Biden makes a last attempt to personally lobby his “friends in the Senate” to pass his Build Back Better plan through reconciliation. So far, his efforts have led to a DECREASE in the size and scope of the bill. According to reports, Biden told progressive lawmakers that the bill is likely to be cut from $3.5 trillion to a ceiling of around $2 trillion. Recall that the $3.5 bill was the original compromise bill, down from the initial $6 trillion. Biden also reportedly told lawmakers that free community college will be cut and the extension of the childcare tax credit will be significantly scaled back. Can you see that white flag flying above the White House?

Biden was in Scranton this past Wednesday to push the Build Back Better plan, but it looks like it's a whole lot of too little too late. 

And with Joe Manchin’s threats to leave the Democratic Party, we are left with the question posed by David Dayen in The American Prospect this week: “What if Build Back Better Builds Back Worse?” 

And, as Will Bunch wrote this week in the Philadelphia Inquirer, “From college to climate, Democrats are sealing their doom by selling out yount voters.” 

And it looks like Manchin’s blocking of climate legislation will have a disproportionately disastrous effect on the people of West Virginia. How’s that for representation. 

Doug Mastriano is waiting for a “financial sign from God,” yes, that God, about running for governor.  Mastriano has been campaigning at different churches from around the Commonwealth ahead of his anticipated run for governor.

Pennsylvania House Representative Summer Lee announced her run for US Congress with a powerful video highlighting the anger and betrayal industry has wrought in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  Representative Lee picked up Representative - and the future mayor of Pittsburgh - Ed Gainey’s endorsement for the seat on her first day.

It has been over 300 days since full-time and part-time professors at Harrisburg Area Community College completed their card signing process and filed their petitions for a union vote.  The school is the only community college in Pennsylvania without union representation and PA Spotlight is getting ready to peel back the layers of Dr. Ski’s anti-union past.  Buckle up.  

University of Pittsburgh faculty voted overwhelmingly to unionize this week. 

Kutztown University saw a flurry of progressive action this week. On Tuesday, the student group, KU Activists, protested the university’s denial of ADA accommodations to at-risk students and faculty and President Hawkinson’s over all magical thinking regarding COVID protocols. Then on Thursday, KU dining hall workers went public with their union organizing campaign holding rallies outside several university dining halls.