From the Courtroom to the Ballpark • Best 60ish Seconds

In this week's Best 60ish Seconds, Charlie opens by following up on last week's Virginia commentary — because the story got even worse. Virginia voters approved a new congressional map, crafted by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Virginia Democrats, that is widely described as one of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in the country. Charlie says it perfectly illustrates his recurring theme: elections have consequences.

And nowhere is that more evident than in Pennsylvania this week, where the Commonwealth Court handed down a 4-3 ruling striking down the state's longstanding ban on using Medicaid funds to cover abortions. Charlie calls this a direct consequence of Republican and conservative failures in judicial elections — affirming that elections have consequences.

On another Pennsylvania front, Charlie turns to Gov. Josh Shapiro and the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in girls' sports. The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill that would ban biological males from competing on girls' sports teams — yet Shapiro continues to refuse to say plainly that biological males should not be playing in girls' high school sports. Charlie says this reveals Shapiro for what he is: a politician without a true North Star, perpetually searching for which way the political winds are blowing rather than standing for what's right.

Charlie closes on a painful note for Phillies fans. After being swept in a four-game series at Wrigley Field, the Phillies have now dropped nine consecutive games — the worst losing streak for the franchise in this century — leaving them tied for the worst record in Major League Baseball. The only silver lining? The New York Mets recently endured a 12-game skid of their own, keeping the NL East race closer than the standings might suggest. Charlie is rooting hard for his Phils to turn it around — and soon!