Battleground Politics With Lauren Mayk

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order placing what he described as the most stringent requirements on data center development in the country. But how will the new guidelines work? In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk discussed the order and its expected impact on data centers with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

:00 – Gov. Josh Shapiro on data centers

1:54 – Response to Gov. Shapiro’s executive order

3:08 – How new permit process will impact the pace of data center...

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited the Energy Transfer Marcus Hook Terminal on Aug. 7, 2026. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Interior Secretary Burgum about energy, gas prices as well as the Trump administration’s approach to data centers, changes to the President's House slavery exhibit, and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

0:00 – Intro

1:00 -- Energy and gas prices in the U.S.

3:52 -- Trump administration and data centers

7:09 -- Reasoning for changes to the President's House slavery exhibit

11:00 -- Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool modifications and ch...

The City of Philadelphia is in negotiations with waste management company Reworld, which operates an incinerator in Chester. Philadelphia's waste disposal process has been a source of debate, and City Council is expected to vote on the contract when it returns in September. Philadelphia's Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier discuss the implications of the waste incineration contract, and what’s next.

Here's a full breakdown of the episode:  

0:08 – Trash incinerator in Chester  

0:58 -- Philadelphia Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman on Philadelphia waste contract

2:09 – Waste management contract with Reworld...

With the midterm elections less than 100 days away, both Democrats and Republicans are making their preparations. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk looks at the push from both parties in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in the latest episode of Battleground Politics.

Here's a full breakdown of the episode:  

0:25 -- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Democrats' affordability pitch

1:57 -- Former U.S. Representative Susan Wild on running in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District

6:10 -- Former Rep. Susan Wild on Democratic House candidate Bob Brooks

7:37 -- U.S. House of Representatives candidate Bob B...

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Pennsylvania's 2026-2027 budget into law on Sunday, July 12 after both chambers of the legislature passed it. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Pa. Rep. Jordan Harris, the House appropriations chair, as well as Sen. Joe Picozzi about what this year’s budget includes and the work that went into passing it.  

Here's a full breakdown:  

0:44 -- Head of Philabundance Loree Jones-Brown and SNAP cards

2:30 -- Rep. Jordan Harris on passing budget

3:30 -- Negotiations for the budget

4:05 -- Education fundin...

Philadelphia Democrats recently met at their party headquarters for a meeting that occurs every four years. These meetings have a long-lasting impact on both a local and national level. This year’s meeting occurred amid talks of what the future of the Democratic party looks like as well as what roles progressives – who recently notched big wins in Philadelphia – will play. The ward leaders also re-elected longtime chairman Bob Brady for another four years. Recently, District Attorney Larry Krasner suggested Brady should step down after 40 years in the role. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spo...

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters recently visited Philadelphia. During his visit, he spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk about the midterm elections, Pennsylvania and more.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

:00 – Intro

1:12 – What Republicans are doing in Pennsylvania

1:42 – GOP strategy amid low approval ratings for Trump

3:02 – Higher gas prices and voters

5:50 – Where in Pennsylvania Gruters would want Trump to campaign

6:50 – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Bucks County

8:09 –NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and transparency

9:37 – NJ Rep. Jeff Van Drew

11:30 – Califo...

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner recently urged Philadelphia Democratic Party Chair Bob Brady to step aside though Brady told NBC10’s Lauren Mayk he’s planning to run for another term. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Krasner speaks with Lauren about the progressive movement, changes he’d like to see in Philadelphia and his own future. 

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Longtime Philadelphia Democratic chair Bob Brady says that he plans to run again but this could be his last term. NBC10 political reporter Lauren Mayk has more in this edition of Battleground Politics. 

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The New Jersey Primary is set to take place on Tuesday and voters in the Garden State are preparing to make decisions that will set the stage for the midterms. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, about the big races to watch, including the New Jersey senate, 12th district, 7th district and 2nd district primaries.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:

:00 – Intro

:19 – Preview of the 12th congressional district primary

2:23 –...

Pennsylvania’s 3rd District Democratic primary pitted a progressive movement against establishment power players. In the end, State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democratic socialist, won the primary, paving the way for a seat in congress. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with prominent Philadelphia labor leader Ryan Boyer about why the candidate he backed – Sen. Sharif Street – lost. She also spoke with J.J. Balaban, a partner with Technicolor Campaigns, who analyzed the primary results.

:00 – Intro

:49 – Analyzing the results of the 3rd District Democratic primary

1:44 – A good primary for Ph...

After his victory in a Democratic primary that paves the way to send him to Congress, State Rep. Chris Rabb credited grassroots organizing for his win and said he will be a “bonus rep” for people across he country. Listen to his full interview with NBC10's Lauren Mayk in the latest episode of Battleground Politics.

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We’re only a few days away from Pennsylvania’s primary election day in which voters will decide who will be on the ballot during the general election in November. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Pennsylvania Secretary Al Schmidt as he and other election officials across the commonwealth prepare for the primary. They also spoke about threats of political violence, President Trump's executive order regarding voting and how the commonwealth handles voter lists.

:00 – Intro

:25 – Man accused of threatening Pennsylvania lawmakers

1:28 – Political violence across the country

2:30 –...

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 p...

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. 

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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. 
 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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

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 pri...

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 rep...

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. 

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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...

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.

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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 fu...

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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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 Kirk

1:50 – How to address political violence

3:05 – Security at political rallies

5:15 – The future of Pennsylvania Democrats

6:50 – Losing the Pen...

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 Kirk

3:00 – What should change?

4:40 – Running as a Republican

5:50 – Was switching parties a backup plan?

7:50 – President Trump in political ad

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 e...

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 upcom...

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 students

4:28 -- How additional transit police and staff will help riders

5:43 -- How businesses will...

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 Krasner

7:10 – Taxpayer dollars and special prosecutor’s office  

8:25 – Extending SEPTA’s special prosecutor beyond 2026  

9:05 -- Opioid crisis and Kensington

10:45 – Trump’s ex...

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 concerns

8:20 – SEPTA’s internal documentation  

10:20 – Public and private partnership rights  

12:20 – SEPTA state funding  

13:20 – Third-party ov...

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...