News You Can Use Digest – November 14, 2025

National/Federal

Senate Democrats Seek to ‘Get to Bottom’ of Moreno’s Car-Data Collection

MSN – Valerie Yurk (Roll Call) | Published: 11/6/2025

A Nevada Democrat accused Sen. Bernie Moreno of privacy violations after he admitted to tracking down U.S. Senate Democrats’ vehicle identification numbers (VINs). U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen asked for unanimous consent for Moreno to submit details to the committee about how he obtained the personal VINs, whose VINs he has collected, what he intends to do with them and whether senators’ privacy was violated.

Housing Official Bill Pulte Fired Ethics Workers Who Were Looking into His Ally

MSN – Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2025

President Trump’s housing finance director, Bill Pulte, fired internal watchdogs at Fannie Mae who were looking into multiple complaints against a high-ranking company officer close to him. Pulte said in October he had fired dozens of Fannie Mae employees in what he said included a bid to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the mortgage giant. Yet six people familiar with the matter said those firings effectively cleared out the company’s internal watchdogs, charged with ensuring Fannie and its officials follow the law.

Shutdown Defections Spark Fury as Democrats Struggle to Unify Against Trump

MSN – Yasmeen Abutaleb, Dan Merica, and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/11/2025

The fury at eight Democratic-aligned senators who voted with Republicans to end the longest-ever government shutdown highlights the dramatic shift in the Democratic Party less than a year into President Trump’s second term, as voters and lawmakers argue the party needs to adopt more ruthless tactics to counter the president and claw its way back to power. Rather than try to uphold norms as Trump shatters them, they have instead decided to fight Trump with tactics they previously disdained.

Justice Department Struggles as Thousands Exit – and Few Are Replaced

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2025

The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys since the start of the Trump administration and has backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, with the process snarled by a lack of qualified candidates, bureaucratic delays, and hiring freezes, according to people familiar with hirings in the department. Last year, roughly 10,000 attorneys worked across the Justice Department and its components. Justice Connection, an advocacy group that has been tracking departures, estimates that around 5,500 people, not all of them attorneys, have quit the department, been fired, or taken a buyout offered by the Trump administration.

First Big Foreign Agent Trial Under Trump 2.0 Set to Kick Off

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 11/11/2025

The former aide to two New York governors charged with acting as an unregistered Chinese agent heads to federal court for the first big Foreign Agents Registration Act trial of the second Trump administration. Linda Sun, who served as a deputy chief of staff to current Gov. Kathy Hochul and worked in Andrew Cuomo’s administration before that, was indicted for allegedly using her job to benefit the Chinese government in exchange for millions in payments to her husband’s business.

Lawmakers Outraged by Provision Allowing Senators to Sue Over Jan. 6 Records

MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Marianna Sotomayor, and Riley Beggin (Washington Post) | Published: 11/12/2025

A provision tied to the investigation into the attack on the Capitol buried in the bill to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has sparked bipartisan outrage, with House Republicans vowing to try to repeal the provision later even as the House passed the bill that includes it. The bill allows Republican senators whose phone records were seized by the FBI as part of an investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith into January 6, 2021, to sue the federal government for damages. Each of them could receive $500,000, as well as legal fees. House members whose phone records were obtained would not be eligible.

Trump Administration Prepares to Fire Worker for TV Interview About SNAP

MSN – Mariana Alfaro and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2025

The Agriculture Department is preparing to fire an employee in the division that handles food benefits after she publicly warned the shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans who rely on the federal government to put food on the table. Ellen Mei, a program specialist at the Food and Nutrition Service who is furloughed, was interviewed during the early days of the shutdown to talk about how the impasse in Washington would impact her team, as well as the work they do.

House Effort to Force Vote on Releasing Epstein Files Can Advance

MSN – Kadia Goba and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 11/12/2025

A bipartisan House effort to force a vote on releasing more files related to the federal government’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein can now move forward. A discharge petition – a mechanism by which House lawmakers can circumvent the normal legislative process to compel votes – received the 218th signature needed to force a vote on the Epstein files. The newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva provided the final signature, adding her name to a list of lawmakers that includes all 214 Democrats and four Republicans.

Judge Appears Skeptical of Lindsey Halligan’s Appointment as Interim US Attorney

MSN – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 11/13/2025

A federal judge expressed deep skepticism about whether a federal prosecutor handpicked by President Trump to bring criminal cases against his political rivals was legally appointed to the role. It is unclear whether U.S. District Court Judge Cameron Currie’s open doubts about the appointment of Lindsey Halligan will sink the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. But the judge’s ruling, which she said would come before Thanksgiving, could derail both.

Democrats Swept Elections Far Beyond the Big Races in Referendum on Trump

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 11/8/2025

Much of the attention on November 4 focused on the Democrats’ big wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races, as well as in the New York mayor’s contest. But the party also won hundreds of lower-profile state and local contests, often swamping Republican incumbents with overwhelming turnout, suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Trump was deep and wide.

Trump Pardons Giuliani, Other Allies Who Sought to Overturn 2020 Election

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2025

President Donald Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and a host of other prominent allies involved in his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, furthering Trump’s efforts to rewrite the history of his losing campaign five years ago. The move appeared to carry no immediate practical effect as none of the more than 75 people listed have been charged with federal crimes, though several have been prosecuted in states. Still, the clemency signaled that Trump’s second administration will continue to focus on false claims of widespread voter fraud.

Epstein Alleged in Emails That Trump Knew of His Conduct

Seattle Times – Michael Gold (New York Times) | Published: 11/12/2025

House Democrats released emails in which Jeffrey Epstein wrote that President Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims, among other messages that suggested the convicted sex offender believed Trump knew more about his abuse than he has acknowledged. Trump has denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. But Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the emails raised new questions about the relationship between the two men.

Bolstered by Big Wins, Dems Eye Out-of-Reach Senate Races

Yahoo News – Elena Schneider (Politico) | Published: 11/6/2025

In the wake of Democrats’ resounding electoral wins on November 4, party candidates and strategists are strategizing how to expand their electoral opportunities in even the reddest of states in 2026, when President Trump will not be on the ballot and Republicans will face the traditional headwinds of a midterm cycle. Before Democrats flipped at least 13 Virginia House of Delegate seats and won gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia by double-digit margins, their chances to snag seats deep into Trump territory seemed out of reach. Now they are feeling more bullish.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Why Arizona Child Welfare Leaders Gave Hobbs Donor a 30% Raise After First Saying No

USA Today – Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) | Published: 11/12/2025

A group home operator that launched a six-figure spending campaign to support Gov. Katie Hobbs gave Arizona child welfare leaders an ultimatum: pay more for its services, or it would find work elsewhere. There was no good choice, said David Lujan, then-director of the Department of Child Safety who approved that special rate hike for Sunshine Residential Homes in 2023. The decision was difficult in part because of Sunshine Residential’s political support of Hobbs – Lujan’s boss – and the shadow it cast on the department’s decision-making.

California – Ex-Aide to California Governor Indicted for Alleged Theft of Campaign Funds from Ex-Health Secretary

MSN – Trân Nguyễn and Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) | Published: 11/12/2025

Dana Williamson, a former top aide to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, was indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from former federal Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. The indictment lists four other co-conspirators. It alleges Williamson developed a plan with Sean McCluskie, a longtime Becerra aide, to siphon money from one of Becerra’s dormant state campaign accounts to give to McCluskie to pad his salary after he accepted a job as his chief of staff in Washington.

California – Ex-S.F. Human Rights Chief Sheryl Davis Hit with Slew of Ethics Charges

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/7/2025

San Francisco ethics investigators accused former human rights chief Sheryl Davis of breaking city and state laws that bar conflicts of interest and the acceptance of improper gifts, setting the stage for an unusual mini-trial at City Hall. The 31-count charging document opens a new front in the long-running public integrity saga surrounding Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

District of Columbia – Jury Finds D.C. ‘Sandwich Guy’ Not Guilty of Assaulting Officer

MSN – Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2025

A jury acquitted a District of Columbia man who was charged with assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Trump’s crime crackdown in the capital. The one-sided food fight became a slapstick symbol of resistance to Trump’s summertime takeover of local law enforcement. The defendant, Sean Dunn, said he was speaking out against fascism and anti-migrant policies from the Trump administration.

