Battleground Politics With Lauren Mayk

The Lehigh Valley is in the spotlight this midterm election year. The winner of the race for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District could help determine who controls the U.S. House. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican, currently holds the seat. During Pennsylvania's upcoming primary election, Democrats will decide who will go up against him.   In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Christopher Borick, the director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College, about the Lehigh Valley’s importance in the upcoming midterm elections as well as the country’s overall political climate.   Here's a full breakdown:   :00 – Intro   :39 – The importance of Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District   1:33 – Signature features of the 7th District   3:05 – Current midterm mood   6:18 – Whether or not Democrats are overconfident   8:33 – Whether or not Trump will keep his base   11:07 – Impact of the war in Iran on midterm elections   13:29 – 7Th District primary race   21:25 – What’s at risk for Democrats   23:30 – Pennsylvania governor’s race   26:08 – Trump’s potential involvement in the midterm races   28:27 – Importance of the Lehigh Valley  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During last year’s election, an error in printing poll books impacted thousands of voters in Chester County. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with two Chester County officials about what they’ve done to prevent another error from happening as the Pennsylvania primary approaches.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pennsylvania treasurer Stacy Garrity is a Republican running for governor. With the backing of the Pennsylvania GOP party in the upcoming primary, Garrity will likely take on Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro in the general election in November. She spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about the governor’s race and other topics in the latest episode of Battleground Politics.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia voters are choosing a new member of congress to replace retiring Congressman Dwight Evans to represent the 3rd District. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with one of the candidates, State Rep. Chris Rabb.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia voters are choosing a new member of congress to replace retiring Congressman Dwight Evans to represent the 3rd District. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with one of the candidates, Shaun Griffith.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia voters are choosing a new member of congress to replace retiring Congressman Dwight Evans to represent the 3rd District. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with one of the candidates, Sen. Sharif Street.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia voters are choosing a new member of congress to replace retiring Congressman Dwight Evans to represent the 3rd District. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with one of the candidates, Dr. Ala Stanford. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In recent years, SEPTA has dealt with several issues, including a funding crisis, service cuts and safety issues with its Silverliner IV railcars. As SEPTA proposes its new budget amid financial uncertainty, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer about the transit agency’s future in the latest episode of Battleground Politics. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :00 – Intro :44 – Latest on the Silverliner IV fleet 2:45 – SEPTA’s budget proposal 6:00 – SEPTA’s focus on cleanliness and safety 7:32 – How higher gas prices are impacting SEPTA 9:15 – Mayor Parker’s proposed rideshare tax   10:40 – Convincing lawmakers to give more money to SEPTA 12:12 – How SEPTA is preparing for big 2026 events 14:25 – New SEPTA vehicles people should expect to see Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Delaware Democrats are now vying to get an early primary day, competing with other states for the opportunity to give voters a chance to influence who Democrats nominate for president as the DNC prepares to shake up its primary calendar. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Evelyn Brady, the State Chair of the Delaware Democratic Party, about Delaware’s pitch, Pennsylvania’s role, and preparing for a potential spotlight. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :00 -- Intro :59 – The pitch for Delaware to move up in the primary calendar 1:40 – Conversations before Delaware’s push for an early primary 2:40 – Ideal scenario for Delaware 4:10 – How Delawareans would react to an early primary 5:48 – DNC meeting in New Orleans 6:54 – Competing with New Hampshire in the push for an early primary 8:10 – The importance of being close to Pennsylvania 9:20 – Preparing for the possibility of an early primary 10:22 – Whether or not Delaware is ready for the scrutiny of an early primary 11:43 – Joe Biden 12:03 – The next step in the process Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mayor Cherelle Parker recently announced a change to her proposed rideshare tax in order to help close the Philadelphia School District’s $300 million budget gap. The proposal would implement a tax of $1 per ride for rideshares originating from Philadelphia. While the Parker administration has said that the rideshare companies could absorb the cost, Uber has said the cost would go to the riders themselves. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with a panel who shared their thoughts on the proposal. The panelists are Donna Cooper, the executive director of Children First, Pat Loeb, a reporter with KYW Newsradio, and Reverend Cean James, the pastor of Salt & Light Church and a member of POWER Interfaith. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode :00 – Intro 1:39 – Reactions to Mayor Parker’s amended proposal 3:25 – The balance of helping Philly schools and Philly residents 5:14 – City council’s reaction to the proposed tax 6:30 – Thoughts on taxes on corporations 8:30 – Philly’s sweetened beverage tax in the conversation over the proposed rideshare tax 9:57 – Mayor Parker’s economic mobility agenda Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia will receive DNC officials for a visit at the end of the month as part of a bid to host the Democratic National Convention, the president of the host committee said. The DNC last month named Philadelphia along with four other cities – Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver – as frontrunners moving ahead in the selection process to host the 2028 convention. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Pick Pennsylvania president and former ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen about Philadelphia’s bid for the DNC.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Philadelphia School District’s $2.8 billion master plan has been met with some opposition from students, parents and teachers. Under the plan, the district would modernize buildings and expand programs in tech, the arts as well as music. However, it also calls for the closure of 18 Philly schools. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington about the plan and its potential impact. She also spoke with Arthur Steinberg, the President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.   Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:   Interview with Dr. Tony Watlington   00:49 – Whether or not there will be additional changes to the plan   2:45 – Message to family, students, staff who want changes to the plan   3:40 – The plan’s impact on students who move to different school buildings   7:04 – Deadline for securing funding for the plan   9:40 – The benefits of the plan   10:07 – Plan’s initial impact on students, families and staff   13:45 – Could districtwide algebra be implemented without the plan? 15:21 – Conversations on which schools would be given to the city under the plan   17:16 – Possibility of unused buildings providing revenue for the plan   18:31 – The potential loss of public school students under the plan   Interview with Arthur Steinberg   22:18 – The union’s concerns over the school plan   22:46 – Reaction to revisions to the plan   23:10 – Parts of the plan the union is focused on   24:07 – Steinberg’s involvement with the school plan advisory committee   25:48 – What Steinberg is hearing from union members   26:36 – Current conditions of Philly school buildings  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan said her office has continued to receive threats in the wake of a video she released with colleagues urging military members to refuse unlawful orders. She spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk in the latest episode of Battleground Politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The battle over Pennsylvania’s budget finally came to an end in November as lawmakers agreed to a spending plan more than four months behind schedule. The budget allowed billions of dollars to start flowing to critical organizations across the state. Gov. Josh Shapiro will have to propose his next budget a few months from now, however. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks about the budget with Pennsylvania State Rep. Jordan Harris, a Democrat representing Philadelphia who is also the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. They also discuss what's next for SEPTA amid its funding crisis. Lauren also spoke with Pennsylvania State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, a Republican representing parts of Berks and Montgomery counties who is also a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The federal government finally reopened on Wednesday after a shutdown that lasted 43 days. To avoid another shutdown, lawmakers will have to make a decision about federal funding again in January. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D) Pennsylvania and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R) Pennsylvania about the end of the shutdown.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Christine Todd Whitman, New Jersey’s first female governor and founding co-chair of the Forward Party, about Sherrill’s victory. *Note* The interview was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As SEPTA works to finish federally ordered inspections on regional rail cars, the transit agency’s general manager Scott Sauer sat down with Lauren Mayk to talk about the progress and what’s ahead for the cars and the agency as it continues to face financial uncertainty in the future.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Election Day is only a few days away and the New Jersey governor's race is expected to have national ramifications. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10's Lauren Mayk spoke with Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli and New Jersey voters about the race and the most important issues. