Jim Sedor, Author | State & Fed

January 8, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Washington DC: “Why D.C.’s Next Council Member Will Be Chosen by Lawmakers, Not Voters” by Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics California: “SF Official’s ‘Great Betrayal’ Ends in Prison for $600K Theft of City Funds” by Olivia Hebert […]

January 7, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Arizona: “Ex-Arizona Lawmaker Who Questioned Election Integrity Gets Probation for Using Forged Signatures” by Jacques Billeaud (Associated Press) for MSN Ethics California: “SF Accused a Nonprofit of Corruption and Lost. Now the City Is Appealing” by Michael Barba (San […]

January 6, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Minnesota: “Walz Drops Bid for Reelection as Minn. Governor While Klobuchar Considers Run” by Hannah Knowles, Dan Merica, and Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Mail-In Voting Faces New Hurdle as Postal Service Formalizes Postmark Practice” by Anna […]

January 2, 2026 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 2, 2026

National/Federal Kennedy, Other Trump Officials Balk at Requests to Testify on Capitol Hill MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Dan Diamond, and Noah Robertson (Washington Post) | Published: 12/27/2025 When Sen. Bill Cassidy announced in February he would vote to confirm Robert […]

National/Federal

Kennedy, Other Trump Officials Balk at Requests to Testify on Capitol Hill

MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Dan Diamond, and Noah Robertson (Washington Post) | Published: 12/27/2025

When Sen. Bill Cassidy announced in February he would vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary despite concerns about his skepticism of vaccines, Cassidy said he had secured a commitment from Kennedy to testify before the committee Cassidy chairs once a quarter if asked. But Kennedy has not come before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee since May, and he is hardly the only administration official who has frustrated senators by failing to show up.

With More Than a Million Pages to Go, Justice Struggles with Epstein Files

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 12/24/2025

The Justice Department has had a choppy and often frenetic rollout of the massive Epstein investigatory files. In mid-November, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which ordered the release of nearly all unclassified government files on Epstein by December 19, with necessary redactions to ensure the identities of victims are protected. More than a week past the deadline, the department appears to still be struggling to get its arms around the massive project and find an orderly way to make the files available to the public.

Trump Suffers Several Defeats in Effort to Punish Opposing Lawyers

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 12/28/2025

Since taking office for the second time, President Trump has suffered multiple losses in his efforts to strip security clearances from political opponents and prestigious law firms. With several of those cases working through the courts, the issue could become one of the next Supreme Court fights over presidential power. The president’s latest loss came when a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s efforts to strip a security clearance from national security attorney Mark Zaid.

Pipe Bomb Suspect Told FBI He Targeted US Political Parties Because They Were ‘in Charge,’ Memo Says

MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 12/28/2025

The man accused of placing two pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol told investigators after his arrest he believed someone needed to “speak up” for people who believed the 2020 election was stolen and he wanted to target the country’s political parties because they were “in charge,” prosecutors said. The allegations were laid out in a Justice Department memo arguing Brian Cole Jr., who was arrested on charges of placing pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national committees, should remain locked up while the case moves forward.

‘I Ultimately Had to Comply’: ’60 Minutes’ EP faces fallout after Bari Weiss shelves story

MSN – Liam Scott and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 12/22/2025

The executive producer of “60 Minutes” responded to criticism after CBS News abruptly pulled a segment on the Trump administration’s deportations, telling colleagues in a private meeting she stood by the investigation but could not allay the concerns of the network’s editor in chief, Bari Weiss. The last-minute change has fueled internal tension at “60 Minutes” and CBS News, with some staffers arguing the decision hamstrings the network’s reporters. The segment’s correspondent, Sharyn Alfonsi, called the decision “political” in an internal email to producers.

Why Trump’s EEOC Wants to Talk to White Men About Discrimination

MSN – Taylor Telford (Washington Post) | Published: 12/30/2025

In December, the nation’s leading workplace civil rights enforcer took to social media to pose a question: “Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex?” Andrea Lucas, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), appeared in the video, urging those who have to contact the agency. It was an unusual move, because the EEOC does not typically solicit complaints. But it underscores the sea change at an agency central to President Trump’s civil rights agenda, one that began with executive orders gutting the last vestiges of affirmative action.

Can Congress Find a Path on Government ‘Jawboning’ Limits?

MSN – Allison Mollenkamp (Roll Call) | Published: 12/24/2025

Members of both parties want government officials to stop putting pressure on social media platforms to censor speech but turning that stance into law would require getting specific about what kind of pressure is inappropriate, and what those censored can do about it. U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairperson Ted Cruz has said he will “soon introduce” legislation that would “provide transparency” about government contacts with social media companies and allow individuals to sue if their speech has been indirectly censored due to government pressure, known as jawboning.

Kennedy Center Changed Board Rules Months Before Vote to Add Trump’s Name

MSN – Janay Kingsberry and Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 12/31/2025

The Kennedy Center adopted bylaws earlier this year that limited voting to presidentially appointed trustees, a move that preceded a unanimous decision by board members installed by President Trump to add his name to the center. Legal experts say the move may conflict with the institution’s charter. Trump took over the Kennedy Center in February, purging its board of members he had not appointed. The months that followed saw struggling ticket sales and programming changes that began to align the arts complex with the Trump administration’s broader cultural aims.

The Federal Government’s Top Watchdog Has Retired. Now Congress Has to Pick a Replacement.

MSN – Jennifer Scholtes (Politico) | Published: 12/30/2025

For the first time in nearly two decades, Congress is on the hunt for a new boss at the federal government’s top watchdog agency. With the retirement of Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, congressional leaders are now supposed to recommend candidates for President Trump to nominate for a 15-year term to lead the Government Accountability Office. That person would lead the agency as it works through dozens of investigations into whether the Trump administration broke the law by withholding billions of dollars Congress previously approved.

Twins in Congress: Nehls brothers and a potentially history-making transition

MSN – Nick Eskow (Roll Call) | Published: 12/31/2025

Trever Nehls is the identical twin brother of U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, and he is running for his brother’s seat in the midterms. The three-term Trump loyalist was quick to endorse his brother after announcing he would not be running for reelection in 2026. If Trevor Nehls wins, it will be the first time in U.S. history that a member of Congress is succeeded in office by their identical twin.