District of Columbia – DOJ Is Investigating Bowser’s Qatar Trip but Says Mayor Is Not a Target

MSN – Perry Stein, Emily Davies, Salvador Rizzo, Meagan Flynn, and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 10/7/2025

The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington has been investigating a trip that District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and four aides took to Qatar in 2023, but the mayor is not a target, according to law enforcement and other administration officials. Bowser and four staff members traveled to Qatar in December 2023 for meetings on economic development. The trip was partially paid for by the Qatari government. Such payments for travel are legal but subject to restrictions.

Hawaii – Hawaii House Speaker Wants Probe of Lawmaker in Corruption Case

Yahoo News – Peter Boylan (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 11/11/2025

Hawaii House Speaker Nadine Nakamura is asking law enforcement officials to investigate allegations that an unnamed state lawmaker accepted $35, 000 in campaign contributions in January 2022 during a federal public corruption probe. That probe ended the public service careers of former state Rep. Ty J.K. Cullen. and ex-state Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. Cullen made consensually recorded telephone calls and recorded in-person meetings with “investigative subjects of our public corruption investigation,” according to a federal court filing detailing how Cullen helped the FBI.

Illinois – Judge Says Immigration Officers’ Use of Force in Chicago ‘Shocks the Conscience’

MSN – Kim Bellware and David Nkamura (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2025

A federal judge delivered a damning condemnation of the use of force in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign in this city, saying officers have unnecessarily terrorized local residents who have sought to peacefully protest or document their actions. U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis cited several examples of what she said was evidence of excessive force that contradicted statements from federal authorities who defended the actions of immigration officers who used tear gas, pepper spray, or other nonlethal crowd control devices.

Kansas – A Kansas County Agrees to Pay $3 Million and Apologize Over a Raid on a Small-Town Newspaper

Yahoo News – John Hanna and Heather Hollingsworth (Associated Press) | Published: 11/12/2025

A rural Kansas county agreed to pay more than $3 million and apologize over a law enforcement raid on a small-town weekly newspaper in August 2023 that sparked an outcry over press freedom. Marion County sheriff’s officers were involved in the raid on the Marion County Record and helped draft search warrants used by city police to enter the newspaper’s offices, the publisher’s home, and the home of a local city council member.

Louisiana – Former Louisiana House Speaker Indicted for Theft of Cypress Artifact

Yahoo News – Greg LaRose (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/12/2025

Former Louisiana House Speaker Louisiana Clay Schexnayder was charged with felony theft in connection with a missing piece of historic cypress that had been on display at the State Capitol and was last seen at his legislative office in Gonzales. The 20-foot by six-foot piece of cypress, taken from a tree believed to have been nearly 1,300 years old when it was harvested. It was gifted to the state in 1955.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Raises Questions About Judges’ Campaign Transparency

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/7/2025

Three elected judges in Louisiana are leveraging a new privacy law to remove their home addresses and spouse’s work addresses from the state’s public campaign finance database that tracks political donations and spending. Judges can demand a large swath of personal information be taken down from government and privately-operated websites under a law that went into effect in February. The statute conflicts with longstanding laws meant to ensure government and election transparency the state ethics board traditionally follows.

Louisiana – Orleans Sheriff Says She Missed Campaign Report Deadline Because Her Attorney Was Incarcerated

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/7/2025

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson successfully argued she should not have to pay the full fine for missing a campaign reporting deadline because her attorney was incarcerated at the time. The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted to reduce Hutson’s fine for filing the annual report for the Orleans Jedi Guardian PAC, where she is the chairperson, three weeks late.

Louisiana – Louisiana Officials, Candidates Can Use Campaign Cash for D.C. Mardi Gras, Ethics Board Confirms

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/10/2025

The Louisiana Board of Ethics confirmed that elected officials and political candidates can use their campaign money for expenses related to Washington Mardi Gras following a law change earlier this year. Washington Mardi Gras is an annual, four-day festival held in the nation’s capital featuring a formal Mardi Gras ball, parade, black-tie gala, business luncheons, political fundraisers, and several parties thrown by and for the politically connected. Some of Louisiana’s large companies and lobbyists are among the most visible sponsors of the event.

Michigan – Michigan Senate Hopeful Pugh Faces Scrutiny Over Campaign Funds, Nonprofit Allocations

MLive – Justin Engel | Published: 11/5/2025

A Democrat campaigning for the state Senate is facing scrutiny over a series of spending decisions involving money provided to organizations tied to her. Pugh defended herself to the Saginaw City Council, which could reverse its decision to allocate $210,000 in federal stimulus funds to Just In Transition-Indaba. The initiative is the product of a nonprofit, Regeneration LLC, co-founded by Pugh. She also was the focus of a media report that stated she directed about $10,000 in leftover cash from a failed 2024 U.S. House campaign to herself and her consulting firm.

Michigan – Michigan’s New Political Transparency Portal Delayed by Months, Company Isn’t Meeting State Goals

MSN – Simon Schuster (Bridge Michigan) | Published: 11/11/2025

Michigan’s new political transparency portal was delayed by months amid growing tensions between state officials and the contractor hired to build the system. The Michigan Transparency Network is meant to be an integrated system for campaign finance, lobbying, and personal financial disclosures. But the online system has become a longstanding headache for the Michigan Department of State. Tyler Technologies, the sole qualified bidder for the $9 million contract, has struggled to follow through on project goals.

Michigan – Complaint Argues DTE-Tied Group Aimed to Funnel $100k into Unlock Michigan Campaign

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/11/2025

A Michigan nonprofit with ties to one of the state’s largest energy companies is accused of participating in a “dark money” scheme to funnel money into an effort to overturn the governor’s COVID-19 emergency powers. The complaint alleges Michigan Energy First, a group linked to DTE Energy, violated the Campaign Finance Act by working to funnel $100,000 into the Unlock Michigan campaign in 2020.

Michigan – Second Staffer Tied to Republican Consulting, Petition Firm Ousted from Michigan Senate

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/11/2025

Meghan Reckling, a Michigan Senate staffer who also co-founded the Republican Victory Field Operations, resigned from her post in the office of state Sen. Lana Thies, a move that followed another Senate staff member’s shuffle to the House over fallout involving their outside consulting work. Reckling left her job acting as chief of staff for Theis following the Senate Business Office giving her an ultimatum of resigning from the Senate or keeping her connection to Victory Field Operations.

Mississippi – Supreme Court Takes Up Dispute Over Counting of Late-Arriving Mail Ballots

MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 11/10/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court said it will decide whether federal law prohibits states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. The legal battle before the court involves Mississippi’s procedures for counting late-arriving absentee ballots but comes as the justices are considering whether to revive a member of Congress’s lawsuit challenging a similar law in Illinois.

Missouri – Inside Mysterious Push to Block Signature-Gathering Against Missouri Redistricting

MSN – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 11/10/2025

As thousands of Missourians sign onto a campaign to strike down the state’s gerrymandered congressional map, a mysterious consulting contract appears to signal a targeted effort to halt the vote. The source of the contract remains a mystery. But its existence appears to illustrate a broader, tactical push to stymie Missouri from holding a referendum to repeal the map. This comes amid a series of attacks from state officials and a new opposition group backed by national Republicans.

Missouri – PAC Tied to Jay Ashcroft’s 2024 Missouri Governor Campaign Fined for Violating Ethics Laws

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 11/11/2025

The PAC backing Republican Jay Ashcroft’s 2024 bid for governor improperly coordinated with his campaign on a letter attacking his opponents, according to a consent agreement approved by the Missouri Ethics Commission. The Committee for Liberty, which spent $2.9 million promoting Ashcroft’s losing effort, must pay $536 and avoid future violations.

New Jersey – Former Rutgers Athletics Director Facing Potential Sanctions from State Ethics Board

MSN – Steve Politi (Newark Star-Ledger) | Published: 11/12/2025

The New Jersey State Ethics Commission launched a preliminary investigation into former Rutgers athletic director Patrick Hobbs that could result in significant fines or bar him from holding a state job in the future. The commission is looking into whether Hobbs violated the state’s conflict-of-interest laws when he failed to recuse himself from personnel matters involving former Rutgers gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley while the two were engaged in a personal relationship.

New York – Anti-Mamdani PAC Made End Run Around Campaign Spending Rules

MSN – Greg Smith and Mia Hollie (The City) | Published: 11/12/2025

In the final days of the New York City mayoral campaign, a secretive PAC called Put NYC First steered more than $8 million from wealthy donors into independent spending committees attacking Zohran Mamdani and, in some cases, supporting Andrew Cuomo. A media investigation found Put NYC First and at least one of the independent spenders it funded appear to have secretly choreographed some of their efforts with Cuomo’s campaign, which is forbidden by campaign finance rules.

