City Council President Darrell Clarke talks Philly’s future as tenure comes to an end

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner spoke with Lauren Mayk about his ongoing fight against Act 40, a new law that would give a special prosecutor jurisdiction over any crime committed on SEPTA’s property. Krasner also spoke about his disagreement with Governor Josh Shapiro over Act 40, the recent violence on and near SEPTA properties, working with the city's new mayor and new police commissioner and whether or not he plans to run for a third term.

Here is a full breakdown of the episode:

1:43 – Preparing for the possibility of a special prosecutor

2:36 – Krasner on Shapiro’s stance on Act 40

4:37 – Support for Krasner’s fight against Act 40

5:41 – Protecting the upcoming election in Philly 

7:37 – Reaction to SEPTA’s stance on Act 40 

9:30 – Krasner on Act 40’s sponsor 

10:39 – How a special prosecutor would handle SEPTA violence 

13:50 – How to stop SEPTA violence 

15:35 – SEPTA cracking down on all crime

16:35 – Crime in Philly 

18:11 – Krasner’s relationship with Mayor Parker, Commissioner Bethel 

19:08 – Crime and drug use in Kensington 

20:19 – Krasner’s role in Philly drug arrests 

21:43 – Will Krasner run for re-election?

25:19 - Shapiro administration’s response to Krasner

25:52 – Senator Langerholc’s response to Krasner 

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Rep. Dwight Evans invited Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to Washington, DC, as his guest for President Biden's State of the Union Thursday night. Hours before the address, Mayor Parker and Rep. Evans spoke with NBC10's Lauren Mayk about the recent gun violence in Philly and the upcoming presidential election as well as the challenges that Philly, the country and the president face.

Here is a full breakdown of the episode.

:38 – Why did Dwight Evans invite Mayor Parker to the State of the Union?

1:18 – Working with DC to help Philly

3:20 – A divided Washington

5:17 – Philadelphia and the presidential race

6:23 – Connecting with voters

8:25 – What changes should Philadelphians expect in the aftermath of the recent violence?

12:38 – Idea of using National Guard

14:52 – Making SEPTA safer

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As the 2024 presidential election approaches, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk is speaking with residents and leaders in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs about how voters are feeling about various issues, including the economy. While Philadelphia is heavily democratic, whether voters turn out or whether Republicans peel some votes away can have a big impact on the presidential race in Pennsylvania.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren speaks with Philly Democratic ward leader Sharon Vaughn, Mikal Ellis, the owner of a High Level Cutz barbershop, and Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, about the current pulse of voters in our area.

Sharon Vaughn interview

:41 – Is Vaughn more worried that Philly voters will vote for Trump or that they’ll stay home?

1:18 – Are Biden and Harris speaking enough to Black voters?

1:48 – How local leaders in city hall can connect with voters

2:33 – What Vaughn is seeing in her ward as far as voting frequency

4:04 – Will Cherelle Parker impact who Philly residents vote for in the presidential election

Mikal Ellis interview

5:33 – How do Philly residents feel about the economy?

6:25 – What are the signs of a good or bad economy?

7:40 – Are Biden’s visits to Philly making a difference?

8:40 – What would it take for Ellis to vote in 2024?

9:31 – Could Trump convince Ellis to vote for him?

Patrick Murray interview

10:16 – Are there determining factors on whether people feel they’re benefitting from the economy?

13:25 -- How much does it take to change opinions of the economy?

14:56 – How much credit is Biden getting for the growing economy?

17:48 – How much of a factor will people’s personal financial situation play into their vote?

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently gave his budget address in Harrisburg. He laid out how he wants to spend taxpayer dollars over the next year and he’s proposing some big investments. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with the governor about what his plans would look like, the negotiations ahead and the 2024 presidential race in Pennsylvania.

The governor also discussed investing in the state without raising taxes, his plan to help SEPTA, higher education and his signage of a controversial state law that affects who has the power to prosecute certain crimes in Philadelphia. Here is a full breakdown of the episode. 

