News You Can Use Digest – August 15, 2025

National/Federal

Harrison Butker’s PAC Is Low on Cash. But So Far, None Has Gone to Candidates

MSN – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 8/7/2025

In the weeks before the 2024 election, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stepped into politics, launching a PAC designed to promote politicians who fight for conservative Christian values. But the Upright PAC raised just $4,023 in the first six months of 2025 and ended June with less than $1,800 in cash on hand. None of the money Butker’s PAC spent went to Republican candidates. Most of the money went to a political consultant who is listed as an employee of a company Butker co-founded called MDKeller.

America’s CEOs Come to the White House Bearing Gifts and Flattery

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and HyoJung Kim (Washington Post) | Published: 8/8/2025

Corporations have changed their lobbying strategies to adapt to a uniquely transactional president who prioritizes wins and deals. Executives who have long outsourced the messy practice of lobbying to consultants or dark-money groups have learned the best way to shape Donald Trump’s policies is often through a late-night call to the president or a visit to one of his golf resorts. The executives who have pulled off these charm offensives largely have been rewarded by Wall Street, with some companies reaching record valuations. But Trump has also used the powers of his office to threaten those who don’t stay on his good side.

Foreign Governments Bet Big to Lobby Trump on Tariffs. Most Came Up Empty.

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko, Daniel Desrochers, and Ari Hawkins (Politico) | Published: 8/9/2025

Countries across the globe have dropped tens of millions this year on lobbyists with ties to President Trump as they rushed to stave off tariffs that could cripple their economies. In most cases, the spending has gotten them nowhere. But employing those lobbyists appeared to bear little relation to whether the countries were able to avoid the most punishing tariffs. As Trump has taken a scattershot approach to setting tariff rates, traditional lobbying tactics in Washington appear to have had little influence.

Pentagon Plan Would Create Military ‘Reaction Force’ for Civil Unrest

MSN – Alex Horton and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

The Trump administration is looking at plans to set up a 600-person National Guard “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force” to quickly deploy to U.S. cities to quell protests or other unrest. The proposal represents another potential expansion of President Trump’s willingness to employ the armed forces on American soil. It relies on a section of U.S. Code that allows the commander in chief to circumvent limitations on the military’s use within the United States. The documents, marked pre-decisional, are comprehensive and contain extensive discussion about the potential societal implications of establishing such a program.

Trump Nominates Bureau of Labor Statistics Critic to Replace Fired Agency Head

MSN – Lauren Kaori Gurley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/11/2025

President Trump will nominate the top economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, replacing the previous commissioner whom the president fired after a report revealed a weaker-than-expected job market. E.J. Antoni, a staunch critic of the agency, had emerged in recent days as a favorite candidate. He has questioned the legitimacy of the agency’s data over the past year.

GOP Has the Edge in Redistricting Arms Race with Democrats

MSN – Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2025

President Trump’s push to redraw the congressional map has fueled a redistricting arms race, with blue and red states rushing to counter each other. But it is an uneven fight. Republicans appear to hold the advantage in the nationwide scramble, according to strategists and nonpartisan analysts, with more opportunities to shift the lines in their favor ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats have vowed to “fight fire with fire” since the GOP moved to add five red seats in Texas, but they face many barriers.

White House Announces More Aggressive Review of Smithsonian Museums

MSN – Janay Kingsberry (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

The White House will launch a sweeping review of Smithsonian exhibitions, collections, and operations ahead of America’s 250th-birthday celebrations next year, the first time the Trump administration has detailed steps to scrutinize the institution, which officials say should reflect the president’s call to restore “truth and sanity” to American history. Trump’s focus on the Smithsonian has stoked concerns about political interference at the institution, which is not a traditional government agency and is historically considered nonpartisan.

After CDC Shooting, Its Employees Turn Their Anger to RFK Jr. and Trump

MSN – Lauren Weber and Lena Sun (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

Patrick White fired scores of bullets at the Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officials alleged, forcing hundreds of workers into lockdown as gunfire bombarded windows around them. White and a responding police officer died. Investigators say White targeted the public health agency because of he believed coronavirus vaccines were dangerous, according to two CDC officials briefed on the case. Days after the shooting, the initial shock has morphed into anger for many CDC employees.

