| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! Donald Trump starts his term as president today. And days later, is Bill Spadea going off the air? I don’t know for sure, but it’s interesting that there’s a Jan. 30 breakfast “to celebrate Bill Spadea’s BIG DAY!,” according to an invitation. My understanding is the FCC would allow Spadea to stay on the airwaves until he filed petitions. But Spadea’s big day breakfast is scheduled for a Thursday at 9 a.m. — a time he’s usually still on the air. Now as far as transitions of power go, U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith both favor Trump pardoning many of the Jan. 6 convicts and defendants — the non-violent ones, according to NJ Spotlight News. It’s funny to me that Smith would favor clemency for people who four years ago he suggested might be communists and Antifa activists, but maybe he’s had time to conclude otherwise. It would be strange for the left to riot in 2021, when they were presumably happy with the election's outcome, and not in 2025, when the opposite happened. But there's no place for logic in our brave new politics. Here in New Jersey, we’re all anxiously awaiting the state government’s relationship with the Trump administration. Gov. Phil Murphy has been talking about working with Trump while standing up for blue state values like abortion rights. Will Attorney General Matt Platkin be more aggressive than the governor? He and Murphy, once so close, appear to still be on the outs. And Platkin has already joined other Democratic attorneys general to protect gun control measures. Also, coming this week, on Wednesday: George Norcross & Co.’s big hearing on their motion to dismiss the corruption case against them. I’m not going to try to weigh in on their chances, but Norcross was in the Dominican Republican with a bunch of friends for his “Ssorcron” (that’s Norcross spelled backward) NFL Division Playoff weekend. At least, he was supposed to be, according to an invite I received. Not from him, though. I was not invited. Sure, his lawyers will do the arguing, but having a vacation weekend before a such big court day strikes me as a confident pose. Thanks for all the kind words last week. Enjoy the snow. WHERE’S MURPHY? Not attending the inauguration, as originally planned, due to the storm. Media: Fox 5 at 8:30 a.m., PIX 11 at 8:45 a.m. Both to talk snow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: John Amenhauser QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Now ask yourself: If what Politico reports is true, why was Monsignor Reilly just promoted to president of the university under the oversight of Cardinal Tobin? And if it’s not true, why won’t Seton Hall release the findings and explain the move?” — The Star-Ledger Editorial Board, on this report. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
CHEATIN AND HOBBS — “Investigation calls Rutgers gymnastics ‘dysfunctional,’ finds coach and ex-AD had improper relationship,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brian Fonseca and Steve Politi: “Rutgers gymnastics head coach Umme Salim-Beasley ‘lost control’ of her program and at times ‘presided over a divided and dysfunctional organization,’ all while having an undisclosed relationship with former athletic director Pat Hobbs that violated University policy, according to the report of an external investigation obtained by NJ Advance Media. The 50-page report, which followed a four-month investigation commissioned by Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway that cost the University $705,000, also found that Hobbs frequently attempted to meddle with an internal review last spring from the University’s Ethics and Compliance office into formal allegations made against Salim-Beasley. Salim-Beasley was put on paid administrative leave on Friday following the release of the report, a school spokesperson told NJ Advance Media.”
— “Rutgers gymnastics coach must be fired as investigation whitewashes university’s failures,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steve Politi: “The report is a glimpse into a stunning level of dysfunction under former athletic director Patrick Hobbs, who used the power of his office to subvert safeguards put into place — wait for the kicker, everyone! — because of previous scandals on his watch. Hobbs wasn’t supposed to be involved in the university’s review this spring, but he used at least six calls and 20 texts to University Ethics and Compliance officer Danielle Washington apparently to lobby on Salim-Beasley’s behalf … Hobbs, who didn’t return a phone call on Friday morning, is gone. Holloway, too, will leave his job in July, but this episode will leave a stain on his tenure. Remember: Holloway gave his athletic director a cheery sendoff in two embarrassing statements after Hobbs resigned. Holloway had to be aware that his own university had hired a firm that specializes in employment law to probe that potential policy violation — Hobbs resigned two days after he was told to turn over his electronic devices. Where was the president during all of this? The investigation doesn’t even try to answer basic questions about the university’s response once officials became aware that Hobbs may be engaged in an improper relationship.” WELL THIS SCREAMS FOR AN OPRA REQUEST — “No misconduct by NJ Attorney General's Office connected to ex-Sen. Menendez, inquiry finds,” by The Record’s Kristie Cattafi: “An independent internal inquiry into the state's Attorney General's Office found there was no misconduct connected to the corruption of former Sen. Bob Menendez, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced on Friday. In 2023, after the first unsealed indictment of Menendez that included his wife and three businessmen by the South District of New York, Platkin announced there would be an independent internal inquiry into the allegations in connection with his predecessor and office. The indictment alleged Menendez attempted to pressure a senior member of the office