Rated one of Pennsylvania's top blog/sites, the LuLac Political Letter delves into issues of politics on all levels (with special concentration on Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: thus the name LULAC) and pop culture.
The LuLac Political Letter was also named Best Political Blog of the Year for 2014 by NEPA BLOGCON and most recently David Yonki was named Best Blogger of the year 2015 by the publication Diamond City.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
The LuLac Edition #5, 638, April 25th, 2026
PAYTON RANDOLPH
FIRST A VIRGINIAN.
THEN AN AMERICAN
Payton
Randolph was born into Virginia's wealthiest and most powerful family, Randolph
served as speaker of Vrginia's House of Burgesses, president of the first two
Virginia Conventions, and president of the First Continental Congress.[1][2] He
also served briefly as the first president of the Second Continental Congress.
In 1774,
Randolph signed the Continental Association, a trade boycott adopted by the
First Continental Congress in response to the British Parliament's Intolerable
Acts. Randolph was a first cousin once removed of Thomas Jefferson and was also
related to John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, and
Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate States Army in the American Civil
War.
Randolph
chaired meetings of the first of five Virginia Conventions of former House
members, principally at a Williamsburg tavern, which worked toward responses to
the unwelcome tax measures imposed by the British government. On March 21,
1775, he was president of the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond that
debated independence (the setting of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me
liberty or give me death!" speech). In April, Randolph negotiated with
Lord Dunmore for the removal of gunpowder from the Williamsburg arsenal during
the Gunpowder Incident, which was a confrontation between the governor's forces
and Virginia militia, led by Henry.
The House
of Burgesses was called back by Lord Dunmore one last time in June 1775 to
address British Prime Minister Lord North's Conciliatory Resolution. Randolph,
who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, returned to Williamsburg to
take his place as Speaker. Randolph indicated that the resolution had not been
sent to the Congress (it had instead been sent to each colony individually in
an attempt to divide them and bypass the Continental Congress). The House of
Burgesses rejected the proposal, which was also later rejected by the
Continental Congress.
Randolph
was the last speaker of the House of Burgesses (their role was replaced by the
Virginia Conventions and later the House of Delegates in 1776). Randolph also
served as the president of the Third Virginia Convention in July 1775, which as
a legislative body elected a committee of safety to act as the colony's
executive since Lord Dunmore had abandoned the capital and took refuge on a
British warship. Pendleton succeeded Randolph as president of the later
conventions.
In th e
First and Second Continental Congress;
Virginia
selected Randolph as one of its delegates to the Continental Congress in
Philadelphia in 1774 and 1775. Fellow delegates elected him their president
(speaker) of both the First Continental Congress, which requested that King
George III repeal the Intolerable Acts and passed the Continental Association,
and president of the Second Continental Congress, which extended the Olive
Branch Petition as a final attempt at reconciliation. However, Randolph fell
ill during each term. Henry Middleton of South Carolina succeeded him as
president from his resignation on October 22, 1774, two days after presiding
over the passage and signing of the Continental Association, until his return
on May 10, 1775. He was again elected president of Congress, but Randolph left
for Virginia four days later and was succeeded as president by John Hancock.
Randolph
returned as a Virginia delegate but suffered a five-hour-long stroke while
dining with Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia and died later that evening on
October 22, 1775. His remains were returned to Williamsburg, where they were
interred at the chapel of the College of William & Mary. Since renamed the
Wren Building, Randolph remains buried in the chapel following its restoration.
Experience in government, results oriented leader who can carry on the tradition of 121st district representation in the State Capitol. A tireless worker, she'll be there for all of us.
PAGNOTTI IN JUNE
More on this in future editions.
IRAN
OBAMA AND TRUMP
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW
It appears that with the resilience of Iran, the “deal”
Trump will get is most likely the one he blew up sight unseen in 2017. He and
his minions blasted the idea that “the U.S. was giving billion to Iran to build
a bomb” when in effect it was their own money that came from sanctions.
It appears that there will be a stan off but when it’s
done, the final result will be billions lost in a war that really shouldn’t
have taken place.
700,000 CHILDREN
STARVED
There is a report that since the Trump administration
ended the Foreign Aid program that started under the JFK administration,
700,000 children who were fed DIED. There is a special place in hell for those
who support that.
ELECTIONS HAVE
CONSEQUENCES
EVEN FAR AWAY
With the defeat of Hungary’s Viktor Orbon, it appears that
Ukraine will finally get he money promised them by the European Union. European
Union foreign ministers are who met recently in Luxembourg amid hopes of an imminent
breakthrough on the €90 billion ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine vetoed by
Hungary. Though procedurally any move to free up the money will be taken
tomorrow at a meeting of EU ambassadors, the outgoing government in Budapest
has signaled it will lift its block if oil resumes flowing through
the damaged Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine.
