Scott Presler At The York (PA) County Fair

OH MY GOSH!

CBS 21 came by our @EarlyVoteAction booth at the York State Fair

& I used EVERY second to spit facts on television to the American people:

“In 2008, Al Franken was elected by 312 votes.

In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill — democrat — said that 6,600 illegal… pic.twitter.com/SeHsu0jeKy

— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 1, 2026

Just The Sort Of 'Feel Good' Story We Love!

This Pennsylvania barbershop boosts kids' confidence by paying young customers $3 to read stories aloud during haircuts, deserving endless retweets. pic.twitter.com/GmrhueHkiV

— Wholesome (@wholesome_X_) July 10, 2026

Innovative Ed Funding Effort Reaches New Milestone

BLOCS, Pennsylvania’s leading scholarship organization dedicated to the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), is proud to announce a year of historic achievement in fundraising.  

As BLOCS closes the end of their fiscal year, the non-profit organization is pleased to report they are on track to raise $250 million in need-based scholarships.  

Through this level of funding, BLOCS estimates they will be able to serve more than 43,000 students in the coming school year. This is the largest population that BLOCS has ever served in a single school year in its 40+ year history. 

BLOCS CEO Rob Delany celebrates these achievements with the community of donors, schools, students, and supporters of the EITC program. “BLOCS is proud to reach this milestone of serving over 43,000 students in the coming year,” Delany said. “We are incredibly grateful to our more than 150 corporate donors, thousands of individual donors, and hundreds of school partners who work with us in each facet of the EITC program to create opportunities for deserving students.” 

In addition to the increased number of students served, BLOCS also ensures that children receive the greatest scholarship support possible. Thanks to the efficiencies of responsible management, more than 98 cents of every dollar contributed to BLOCS is directed to a student as a need-based scholarship. 

BLOCS is the leading scholarship organization dedicated to raising need-based scholarships through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. As an independent charitable organization BLOCS provides access to high-quality, value-based education for children ages Pre-K through 12th grade across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through the generosity of its donors, BLOCS partners with over 500 schools to provide over 40,000 need-based scholarships. More can be found at www.blocs.org. 

NJ Near Top Of List, For WRONG Reasons!

 

A Little-Known Chapter From 1776

From the Italian Sons and Daughters of America:

Ciro Poppiti, founder of the Delaware Italian American Foundation, has completed a sprawling 80-mile reenactment of Caesar Rodney's historic 1776 journey that sealed American independence.

On July 1, 1776, the Delaware delegation to the Continental Congress was deadlocked on the question of independence. One delegate supported breaking from Great Britain, another opposed it, and the fate of Delaware’s vote hung in the balance.

About 80 miles away in Dover, Caesar Rodney — a Founding Father, lawyer and politician with English and Italian roots — received word of the impasse and set out on a grueling overnight ride to Philadelphia.

Arriving just in time on July 2 to the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), Rodney cast the tie-breaking vote that delivered Delaware’s support for independence, clearing the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and forever securing his place in American history.

A Spectacular Celebration Of American Art

As the nation approaches its 250th (we're called it the SemiQuin, for short) Philadelphians are being treated to a spectacular celebration of American art billed as A Nation of Artists at two renowned museums, The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Two great venues, one epic exhibition spanning over 300 years and featuring more than 1,000 works -- this is for all Americans and all who love America!

This show is nothing short of breathtaking and it's loaded with the greatest American names of art history: Benjamin West, the Peales, the Wyeths, John Singer Sargent, Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt, Alexander Calder, John Sloan, Georgia O'Keffe, Thomas Hart Benton, Winslow Homer, Grandma Moses, Roy Lichtenstein, Jackson Pollock, Ben Shahn, Frederick Remington, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, Horace Pippin, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns, Stuart Davis, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Maxfield Parrish and many more. It's staggering -- a visual feast you're unlikely to encounter again. It runs through July 5 at the Museum of Art and through September 5 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Below are some of the photos we captured from the show:

A Magnificent Day For Bella Italia!