New York – Kennedy Grandson Jack Schlossberg Announces 2026 Congressional Bid

MSN – Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 11/12/2025

Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, announced he will run for Congress next year. Schlossberg said he would be seeking the Democratic nomination to replace longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th Congressional District. Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg.

Oregon – Oregon Lawmakers Quietly Hire Their Family Members with Taxpayer Money – an Little Oversight

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 11/8/2025

At least five legislative aides related to their boss have quietly collected taxpayer-funded paychecks this year while infrequently being spotted in the Oregon Capitol and leaving behind few traces of substantial work in records. This inconspicuous practice has flown under the radar partly because legislative aides are subject to few oversight or transparency requirements that are common in other government jobs, such as performance reviews or attendance tracking.

Oregon – Judge Rules Trump Administration Failed to Meet Legal Requirements for Deploying Troops to Portland

MSN – Claire Rush and Gene Johnson (Associated Press) | Published: 11/7/2025

A federal judge in Oregon ruled President Trump’s administration failed to meet the legal requirements for deploying the National Guard to Portland after the city and state sued to block the deployment. The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, followed a three-day trial in which both sides argued over whether protests at the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building met the conditions for using the military domestically under federal law.

Tennessee – Trump Pardons Former Tennessee House Speaker, Top Aide Awaiting Prison

MSN – Natalie Allison (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2025

President Donald Trump pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former top aide just weeks after they were sentenced to prison on public corruption charges. Casada was sentenced to three years in federal prison on charges related to a kickback and bribery arrangement involving the Legislature’s state-funded constituent mailer program. Cade Cothren, previously Casada’s chief of staff, was also convicted of fraud and related federal charges and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Utah – Judge Adopts Utah Congressional Map Creating a Democratic-Leaning District for 2026

MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 11/11/2025

A Utah judge rejected a new congressional map drawn by Republican lawmakers, adopting an alternate proposal creating a Democratic-leaning district ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans hold all four of Utah’s U.S. House seats and had advanced a map poised to protect them. Judge Dianna Gibson ruled the Legislature’s new map “unduly favors Republicans and disfavors Democrats.”

Wisconsin – Following Lead of Federal GOP, Wisconsin Lawmakers Take Up Credit Card Political Contributions Bill

Yahoo News – Baylor Spears (Wisconsin Examiner) | Published: 11/13/2025

Wisconsin lawmakers considered proposals to crack down on political contributions made with credit cards online and to provide additional information on constitutional amendment proposals to voters during a Senate Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs Committee meeting. Senate Bill 403 would prohibit a political committee, political party, or conduit from accepting contributions that are made with a credit card online unless the contributor provides their credit card verification value or code and the billing address associated with the card is located in the United States.

Campaign Finance

California: “Ex-Aide to California Governor Indicted for Alleged Theft of Campaign Funds from Ex-Health Secretary” by Trân Nguyễn and Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) for MSN

New York: “Anti-Mamdani PAC Made End Run Around Campaign Spending Rules” by Greg Smith and Mia Hollie (The City) for MSN

Ethics

Arizona: “Why Arizona Child Welfare Leaders Gave Hobbs Donor a 30% Raise After First Saying No” by Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) for USA Today

National: “Epstein Alleged in Emails That Trump Knew of His Conduct” by Michael Gold (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Kansas: “A Kansas County Agrees to Pay $3 Million and Apologize Over a Raid on a Small-Town Newspaper” by John Hanna and Heather Hollingsworth (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

New Jersey: “Former Rutgers Athletics Director Facing Potential Sanctions from State Ethics Board” by Steve Politi (Newark Star-Ledger) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Michigan: “Second Staffer Tied to Republican Consulting, Petition Firm Ousted from Michigan Senate” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “First Big Foreign Agent Trial Under Trump 2.0 Set to Kick Off” by Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “Louisiana Officials, Candidates Can Use Campaign Cash for D.C. Mardi Gras, Ethics Board Confirms” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

Michigan: “Complaint Argues DTE-Tied Group Aimed to Funnel $100k into Unlock Michigan Campaign” by Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News

Michigan: “Michigan’s New Political Transparency Portal Delayed by Months, Company Isn’t Meeting State Goals” by Simon Schuster (Bridge Michigan) for MSN

Missouri: “PAC Tied to Jay Ashcroft’s 2024 Missouri Governor Campaign Fined for Violating Ethics Laws” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Justice Department Struggles as Thousands Exit – and Few Are Replaced” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Shutdown Defections Spark Fury as Democrats Struggle to Unify Against Trump” by Yasmeen Abutaleb, Dan Merica, and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Redistricting

Missouri: “Inside Mysterious Push to Block Signature-Gathering Against Missouri Redistricting” by Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Utah: “Judge Adopts Utah Congressional Map Creating a Democratic-Leaning District for 2026” by Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “Orleans Sheriff Says She Missed Campaign Report Deadline Because Her Attorney Was Incarcerated” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

Elections

Mississippi: “Supreme Court Takes Up Dispute Over Counting of Late-Arriving Mail Ballots” by Melissa Quinn (CBS News) for MSN

National: “Bolstered by Big Wins, Dems Eye Out-of-Reach Senate Races” by Elena Schneider (Politico) for Yahoo News

Ethics

Washington DC: “DOJ Is Investigating Bowser’s Qatar Trip but Says Mayor Is Not a Target” by Perry Stein, Emily Davies, Salvador Rizzo, Meagan Flynn, and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Pardons Giuliani, Other Allies Who Sought to Overturn 2020 Election” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Senate Democrats Seek to ‘Get to Bottom’ of Moreno’s Car-Data Collection” by Valerie Yurk (Roll Call) for MSN

National: “Housing Official Bill Pulte Fired Ethics Workers Who Were Looking into His Ally” by Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Michigan Senate Hopeful Pugh Faces Scrutiny Over Campaign Funds, Nonprofit Allocations” by Justin Engel for MLive

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Raises Questions About Judges’ Campaign Transparency” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Democrats Swept Elections Far Beyond the Big Races in Referendum on Trump” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Ex-S.F. Human Rights Chief Sheryl Davis Hit with Slew of Ethics Charges” by Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

Washington DC: “Jury Finds D.C. ‘Sandwich Guy’ Not Guilty of Assaulting Officer” by Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Judge Says Immigration Officers’ Use of Force in Chicago ‘Shocks the Conscience’” by Kim Bellware and David Nkamura (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “Judge Rules Trump Administration Failed to Meet Legal Requirements for Deploying Troops to Portland” by Claire Rush and Gene Johnson (Associated Press) for MSN

Oregon: “Oregon Lawmakers Quietly Hire Their Family Members with Taxpayer Money – and Little Oversight” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Tennessee: “Trump Pardons Former Tennessee House Speaker, Top Aide Awaiting Prison” by Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

Report: Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts

MSN – Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2025

Many publicly identified donors to President Trump’s White House ballroom have business before the administration, ranging from billions of dollars in contracts to federal investigations of their companies, according to a report released by Public Citizen. The White House donor list was not comprehensive, Public Citizen noted, which limited the scope of the review. The New York Times reported Trump’s fundraisers have been circulating donation pledge forms that give people the option of withholding their identities from public disclosure.

Justice Dept. Defends Lindsey Halligan Against Unlawful-Appointment Criticism

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2025

Justice Department lawyers defended Lindsey Halligan’s role as eastern Virginia’s top federal prosecutor, saying in court filings that even if her appointment as U.S. attorney is ruled invalid, she now has an additional title that will allow her to continue overseeing cases against two of President Trump’s perceived foes. The department attorneys said Attorney General Pam Bondi designated Halligan as a “special attorney” to the Justice Department, assigned to oversee the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Pentagon Readying Thousands of Guard ‘Reaction Forces’ as U.S. Mission Widens

MSN – Alex Horton and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

The Pentagon ordered thousands of specialized National Guard personnel to complete civil unrest mission training over the next several months, an indication the Trump administration’s effort to send uniformed military forces into urban centers, once reserved for extraordinary emergencies, could become the norm. The newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard must be trained, equipped with riot-control gear, and ready for deployment by January 1, according to internal documents.

Foreign Agents Look to Influence Conservative Think Tanks in Trump’s Washington

MSN – Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) | Published: 11/5/2025

Foreign agents are working eagerly to promote the causes of the nations that pay their salaries by reaching out to think tanks that have historically shaped conservative policymaking, Department of Justice filings show, even as the broader conservative movement has become increasingly skeptical of foreign entanglements following the GOP’s 2024 electoral victories. Foreign agents disseminated information to a trio of conservative think tanks, invited their scholars to participate in events, held meetings with staffers, and sought to gain information about the American policy landscape from them.