The Plot to Redraw America

Politico – Adam Wren and Andrew Howard | Published: 12/31/2025

President Trump’s top political aide, James Blair, pitched a novel gambit to Trump – Republicans could begin padding their narrow U.S. House majority well before voters went to the polls in November 2026 through redistricting. If successful, the move could insulate the White House from a potentially brutal midterm election. But things did not go quite as planned, as Trump triggered a conflict he could not easily win. Republicans fell far short of the 18 congressional seats which party strategists initially believed they could flip, and whatever gains they did make likely came at significant enduring cost for Trump’s White House.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Arizona Bill Aims to Shield Small-Dollar Donors’ Information

MSN – Zachery Schmidt (Center Square) | Published: 12/29/2025

Arizona Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh pre-filed a 2026 bill designed to protect the information of small-dollar campaign donors. Under Senate Bill 1006, campaign finance reports would not include personal information on donors who give $200 or less. The only exception would happen if donors give their permission.

California – Why Do California Cities, Counties Pay Millions to Lobby Their Own Statehouse?

MSN – Andrew Graham (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 12/21/2025

Through the first three quarters of this year, the 35 largest California cities have spent a combined $3.4 million in public funds on private lobbying firms. Only two cities on that list did not report hiring a lobbying firm. City and county officials interviewed by The Sacramento Bee said such fees were necessary expenditures for local governments competing with each other and with private industries in a political system flooded with lobbying and campaign finance dollars. But the spending raises questions about equity between rich and poor cities.

Florida – After 20 Years of Florida’s Gift Ban, Some Would Like to Make a Return

MSN – Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 12/25/2025

Florida’s gift ban, which prohibits legislators and others in top roles in state government from accepting anything of value from lobbyists or the principals that hire them, took effect January 1, 2006. In the years since its passage, the law has either been ignored or sidestepped in various ways, while making it awkward for a lawmaker to accept token items such as a bottle of water. But Tom Lee, the former state Senate president who championed the legislation, still thinks it was the right thing to do.

Georgia – Bill Eliminates Last Minute Ethics Complaints in Georgia Elections

Yahoo News – Kim Jarrett (Center Square) | Published: 12/29/2025

A bill that took effect on January 1 bars Georgia’s State Ethics Commission from investigating complaints filed 60 days or fewer before an election. Senate Bill 199 will also require PACs that make contributions or expenditures on behalf of candidates to have separate bank accounts.

Illinois – Supreme Court Blocks National Guard Deployment to Chicago Area

MSN – James Romoser (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 12/23/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Trump from sending the National Guard into the Chicago area, dealing a rare loss to the president on an issue of executive power. The decision, issued in an unsigned order on the court’s emergency docket, is the first time the justices have weighed in on Trump’s efforts to dispatch the military to American cities. Though the order is preliminary and applies only in Illinois, it suggests the court is unwilling to rubber-stamp Trump’s assertions of broad authority to use the National Guard to manage protests and violent crime.

Iowa – Dems Tout Another Special Election as a Boost for Their Party Ahead of Midterms

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho and Maegan Vazquez (Washington Post) | Published: 12/31/2025

West Des Moines City Councilperson Renee Hardman won a special election for a state Senate seat in Iowa, denying Republicans the opportunity to regain a supermajority in the chamber and handing the Democratic Party a large-margin victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Hardman will be the first Black woman to serve in the Iowa Senate. Democrats tend to over-perform in off-year races and special elections, but in the wake of 2024 losses, the party has attributed several recent off-year gains around the country to national momentum against President Trump and Republicans.

Maine – Conservative Groups Push Back on Maine Law in Latest Campaign Finance Court Battle Filing

Maine Morning Star – Emma Davis | Published: 12/22/2025

The conservative groups that sued Maine over a voter-approved law that established stricter regulations on money in elections filed their rebuttal in the case, claiming it violates free speech. In 2024, voters overwhelmingly passed a law that set a $5,000 limit on contributions to PACs that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates, commonly referred to as super PACs. Those behind the law welcomed the lawsuit as it was a key part of their ultimate goal: to get the U.S. Supreme Court to regulate super PACs.

Maryland – Lobbyists Spend Big on ‘Committee Dinners’ with Maryland Lawmakers

MSN – Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 12/30/2025

Energy companies, climate advocacy groups, nonprofits, trade associations for nurses, restaurateurs, and chicken farmers, and many other groups took Maryland legislators out for dinner over the last lobbying year. The meals are part of a long-standing practice known as committee dinners that dates back more than 30 years. Del. Joe Vogel is taking aim at the legislative perk with a bill that would bar lobbyists, corporations, and special interest groups from taking lawmakers out on the town, except in a few limited circumstances.

Massachusetts – Mass. Legislation Aims to Point Light at Dark Money in Local Politics

Cape Cod Times – Sam Drysdale (State House News Service) | Published: 12/23/2025

Legislation requiring public disclosure for people and groups spending significant sums to influence town meeting votes is gaining some traction in Massachusetts. House Bill 806 won initial approval and would amend the law to cover spending aimed at influencing the outcome of warrant articles taken up at the local government level. The bill would apply statewide but is driven in part by spending intended to influence short-term rental and housing decisions on Cape Cod and the Islands.

Massachusetts – Lawmakers Push for Tighter Disclosure Rules on Ballot Question Funding

WBUR – Sam Drysdale (State House News Service) | Published: 12/30/2025

Facing a potentially crowded and costly 2026 election cycle, Massachusetts lawmakers advanced legislation to tighten disclosure rules for ballot question campaigns and reveal who is funding them. The votes signal interest among lawmakers in updating laws that critics say have not kept pace with the scale and sophistication of modern ballot campaigns. The Ballot Spending Transparency Act would expand what ballot question committees must report to state regulators, increase the frequency of required filings, and more clearly define non-cash political support that currently can remain largely out of public view for much of a campaign cycle.

Michigan – Benson Declines to Rule on Constitutionality of Michigan Endorsement Conventions, Concerns Persist

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 12/22/2025

Election lawyers from both sides of the political spectrum said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson correctly declined to issue a declarative ruling on whether the major party’s endorsement conventions were constitutional. But the attorneys, in interviews with Michigan Advance, were split on whether the initial concerns of potential special-interest meddling in party decisions at those conventions – engaging in so-called bribery of delegates in the worst-case scenario or pushing issue advocacy influence campaigns as a lesser evil – held water.

Minnesota – HHS Freezes All Child Care Funding for Minnesota

MSN – Jacob Wendler (Politico) | Published: 12/30/2025

The Department of Health and Human Services froze hundreds of millions of dollars in childcare funding for Minnesota, the latest in a series of moves against Gov. Tim Walz’s administration as it attempts to manage allegations of fraud. The funding freeze comes as Minnesota faces probes by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security over allegations the state’s Democratic leaders were complicit in exploiting federal funds for nutrition and childcare.

