Pennsylvania’s wide open elections | Morning Newsletter
And hate finds a home in video games
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Bundle up this morning because the first measurable snow of the season is in the forecast, and we’re hitting only the mid-30s.
Today we’re looking at Pennsylvania’s competitive and high-stakes elections in this new year, as Democrats and Republicans alike try to define themselves in the post-Trump era.
When is your unofficial cutoff date for saying “Happy New Year?” Two weeks? End of the month? Do you find yourself saying it into February? Let me know at morningnewsletter@inquirer.com.
— Kerith Gabriel (@sprtswtr, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
The coming primaries for Pennsylvania governor and the state’s U.S. Senate seat will help shape the direction of both parties in this battleground state ahead of the 2024 presidential election. And the races are particularly wide open, with no incumbents.
Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, served his two terms and can’t seek reelection.
Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, isn’t running for reelection.
Our reporter Jonathan Tamari breaks down the candidates and the political dynamics to watch in races that could have a massive impact on policy.
What you should know today
Philly’s new vaccine mandate starts today. Here’s what you need for indoor dining and more.
The Mummers revived a 121-year tradition of strutting down Broad Street.
Most Philly schools are resuming in-person instruction, but some New Jersey districts are shifting to remote learning for the beginning of 2022.
Domestic violence survivors say the city put them at risk by failing to reopen a supervised parental visit site.
The Eagles clinched a playoff spot after a 20-16 road win over Washington.
Spend a day with this Afghan family as they navigate an entirely new life in Philly.
And our resident health and wellness coaches break down why you should consider “functional fitness.”
Local Coronavirus Numbers: Here’s your daily look at the latest COVID-19 data.
Social media has become fertile ground for white supremacists and conspiracy theorists to attract new followers. But another recruitment avenue is less known: the message boards and direct chats inside popular video games.
Researchers found that white supremacists are using online video game communities and streaming platforms to approach and recruit kids as early as middle school. That’s scary, especially considering the rise in hate crimes over the last few years.
More than 8,000 hate crimes were reported in the U.S. in 2020, the highest total in more than a decade, according to the FBI.
In Philadelphia, 63 people were reported as victims of hate crimes, a 320% increase from 2019, when there were 15 victims.
Statewide, the number of reported victims doubled in 2020 to 110, but that’s likely a low estimate; of Pennsylvania’s 1,504 law enforcement agencies, just 734 supplied data to the FBI.
Our reporter David Gambacorta investigates the rise of this recruitment pipeline and what’s being done to curb it.
🧠 Philly Trivia Time 🧠
When the Mummers Parade hit Center City, it continued a tradition of Philly pageantry — among other things. Today’s question: How many years has the annual parade graced Broad Street? The answer should be a breeze since I already sneaked it in above, so enjoy these images by our photographers from Sunday’s spectacle.
What we’re…
📚 Reading: This Philly Mag exploration of what it would mean for you to take off an entire year.
👀 Watching: The sixth and final season of NBC’s This is Us premieres tomorrow and it’s only right to peek in and see how this all ends, considering that the show repped Philly for a season.
🤔 Questioning: For Birds fans out there, how many of you are just finding out that football legend John Madden was a former Eagle?
Photo of the day
Welcome to the first Monday of the new year. Make it a good one. 💯