New year, same you googling repeatedly, “Is a government shutdown happening?” We see you. We get it. And the answer is: “Maybe.”
The likelihood of a partial government shutdown this weekend has ramped up following a surge in immigration enforcement and related backlash in Minnesota.
The highly publicized presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security in Minneapolis, alongside the death of Alex Pretti, the second person federal agents havefatally shot in the state, has reinvigorated efforts among Democrats to reject a bill to fund DHS.
“The appalling murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis must lead Republicans to join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] to protect the public,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Sunday. “People should be safe from abuse by their own government.”
Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Democrats would not support keeping the government fully open if it means funding the Department of Homeland Security. Other Democratic senators have joined in calling for Senate Republicans to collaborate on advancing five other pending bills, aside from the DHS bill, and separately retooling the DHS measure.
In case you need a refresher, here is what you need to know about deadlines, what a partial government shutdown looks like, and more.
What’s a government shutdown vs. a partial government shutdown?
A full government shutdown happens when all (or most) federal agencies have not secured funding. It usually means widespread furloughs, sometimes layoffs, and any nonessential government services are put on pause.
Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown happens when Congress has funded only certain federal agencies, leaving others in limbo. In turn, some parts of the government would close while others keep operating.
When a partial shutdown happens, some federal agencies and operations, like Social Security and air traffic control, keep running as usual. But other federal employees are furloughed.
In this instance, agencies at risk of expiring funding include the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, and State; the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the federal court system, according to Reuters.
Democrats are pushing Republicans to decouple the spending bill so disagreements over DHS don’t fuel disruptions to the other agencies. But Republicans so far say they will not break up the spending bill.
When does government funding expire?
Federal funding is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. A partial shutdown would occur if Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration do not reach an agreement by then.
Where does the DHS funding bill stand?
The House has done its part and is in recess until February. But Senate Democrats are pushing back on approvals, citing the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants. That leaves the Senate with only a few options to avoid a shutdown if it cannot pass the current measures.
Most legislation in the Senate needs 60 votes to move forward. Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning they need bipartisan support to pass the existing measure, which covers about $1.3 trillion in annual government spending, including military and social service funding.
But Democrats want new guardrails on immigration enforcement and added oversight on DHS. Some demands include requiring judicial warrants for immigration arrests, and agents to wear visible identification, Time reported.
Several Democratic senators who broke with their party last year to keep the government open say the killings of Pretti and Good at separate protests have changed their stance.
Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), who has historically broken with the Democratic Party to avoid government shutdowns, released a lengthy statement Monday saying that he wanted to see the DHS operation in Minneapolis end but would not support a government shutdown. But on Thursday, in a surprising break, Fetterman voted against advancing the six-bill package.
His vote, along with 54 other senators who voted “no,” meant the financial package could not move forward.
It is also worth noting that DHS would continue to operate and receive funding under a government shutdown. That is because DHS agencies received major funding through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. In turn, ICE and other parts of the agency would continue operating under a shutdown.
Who is affected by a government shutdown?
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are affected, since many would be expected to work but would not receive pay until after the shutdown is lifted. Employees are typically guaranteed back pay.
Many employees are also at risk of being furloughed and would not be allowed to work (but would also receive back pay thanks to legislation passed in 2019).
Some of the main groups of employees that a shutdown could affect include (but are not limited to) active members of the military, federal law enforcement, federal transportation workers (like air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, but not SEPTA workers), scientific researchers, and the IRS.
The federal court system said it would not be able to continue full operations past Feb. 4, which could disrupt hearings and other activities, Reuters reported. Data and research activity from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Institutes of Health could also go dark.
What about tax season?
This potential partial shutdown comes during tax season.
If a shutdown happens, funding for the IRS could lapse, which would in turn mean tax processing — and refunds — could be disrupted.
During last year’s shutdown in October, the IRS approved a contingency plan that let the agency continue some activities under a shutdown. But, the agency said, refunds would be delayed aside from some direct electronic returns that could be automatically processed and direct-deposited. Taxpayers were still expected to file and pay their taxes on time.
The IRS has not yet commented on a potential shutdown. Trump previously touted larger refunds this year because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Some experts say that emphasis could play a role in the agency remaining partially open.
When would the government shut down?
Congress and the Trump administration need to reach an agreement by midnight Friday. If they don’t, a shutdown would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
What was the longest government shutdown?
The longest government shutdown was the most recent one, which began on Oct. 1, 2025, and lasted 43 days. It broke the record for the longest shutdown on the 36th day.
What could a government shutdown mean for Philly?
In Philadelphia, the October shutdown led to the closing of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center, to the chagrin of tourists. But that would not happen this time, because the national parks are funded by the Department of the Interior, which secured its funding through an already passed appropriations bill for the year.
SNAP benefits would also notbe affected this time.
The Department of Transportation would close during this shutdown, but air traffic controllers would be required to work without pay. Similar to the last shutdown, this could lead to flight delays and cancellations.
Other impacts could be in store as the shutdown’s implications become more clear.
Call Your Mother — the popular neighborhood bagel shop and “Jew-ish” deli from the District of Columbia — is headed to the Keystone State.
It’s part of a steady ongoing expansion, including about 25 locations across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, and Illinois, plus more on the way.
The first Philly location will be in Fishtown, in the corner space of 1500 Frankford Ave., and is expected to open this summer, owners said.
“This will be the start of more shops in Philly,” co-owner Andrew Dana said. “But we’ve never had a master plan on how to roll out. We’ll go where people want bagels and where we’re excited to be, as long as our food quality and service stay the same.”
With colorful decor that would feel right at home in West Palm Beach and stuffed bagel sandwiches made with latkes, whitefish dips, and smoked salmon, Call Your Mother is popular across the DMV.
In the six years since Dana and his wife, co-owner Daniela Moreira, opened that first location, the shop has been praised across food publications like Bon Appétit and Eater for its vibe and sandwiches. Some critics say the menu is overpriced, but items on the D.C. menu — including sandwiches and loose bagels — appear similarly priced to most of Philly’s bagel outposts (and sometimes cheaper).