New Jersey – Man at Center of Murder-for-Hire Plot Says Corruption Probe Was a ‘Sham’

New Jersey Monitor – Nancy Solomon | Published: 12/23/2025

When campaign consultant Sean Caddle pleaded guilty in 2022 to murder-for-hire, he was allowed to remain at home for nearly two years while he cooperated with federal prosecutors on a political corruption investigation. But that probe went nowhere, and now a series of prison interviews with Caddle raises questions about why the U.S. attorney’s office in Newark was not able to bring charges stemming from a sweeping “pay-to-play” scheme that Caddle ran.

New York – NYC Board Probes Pro-Cuomo PACs Spearheaded by Finance CEOs

MSN – Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) | Published: 12/22/2025

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is probing whether a group of PACs that spent more than $20 million supporting Andrew Cuomo’s unsuccessful bid for mayor illegally coordinated with the former governor and his campaign, according to people with knowledge of the investigation. Zohran Mamdani’s campaign alleges donors gave to Put NYC First, a PAC, which then transferred funds to an array of Super PACs. These entities have fewer restrictions than traditional PACs and are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but are not allowed to co-ordinate with candidates or campaigns.

New York – Hung Jury Ends Trial of Ex-New York Governors’ Aide Accused of Selling Influence to China

MSN – Philip Marcelo (Associated Press) | Published: 12/22/2025

A judge declared a mistrial in the corruption case of Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. Sun was accused of using her state government position to subtly advance China’s agenda in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars. They say Sun also took kickbacks from Chinese companies to steer lucrative state contracts for face masks and other critical medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York – Eric Adams Reigned Over a Run of Scandal Not Seen Since Boss Tweed

MSN – Greg Smith and Yoav Gonen (The City) | Published: 12/24/2025

In his last days in office, New York Mayor Eric Adams has doubled down on attacking his corruption indictment, dismissing it as “lawfare” brought by a Biden administration angry at his criticism of policies he blamed for triggering a flood of migrants to New York City. He has repeated his mantra that the media unfairly focused on the indictment, which a federal judge was forced to void after the Trump administration dropped the case. But by any number of telling measures, Adams’ four tumultuous years at City Hall could generate a highlight reel of notoriety that would surpass that of any mayor of the 20th and 21st centuries.

North Carolina – A Company Invited Cary Staff to Dinner. The Offer Came from the Mayor.

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 12/29/2025

The engineering and land development firm WithersRavenel has a prominent presence in its hometown of Cary, North Carolina. In recent years it has helped develop the town’s downtown park and design a new fire station. One of the people helping the firm win projects beyond the town is Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, who began consulting for WithersRavenel in 2023. An action Weinbrecht took in 2023 is now raising questions about how much separation exists between his public work as mayor and his private work as a consultant.

Ohio – New Ohio Election Integrity Commission Begins to Take Shape

Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 12/30/2025

Secretary of State Frank LaRose has tapped leadership for the new Ohio Election Integrity Commission. As part of last summer’s budget, state lawmakers axed the state’s existing independent campaign watchdog and replaced it with a new office under the secretary’s control. The board’s membership shrinks from seven to five, and instead of a bipartisan panel selecting a nonpartisan colleague, all commissioners will be chosen by state leaders.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Watchdog to Implement Original Election Reporting System

Oklahoma Voice – Emma Murphy | Published: 12/19/2025

After three months without a fully functioning campaign finance system, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to immediately terminate the vendor’s contract and to authorize pursuing legal action. The commission also voted to reinstate the original Guardian system operated by the previous vendor, Civix. It voted to enter into a $217,000 contract with Carahsoft, a partner of Civix, that lasts three years.

Washington – Seattle Passes New Transparency Law Aimed at Political Consultants

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 12/17/2025

The Seattle City Council passed a new law requiring political consultants to register with the city when accepting taxpayer-funded work. Concerns over viability and the broadness of the original bill spurred members to cut back on some provisions, reducing it instead to a transparency-focused law that puts consultants into a similar category as lobbyists. In addition to registering with the city, consultants must say whom they are advising outside of the city and on what issues.

December 31, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “Lawmakers Push for Tighter Disclosure Rules on Ballot Question Funding” by Sam Drysdale (State House News Service) for WBUR Elections Georgia: “Bill Eliminates Last Minute Ethics Complaints in Georgia Elections” by Kim Jarrett (Center Square) for Yahoo […]

December 30, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Arizona Bill Aims to Shield Small-Dollar Donors’ Information” by Zachery Schmidt (Center Square) for MSN Massachusetts: “Mass. Legislation Aims to Point Light at Dark Money in Local Politics” by Sam Drysdale (State House News Service) for Cape […]

December 29, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maine: “Conservative Groups Push Back on Maine Law in Latest Campaign Finance Court Battle Filing” by Emma Davis for Maine Morning Star Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Watchdog to Implement Original Election Reporting System” by Emma Murphy for Oklahoma Voice […]

December 19, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 19, 2025

National/Federal Trump Bashes Late Director Rob Reiner, Drawing Immediate Backlash MSN – Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 12/15/2025 Less than a day after film director Rob Reiner was found dead in his Los Angeles home, President Trump posited without […]

National/Federal

Trump Bashes Late Director Rob Reiner, Drawing Immediate Backlash

MSN – Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 12/15/2025

Less than a day after film director Rob Reiner was found dead in his Los Angeles home, President Trump posited without evidence that the Hollywood icon was killed because he was critical of Trump. The president wrote that Reiner’s death was :”reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” The couple’s son was arrested on a murder charge. There was no indication from the authorities that the couple’s political beliefs had anything to do with their deaths.

Trump Has Signed More Executive Orders in 2025 Than in His Entire First Term

MSN – Emily Davies, Cat Zakrzewski, and Clara Ence Morse (Washington Post) | Published: 12/16/2025

President Trump has signed more executive orders in less than a year of his presidency than he did in his entire first term, repeatedly bypassing Congress and forcing the courts to grapple with the constitutional bounds of his power. American presidents have consolidated executive power to skirt Congress since the beginning of the 20th century. But Trump has accelerated the trend that intensified in recent decades amid a decline in legislative activity and rising partisan brinkmanship.