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The U.S. government officially shut down after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on how to extend federal funding. Democratic U.S. Senator Andy Kim and Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie react to the shutdown in the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eugene DePasquale was recently elected as the new chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party after serving as the state’s Auditor General and in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk in the latest episode of Battleground Politics about several topics, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, political violence, how the Democratic party can rebound after 2024 defeats, the current political landscape of Pennsylvania and more.00:49 – The assassination of Charlie Kirk1:50 – How to address political violence3:05 – Security at political rallies5:15 – The future of Pennsylvania Democrats6:50 – Losing the Pennsylvania Attorney General race8:00 – Democrats in Pennsylvania9:10 – Non-affiliated voters9:50 – Getting involved in hyper local races11:00 – Judicial races and voter turnout11:50 – SEPTA and mass transit funding14:25 – Philadelphia District Attorney race  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After losing in the Democratic primary, former judge Pat Dugan will once again face off against District Attorney Larry Krasner in the general election, this time as the Republican nominee. Dugan spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about his rematch with Krasner, SEPTA’s special prosecutor and political violence in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:50 – The assassination of Charlie Kirk3:00 – What should change?4:40 – Running as a Republican5:50 – Was switching parties a backup plan?7:50 – President Trump in political ad9:00 – National guard in Philly?12:11 – Center City shooting13:45 – Downgraded charges for shooting suspect14:20 – What will be different this time against Krasner?16:00 – SEPTA’s special prosecutor Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEPTA is set to implement drastic service cuts and fare hikes starting on Sunday, Aug. 24. The transit agency says it needs funding to help make up a $213 million budget deficit but so far Pennsylvania lawmakers haven’t been able to come to an agreement on funds for SEPTA and other transit agencies. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton and Republican Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward about what it would take for both sides to come to an agreement.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: Interview with Joanna McClinton: 00:41 – Impact of SEPTA cuts on Joanna McClinton’s district 1:54 – Plans for House lawmakers 3:12 – What Pa. Democrats are willing to compromise on 4:00 – Transit trust fund 5:39 – Capital projects7:11 – Disconnect over transit trust fund numbers9:35 – Is transit funding the main thing stopping a state budget from being passed? 10:20 – Is proposal to change how tax revenue is allocated a realistic solution? 11:35 – Is the disagreement over SEPTA funding based on policy or politics? 12:45 – Did Pennsylvania politicians fail SEPTA customers? Interview with Kim Ward: 15:17 – Any progress since Pa. Senate session? 15:57 – Transit trust fund 18:19 – Skill games as a source of funding? 21:14 – Capital projects 23:30 – Frustration from students and families who use SEPTA24:07 – Whether or not politics are at play in the SEPTA funding talks 26:06 – What would a deal for funding look like? 26:32 – Reaction from Ward’s constituents to a deal not being reached 28:02 – Is a change to tax distribution a workable idea?    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEPTA is moving forward with their plans to implement drastic cuts and fare hikes for riders across the Pennsylvania region after lawmakers in Harrisburg failed to reach a deal to secure funding for the transit agency’s $213 million budget deficit. As hundreds of thousands of SEPTA customers brace for the impact, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Sen. Joe Picozzi, a Philadelphia Republican who tried to push forward a GOP-backed funding bill that was ultimately voted down by a House committee. Watch and listen to their interview in the latest episode of Battleground Politics. 0:47 -- Reaction to upcoming SEPTA cuts 1:27 -- SEPTA's reaction to Senate's proposal 2:28 -- Reaction to Democratic supported House bill that didn't pass 3:43 -- Communicating with fellow GOP lawmakers 4:51 -- Reaction to Gov. Shapiro calling him out 6:00 -- Communicating with Democratic lawmakers 6:50 -- Working to secure funding for SEPTA7:33 -- Next steps for securing funding 8:16 -- Funding and SEPTA safety 9:04 -- SEPTA fare increases and affordability 10:26 -- Willingness to compromise on funding bill 11:24 -- Flat budget with no additional spending 12:04 -- Message to SEPTA riders amid upcoming cuts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The clock is ticking for SEPTA as the transit agency is set to implement major service cuts and higher fares if they fail to secure funding by August 14, 2025. Amid the looming "transit death spiral," SEPTA GM Scott Sauer spoke with NBC10's Lauren Mayk for the latest episode of Battleground Politics.Here's a full breakdown of the episode::30 -- Will the schedule cuts really go into effect?1:23 -- How the schedule changes will affect students4:28 -- How additional transit police and staff will help riders5:43 -- How businesses will be affected by the schedule changes7:02 – Public/private partnerships8:25 – SEPTA oversight bill9:49 – Responding to those who say SEPTA shouldn’t get any more state funding11:24 – Why SEPTA can’t pay for itself12:50 – If SEPTA gets the money it’s asking for, will it come back next year asking for more money? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As he marks six months on the job, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about safety, opioids, lawsuits against the Trump administration, SEPTA’s special prosecutor, and more. Watch the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk.Here's a full breakdown of the episode:  1:35 – SEPTA’s special prosecutor  5:51 -- Choosing cases for special prosecutor to handle instead of District Attorney Larry Krasner7:10 – Taxpayer dollars and special prosecutor’s office  8:25 – Extending SEPTA’s special prosecutor beyond 2026  9:05 -- Opioid crisis and Kensington10:45 – Trump’s executive order on committing people for treatment  11:57 – Governor’s lawsuits against Trump  15:30 -- Birthright citizenship  18:22 – Advocating for Pennsylvanians  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As SEPTA prepares for possible service cuts and fare hikes, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with lawmakers on why there is still no resolution on SEPTA funding. She also speaks with SEPTA riders about what they plan to do if the transit agency makes the cuts it’s planning.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode  00:40 – SEPTA riders respond to planned cuts to routes  6:57 – Oversight and accountability for SEPTA  7:40 – SEPTA safety concerns8:20 – SEPTA’s internal documentation  10:20 – Public and private partnership rights  12:20 – SEPTA state funding  13:20 – Third-party oversight  14:45 – GOP Sen. Tracy Pennycuick on SEPTA funding  16:00 – Budget negotiations in Harrisburg  17:47 – Impact of SEPTA cuts on Montgomery and Berks counties  20:40 – House Democrats on proposed oversight bill  21:20 – Democratic Sen. Vincent Hughes on budget  25:30 – Democratic vs. GOP votes   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin recently made a stop in Philadelphia. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Martin about the upcoming midterms and primaries as well as why you may see the DNC getting involved in school board races. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:42 – State and federal funding issues 2:00 – DNC and school board races 3:42 – Organized Everywhere Program 4:50 – Young voters and the DNC  6:40 – DNC’s handling of primaries 10:05 – Neutrality during primaries 13:20 – Impact of Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ 18:30 – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Trump’s bill   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A tentative agreement was reached between the city of Philadelphia and AFSCME District Council 33, ending a strike that lasted more than a week. With members of the city’s largest blue-collar workers union set to vote on ratifying the new deal on Monday, July 14, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with a panel about the strike and its overall impact. The panel includes Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Daniel Bauder, Zachary Kimmel, an attorney with Reed Smith LLP, KYW Newsradio reporter Pat Loeb and Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:17 – The impact of the strike on Philadelphia5:45 – How the strike ended6:52 – Challenges ahead in the aftermath of the strike8:38 – How Mayor Parker is viewed after the strike11:28 – Impact on future union contract talks in Philly13:50 – Potential impact on city services  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law his sweeping tax cut and spending package, what he’s called the “big, beautiful bill,” in a Fourth of July ceremony packaged with patriotic pomp and symbolism. For the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Republican Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (Pennsylvania -7th District) and Democratic Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (Pa. – 4th District) who both voted on the bill and shared their reactions. Here's a full breakdown of the episode: 0:22 - Rep. Ryan Mackenzie on “yes” vote for bill1:42 - Potential for people losing Medicaid benefits3:31 - What happened behind the scenes to get the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed?4:53 - Gov. Josh Shapiro and Medicaid/SNAP5:56 - Conversations with President Trump7:06 - How is Mackenzie feeling about running for reelection on the “Big Beautiful Bill”?8:06 - Rep. Madeleine Dean on “no” vote for bill10:26 - Dean on Medicaid work requirements11:45 - What will Democrats do next now that the bill has passed?16:07 - Will any parts of the bill benefit her constituents?17:15 - Dean makes economic argument against the bill Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After winning the Democratic nomination in the primary, Mikie Sherrill will face off against Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the race for New Jersey’s governor. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Sherill speaks with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about the upcoming election, her plan for the Garden State and much more.