under former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal … ‘Despite Mr. Menendez’s attempts to interfere with criminal matters handled by this Office, he was ultimately unsuccessful,’ Platkin said in a statement on Friday … During the trial, federal prosecutors said Menendez sought to have Grewal, the state's top prosecutor from 2018 through 2021, intervene in cases involving two associates of Uribe. In exchange, Uribe helped Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez buy a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible with money disguised as a loan … ‘I can't talk to you about this,’ Grewal said he told Menendez at the September meeting at the senator's office in Newark, which Grewal's deputy Andrew Bruck also attended.” MO’ MASTROS — Murphy’s congestion pricing fight continues, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is continuing its fight against New York’s congestion pricing program. In a one-page Friday legal filing by Murphy attorney Randy Mastro, New Jersey promised to file an updated legal challenge to the Federal Highway Administration’s “multiple re-evaluations” of the tolling program. Federal approval is necessary for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which began tolling drivers going into Manhattan's central business district earlier this month. The effect of the updated challenge in federal court means that legal action against congestion pricing remains alive as tolling foe President-elect Donald Trump takes office. BECAUSE SOUTH JERSEY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS ARE FAMOUS FOR BEING OPEN AND FAIR — “Sweeney will skip Mercer convention,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former Senate President Steve Sweeney won’t compete in the Mercer County Democratic convention to endorse a candidate for governor. Sweeney’s campaign manager, Kunal Atit, cited ‘a clear and consistent effort by county party leadership to pre-determine its outcome.’ A big group of Mercer County Democratic elected officials and local party leaders have already announced their support of another candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair). ‘Steve Sweeney’s candidacy and our campaign is based on the core value that working people, not elites, should determine the direction of our party and New Jersey,’ Kunal said. ‘For too long everyday New Jerseyans have felt left behind by those more interested in growing their own power or running for the next office, there are some in this race who fit that very description.’” PHOTOWRATH — “Former Montclair mayor/councilor wants nothing to do with Spiller ad,” by Montclair Local’s Liz George: “Former Montclair mayor and councilor Bob Russo got a shock Thursday night while sitting at home watching TV. Russo saw a picture of himself on the screen, standing next to Sean Spiller, another former Montclair mayor and current candidate for governor of New Jersey ... ‘I’m asking you to take this down immediately. Remove my photo. Implying my endorsement and support as former Montclair mayor is a total fraud,’ Russo wrote to [Deborah] Cornavaca, director of government relations at the New Jersey Education Association … Cornavaca, who said she did not hear from Russo directly, told Montclair Local Thursday that the ad is paid for by Working New Jersey and not in coordination with the Spiller campaign.” WOOD-RIGID GENDER ROLES — “State lawmaker wades into debate about trans athletes,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Joanna Gagis: “A comment by state Sen. Paul Sarlo about transgender athletes playing in women’s sports during a recent interview has provoked strong reactions. The remark by Sarlo (D-Bergen) that ‘Males should not be participating in women’s sports, whether it’s at the rec level, the high school level or the collegiate level. Period at the end,’ made in an interview on State of Affairs with Steve Adubato, drew support from Republican colleagues in the Senate and dismay from LGBTQ advocates. ‘Any type of discrimination is not OK. It’s just not. It’s not the law, it’s not the policy of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. It’s not in line with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination,’ said Aedy Miller, communications manager for Garden State Equality and a transgender woman who competes in roller derby … ‘Since ’09 this policy has been in place with zero complaints of any kind. What’s changed in early 2025? The only thing that’s changed is the politics and the incoming Trump administration,’ said Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex).” — Opinion: “Sen. Sarlo’s dangerous rhetoric targets trans community, betrays Democratic values” — “Will NJ keep flags at half-staff to honor President Carter on Trump's inauguration day?” (Yes) — “Baraka taps Kim/Gopal alum as political director for governor’s race” — Snowflack: “Sherrill takes it on the road to Red Bank” | | BIDEN TIME | |
STEPPING UP TO THE PLAT — “Is N.J. Trump-proof? Inside the brewing showdown over his controversial policies,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “Is New Jersey on these issues Trump-proof? Legal and political experts say they anticipate a steady onslaught of court battles and political skirmishes in the coming months to determine whether New Jersey can stand up or fall to federal mandates, executive orders and congressional actions. ‘President Trump won the election and he is entitled to enact the policies that he sees fit for this country. I have no problem with that,’ state Attorney General Matthew Platkin told NJ Advance Media. ‘But people have rights in this country — rights enshrined under the federal constitution and the state constitution and rights under state and federal law. And those rights don’t change,' Platkin said. Rutgers Law School Professor Ronald Chen predicted there will be a series of 'long, drawn-out battles on a case-by-case basis,’ on issues ranging from immigration, access to abortion and health care and LGBTQ rights.”