 

What The Hell Happened To Penn State?

It's been reported that in a mandatory anti-racism class, Penn State told first year law school students they must "acknowledge the reality of systemic racism" and "dismantle systems that racialize, subordinate, and oppress." Listen to the recording!

NEW: In a mandatory anti-racism class, Penn State told 1L law students they must "acknowledge the reality of systemic racism" and "dismantle systems that racialize, subordinate, and oppress."

One student withdrew from the law school over the class. We obtained shocking audio.🧵 pic.twitter.com/zPxbqVY0K8

— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) May 14, 2026

PA Education Tax Credit Effort Celebrates Success

BLOCS, Pennsylvania’s leading scholarship organization dedicated to the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), and the sole administrator of the Economically Disadvantaged Schools (EDS) program, will host its annual Gala on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (13th & Market Streets). The event will begin with an invocation by His Excellency Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia.

This year’s Gala marks a milestone – 25 years of EITC-enabled opportunities for students across Pennsylvania. The evening will celebrate how collaborative philanthropy and leadership have transformed countless lives by expanding access to high-quality education despite financial restraints.

“Twenty-five years ago, the state of Pennsylvania officially recognized the need for EITC to bring financial resolve to schools and students. We are proud to celebrate a quarter century of educational opportunities for every child, regardless of region, ZIP code, or financial barriers,” said Rob Delany, BLOCS CEO. “Together we are investing in communities that empower students to thrive, and we are focusing on building what matters most—the children.”

Highlights of the 2026 BLOCS Gala include:

• A celebration of 25 years of EITC, with stories from students, families, and schools whose lives have been transformed by BLOCS-supported scholarships.
• Recognition of partner schools, donors, and volunteers whose commitment sustains the mission of educational equity.
• A look at BLOCS’ pioneering programs, including the Economically Disadvantaged Schools (EDS) initiative, and the ongoing expansion of pathway opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.
• Student-led initiatives and the critical role donors play in accelerating educational outcomes that endure beyond graduation.

Event details:

- Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

- Time: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

- Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

- Attire: Black tie optional

BLOCS is the scholarship organization dedicated to raising need-based scholarships through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. As an independent charitable organization BLOCS provides access to high-quality, value-based education for children ages Pre-K through 12th grade across the state of Pennsylvania. Through the generosity of its donors, BLOCS partners with over 500 schools to provide over 33,000 need-based scholarships. More can be found at www.blocs.org.

Fetterman: Go Ahead, Build White House Ballroom

Posted on X:

U.S. Senator John Fetterman

@SenFettermanPA

We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these.

A Very Important Message For Josh Shapiro

From the Republican Party of Pennsylvania:

Maybe Stay in Your Lane, Governor

Josh Shapiro is attacking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over military decisions… calling his language “so f***ing offensive.”

Let’s be clear: Hegseth is a decorated Army National Guard Major with multiple deployments and two Bronze Stars. He’s actually served.

Shapiro? No military experience, just cringey TikToks.

The same governor clutching pearls over “offensive language” is dropping f-bombs himself.

Maybe it’s time for Josh Shapiro to stay in his lane, and leave military matters to people who’ve actually worn the uniform and know what they're talking about.

Remembering Gayle Michael: Formidable And Tireless!

It happened while I was in New York this past weekend watching an old Noel Coward inspired musical. One character in the show said to the other "You're not gonna die. You're not the dying type."

That's when I thought of my lifelong friend and mentor, Gayle Granatir Michael. Gayle was simply "not the dying type" -- which is why it was a jolt to everyone who knew her when she passed away last week. 

Gayle was part of a special generation of women who were strong, determined and indefatigable. They were trailblazers who predated the modern women's movement.