How a Trump Media Deal with a Crypto Firm Exposes Potential Conflicts of Interest

MSN – Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) | Published: 12/16/2025

Legal and ethics experts say Crypto.com’s journey from investigative target to a business partner of Donald Trump provides a case study of the conflicts-of interest that have arisen in Trump’s second presidency. Unlike any of his predecessors in the modern era, Trump has allowed his family businesses to enter lucrative arrangements with companies regulated by the federal government, some of which have benefited from action taken by his administration.

Rob Reiner Was More Than a Hollywood Liberal. He Was a Sophisticated Political Operator.

MSN – Melanie Mason (Politico) | Published: 12/15/2025

What qualifies as political activism in Hollywood usually starts and ends with writing a big check. Not so for Rob Reiner. The actor and director, who was found dead in his home along with his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, in a suspected homicide, was a policy maker and campaign strategist in his own right with lasting fingerprints on the political ecosystem in California and beyond.

Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Says President ‘Has an Alcoholic’s Personality’ and Much More in Candid Interviews

MSN – Kevin Liptak, Alejandra Jaramillo, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) | Published: 12/16/2025

The White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, delivered a series of unusually candid and at times unflattering assessments of President Trump, his second-term agenda, and some of his closest allies in a series of wide-ranging interviews with Vanity Fair. Across more than 10 interviews, Wiles spoke frankly about working for Trump, saying the president “has an alcoholic’s personality,” despite being known as a teetotaler. She acknowledged the president’s appetite for revenge, conceding many of his second-term actions were driven by a desire for retribution.

DHS Fast-Tracked $1 Billion Contract to Pro-Trump Donor’s Company

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2025

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fast-tracked a contract worth almost $1 billion to a company led by a donor to a pro-Trump nonprofit group where one of the officials overseeing the deal previously worked. The contract involves a DHS program called Project Homecoming that offers cash bonuses, free flights, and a “concierge service” at airports for departing migrants. The agency said nonpartisan professionals control its contracting decisions. But in the case of the Project Homecoming contract, political appointees coordinated the process.

Data Centers Have a Political Problem – and Big Tech Wants to Fix It

MSN – Gabby Miller (Politico) | Published: 12/17/2025

Tech companies and lobbyists are investing millions of dollars to tackle a new political problem for the industry: data centers, the lifeblood of the growing Artificial Intelligence economy, are becoming toxic with voters. Alarmed by elections that candidates won by campaigning against new data centers, the industry is taking out ads and funding campaigns to flip the narrative and put data centers in a positive light, spinning them as job creators and economic drivers rather than resource-hungry land hogs.

Jack Smith Tells Congress He Could Prove Trump Engaged in a ‘Criminal Scheme’ to Overturn 2020 Election

MSN – Ryan Reilly (NBC News) | Published: 12/17/2025

Former special counsel Jack Smith told a congressional committee his team found “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that President Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to portions of his opening statement. Facing a renewed wave of Republican attacks on his investigations into Trump, Smith was expected to attempt to use the hearing to correct what his team has described as mischaracterizations about the special counsel investigation.

Trump Administration Prepares Sweeping Crackdown on Leftist Networks

MSN – Eva Dou, Joseph Menn, and Will Oremus (Washington Post) | Published: 12/18/2025

The Trump administration is embarking on an expansive effort to root out what it sees as rampant left-wing domestic terrorism, raising concerns among some security experts and lawmakers that broad categories of Americans’ political speech could come under surveillance. Some of the statutes Attorney General Pam Bondi directed prosecutors to consider as they investigate extremists reflect the same charges leveled at many of the January 6 rioters, including picketing and parading with intent to obstruct the administration of justice.

Dan Bongino Announces He Is Leaving FBI Deputy Director Job in January

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2025

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced he will leave his job in January, after a tumultuous tenure in which he helped oversee major shifts in the bureau’s resources and dramatic dismissals of experienced agents. When Donald Trump named Bongino deputy director, the president transformed what was long a powerful career position that oversaw the day-to-day operations of the bureau into a political job with a more public presence.

Sleepy. Divisive. A Fan of Young Trump: A look at the new plaques on the Presidential Walk of Fame

MSN – Matt Brown and Bill Barrow (Associated Press) | Published: 12/17/2025

President Trump has affixed partisan plaques to the portraits of all U.S. commanders in chief, himself included, on his Presidential Walk of Fame at the White House, describing Joe Biden as “sleepy,” Barack Obama as “divisive,” and Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump. The additions mark Trump’s latest effort to remake the White House in his own image, while flouting the protocols of how presidents treat their predecessors and doubling down on his determination to reshape how U.S. history is told.

House Democrats Roll Out Stock Trading Ban That Includes Trump

MSN – Riley Beggin and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2025

House Democrats introduced their own ban on lawmakers trading stocks that would cover President Trump, probably quashing a separate bipartisan effort that has been simmering for weeks. The White House lashed out at Sen. Josh Hawley earlier this year over concerns that his proposal to ban lawmaker stock trading would apply to the executive branch; the proposal was later changed to apply to officials after their term ends, exempting Trump.

Brendan Carr Said the FCC Isn’t Independent. Its Website Quickly Updated.

MSN – Scott Nover and Ian Duncan (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2025

During an otherwise bland Senate committee hearing where its commissioners were testifying, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) removed the word “independent” from a description of the agency on its own website to line up with its chairperson’s live remarks. After the hearing, an FCC spokesperson said in a statement: “With the change in Administration earlier this year, the FCC’s website and materials required updating. That work continues to ensure that they reflect the positions of the agency’s new leadership.”

From the States and Municipalities

California – LA City Attorney Accused of Ethics Breach Before Settling Major Case for $18M

LAist – Nick Gerda | Published: 12/11/2025

An investigator for the Los Angeles Police department determined an officer was at fault for driving at an unsafe speed in an accident that seriously injured two people. Facing a lawsuit, the city ultimately settled in the middle of a trial for $18 million. Days before settling, lawyers for the plaintiffs accused the elected city attorney of an ethics breach. As the case was about to go to trial, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto called an expert witness for the plaintiffs, “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration by the plaintiffs’ attorney.

California – LA Councilmember John Lee Hit with $138,000 Fine in Las Vegas Gift Case

MSN – David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 12/18/2025

Los Angeles City Councilperson John Lee is facing a steep fine for his notorious 2017 trip to Las Vegas, with the city Ethics Commission saying he must pay $138,424 in a case involving pricey meals and expensive nightclub “bottle service.” The commission said he committed two counts of violating the gift law and three counts of violating a law requiring that such gifts be disclosed to the public. The Lee case revolves around gifts, mostly meals and alcohol but also hotel stays, transportation, and $1,000 in gambling chips, provided by three businesspeople.