Judge Orders White House to Restore Sign Language Interpreters at Briefings by Trump, Leavitt

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 11/4/2025

A federal judge ordered the White House to restore real-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at all press briefings conducted by President Trump or press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali said the White House’s decision to end ASL interpretation illegally excluded deaf Americans from crucial updates from the government on matters of war, the economy, and public health. Evidence shows, Ali noted, that closed captioning and transcripts are insufficient alternatives.

Judge Scolds Comey Prosecutors for ‘Indict First and Investigate Second’ Approach

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2025

A federal judge scolded the prosecutors pursuing charges against former FBI Director James Comey for what he described as their “indict first and investigate second” approach to the case, saying it has placed an unfair burden on Comey’s defense. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick described the Justice Department’s handling of the case as “highly unusual” and ordered its attorneys to hand over a raft of potential evidence. That material includes full transcripts of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s presentation to the grand jury that indicted Comey on counts of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Trump Moves to Block Public Servants from Loan Forgiveness Based on Ideology

MSN – Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

Employees of nonprofit organizations that work with undocumented immigrants, provide gender transition care for minors, or engage in public protests would have a hard time getting their federal student loans forgiven under regulations advanced by the Education Department. The rule revises eligibility requirements for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. It will allow the education secretary to disqualify employers, not individuals, who engage in activities the department deems to have a “substantial illegal purpose” on or after July 1, when the rule takes effect.

DOJ Faces Ethics Nightmare with Trump Bid for $230M Settlement

MSN – Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Department of Justice is facing pressure to back away from a request from President Trump for a $230 million settlement stemming from his legal troubles, as critics say it raises a dizzying number of ethical issues. Trump has argued he deserves compensation for the scrutiny into his conduct, describing himself as a victim of both a special counsel investigation into the 2016 election and the classified documents case. The decision, however, falls to a cadre of attorneys who previously represented Trump personally.

FBI Fires, Rehires, Then Fires Again Agents Assigned to Trump Case

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

The FBI fired four agents who worked on the investigation during the Biden administration related to Donald Trump’s alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. FBI Director Kash Patel had initially fired the agents the day before, but after pushback from District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and others he reinstated them the same day, the people familiar with the matter said. Patel fired them again. Pirro attempted to save at least some of the agents because they were working on cases important to her office.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement

The Hill – Mike Lillis | Published: 11/6/2025

Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek reelection for another term, closing the book on a storied, four-decade career through which she rewrote history as the country’s first female House speaker, advanced some of the most consequential legislation of the modern era, and secured her place as among the most powerful, if polarizing, lawmakers ever to serve in Congress.

Federal Judge Rules Trump Can’t Require Citizenship Proof on the Federal Voting Form

Yahoo News – Ali Swenson and Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) | Published: 10/31/2025

President Trump’s request to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form cannot be enforced, a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled the proof-of-citizenship directive is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, dealing a blow to the administration and its allies who have argued such a mandate is necessary to restore public confidence that only Americans are voting in U.S. elections.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ontario Labour Minister’s Wife Lobbied for Advocate of Colleges That Got Millions in Grants: Records

CTV – John Woodward | Published: 10/30/2025

The wife of Ontario’s labor minister registered to lobby for an advocacy group for career colleges, and two of its members received millions of dollars from a government fund overseen by the minister, according to lobbyist registry records. The filings say Faith Chipman never registered to directly lobby her husband, Labor Minister David Piccini, to access the province’s controversial $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund.

California – A Day in the Life of a California Lobbyist

Comstock’s Magazine – Scott Thomas Anderson | Published: 11/4/2025

Rob Grossglauser has worked inside the state Capitol for 24 years. Throughout his time in Sacramento, he has learned that being an effective advocate for his lobbying clients is about having a reputation lawmakers can trust. That confidence, in turn, is built on maintaining relationships through mutual respect, personal integrity and being a source of reliable information. Grossglauser is the founding partner of Pinnacle Advocacy.

California – Meet the McOskers: How one South Bay family wields power at City Hall

MSN – Noah Goldberg (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/6/2025

For decades, the McOskers, a large, tight-knit family from San Pedro, have wielded power at Los Angeles City Hall. Unlike the Garcettis and the Hahns, the McOskers have not served in citywide or countywide elected office. But their breadth of influence in Los Angeles politics over the last quarter century may be unparalleled.

California – ‘Completely Inappropriate’: S.F. weighs proposal to weaken shield for ethics watchdogs

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/30/2025

For more than three decades, a key legal provision has ensured that San Francisco’s ethics watchdogs can freely punish City Hall officials for flouting the law, even their powerful bosses. But up for discussion is whether to remove that protection as part of a broader overhaul of San Francisco’s myriad oversight boards and commissions.

California – Coachella Mayor Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Conflict of Interest Over Downtown Development

MSN – Rebecca Plevin (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/30/2025

A grand jury indicted Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez on nine counts, including one felony charge of violating conflict-of-interest rules related to government contracts and four felony counts of perjury. If convicted as charged, Hernandez would be barred from public office for life and face more than seven years in state prison.

California – Newsom Wins on Proposition 50, Setting the Stage for Calif. Redistricting

MSN – Anabel Sosa (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/4/2025

In a landslide election, California voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure that reconfigures the state’s congressional map temporarily in a response to Republican gerrymandering efforts in other states. The approved measure will set the stage for a competitive midterm election next year as Democrats go head-to-head with Republicans in their battle to win back the House.

Colorado – Ethics Complaints Filed Against Democratic State Lawmakers Who Attended Vail Retreat with Lobbyists

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul | Published: 11/5/2025

Ethics complaints were filed with the Independent Ethics Commission against several state lawmakers alleging they violated Colorado’s prohibition on elected officials receiving gifts when they attended a retreat in Vail where they mingled with lobbyists at a ritzy hotel. The complaints ask the commission to investigate if the lawmakers who attended the retreat violated the state’s gift ban by having their lodging paid for by the nonprofit One Main Street.

Connecticut – Subpoenas Issued to Five Election Candidates in CT for Finance Records Including Two State Reps.

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 11/5/2025

Connecticut’s election watchdog moved to subpoena the campaign committees of two state legislators reelected last year using public financing and two losing candidates to explain how they spent state election grants that financed their 2024 campaigns. After every election, the State Elections Enforcement Commission randomly selects candidate committees for post-election reviews of their record-keeping and reporting. When candidates fail to provide campaign finance records, the SEEC falls back on its subpoena authority to encourage or compel compliance and production.

Connecticut – Corruption Conviction Could Cost Former Connecticut Official $75,000 Annual Pension

Yahoo News – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 10/30/2025

The public corruption convictions his defense lawyer said expose Konstantinos Diamantis to a “catastrophic sentence” in a federal prison could cost the 69-year-old former Connecticut budget official and legislator his $75,000-a-year state pension. To date, 31 court actions have been filed to reduce or revoke state and local government officials and workers, according to the attorney general’s office. The outcomes have been mixed.

District of Columbia – Trial Starts for Assault Case Against DC Man Who Tossed Sandwich at Federal Agent on Viral Video

Yahoo News – Associated Press | Published: 11/3/2025

Throwing a sandwich at a federal agent turned Sean Charles Dunn into a symbol of resistance against President Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital. Federal prosecutors are now trying to persuade a jury of fellow District of Columbia residents that Dunn simply broke the law. That could be a tough sell for the government in a city that has chafed against Trump’s federal takeover. A grand jury refused to indict Dunn on a felony assault count before U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office opted to charge him instead with a misdemeanor.

Florida – Uthmeier’s Brief Tenure at GrayRobinson Raises Potential Ethical Issues

Yahoo News – Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 11/2/2025

When James Uthmeier took a leave of absence from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration so he could run the governor’s flailing presidential campaign in 2023, he also signed up with one of Florida’s most powerful and politically connected law firms, which regularly lobbies the state of on behalf of its clients. Uthmeier’s stint at the private practice raises ethical and legal questions about the Republican attorney now running for the job of Florida’s top prosecutor.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson Blocked Attempts to Search for Gifts He Accepted Without Reporting Them as Required: Inspector general

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 11/4/2025

Mayor Brandon Johnson twice blocked the city’s watchdog from searching for gifts he accepted on behalf of the city without reporting them as required, Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said. In addition, Johnson’s staff did not turn a small City Hall room into a storage room for the gifts he accepted on behalf of the city until February, after Witzburg first revealed he had quietly accepted “cufflinks, designer handbags, and men’s shoes,” and failed to document those gifts, according to Witzburg’s report.