My first contact with her occurred when I was a student and she was my English teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, NJ. Gayle told me I had "that certain something" and encouraged me to enter the school's prestigious speech contest, even though I was hesitant to do so. Eventually she ordered me to participate in the contest where I would present a dramatic reading -- just me, the stage and a single spotlight; no costume, no scenery, no props! Gayle coached me every step of the way and then pushed me out onto the stage. I won the contest!

Before I knew it, Gayle was more than my teacher -- she was a treasured family friend who often showed up at my house for dinner. My parents adored her! 

When I graduated high school, Gayle gave me a bottle of Monsieur de Givenchy, a classic French cologne. Gayle explained that she had intended to give the cologne to her father who passed away before she was able to do that. Today, on special occasions, I still wear Monsieur de Givinchy which  continues to be produced by the LVMH luxury group.

Gayle savored the better things in life — the better food, literature, clothing, hotels, sights, cities, places and, most of all  PEOPLE — and she went after all that. She selected friends carefully and connected them to one another. She was a networker long before the invention of the word and was very loyal to her friends. For example, even at the time of her death Gayle was still campaigning for her friend Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Paula Patrick. 

For Gayle, no goals was too high or unachievable. No want was necessarily out of bounds. Her philosophy was “reach for the stars.”

She was decidedly OLD SCHOOL but she always kept current. She was up on the news and the events of the day and even when social media came into play, she jumped into it. 

She was passionate about everything that she believed in and she wasn’t shy about what she believed in. She had opinions — lots of them .  First, at a time when people were not afraid to express their opinions and, later, when they were (and ARE!) she still expressed hers without hesitation. 

She was a patriot. She loved her country and was worried about what was happening, here and beyond. She was troubled about the current state of affairs and where we were headed. She really cared and was always determined to make a difference where and when  she could. 

I never heard her complain or explain; which is to say she was not a “woe is me” kind of person. She didn’t lament, and if you were looking for some deep psychological explanation from her about most things, you weren’t likely to get it because she was a person of ACTION. She didn’t spend time ruminating. She moved — and moved ON, when necessary.

Though she endured the loss of her handsome and accomplished husband, Vincent Michael, early in their marriage and was left with two young boys to raise, Gayle didn't flinch. Today, her sons are successful attorneys, outstanding citizens, husbands, fathers and distinguished professionals. 

Gayle understood that life is a performance. So, you get up each day — no matter what — and you dust yourself off, dress yourself up and get out there. And she did that — often against near insurmountable odds. And she always looked her best, just as you would if you were stepping out into the spotlight, on stage. 

She loved politics (and don’t we all?) but she also understood that everything is connected to everything else. So she was also into art, literature, music, sports, theater, the movies, the popular culture — whatever sparked curiosity and conversation — she was there.

She was a VIVID personality.— and formidable. But, my goodness -- what an incredible life she led! She remains one of my unforgettable characters and a defining influence in my life. She will be dearly missed!

Click here for Gayle's complete obituary.

Lincon's Enduring Legacy Powered By His Words!

Excerpts from Professor Walter Berns in a wonderful article that originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal:

Our extraordinary interest in him, and esteem for him, has to do with what he said and how he said it. And much of this had to do with the Union -- what it was and why it was worth the saving. . . .

It is not by chance that his best and most celebrated speech was delivered on a battlefield, on the occasion of dedicating a cemetery filled with the graves of patriots. I speak, of course, of the Gettysburg Address.
It is brief, a mere 272 words, and could not have taken much more than five minutes to deliver. In its central passage, Lincoln says, "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." Well, what little do we remember?
We remember he said that this nation was founded in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence and its principles. We remember this because of the unusual way he said it. Not 87 years ago, but "four score and seven." . . . 
This, too, we remember: Lincoln goes on to say that the brave men, living and dead, who struggled on this ground, this battlefield, had "consecrated" it better than he or anyone else could. Consecrated? Had made it sacred, a battlefield? As if they -- presumably the Union soldiers -- were fighting for the Lord? No, but their cause was great and noble.
We also remember Lincoln saying that their work was "unfinished," and that we, the living, should highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain and that this nation, "under God, shall have a new birth of freedom," and that government of, by and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
What little do we remember? In a word, and despite what he said, we remember everything he said. And we remember it because he took great pains to say it beautifully. . . .

