News You Can Use Digest – April 3, 2026

National/Federal

After a Year of Trump’s Washington, Private Sector Prepares for Some Democratic Power

MSN – Alex Gangitano and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 3/26/2026

The private sector and their army of lobbyists are preparing for Democrats to seize some control away from President Trump next year. Democrats plan to launch into aggressive oversight mode, investigating a slew of Trump’s actions and how the corporate world treated him, from donations to his ballroom project and his inauguration to drug pricing dealmaking.

House Democrat Violated Ethics Rules, Panel Finds, Putting Her Seat in Jeopardy

MSN – Kadia Goba and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2026

Beleaguered Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules, a House ethics committee panel said, citing the findings of a years-long investigation into whether she used covid pandemic money to bolster a run for Congress. The vote follows a rare public hearing Thursday, in which members of the ethics committee queried Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawyer about allegations related to her family’s South Florida health care business. The committee’s investigation outlined 27 potential ethics violations.

Trump Attends Supreme Court Arguments Over His Executive Order, a Presidential First

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 4/1/2026

President Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court when he showed up to watch proceedings in a case challenging one of his executive orders. Barbara v. Trump revolves around an executive order that Trump signed on the first day of his second term, seeking to deny automatic citizenship to babies born in the U.S. to parents who were in the country either illegally or temporarily. It has not gone into effect because multiple lower courts immediately ruled it unconstitutional.

From the States and Municipalities

California – San Jose Mayor Rips Sacramento as Lobbying Audits Nearly Disappear

Hoodline San Jose – Eric Tanaka | Published: 3/30/2026

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan urged state leaders to move auditing California’s influence industry to the top of their to-do list after a media investigation revealed regulators have conducted almost none of the lobbying audits that state law requires. The probe by Bloomberg Government found only five audits of lobbyists or their employers were completed between 2019 and 2025, a tally the outlet said amounts to less than one percent of the checks the Political Reform Act requires.

California – Donations to Gubernatorial Candidate Could Violate California Campaign Rules

MSN – Sophia Bollag (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/31/2026

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco received maximum donations from two closely linked companies that have been run by the same siblings, which could violate California’s campaign finance law. Bianco, who is seeking to replace Gavin Newsom as governor, received $78,400 donations from M&D Development and Downs Energy, the maximum amount allowed for an individual donor. Contributions from companies that are controlled by the same person or people should be aggregated, or treated as contributions from the same donor, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Colorado – Federal Judge Upholds Constitutionality of Colorado Campaign Contribution Limits

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 3/27/2026

A federal judge upheld Colorado’s individual campaign contribution limits as constitutional, finding three Republican plaintiffs failed to prove the framework violates their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Court Senior Judge John Kane wrote Colorado voters legitimately enacted the limits to guard against “quid pro quo” corruption, and they do not prevent political challengers from mounting successful campaigns.

Connecticut – Connecticut Election Officials Say Some Lobbyists Can Donate Despite Foreign Contribution Ban

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 4/1/2026

The State Elections Enforcement Commission ruled in-house lobbyists working for foreign-owned businesses can make personal contributions of their own volition to political campaigns in Connecticut. The commission said a 2024 state law that prohibits foreign nationals from donating or making expenditures generally does not apply to these paid lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Could Have More Foreign Trips Covered by Outside Groups

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 3/26/2026

Louisiana lawmakers would be able to accept a wider range of international travel paid for by outside groups without having to disclose those trips publicly under new legislation. House Bill 260 would allow nonprofits, political organizations, foreign governments, and others to pay for more international trips for state lawmakers.

New York – 4 Charged in Corruption Investigation Linked to NYC Homeless Shelter Operator

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 3/31/2026

Four people connected to a company hired by New York City to operate homeless shelters were arrested as part of a federal public corruption investigation that is also examining a city council member and a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Two leaders of BHRAGS Home Care are accused of stealing more than $1.3 million from the organization, and two subcontractors who the indictment says paid bribes and kickbacks to the men in exchange for contracts. Investigators are also probing whether Councilperson Farah Louis and her sister Debbie Louis, an aide to Hochul, accepted bribes related to the appropriation of city funds to the nonprofit.

Ohio – Jury Deadlocked in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial as Yost Vows to Retry Case

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/31/2026

The high-profile bribery trial of two former FirstEnergy executives ended with a hung jury. On the ninth day of deliberations, jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and ex-top lobbyist Michael Dowling on charges that accused them of bribing a state regulator who helped draft scandal-marred House Bill 6 in Ohio. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross stopped short of declaring a mistrial, saying she would make a ruling at a later date.