Delaware Valley Journal

Pennsylvania is one of at least nine states where political parties only allow their members to vote in primary elections, Not a registered Republican? Can't vote to pick the nominee. The same with Democrats. David Thornburgh, son of former PA Gov. Dick Thornburgh, has teamed up with media personality Michael Smirconish in a lawsuit to force the political parties to let independent voters participate in their primaries. David Thornburgh heads up PA Ballot Action, a coalition aimed at overturning the state’s closed primary laws. He joins DVJournal's Linda Stein to discuss the lawsuit and why he believes allowing non-party members to participate will actually make the two parties stronger. Hosted by Michael Graham of InsideSources.com.

Fresh from his knock-down-drag-out slugfest on the debate stage with Sen. John Fetterman (or perhaps we're exaggerating a bit), Sen. Dave McCormick joins the DVJournal podcast to give the Delaware Valley an update on the Big Beautiful (Budget) Bill and his views on the economy. McCormick also talks to DVJournal News Editor Linda Stein about U.S. energy policy, and his recent appearances in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to tout deals he believes will bring more jobs to the Keystone State. Hosted by Michael Graham with InsideSources.com.

On this edition of the Delaware Valley Journal podcast, Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran pushes back on criticism from Democrats over his decision to work with the federal government to help enforce immigration law. Bucks County Commissioners Chair Bob Harvie used the debate to suggest that the current debate over immigration enforcement echoes the rise of fascism in Germany. Harran rebuts this criticism and talks about his experience as the only Jewish sheriff in Pennsylvania with DVJournal's Linda Stein. Harran also discusses the anti-terrorism training his department recently received and how it applies to public security in the Delaware Valley. Hosted by Michael Graham of InsideSources.com.

State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks/Montgomery) is a 26-year Army veteran [https://senatorpennycuick.com/about/] who flew missions in Iraq, so she knows how to handle an ugly fight. But she tells DVJournal's Linda Stein that some of the ugliest things she's seen involve the new ways AI is being used to generate child porn.  Now she's using her position as chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee to fight back against this high-tech form of child abuse. Pennycuick also talks about the spike in political violence, most recently in evidence at the Pennsylvania governor's mansion when an arsonist set the building ablaze as Gov. Shapiro and his family slept inside. The problem of political violence is also addressed by former Delaware Valley congressman Jim Gerlach, who is part of the bipartisan Democracy Defense Project. [https://www.democracydefenseproject.org/news/pa/former-pennsylvania-congressman-jim-gerlach-joins-democracy-defense-project-2] Their goal is to build trust in America's political institutions and push back on those who turn to extreme rhetoric to attack our democracy. Hosted by Michael Graham with InsideSources.com.

Lifelong Philadelphian and former Municipal Court President Judge Patrick Dugan is running to replace [https://judgeduganforda.com/] District Attorney Larry Krasner. "Someone has to step up and stop the insanity," Dugan tells DVJournal's Linda Stein. From the treatment of gun crime to Philadelphia's struggle with retail theft, Dugan lays out why he believes it's time for Krasner to go and why he should have the job. Hosted by Michael Graham with InsideSources.