Maine – Bipartisan Former Officials, Billionaires Defend Restrictions on Money in Politics in Maine Lawsuit

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 10/30/2025

Republican and Democratic former governors and members of Congress, billionaires, and democracy reform organizations are coming to the defense of Maine’s law in a case over the legality of campaign finance restrictions. This broad support was demonstrated in friend of the court briefs filed in the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Maryland – Maryland State Senator Charged with Extorting Ex-Consultant Over an Affair

MSN – Perry Stein, Katie Mettler, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

Federal officials charged Maryland Sen. Dalya Attar with extortion in a plot that allegedly involved surreptitious recordings of a political foe in bed with a romantic partner. Attar allegedly threatened to expose the foe’s affair to prevent her from saying negative things about Attar’s 2022 candidacy, according to an indictment. Attar, her brother, and a third co-defendant are charged with eight counts related to extortion and wiretapping.

Maryland – Md. Gov. Wes Moore Starts Redistricting Process Despite Key Opposition

MSN – Erin Cox (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore took the first step to starting a mid-cycle redistricting process, moving forward despite staunch opposition from the state Senate president, a fellow Democrat key to making it happen. Moore announced a redistricting commission that will draft proposed congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, pushing for deep-blue Maryland to join a political redistricting arms race, instigated by President Trump, that now involves a dozen states.

Massachusetts – Quincy Mayor’s Campaign Pays $55K to Resolve Campaign Finance Violations

WBUR – Chris Van Buskirk | Published: 11/5/2025

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s campaign paid a $55,000 penalty to resolve allegations that in 2022 and 2023, it received thousands of dollars in illegal corporate contributions, anonymous donations, prohibited checks, and donations where the true source of the money was not clear. The mayor’s campaign committee paid $15,000 to the state and another $40,000 to charities of his choice to resolve the matter.

Michigan – Ethics Rules Didn’t Require Sheffield to Disclose Past Relationship with Demolition Contractor

BridgeDetroit – Malachi Barrett | Published: 10/31/2025

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield sought opinions from the city’s ethics board before voting on contracts that involved a demolition contractor with whom she had a personal relationship. The ethics board, charged with interpreting the rules laid out in the city charter and in council legislation, said she had no conflict-of-interest in the matter. Conrad Mallett, corporation counsel for the city, said an executive order that prohibits employees from having relationships with people involved with contracts they oversee did not apply to council members.

Michigan – Former Lobbyist Files Complaint Against Group Helping Fund Governors’ International Trade Missions

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/4/2025

A nonprofit providing funding support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s overseas trade missions is the subject of a lobbying law complaint. The complaint accused the Michigan Economic Development Foundation of skirting state law requiring lobbyists to register. It notes that members of the foundation’s board receive “extraordinary access to meetings with lobby able officials” while some members are invited to travel with the governor and other public officials, The Detroit News found companies with seats on the board received about $2.2 billion in economic development incentives from the Whitmer Administration.

Montana – AG: Anti-dark-money ballot initiative doesn’t meet legal requirements

Yahoo News – Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) | Published: 10/30/2025

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen rejected a ballot initiative seeking to limit the power of corporations to spend money on elections, saying it did not meet legal review standards. The proposed ballot measure would amend the state constitution to redefine the powers of corporations (“artificial persons” under the constitution) to state they have no power to spend money “or anything of value on elections or ballot issues.”

New Jersey – The First-Term Democrat Facing a Trump Prosecution

MSN – Anna Liss-Roy (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

To hear the Trump administration tell it, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver attacked an immigration officer. McIver says she is being unfairly prosecuted as part of a broader campaign of political intimidation. McIver was charged with three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal officers during a clash outside a New Jersey detention facility. Exactly what happened during the 68-second encounter between McIver and federal agents at the facility could soon be addressed at trial, if a federal judge decides the case should move forward. That decision is expected imminently.

New Jersey – Sherrill Defeats Ciattarelli in Hotly Contested N.J. Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Brent Johnson, Brianna Kudisch, and Jelani Gibson (Newark Star Ledger) | Published: 11/5/2025

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill was elected as New Jersey’s next governor, decisively defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a nationally watched race considered an early referendum on President Trump’s new presidency and securing her party a rare third straight term in the seat. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, will become just the second woman governor, and first Democratic woman to hold the job.

New Jersey – Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and James Solomon Advance to Runoff in Race for Jersey City Mayor

Yahoo News – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 11/4/2025

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey is going another round in his attempted political comeback, more than two decades after he resigned from office. McGreevey will take on James Solomon in a December 2 runoff election in the race for mayor of Jersey City, the state’s second-largest city.

New York – Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Race, in a Historic Victory for Progressives

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 11/4/2025

Zohran Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim and person of South Asian descent, as well as the youngest in over a century, to hold the position. It is a remarkable ascent for Mamdani, who was a relatively unknown state Assembly member representing a district in Queens when he entered the crowded mayoral race last year. He went on to win June’s Democratic primary by 12 percentage points, quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular and polarizing politicians along the way.

North Carolina – N.C. GOP Spokesman Urges Reporter to Drop News Story, Citing Trump Ties

MSN – Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) | Published: 11/2/2025

North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer appeared to threaten the news outlet ProPublica – citing “connections” to the Trump administration – over a story it reported and ultimately published on conservative state Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby. After the story was published, Mercer doubled down in a social media post, urging President Trump to “feed ProPublica to the USAID wood chipper,” referring to the president’s termination of thousands in funding and grants from the foreign aid agency earlier this year.

North Dakota – 1 Named to North Dakota Ethics Commission, Other 2 Seats Still in Limbo

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/31/2025

State officials chose former Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp to fill one of the three open seats on the North Dakota Ethics Commission but remain divided on the reappointment of one commissioner. The selection committee must appoint commissioners by a consensus vote. They have been meeting since August to select the commission’s next members. The committee is at a standstill over whether to appoint Commissioner Murray Sagsveen to another term.

Ohio – Ohio Redistricting Commission Unanimously OKs Map of New Congressional Districts

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Ohio Redistricting Commission passed a bipartisan congressional redistricting plan that gives Republicans an advantage in 12 of Ohio’s 15 U.S. House districts starting next year. The plan, passed unanimously by the seven-member commission, comes after a last-minute deal between Republican and Democratic legislative leaders to avoid giving GOP lawmakers the chance next month to unilaterally pass a more lopsidedly advantageous map.

Virginia – Virginia Elects Spanberger as First Female Governor on Big Night for Democrats

MSN – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to become the first woman elected governor of Virginia, winning with a pragmatic focus on the economy on a night when her party swept all three statewide offices and made gains in the House of Delegates, amid promises to defend the state against President Trump’s policies. Her political record of winning in a conservative congressional district and brokering bipartisan deals in Washington, positioned Spanberger for a landmark win in this purple state.

Virginia – Democrat Jay Jones Wins Virginia Attorney General’s Race

MSN – Teo Armus (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

DemocratJay Jones was projected to become Virginia’s next attorney general, according to the Associated Press, riding a wave of enthusiasm for his party to overcome a scandal over violent text messages he sent years ago that nearly toppled his campaign. His victory over incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares makes Jones, the 36-year-old scion of a prominent Norfolk family of civil rights leaders, the first African American to be elected to an office he hopes to use as a bulwark against the Trump administration.

Virginia – Virginia Senate Approves Mid-Decade Redistricting Amendment in Party-Line Vote

Yahoo News – Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Virginia General Assembly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers the authority to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional districts mid-decade. The amendment comes amid a national wave of redistricting fights, with Republican-led states having recently pursued mid-cycle map changes, a trend Virginia Democrats say threatens to weaken the commonwealth’s leverage and representation in Congress.