On that note, Dana says to expect the same Call Your Mother signature menu items — like its bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches and its babka muffins. “But we’re in the lab trying to cook up some special Philly flair, too,” he said.
You can also expect a colorful buildout.
“Most of the building will be painted pink, but we’re on the hunt for a local muralist to put an extra stamp on the building,” Dana said. “We’re also looking for local Philly food products to showcase.” Locals interested in getting in on the mix are encouraged to direct message Call Your Mother on Instagram.
The expansion comes amid a bagel boom in the Philly area: Viral bagel chain PopUp Bagels is set to open its first Pennsylvania location in Ardmore with seven more locations on the way in the Philadelphia region, including Suburban Square and Center City. Bart’s Bagels of West Philly is opening its third location in Bala Cynwyd, and Penny’s Bagels is coming to Haddonfield this year, as well.
“It’s a rise of the tide situation,” Dana said. “We’re not trying to take anyone’s territory. We don’t want to threaten a local spot. People love carbs, people love bagels. There’s enough room for everyone.”
The Frankford Avenue spot is part of a surge of popular food options in the area. It’s right across the street from Marina’s Pizza and El Chingón, and down the road from the new Medium Rare location.
“The infusion of best-in-class national brands like Call Your Mother Deli represents Fishtown’s strength today,” said Stefanie Gabel of MSC, who represented both Call Your Mother and the building’s landlord in the transaction. Gabel will continue to represent Call Your Mother as the deli expands within the Philly region. “Their presence also serves as a catalyst for the continued growth and longevity of Philadelphia’s most explosive mixed-use ecosystem.”
Call Your Mother recently made national headlines when it filed a trademark lawsuit against New Jersey’s Call Your Bubbi, a beach town cafe and kosher-certified bagel shop in Long Branch. Dana and Moreira said the Jersey cafe, which also sometimes goes by Bubbi Bagels, intentionally used a “confusingly similar” name and branding at times.
The dueling shops settled outside of court in early January, according to court documents. Dana declined to comment on the terms. Bubbi Bagels owner David Mizrahi could not be reached for comment.
As for what drove the couple to come to Philly, Dana said it was a simple decision: He very literally called his mother, Mary Wilson.
Wilson’s parents lived in Mount Airy and growing up Dana would visit his maternal grandparents often. He would go to their house, venture downtown, and explore Chestnut Hill. One of his best friends attended Penn. His cousins live on the Main Line. His other best friend lives in Bryn Mawr. In many ways, Dana says Call Your Mother coming to Philly is a natural progression.
“I’ve spent an insane amount of time here. I love the culture, the food, the vibe. It’s a great place to be,” he said.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Just in time for what figures to be a monumental year for local tourism, Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel at the Comcast Center has introduced a new luxury floor dedicated to what it calls personalized, “residential-style” living. About how much will a night in the penthouse suite cost you?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A booking agent on Tuesday said the penthouse suite — which spans some 4,000 square feet and features a sizable outdoor terrace — is currently going for around $25,000 per night (plus tax). See you there?
Question 2 of 10
According to a new law signed by former Gov. Phil Murphy, some New Jersey elementary school students will be required to learn this skill:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Beginning in September, New Jersey public schools must begin teaching cursive writing to students in grades three to five. New Jersey joins Delaware and at least two dozen other states that require cursive writing. Similar legislation proposed in Pennsylvania did not advance.
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Question 3 of 10
Tyrese Maxey is getting his first signature shoe. Which brand is behind the partnership?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Getting his own signature shoe from New Balance is the latest example of Maxey’s rising star power — following in the footsteps of teammate Joel Embiid, who debuted his own signature shoe with Skechers in December.
Question 4 of 10
At 18, South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito is heading to the Olympics. What activity does she do on the side and plan to do in Milan to calm her nerves?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Levito won’t forget to pack her bedazzling kit. Besides all the sparkles she wears on the ice, she enjoys adding rhinestones to her various makeup cases and a comb. “It’s so soothing,” she said.
Question 5 of 10
Nearly all the stars of this new Netflix series have Philly roots:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Four of the five Mar-a-Lago women on Netflix’s Members Only: Palm Beach are from Philly or the Philly region. They include an interior designer who sells real estate, a DJ, a former Bucks County Zumba instructor, and a fashion line owner.
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A fictional copy of The Philadelphia Inquirer was featured on this week’s episode of Abbott Elementary with a photo of the Abbott crew. What is the headline accompanying the article?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Designed by Abbott Elementary’s props and production team, the mock front page pictures the teachers and principal surrounded by students with the headline, “Do schools even need schools?”
Question 7 of 10
The American ___ Tournament is moving from Connecticut to Philadelphia next year.
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
New York Times crossword editor and NPR puzzle master Will Shortz announced he’s moving the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament from Connecticut down to Philly next year.
Question 8 of 10
Charlotte Astor, a junior at Cherry Hill High School East, is on the hunt for her mom’s 30-year-old demo tape. What was her mom’s band called?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
For Charlotte, Seed’s tape became a kind of white whale — a relic of her mother’s hard-charging past, something the teen occasionally scoured the web for, to no avail. Now, the hardcore community has stepped in.
Question 9 of 10
The former KYW radio building on Walnut Street sold for about $5 million — a steep discount from the $19 million it sold for in 2019. Which Beatle once worked there?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The building was built for KYW radio in 1937 and, later, its television division. The influential Mike Douglas Show was based out of the building for much of its run, employing Roger Ailes, later of Fox News fame, in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono guest-hosted the show from the building for a week, interviewing people including Chuck Berry and Ralph Nader.
Question 10 of 10
A Philly-area university professor is competing in the Jeopardy! tournament of champions. To celebrate, a local business named this menu item after him:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Joshua Weikert will watch the show Friday among family and friends — including his fellow contestant Matt Massie — at Troubles End Brewing in Collegeville, which named one of its beers after him. It’s an English Bitter, one of Weikert’s favorites, called “Who is Josh?”
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If you’re starting to absorb the headlines, or embarking on your early-week doomscroll, you’re probably seeing a lot about Greenland.