Colorado – Trump Asserts He Has Pardoned County Clerk Convicted in Colorado Case

MSN – Derek Hawkins and Alec Dent (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2025

President Trump said he pardoned Tina Peters, a former county clerk in Colorado who was convicted in state court on felony charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It was unclear whether Trump was asserting he has the power to free Peters from state prison. She is serving a nine-year sentence. Presidents have the power to pardon defendants convicted in federal courts, but previous presidents have not claimed that authority in a state case.

District of Columbia – Appeals Court Hands Trump a Win Over D.C. National Guard Deployment

MSN – Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2025

An appeals court signaled it may find the National Guard deployment in the District of Columbia to be lawful, disagreeing with a lower-court judge’s opinion and issuing an order that will allow troops to stay in the city while litigation continues. A three-judge panel wrote the Trump administration is likely to succeed in its appeal of that lower-court ruling. The panel’s order was not a determination of the deployment’s legality and functioned only to allow the troops to remain pending final rulings, likely to come next year.

Georgia – Brad Raffensperger Sues to Win More Campaign Spending Power in Georgia Governor Race

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 12/8/2025

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is the latest Republican candidate for Georgia governor to attack campaign finance rules, saying they unconstitutionally limit his free speech while allowing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to raise unlimited contributions. Safe Affordable Georgia filed suit asking a judge to rule the PAC chaired by Raffensberger can coordinate with his gubernatorial campaign in the same way that Jones’ leadership committee can.

Illinois – 2 Illinois Election Board Democrats Who Blocked Senate President Don Harmon Fines Have Ties to His Donors

Yahoo News – Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/14/2025

Two Democratic members of the State Board of Elections who helped block nearly $10 million in campaign fines against Illinois Senate President Don Harmon have political ties to organizations that contributed disputed, above-limit donations to Harmon and continued giving to him even as the case was pending. The board’s staff concluded Harmon violated state campaign law by collecting $4 million in unlimited contributions after fundraising caps he took steps to lift were reinstated.

Indiana – Indiana GOP Rejects Trump’s Map in Major Blow to His Gerrymandering Push

MSN – Adam Wren (Politico) | Published: 12/11/2025

Indiana Republicans withstood immense pressure from President Trump, ignoring anonymous threats on their lives as they defeated his plan to redraw the state’s congressional map and dealt him one of his most significant political setbacks since his return to the White House. The GOP-controlled state Senate voted down the map that would have gerrymandered two more safe red seats, imperiling the party’s chances at holding control of Congress next November.

Michigan – Former Chatfield Aides Get Probation in Exchange for Testimony

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 12/17/2025

Two of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield’s top legislative aides, Anné and Rob Minard, have been sentenced to probation after agreeing to testify against their former boss in next year. The two had been charged as part of a corruption probe that also ensnared Chatfield and his wife, as the four allegedly tapped into the millions of dollars they raised while Chatfield led the Michigan House to fund a lavish lifestyle.

New York – New York’s Senate Doesn’t Publish Votes on Nominees. Advocates Want That to Change

MSN – Dan Clark (Albany Times Union) | Published: 12/18/2025

When the U.S. Senate considers a nominee from the president, such as a federal judge or a cabinet official, the results of that vote are published on the chamber’s website for the public to review. That is not the case in New York, where the state Senate regularly considers nominees from the governor but does not publish publicly online how each member voted. When someone lobbies state officials on regulations or members of the New York Legislature on a bill, they must report that activity to the state’s ethics commission. That is not the case for lobbying members on one of the governor’s nominees.

New York – Administration Fails Again to Indict N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James

MSN – Perry Stein, Jasmine Golden, Salvador Rizzo, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2025

The Justice Department once again failed to persuade a grand jury to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, an embarrassing loss for a law enforcement agency that has repeatedly tried to charge the president’s foe in a mortgage fraud case that career prosecutors have long viewed as weak. It marked the second time in two weeks that panels have refused the government’s efforts to indict James.

North Dakota – North Dakota Attorney General Voids Ethics Opinion, Says Agency Lacked Authority

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 12/15/2025

North Dakota’s attorney general says a recent state Ethics Commission advisory opinion related to campaign finance law is void, arguing the agency exceeded its authority. Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the commission has no authority to issue an opinion based on general questions of law. The opinion relates to guidance the commission issued in June, responding to questions about whether campaign funds can be used to pay for a candidate’s childcare or security expenses.

North Dakota – Committee Names New Member to North Dakota Ethics Commission, Ending Impasse

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 12/16/2025

North Dakota leaders appointed Jared Huibregtse to the state Ethics Commission, ending a nearly two-month stalemate over who to appoint to an open four-year seat on the commission. Huibregtse is a project manager for an engineering firm. The selection committee recently appointed former Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp and attorney Mark Western to two other open seats on the commission.

Oregon – Ethics Commission Investigates Progressive Portland City Councilors over August Retreat

MSN – Jonathan Bach and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 12/13/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will investigate whether six Portland City Council members violated public meetings law when they met for a private August retreat. The council members had planned to discuss topics including “defunding” city economic development agency Prosper Portland at the retreat. Under Oregon public meetings law, members of legislative bodies are prohibited from privately discussing legislative matters among a quorum.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Finds Rep. Greg Smith Violated State Ethics Laws in Pursuit of Raise

Yahoo News – Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) | Published: 12/12/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission found Rep. Greg Smith used his position as a public official to secure a higher salary. He has long added onto his legislative salary with high-paying consulting contracts and side gigs supporting economic development efforts in eastern Oregon. The commission voted to extend for 30 days its investigation into Smith and allow investigators to gather more information, but members decided that given the evidence they reviewed, he was in violation of state ethics laws.

Pennsylvania – Dauphin County Sheriff Son’s Hire Raises Questions About Nepotism Policy

MSN – Juliette Rihl (PennLive) | Published: 12/18/2025

According to Dauphin County’s nepotism policy, children do not count as family members. That is because the county commissioners revised the policy in 2023 to remove “son or stepson” and “daughter or stepdaughter,” instead adding aunts, uncles, and half-siblings in their place. Ethics experts said the policy change blatantly defies standard government practices and questioned what, if anything, could have justified it.

Texas – They Left Office Years Ago. Why Are Their Campaigns Still Spending on Steakhouses and Fancy Hotels?

