News You Can Use Digest – February 13, 2026

National/Federal

This Supreme Court Decision Could Upend Millions in Political Spending Ahead of the Midterms. Here’s How the Parties Are Preparing.

MSN – Elena Schneider and Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 2/5/2026

Democratic consultants expected to submit bids to their House campaign committee for contracts to cut up to $100 million worth of television ads by late summer last year. But as the 2026 midterms drew closer, no invitation ever came, a concrete sign of how the political parties are preparing for a potential earthquake in how the battle for Congress is waged. A Supreme Court case could drastically upend how hundreds of millions of dollars are raised and spent every cycle in the fight for control of Congress.

D.C. Grand Jury Declines to Indict Six Democratic Lawmakers

MSN – Perry Stein and Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2026

A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia refused the Justice Department’s attempts to indict six Democratic lawmakers over their comments to military service members, the latest rebuke of the Trump administration’s push to prosecute the president’s foes. Federal prosecutors last year launched an investigation into the lawmakers, all of whom served in the military or with intelligence agencies, after they released a short video advising current military members to reject “illegal orders.”

Survey Says Democracies’ Anti-Corruption Efforts Are Slipping and Raises Concern About the U.S.

MSN – Geir Moulson (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 2/10/2026

Established democracies’ efforts against public-sector corruption appear to be flagging, according to a survey released that serves as a barometer of perceived corruption worldwide. It raised concern about developments in the United States. The U.S. was down one point from 2024 for its worst showing yet under the methodology Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index started using for its global ranking in 2012, putting it in 29th place in the first year of President Trump’s second term.

‘Another Reminder’: Capitol Hill braces for Trump ethics standoff over crypto bill

MSN – Declan Harty and Jasper Goodman (Politico) | Published: 2/5/2026

A new controversy over President Trump’s ties to the cryptocurrency industry is sharpening Democratic demands that a sweeping digital assets bill include a provision reining in the first family’s crypto empire. Even as the White House presses Congress to pass the industry-friendly legislation, the Trump family’s growing crypto businesses are emerging as an unavoidable obstacle after news that an Abu Dhabi royal backed a $500-million investment in a Trump-linked venture called World Liberty Financial.

Legality of Trump’s $400M in Private Funding for White House Ballroom at Issue

MSN – Dan Diamond, Aaron Schaffer, and Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2026

A federal judge is expected to soon rule on whether President Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom project can proceed, zeroing in on whether the administration’s plan to rely on private donations allows it to bypass congressional approval. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon, congressional Democrats, and watchdog groups have questioned an arrangement that relies on donations from corporations with business before the federal government, funneled through a nonprofit intermediary that stands to collect millions of dollars in fees, to fund the most significant alteration to the White House in decades.

Embattled Labor Secretary Has History of Questionable Spending That Eluded Congress

MSN – Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) | Published: 2/10/2026

Public records spanning more than a decade suggest Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has long used funds derived from donors and taxpayers to cover luxury expenses, a now-relevant detail that did not come up during her confirmation hearing. Chavez-DeRemer is facing allegations of improperly using the Labor Department to commit “travel fraud” by ordering her top staffers to “make up” official trips to select destinations so that she could spend time with friends and family on the public’s dime, according to a complaint.

National Guard Troops Were Quietly Withdrawn from Some U.S. Cities

MSN – Tara Copp and Alex Horton (Washington Post) | Published: 2/11/2026

The Trump administration has withdrawn all federalized National Guard troops from U.S. cities, after its repeated attempts to surge forces into Democratic-run states encountered judicial roadblocks. It is a remarkable turnabout after Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had insisted the mobilizations were necessary to combat what they claimed was unchecked violence and to support enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws.

Lutnick Distances Himself from Epstein, Says He Had Lunch on His Island

MSN – Maegan Vazquez (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2026

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told members of Congress he and his family had lunch with Jeffrey Epstein on his Caribbean island, but he denied any suggestion he had a meaningful relationship with the convicted sex offender. Lutnick said last year that he and his wife decided to distance themselves from Epstein around 2005. But exchanges recently released by the Justice Department related to Epstein show Lutnick and Epstein continued to remain in contact after that.

Republicans Rarely Criticize Trump in His Second Term. A Racist Post Briefly Changed That

MSN – Matt Brown (Associated Press) | Published: 2/7/2026

President Trump received rare blowback from Republican lawmakers over a video posted to social media that included a racist image of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, depicted as primates. Since Trump’s return to the White House, Republican lawmakers have tread carefully when disagreeing with the president, often communicating their concerns in private for fear of suffering his wrath.

DOJ Seeks to Undo Bannon’s Conviction for Defying Jan. 6 Subpoena

MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 2/9/2026

The Justice Department is taking steps to throw out Stephen Bannon’s conviction for defying a congressional subpoena about the Capitol riot, its latest shift in a legal position to benefit a close ally of President Trump. The department asked the Supreme Court to send Bannon’s case back to the district court, where the U.S. attorney filed a separate motion seeking to dismiss the charges against him.