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:  0:47 -- Reactions to New York’s mayoral primary and Zohran Mamdani  2:45 – Differences between Sherrill, Murphy and Ciattarelli4:32 -- Affordability in New Jersey6:49 -- Tax credit program for seniors8:09 -- New Jersey's cooperation with ICE under Sherrill administration9:59 -- Sherill administration relationship with President Trump12:22 -- Abortion and healthcare  14:26 -- Conflict between Israel and Iran Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jack Ciattarelli won the Republican primary for New Jersey governor and will face off against the Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Fresh off his primary victory, Ciattarelli spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk in the latest episode of Battleground Politics.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:  1:50 Affordability and reducing income taxes2:45 Plans to reduce size of NJ government4:00 Appointing an attorney general5:00 Working with Trump and National Guard5:50 Chaos at Jersey Shore and prosecuting minors6:30 Civil disturbances7:20 Sanctuary cities, not restricting state police  8:00 Immigrant trust directive  8:30 Abortion  9:50 Support from Trump Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Incumbent Marty Small and his challenger Bob McDevitt will face off in Atlantic City's mayoral race in the New Jersey Democratic primary. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Small and McDevitt both speak with Lauren Mayk about the upcoming primary, the issues Atlantic City faces and why they both believe they're the best person to lead the city. Lauren also asks Mayor Small about the charges he is facing in an alleged abuse case.  Here's a full breakdown of the episode:  Interview with Marty Small  00:51 -- Why Marty Small believes he should be reelected  3:13 -- Mayor Small addresses abuse allegations  4:11 -- Message for voters who question Small's judgment  4:54 -- Safety issues in Atlantic City  5:49 -- Cleanliness in Atlantic City  6:56 -- Making people feel safer  8:14 -- Finances in Atlantic City  11:03 -- Smoking, marijuana in Atlantic City  13:17 -- What Atlantic City would look like if Small is reelected  Interview with Bob McDevitt13:57 -- Why Bob McDevitt wants to be mayor  14:27 -- How McDevitt would approach being mayor as a former union leader  15:30 -- Getting more people to visit Atlantic City  16:33 -- Safety in Atlantic City  20:31 -- Smoking, marijuana in Atlantic City  24:08 -- Finances in Atlantic City Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Mehmet Oz – a physician, TV host and candidate in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania – was recently named the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Dr. Oz spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about his new role, former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, Medicaid, the price of prescription drugs, measles, vaccines, artificial intelligence and more.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:  00:49 – President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis  1:33 – New role at CMS  4:22 – Access to health insurance6:25 – Cost of prescription drugs  10:02 – Timeline for changes to prescription drug prices  11:05 – Measles and vaccines  13:55 – Elon Musk and DOGE  15:32 – AI and medical technology  17:33 – Whether or not he wishes he was in the Senate  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEPTA says they’re approaching a transit “death spiral” and needs state funding to bridge a $213 million budget deficit and avoid a plan that would cut service and raise fares. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk visited Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she got insight into how the debate over SEPTA funding is shaping up and what it might take to make a deal.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:00:39 – SEPTA workers speak on the need for funding3:48 – House Speaker Joanna McClinton on SEPTA funding5:24 – Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman on what it will take to reach a deal12:32 – House Republican Leader Jesse Topper on SEPTA17:26 – State. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta’s speech in Capitol21:38 – State Rep. Martina White’s support for SETPA24:41 – Interview with SEPTA’s Interim General Manager Scott Sauer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former judge Patrick Dugan will take on incumbent Larry Krasner In Philadelphia's District Attorney race in the Democratic primary on May 20. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Dugan speaks with NBC10's Lauren Mayk about what he would do if he won, gun violence in Philadelphia, President Trump and more.Here's a full breakdown of the episode:00:31 -- What Dugan would change if he won3:31 -- What the Philly DA's office would look like under Dugan4:59 -- Avoiding redundancy5:53 -- Addressing gun violence in Philly9:43 -- Retail theft in Philly12:33 -- Whether or not marijuana should be legalized in Pennsylvania13:31 -- SEPTA's special prosecutor14:47 -- Judging over case of Philly officer while being married to police officer18:14 -- Taking on President Trump20:15 -- What he would do if he loses the primary Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Incumbent Larry Krasner will take on former judge Patrick Dugan in the race for Philadelphia's District Attorney in the Democratic primary on May 20. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Krasner spoke with NBC10's Lauren Mayk about why he believes he should be elected for a third term, gun violence in Philly, President Donald Trump and more.Here's a full breakdown of the episode: 00:33 -- Why Krasner believes he should have a third term2:11 -- Similarities and differences with 20172:51 -- What a 3rd term of Krasner would look like3:45 -- Gun violence and the youth7:10 -- Juveniles and homicides8:43 -- Changes to retail theft policy13:06 -- Conversations with store owners and managers14:45 -- SEPTA's special prosecutor15:53 -- Explaining his "punched in the face" comments 18:22 -- President Trump's plans in the White House20:54 -- Philly and Trump's crackdown on sanctuary cities22:20 -- What the upcoming primary will say about the Democratic party Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pennsylvania voters helped President Donald Trump win the White House in 2024. As he marked 100 days in office, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk checked in with voters in the battleground state. She talked to voters – those who supported him and those who did not – about what’s happened so far and what these first 100 days have been like for them. Her conversations also include federal workers who have been impacted by cuts to the federal workforce.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1st Interview: Pam Barnes 00:38 – Trump’s campaign promises1:46 – DOGE 2:54 – Tariffs3:53 – 2nd Trump administration compared to first  2nd Interview: Jody Della Barba5:58 – Thoughts on Trump7:00 – Immigration 8:36 – Economy and tariffs 3rd Interview: Jay Smith 10:57 – Reaction to being placed on administrative leave 13:35 – Thoughts on Trump14:57 – What he wanted Trump to do 17:48 – Prices  4th Interview: Renata Thakurdyal18:32 – Reaction to being placed on administrative leave 19:52 – Trump’s impact on her life 21:55 – Voting for a third-party candidate  5th Interview: Ian Callaghan-Kenna24:55 – Thoughts on Trump 27:05 – Student financial aid, college deportations 29:03 – How Democrats are reacting to Trump 30:24 – Trump’s economic impact  6th Interview: Mikal Ellis 36:18 – Whether or not Ellis voted 38:38 – What both parties need to do to earn his vote  7th Interview: Brian Rudnick 39:05 – Rudnick’s anti-Trump sign  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:40 -- Introducing our panel1:05 -- Overall reactions to Trump's first 100 days2:48  -- Trump's tariffs4:41 -- "Organized chaos"7:14 -- Trump's impact on local law enforcement10:25 -- ICE and immigration13:45 -- Democratic reaction to Trump15:39 -- Republican messaging under Trump18:33 -- Debate over Trump's willingness to work with Democrats  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:36 – Response to calls to get rid of sheriff’s office  3:19 – How deputies feel about calls for the office to be abolished  4:28 – Concerns over court security and staffing  7:35 – Court order on staffing report  9:37 – Amount of deputies needed  10:44 – What Sheriff Bilal is asking for in the budget  12:49 – Amount of time it takes to get deeds  16:07 – Philly housing plan and property  17:28 – Response to criticism  19:19 – Office finances  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:39 – How the new tariffs are being implemented  3:58 – The impact of the tariffs on the economy  4:45 – Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S  7:02 – Tariffs during the first Trump administration  8:34 – Why Ross would have recommended Trump pass the tax bill first  10:28 – Amount of time Trump has to make deals with other countries  12:14 – The impact on American companies  14:42 – What approach Ross would recommend on tariffs  15:44 – Whether or not he’s concerned about a potential recession    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in GOP-leaning Lancaster County, scoring an upset victory over Lancaster County Commission Chairman and Republican Josh Parsons.  Democrats say they haven’t represented Lancaster County in the Senate since 1889. Malone’s win narrows GOP control of the state Senate to a 27-23 seat advantage. His term runs through 2026.  In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Malone, a 51-year-old computer application designer and mayor of East Petersburg, spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about the race, how he campaigned and what the results mean.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:  00:51 – Why Malone won  2:01 – Conversations with voters  3:04 – How Malone flipped a traditionally Republican county  6:38 – Takeaways for Democrats after Malone’s victory  9:00 – Elon Musk10:08 – Whether or not Democrats have been too focused on Trump  12:20 – Whether or not Malone believes he would’ve won if it wasn’t a special election  16:18 – The current political state of Lancaster County  17:26 – What Malone believes he needs to do to prove he deserves a full-term   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Longtime Philadelphia Congressman Dwight Evans announced last May that he had suffered a stroke. Recovery and rehab for Evans lasted for months. He’s now back serving a new term in congress. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Evans spoke with Lauren Mayk about his recovery, politics today and what’s next for his career.Here's a full breakdown of the episode:00:37 – How Rep. Evans is doing months after stroke6:43 – Rep. Evans on Mayor Parker, Gov. Shapiro8:30 – Concerns over federal funding11:25 – Democrats and their constituents16:05 – Rep. Evans’ future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mayor Cherelle Parker laid out her $6.7 billion budget proposal for Philadelphia. After her speech in the city council chambers, she sat down with NBC10's Lauren Mayk to discuss her proposal and future plans for the city.Here's a full breakdown of the episode.00:41 -- Safeguarding the rights of Philadelphians2:04 -- Backup plans if federal money doesn't come through4:02 -- Philly's DEI office5:58 -- Changes to taxes in budget proposal7:46 -- Future plans with Sixers9:18 -- Recruiting federal workers from Biden administration  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, former ambassador to Canada David Cohen spoke about President Trump's 25% tariff on Canada. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two Pennsylvania legislators are now stepping into leadership positions with their political parties. Democratic State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta from Philadelphia was elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee while Republican State Senator Greg Rothman was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, both political leaders speak with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about the current state and direction of their parties. Here's a full breakdown of the episode: Interview with Greg RothmanNote: This interview was conducted before President Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and before Trump directed a pause on military aid for Ukraine.00:50 – The current Republican brand1:55 – Meeting the demands of GOP voters3:53 – Message for local Ukrainians5:40 – President Trump’s statements on Ukraine6:10 – Laid off federal workers in Pennsylvania9:15 – Agenda of the Pennsylvania Republican Party10:40 – Potential GOP candidates to face Gov. Shapiro  14:15 – Trump and PennsylvaniaInterview with Malcolm Kenyatta15:17 – Kenyatta’s role as DNC Vice Chair16:27 – The current Democratic brand17:40 – The perception voters have of Democrats19:46 – Democratic discourse on Trump23:38 – The future of DEI policies27:23 – Reaching out to non-voters31:25 – Whether or not Kenyatta plans on running for a statewide office again Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many people from the Philadelphia region rely on SEPTA to get to work or school every day. But the transit agency is in a financial crisis and has warned that a “death spiral” could be coming. What happens next for SEPTA depends on politics in Harrisburg. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with SEPTA’s interim general manager Scott Sauer about how they’re preparing potential fare increases and service cuts. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:00:55 – SEPTA’s handling of the Eagles Super Bowl parade2:47 – Preparing for fare increases, service cuts5:30 – Plan for service cuts6:11 – Potential impact of Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal7:21 – Reactions from lawmakers8:29 – Different approach from last year9:21 – From “hopeful” to cautiously optimistic9:59 – Progress of SEPTA’s special prosecutor  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently delivered his state budget address. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, he spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about a variety of topics, including the deadly medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia, President Trump’s immigration enforcement, and his approach to achieving his budget goals for the keystone state. He even gave his Super Bowl prediction. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:49 – Deadly medical jet crash in Northeast Philly 4:27 – Working with new Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy 5:32 – Pennsylvania budget goals 7:46 – Transportation funding and SEPTA 10:40 – Federal funding for Pennsylvania 14:50 – Immigration enforcement under Trump 16:12 – Trump’s statement on Gaza 17:13 – Sixers arena decision 19:33 – Possibility of a dome stadium at the Linc  20:41 – Super Bowl prediction  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:31 – Potential ICE operations and Philly schools 5:15 – Overall goals for Philly schools 9:55 – Improving attendance at Philly schools 10:55 – Assessment of extended day/year schooling 14:33 – Impact of gun violence on Philly students16:45 – School safety, support for students 17:49 – Bringing cooling systems to all Philly school buildings  20:10 – DEI programs and Philly School District  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: *Note: this interview was conducted before the inauguration of Donald Trump*00:30 – Why Mayor Parker made the trip to DC in person 1:46 – Parker’s recruitment plan  2:19 – Recruiting Biden officials after Trump won Pennsylvania 3:16 – New ideas for Philly 4:34 – How Philly is preparing for the Trump administration 6:05 – Meeting with Trump and his team 7:35 – Philadelphia and Trump’s immigration plan 9:28 – Is Philadelphia still a sanctuary city? 11:07 – Recruiting the Biden library for Philly  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode.00:26 – What Pennsylvanians will notice about AG Dave Sunday1:23 – Opioid epidemic in Kensington3:31 – Relationship with Philly DA Larry Krasner6:33 – SEPTA’s special prosecutor9:13 – The Trump administration and immigration12:58 – Listening to everyone13:34 – Recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania16:57 – Abortion laws in Pennsylvania18:10 – Mental health in Pennsylvania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.