Best of luck convincing a jury that two toddlers mysteriously suffocated in their sleep from a shot they got a week earlier — while the rotavirus and the smothering evidence just coincidentally lined up.

Andrea Shaw Says Vaccines Killed Her Twins. Authorities Say She Suffocated Them.

In a small Idaho town, a young mother is accused of killing her young twins. She blames the childhood vaccines they received.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

PA House just passed a bipartisan open primaries bill — 16 Republicans joined Democrats to let 1.2 million independent voters participate. Now it heads to the Senate, where GOP leaders want to attach voter ID as a condition. Independents shouldn't be bargaining chips. #Pennsylvania #OpenPrimaries

Pennsylvania State House passes bipartisan open primaries bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The Pennsylvania State House passed a bill that would allow Independents to vote in the state’s primaries. House Bill 280, proposed by State Rep. Jared Solomon …

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Fed spent $2.5 billion and couldn't even produce a receipt. Inspector General: "No crime, just incompetence." Somehow, that's the most reassuring bit of news of the week.

Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations

A new report by the Federal Reserve’s independent inspector general concluded that a nearly $2.5 billion construction project was poorly managed but made no referrals to the U.S. attorney general.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

PA Supreme Court will decide whether its landmark ruling striking down mandatory life without parole for felony murder applies to the 1,100+ people already serving those unconstitutional sentences. Most are over 50 and have served 25+ years. Justice delayed is still justice. #Pennsylvania

Pa. Supreme Court agrees to address whether those serving life for felony murder can seek parole • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Second degree murder, also known as felony murder, is a charge brought when a victim dies during the commission of another felony, even if the perpetrator never intended or planned to kill.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Iran? For five guys with gas cans and a 911 call from one of their own? That's not a state plot; that's a botched road trip.

UK Believes Iran Played a Part in RAF Fairford Air Base Incident, Burnham Says

The British prime minister, Andy Burnham, said there were “strong indications” Iran played a part in the events at R.A.F. Fairford on Sunday, without providing details why.

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

PA is in the middle of its worst measles outbreak in a generation — 900+ cases, 4 deaths. And the state just paused its disease-control update after 10,000 comments, many fueled by COVID-era grievances. Public health shouldn't be a culture war. Protecting kids from preventable disease isn't tyranny.

Dave Sunday urges businesses to remove skill game machines ahead of October deadline

Businesses that operate skill game machines after the Oct. 13 deadline could face criminal prosecution and machine seizures, the attorney general said.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Janelle Stelson came within 5,133 votes of flipping PA-10 in 2024. Now she's back, focused on affordability, healthcare, and corruption — and calling out Perry for hiding from voters for 7 years. Central PA deserves a rep who actually shows up. 💙 #PA10 #Vote buff.ly/orSQeVS

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Who’s up and who’s down this week?

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Ken Paxton privately admitting Trump's convention tanked his numbers while publicly kissing the ring? That's not a drag; that's a full-blown identity crisis.

Ken Paxton, G.O.P. Nominee in Texas, Privately Said Trump’s Convention Hurt Him

Ken Paxton, one of the party’s top Senate candidates and a Trump loyalist, said that “everybody’s numbers dropped” after the event, according to audio obtained by The Times.

Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Kennedy Center was financially stable before the takeover. 19 months later: credit line maxed out, endowment raided, donors gone, ticket sales down 67%, development staff cut from 94 to 16. This isn't "losing money" — it's being run into the ground. The arts belong to all of us. buff.ly/EvSbp9v

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/09/30/kennedy-center-was-solvent-when-trump-took-over-then-its-finances-collapsed/?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20September%2030%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

GOP lawmakers are suddenly distancing themselves from Trump on gas prices, Iran, data centers & immigration — but only weeks before the midterms. Don't buy it. You can't vote with him for years, then run from the wreckage when polls tank. Voters remember. #Midterms2026 buff.ly/7E3uJW6

GOP breaks with Trump on multiple issues

Republicans in both chambers are increasingly breaking ranks with President Trump across a host of sensitive issues, hoping some separation from the GOP’s unpopular standard bearer will help avert …

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Michael Herzing @mherz67.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“It’s like they know they stepped in dog poop but they’re trying to tell us it doesn’t stink.” – Pamela Parson, a Dauphin County community leader and advocate, on the county Prison Board’s private discussion on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cooperation buff.ly/bJ3t5m9

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/09/did-dauphin-county-prison-board-violate-the-sunshine-act-with-ice-policy-discussion.html?oref=cspa_firstread_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CSPA%20First%20Read%20-%20September%2030%2C%202026&utm_term=newsletter_cspa_firstread

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