Bessent Has Yet to Fully Divest Assets, Raising Concern at Ethics Agency

Seattle Times – Alan Rappaport (New York Times) | Published: 8/13/2025

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has failed to fully comply with an agreement that required him to divest his financial assets, posing potential conflicts-of-interest as he leads the Trump administration’s economic policy agenda. Cabinet officials are required to shed certain holdings and investments within 90 days of being confirmed.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Federal Court Says Alabama Must Use Map That Creates 2nd Black Majority District

MSN – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 8/7/2025

Alabama must use independently drawn congressional maps that created a second Black-majority district more favorable to Democrats in the state for the rest of the decade, a federal court said. A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ruled unanimously that the state must use the map drawn up by a court-appointed special master until regular redistricting is scheduled to be done in 2030. In May, the same panel of judges ruled the state’s 2023 map violated the Voting Rights Act.

Arizona – Arizona AG Says Pinal County Attorney Can’t Investigate Lawmaker’s ICE Posts

KJZZ – Wayne Schutsky | Published: 8/11/2025

After state Sen. Analise Ortiz shared a post online about real-time immigration enforcement actions in her community, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller offered to investigate her on behalf of the Legislature. But Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said that falls outside of Miller’s authority. Republican lawmakers accused Ortiz of doxing federal immigration enforcement agents. Ortiz and other Democrats denied that, saying she shared information about activities happening in public spaces and did not include personal information about agents.

California – L.A. City Councilman Curren Price to Face New Corruption Charges

MSN – James Queally and Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/12/2025

Prosecutors filed two additional corruption charges against Los Angeles City Councilperson Curren Price, who already is facing multiple counts of grand theft and perjury, allegedly for voting in favor of projects in which his wife had a financial interest. Prosecutors said Price’s wife – Del Richardson, founder of the consulting company Del Richardson & Associates – received “payments totaling more than $150,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers before [Price] voted to approve projects.”

California – Orange County Supervisors Revise Their Ethics Code in Wake of Corruption Scandal – but Does It Go Far Enough?

MSN – Jill Replogle (LAist) | Published: 8/12/2025

The Orange County Board of Supervisors revised its code of ethics Tuesday to include greater protection for whistleblowers but several of the supervisors questioned whether the measures go far enough. Among other concerns, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said the code lacks any enforcement mechanism. The vote comes the same week that former Supervisor Andrew Do is slated to begin a five-year prison term on a federal bribery charge related to his work when he was a sitting official.

California – This Candidate for California Governor Has a Potential Conflict of Interest in Her Own Home

MSN – Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) | Published: 8/11/2025

The California Department of General Services in 2020 hired a consulting firm to help prioritize sites, conduct market research, and evaluate applications from contractors. That firm, LeSar Development Consultants, is owned by former state Senate leader Toni Atkins’ spouse, Jennifer LeSar. Because of California’s community property law that gives couples equal ownership of assets in their marriage, the $1 million contract has been worth tens of thousands of dollars to Atkins. It is just one of the potential conflicts of interest with her spouse’s business dealings that Atkins faces as she runs for governor.

California – Matt Haney Pays Huge Lawyer Fees Amid 2 Political Watchdog Probes

San Francisco Standard – Josh Koehn | Published: 8/7/2025

California Assemblyperson Matt Haney has spent tens of thousands of dollars of campaign money on international trips, Broadway shows, and sporting events since his election in 2022, including $75,000 on 49ers, Giants, and Warriors tickets. Now he is burning through donor dollars on a far less glamorous expense: attorneys’ fees. Haney’s legal bills have surged amid two open investigations by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

California – Westminster Councilwoman Accused of Attempted Bribery to Get Ethics Training

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 8/11/2025

An Orange County judge ordered Westminster City Councilperson Amy Phan West to complete an in-person ethics training course and 20 hours of community service as part of a diversion program after the elected official was charged with a misdemeanor for attempted bribery. The ruling comes months after Phan West pleaded not guilty to attempting to bribe parking enforcement officers in 2023 to stop her husband’s car from being towed.

