Axios Philadelphia

April 20, 2026
๐ Hey there, Monday!
๐ง๏ธ Today's weather: Slight chance of rain showers, with a high of 54 and a low of 34.
๐ Situational awareness: Game 2 between the Flyers and Penguins is tonight at 7pm in Pittsburgh. Watch on ESPN.
Today's newsletter is 897 words, a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: ๐ Health care coverage drops
Pennsylvania's Affordable Care Act marketplace has seen health insurance cancellations skyrocket so far this year.
The big picture: Spiking insurance premiums, driven in part by recently expired federal subsidies, are pushing enrollment down, as higher costs for energy, gas and food strain household budgets.
State of play: Roughly 45,000 Pennsylvanians have dropped coverage through Pennie between the close of open enrollment on Jan. 31 and April 9.
- That's a nearly 50% jump in cancellations, compared to the same time in 2025, per Pennie.
- It comes after 85,000 people across the state nixed their coverage during the open enrollment period from November through January.
Zoom in: In Philadelphia, premiums rose an average of $137 per month (up 116%) over last year, according to Pennie.
- In the 'burbs, premiums increased $126-$144 per month on average.
Zoom out: This is not just a Pennsylvania problem.
- About 1 in 10 Americans enrolled in an ACA plan last year now lack health coverage, per surveys by research nonprofit KFF.
Between the lines: Pennsylvania also saw a steep rise (30%) in people enrolling in bronze plans, which have lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs, this year.
- More uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians could lead to higher uncompensated care costs for hospitals.
The intrigue: Pressure is mounting on Pennsylvania lawmakers to replace at least part of the lost subsidies.
What they're saying: "We're very concerned those people will be at risk of medical debt if they have an emergency situation or if they get diagnosed with cancer or another health condition," Joanna Rosenhein, director of campaigns at the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, told WHYY.
What we're watching: More big spikes in health care costs could be coming.
- The Trump administration's latest budget proposes deeper cuts to federal health spending, reducing the Department of Health and Human Services by more than 12% ($15.8 billion) and scaling back assistance programs.
2. ๐ธ Celebs descend on Philly
A star-studded event tied to America's 250th birthday brought past presidents, celebs and some of the biggest names in sports to the Kimmel Center over the weekend.
Driving the news: The HISTORYTalks speaker series featured more than 10 panel conversations on the stage in front of an invite-only crowd on Saturday. Spotted at the event were:
- ๐บ๐ธ Former Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- ๐ Sports icons Jason Kelce and Tom Brady.
- ๐คฉ Celebrities Tina Fey, Nicole Kidman, Colin Jost and Ted Danson.
Zoom in: Talks covered democracy, interpretation of the nation's founding documents and political satire.
- The event was put on by the History Channel and Philly-based Comcast NBCUniversal.
What they're saying: "If the only time you love your country is when you win โ what is that? It's not democracy," Biden said during a panel discussion alongside his wife, former first lady Jill Biden, per the Hollywood Reporter.
- He added: "Democracy is people who collectively decide what's in the best interest of themselves and their country, and if you only love your country when you win, then what happens to this place?"
Inside the event:


3. News Market: Center City gains
๐ Center City's retail occupancy rose to 84.2%, up from 82.6% six months ago, per a new Center City District survey.
- The gain reflects a net increase of 32 occupied storefronts, signaling continued recovery in the downtown retail market. (Inquirer)
๐จ The PPA begins handing out $31 tickets today for vehicles parked in areas during posted street cleaning hours.
- Plus: Speed cameras in five school zones also go live today. Tickets range from $100 to $150.
๐ซ PECO is backtracking on its proposal to hike electric and natural gas rates next year. (Go deeper)
4. Charted: ๐ Faith rises among Gen Z men

New polling shows an uptick in religious fervor among young men, even as overall U.S. levels remain near historic lows.
Why it matters: Gen Z still has the highest share of religiously unaffiliated adults in modern history. But small hints of a religious rebound could offer clues about the future of politics and culture wars.
๐ The poll found 42% of young men aged 18 to 29 now say religion is "very important" in their lives โ up from 28% just a few years ago.
- The uptick reverses a long-standing gender gap: "One of the truisms in American social science has been" that women were more religious than men, Gallup senior scientist Frank Newport, an author of the report, tells Axios.
Reality check: An Axios review of other recent surveys showed slight increases in reported church attendance among Gen Z men, but little to suggest they're driving a "revival" like the postโWorld War II religious boom.
5. ๐ 1 daunting stat to go: Sixers in trouble
The Sixers' Game 1 loss to rival Boston spells trouble.
Why it matters: The Celtics' 123-91 blowout was their most lopsided playoff-opening win โ and Game 1 winners have historically gone on to take the best-of-seven series about three-quarters of the time.
- That's more daunting for the Sixers, who haven't beaten the Celtics in a playoffs series in decades.
The bottom line: The Sixers are fighting history against an opponent that hasn't been kind to them.
Have a good day!
Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia Orozco.
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