A stroll through the annals of Pennsylvania political corruption via a 5-episode podcast series.
Listen as long-time GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, along with two veteran reporters who have witnessed and written about politics and corruption here for decades -- John Baer and Brad Bumsted -- review the quirks and the nooks and crannies of some of the most absorbing political corruption cases, primarily from the modern era, here in Pennsylvania. In each episode (about 35-45 minutes) we will feature in a main story and a secondary story.
A disgraced Attorney General whose twin sister also worked there, who went down for lying to the court. Two former House speakers shared the same prison cell for a time. Not one, not two, but three Republican sisters taken down, two of whom were elected officials and one was their campaign manager. An entire Philadelphia court system eliminated due to fraud and corruption. A powerful Philadelphia state senator with a vacuum fixation. Yes, a vacuum fixation, funded by OPM -- "other people's money," not his. Congressmen taking bribes from fake Arab sheiks. A GOP Attorney General who went down by what he did in his previous job, but still managed to finish second in the 1994 Republican primary for governor. Multiple state treasurers were indicted, and one who very tragically and publicly killed himself during a press conference live on TV. Even the Capitol building itself was christened with corruption during a scandal when it was built in the early 1900's that in today's dollars would equal nearly half a billion dollars.
So, as you can see, we have lots to talk about on the Pennsylvania Political Digest podcast, a stroll through the annals of Pennsylvania political corruption.
All Roads Still Lead to PA - Our 4 hot cong. races
On the latest edition of the PA Political Digest Podcast, I sat down with three sharp beat reporters - Fallon Roth of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Tom Shortell of the Lehigh Valley News, and Borys Krawczeniuk of Scranton's WVIA-TV - for a rapid-fire breakdown of the key developments across our four hottest congressional battlegrounds: PA-1, 7, 8 and 10.
This mid-summer sit-down with the reporters covering these races (I served in that role for the PA-10 match-up as I live there), All Roads Still Lead to PA, is part 3 of our coverage of those top races…and of course, PA is the only state which has 3 races seen as being true toss-ups (7,8,10); PA-1 is still listed as Lean GOP.
At the top of the show, in lightning-round style, we serve up what we see as the top 2 recent developments in each race.
The Bottom Line
In 2024, GOP candidates survived by staying close to, or slightly behind, the national ticket. In 2026, with presidential approval underwater and Shapiro actively stoking Democratic turnout, Republican incumbents cannot simply do that again. To hold the House majority, PA Republicans must outrun the top of the ticket across all four battlegrounds.
For sharp analysis of PA politics and campaigns writ large, subscribe to PA Political Digest newsletter.
9 Jun 2026
PPD Chats about PA-1, Fitzpatrick v. Harvie, with Cook Political Report
Welcome to the PA Political Digest's pod on PA's 1st CD with Erin Covey, who leads the coverage of U.S. House races for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
Pa's 1st congressional district, a historically purple seat that encompasses all of Bucks County and a sliver of MontCo, features long-term Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick squaring off against Democratic Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie.
Fitzpatrick boasts a formidable local brand as an authentic moderate and a massive $7 million war chest, having secured his 2024 reelection by 13 points despite Kamala Harris narrowly winning the district. Conversely, Harvie brings strong regional name recognition but faces obstacles, including a past FBI investigation and a modest $550,000 cash on hand.
Republicans believe that even in the face of a big Democratic wave in PA this year, Fitzpatrick would survive.
5 Jun 2026
PPD Chats about PA-10, Perry v. Stelson rematch, with Cook Political Report
We continue our examination of PA's 4 hot congressional races with Erin Covey of the Cook Political Report - this episode focuses on another of our 3 toss-up races: the PA-10 rematch in southcentral PA between GOP Cong. Scott Perry and Democrat Janelle Stelson. Perry won by 5,133 votes in their 2024 battle.
Here is an AI-assisted summary of our interview about the highly competitive rematch for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District between Perry and Stelson.
Race Rating: Initially rated "likely Republican," the race has shifted to a "toss-up" due to Perry's vulnerability and the exceptionally narrow margin of the 2024 race between the two candidates (Perry + 5,133 votes).
