RealClear Pennsylvania

1 week ago | realclearpennsylvania.com | Oliver Bateman

Earlier this month, Aaron Rodgers finally signed with the Steelers, ending an exhausting offseason saga that directly impacted their draft. The 41-year-old quarterback’s arrival marks the beginning of what promises to be the weirdest chapter in franchise history. Good. Scouting reports paint a grim picture: diminished arm strength, slower processing speed, increasingly erratic decision-making in the pocket. This isn’t the MVP who torched the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

2 weeks ago | realclearpennsylvania.com | Todd Shepherd

2 weeks ago | realclearpennsylvania.com | Oliver Bateman

Last week, John Fetterman’s chief of staff Krysta Sinclair Juris walked out the door, becoming the latest in a string of staff departures that would sink most politicians. The hulking Pennsylvania senator’s mental health struggles have been laid bare in unflinching detail. He’s become what many political consultants would call a “loose cannon.” And yet, against all logic and beltway wisdom, Fetterman’s popularity with swing voters and Republicans is surging.

1 month ago | realclearpennsylvania.com | Oliver Bateman

I want Josh Shapiro to succeed. As a centrist Pennsylvanian who voted for him over woefully out-of-his-depth Doug Mastriano back in 2022, I see a governor who could help lead the disorganized Democrats out of the wilderness. His pragmatic style, ability to work across the aisle, and Obama-lite rhetorical style make him exactly the kind of moderate leader the party needs for its future. Which is why his transparency problem drives me crazy. The latest example cuts deep.

Mar 18, 2025 | realclearpennsylvania.com | Christopher Briem

What is the state of the City of Pittsburgh? The question is debated even more than usual these days, probably because 2025 will see multiple municipal elections across Pennsylvania. And what people believe about Pittsburgh is subject to the same information distortions that color our national politics. It’s not uncommon, for example, to hear laments about the city’s persistent population and employment losses.