City Cast Pittsburgh

Senate Dress Codes, Hellbender License Plates & Airport Auction Finds

Listen Later

It’s the Friday news roundup! Lawmakers in Washington have been up in arms — about the possibility of a shutdown, yes — but also the state of John Fetterman’s shorts; Pennsylvania’s favorite amphibian, the snot otter, is getting some official state love on local cars; and if you’ve ever wanted to buy 100 single air pods, the county airport auction is just for you. 

We’re lucky to have socially conscious journalist and media consultant Natalie Bencivenga on mic today. She’s also the newest City Cast contributor! Welcome, Natalie! You can hear her very own show every Saturday at 2 p.m. on KDKA-AM.


We love to cite our sources!

  • Lawmakers voted to create an official dress code last week, aimed primarily at Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, who regularly wears hoodies and gym shorts to the U.S. Senate floor. 
  • Forty-six Republican senators (all but three) sent a letter to Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer demanding he reverse the change.
  • Politico reported the code was dubbed the SHORTS Act, or “Show Our Respect To the Senate.”
  • During shutdowns, federal employees can’t get paid. The Trib’s Ryan Deto reported there are about 19,000 federal employees in the Pgh region, and WHYY found 1.9 million Pennsylvanians would lose access to SNAP benefits.
  • Fetterman’s online store is now doing pre-orders for “I vote in this hoodie” apparel, printed by Commonwealth Press. Note: Proceeds go to his campaign, so only buy it if you want to support his cause.
  • The state just released its new specialty license plate options, and the newest includes the eastern hellbender, Pennsylvania’s official state amphibian.
  • If you want to know more about how vanity and other special license plates work in Pennsylvania, we did a crossover podcast with City Cast Philly about them awhile back. It’s so fun — it takes $85 to apply for one, and there are a LOT of ways and reasons the state can deny you. Highly recommend!
  • This is the weekend for the county's annual airport auction. The full list of sale items includes a ton of cars, electronics, and even designer items like bags and coats. Pittsburgh Magazine shared some additional history on finds of previous years.
  • If you’re heading to Fall Fest on Bigham Street, check out other Mount Washington recommendations in newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco’s neighborhood guide.


    • Want some more Pittsburgh news? 

    • Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter.
    • We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh!
    • Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.


      • Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      City Cast PittsburghBy City Cast
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5

      4.5

      117 ratings

      More shows like City Cast Pittsburgh

      View all
      Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

      Pop Culture Happy Hour

      11,618 Listeners

      Up First from NPR by NPR

      Up First from NPR

      56,957 Listeners

      It's Been a Minute by NPR

      It's Been a Minute

      9,101 Listeners

      Keep It! by Keep It!

      Keep It!

      9,775 Listeners

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

      4,660 Listeners

      SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

      SmartLess

      58,397 Listeners

      IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson by Higher Ground

      IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

      13,086 Listeners

      City Cast Chicago by City Cast

      City Cast Chicago

      445 Listeners

      City Cast Denver by City Cast

      City Cast Denver

      501 Listeners

      City Cast Salt Lake by City Cast

      City Cast Salt Lake

      271 Listeners

      Vibe Check by Zach Stafford, Saeed Jones

      Vibe Check

      1,786 Listeners

      City Cast DC by City Cast

      City Cast DC

      156 Listeners

      All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

      All There Is with Anderson Cooper

      10,663 Listeners

      City Cast Madison by City Cast

      City Cast Madison

      83 Listeners

      City Cast Portland by City Cast

      City Cast Portland

      208 Listeners

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

      10,881 Listeners

      City Cast Houston by City Cast

      City Cast Houston

      205 Listeners

      Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers by Seth Meyers and Josh Meyers

      Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers

      2,905 Listeners

      City Cast Boise by City Cast

      City Cast Boise

      118 Listeners

      City Cast Las Vegas by City Cast

      City Cast Las Vegas

      137 Listeners

      Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

      Wild Card with Rachel Martin

      1,008 Listeners

      Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) by Team Coco & Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson

      Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)

      3,556 Listeners

      City Cast Philly by City Cast

      City Cast Philly

      79 Listeners

      City Cast Nashville by City Cast

      City Cast Nashville

      60 Listeners

      Flightless Bird by David Farrier

      Flightless Bird

      3,206 Listeners

      City Cast Austin by City Cast

      City Cast Austin

      51 Listeners

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler

      12,538 Listeners

      City Cast Twin Cities by City Cast

      City Cast Twin Cities

      14 Listeners