President Donald Trump’s longtime interest in the Arctic island seems to be louder — and bolder — than ever, sparking a major geopolitical standoff.
But how did it all start? And where do things stand? Here are all your questions answered, so you’re prepared the next time someone asks you about Greenland.
How did Denmark acquire Greenland?
Greenland has been home to native peoples who crossed the Arctic from what is now Canada, Norse settlers, Lutheran missionaries, and U.S. military personnel who used it as a base to protect the United States from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
As for when Denmark stepped in, the short answer is that Denmark’s control started with a colonial settlement, was formalized in 1953, and the agreement has since evolved into a self-governing structure with the Danish.
In the 1700s, a Danish missionary arrived in Greenland and started lining up settlements and establishing Danish colonization. Through most of the 18th and 19th centuries, Greenland was controlled by the Danish. The relationship was formally recognized by Denmark after World War II. In 1953, the island was fully incorporated as a Danish territory, giving Greenlanders Danish citizenship.
Things changed in the late 1970s. In 1979, Greenlanders voted in favor of home rule, establishing a local government. In 2009, Greenland earned even more autonomy, achieving self-government status. This stands today, with Greenland remaining part of Denmark but overseeing its own internal affairs. Denmark oversees defense and diplomacy issues, unless the regions opt to partner on an issue.
Is Greenland bigger than the United States?
Greenland is pretty big, but not bigger than the United States
It is considered one of the biggest places in the world by geography and is about 20 times the size of Denmark, according to the territory’s tourism website. The island stretches about 836,000 square miles.
Map of Greenland, the U.S., and Denmark.
It is the world’s largest island that isn’t a continent and is larger than France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom combined. It is also larger than the state of Alaska.
But, no, it’s smaller than the contiguous United States. All in all, the United States is about 4.5 times larger than Greenland.
The island has a population of roughly 56,480, according to the CIA. It is among the least densely populated countries in the world.
What natural resources does Greenland have?
Greenland is home to a bounty of natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals. Those minerals are used for making batteries, electric vehicles, and other high-tech items, according to the New York Times. Currently, China dominates the global market for those minerals, meaning there is a reliance on China to source them.
Vice President JD Vance has touted Greenland’s “incredible natural resources” in the past. Last year, Republican senators held a hearing focused on Greenland’s importance and its rare earths.
But Greenland has only a few roads and ports, and environmentalists are opposed to developing on the island. That means mining and oil extraction in Greenland may not be productive.
Does the U.S. military have a base in Greenland?
Yep.
Formerly known as the Thule Air Base, the Pituffik (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK) Space Base was renamed in 2023 during the Biden administration to honor the native Greenlandic community and history.
It is the northernmost U.S. military installation and serves as an early warning missile detection site for North America. It is currently undergoing major upgrades.
How long has Trump talked about wanting Greenland?
It’s been awhile.
Trump first floated the idea of “buying Greenland” during his first term, comparing it to a “real estate deal.” When Danish leaders rejected his idea, he canceled a scheduled visit to Denmark in 2019.
When Trump began his second term, he spoke increasingly about his interest in the United States controlling Greenland, citing national security reasons.
But critics say his real intentions stem from personal feelings.
Is this really about Trump not winning the Nobel Prize?
Trump linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” in a text message released Monday and verified by the White House.
Trump’s text to Jonas Gahr Støre, which he sent on Sunday, came a day after the president announced a 10% import tax on goods from the eight nations that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, including Norway.
The text exchange, which was released by the Norwegian government, said in part: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” He concluded, “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
The Norwegian leader said Trump’s message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said of the text exchange that Trump “is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region.”
Norway has since reaffirmed its support for Denmark and Greenland.
Also, for what it’s worth, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government.
Speaking Monday night to reporters before boarding Air Force One on his way back from Florida to Washington, Trump backtracked and said he didn’t “care about the Nobel Prize.”
What is Trump saying about Greenland now?
He’s doubling down.
Monday night, Trump took to his Truth Social platform and made a series of posts about how there was “no going back” when it comes to his push to take control of the island. He also posted private text messages he received from French President Emmanuel Macron and the head of NATO, and an AI-generated image of the American flag over Greenland and Canada.
Following Macron’s questioning of Trump’s approach, Trump suggested he could impose a 200% tariff on French wines.
Trump also announced he would meet with “various parties” to discuss Greenland during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week.
On Tuesday, Trump held a nearly two-hour news conference, but largely did not acknowledge his stance on Greenland until asked by reporters.
He repeated his position that the U.S. needs to take control of the territory for the sake of national security.
“I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy,” Trump said toward the end of the news conference.
Macron this week called for an emergency meeting in Paris with European leaders to address tensions with the U.S. over Trump’s pursuit to acquire Greenland in addition to increasing tariffs.
Trump told reporters he did not plan to attend the meeting and mentioned that Macron would not be leading France for much longer. Macron’s term ends in May 2027.
Do other politicians agree with Trump?
There is widespread disagreement over how Trump wants to handle Greenland.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president wants to buy it, while top aide Stephen Miller suggested the U.S. could seize it by force. Vice President Vance’s discussion with Danish leaders last week ended in “fundamental disagreement.”
Several lawmakers across party lines have criticized Trump’s approach. GOP members, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, say the raised tariff threats could harm NATO and U.S. interests.
Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.) said last week that he would consider impeaching Trump if the U.S. invaded Greenland, describing the idea as “utter buffoonery.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) called Trump’s coercive threats dangerous for alliances and “bad for America.” She and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would prohibit the use of U.S. Defense or State Department funds to take control of Greenland or the sovereign territory of any NATO member state without that ally’s consent or authorization from the North Atlantic Council.
How are Greenland residents responding?
Copenhagen store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen wears a red cap for sale that he created with the slogans “Make America go away,” on the side, and on the front: “Nu det NUUK!,” a twist on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough.”
Unsurprisingly, they’re not happy!
Over the weekend, hundreds of people in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, braved near-freezing temperatures, rain, and icy streets to march in a rally in support of their own self-governance.
