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Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians took to the streets Saturday for “No Kings” demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government’s swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. 

From deep red Butler and Lebanon counties, to State College, to the Lehigh Valley, to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia—where an estimated 20,000 people descended upon City Hall before marching up Market Street to Independence Hall—demonstrators as young as eight-years-old aired their grievances with the Trump administration through creative signs, festive costumes, and pointed messages.

“People fought and died for us to have the rights we have,” 61-year-old Tracie Benner of Juniata County said outside the state Capitol in Harrisburg, where an estimated crowd of between 5,000 and 6,000 people gathered. “And now for Trump and the Supreme Court and the Congress to just throw it away, we won’t stand for that.”

In Philadelphia, a clergyman of 40 years said that many people playing a small part in a much larger movement was a necessary first step in changing the course of what he believes is a deliberate swing toward fascism by the Trump administration. 

“We’ve been seeing the signs of fascism growing over time and it’s getting more and more blatant,” said Jamie, who didn’t want to share his last name. “I see what’s coming. I know history. I can’t do a lot, but this I can do. And I think a lot of other people don’t know what to do. But gathering together and letting them know we do not walk this way is one of the most important things we can do.”

In light of the weekend’s “No Kings” demonstrations, and with the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump being elected to a second term as president approaching, we’d like to know:

Has your outlook on the future changed—for better or worse—since Donald Trump returned to the White House?

Reply with your answer and please let us know where you live.

Mars, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, was given its name in 1882. (NASA)

There are more than 2,500 municipalities including boroughs, townships, and cities, along with many unincorporated hamlets and villages, across Pennsylvania, some with very strange names.

Of course, there are those Pennsylvania town names you dare not mention around children (you know the ones). But there are also communities with funny, head scratching, or otherwise interesting names that are more family friendly. Think Nanty-Glo, Pillow, Forty Fort, Eighty Four, and Mars.

Want the stories behind these and other Pa. towns with weird names? You’ve come to the right place.

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients will not receive benefits that were slated to be paid in November due to the ongoing government shutdown. Recipients in need of immediate food assistance are urged to call 211 or visit the Feeding Pennsylvania website or the PA Navigate website. The state has more information here.

• Health insurers in Pennsylvania will be required to cover COVID-19 and other vaccinations through 2026. Find out more here.

• Following in the footsteps of the commonwealth and neighboring Montgomery County, Bucks County officials are considering implementing paid parental leave for county employees. Get the story here.

• Emergency responders continued to work early Monday morning to extinguish a massive multiple-alarm fire burning through a mulch facility in York County. Get the latest here.

• Pennsylvania will have a new license plate option to support mental health, in honor of a central Pa. teen who died by suicide in 2020. Learn about it here.

A heads up for our readers in the Philadelphia area: We’re hosting an event in Philly this Thursday called Pints & Precedents: A Keystone Happy Hour at Philadelphia Brewing Company.

It’s a chance for you to connect with advocacy organizations, local policymakers, and fellow community members to talk about key issues facing Pennsylvania ahead of the upcoming state Supreme Court election on Nov. 4.

Don’t miss the chance to learn about the issues that matter and engage with your community. This event is FREE and open to the public. 

Sabrina Carpenter at the 2025 Grammy Awards. (Associated Press)

The southeastern Pa.-reared pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter had a memorable first experience pulling double duty as host and musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.

As Variety reports, the “Espresso” singer dropped two F-bombs while performing “Nobody’s Son” in Saturday’s episode, which made it into the east coast network broadcast and the Peacock simulcast. The performance was apparently cleaned up by the time the west coast broadcast aired.

You can watch clips of Carpenter on “SNL” here.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Inside Climate News, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and The Associated Press. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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