With Ukraine being virtually ignored with Iran, this has to
be the best news to help this war weary nation invaded by a killer thug and
ignored by his wanna be American enabler President.
TRUMP LOSES MONEY ON
TRUTH
Karma can be a bitch. When you lie, lie, lie and name your
business venture TRUTH, well that’s a disaster just waiting to happen. The AP
reports that a stock collapse that wiped out billions in investor wealth.Devin Nunes, a former
California congressmen in Donald Trump’s first term, is being replaced
temporarily by digital media executive Kevin McGurn as chief executive officer.
The company, Trump Media & Technology, didn’t give a reason for Nunes
leaving or provide a timeline for his permanent replacement.
After soaring shortly before Trump’s re-election in November
2024, stock in the company plunged 67%, wiping out more than $6 billion in
investor wealth.
Trump Media was formed by the Trump family as an alternative
to social media giants that had barred him from posting on their platforms
after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. It said it would not only take on
Facebook and Twitter as a “free speech” alternative, but eventually could
become a media giant competing with streaming services such as Netflix.
The stock soared, but it never gained traction with a wide
audience despite the president’s frequent use of it for major political
announcements, slammed by government ethics experts as a conflict of interest
with the presidency.
Since it went public two years ago, Trump Media has lost more
than $1.1 billion. Nunes got total compensation of $47 million in 2024, the
last year for which figures are available.
47 million?Jesus, no
wonder why it tanked. The new guy vows it’s going to take off again….but The
Trump Organization didn’t immediately responded to a request for comment.Neither did the White House.
TRUMP LOW IN
THE POLLS
At a White House event a couple of months ago, Donald Trump
expressed a sentiment he has rarely shared, saying, “It just amazes me that
there’s not more support out there.”
The moment of candor was striking, largely for its rarity.
The president generally prefers brazen dishonesty, routinely boasting about his
imagined popularity and even thanking the American public for loving him with
such broad intensity.
But in late February, the mask slipped, and the president
implicitly acknowledged the truth, though it was packaged in incredulity. He
may not have understood why he’s so unpopular, but he was at least somewhat
aware of the fact that he is unpopular.
If the Republican was amazed two months ago, he must be
absolutely gobsmacked now.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, for example, found Trump’s
approval rating at just 36%, which was roughly in line with the latest NBC News
survey. For the White House, the Associated Press’ latest national poll was
even worse. From the AP’s report:
Trump’s overall approval rating in the AP poll was just 33%,
which is dreadful but not the worst part of the survey data: that only 32%
approve of the president’s handling of the war in Iran, only 30% approve of his
handling of the economy, and only 23% approve of his efforts to address the
cost of living.
For months, there’s been talk in political circles about
where Trump’s “floor” is. It’s widely assumed that the president has core
supporters who will literally never turn against him under any circumstances.
No matter how badly he fails, he can take solace in knowing that his approval
rating won’t completely collapse.
But he has been doing everything to make himself look crazy
and not aware of the fact that America I struggling. He doesn’t realize that
the times he attacks a Mark Kelly or a Gavin Newsom, to some Independents he is
giving them a showcase and name recognition.
(LuLac, MS Now)
SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION
HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNOR'S INVESTMENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA'S DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE,
CALLS FOR INCREASED MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL WORKERS
Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val koosh speaks during
Tuesdays press conference. Dr. Arkoosh joined workers from SEIU Healthcare to
highlight investments in the proposed 2026-27 budget that help workers and
bring them above or closer to a $15 hourly wage. Thanks to Governor Josh
Shapiros 2025-26 budget that invested $21 million to increase wages, direct
care workers are now seeing an increase of $1-$5 per hour from their previous
hourly wage. April 21, 2026.
Pennsylvania Department of
Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today advocated for continued
investments in Pennsylvania's workforce alongside SEIU Healthcare direct care
workers (DCWs) and celebrated recent investments that increased wages for this
workforce. Because of investments made in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26
Budget, the hourly rates paid to certain DCWs support a $15 hourly wage,
personal time off, and recognizes the cost of health insurance.
These workers are seeing
increases of $1-$5 per hour from their current hourly wage. Because wages are
decided between DCWs and the individual they work with, both employees and the
person they work for must fill out, sign, and return a form in order to receive
the raise. Forms must be submitted and received by May 8, 2026, to receive pay
retroactive to January 1, 2026.