Thousands of people also marched through Copenhagen, many of them carrying Greenland’s flag. Some held signs with slogans such as “Make America Smart Again” and “Hands Off.”
A spoof Make America Go Away red cap in the style of Trump’s original MAGA campaign hat is surging in popularity in Denmark and has become a symbol of Danish and Greenlandic resistance.
“This is important for the whole world,” Danish protester Elise Riechie told the Associated Press as she held Danish and Greenlandic flags. “There are many small countries. None of them are for sale.”
The rallies occurred hours after a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers, while visiting Copenhagen, sought to reassure Denmark and Greenland of their support.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Erin Andrews’ coat at the Eagles-49ers game stole the show. What was it made of?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Andrews’ coat appears to be a completely faux fur $950 statement piece from the brand Auter. Despite the internet haters, the jacket was seemingly functional and fashionable for a 30-degree and windy wild-card game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Question 2 of 10
Food writer Kiki Aranita says this little treat, with roots in Mexico and China, is the talk of the town right now:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The story of Mexican conchas and Chinese bo lo bao predates “little treat culture” by hundreds of years. Crackled, cookie-like crusts sit on top of round, fluffy milk bread, sometimes filled with cream or jam, or custard and char siu, or vibrant red Cantonese roast pork. Versions of the treats are available across Philly.
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Question 3 of 10
Wawa is closing a store on Drexel University’s campus after it was remodeled to test this concept:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The location was remodeled in 2023 to test the new store format, a digital-only concept that required customers to order all items on a touch screen, with no shelves of products to browse. The pilot was not a success, leading to the store’s planned closure, said a company statement.
Question 4 of 10
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a bill, despite near-unanimous legislative support, that would’ve allowed a legal carveout for:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
New Jersey's Milltown is struggling to continue its Groundhog Day celebrations because of a lack of access to live groundhogs. A bill to carve out exceptions for groundhog imports was vetoed. Gov. Phil Murphy said the bill was inappropriate, citing public safety concerns, including rabies.
Question 5 of 10
A $150 million streetscape project will transform South Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts by adding more:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A $150 million streetscape project will transform South Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts with trees, public art, traffic calming, and redesigned medians and sidewalks, starting this month.
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Eagles fan and content creator Robert Williams III kept the faith all season by cranking out parody songs about the Birds. His videos have caught the attention of celebrities ranging from Questlove to Hall and Oates. What artist does he find himself covering more times than not?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Williams (also known as Billy Soul) puts on a strawberry blond wig and spoofs songs like the 1984 Billy Joel hit: “For the Longest Time.” He says his Joel covers seem to perform the best. “My favorite genres of music are hip-hop and R&B so those parodies are easy to me,” Williams said. When I’m doing Billy Joel, I’m challenging myself.”
Question 7 of 10
A Philadelphia woman’s fliers around the region seeking help went viral. She was asking for someone of which trade to perform what act?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The flier said: “Seeking: Experienced Witch to Curse My Ex.” The woman set up an email — for serious inquiries only. Experts say wishing a curse on your ex is part of a tradition dating back to antiquity.
Question 8 of 10
Restaurant scalping is a growing trend nationwide that business owners would like to stop. A Philly restaurant took to social media, announcing it had canceled someone’s reservations and wanted to ban them after they were caught trying to flip reservations for a profit. What restaurant was it?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Mawn’s owners, Phila and Rachel Lorn, took to the restaurant’s Instagram to lambaste a woman attempting to sell coveted dinner reservations on the “Buy, Sell, Trade” section of Philaqueens, a private Facebook group with 75,000 members. “Eww. Gross … Don’t play with us,” the owners wrote on Mawn’s Instagram story, sharing a screenshot of the Facebook post that included the seller’s name. “All 11 of this person’s reservations are canceled.”
Question 9 of 10
This Philly-based comedian went viral on TikTok for her ASMR-style videos, where she whispers about this local favorite:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Of all the things Betsy Kenney thought she might go viral for, whispering about Wawa wasn’t one of them. But the 38-year-old comedian’s Philly “ASMR” videos have taken off on TikTok and Instagram, turning Kenney — who spent more than a decade pursuing a comedy career in New York City — into an unlikely local celebrity. Kenney’s videos have racked up millions of views and even earned an endorsement from Kylie Kelce.
Question 10 of 10
Retro enthusiasts and nostalgia lovers are thrilled about a chain restaurant location in Tunkhannock, a small town in the Endless Mountains of Wyoming County, about 140 miles northeast of Philadelphia. That’s because it was restored to look and feel like versions of this spot did decades ago. Which restaurant is it?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The Pizza Hut location has been in a shopping center parking lot for decades, but was restored into a classic version, complete with the red, angled roof. “No touchscreen kiosks, no sleek redesign, just the classic dine-in Hut experience you thought was gone forever. It’s more than pizza. It’s a full-blown childhood flashback served with breadsticks and a plastic red cup!” a fan wrote on Facebook.
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A New Jersey town’s hopes of celebrating Groundhog Day their way may have been dashed once again.
For years, Milltown, a borough in central New Jersey with about 7,000 residents, did its own version of the classic Punxsutawney festivities with a live groundhog front and center.
But their access to the hero rodent is dwindling, leaving organizers groundhog-less in the town’s most crucial hour.
State laws ban importing wild animals that could potentially carry rabies.
A bill first introduced in 2024 and later passed by New Jersey legislators, intended to carve out an exception to the rule, allowing out-of-state woodchucks (yes, woodchuck and groundhog are interchangeable terms) to be brought in for the sake of the holiday tradition.
But on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed that bill, citing public safety, sending the Groundhog Day enthusiasts of Milltown back to the drawing board.
It wasn’t always this way.
Milltown’s Groundhog Day and the beginning of Milltown Mel
Milltown’s Groundhog Day dates back to 2009 (much more recent than Punxsutawney‘s, which started in the 1880s).
Jerry and Cathy Guthlein, who owned a funeral home together in Milltown, were inspired by the official celebrations one state over after they made the five-hour drive to see the hubbub for themselves.
They were hooked.
