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!

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.

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, 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!

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 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.