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Subpoenas Issued to Five Election Candidates in CT for Finance Records Including Two State Reps.” by Paul Hughes (CT Insider) for MSN

Elections

New Jersey: “Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and James Solomon Advance to Runoff in Race for Jersey City Mayor” by Michael Sisak (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Virginia: “Democrat Jay Jones Wins Virginia Attorney General’s Race” by Teo Armus (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Orders White House to Restore Sign Language Interpreters at Briefings by Trump, Leavitt” by Kyle Cheney (Politico) for MSN

National: “Judge Scolds Comey Prosecutors for ‘Indict First and Investigate Second’ Approach” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “A Day in the Life of a California Lobbyist” by Scott Thomas Anderson for Comstock’s Magazine

Colorado: “Ethics Complaints Filed Against Democratic State Lawmakers Who Attended Vail Retreat with Lobbyists” by Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul for Colorado Sun

National: “Foreign Agents Look to Influence Conservative Think Tanks in Trump’s Washington” by Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) for MSN

Elections

California: “Newsom Wins on Proposition 50, Setting the Stage for Calif. Redistricting” by Anabel Sosa (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

New Jersey: “Sherrill Defeats Ciattarelli in Hotly Contested N.J. Governor’s Race” by Brent Johnson, Brianna Kudisch, and Jelani Gibson (Newark Star Ledger) for Yahoo News

New York: “Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Race, in a Historic Victory for Progressives” by Rachel Treisman for NPR

Virginia: “Virginia Elects Spanberger as First Female Governor on Big Night for Democrats” by Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Dept. Defends Lindsey Halligan Against Unlawful-Appointment Criticism” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson Blocked Attempts to Search for Gifts He Accepted Without Reporting Them as Required: Inspector general” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Lobbying

Michigan: “Charity Helping Pay for Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s Trips Draws Lobbying Complaint” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for ArcaMax

Redistricting

Maryland: “Md. Gov. Wes Moore Starts Redistricting Process Despite Key Opposition” by Erin Cox (Washington Post) for MSN

Elections

National: “Federal Judge Rules Trump Can’t Require Citizenship Proof on the Federal Voting Form” by Ali Swenson and Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “DOJ Faces Ethics Nightmare with Trump Bid for $230M Settlement” by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) for MSN

National: “Report: Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts” by Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Ethics Rules Didn’t Require Sheffield to Disclose Past Relationship with Demolition Contractor” by Malachi Barrett for BridgeDetroit

North Carolina: “N.C. GOP Spokesman Urges Reporter to Drop News Story, Citing Trump Ties” by Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) for MSN

North Dakota: “1 Named to North Dakota Ethics Commission, Other 2 Seats Still in Limbo” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Florida: “Uthmeier’s Brief Tenure at GrayRobinson Raises Potential Ethical Issues” by Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Virginia: “Virginia Senate Approves Mid-Decade Redistricting Amendment in Party-Line Vote” by Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Bipartisan Former Officials, Billionaires Defend Restrictions on Money in Politics in Maine Lawsuit” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

Montana: “AG: Anti-dark-money ballot initiative doesn’t meet legal requirements” by Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) for Yahoo News

Ethics

California: “Coachella Mayor Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Conflict of Interest Over Downtown Development” by Rebecca Plevin (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Connecticut: “Corruption Conviction Could Cost Former Connecticut Official $75,000 Annual Pension” by Paul Hughes (CT Insider) for Yahoo News

National: “Trump Moves to Block Public Servants from Loan Forgiveness Based on Ideology” by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Maryland State Senator Charged with Extorting Ex-Consultant Over an Affair” by Perry Stein, Katie Mettler, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Canada: “Ontario Labour Minister’s Wife Lobbied for Advocate of Colleges That Got Millions in Grants: Records” by John Woodward for CTV

Redistricting

Ohio: “Ohio Redistricting Commission Unanimously OKs Map of New Congressional Districts” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

National/Federal

Trump’s Desire for Loyalist Prosecutors Threatens the Case Against Comey

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2025

For months, the Trump administration’s unorthodox strategy to install and retain loyalists in key prosecutorial positions while bypassing Senate approval has roiled courts, drawn legal challenges, and earned condemnation from federal judges. Now, it threatens to imperil one of the cases the president cares about most. Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey asked a judge to dismiss the case against him, arguing President Trump’s handpicked prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed.

Dominion Voting, Trump and Fox’s Target After 2020, Gets a MAGA Makeover

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Patrick Marley, and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 10/23/2025

When a Republican businessperson announced he had purchased a voting equipment company at the center of MAGA conspiracy theories, he rebranded the company in a way that seemed designed to appease critics who falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump. But behind the scenes, the new owner of Dominion Voting Systems is sounding skeptical of those conspiracy theories. The discordant messages reflect the near-impossible task that election technology companies are facing.

With East Wing Gone, Questions Now Turn to Trump’s Ballroom Donors

MSN – Dan Diamond and Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2025

President Trump’s swift demolition of the White House’s East Wing stunned conservationists and many Americans. But ethics experts and Democrats say they are turning to a question related to the next phase of the project: whether the donors behind the planned $300 million ballroom that will replace the demolished annex will receive any benefits in return.

Nation’s Biggest Law Firms Back Off from Challenging Trump Policies

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Clara Ence Morse, and Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2025

The largest law firms in the United States have been far less likely to challenge President Trump’s policies than they were during his first term, and smaller firms are carrying much more of the burden of high-stakes legal challenges, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. The shift by large firms has put a significant extra burden on small- and medium-sized firms.

Binance Founder’s Pardon Shows Power of Trump Allies on K Street

MSN – Daniel Barnes (Politico) | Published: 10/25/2025

President Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao is a remarkable turn of fortune for the entrepreneur who just over a year ago was serving prison time for allowing money launderers access to his cryptocurrency trading platform. For Zhao and his company Binance, the pardon represents a fresh start in Washington, emblematic of Trump’s friendly attitude toward the crypto industry and soft approach to regulation. For the lobbyists who helped make the pardon happen, it is a show of force that embodies the shifting power on K Street toward firms with direct ties to the Oval Office.

Justice Dept. Says It Will Monitor Polls in California and New Jersey

MSN – Andrew Jeong (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2025

The Justice Department said it will monitor polling stations in six counties in California and New Jersey ahead of the November 4 general election, describing the move as routine and aimed at ensuring transparency and ballot security at the polls. The announcement triggered criticism from Democrats, who have a growing distrust in the Trump administration’s ability to act as a truly nonpartisan referee in elections.

Red States Are Preparing for an End to the Voting Rights Act

MSN – Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 10/28/2025

Some Republicans across the south are preparing to redraw their congressional maps to boot Democrats out of office if the Supreme Court issues a ruling on a case gutting the Voting Rights Act in time for the midterms. While such a decision is no sure thing, some states are nonetheless planning for the scenario. The potential scramble to redraw could completely reshape the midterms, and Democrats are already sounding the alarm.

World Leaders Wooing Trump Turn to a Common Present: Golf clubs

MSN – Matt Viser (Washington Post) | Published: 10/18/2025

Everywhere President Trump goes, it seems, dignitaries have decided that the way to his heart is through the game he loves. At least eight countries have given him golf clubs in his second term, according to a list from the State Department. The art of wooing Trump has taken new importance during his second term, as foreign leaders seek to ingratiate themselves with a mercurial president who is redefining America’s relationships with the world.

Trump Administration Uses Misleading Videos to Portray Chaos, Push Deportations

MSN – Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

Officials in the Trump administration used misleading footage in at least six videos promoting its immigration agenda shared in the last three months, muddying the reality of events in viral clips that have been viewed millions of times. Some videos that purported to show the chaos of Trump-targeted cities included footage from completely different states. One that claimed to show dramatic examples of past administrations’ failures instead featured border crossings and smuggling boats recorded during Trump’s first term.

White House Fires Arts Commission Expected to Review Trump Construction Projects

MSN – Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2025

The White House fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that had expected to review some of President Trump’s construction projects, including his planned triumphal arch and White House ballroom. The White House in July fired President Biden appointees from the National Capital Planning Commission, another urban-planning agency that is required to review external construction projects at the White House.

Meet the Senate Aide with a $44,000 Taxpayer-Funded Commute

MSN – Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 10/29/2025

The top aide to U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas charged $44,000 to taxpayers over the past two years in commuting expenses between Washington and Lynchburg, Virginia, where he lives. The reimbursements paid to Brent Robertson are legal and comply with congressional rules governing expense reimbursements, according to experts who reviewed his arrangement, but they also said it was highly unusual and at odds with the intent behind those rules.

2 U.S. Prosecutors Suspended After Describing Jan. 6 Attack as Carried Out by ‘Mob’

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

The Justice Department has placed two federal prosecutors in Washington on leave a day after they filed a document in court that referred to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being suspended just hours after they submitted a sentencing recommendation in a case against Taylor Taranto, accused of participating in the Capitol attack who is now facing sentencing for unrelated weapons charges.