“Jeez, if they can do it,” Jerry Guthlein recalled to NJ Advance Media, “I can do it.” He paid about $300 for a baby groundhog from a Sunbury, Pa., breeder and raised him.
That little groundhog grew into the role of Milltown Mel, a beloved local icon who made Groundhog Day predictions for the small town for five years before dying in 2015. That’s when Mel 2.0 stepped up to the plate in 2016; a younger, larger, and “friskier” groundhog, according to Jerry Guthlein at the time. And then, you guessed it, he was succeeded by Mel 3.0 until he died in 2021 at the age of about 3.
The average life span of groundhogs varies. Wild groundhogs live an average of two to three years, but can get up to six years, according to PBS. In captivity, they can live as long as 14 years.
In the years since founding Milltown’s Groundhog Day celebrations, the Guthleins stepped back, and the event would go on to be organized by a group of volunteers known as the Milltown Wranglers, who would tend to the sitting groundhog. During their version of events, they’ll hoist an iteration of Mel into the air, while doughnuts and coffee are served to attendees and local bands play.
After Mel 3.0’s death in 2021, Russell Einbinder, one of the Milltown Wranglers, drove to Tennessee to pick up a newborn replacement groundhog. But state officials seized the chuckling (the real and adorable phrase baby woodchucks/groundhogs are called) months later, the New York Times reported. Officials cited concerns for public health and wildlife disease, including rabies.
Those concerns aren’t just groundhog-focused.
Importing groundhogs and other wild animals is part of a longstanding state ban dating back decades to help prevent rabies and other diseases. Notably, you can’t test an animal for rabies unless it’s dead, according to the CDC.
Still, the seizure rubbed Einbinder and other groundhog enthusiasts the wrong way.
“He never actually got to be the Mel,” Einbinder told the Times. The Inquirer reached out to Einbinder for comment but did not hear back as of publication time.
Wranglers attempted for years to find a legal groundhog, but the original Pennsylvania breeder who brought on Mel the first had died. Other reputable breeders were gone. Einbinder’s calls to zoos and wildlife rescues were fruitless.
And just like that, Milltown’s Groundhog Day went dormant.
Local lawmakers seek a carveout
In 2024, legislators worked on and passed a bill that would create a special exception to New Jersey’s general ban on importing wild animals. The carveout would allow towns and counties to import woodchucks for their Groundhog Day celebrations if their local groundhog died.
The bill included guardrails, including that the municipality would need to prioritize finding a New Jersey groundhog before looking elsewhere. There was also a provision that the Division of Fish and Wildlife would be involved and set up a procedure to help relocate and import woodchucks, and create rules for how they should be housed and cared for.
Sterley S. Stanley (D., Middlesex) was a primary sponsor of the bill. He’s better known for his work on healthcare reform, but got involved with the local bill after meeting Einbinder and becoming “fascinated by the backstory,” according to NJ Advance Media.
“While I am disappointed that we could not establish a new pathway for Milltown to procure a new groundhog, I look forward to continuing to work with state and community partners to find a creative solution to this issue that allows Milltown to resume this cherished tradition within the current regulatory framework set forth by relevant authorities,” Stanley told The Inquirer on Tuesday.
Initially, the bill earned a lot of giggles at meetings, but received near-unanimous lawmaker support and moved through both legislative houses between 2024 and 2025 with ultimate approval. The legislature ultimately passed the bill, but too late for a Milltown Groundhog Day to be organized for 2025.
“We have been working very hard to get that statute changed, but it has not happened yet,” the wranglers wrote on their Facebook page at the time last January. “Until that change occurs, we cannot continue our annual celebration. Hopefully the necessary legislation will be done in time for us to resume Groundhog Day next year.”
Now, with less than a month until Groundhog Day 2026, Murphy has vetoed the bill entirely, leaving Milltown’s Groundhog Day at risk of being canceled for the sixth year in a row.
“Defending these State interests can pose obstacles to obtaining a permit to import wildlife from outside New Jersey, which may understandably frustrate communities that engage in celebrations traditionally involving wildlife,” Gov. Murphy said in a statement included in his veto notice. “However, the State must uphold its obligation to protect the people and animals of New Jersey.”
The Governor’s Office declined to comment further.
It’s unclear what’s next for Milltown’s Groundhog Day.
In his statement, Gov. Murphy said he didn’t think vetoing the loophole meant Milltown should abandon its festivities. Instead, he encouraged organizers to work with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife to find some sort of alternative opportunity, though he didn’t elaborate on what that might look like.
Years back, after one of the Mel’s deaths, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wrote to Milltown organizers, encouraging them to opt for an animatronic groundhog or a costume instead of a live animal. But organizers brushed off concerns and continued to buy the chucklings when they could source them.
Organizers haven’t posted an update on their Facebook page since last February and could not be reached for comment as of publication time.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
A Facebook Marketplace listing is selling signage from this iconic Philly spot:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Signage from the now-closed Melrose Diner was listed on Facebook Marketplace over the weekend. The diner, which opened at the intersection of 15th Street, West Passyunk Avenue, and Snyder Avenue in 1956, was demolished in 2023 to pave the way for a new six-story apartment building.
Question 2 of 10
The former CEO and President of this beloved — yet contentious, depending on your region — Pennsylvania empire died on Sunday.
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Stephen G. Sheetz, the former Sheetz president and CEO who popularized the Altoona convenience store chain, died Sunday. His legacy — and the Wawa vs. Sheetz rivalry — lives on.
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Which article of clothing or accessory did CBS Philadelphia anchor Jim Donovan set the Guinness record for having the largest collection of?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Guinness World Records verified that the 15-time Emmy winner is now the owner of the world’s largest sock collection at 1,531 pairs, many of which have eccentric designs, including Friends and Star Trek-themed socks, and every color of the rainbow. Many of the socks were sent to him by fans during the span of his career as a journalist.
Question 4 of 10
The USWNT will play against this team at the SheBelieves Cup tournament in March:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The Americans will play Colombia on March 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison as part of the annual SheBelieves Cup tournament. Canada and Argentina are the other teams in this year’s field, both of which are familiar foes for the U.S. team.