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BLEW OFF LAWS — “American Dream stores open Sundays, ignore Bergen blue laws. County officials vow to fight,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “If you’re living in Bergen County and want to get some shopping done on Sundays, you no longer have to travel all the way to the Palisades Center in Rockland County, New York, or the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne. Now you can drive to American Dream in East Rutherford, which NorthJersey.com confirmed is fully open on Sunday — not only rides, waterslides, ski slopes and restaurants but retail stores as well. The stores at American Dream have been open for nearly a year on Sundays despite Bergen County's blue laws, which date back to the 17th century and prohibit the sale of non-essential items on Sundays in the county … And county officials are not pleased with American Dream's decision to stay open and have vowed to fight what a spokesperson for the county called a 'disregard' for the Blue Laws. ‘Its violation gives American Dream Mall tenants an unfair advantage over all other Bergen County businesses lawfully complying with state law,’ the Bergen County spokesperson said. Don Ghermezian, CEO of Triple Five, the Canadian company that owns American Dream, said in a statement that the mall is ‘ecstatic that our extensive list of offerings operates on Sundays, allowing everyone to enjoy the very best of American Dream whenever they want.’”
JUST CHECKING: THIS IS THE DISTRICT THAT PAYS ITS LAWYER ALMOST $1M A YEAR, RIGHT? — “Lakewood Schools in danger of missing payroll. Demands state loan to help billing crisis,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “The Board of Education is in jeopardy of missing payroll for more than 900 district employees and paying its healthcare premiums this month due to a $4.3 million deficit it blames on a lack of state aid, according to documents filed with the State Department of Education. In a 'petition for emergent relief' filed on Jan. 14, Board Attorney Michael Inzelbuch demanded that the state respond to the board’s request for a $104 million state loan that was initially made in March 2024. The filing claims that if more funds were not received the board would be unable to pay $3.3 million in salaries for 958 employees and health benefit premiums of $1.7 million on Jan. 15 and again on Jan. 30.” THE BILLIONAIRE’S GOLF COURSE IN WAITING — “Liberty State Park is at a turning point. What will it look like in years to come?” by The Jersey Journal’s Teri West: “There is now both active on-site work to transform and open a never-before publicly accessible swath of the park and plans to bring new amenities to existing public space. Still, much debated legislation that would officially close the door to privatization of the state land has failed to take hold, and many of the envisioned changes are years away from being completed, and perhaps even started. Liberty State Park’s future may feel less hazy than a few years ago, but no crystal ball can tell what it will look like after The Jersey Journal’s coverage concludes. Those who have dedicated years to its preservation hope to see renewed legislative commitments to say ‘no’ to privatization, continued state funding to finance the planned changes and an administration that prioritizes public input and interests similarly to that administered by DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. ‘After decades of fighting we need to get to a place where it’s understood that privatization of the park is not an option,’ said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.” ALL HOLLOWAY HAD TO DO WAS SHOW HIS PBA CARD — “PBA calls for resignation of Paulsboro councilman after traffic stop beratement,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “The leader of a New Jersey police union called on a Paulsboro councilman to resign after body camera footage captured the councilman berating a police officer during a traffic stop earlier this month. NJ Advance Media obtained footage showing Paulsboro Councilman Theodore Holloway II yelling profanities at an officer who pulled him over for running a stop sign. New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Peter Andreyev said Holloway should resign. ‘It is simply stunning to see the tremendous double standard at play in this situation,’ Andreyev said in the release. ‘Time and again we see snippets of body camera footage used to denigrate and humiliate members of law enforcement who are putting their lives on the line each day to protect their communities and, yet, when we see a public official threaten and harass an officer for simply doing his job there are seemingly no consequences.’” — “Palisades Park sues ex-administrator for unused sick time pay. Lawyer calls it frivolous” — “Longtime Clifton manager threatens to sue city, council over discrimination, defamation” — “Ex-Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron's sentencing in health benefits case postponed until April” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
SETON HELL — Governor ‘deeply concerned’ about report Seton Hall president knew of abuse claims, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is adding his voice to the rising chorus of political leaders who want transparency from Seton Hall University about its new president being named in a secret report on sexual abuse. The new president, Monsignor Joseph Reilly, was not accused of abuse himself, but POLITICO reported last month that investigators found in 2019 that he knew of sexual abuse allegations and did not properly report them. They recommended, under an action plan the university adopted, that Reilly not serve on boards or in leadership at the school. “The governor is deeply concerned by the allegations and believes Seton Hall University must release the full report,” spokesperson Natalie Hamilton said in a statement.
— “PATH worker hospitalized after smoke fills subway tunnel” — “140 wild birds in N.J. likely died from the bird flu. Here’s why that’s important”
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