:41 – How will Gov. Shapiro negotiate with Pa. lawmakers?

1:39 – School vouchers

3:15 – Future spending, Pennsylvania surplus, taxes

6:20 – Money for SEPTA

8:37 – SEPTA special prosecutor

11:41 – Higher education plan 

15:33 – Israel-Hamas war protests against President Biden

17:41 – Voters’ feelings about the economy

20:23 – Shapiro and 2028

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In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, new Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson talks moving forward and helping the city improve following his acquittal in his federal corruption trial. He also talked about working with new Mayor Cherelle Parker, how he plans to tackle the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis, his thoughts on stop and frisk, Act 40 and the 76ers arena proposal.

Here's a full breakdown of the episode:

1:00 – What will city council look like with Kenyatta Johnson as president?

1:57 – Johnson’s approach to his new leadership role

2:33 – Working with Mayor Cherelle Parker

4:13 – How will Johnson’s acquittal after his corruption trial influence his time as council president?

4:55 – Advice for new city councilmembers

5:41 – Does Johnson want to make any changes to city council?

6:15 – How does Johnson feel about working with the DOJ after they tried to put him in prison?

6:50 – Tackling the issue of gun violence

9:15 – Johnson’s thoughts on stop and frisk

11:22 – Johnson’s thoughts on Act 40

13:53 – Johnson’s thoughts on the 76ers arena proposal

15:37 – Making city hall more inclusive  

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In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, outgoing Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney spoke with Lauren Mayk about his future plans and reflected on his eight years in office. 

Kenney discussed his best days and the worst ones. He also spoke about how he handled Philly’s gun violence, the city’s finances and the stress that came along with the job. 

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 

00:30 – Kenney’s future plans

3:30 -- Does Kenney feel like Philly is better now than it was before he took office?

6:00 – Kenney’s conversations with city workers in the final days of his term

7:00 – Kenney’s reaction to violence involving Philly children

12:00 – Does the Parker administration have a better chance at dealing with Philly’s violence? 

13:48 – Kenney and DA Krasner

14:57 – Did Kenney fail to bring city leaders to the table as mayor?

15:43 – Kenney speaks on his controversial quote on the July 4th, 2022 shooting 

16:56 – Kenney reacts to Cherelle Parker’s comments on his July 4th quote

18:00 – How did Kenney deal with the stress and emotions of being mayor?

20:51 – Lessons learned from the city’s response to the George Floyd protests

23:02 – Kenney’s reaction to federal wiretaps

24:10– Kenny’s thoughts on John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty

25:55 – Kenney’s thoughts on former President Donald Trump

27:35 – Will Kenney be part of the Biden campaign?

28:08 – What was Kenney’s best day in office?

31:50 – What was Kenney’s worst day in office?

34:13 – Could Kenney have done more to help with Kensington’s drug crisis? 

36:38 – Is Kenney completely finished with politics? 

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The big upcoming changes for Philadelphia’s City Hall don’t just include the new mayor. Darrell Clarke, who has been the president of City Council since 2012 and served on the council for more than a decade before that, is leaving. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Clarke about his future, Philadelphia’s future, power in city hall and whether or not he thinks he would have been a good mayor.

Clarke also discusses his expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker’s new intergovernmental roundtable, how much power convicted former labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty had in city hall and ways the city can be more “aggressive” in fighting crime.  

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

:37 -- How is Darrell Clarke feeling about his city council tenure coming to an end?

1:28 – Clarke’s future plans

2:28 – Is Clarke still comfortable with his decision to leave?

3:17 – Expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Parker’s intergovernmental roundtable

5:52 – Can a focus on different neighborhoods coincide with a “One Philadelphia” vision?

7:43 – Will Philly have a Chief Public Safety Director?

10:13 – Has the balance of power shifted at city hall?

12:34 – Does Clarke think he would’ve been a good mayor?

13:37 – How much power did Johnny Doc have in city hall?

16:30 – Does city council’s structure potentially put councilmembers in compromising positions?

