Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling: From the Pittsburgh-inspired sandwich to the attempted assassination of a Pittsburgh mayor, and why the White House is important
PITTSBURGH – Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling of Moon Township, a municipality that sits a few miles northwest of Pittsburgh, smiles as a server at local staple Primanti Brothers delivers a sandwich stacked higher than a double AA battery.
Madonna-Emmerling says that the Pittsburgh-inspired sandwich was created to make it easier for blue collar workers to eat at work with one hand.
She was against the idea of closing the local school. She’s president of the library board and fought to keep a LGBTQ book on the shelves. She’s run for public office and trained activists to knock on doors at election time to shore up votes for Democrats.
It has proven difficult to sell locals on the President at the top of the ticket. His poor showing at the June debate with former President Donald Trump zapped a lot of energy. Then came the attempted assassination on Trump in nearby Butler, which caused a lot of “whiplash” in this area where many voters don’t adhere strictly to one party or the other.
“People are a little bit checked out. People are very tired. And we’re just trying to say, ‘OK , you’re going to be tired about the top of the ticket, but there’s still work to do,’” The shooting out of respect for Republicans slowed some door-knocking efforts.
The news that Biden was dropping out and making way for Harris to take his place was historic. According to Madonna-Emmerling, Biden’s decision could prove to be a key one in Pennsylvania, which could prove crucial to the White House.
Madonna-Emmerling explains the aftermath of Joe Biden’s endorsement for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination in Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Trump won the majority of Moon Township voters in the state when he was elected. In 2020, the Democrats and Joe Biden gained support in the town when almost 2,000 more people voted. In small counties in the state, the same thing happened that made Democrats win the swing state back.
The presidential race has hit a bit of a reset, according to a new NPR poll, with the vice president in the race. Trump and Harris are now statistically tied, and some independent voters now say they are undecided,
Madonna-Emmerling feels that Harris’ campaign has injected new energy into Democrats, and she feels that the vice president’s background as a prosecutor is a winning combination and makes her an “ideal suburban candidate.”
In the aftermath of Biden’s endorsement for Harris, she has more work to do with voters in the suburbs but also with people who may now be undecided.
In the suburbs, people are more likely to look for someone who is pro-public safety than someone who is pro- police, Madonna-Emmerling said. It can be hard to overcome that barrier. This is a good case of a prosecutor against a felon and it is a home run.
The Republican tax collector in Moon Township said to NPR that he believes the luster of the Harris-Binnie ticket will wear off in the coming weeks.
What matters most to voters in this part of Pennsylvania is how they are currently experiencing inflation and how they’re securing the U.S.-Mexico border, which is still in favor of Trump.
Wink, who serves on the GOP’s state committee, has lived in the Pittsburgh area since he was two years old. His father was once mayor of Hampton Township, north of the city. Wink said he started working on campaigns, stuffing envelopes and putting mailers together for candidates, as early as 15 years old.
Sensitivities in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, During the Early Phases of the 2016 Presidential Primary Reionization Rehearse
He believes that residents and voters here are very happy with how town is run, even if they are unhappy with the way local government is run. The roads are well maintained and the police force is good, he added.
Pennsylvania, a swing state, makes living in it interesting from a political point of view.
“I kind of thought Trump was in trouble in 2020 because I was seeing too many Biden signs, much more so than in 2016, where there were very little in the way of Hillary signs,” Wink remembered.
He would’ve liked to see Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley be the nominee. But Trump won the primaries, and Wink plans to vote for him.
As for whether Moon Township and areas nearby will vote for Trump or Harris, if she becomes the nominee as expected, Wink and Madonna-Emmerling have a similar view.
Families and seniors on fixed incomes here are struggling with the cost of groceries and other costs of living. Under Trump, “things were humming along pretty well,” Wink said, and if Republicans can communicate that message and get their lower-propensity voters to turn out, the election will be theirs.
She believes that the people in this community care about their families and those around them. It’s possible to motivate people who are not registered to vote to go to the polls.
The Tiny Desk Contest: What is Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on Israel? Plus, takeaway from Biden’s Oval Office speech
Tweens might not be getting enough sleep due to how they use their electronic devices before bedtime. A long-term study of brain development and child health was conducted by scientists for almost 10,000 11- and 12-year-olds. Twinnings were asked how they use screens in the evening and how well they sleep. Then a follow-up was done a year later. Here’s how parents can help their kids have better quality sleep.
The Tiny Desk Contest received over 7,000 entries this year. Even though there could only be one winner, there was no shortage of talent displayed. NPR Music’s Bobby Carter, who has produced Tiny Desks for some legendary hip-hop artists such as Mac Miller and Noname, breaks down some of his favorite entries. Carter talks about how hip-hop acts stepped up their submissions this year and the versatility of the entries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his administration’s war efforts yesterday in his first address to the U.S. Congress since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. He called on the U.S. to stand with Israel, urged Congress to fast-track additional military aid and vowed that his country would do “whatever it must” to defeat Hamas. Several Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech and thousands marched outside the Capitol. Netanyahu is expected to meet separately with Biden and Harris today and with former President Donald Trump tomorrow. The Israeli prime minister’s visit comes at a crucial time in American politics as Harris looks to strike a delicate balance with Israel ahead of the race for the White House.
Up First: Every morning is an Ease of Change (Meridian Mistakenness) in the New Standard Model and its Substructure
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.