MSN – Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 12/17/2025

Lax campaign finance laws in Texas allow former candidates and their candidate-specific PACs to keep their coffers open in perpetuity, providing them with a rolling supply of money to dole out to their favorite charities and politicians and spend on travel, dining, and whatever else they deem political in purpose. Outgoing politicians are required to clear out their campaign accounts within six years of either leaving office or filing a final campaign finance report, whichever is later. But the law does not set a deadline for filing that report, so they can technically leave their accounts open as long as they never file one.

Virginia – Instacart Director Says She Was Fired for Democratic Congressional Campaign

MSN – Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 12/15/2025

A lawsuit against Instacart alleges the mobile shopping giant fired a corporate employee for running for Congress, citing fears that some of her Democratic positions could lead to backlash from President Trump and Republicans. Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, a candidate in Virginia, contends Instacart’s action is the latest example of how Trump’s threats of retaliation have intimidated corporate America, leading large companies to recalibrate their approach to political speech. The lawsuit says Instacart violated a California law that bars companies from preventing their employees from becoming candidates for public office, among other complaints.

Wisconsin – Prosecutor Says Judge Knew She Would Get ‘Heat’ for Aiding Immigrant

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 12/15/2025

Federal prosecutors alleged a Wisconsin judge helped a Mexican man briefly elude immigration officials in April and just before she directed him through the back door of her courtroom, she said that she would “get the heat” for it. An attorney for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan disputed prosecutors’ characterization of her actions and contended the judge was trying to follow draft court rules about how to handle immigration arrests at the courthouse. Dugan faces up to six years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Wisconsin – 2 Former Trump Associates Bound Over for Trial in Wisconsin Fake Elector Case

Yahoo News – Molly Beck (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 12/15/2025

Top architects of an effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin were in a courtroom facing felony charges related to a plan to gather signatures of Republicans falsely claiming to be electors for President Trump. Dane County Judge John Hyland ruled there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial in the case against Jim Troupis and Michael Roman, a former attorney and aide to Trump, for their alleged roles in the effort. The judge will consider evidence separately against a third defendant, former Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro.

December 18, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Texas: “They Left Office Years Ago. Why Are Their Campaigns Still Spending on Steakhouses and Fancy Hotels?” by Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) for MSN Elections Wisconsin: “2 Former Trump Associates Bound Over for Trial in Wisconsin Fake Elector […]

December 17, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance California: “LA City Attorney Accused of Ethics Breach Before Settling Major Case for $18M” by Nick Gerda for LAist North Dakota: “North Dakota Attorney General Voids Ethics Opinion, Says Agency Lacked Authority” by Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) […]

December 16, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Georgia: “Brad Raffensperger Sues to Win More Campaign Spending Power in Georgia Governor Race” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN Illinois: “2 Illinois Election Board Democrats Who Blocked Senate President Don Harmon Fines Have Ties to His […]

December 12, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 12, 2025

National/Federal Did Emil Bove Violate Judicial Ethics Code with Appearance at Trump Rally? Courthouse News Service – Bernjamin Weiss | Published: 12/10/2025 Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove may have violated the federal judiciary’s ethics code when he attended a political […]

National/Federal

Did Emil Bove Violate Judicial Ethics Code with Appearance at Trump Rally?

Courthouse News Service – Bernjamin Weiss | Published: 12/10/2025

Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove may have violated the federal judiciary’s ethics code when he attended a political charged rally held by President Trump, legal experts and lawmakers said. Experts also said Bove’s appearance at Trump’s event adds to a trend of nominally impartial federal judges who have increasingly embroiled themselves in partisan politics.

Stephen Miller Faces Ethics Concerns Over Stock Sale of Las Vegas Mining Company

Las Vegas Sun – Ana Swanson (New York Times) | Published: 12/10/2025

Stephen Miller, a top adviser to President Trump, sold shares worth $50,000 to $100,000 in the mining company MP Materials following a July announcement of a lucrative deal between the Las Vegas company and the Trump administration, government filings show. The sale came one month after the administration announced an extraordinary series of measures to support MP Materials. The deal, which included the government purchasing shares in the company and committing to buy its products, led MP Materials’ share price to skyrocket.

Democrats’ Path to Power May Come Through Hundreds of Races Far from Washington

MSN – Hunter Woodall (CBS News) | Published: 12/10/2025

Much of national Democrats’ attention in next year’s midterms is centered on working to flip control of the U.S. House and win consequential races for governor. But some in the party have zeroed in on less talked-about elections that could prove less costly and have a far-reaching impact at a time when the Democratic brand has grown wearisome with some voters. Democrats’ state legislative campaign arm is outlining a potential path “to flip more than 650 state legislative seats” across a range of states.

The Capitol Is Hard to Navigate. Does It Have to Be?

MSN – Nina Heller (Roll Call) | Published: 12/10/2025

To the unfamiliar, the Capitol and its surrounding office buildings are a maze of fluorescent lighting, identical hallways, and unmarked tunnels. Even experienced staff and lawmakers sometimes get lost. But that could start to change next year, if some House members get their way. Wayfinding tools could offer turn-by-turn directions, according to a new proposal from the House Administration Modernization and Innovation Subcommittee.

Supreme Court Will Hear Case on Trump’s Ban on Birthright Citizenship

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 12/5/2025

The Supreme Court said it will hear a case examining the legality of President Trump’s ban on birthright citizenship, a high-stakes test of the controversial policy that could redefine who is considered an American. The justices have yet to set a date for arguments, but the court has taken the case in time to render its decision by June or July, when the current term ends. The administration asked the justices to take up the case on an expedited basis after lower courts found the policy unconstitutional and blocked it.

What We Know About Suspect Brian Cole’s Arrest in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case

MSN – Connor Greene (Time) | Published: 12/5/2025

Nearly five years after pipe bombs were planted near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national conventions the night before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, authorities have arrested a suspect in the case. Brian Cole Jr. of Virginia was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, marking the culmination of a years-long, and still ongoing, investigation, federal officials announced.

Supreme Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Power to Fire Independent Agency Board Members

MSN – Mark Sherman (Associated Press) | Published: 12/8/2025

The Supreme Court seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Trump’s firing of board members. The court’s conservative majority suggested it would overturn a unanimous 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members, in part to try to ensure decision making free of political influence, or leave it with only its shell intact.

New Dark Money Network Could Exploit Campaign Finance Loophole Banning Federal Contractors

MSN – Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) | Published: 12/9/2025

Top employees at Anthropic, a major federal contractor, are reportedly involved in discussions to establish a dark money network that could be used to skirt campaign finance laws prohibiting the company from making political donations. Company executives would likely donate to a new political network helmed by former U.S. Rep. Brad Carson, which will be composed of two super PACs with the whole thing being funded through an affiliated 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization called Public First. Unlike super PACs, which are required to list the names of all their donors, the individuals and organizations funding 501(c)(4) groups are totally anonymous.