BRESNAHAN URGES DEA TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION ON DANGEROUS
CHEMICALLY MANIPULATED 7-OH
U.S.
Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) urging immediate emergency scheduling of
7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a chemically manipulated derivative of kratom with
opioid-like effects. The letter, sent to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, calls
on the agency to use its emergency authority to halt the rapid spread of these
high-risk products while permanent scheduling is evaluated.
“These
products now commonly appear in fast-absorption formats such as sublingual and
chewable tabs, rapid-dissolve tablets, and gummies,” wrote Rep. Bresnahan.
“These forms deliver 7-OH into the bloodstream within minutes, producing
intense, opioid-like euphoria that dissipates quickly - encouraging compulsive
redosing and dramatically increasing addiction liability.”
7-OH
is derived from kratom leaves but, when chemically manipulated, can reach potency
levels up to 50 times stronger than mitragynine, the plant’s primary active
compound, and 13 times more potent than morphine.
“DEA's
emergency-scheduling authority is the most effective tool available to
immediately halt the spread of these synthetic products while the permanent
scheduling is evaluated,” continued Rep. Bresnahan. “Without swift action, the
proliferation of these high-risk substances will continue exposing consumers to
opioid-class dangers.”
Emergency
scheduling allows the DEA to temporarily classify dangerous substances as
Schedule I when they pose an imminent threat to public safety.
MEDIA MATTERS
WVIA PUBLIC MEDIA
TRUMP
AND THE PRESS COLLIDE AT THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER
This weekend Donald Trump is set to go to the
White House Correspondent’s dinner for the first time. My advice, if you gave
C-SPAN, tune in about 8pm.
LULAC ON WILK THE WEEKEND
Tune in 6am Saturday, 2
pm Sunday as we speak to Brian Hughes about an upcoming anniversary. Brian Hughes hosts Special Edition.
WALN
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
You'll
hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership
and 7:30 am on 105 The River.
THE LAURIE CADDEN SHOW
Tune in
every Saturday morning at 9am for The Laurie Cadden Show on WILK FM 103.1 and
AM 980 and 910. Laurie’s program has been a northeastern Pennsylvania mainstay
every Saturday. Tune in to hear her insights and take on local issues as well
as entertaining and informative interviews.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY
NIGHT SOCK HOP
BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR
Tune in
every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour
starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from
the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.
THE LULAC TIME MACHINE
THE TREATY BEGINS
April 1979
The
Egypt–Israel peace treaty went into legal effect at 5:27 in the afternoon local
time (1527 UTC) as the instruments of ratification were exchanged between
Israeli delegate Eliyahu Ben-Elissar and Egypt's Undersecretary of State, Saad
Afra, at a ceremony at the American border station at Um Khashiba in the Sinai
peninsula. The exchange officially implemented the countdown to Israel's
complete withdrawal from the Sinai by April 25, 1982.
The peace
treaty between Egypt and Israel was signed 16 months after Egyptian president
Anwar Sadat's visit to Jerusalem in 1977, after intense negotiations. The main
features of the treaty were mutual recognition, cessation of the state of war
that had existed since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, normalization of relations and
the withdrawal by Israel of its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai
Peninsula, which Israel had captured during the Six-Day War in 1967. Egypt
agreed to leave the Sinai Peninsula demilitarized. The agreement provided for
free passage of Israeli ships through the Suez Canal, and recognition of the
Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba as international waterways, which had
been blockaded by Egypt in 1967. The agreement also called for an end to
Israeli military rule over the Israeli-occupied territories and the
establishment of full autonomy for the Palestinian inhabitants of the
territories, terms that were not implemented but which became the basis for the
Oslo Accords.
The
agreement notably made Egypt the first Arab state to officially recognize Israel,
although it has been described as a "cold peace"…..and this week in
LuLac land and America the number onesong was “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb.
Location: Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States
Political analyst for WBRE TV's Pa. Live program and post election commentator for WBRE TV's Eyewitness News Daybreak show. Author of the book "A Radio Story/We Wish You Well In Your Future Endeavors" and "Leges Vitae" "26 Rules of Life" and the new novel, "Weather Or Knot". The blog editor also writes various news articles and columns as well as upcoming literary projects. The blog editor was a frequent guest on WYOU TV'S INTERACTIVE NEWSCASTS when political issues were discussed on the national, state and local level. Yonki was a weekly panelist on WYLN TV 35's Friday Topic A program. He also appeared on the Hazleton, PA. station on Election Night doing coverage and did special projects and stories for WYLN TV 35's 10PM Newscast "Late Edition".