Good morning and welcome to Broad + Liberty's Weekly Reads.

Stay up to date on all of this and more when yousubscribe to our daily email list ([link removed]) and get the best of Broad + Liberty delivered straight to your inbox.


** 1. How northern Pennsylvania is being left behind ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------


By Seth Higgins

Within the last year, several institutions that the communities of northern Pennsylvania depend upon — including healthcare services, a college branch campus, and two correctional facilities — have been snuffed out or find themselves on life support. Officials in Harrisburg have proven unable or unwilling to intervene. If trends continue, this region may soon find itself in an economic and demographic death spiral from which it cannot recover.

There is still time, but it is running out.

Why It Matters. The residents of this vast rural expanse tend to be older, lower-income, and less educated than the rest of the Commonwealth. Given the distances between communities, most residents must travel greater distances to access basic services, such as healthcare, educational institutions, and economic opportunities, than people living elsewhere.

Within the last year, several pillars of northern Pennsylvania have crumbled or are under threat.

This trend began last winter when Penn Highlands Healthcare, which is the sole provider of healthcare for many communities in western Pennsylvania, closed the labor and delivery service at its Elk County facility.I’ve written ([link removed]) about this issue before. Despite the community’s efforts, Penn Highlands’ executives refused to change course.

This decision created amaternity care desert ([link removed]) the size of Delaware.

These closures point to a broader, underlining issue. Many healthcare systems in Pennsylvania areunder financial pressure ([link removed]) . Penn Highlands’financial situation ([link removed]) is especially bleak. Although Penn Highlands’ executives have suggested otherwise, this may make other cuts to healthcare services inevitable.

Continue Reading ([link removed])


** 2. Thank you, Democrats ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------

By Guy Ciarrocchi

Thank you, Congressional Democrats, countless Democratic Governors and mayors and the well-funded (often by taxpayers) left-wing activist, professional agitators. Thank you.

Rather than feeling angry, or shouting back, I offer you my sincere thanks.

In case any taxpayer or any citizen thought this past election was merely a contest between two people running for President, or simply a battle between two political parties, the last five weeks have helped us all see that what is at stake is much, much bigger than one election or even one session of Congress.

The major differences between the two parties are not over policy. The major battles are over priorities, values and goals. The Democrats and Republicans are not trying to achieve the same things, just by different policies

So, I wish to thank all the left-wing activists, talking heads, and politicians. We now have complete clarity of all that is at stake.

Why It Matters. These are not merely two parties with disagreements on how to make America great again.

There are genuine, Grand Canyon-sized differences on what America is and what it should be.

The Democrats in Congress, their gubernatorial and mayoral allies, and countless well-funded professional rally activists have told us what they value. What they will fight tirelessly for, in the courts, in halls of Congress, in capitols and in the streets.

So, on behalf of those of us voting for and wanting common-sense, results-oriented government and stability in our communities and lives: you have made the choice crystal clear.

Continue Reading ([link removed])


** 3. Lightning Round
------------------------------------------------------------
* As Bucks sues Big Oil, nearby governments lose same fight ([link removed])
* Schorn runs for full Bucks DA term, potentially facing ex-solicitor Khan ([link removed])
* Paul Davis: Twenty-year-old cold case still lingers over South Philly ([link removed])
* Kyle Sammin: Are Republicans already tired of winning? ([link removed])
* Tom DiBello: Federal resources are needed to support election workers ([link removed])
* Christine Flowers: The Oscars, like diamonds, are forever — just tune out the nonsense ([link removed])
* Thom Nickels: The tightly controlled life of an air traffic controller ([link removed])
* Former state senator spent $10K on Phillies from campaign account ([link removed])
* Guy Ciarrocchi: Go, Eagles, Go ([link removed])


** 4. PA's #1 Export is Not What You Think
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
Rep. Bryan Cutler shares an unexpected story ([link removed]) on the Voices of Reason podcast ([link removed]) .


** 5. What we're reading
------------------------------------------------------------

“Congratulations, attention-hungry House Democrats: You stole the spotlight from Donald Trump on Tuesday night. Your reward? Undercutting your own message in the fight against Trump, making your party look small and desperate, and making Trump look like the commanding figure he desperately wants to be.” So writes POLITICO’s Rachael Bade this week ([link removed]) in a forceful yet thoughtful examination of the tactics adopted by some of the minority party’s wackier members.

It’s a strange thing — and maybe one reason for Trump’s success — that he drives his opponents so crazy that they lash out in ridiculous ways, making Trump look sane and calm by comparison. Sixteen years ago, Democrats lambasted a Republican representative for loudly (and rudely) calling out one of President Obama’s lies. Now, they’re even louder and ruder, and it’s not just one rep but an organized cadre. So much for the promise of normalcy.

Broad + Liberty is funded exclusively by readers like you.

Your generous support ensures that Broad + Liberty can bring you stories and opinions that Pennsylvania’s mainstream media would rather leave unheard. Please consider making a contribution today. If you would like your gift to be used to help us cover a specific story or subject, please let us know in the contribution form or at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

As always, gifts made to Broad + Liberty are 100% tax deductible!

Thank you, dear reader, for your steadfast support of our independent, broad-minded brand of local journalism. We could not do this without you.

With gratitude,

— The Editors at Broad + Liberty
Support Broad + Liberty ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

============================================================
Copyright © 2025 Broad + Liberty, All rights reserved.
You're getting Broad + Liberty updates due to your interest in our site – and local stories for free thinkers in the Philly region and beyond.

Our mailing address is:
Broad + Liberty
323 West Front Street
Suite 200
Media, PA 19063
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.

Broad and Liberty, Inc. is a Pennsylvania Domestic Nonprofit Corporation classifed as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c) (3).
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]