A governor shares his faith | Morning Newsletter

Good morning, Philly. Pack your sturdiest umbrella: A gusty storm is likely later on.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s faith has long been central to his personal and public identity. As he seeks reelection and possibly a run for president, our main read explores the governor’s approach to discussing his Judaism in the political sphere as he builds a religiously diverse coalition.

And Philly Typewriter, one of the country’s only typewriter repair shops, recently took on work for a high-flying client seeking to preserve a family heirloom.

Plus, Pope Leo XIV will accept the National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal in a broadcast on Independence Mall, and more of the day’s news.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Judaism has long been a central element of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s personal and public identity. It’s also the focal point of his recently released memoir, Where We Keep the Light.

As the Pennsylvania leader’s national profile rises ahead of a rumored 2028 presidential run, politics reporters Katie Bernard and Fallon Roth write that he has focused on commonalities between Judaism and other religions, and a “shared humanity” that he argues should guide the nation and his party.

Supporters say he is building a broad coalition by reclaiming themes of faith and family from the political right.

“I think it is really important that we have more faith in our system and in our society, even if we don’t necessarily have more religion or more shared religion,” Shapiro said at a book tour stop at a historic synagogue in D.C. in January alongside U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D., Ga.), a Baptist preacher.

Bernard and Roth have the story.

Philadelphia is home to one of few typewriter restorationists in the United States — so few, a recent client traveled to the city from North Carolina via his own propeller plane to ensure the safe passage of a meaningful machine in need of repair.

Philly Typewriter co-owner Bill Rhoda collected the beloved family heirloom, an IBM Selectric III, at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

“It is absurd already — typewriters — and now we’re in an airport,” said Rhoda, who spent about 25 hours working on the mid-1980s-model typewriter at the Passyunk Avenue shop.

See reporter Maggie Prosser’s account of the adventure that, as she writes, seems unfurled from the platen of Ian Fleming’s Royal.

Steinberg’s family donated her collection after her death. Now, the Atlantic City woman’s costume jewelry adorns Philly’s drag queens. Her jewelry will be on display for the audience to take at a sing-along event tonight at Broad Street Love.

A new design for the U.S. dime in honor of America’s 250th birthday has raised eyebrows and even sparked some conspiracy theories. Why?

A) The usual olive branch is missing

B) An eagle is upside down

C) The dime will be made outside the U.S.

D) Trump’s face is featured

Think you know? Check your answer.

🏀 Cheering on: Katie’s Komets ahead of the wheelchair basketball national championships.

👃 Discussing: Is the Ministry of Awe truly awesome?

🌌 Seeing: Starstruck, the Indigo Girl-penned musical premiering in New Hope.

📽️ Noting: Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media is now “formally integrated” into the Weitzman Museum.

🏫 Considering: What kinds of legacies should public schools celebrate?

Hint: Home to Neumann University

SAT ON

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Kevin Brennan, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Fergus Carey. You may have seen Fergie, Philly’s most famous Irish barman, on an I-95 billboard spoofing personal injury attorneys. It’s real.

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from columnist Stephanie Farr’s story earlier this month on the city’s accent-tinged crosswalk audio announcements:

John Schaeffer was at a crosswalk on Main Street in Manayunk a few years ago when the walk sign illuminated and a prerecorded audio announcement told him it was safe to cross the street. But what he heard, instead, stopped him dead in his tracks.

“All of a sudden it just goes, ‘Main. Wawk sign is awn ta crawss Main,’” Schaeffer said. “I was like, ‘Does this crosswalk have a Philly accent? Did I hit my head? Am I losing my mind?’”

He pulled out his phone, took a video, and sent it to a friend in Canada, who confirmed Schaeffer’s suspicions that the crosswalk indeed had hoagiemouth.

“It feels like one of those many only-in-Philly things, of course even our crosswalks have a thick Philly accent,” Schaeffer said. “It’s mind-blowing and insanely cool. Obviously cool enough that I’ve been holding onto it for years and when you came along I thought I needed someone to get on the case and get to the bottom of this.”

Read her full column on how the accented announcements came to be.

Thanks for starting your week with The Inquirer. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.