Supreme Court Weighs Further Loosening Campaign Finance Limits

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

The Supreme Court wrestled over whether to lift limits on how much political parties can spend in cooperation with candidates, in a case that could change how money flows through the campaign finance system. Republican leaders are asking the court to remove limits on how much parties can spend on items like advertisements and campaign expenses. They say the existing limits hinder the partie’’ free-speech rights and put parties in a weaker position than outside groups like Super PACs.

Justice Dept. Says a Court Ruling Is Blocking Efforts to Reindict Comey

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

Justice Department lawyers said a recent ruling barring their access to key evidence has effectively crippled their efforts to reindict former FBI Director James Comey after their original case against him was dismissed. The concession came in a court filing urging a federal judge to lift a temporary order she imposed restricting the government’s ability to review or use emails and other electronic communications seized as part of an investigation more than five years ago involving Comey confidante Daniel Richman.

Justice Dept. Kills Long-Time Tool Used to Prove Racial Discrimination

MSN – Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

After years of complaints from consercatives, the Justice Department moved to end a decades-old provision of civil rights law that allows statistical disparities to be used as proof of racial discrimination. The new regulations reinterpret a key plank of the Civil Rights Act and were issued without an opportunity for public comment, which is unusual for major regulatory action. While they apply only to Justice Department programs, the Trump administration has made clear it plans similar regulatory rollbacks across the government.

From the States and Municipalities

California – California Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in Capitol Corruption Case

Courthouse News Service – Alan Riquelmy | Published: 12/4/2025

Lobbyist Greg Campbell pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to help Dana Williamson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, to draw $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to then-U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. Prosecutors also said Campbell created fake contracts for Williamson, who had obtained a loan from the Covid-19 paycheck protection program.

California – An SDPD Captain Helped Secure a Multimillion-Dollar Surveillance Deal. Now He Works for the Contractor.

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 12/9/2025

As a captain in charge of special projects and legislative affairs, Jeff Jordon was the San Diego Police Department’s point person for implementing the so-called smart streetlights, a network of cameras across the city that record cars as they pass by. Before he retired in April, Jordan helped select Flock Safety to run the city’s multimillion-dollar surveillance system. Within three months of leaving public service, Jordon was hired by Flock Safety to help it win even more police contracts.

California – Former Compton Councilman Pleads Guilty in Scheme Involving Secret Bribes and Corrupt Officials

MSN – Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 12/9/2025

Former Compton City Councilperson Isaac Galvan pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for bribing a Baldwin Park City Council member, whom he paid $70,000 in exchange for city marijuana permits. Galvan, who ran a consulting service, was involved in a scheme in which he facilitated bribes to Councilperson Ricardo Pacheco from one of Galvan’s clients who wanted a marijuana permit in Baldwin Park.

California – SLO County Supervisor Adds 2 People to Staff: His wife and his hopeful successor

MSN – Chloe Shrager (San Luis Obispo Tribune) | Published: 12/9/2025

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson made two new high-level staffing changes that have been questioned. Gibson hired his wife, Cherie Gibson, who exited retirement to fill the role of his legislative assistant. Cherie Gibson will be joined on her husband’s staff in January by Jim Dantona, chief executive officer of the SLO Chamber of Commerce and a candidate for Bruce Gibson’s seat in the 2026 election.

California – Why Does Oakland Pay Millions to a Security Firm Linked to the FBI Corruption Case?

MSN – Kate Talerico (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 12/10/2025

A year after former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was swept out of office amid a federal corruption probe, the city still has not replaced a security company with one of the city’s biggest contracts despite the firm’s ties to the investigation. Although ABC Security’s contract expired in 2023, the city council has repeatedly extended it. For the last five months, it has failed to agree on who should be awarded the new contract. The political deadlock suggests Oakland is struggling to shake familiar issues with drawn-out procurement processes, political influence. and lingering fallout from the Thao corruption scandal.

Florida – Miami Will Have Its First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years

MSN – Sabrina Rodriguez (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

Miami will have its first Democratic mayor in nearly 30 years, after the city elected former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins in a contest that attracted attention from President Trump and national Democrats. Although the race was technically nonpartisan, the political divide was clear. Trump backed Emilio González, while the Democratic National Committee and potential Democratic presidential hopefuls supported Higgins. She will become the first woman mayor in the history of Miami.

Georgia – Georgia Ethics Panel Decides a GOP Candidate for Governor Can Loan $10M to Aid His Election

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 12/4/2025

Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is allowed to loan $10 million to his campaign for governor, the state’s ethics panel said. Attorney General Chris Carr, who is running against Jones, alleged it evaded campaign finance restrictions. But the Ethics Commission decided a loan to a leadership committee counts as a contribution under state law, adopting a legal opinion that there is “nothing in the current statute which prohibits such a loan of personal funds.”

Hawaii – He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 12/10/2025

Christopher Dawson and his companies had won hundreds of millions of dollars in no-bid government contracts through the Small Business Administration based on the promise that his profits would primarily be used to help Native Hawaiians by, in part, promoting the culture, building homes, and supporting orphaned children. A former employee met with federal investigators and filed a whistleblower lawsuit accusing Dawson and executives of cheating the program by spending money on private jets, luxury homes in Hawaii and Florida, memberships to private social clubs, and a nearly $1 million annual salary.

Maryland – Nash’s Lobbying While on City Council Draws Scrutiny

Frederick News-Post – Nolan Wilkinson | Published: 12/10/2025

Frederick City Councilperson Katie Nash’s job as a lobbyist is being scrutinized as she prepares for a second term on the council, with concerns she might have connections to data centers that present a conflict-of-interest. Nash has worked as a lobbyist for energy companies, taking in a gross total of over $350,000 from just one of her clients, Vistra Corp., since 2019. Vistra is a retail energy provider and generator that operates nationwide, including as an electricity provider in Maryland.

Missouri – Missouri Democrats’ Effort to Block GOP Gerrymander Picks Up Steam

MSN – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 12/9/2025

Democrats in Missouri looking to block the state’s new congressional districts hit a key deadline to getting a step closer to freezing the map drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature to create an additional GOP-leaning district in the 2026 midterms. People Not Politicians, the committee organizing to block the new map, said it submitted over 305,000 signatures, more than double the 107,000 valid signatures needed to trigger a referendum process that could put the map in front of voters next year.

