Pushing Back On Gender Pay Gap, John Fetterman, And More

It’s Women’s History Month, and Pennsylvania is celebrating the only way it apparently knows how: by letting the gender pay gap widen while still refusing to raise the minimum wage.I’m digging in with Marita Garrett, founder, CEO & President of Civically Inc. We are breaking down what’s happening, what it actually means at the local level, and what people can do about it.Women are earning less, costs are going up, and somehow the policy response is… crickets.At the same time, Harrisburg is finally talking about raising the minimum wage — from $7.25 to $15… by 2029. Progress? I guess. Useful? Not exactly.And then there’s what’s happening at home in Pittsburgh. Travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport are now seeing ICE agents near security checkpoints, filling in during TSA staffing shortages tied to federal dysfunction. Is it about efficiency? Optics? Or something bigger about how federal enforcement is showing up in local spaces?Senator John Fetterman is raising eyebrows as he continues to stand with Republicans — even though he is a “Democrat”With more potential challengers circling, the conversation about 2028 is already starting. Who do we think should primary Fetterman? Because voting for Markwayne Mullin and defending ICE is not winning him any support.This isn’t just about headlines.It’s about how policy shows up in real life. In your paycheck. At the airport. At the ballot box. Staying informed is step one. We also need to show up. Not just in Pennsylvania, but all over the country if we want to move the needle.FOLLOW NATALIEsubstack: https://substack.com/@factsoverfearnataliebinstagram: https://www.instagram.com/@nataliebencivenga/#tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nataliebencivengathreads: https://www.threads.com/@nataliebencivengapodcast via spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/47JYsn9LQchErS3cnHP2YFpodcast via apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/facts-over-fear/id1855901950FACTS OVER FEARLet's dismantle the fear that is used to divide us surrounding the issues impacting the people and talk facts.ABOUT NATALIENatalie Bencivenga is a socially-conscious journalist working towards building equity in our communities through storytelling. Her goal is to inspire, educate and activate people to become catalysts for positive change. Join her for transformative conversations that uplift and challenge the ways in which we perceive the world. Let's turn this moment into a movement – together.