Maine and Texas Are the Latest Fronts in Voting Battles, with Voter ID, Citizenship on the Ballot

MSN – Patrick White and John Hanna (Associated Press) | Published: 10/29/2025

Maine’s elections in recent years have been relatively free of problems, and verified cases of voter fraud are exceedingly rare. That is not stopping Republicans from pushing for major changes in the way the state conducts its voting. Maine is one of two states with election-related initiatives on the November 4 ballot. In Texas, Republicans are asking voters to make clear in the state constitution that people who are not U.S. citizens are ineligible to vote.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ford Government to Raise Donation Limits, Scrap Fixed-Term Elections

MSN – Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mell (Global News) | Published: 10/27/2025

The provincial government announced it is planning to dramatically increase individual donation limits for political parties in Ontario, scrap fixed-term election dates, and allow governments to sit for five years in a potentially massive overhaul. The changes were not part of the Progressive Conservatives’ platform to fight against tariffs during the 2025 snap election, which they won in February. Duff Conacher, the co-founder of Democracy Watch, said if the changes pass, they would continue a pattern of more money entering provincial politics.

Alaska – Ranked-Choice Voting Opponents Fight Campaign Finance Fines at Alaska High Court

Courthouse News Service – Jeremy Yurow | Published: 10/29/2025

Alaska Supreme Court justices pressed attorneys on whether state campaign finance laws were violated when a businessperson funneled $90,000 through a church to fund efforts to repeal ranked-choice voting. Oral arguments in two related appeals centered on penalties totaling $94,000 imposed by the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Arthur Mathias, the Ranked Choice Education Association and other opponents of the state’s voting system. At the heart of the dispute is whether a penalty provision adopted as part of a ballot measure applies only to candidate elections or extends to ballot measure campaigns.

California – Prosecutor on High-Profile S.F. Corruption Case Tapped as City’s First Inspector General

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal prosecutor who handled the bribery case against former Public Works director Mohammed Nuru was selected to become San Francisco’s top official tasked with rooting out corruption at City Hall. Alexandra Shepard will be the city’s first-ever inspector general if confirmed by the Board of Supervisors. Her hiring comes as San Francisco grapples with repeated episodes of alleged impropriety by government officials and nonprofit contractors, including former department heads who recently faced scrutiny over their conflicted relationships with city vendors.

California – Judge Rules Trump’s U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles Is Serving Unlawfully

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal judge ruled President Trump’s acting U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has been “unlawfully serving in that role.” U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright concluded that Bill Essayli had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that position and the administration’s efforts to keep him beyond that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny. But the judge said Essayli could retain the job of first assistant in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California, allowing him to continue overseeing prosecutions in the region if no one else is appointed to the top role.

California – Feds Charge East Bay City Council Member in Corruption Case Linked to Sheng Thao

Yahoo News – Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/28/2025

Federal prosecutors have charged San Leandro City Councilperson Bryan Azevedo with two felonies related to what they described as a scheme to help a housing company win city contracts in exchange for kickbacks. Azevedo is the second East Bay elected official to face federal charges related to Evolutionary Homes, a company that sought to build modular housing for the homeless out of shipping containers. The company is not named in the charging documents, but its identity is clear from public records in the case.

District of Columbia – Eleanor Holmes Norton Scammed Out of Thousands of Dollars, DC Police Says

Yahoo News – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 10/24/2025

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s long-serving delegate in Congress, was scammed out of thousands of dollars recently. A police report said the 88-year-old Norton’s credit card was charged with over $4,000 for services at her home. The incident was reported by Jacqueline Pelt, a longtime aide and Norton ally, who is listed in the report as living at Norton’s home. The internal report described Norton as having “early stages of dementia” and characterized Pelt as a caretaker with power of attorney for Norton.

Florida – Lobbyist Wrote Proposal Directing Florida to Buy Pricey 4 Acres in Destin

MSN – Max Chesnes and Emily Mahoney (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 10/29/2025

Florida politicians, including prominent Republicans, expressed outrage and confusion over a fast-tracked state purchase of four acres of sandy land in Destin for $83 million, raising questions about how the unusual deal bypassed typical safeguards for conservation buys. Newly obtained public records provide an answer. The proposal that led to the purchase came from a lobbyist representing the property owner who stands to profit.

Hawaii – Maui Ethics Board Is Reconsidering New Confidentiality Rule

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nathan Eagle | Published: 10/24/2025

The Maui Board of Ethics will not enforce a new rule that forces citizens to keep details about their pending ethics complaints confidential after considering public input this week. The reversal came after the board unanimously approved 44 new rule changes recently, including a provision that some members of the public called a “gag order.”

Illinois – Supreme Court Asks for More Briefs on Trump Push to Send Troops to Chicago

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court asked the Trump administration and Illinois officials for additional briefs on their dispute over whether President Trump can send troops to Chicago, pushing a decision on the matter into mid-November at the earliest. After the Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court on October 17 to allow the deployment to proceed, the court asked Illinois officials to respond within three days. The tight timeline suggested the justices could have potentially intended to rule on the matter quickly. The new request for more information could signal the justices are more split on the issue than they first appeared.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Political Fund Returns $120K from PACs Connected to City Vendors

Yahoo News – Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/22/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign last quarter returned $120,000 from two PACs both led by developers with active city contracts, the latest instances of his political fund giving back money amid ethical and accounting issues. Since being sworn in the mayor’s office, Johnson’s campaign has refunded almost $290,000 in contributions, made several amendments to its reports, and spent another $120,000 for compliance services.

Indiana – Indiana Governor Summons Lawmakers for Redistricting Session Amid National GOP Pressure

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 10/27/2025

Gov. Mike Braun called a special session to take up congressional redistricting, a politically charged move that follows months of mounting pressure from national Republicans to redraw Indiana’s map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Braun’s order sets the session for November 3 and said it will focus primarily on revising the state’s congressional boundaries, lines that were last redrawn in 2021 following the U.S. Census.

Maine – Former Hawai’i Defense Contractor Gets Prison Time for Illegal Donations

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 10/20/2025

A former Hawaii defense contractor was sentenced to 33 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme that sent more than $200,000 in illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and a super PAC that backed her 2020 bid for reelection. Kao’s illegal donations were made shortly after his firm won an $8 million contract that Collins secured funding for and celebrated alongside company executives during an August 2019 ceremony.

Maryland – Maryland’s Democratic Senate President Blocks Anti-Trump Redistricting Fight

MSN – Erin Cox and Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

Two of Maryland’s top Democrats have been eager to jump into the redistricting arms race unfolding across the country and draw boundaries that could oust the state’s lone congressional Republican from office, but the third Democrat needed to run that special session, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, has refused. Democrats hold the governor’s mansion and supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, making the state a target of national Democratic efforts to shore up the party’s power in the 2026 midterms and counteract the red states that have drawn new districts favoring a GOP majority.

Michigan – Michigan House Votes to Close Loophole Shielding Secretary of State from Campaign Finance Penalties

MSN – Michael Kransz (MLive) | Published: 10/29/2025

The Michigan House unanimously approved legislation that would close a loophole allowing the secretary of state to avoid punishment for campaign finance violations. The bill would grant the attorney general the authority to punish the secretary of state in the event of a violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.

New Jersey – NJ ELEC Votes to Allow Ciattarelli to Sue Sherrill for Defamation During Campaign

MSN – Molly Parks (Washington Examiner) | Published: 10/27/2025

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli can sue his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, during their race to be New Jersey’s next governor. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) issued an advisory opinion saying as long as Ciattarelli uses his own personal funds, he can file a defamation lawsuit against Sherrill. Ciattarelli sought an opinion from ELEC to ensure that a lawsuit before Election Day would not violate any campaign finance laws.

New Jersey – ‘Corruption Doesn’t Go Away.’ Why the New Head of NJ’s Top Watchdog Still Believes in SCI

Yahoo News – Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) | Published: 10/29/2025

Nearly 60 years after it was established, the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) is at a crossroads. Staff members are fleeing, their faith in the agency’s top leadership shaken to its core. The agency has not published any investigative reports in a year. Legislative leaders have openly debated SCI’s future, wondering if there are too many government watchdogs in a state often used as a punchline for corruption. The commission named Bruce Keller as its new executive director to stabilize the agency.

New York – Transparency Advocate Rejected from Ethics Commission Plans to Sue

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/22/2025

A longtime state ethics commissioner is planning to sue New York’s ethics commission after his nomination to join a new iteration of the body was rejected. Gary Lavine served as a member of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) for a decade, where he ruffled feathers as he pushed for the panel to become more transparent and criticized then-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s influence over the body. JCOPE commission was disbanded in 2022 and replaced by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. This year, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay nominated Lavine to serve on the replacement body.

