Why hasn’t Trump sent troops to Philly? | Morning Newsletter

Welcome to a new week, Philly.

Some have been wondering, why hasn’t President Donald Trump sent troops to Philadelphia, the city where “bad things happen?” Especially when troops are in smaller, less prominent cities. Nobody knows for sure, but The Inquirer has some theories.

And last year, SEPTA promised solar-powered screens at bus stops that would give riders real-time info. With the initiative stalled, an anonymous street sign artist is filling the void — with their own real-time tracker.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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In the last six months Trump has sent troops, immigration agents, or both to Democratic cities from coast to coast. The list includes Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Memphis, Portland, Ore., Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, and Minneapolis. But not Philadelphia.

The city that seemed an obvious early target, condemned by Trump as the place where “bad things happen,” has somehow escaped his wrath. At least so far.

That has sparked speculation from City Hall to Washington over why the president would ignore the staunchly Democratic city with which he has famously feuded. We offer some insight into whether that’s likely to change.

While waiting for a bus earlier this year, two Philadelphia street artists who rely on public transportation diagnosed an all-too-familiar ailment: I have no idea when the bus will be here.

Earlier this month, their brainchild — a solar-powered e-reader mounted into a street sign that provides bus arrival information — went live on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, along bus Route 64.

The device pulls real-time arrival times from publicly available data (the same dataset that feeds SEPTA’s app), according to artist Make It Weird, who engineered the rig and asked to remain anonymous because their work meanders into a legal gray area.

Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden touched down at the Linc for the snowy Sunday matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders. Joe and “that girl from Philly,” Jill, were spotted on the sidelines with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie before the 1 p.m. kickoff.

With roots stretching back 170 years, this nonprofit was originally founded to serve the Jewish population but has since expanded to offer a range of services to all.

A) Jewish Family and Children’s Service

B) United Hebrew Charities

C) Jewish Foster Home

D) Abramson Senior Care

Think you know? Check your answer.

🏈 Thinking about: We took a look at the current playoff picture for the Eagles and the rest of the NFL.

🥃 Drinking: The 14 best whiskeys you can get this holiday season, according to Craig LaBan.

🍫 Craving: A weekend away filled with chocolate, adventure, and festivities in Hershey, Pa.

🏡 Impressed by: A woman searched just four blocks for her dream home in Brewerytown and found it.

👀 Checking out: Little Horse Tavern, a new restaurant at a revived West Philly golf course.

Hint: Gov. Josh Shapiro gives an annual speech at this glitzy dinner in midtown Manhattan. This year marked his 15th appearance.

ANNOYANCES PITY VEILS

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

Cheers to Jason Wermers, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Coatesville. The area school district will soon see a swath of changes as it prepares to shutter two elementary schools, open a new one, and realign its attendance boundaries.

❄️ Philadelphians awoke to the first significant snowfall of the season on Sunday, with 3 to 7 inches of snow blanketing the area.

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 reader Joe Morris, who describes classroom shenanigans in the early days of the Community College of Philadelphia:

The Community College of Philadelphia admitted its first class in September 1965, just a year after community colleges received Pennsylvania legislative approval in 1964. The school took over the former Snellenburg’s department store in Center City.

One of the best classes was Mr. Beck’s History of Western Civilization class. Beck was the most nattily dressed of all the professors and was both captivating and unshakeable. Fifty minutes with him passed rapidly, and his lectures ended precisely as the bell rung. I bet my buddy Frank that I could rattle Beck out of his unflappable persona. During the last class of my first semester, as Beck was taking questions on the material, I asked, “Mr. Beck, where do you purchase your ties?” Beck didn’t flinch: “Given the breadth of material we’ve covered, I’m disappointed that you don’t have an interest in something other than my haberdasher.”

I doubled my bet with Frank, thinking I might shake him during the next semester. I sat in the back row directly underneath three very tall windows, with a small ledge on the outside. Before class, I closed the blinds on either side of the center window and opened the center blind to full height. I clutched my books and hoisted myself out onto the ledge and moved carefully behind the closed blinds. Beck entered and began his lecture. A couple of minutes in, I made my way along the ledge, prompting stares and pointing from the pedestrians below, then, once in the open center window, stepped down into the classroom and took my seat.

I believed Beck paused slightly and I whispered to Frank, “You owe me $10.” Frank maintained that it was merely Beck’s typical pause to emphasize a fact. Atypically, Beck ended class a few seconds early, then said, “Mr. Morris, might you stop by to see me after class?”

Confident that I had shaken him and expecting a reprimand for ledge lingering, I approached his desk and nonchalantly said, “Mr. Beck, I believe you wanted to see me?” He replied, “Yes, could you make more of an effort to be on time for class?” Frank smirked and put out his hand for the 10 bucks.

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

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