Question 5 of 10
The FDA issued a warning to an adult boutique on South Street, along with other shops nationwide, because it sells this item:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Passional Boutique on South Street sells breast binders, mostly to trans men, online and at the store. The FDA says the store is violating its regulations because it's not registered to sell them. Critics say the warnings are a concerning attempt to police self-expression.
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Question 6 of 10
Why is the Trump store in Bensalem closing?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The Trump Store is closing after six years in business. Mike Domanico's store thrived during the Biden administration, but Trump's return to the White House has been bad for business. Citing lagging sales, the store began its closeout sale on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Question 7 of 10
The third-generation owner of Donkey's Place — the Camden eatery that’s been visited by Anthony Bourdain — says a penis bone that has sat on the bar for years was stolen. What animal did the bone belong to?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Donkey’s ambience has not changed much since Bourdain’s visit. It’s cozy and packed to the gills with random decor, from beer memorabilia, boxing gloves, a megalodon tooth, and of course, the 27-inch-long walrus penis bone, also known as a walrus baculum.
Question 8 of 10
The mother of this Philly icon made her debut on Peacock’s Traitors this week:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Jason and Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce — who earned recognition over the years for supporting both of her NFL sons with split-allegiance jerseys — appeared on the fourth season of The Traitors this week. The show has a similar premise to “Mafia” or “Clue.”
Question 9 of 10
“The Henriot Family (La Famille Henriot),” an oil painting completed around 1875, was removed from display last year at The Barnes Foundation to be restored. It’s back now and more vibrant. Who is the painting by?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The oil painting, completed around 1875, is an impressionist work depicting three people and two long-haired dogs relaxing in a forest. A young woman in a white dress gazes directly at the viewer while a man to her right appears to be drawing her. The central figure is Henriette Henriot, one of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s frequent models, and her admirer is the painter’s brother, Edmond Renoir.
Question 10 of 10
This TV personality will be performing with his band at Manayunk’s annual Sing Us Home festival in May:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The political pundit funnyman playing the drums will be Jon Stewart, who sits on the throne behind his kit with Church and State™, the new band with whom he has played only a handful of gigs. Last month, Stewart told the audience on TheDaily Show that he picked up the sticks after failing to master the guitar or piano, and that playing in his first band at age 63 was extremely fun.
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will fold after nearly a century. The paper will cease operations entirely — both its digital and physical versions — on May 3.
The announcement comes on the heels of years of declining ad revenue and internal strife within the newsroom, including a yearslong labor strike.
With the paper’s closure, there are concerns that Pittsburgh could become a news desert, leaving locals without a range of diverse and credible outlets to turn to in an age of increasing misinformation.
The Post-Gazette was led by former Inquirer senior vice president and executive editor Stan Wischnowski. He resigned from The Inquirer in 2020 after a controversy following a headline after the murder of George Floyd.
Block Communications, the paper’s owners, released a statement Wednesday about the shutdown, citing “continued cash losses” that were “no longer sustainable.” About 150 union, nonunion, and management employees are impacted.
The owners added that the paper has lost more than $350 million in operational funds over the last 20 years.
The paper’s union, meanwhile, said the closure was a result of “losing a nearly decade-long attempt to bust unions at the paper.”
Andrew Goldstein, current president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, said in a statement that “instead of simply following the law, the owners chose to punish local journalists and the city of Pittsburgh.”
A Zoom announcement
Post-Gazette staff said they found out about the paper’s closure via a companywide prerecorded Zoom announcement just moments before the news went public. Multiple reporters told The Inquirer that no company representatives spoke live during the video and that there was no opportunity provided for follow-up questions or discussion.
In a leaked recording of the Zoom announcement obtained by Pittsburgh’s KDKA Radio, a spokesperson asked staff to continue to publish under “business-as-usual conditions” for the paper’s remaining months. The spokesperson added that Block Communications would “of course” give the Post-Gazette the opportunity to break the news of the closure first.
News desert concerns
Block Communications, the family-owned multimedia company based in Toledo, Ohio, owns several broadcast news stations, the Post-Gazette, and the Toledo Blade, the Post-Gazette’s sister newspaper. The Blade is unaffected by the shutdown, owners said.
The closure will leave the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as the region’s last major newspaper. The Tribune-Review is a digital-only publication. Other specialized publications, including the New Pittsburgh Courier and Pittsburgh Business Times, also remain.
Tim Franklin, the founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative, a research and development project designed to bolster local news sustainability, said the closure was “startling,” given the paper’s size and the region’s market size. Pittsburgh is considered a competitive news market.
“Even in this economic climate, it’s unusual to see a metro daily newspaper shutter,” he said. “This may be the first metro newspaper closure since the Tampa Tribune in 2016,” which was acquired by the Tampa Bay Times on May 3, 2016, and ceased publication.
Franklin says the Post-Gazette’s closure symbolized a deepening crisis in local news nationwide, which has led to almost 150 newspaper closures in the past year, according to Medill data, or an average of more than two closures a week.
“Today’s news, though, is especially troubling because it highlights a newer, growing trend — the loss of independent, largely family-owned local newspapers,” Franklin said.
In the past, the bulk of newspaper closures were attributed to large chains closing clusters of outlets. Now, Franklin says, there’s a rising trend in independently owned papers closing. “If even longtime independent owners are hanging it up, that shows the seriousness of the challenges facing the industry.”
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamoratosaid in a statement that she was troubled by the Post-Gazette’s closure, calling it “devastating” for the region.
“This is a major loss to the people of Pittsburgh when it comes to transparency in government, accountability from our institutions, and learning about what is happening in our communities,” she said.
Innamorato added that she wasn’t sure if Block Communications pursued other pathways for buyers or alternatives to shutting down both the Post-Gazette and City Paper entirely.
“But destroying two legacy papers in a week leaves a gaping hole in our local news environment,” she said.
Block Communications could not be reached for comment as of publication time.
On social media, readers expressed contempt toward ownership for the decision and concern regarding whom to turn to for local news.
“This is a huge loss,” one user commented on a Reddit thread about the closure. “Who will do the work of journalism? … Will we all be going off rumors on Reddit and Nextdoor?”
