City Cast Pittsburgh
📺 Who’s paying for all these political ads?
September 25, 2024 · — Francesca Dabecco
Hey, neighbor! I bet you’re tired of political ads 🫠 Who pays for those anyway? It turns out, more than $400 million has been poured into PA’s media markets, mostly by a small group of billionaires and “dark money” groups that don’t always clearly disclose their donors’ identities.
Today on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast, we’re talking with a political reporter about who’s behind the ads we're shown the most, plus whether their claims actually hold up.
And spoiler — there’s even more election news ⬇️
What's CITY Talking About?
🗳️ Harris Returns To Pittsburgh Today
Vice President Kamala Harris will stop in the Burgh this afternoon, but where and when was still TBD at my press time. It’s Harris’ fourth stop here since launching her presidential campaign. [TribLive]
🫵 Trump Targets Charleroi, Again
At a rally in Indiana County on Monday, former president Donald Trump vilified the Haitian community in a small Mon Valley town. [New York Times]
- 🎤 He said something similar in Arizona last week, which even his party disputed. Republican State Sen. Camera Bartolotta and the borough’s manager say the immigrant population is a benefit to the town. [The Keystone / KDKA]
- ❗This follows Trump’s debunked claims that Haitian people in Springfield, Ohio are eating pets, leading to bomb threats there at schools and city buildings. [NPR]
- 📌 Trump plans to return to Butler, the site of his first assassination attempt, in early October. [KDKA]
🏫 Parents Protest School Closures
Pittsburgh Public parents gathered outside the school district’s Oakland administration building Monday to rally against 16 possible school closures, which consultants acknowledge will disproportionately affect Black and brown families. [90.5 WESA]
- 🚫 Here’s why so many schools could close. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
- 📣 Have concerns? You can still be heard.
What To Do
Wednesday, Sep. 25
- 🤓 Martin R. Delany Symposium at Heinz History Center | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $10+ | Strip District
- 🎵 Stomping Grounds Street Dance Festival with Level Up Studios | various times — through Sept. 28 | $30+ | Bloomfield
- 👩💼 Boss Babe Panel at Fulton Commons | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | $25 | Manchester
- 🦋 Zebra Swallowtails & Pawpaw Trees at East End Food Co-op | 6-8 p.m. | $10+ | Point Breeze North
- 🎸 Acoustics ft. Noa Jordan at Hartwood Acres Park | 6-8 p.m. | free | Hampton Township
- 📸 Pittsburgh Photography Journal Launch at Silver Eye Center | 6:30-8 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
Thursday, Sep. 26
- 🍻 Hops & Shops at Strange Roots Brewery | 5-8 p.m. | free | Millvale
- 🎙️ A Blessing, Not a Burden at Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | free | Shadyside
- 🔥 Hot Metal Happy Hour at the Carrie Blast Furnaces | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | $90 | Swissvale
- 🍹 Pittsburgh Mocktail Meetup at Cinderlands | 6-8 p.m. | free | Strip District
- 🪦 Stories Behind the Stones at The Pump House | 7-8:30 p.m. | free | Munhall
Friday, Sep. 27
- 📰 Newsapalooza at Point Park University | 9 a.m. | $10+ | Downtown
- 🍻 Oktoberfest at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. | various times — through Sept. 28 | $15 | Creighton
- 🚜 Hops & Hay Rides at Trax Farm | 4-6 p.m. | $12+ | Finleyville
- 🎷 Jazz on WBW at The Morgan-Lee Arts Centre | 5-8 p.m. | free | Hill District
- 🍻 Oktoberfest at Penn Brewery | various times — through Sept. 28 | free + VIP | Troy Hill
- 🍻 Oktoberfest at Eleventh Hour Brewing | various times — through Sept. 28 | free | Lawrenceville
- 👠 Pittsburgh Fashion Week Runway Show at PPG Place | 6:30-10 p.m. | $25+ | Downtown
- 💘 Meet Cute with Pittsburgh Personified at Bottlerocket Social Hall | 8 p.m. | $10 | Allentown
In this city, we love our neighbors like Mister Rogers would 💛 Get to know how Pittsburgh’s Haitian population is building community, and learn about Haitian culture at this new Latin American Cultural Center exhibit.
Kindly,
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