Candidate Strengths & Vulnerabilities: Stelson, a former TV news anchor with strong non-partisan name recognition, has out-raised Perry. However, her campaign previously faced criticism because she did not reside within the district, though she has since moved to Cumberland County. Meanwhile, Democrats attack Perry's conservative voting record on federal spending bills as a member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Strategic Outlook: Analysts view the upcoming race as a continuation of their '24 "slugfest," though it's unclear how much new information voters will learn about the two this year. As one of three toss-up districts in Pennsylvania, this race could ultimately determine control of the House.
2 Jun 2026
PPD chats with Cook Political Report on PA-7 congressional race
PA 7 can be characterized as a quintessential 50-50 swing seat in the Lehigh Valley, the district features freshman Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie defending his seat against Democratic nominee Bob Brooks. That's why we sat down with Erin Covey, who leads coverage of the U.S. House for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter to chat about this race.
Here's the take-away from our 12-minute talk:
A Contentious Primary: Brooks, head of the PA Professional Fire Fighters Association, secured an easier-than-expected primary victory. He unified the progressive and centrist wings of his party despite late Republican meddling but benefited from unusual, coordinated financial backing from the DCCC in a primary.
General Election Vulnerabilities: Mackenzie remains a seasoned local legislator who keeps a low profile and Brooks faces potential scrutiny over past personal controversies and shifting policy stances.
The Big Picture: Located in the expensive Philadelphia media market, this "toss-up" race is viewed as a crucial bellwether. Because it sits on the East Coast, early results here on election night could signal which party will ultimately control the House.
Enjoy.
29 May 2026
PPD chats with Cook Political Report on PA-8 congressional race
The latest podcast from PA Political Digest, hosted by GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, features a chat with Erin Covey of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter about one of PA's 4 hot congressional races - this one, PA-8, up in NEPA.
The seat features a tight matchup between freshman Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan and Democratic challenger, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. While the Northeast Pennsylvania district has historically trended Republican on paper, Covey notes that a favorable national political environment for Democrats, driven locally by Governor Josh Shapiro's popularity, has made the race intensely competitive. Additionally, Bresnahan faces heavy Democratic criticism over his frequent stock trading. Nicholas wonders what the prevailing anti-Scranton sentiment in the region will mean for Mayor Cognetti. Ultimately, both candidates are expected to remain equally well-resourced.
15 May 2026
Support for legal pot declines in PA + voters distrust RFK, Jr and AI Chatbots
Join the latest PPD pod where we chat with Muhlenberg College Prof. and pollster, Chris Borick, about his new poll on healthcare in Pennsylvania.
While more people still favor legalizing recreational marijuana in PA, its support has dropped considerable in the past 5 years, from 58% in favor to just 47% now according to a new poll via Muhlenberg College's Institute for Public Opinion…and the number of folks who are ambivalent about it has also jumped considerably.
As pollster Chris Borick, who conducted the poll, remarked:
"If I was a Republican legislator and I'm looking at this [legalizing recreational marijuana], I'm certainly not diving in headfirst. It's not the slam dunk that some folks would tell you, that's for certain."
PA residents do not like the direction of healthcare here in the state but yet hold their own Primary Care Physician (PCP) in very high regard. And a majority don't trust either HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. or chatbots.
We also chat about the big-time Democratic primary in PA's 7th Cong. District in the Lehigh Valley.
Thanks to TruthonWeed.com (https://truthonweed.com) for sponsoring this podcast. Enjoy...
21 Apr 2026
PA's changing demographic kaleidoscope
PA's changing demographic kaleidoscope
Welcome to our latest PPD pod, with Univ. of Pittsburgh's Chris Briem, part of their Center for Social and Urban Research, and an expert on the state's demographics.
Can we still say that the Central PA - Lehigh Valley - Philly 'burbs region is the state's only true growth area, while the rest is either flat lining - or worse?
Is it just easier to posit that East Coast PA is growing while mid-west PA is not?
As Briem recounts, during the de-industrialization of western PA in the early 80's, tens of thousands of people left the region, taking with them their kids and their future grandchildren. It's never quite recovered.
Did you know that Beaver County's unemployment rate topped 28% then, higher than it was in the Depression?
What's up with the region outside Pittsburgh, what Nicholas refers to as Greater Non-Urban SW PA (GnuSWPA!
The state has lost congressional members in every redistricting since 1900, and we will again in 2030, when we are on track to lose one district.
That's coming, even though both Philly and Pgh's populations have rebounded somewhat…and did the state's 3 western TV markets - Erie, Johnstown-Altoona and Pittsburgh - all lose voters in the past 3 years?