North Dakota – Governor Wants ‘Reset’ from North Dakota Ethics Commission as Committee Deadlocks on Candidates

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/23/2025

Ethics Commission reached a stalemate after Gov. Kelly Armstrong refused to reappoint incumbent Murray Sagsveen. Armstrong argued the Ethics Commission needs a “general reset,” citing a strained relationship with executive branch agencies. Armstrong also disagreed with a response Sagsveen gave during the selection process in which he said the North Dakota Legislature has passed laws to limit the commission’s authority, in violation of the state constitution.

Oregon – Appeals Court to Review Order Letting Trump Send Guard to Oregon

MSN – Erik Larson (Bloomberg) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal appeals court agreed to reconsider a ruling that would allow President Trump to send National Guard troops to Portland, stalling the deployment again just as Oregon’s lawsuit challenging the plan heads to trial in a lower court. The decision by the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals extends a temporary block on Trump’s deployment of troops to Portland, where he claims federal property and personnel are at risk from out-of-control protesters.

Pennsylvania – Harrisburg Mayor Fined by Ethics Commission for Using City Dumpster for Personal Trash

MSN – Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) | Published: 10/24/2025

The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ordered Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams to pay a $912.70 fine for instructing city employees to deliver a city-owned dumpster to her home for her personal use. Williams agreed to pay the fine instead of going through a hearing, which the commission said would have found her in violation of state ethics laws.

Pennsylvania – Why Tracking Spending in This Year’s Critical Pa. Supreme Court Retention Races Is So Difficult

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer | Published: 10/29/2025

How much are state and national groups spending to flood the airwaves, fill mailboxes, and buy up digital ads ahead of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections? That is a harder question to answer than one might think, thanks to a mix of lagging reporting, weakly enforced rules, and a campaign finance system that requires little transparency. Many groups are trying to sway voters through independent expenditures, which are often made by groups that cannot legally give to candidates, including nonprofits that do not have to disclose their donors.

Tennessee – Former Rep. Robin Smith Sentenced to 8 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Corruption Conspiracy

Yahoo News – Sofia Saric (Chattanooga Times Free Press) | Published: 10/24/2025

Former state Rep. Robin Smith was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for her role in a corruption conspiracy described as a scheme to steal from Tennessee and its citizens through the General Assembly’s taxpayer-funded constituent mail program. Smith, ex-Speaker Glen Casada and his one-time chief of staff, Cade Cothren, all played a part in a scheme to illegally profit off the taxpayer-funded constituent mail program from October 2019 to early January 2021.

Texas – State Scrutinizes Payments from Dallas County Probation Department to Austin Consultant

MSN – Tracey McManus (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 10/22/2025

The selection process for three seats on the North Dakota When Dallas County’s adult probation director, Arnold Patrick, cut a $32,800 check to a contractor in May, he said it was to replace checks issued two years earlier the consultant forgot to cash. Patrick hired a lobbyist in 2023 to screen and handle vendors doing business with the probation department. But during the year Eric Knustrom was under contract with the Dallas County agency, he did not perform core duties of the agreement. While Knustrom was not fulfilling his contract, emails show the lobbyist was working pro bono on legislative issues with Patrick and a group the two men had launched to splinter from the state probation association.

Virginia – University of Virginia Reaches Deal to Pause Trump Administration Probes

MSN – Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2025

The Justice Department reached an agreement with the University of Virginia to pause several investigations into the school, after a months-long dispute that led to the resignation of its president. The agreement includes no monetary penalty and no external monitoring. But it requires the university to agree to follow federal guidance to ensure it does not engage in what the Trump administration considers “unlawful racial discrimination in its university programming, admissions, hiring, or other activities.” Some legal experts have questioned the guidance as an overly broad interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Virginia – Virginia Democrats Are the Next Surprising Entrant into the Redistricting Battle

Yahoo News – Brakkton Booker, Andrew Howard, and Liz Crampton (Politico) | Published: 10/23/2025

Virginia Democrats are poised to enter the nationwide redistricting battle, according to three Democrats familiar with the plans, taking on an effort to redraw the state’s congressional lines just days before closely watched elections in the state. The surprise effort would need to come together quickly, and it could face procedural and political hurdles. Virginia has a constitutionally mandated process that hands redistricting over to a bipartisan commission, and the decision to circumnavigate or eliminate that commission must ultimately go in front of voters.

Washington – Meta Appeals $35M Campaign Finance Fine at WA Supreme Court

Yahoo News – Jake Goldstein-Street (Washington State Standard) | Published: 10/28/2025

Court to overturn what the Washington attorney general has called the largest campaign finance penalty in the nation’s history. Meta argues the state campaign finance law used to justify the $35 million fine violates the First Amendment. The company also argues the punishment, for not providing required records for digital campaign advertisements hosted on its platform, is excessive and misguided. The state says provisions of the law are necessary to inform voters about who is spending money to influence Washington elections.

West Virginia – Morrisey Trips Fuel Conflict-of-Interest Concern Stemming from First Lady’s Lobbying

Logan Banner – Mike Tony (Charleston Gazette-Mail) | Published: 10/25/2025

Ethics experts say West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s wife accompanying him on state-funded, health policy-focused trips to Washington while she has been a health care industry lobbyist presents conflict-of-interest concerns. State records indicate Denise Morrisey traveled with the governor on four taxpayer-supported flights to Washington from February to April 2025 at a cost of just under $15,000.

Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “Why Tracking Spending in This Year’s Critical Pa. Supreme Court Retention Races Is So Difficult” by Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer for Spotlight PA

Washington: “Meta Appeals $35M Campaign Finance Fine at WA Supreme Court” by Jake Goldstein-Street (Washington State Standard) for Yahoo News

Ethics

California: “Feds Charge East Bay City Council Member in Corruption Case Linked to Sheng Thao” by Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) for Yahoo News

National: “White House Fires Arts Commission Expected to Review Trump Construction Projects” by Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Meet the Senate Aide with a $44,000 Taxpayer-Funded Commute” by Daniel Lippman (Politico) for MSN

New Jersey: “‘Corruption Doesn’t Go Away.’ Why the New Head of NJ’s Top Watchdog Still Believes in SCI” by Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Appeals Court to Review Order Letting Trump Send Guard to Oregon” by Erik Larson (Bloomberg) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “Lobbyist Wrote Proposal Directing Florida to Buy Pricey 4 Acres in Destin” by Max Chesnes and Emily Mahoney (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Redistricting

Maryland: “Maryland’s Democratic Senate President Blocks Anti-Trump Redistricting Fight” by Erin Cox and Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Ford Government to Raise Donation Limits, Scrap Fixed-Term Elections” by Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mell (Global News) for MSN

Elections

New Jersey: “NJ ELEC Votes to Allow Ciattarelli to Sue Sherrill for Defamation During Campaign” by Molly Parks (Washington Examiner) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Prosecutor on High-Profile S.F. Corruption Case Tapped as City’s First Inspector General” by Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

National: “World Leaders Wooing Trump Turn to a Common Present: Golf clubs” by Matt Viser (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Administration Uses Misleading Videos to Portray Chaos, Push Deportations” by Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “University of Virginia Reaches Deal to Pause Trump Administration Probes” by Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

West Virginia: “Morrisey Trips Fuel Conflict-of-Interest Concern Stemming from First Lady’s Lobbying” by Mike Tony (Charleston Gazette-Mail) for Logan Banner

Redistricting

National: “Red States Are Preparing for an End to the Voting Rights Act” by Andrew Howard (Politico) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Former Hawai’i Defense Contractor Gets Prison Time for Illegal Donations” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

National: “Justice Dept. Says It Will Monitor Polls in California and New Jersey” by Andrew Jeong (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Washington DC: “Eleanor Holmes Norton Scammed Out of Thousands of Dollars, DC Police Says” by Aaron Pellish (Politico) for Yahoo News

National: “Nation’s Biggest Law Firms Back Off from Challenging Trump Policies” by Shayna Jacobs, Clara Ence Morse, and Mark Berman (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Harrisburg Mayor Fined by Ethics Commission for Using City Dumpster for Personal Trash” by Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) for MSN

Tennessee: “Former Rep. Robin Smith Sentenced to 8 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Corruption Conspiracy” by Sofia Saric (Chattanooga Times Free Press) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Binance Founder’s Pardon Shows Power of Trump Allies on K Street” by Daniel Barnes (Politico) for MSN

Redistricting

Indiana: “Indiana Governor Summons Lawmakers for Redistricting Session Amid National GOP Pressure” by Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News