Welcome to the divided states of Pennsylvania | Morning Newsletter

Happy Sunday, everybody. We’re just nine days away from Election Day. That’s just over a week to go, so the campaigns are going full speed to the finish.

Joe Biden was just in Bucks County on Saturday, and Pennsylvania Republicans are trying again to overturn the mail ballot deadline extension. This is all happening against the backdrop of Pennsylvania politics, which exemplify the political discord the country as a whole is going through.

Also this week, I chatted with reporter Sean Collins Walsh, who usually covers Philadelphia City Hall, to learn more about his work and how things have changed in this busy year.

— Lauren Aguirre (@laurencaguirre, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chat with reporter Sean Collins Walsh, who usually covers Philadelphia City Hall, but now is helping report on the 2020 election.

What drew you to journalism and to your coverage area in particular?

I decided journalism was for me while working for my college newspaper, The Daily Northwestern. I became enthralled by the fact that there was an entire industry dedicated to questioning those in power. That’s why I chose my coverage area: politics and government. I usually report from the City Hall bureau, but this year, needless to say, has been unusual. For a few months, I covered the coronavirus pandemic, especially the mayor’s handling of it and its impact on nursing homes. Then I helped with our reporting on the protests of the police killing of George Floyd. And after a brief stint back on regular City Hall coverage, I am now reporting full-time on the 2020 election with our politics team. What a year!

What has it been like covering City Hall and the election in a pandemic? What challenges have you faced that you didn’t expect?

It has been surreal. City Council has been meeting virtually, the mayor recently had to quarantine following a COVID exposure, and City Hall is all but empty. The primary challenge has been staying in contact with sources when there are no opportunities to see them in person or run into them in the hallways.

What are you looking out for in your reporting? Are there any trends you’re keeping an eye on?

Right now, we’re focused on reporting about the integrity of voting and vote-counting in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania because President Trump’s campaign has made it a priority to discredit the election process. So we’re reporting both sides of that coin: Are there problems with voting in Philadelphia? And are the president’s attacks on voting warranted, or are they for political gain?

What is a recent story or project you’re particularly proud of?

I am particularly proud of the work that we on The Inquirer’s politics team are doing in the homestretch of this unprecedented election, especially the stories that capture the centrality of Pennsylvania’s role in the 2020 campaign and those that elucidate the emerging threats to our normal process of electing leaders. In recent weeks, I’ve covered Mike Pence in Malvern, Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, and Joe Biden in Gettysburg, as well as helped with our coverage of the Trump campaign’s attacks on voting in Philadelphia.

What is something you’re looking forward to outside of work?

Trying to squeeze in one more camping trip before it gets too cold.

What is something you wish more people better understood about your job?

A lot of people seem to read our articles for the sole purpose of discerning reporters' political biases, and it comes from both sides. I hope more people understand that newspaper reporters who cover politics spend their entire working lives pushing back against lies and half-truths by politicians to try to bring readers the most accurate report possible about what their elected leaders are up to.

Email Sean Walsh at swalsh@inquirer.com and follow him on Twitter at @sbcmw.

Love this autumn scene and the punny caption, @nickjmalf! Thanks for sharing. I hope everyone is experiencing the nice weather outside while we can.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!

Mail voting has seen an uptick in demand this year as more people look to stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19. But voting in person is still a viable option. You’re not alone if that’s your preference, and health experts say you shouldn’t let the pandemic stop you. There are precautions you can take to stay safe and avoid potential spread. Remember the basics: wear a mask, maintain social distance of at least six feet, and wash your hands before and after voting. Here are some other tips for voting safely in person.

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