Will the state be forced to move a state senate seat from western PA to the eastern part of the state in 2030's state reapportionment?
Can we redefine success without job growth?
Did you know that the Steel City is now home to more jobs than ever before?
Listen as Nicholas quizzes Briem on the state's top municipalities - Briem does pretty good but, like everyone else, cannot figure out the state's #6 largest town.
Enjoy our pod and learn more about PA's politics and demographics - that's always the goal of PA Political Digest!
Briem's new book, Beyond Steel: Pittsburgh and the Economics of Transformation, debuted earlier this year and is available wherever you buy your reading material.
31 Mar 2026
Pennsylvania has never elected a woman as governor - will that change in 2026?
PA Political Digest sits down with Betsy Fischer Martin as Women's History Month comes to a close
The Commonwealth of PA has the dubious distinction of being one of the Big 4 states that's never elected a woman as Governor or as a U.S. Senator.
Here in PA did you know that while there are more Democratic women in the State House there are more Republican women in the State Senate. Overall the number of women in the state legislature has greatly increased during my time working in politics here.
What will you learn listening to our pod?
-What the other 3 states are in the Big 4 besides PA...
-You'll also learn why I wear the same "uniform" each week on This Week in PA (https://www.abc27.com/this-week-in-pennsylvania/), and what the 'time' deficit is that women have to deal with.
-Speaking of uniforms, will GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity's extensive military background help her bridge the toughness gap in the gov race that women must often deal with?
-And how many women are there now in the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and serving as Governors.
Background: PA Dems, in the modern era, have never nominated a woman as their gubernatorial candidate, while the PA GOP has never nominated a woman as their U.S. Senate standard-bearer.
This year the PA GOP has nominated State Treasurer Garrity as their candidate for Governor, the second time they have set on a female candidate for that office...way back in 1990 was the first time.
That sets up a contest between her and Josh Shapiro...what are the special challenges for each as they battle a candidate of the opposite gender?
As Women's History Month comes to a close today (3-31-26), it seemed like the perfect time to do a deep dive on this, and that's why I talked late last week with Betsy Fischer Martin, the head of American University's Women & Politics Institute. She was also the long-time Exec. Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert.
Thanks again to Betsy...and enjoy!
4 Feb 2026
PPD pod with Navy Federal Credit Union's Heather Long - Demystifying econ stats we hear about in campaigns
Confused about all the economic stats you hear about during campaign season?
What does GDP really mean? Does lessening inflation mean prices at the grocery store are going down, or just increasing more slowly? Are we entering an era where there's lots of money for algorithms and machines, but not as much for people? What's the vibecession and the K-Shaped economy?
PA Political Digest (https://papoliticaldigest.substack.com/about) sat with Heather Long, Rhodes Scholar, former Wash Post/CNN economics correspondent and now Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, to find out. Our goal: demystify some of the economic jargon politicians throw at us during campaign season.
30 Dec 2025
PA's 4 hottest 2026 congressional races - PPD's deep dive, with Kyle Kondik
Join PA Political Digest (https://papoliticaldigest.substack.com) publisher, GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, as he talks about PA's 4 hottest 2026 congressional races with Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball.
The pod takes a deep dive into PA-1,7,8 and 10, all Republican re-election races (Congs. Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan and Perry).
Sabato's Crystal Ball (https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/) is one of the better-known non-partisan, campaign analysis/rating publications.
Pa-7 begins at 01:30 (the 1-minute 30-second mark) - how will the Dems' wide open primary affect the general election?
PA-8 begins at 08:35 - might the Dems have a brewing primary here...will Dem St. Sen. Marty Flynn of Scranton get into the congressional primary against Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti?
PA-10 begins at 19:00 - as of now both parties appear to have primaries here
PA-1 begins at 34:00 - will GOP Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick, the only Republican who voted against the OBBB, get his usual MAGA-style primary opponent in 2026?
This is Episode 2 of our 2026 Look Ahead series, which dropped 12/30/25...Episode 1, a 2026 Look Ahead that examines PA's gubernatorial and state legislative races, is also available and dropped 12/5/25. Thanks for listening.
6 Dec 2025
Pa Political Digest Campaign 2026 look ahead
Join GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, the publisher of PA Political Digest (https://papoliticaldigest.substack.com) newsletter, as he offers a look-ahead to PA's 2026 races for governor and the state Legislature. He is joined by Democratic consultant Brittany Crampsie of Brit Crampsie Communications (https://britcrampsie.com).