District of Columbia – Trump Readies Federal Moves on D.C. Crime, Takes Over D.C. Police

MSN – Michael Birnbaum, Kelly Kasulis Cho, and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/11/2025

President Trump placed the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deployed the National Guard to the streets of Washington to fight crime and clear the city of its homeless population, a flex of federal power that could expose residents of the nation’s capital to unpredictable encounters with a domestically deployed military force. The decision to deploy troops comes as the president has been slamming America’s cities as places where crime is out of control, despite two years of declines that have brought homicide levels in many major cities to their lowest levels in decades.

Georgia – A Top Republican in the Georgia Governor’s Race Is Suing His Rival Over Campaign Financing

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 8/7/2025

One of the top Republicans running for Georgia governor sued the other leading GOP candidate, challenging the legality of the rival’s campaign funding. State Attorney General Chris Carr sued Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in federal court, asking a judge to permanently cut off Jones’ ability to spend money from his leadership committee, a special fundraising vehicle that allows Georgia’s governor, lieutenant governor, and legislative leaders to raise unlimited funds.

Indiana – Is Rep. Baird Using Taxpayer Funds to Prep His Son for a Congressional Seat? An Opponent Thinks So

MSN – Brittany Carloni and Kayla Dwyer (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 8/11/2025

Recently, U.S. Rep. Jim Baird has used pictures of his son, state Rep. Beau Baird, in taxpayer-funded mailers and has started omitting his first name in some materials when identifying himself in prominent spots, referring to himself instead as simply “Congressman Baird.” Jim Baird has not yet said if he is running for reelection, and legally he is not doing anything wrong, experts say. But if his son runs instead, he will get the perk of already-built-in name recognition from years of the last name being on the ballot and on official office material. For years, Beau Baird has been rumored as a future candidate for the seat should his father choose not to run.

Indiana – Certain Local Offices Now Subject to More Campaign Finance Requirements

Yahoo News – Whitney Downard (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 8/12/2025

Some locally elected officials in Indiana now have to file annual campaign finance reports following a new state law. Now, any elected official making at least $5,000 annually, which includes county council members and many township trustees, will be subject to the new requirements.

Kansas – Wyandotte County Official’s ‘Despicable’ Hand Gesture Prompts Ethics Probe

MSN – Sofi Zeman (Kansas City Star) | Published: 8/8/2025

Wyandotte County commissioners are calling on ethics officials to weigh in after a fellow commissioner allegedly threw up his hands and mimed male masturbation during a recent public meeting. Commissioner Philip Lopez commented on a resident’s social media post that the situation had been taken out of context and he was actually shaking his hand to reduce irritation in his wrists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Offers Top Staff Member Permanent Job Following Political Dispute

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted unanimously to make a job offer to its acting ethics administrator after legislators took unprecedented steps to block his hiring. The board made David Bordelon its top staff member on a temporary basis in December to appease state lawmakers. Legislators filed an unsuccessful lawsuit last fall to try to stop the board from picking a new administrator at that time, and Bordelon’s interim status was considered a compromise.

Maryland – Judge Is Skeptical of DOJ Lawsuit Against Entire Maryland Federal Bench

MSN – Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2025

The Justice Department’s lawsuit against all 15 federal district judges in Maryland over limits to the pace of deportations was met with skepticism by another judge, who presided over a rare courtroom battle pitting the executive branch against the judiciary. The lawsuit alleges the U.S. District Court in Maryland, its judges, and chief clerk have been violating federal law this year with a standing order that grants a two-day stay of removal proceedings to anyone who files a petition claiming wrongful detention, complicating the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up immigration enforcement.

Michigan – False Statement Gets Consultant Probation in ‘Dark Money’ Probe

MSN – Paul Egan (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 8/13/2025

A fundraising consultant was sentenced to three months of probation, 20 hours of community service, and a $2,500 fine for giving a false statement in a “dark money” investigation conducted by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nessel probed the financing of the Unlock Michigan campaign of 2020 and 2021, aimed at overturning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minnesota – Minnesota Republican PAC Violated Campaign Finance Laws, Investigation Finds

MSN – Ryan Faircloth (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 8/9/2025

A PAC that reported spending no money on behalf of candidates and hundreds of thousands of dollars on “internet access and web hosting” services has been fined for violating Minnesota’s campaign finance laws. The Campaign Finance Board found a key figure behind Right Now Minnesota misclassified more than $240,000 in expenditures during the 2022 midterm elections. The board also found the PAC ran political ads without proper disclaimers. Right Now Minnesota and its chairperson, Elliott Olson, were each fined $10,000.

