Two veteran political writers assess effects of last week’s shootings on presidential campaign

Turmoil followed the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the ambush killing of five police officers in Dallas. With Donald Trump positioning himself as the law and order candidate, and Hillary Clinton trying to hold on to black support while wooing white moderates, what are the political implications of the moment?

A new poll from Politico shows Trump taking the lead in Pennsylvania and Florida, and Clinton desperately needs Sanders’ followers. But many still “Feel The Bern,” and, contrary to popular belief, some of them are black.

How does Clinton win over the black millennials (and others) who are still saying Bernie or bust?

Closer to home, the good news is that the Pennsylvania budget impasse is over. The bad news is you’ll never be able to have free fun in Pennsylvania again. The $31.5 billion spending plan will be paid for, in part, by those sinful cigarette smokers, wine drinkers and gamblers.

Solomon Jones, who writes The Philadelphia Experiment blog here on NewsWorks.org, discusses these issues with Jay McCalla, political blogger for Philadelphia Magazine.