7 Oct 2025
Election 2025 Preview with Christopher Nicholas & Brittany Crampsie
The PA Political Digest newsletter decided to do an Election '25 preview pod, with host Christopher Nicholas, a veteran GOP political consultant. His guest is one of his TV sparring partners. Democratic consultant Brittany Crampsie.
https://papoliticaldigest.substack.com for sharp analysis of PA politics and campaigns writ large.
Join them as they talk through the big races on the ballot in November 2025, especially the Retention races of 3 PA Supreme Court justices, which is garnering national attention. Enjoy.
18 Dec 2023
Behind the scenes stories of top PA political corruption cases from the U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted them on Episode 6
Pa Political Digest bonus Episode 6 brings you behind the scenes of three top PA political corruption cases -- those involving Sen. Vince Fumo, Treasurer Rob McCord & Attorney General Ernie Preate -- from the U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted them.
Veteran political journalists John Baer and Brad Bumsted were given the day off, and GOP political consultant and producer/host Christopher Nicholas sat down with 3 former U.S. Attorneys with first-hand knowledge and experience prosecuting political corruption cases: Pat Meehan, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern DIstrict (Bush 43), Dave Freed, former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District (Trump), and David Barasch, another former U.S. Attorney for the Middle DIstrict (Clinton).
8 Sept 2023
Ep. 5 examines the horrific Cash for Kids scandal in Luzerne Co., a GOP Att. Gen. goes down + oddities
In the final episode of the PA Political Digest's pod, A Stroll through the annals of Pa. Political Corruption, we re-visit the horrific Cash for Kids scandal that rocked Luzerne County, look at a Republican Attorney General who had to resign -- and run through some oddities concerning a witch in the PA House, prostitutes and a serial per diem abuser.
Thanks to Feedspot.com for ranking us as the #4 political pod in Pa. And thanks to all of our listeners for their support throughout our 5-episode jaunt through Pa political corruption. Enjoy our final episode...
8 Aug 2023
Pa Treasurer Budd Dwyer commits public suicide so family gets his pension + more troubles for other PA Row Officers
Pa. Treasurer Budd Dwyer killed himself during a press conference the day before he was to be sentenced on his bribery conviction. That way his wife, his widow, could still get his $1 million+ state pension.
Plus in Episode 4 we examine three other state "Row Officers" got in trouble for what they did in office and out: Treasuers Rob McCord, who went from Harvard to teaching yoga, and Barbara "The Hafe" Hafer who lied to the Feds, plus Auditor General Al Benedict.
Lost in all the controversy about Dwyer's guilt was the fact that he was quite an acommplished politician. Hailing from tiny Crawford County in the "great NW" part of the state, voters elected him to state-wide office when he was just 41. And he had already served 3 terms in the state House and was in his third term in the state Senate...
10 Jul 2023
South Philly St. Sen. Vince Fumo, his vacuum fixation & OPM (Other People's Money) + ABSCAM
Episode 3 first focuses on former S. Philly state Sen. Vince Fumo, dubbed the "Vince of Darkness," who had a penchant for using OPM (Other People's Money) -- his mantra for how to acquire, steal or confiscate money from someplace else to pay for all his eccentricities and luxuries. That's the main focus; our secondary focus is the trials and tribulations of so many Democratic congressmen from Phiily -- from ABSCAM to Chaka Fattah.
23 Jun 2023
Bonus-gate and Computer-gate roil the Legislature and two ex-House Speakers end up as cell mates for two weeks
In Episode 2 we examine the scandal "cousins" Bonus-gate & Computer-gate, that roiled the Legislature and how 2 ex-House Speakers ended up as cell mates for a time.
Plus, it’s the Ories vs. the Zappalas in a western PA grudge match; Porn-gate takes down 2 Supreme Court justices, and Philly’s Traffic Court gets expunged.
21 Jun 2023
Meteoric Rise & Fall of Kathleen Kane, Pa.'s first Democratic Attorney General
A wide-ranging review of the meteoric rise & fall of Pennsylvania's first Democratic Attorney General. Plus, our beautiful state Capitol building itself was christened with a huge construction scandal that in today's money would equal nearly half a billion dollars. Could that be part of the reason why the Keystone State has suffered through so much political corruption over the years?
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