New Mexico – New Mexico Gov. Removes Game Commissioner Over Undisclosed Conflict of Interest Tied to Mexican Gray Wolf Campaign

Albuquerque Journal – Cathy Cook | Published: 8/13/2025

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fired a game commissioner, Sabrina Pack, for failing to disclose she had worked on an outside persuasion campaign on the Mexican gray wolf. Management of the endangered Mexican gray wolf has long been a source of debate in New Mexico, with environmental advocates asking the federal government to take more aggressive action to conserve the species and livestock producers concerned about wolves killing their cattle. Pack worked on a campaign for the latter camp.

New Mexico – Nonprofit Group Discloses Hefty Trial Lawyer Contributions After Settlement Agreement

Yahoo News – Dan Boyd (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/11/2025

The State Ethics Commission announced it reached a settlement agreement with New Mexico Safety Over Profit, resolving allegations the group failed to comply with provisions of the Lobbyist Regulation Act. The commission filed a lawsuit arguing New Mexico Safety Over Profit violated the law by refusing to register and disclose both its donors and expenditures. The group agreed to pay a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under state law. It also released a full list of donors going back to 2021.

New York – Ex-Eric Adams Aide Pleads Guilty to Federal Straw Donor Conspiracy Charge

Courthouse News Service – Josh Russell | Published: 8/12/2025

Mohamed Bahi, a former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to organizing illegal campaign contributions, putting to bed one of the outstanding indictments that stemmed from multiple investigations into the mayor. Bahi said he was instructed by a volunteer of the Eric Adams 2021 campaign to organize a fundraiser where he would collect employees’ straw donor campaign contributions that both he and the Adams campaign knew would be reimbursed by their companies’ owners.

New York – Justice Department Subpoenas Letitia James About Trump Fraud Probe

MSN – Perry Stein, Shayna Jacobs, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/8/2025

The U.S. Justice Department is intensifying its legal battle against New York Attorney General Letitia James, issuing at least two subpoenas to James in recent days. One of the subpoenas focused on James’s successful civil fraud case against President Trump and his real estate business, in which a judge ordered that Trump and his company pay more than $450 million in fines and interest. A second subpoena suggested the department is looking into James’s litigation against the National Rifle Association, which led to court-mandated reforms of the group.

New York – A $9,200 Portrait, $20K for Decorations: Questions raised about Frank Seddio campaign spending

Yahoo News – Graham Rayman (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/10/2025

Almost $175,000 in expenditures by Friends of Frank Seddio and the Kings County Democratic County Committee when Seddio was leading it raise questions, either because they could be seen as benefitting Seddio personally or lack required information in campaign finance records. The expenditures made between 2012 and 2024 fall into two broad categories – a series of specific purchases totaling $94,824.33, either with no listed purpose or explanation as required by law or vague justifications for the expenditure. The second totals $77,576.12 in payments by the Kings County committee via Signature Bank that have no listed purpose or explanation.

North Carolina – NC Lawmaker Returns Lobbyist Money, Following Public Scrutiny

MSN – Will Doran (WRAL) | Published: 8/12/2025

A powerful state lawmaker whose campaign took thousands of dollars from lobbyists during this year’s legislative session is giving the money back, after drawing concerns over the legality of those transactions. Rep. Sarah Stevens has spent years as a top member of House Republican leadership in North Carolina. She is not seeking reelection, choosing instead to run for a seat next year on the state Supreme Court. That is where the campaign finance issues begin.

Ohio – Sherrod Brown Plans to Run for Senate in Ohio Again

MSN – Hannah Knowles and Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

Sherrod Brown plans to run for U.S. Senate in Ohio again, according to several people familiar with his plans, boosting Democrats’ hopes of retaking a seat in the increasingly red-leaning state. First elected to the chamber in 2006, he defied his state’s rightward shift for many years and was viewed as Democrats’ best shot to keep Ohio competitive. He outperformed Democrats’ presidential ticket – courting working-class voters through his own brand of left-leaning populism – but lost by about four points last fall.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Opinion Says Officeholders Can Use Campaign Funds for Some Security Costs

Yahoo News – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 8/11/2025

Campaign funds can be used for officeholder security expenses in certain cases, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission recommended in a draft advisory opinion. Any “reasonable” expenses must be the direct result of holding the elected state office and would not be incurred if the individual did not hold the office, the draft opinion read. The opinion only covers the officeholder, not family, staff, or others connected with the individual.