Nevada – Sandoval, Aguero, Vellardita Won’t Face Sanctions for Failing to Register as Lobbyists

Yahoo News – Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) | Published: 12/5/2025

Critics say a Nevada law that requires lobbyists to register within two days of attempting to influence state lawmakers has no teeth, following the Legislative Counsel Bureau’s (LCB) decision to let violations slide against a former governor, a union boss, and a consultant who lobbied lawmakers on behalf of the current governor. The Nevada State Education Association is questioning whether LCB Acting Director Roger Wilkerson followed state law, which requires him to not only investigate, but also report suspected violations to the attorney general.

New Jersey – Trump Loyalist Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Federal Prosecutor

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 12/8/2025

Alina Habba, President Trump’s embattled pick as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, said she is resigning after a protracted legal battle over the legitimacy of her appointment. A federal appeals court panel ruled she has been serving unlawfully as acting U.S. attorney. She will transition to a new role as a senior Justice Department adviser and could return to lead the New Jersey prosecutors’ office if that court decision is overturned on appeal, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

New Jersey – Bill Targeting NJ Corruption Watchdog Withdrawn After Public Outcry

MSN – Susan Livio and Ted Sherman | Published: 12/9/2025

A controversial bill seeking to eviscerate a corruption-fighting watchdog agency has been abruptly pulled by its sponsor, New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari. The bill sought to undercut the watchdog role of the Office of the State Comptroller, transferring much of its responsibilities to the State Commission of Investigation. The effort to downgrade the comptroller came in the wake of a series of critical reports by the agency that have embarrassed or angered officials who have been targets of the comptroller.

New York – Cuomo Files New Lawsuit Seeking to Block Ethics Probe of His Book Deal

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 12/10/2025

Andrew Cuomo’s years of legal battles with New York’s ethics agencies continued when the former governor filed another lawsuit against the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, seeking an injunction to block the panel from investigating his $5.1 million book deal. The petition alleges his constitutional rights are being violated and the statutes used to empower the ethics commission are facially invalid.

New York – Grand Jury Refuses to Reindict Letitia James in Mortgage Fraud Case

MSN – Perry Stein and Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2025

A grand jury in Virginia rejected Justice Department efforts to charge New York Attorney General Letitia James with mortgage fraud, declining to indict her again after a judge dismissed the charges recently. It marks a major defeat for President Trump, who has made a priority of prosecuting James, a longtime foe. As New York attorney general, James brought a civil fraud case against Trump and his real estate empire, which resulted in a verdict that Trump and others in his company had committed fraud.

New York – NYC Council Committee Criticizes Inna Vernikov for Bringing Gun to Protest, but Doesn’t Censure Her

Yahoo News – Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 12/9/2025

The New York City Council’s Ethics Committee criticized Councilperson Inna Vernikov for bringing a gun to a peaceful protest in 2023 but voted not to formally take the matter further. Vernikov was arrested and criminally charged hours after bringing her firearm to the 2023 Brooklyn College rally five days after Hamas’ attack on Israel, which she was counterprotesting. The charges against her were later dropped after police found the weapon was inoperable.

Ohio – ‘Weak Slap on the Wrist’: Elections Commission fines HB 6 repeal group just $400 for violations

MSN – Anna Staver (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/5/2025

After years of not reporting the millions of dollars it raised to repeal House Bill 6 in Ohio, the committee behind the failed referendum will pay just $400 in fines. “Fine should’ve easily been more than $100,000 based on years of no accountability,” Secretary of State Frank LaRose posted on X. “Today, OEC issued a pathetic $400 fine.”

Oklahoma – Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Site Has Been Offline for Months. Why?

MSN – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 12/6/2025

Oklahoma’s campaign finance website has been offline for nearly three months, raising questions about access to public information ahead of a critical election year. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission had planned to launch a new campaign finance site on October 1, but that fell behind schedule and no new date has been set. The outage has left some voters waiting for information that is typically available with a simple online search.

Pennsylvania – Former Dauphin County Official’s NRA Show Contract Didn’t Violate Ethics Law, State Finds

MSN – Juliette Rihl (PennLive) | Published: 12/9/2025

Jeff Haste, a longtime Dauphin County commissioner who came under fire last year for a series of apparent conflicts, began receiving $60,000 a year to act as the county’s “liaison” to the National Rifle Association’s outdoor show six months after resigning from office in 2021. State law prohibits former public officials from receiving contracts with their prior agency within a year of leaving, that role. But the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ruled that does not apply to this case.

Texas – Supreme Court Hands Trump Victory in Fight over Texas Congressional Map

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Julian Mark, and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2025

The Supreme Court handed President Trump and Republicans a major political victory by clearing the way for a Texas congressional map that was drawn in the hope of flipping up to five House seats to the GOP. The order marks the latest development in a battle between Republican and Democratic states that are seeking partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 midterms. The states are taking the unusual step of redistricting congressional seats at the halfway point between the U.S. Census Bureau’s nationwide surveys of the population.

Wisconsin – Unlimited Donations, Weak Recusal Rules Led to Record Wisconsin Supreme Court Spending

MSN – Larry Sandler (Wisconsin Watch) | Published: 12/4/2025

The Wisconsin Legislature enacted a public campaign financing law for state Supreme Court elections in 2009. But it lasted for just one Supreme Court campaign before a Republican-controlled Legislature repealed it in 2011. Members of the court then adopted what might be one of the nation’s most lax recusal rules for campaign donations. The stories behind that shift in recusal rules, the short-lived venture in public financing of high court races, and the campaign finance laws that followed help explain how Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign spending exploded this spring to a national record of $114.2 million.

December 11, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyingComply News Roundup

Elections Florida: “Miami Will Have Its First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years” by Sabrina Rodriguez (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Democrats’ Path to Power May Come Through Hundreds of Races Far from Washington” by Hunter Woodall (CBS News) for […]

December 10, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “New Dark Money Network Could Exploit Campaign Finance Loophole Banning Federal Contractors” by Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) for MSN National: “Supreme Court Weighs Further Loosening Campaign Finance Limits” by Julian Mark (Washington Post) for MSN Oklahoma: “Oklahoma’s […]

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – January 2, 2026

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – December 19, 2025

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – December 12, 2025

Thursday’s LobbyingComply News Roundup

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Search

Popular Categories

Sort by Month

Sort By State

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Search

Popular Categories

Sort by Month

Sort By State

Celebrating more than 30 years in business!