We say that a man can be known by the company he keeps. So I say that a nation, a people, can be known and be judged by its heroes, by whom it honors above all others. We pay ourselves the greatest compliment when we say that Abraham Lincoln is that man for us.

Remembering Justice Sandra Schultz Newman

Our dear friend Christine Flowers has written a beautiful reminiscence of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman who has passed away. We are honored to be quoted in this loving tribute, reprinted with Christine's permission:

As a female in the legal profession, I have often encountered women my own age-64-and even younger, who have this sense of having “accomplished things against all odds.” There is that sort of woman who believes that our gender, even in this day and age, has shackled us, slowed us down, and made any of our eventual accomplishments that much more meaningful.

As Oliver Wendell Holmes would say, I dissent. Respectfully, of course.

For the women of my generation, which is very late Boomer through Gen X, there may have still been a few speed bumps along the highway of professional success. I encountered a bit of passive aggressive sexism, and as the daughter of a legendary Philadelphia lawyer who straddled the legal landscape of the 1970s like a Colossus, I learned how to navigate the setbacks with a smile and, when necessary, a kick in the shins.

I was not a victim, nor were most of the women I meet who might think that they were. And please spare me the “I had to balance my life as a mother with my desire to achieve excellence” mantra. One of my classmates in high school was just appointed to the bench in Montgomery County and she has four beautiful daughters. So kudos to the Honorable Mary Pugh, nee Mary Theresa Coyne, Merion Mercy Class of 1979.

My actual purpose in writing this is to highlight the career and accomplishments of a woman who, like those of her generation, really did have to battle the evils of sexism, and in some cases, racism and bigotry. These were the trailblazers of the bar, women on the national stage with names like Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sandra Day O’Connor, and locally like a woman who passed this week, and who will forever be considered a legend in Pennsylvania; The Honorable Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, first woman to be elected to the highest court in the Commonwealth.

Justice Newman, or “Sandy” as her friends called her, was one of those people who would have succeeded in whatever field she chose, and she chose the law. Blessed with a Dresden doll beauty, delicate features and pale skin, she could have been a model or a movie star had she wanted to be. A character that flamboyant would have fit right in with that sort of zeitgeist.

But she had a mind, and that mind was not destined for movie scripts or being told to “strike a pose.” She graduated from my alma mater, Villanova Law School, and had the great fortune to study under Professor Howard Lurie, a man who was also my professor a decade later, and who to this day represents for me all that is great and glorious about the rule of law.

She was the first female Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County, and her career trajectory soared from that point. In 1993, she was elected to the Commonwealth Court, an intermediate appellate court and then in 1995 was the first female in the history of the Pennsylvania judiciary elected to the Supreme Court. Imagine that, it took two centuries, or thereabouts, before they let us on the high court. Justice Newman was a pragmatic, but perceptive justice. She was extremely fair, and even though she was a registered Republican, you would really not know it. Here decisions didn’t come with a partisan time stamp, or fingerprint. She was exactly what a judge should be: neutral.

And this extended to her personal relationships. One of her closest friends was Donna Gentile O’Donnell, a lifelong Democrat of the old Kennedy mold, as fair and as feisty as the justice. They occupied different political hemispheres, but were deeply devoted to each other, up to the final moments. And to my own particular dismay, because I disagreed profoundly with his position on abortion, Justice Newman was a strong supporter of Justice Kevin Dougherty during his retention race this past November. While I was furiously opposing his retention on social media, she was doing everything possible to help him keep his seat, and believe me, her influence dwarfed my keyboard efforts. He was, as we all know, retained.

But I think that this is the hallmark of the woman who left us this week: a person who followed her own personal North Star.