18:02 – Did city council do everything they could to curb gun violence during Clarke’s tenure?

21:15 – Being more ‘aggressive’ on solving crime in Philly 

24:30 – Would Clarke take a job in the Parker administration?

25:00 – Clarke talks potential upcoming role on the State Liquor Control Board 

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While Democrats are the dominant party in Philadelphia, historically Republicans have had two at-large city council seats that were reserved for the non-majority party. That changed however after the Working Families Party won both of those seats in the city’s recent General Election.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with City Commissioner Seth Bluestein – one of the only elected Republicans left in Philly city government – about his party’s dwindling presence in City Hall, the future of the GOP and how he’s preparing for another presidential election year.

Here's a full breakdown of the episode:

 :53 – How does it feel to be one of two Republicans left in Philly’s city government? 

2:35 – Can a third party contribute to Philly bipartisanship?  

3:18 – Why couldn’t Republicans get the two non-majority city council seats?  

5:09 – How can Republicans in the Philly area move forward in 2024?

7:10 – Is it worth it for Republican candidates to compete in Philly?

8:00 – Will changing Republican leadership in Philly make a difference?

8:45 – How much of a factor is Donald Trump in the Philly area?

9:30 – Was the GOP’s push for mail-in voting too little too late?

11:55 – Preparing for the potential spotlight on Philly during the 2024 Election

14:28 – Has Seth Bluestein’s experience in 2020 helped prepare him for 2024?

15:30 – Thoughts on potential GOP presidential candidates 

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The Working Families Party has been gaining power in Philadelphia and recently won two City Council seats. 

Kendra Brooks was elected in 2019 as part of the Working Families Party and then reelected in November along with Nicolas O’Rourke.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Brooks about how they did it, what’s ahead in City Hall and what she and her supporters will do in 2024.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

1:00 – How will City Council be different with two Working Families Party members?  

2:51 – What issues would Kendra Brooks like to take on in the next year?

4:40 – Relationship with Democratic Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker

6:28 – Why is Kendra Brooks not a Democrat?

8:38 – What’s next for the Working Families Party?

10:28 – Will Working Families Party voters support President Joe Biden in 2024?

12:02 – Are Working Families Party voters satisfied with President Biden?

14:18 – Is there anything President Biden needs to do to win over non-supporters?

15:08 – Does Kendra Brooks support President Biden?

15:30 – What did Kendra Brooks learn from the primary?

17:56 – What conversations helped the Working Families Party appeal to voters? 

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In Episode 9 of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Dan McCaffery about their heated and expensive race for Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The race between both candidates has gotten plenty of attention outside of Pennsylvania due in part to the possibility that the Pa. Supreme Court could see cases involving abortion and elections in the future. Democrats hold the majority on the court and the race won’t change the balance of power. But if Carluccio wins, it would cut the margin down to only one justice. 

Here's a full breakdown of the episode:

Republican Carolyn Carluccio

:50 - How and why the race has become heated

1:18 - How else should judges get selected if we didn’t elect them?

1:45 - Why Carolyn Carluccio is a Republican and her political alignments

2:15 - Carluccio responds to allegations that she wiped anti-abortion language from her website

3:15 - Pa. Pro-Life Federation endorsements and Carluccio's stance on abortion access

5:25 - Judicial activism

6:40 - Election laws in Pennsylvania and voting by mail

8:47 - 2020 election

10:46 - Possibility of changing Pennsylvania’s constitution

11:40 - Why Carolyn Carluccio wants to be on the Pa. Supreme Court

Democrat Daniel McCaffery

12:25 - The race has become national and heated

14:05 - Why Daniel McCaffery is a Democrat

15:03 - Democrats and abortion rights

16:17 - What McCaffery could do while on the court to protect abortion access and women's rights

18:01 - Judicial activism

19:15 - Responding to attack ads, scandal accusations

21:55 - Constitution as a living document and what that means

23:01 - Debate over election laws

24:12 - Handling mail-in ballots

25:05 - Pennsylvania’s constitution potentially amended by voters, Supreme Court

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