A complicated past
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, a weekly publication, was founded in 1786. It’s regarded as the oldest newspaper published west of the Allegheny Mountains. The paper took on its current form as the Post-Gazette in 1927 as part of a merger between the Gazette Times and the Pittsburgh Post.
The newspaper’s shutdown comes on the heels of several internal challenges in recent years.
In 2019, tension grew between the newsroom staff and Post-Gazette publisher and co-owner John Robinson Block regarding his “bizarre” and “violent” behavior toward employees.
At the time, according to multiple accounts, Block entered the newsroom in an agitated state with his 12-year-old daughter on a weekend night and appeared out of control as he ranted about the newspaper’s union and its employees.
That year, the paper cut its print edition from daily to three days a week, citing declining ad revenue.
Then came the monumental labor strike.
In 2022, the Post-Gazette saw significant labor disputes, leading to a Guild-approved strike that lasted three years. During the strike, many of the employees impacted established the Pittsburgh Union Progress, a strike paper that published over 4,000 stories covering community news, the strike, and more.
In November, a federal appeals court ordered the newspaper to reinstate its 2014 union contract, forcing the return of the striking journalists. The U.S. Third Circuit of Appeals ruled that the paper had illegally removed benefits and would need to restore conditions and return to bargaining.
Block Communications in its statement about the paper’s closure said that those recent court decisions legally requiring it to follow its 2014 labor contract would make it impossible to keep the paper running.
Union leaders say it’s a cheap excuse after years of attempted union-busting from company owners.
“The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Blocks spent millions on lawyers to fight union workers, fight journalists, and break federal labor law,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “They lost at every level, including now at the Supreme Court. Pittsburgh deserves better and we will continue to fight to make sure all news companies follow the law and serve our communities.”
Franklin, with the Medill Local News initiative, says it’s inevitable that some people will say the Post-Gazette’s closure is a “special case” because of its extended labor dispute that threw the paper into turmoil for years.
“And certainly, that standoff played a role in today’s news,” he said. “But the fact that the Post-Gazette owners saw no other option but closure is chilling.”
The company’s statement went on to say it regretted how the decision would affect Pittsburgh and its surrounding coverage area.
The Block family said it was “proud of the service the Post-Gazette has provided to Pittsburgh for nearly a century.”
As for what’s next, Goldstein with the local guild says readers should stay tuned for more from its journalists.
“Post-Gazette journalists have done award-winning work for decades and we’re going to pursue all options to make sure that Pittsburgh continues to have the caliber of journalism it deserves,” he said.
The namesake behind Wawa’s biggest rival, Sheetz, has died.
Stephen G. Sheetz, the man responsible for taking a family-owned convenience store in Altoona, Pa., and transforming it into a multibillion-dollar empire, was 77. The company announced his death in a statement Monday, citing respiratory complications after having been hospitalized with pneumonia.
And while Wawa fans may be suspicious of how the chain’s fried food, or coffee, or even gasoline stacks up against their supreme leader’s, there’s no denying Sheetz’s legacy and vision.
Sheetz served as the chain’s CEO and president from 1984 to 1995, overseeing its expansion. After that, he was chairman of the board for another 18 years.
The former president was just 12 when he began working at the original Sheetz Kwik Shopper, founded by his brother, Bob Sheetz. He graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1965 and from Pennsylvania State University four years later.
Penn State named Steve and his wife, Nancy Sheetz, as its 2010 philanthropists of the year, following their donation of $2.5 million to the school’s Altoona campus. It was the campus’ largest donation in its 70-year history. The couple tacked on another half a million that year, funding the establishment of an entrepreneurial center and a Sheetz Fellows program.
“I try to provide a positive influence,” Steve Sheetz said at the time in a university statement. “I really hope that students in the program will be better prepared for the world they’re about to enter, whether it’s business or another profession.”
As supervisor and director of operations at the chain, he oversaw the expansion of Sheetz convenience stores, with the intention of opening a new location every year, according to the company’s website. Over the next 14 years, Sheetz would grow to 100 locations.
“Above all, Uncle Steve was the center of our family,” Sheetz president and CEO Travis Sheetz said in a statement. “We are so deeply grateful for his leadership, vision, and steadfast commitment to our employees, customers, and communities.”
Today, with over 800 locations across six states and about 25,000 employees, the business remains largely family-run.
Offering a hodgepodge of fast food, including burgers, hot dogs, and mozzarella sticks, the chain has its super fans, just like Philly’s own Wawa phanatics.
They call themselves “Sheetz Freakz.” And they start them young.
Take Dylan LaMotte of Lynchburg, Va.
In 2020, then-8-year-old Dylan went viral for his mom’s video of him wearing a shirt that said “Youngest Sheetz Freak” and pitching ideas for the chain’s menu.
Steve Sheetz himself flew to Lynchburg to surprise Dylan and gift him $5,000 toward his daily order of fries and a slushie. In other instances over the years, the company has rewarded other superfans with hefty donations to their charities of choice.
In 2020, The Inquirer tapped Pennsylvanians Sen. John Fetterman (who was lieutenant governor at the time) and U.S. Rep. Brendan F. Boyle to weigh in on the debate.
Boyle, who is team Wawa, helped cut the ribbon on Wawa’s first D.C. location. He joked that it was the “Philly Embassy in Washington.”
“Sure enough, as I approached the D.C. Wawa right after the game, the crowd of people wearing Eagles jerseys was out the door. The Philly diaspora had had the same thought I did. We flocked to our ‘embassy’ to celebrate,” he said.
Fetterman, who is pro-Sheetz, said, “Whether I’m Jeeping it home from Harrisburg, or on the road asking yinz and youse about legalizing cannabis, the warm red glow of a Sheetz awning beckons with red beet eggs, a hunk of cheese, and the rich cavalcade of the entire family of Duke’s smoked shorty sausages.” He added, “It is a given that Sheetz is far superior.”
At the end of the day, the rivalry isn’t going anywhere. But you can still respect the man behind the mystique.