She rarely complained about how hard it had been, because in some ways it hadn’t been. She had that immense spirit and was such a force of nature that I think she simply broke down the barriers by sheer will. It didn’t hurt to have her husband, the legendary Dr. Julius Newman at her side for most of the journey.

I wrote on Facebook that when he passed, she honored his legacy, cherished as it was like a Faberge Egg, precious in memory.

She had also suffered the loss of a son a short while before she herself fell ill, and found comfort in her other son Jonathan, who was the iconic Chairman of the Liquor Control Board and ushered in the “Chairman’s Selection” section.

I was not a close friend of Justice Newman, although we communicated on Facebook and despite her offers to call her “Sandy,” was forever for me, “Madame Justice.”

I write this because her life deserves to be remember far beyond the legal community, which will of course remember her.

I write this because Justice Newman was a person who lived her life fully, and well, and she was an example of how to confront obstacles with joy and a fierce but effective femininity. That word has become unpopular in these post-feminist days, but this was a legal lioness who was not afraid to show her inimitable style.

My friend Dan Cirucci, who knew her well, summed it up the best, I think:

“I was so proud to know her. I loved her. I loved that was so genuine and unaffected by title or status. She delighted in all the people she knew and was so generous and kind. There was a wonderful joy de vivre about her. I’m glad I got to see her one last time and spend some time with her when the Supreme Court’s courtroom in Philadelphia was named in her honor. It was such a wonderful day. She was old school and part of a generation that is passing on and I will miss her just as I miss all of these wonderful trailblazing woman who paved away for so many others– – others who often don’t even realize it, and sadly might not be so grateful even if they did realize it.”

She carried the weight for many women, and did it with grace.

As she now lays it down, let her memory be for a blessing.

Happy Groundhog Day Everybody!

 

The Montclair Monarch And The Mess Ahead . . .

Welcome to 2026 everybody!

In less that 20 days, here in the Garden State the Montclair Monarch will take her place upon the throne that oversees the realm of dizzy density known as New Jersey. Don't laugh. The office that she assumes will make her the most powerful governor in America. 

How will she approach the job? What will she do? What will her priorities be? She ran such a vacuous campaign that nobody really knows -- least of all her. She's like the slick overreacher in the landmark film The Candidate, who after he wins his election, turns to his handlers and says: "What do we do now?"

What do they do?

Well, they could look across the Hudson for help, except they'd only encounter the gloating, grinning ghoul of Gotham known as Zohran. Even his name sounds menacing. And above him, there's the imperious Empire Empress, but she's too busy trying to hold onto her own patch of power to help anybody else. Ditto, the Pocket Potentate of Pennsylvania who rules under the dubious motto "faire de la merde." Nah, no help there.

Where to turn? Certainly not to New Jersey's two sob sister pseudo senators. They're like the envious semi-siblings who are still wondering how Cinderella made it to the ball.

And the election results show that most Garden Staters don't have a clue either. 

Which means the rest of us better start asking ourselves "What do WE do now?"

Good Advice, But Democrats Won't Listen

Sen. John Fetterman to Democrats:

— Stop calling Trump an autocrat
— Don’t force a govt shutdown
— Accept Trump’s help on crime
— Stand with Israel against Islamism
— Mamdani “doesn’t reflect our party”

pic.twitter.com/tDX4o0kIpa

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) December 28, 2025

Keep Voting Democrat; Keep getting FLEECED!

In 2024 18 states paid more to the federal government than they received back.

What do you notice about this list? California — $276 billion New York — $90 billion New Jersey — $50 billion Massachusetts — $45 billion Washington — $40 billion Connecticut — $30 billion Illinois — $30 billion Minnesota — $25 billion Colorado — $20 billion Florida — $17.2 billion Delaware — $15 billion Texas — $15 billion Oregon — $12 billion Pennsylvania — $10 billion Georgia — $8 billion Ohio — $5 billion Utah — $5 billion Nebraska — $5 billion