Oregon – Oregon Government Ethics Commission Opens Third Investigation in 2025 for State Lawmaker

MSN – Dianne Lugo (Salem Statesman Journal) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission launched an investigation into whether Rep. Greg Smith violated state law regarding the reporting of income sources, marking the third probe into potential violations by Smith in recent months. The commission voted unanimously to open an investigation into whether Smith violated state laws when he failed to disclose income from the Morrow Development Corporation in his 2024 and 2025 Statements of Economic Interest.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Pursues Legislative Action, Further Revision on Meetings Policy

Yahoo News – Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission agreed there is not enough clarity surrounding their recently acquired power to ensure public officials only make governing decisions in front of their constituents, leaving the door open for future legislative action or additional guidance from the commission. The 2023 legislation aimed to crack down on what the law calls “serial communications,” in which a majority of members of a governing body discuss issues relevant to their work and make decisions outside of the public eye in text messages, emails, or private meetings.

Pennsylvania – As Penn State Ramps Up Lobbying, Lax Disclosure Laws Make It Difficult to Tell Who or What It’s Trying to Influence.

Spotlight PA – Wyatt Massey | Published: 8/13/2025

Penn State University outspent its peers lobbying state lawmakers in recent years, but the commonwealth’s lax disclosure requirements and the university’s protection from the open records law make following the school’s activity in Harrisburg difficult. Spotlight PA reviewed more than 15 years of quarterly lobbying reports from the Department of State and adjusted the figures for inflation to make annual comparisons. The data show Penn State increased its lobbying expenditures after 2020 and is now spending more on its influence efforts than any year since 2008.

South Carolina – SC Legislator Accused of Distributing Videos of Child Sexual Abuse Resigns House Seat

Yahoo News – Skylar Laird (South Carolina Daily Gazette) | Published: 8/11/2025

Rep. RJ May resigned his South Carolina House seat two months after his arrest on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. May, who remains in jail without bond, has been suspended from the House without pay since his June arrest, as per state law for any public official indicted on a felony. He was also the subject of a House Ethics Commission investigation, which would have been the first step toward expelling him.

Texas – Texas Private Schools Hire Relatives and Enrich Insiders. Soon They Can Do It with Taxpayer Money.

MSN – Lexi Churchill (Texas Tribune) and Ellis Simani (ProPublica) | Published: 8/13/2025

Private schools in Texas operate largely outside those rules because they have not historically received direct taxpayer dollars. Now, as the state moves to spend at least $1 billion over the next two years on private education, lawmakers have imposed almost none of the accountability measures required of the public school system. If held to the same standards, 27 private schools identified by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune through tax filings likely would have violated state law. Supporters of the voucher program argue oversight of private schools should come not from the state, but from their boards and the marketplace.

Texas – Federal Appeals Court Sides with Texas on ID Requirements for Voting by Mail

MSN – Alex Nguyen (Texas Tribune) | Published: 8/5/2025

A federal appeals court upheld Texas’ requirement that potential voters must list their identification information in their application for a mail-in ballot. In Texas, voting by mail is only available for certain groups of people, including elderly voters and people with disabilities. Under Senate Bill 1 passed in 2021, voters must also include an ID number such as a driver’s license number on both the vote-by-mail applications and the mail-in ballots and both numbers need to match.

Utah – Stuart Adams Says He Won’t Resign Over Claims He Influenced New Law to Help Family Member

Yahoo News – Bridger Beal-Cvetko (Deseret News) | Published: 8/13/2025

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams rejected calls for his resignation, defending his decision not to disclose a personal connection to a law passed in 2024 that was inspired by a criminal case involving an 18-year-old relative accused of having sex with a 13-year-old. In a stated effort to keep the process fair, Adams did not tell legislators, except for the bill’s sponsor, that his granddaughter was currently the defendant in a Davis County criminal case falling into that narrow category.