“Steve’s guidance shaped nearly every aspect of our family business,” said Joe Sheetz, chairman of the Sheetz board of directors. “He was a mentor for every leader who has followed him, and his vision, wisdom, and entrepreneurial spirit will be missed deeply by everyone at Sheetz.”
Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico also released a statement, saying “Steve had a genuine, tangible love for the City of Altoona, as shown by his contributions, actions and initiatives. We send our sincere sympathy to Steve’s family during this difficult time, as well as immense gratitude for his lasting contributions to our City and its residents, that will be his legacy for years to come.”
In addition to his wife, Nancy, Steve Sheetz is survived by two daughters, Megan Sheetz and Nicole Sheetz Frith; seven grandchildren; and six of his seven siblings, including his brother Bob Sheetz.
Fast food mega-chain McDonald’s is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit focused on the authenticity of its McRib sandwich and what it’s made of.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Dec. 23, claims that McDonald’s deceptively markets the McRib to specifically contain meat from pork ribs through its name, branding, and appearance.
“The name ‘McRib’ is a deliberate sleight of hand,” the plaintiffs — four consumers from California, New York, Illinois, and the District of Columbia — said in the filing.
For those uninitiated, the McRib is sort of a big deal. It’s a fan favorite with “limited edition” status within McDonald’s. Its availability varies based on timing and location. It debuted on McDonald’s menus back in 1981, and when the chain announced its discontinuation in 2005, there was a lengthy “farewell tour.”
In the years since, the sandwich continues to make celebrated annual returns, heightened with the help of social media. There are dedicated unofficial McRib fan accounts and trackers.
“McDonald’s McRib is a sandwich of legend,” a 2009 Maxim article titled “The Cult of the McRib” said. “The heavenly blend of pork patty, barbecue sauce, and bun is, to devotees, so addictive that songs have been written about it, Internet shrines erected to it, and TV shows dedicated to it. … It is rarely seen, yet frequently sought and cultishly worshiped. It is the Holy Grail on a bun.”
And now, that famed sandwich’s integrity is being scrutinized.
Here’s what we know so far.
What exactly is the McRib?
McDonald’s describes the McRib as seasoned boneless pork dipped in BBQ sauce and topped with onions and pickles on a toasted bun. The sandwich is 520 calories and 24 grams of protein according to the fast food chain’s website.
Is the McRib available at McDonald’s now?
The McRib returned to some McDonald’s menus as part of its annual “farewell tour” in November 2025 and seems to still be available. But the sandwich is limited to certain McDonald’s locations, including in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, and St. Louis.
According to the fan-led McRib Tracker, there’s only a handful of states nationwide serving up McRibs right now. It ranges in price from about $4 to $8, depending on the region.
What does the McRib proposed lawsuit say?
The proposed class action suit says the McRib’s name, pricing, and appearance — a rib-shaped patty on a bun — misleads consumers into believing they’re purchasing a premium pork rib product.
The complaint adds that the rib-shaped patty is made of “restructured” pork using lower-quality cuts of pork, including shoulder, heart, stomach, and tripe instead of rib meat. McDonald’s has denied those claims.
The plaintiffs say they believed the McRib to be made of rib meat before purchasing. They add that marketing the McRib as a “limited-time” item is a strategy to create a sense of urgency, discouraging consumers from investigating its ingredients closely.
All four plaintiffs say they wouldn’t have purchased the McRib, or paid as much as they did, if they knew the sandwich had no actual pork rib meat.
The proposed lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of U.S. consumers who bought the McRib in recent years and is seeking damages, restitution, and a remedy to prevent future “deceptive marketing.”
What are McDonald’s McRibs made of?
McDonald’s McRib features what the company calls a “McRib Pork Patty,” which is shaped like a rack of ribs.
According to its website, the boneless patty is made of pork, water, salt, dextrose, and rosemary extract.
Using the phrase boneless pork does a lot of quiet, legal work in the background, noted Quartz.
McRib supporters say the sandwich has always been marketed as a boneless, snackable take on ribs. And it’s not a secret. To this day, there are no rib bones involved, and McDonald’s doesn’t pretend there are.
“Contrary to what its name implies, there is very little actual rib meat in a McRib,” the 2009 Maxim article about the cultish sandwich said. “Primarily, it’s shoulder meat,” Rob Cannell, then-director of McDonald’s U.S. supply chain, told the outlet.
He added, “The pork meat is chopped up, then seasoned, then formed into that shape that looks like a rib back. Then we flash-freeze it. The whole process from fresh pork to frozen McRib takes about 45 minutes.”
Has McDonald’s responded?
In a statement sent to multiple outlets, McDonald’s said that the lawsuit “distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate.”
The fast food chain says the McRib is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers nationwide.
“We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them,” the company said.
The statement did not go into detail regarding the plaintiffs’ claims that the McRib’s marketing as “limited edition” plays into its price point and distinction from other permanent menu items.
Has something like this happened before?
Over the years, there have been several instances of lawsuits and disputes surrounding how popular foods are marketed or made.
For instance, in 2023, a judge dismissed a lawsuit that claimed that Subway’s tuna sandwiches didn’t use real tuna or contained less tuna than advertised. Subway denied those claims. The plaintiff and Subway came to an undisclosed agreement.
And similar but different: In 2014, the pomegranate juice company Pom sued Coca-Cola over its Minute Maid pomegranate blueberry juice. Pom claimed the Minute Maid juice was mostly apple and grape juice despite its branding. A jury eventually ruled for Coca-Cola.
There was also a major case in 2014 where food production company Unilever sued vegan mayo company Hampton Creek for calling its spread “Just Mayo” despite it being plant-based and lacking eggs. The case led to new regulations throughout the vegan food scene regarding how foods can be branded and if terms like milk or mayo can be used without key animal byproducts.
What happens next?
In short, a court will need to determine if the lawsuit qualifies as a class action that represents U.S. consumers who purchased the McRib.
From there, McDonald’s could file a motion to dismiss the suit, or the parties could potentially settle along the way. If the case proceeds, a judge may have to decide the scope of a “reasonable consumer” and their expectations when it comes to rib-shaped pork sandwiches.