For $1 Million, Donors to U.S.A. Birthday Group Offered Access to Trump

Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel, Lisa Friedman, and David Fahrenthold (New York Times) | Published: 2/8/2026

President Trump’s allies are offering access to him and other perks to donors who give at least $1 million to a new group supporting initiatives he is planning around the nation’s 250th birthday. The group, Freedom 250, has emerged as another vehicle, akin to the White House ballroom project, through which people and companies with interests before the Trump administration can make tax-deductible donations to gain access to, and seek favor with, a president who has maintained a keen interest in fundraising, and a willingness to use the levers of government power to reward financial supporters.

Man Who Tried to Shoot Trump at a Florida Golf Course Gets Life in Prison

Yahoo News – David Fischer (Associated Press) | Published: 2/4/2026

A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced to life in prison. Ryan Routh was convicted of trying to assassinate a major presidential candidate, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm as a felon, and using a gun with a defaced serial number.

State Election Officials Brace for Possible Trump Interference in Midterm Results

Yahoo News – Erin Doherty and Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 2/6/2026

Top bipartisan election officials from around the country are growing increasingly alarmed by what they see as President Trump’s unprecedented push to interfere in the midterm elections. A series of recent moves – from his administration’s requests for access to state voter rolls to a surprise FBI raid at a Fulton County election office – have solidified those concerns, with more than a dozen election officials from both parties saying they fear Trump is laying the groundwork to undermine results still months away.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Orr: Bill would close nonprofit ‘loophole’ in campaign finance law

Alabama Daily News – Mary Sell | Published: 2/10/2026

Nonprofit organizations making campaign contributions in Alabama would have to report their donors under recently filed legislation. Senate Bill 220 would require nonprofits that make contributions to register as “political donor organizations” and report their activities on a schedule determined by the secretary of state.

California – Anaheim’s City Manager Resigns

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 2/3/2026

Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool, whose tenure was plagued by a City Hall corruption scandal, resigned amid renewed scrutiny and questions over his close ties to resort interests investigated by FBI agents. Recently, Vanderpool started facing questions on why he did not disclose he went on an Anaheim Chamber of Commerce paid trip to Lake Havasu with city officials about to vote to finalize the chamber-backed Angel Stadium deal in 2020.

Georgia – Georgia Senate Passes Bill to Police Out-of-State Campaign Money

Capitol Beat News Service – Mark Niesse | Published: 2/5/2026

Millions of dollars of out-of-state campaign money flowing into Georgia could soon be more strongly policed in the wake of mysterious political ads and big spending on recent elections. A bipartisan state Senate passed a bill that allows the state’s ethics commission to seek subpoenas against groups or individuals located in other states who are suspected of breaking Georgia campaign finance laws, such as contribution limits or transparency requirements.

Georgia – FBI Cited Debunked Claims to Obtain Warrant for Fulton County Vote Records, Documents Show

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2026

The FBI relied heavily on previously debunked claims of widespread election irregularities in Georgia as it persuaded a federal judge to sign off on plans to seize 2020 voting records from the state’s most populous county, court documents show. In a pair of search warrant affidavits, authorities said they were seeking evidence that would determine whether “deficiencies” in the vote tabulation in Fulton County, home to Atlanta, were the result of intentional wrongdoing that could constitute a crime.

Georgia – Fulton County Goes to Court to Demand Return of Ballots Seized by FBI

MSN – Mark Berman and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 2/4/2026

Officials in Georgia filed a court challenge seeking the return of scores of election records seized by federal agents from a warehouse in Fulton County, which has been central to right-wing conspiracy theories about President Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Robb Pitts, chairperson of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, vowed that county officials would use “every resource” to secure ballots and other material and cast the court fight as part of a broader effort to ensure the future of independent elections.

Hawaii – $35K Case: New development sparks calls for independent probe

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 2/10/2026

A coalition of government accountability advocates is calling on the Hawaii attorney general to recuse herself from the investigation into a lawmaker who took $35,000 in a paper bag and instead appoint an independent prosecutor. The demand comes after Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told multiple media organizations that she might be the “influential” state lawmaker the Department of Justice identified during a federal bribery investigation. Luke said she did not take that much, and it came in the form of two campaign contribution checks over dinner.

Indiana – Jennifer-Ruth Green Broke State Ethics Law. Her Donors Helped Pay Her Legal Expenses

MSN – Hayleigh Colombo and Ryan Murphy (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 2/11/2026

Former congressional candidate Jennifer-Ruth Green launched her short-lived campaign amid a state ethics investigation into her conduct as part of Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s cabinet before dropping out of the race about three months later. But she used her federal campaign account to pay for legal expenses associated with the probe, a move that is raising red flags with campaign finance and ethics experts.

Maryland – Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Said He’s Working with Judges on Redistricting, Prompting Ethics Concerns

MSN – Tinashe Chingarande (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 2/9/2026

When asked recently if Maryland Courts might strike down his efforts to redraw congressional districts to stamp out the state’s only Republican seat, Gov. Wes Moore told “MS NOW” his team has been “working with judges” to prepare for legal challenges. The statement raised ethical red flags among some law professors and Republicans.

Michigan – Departing Head of Major State Government Agency Registers as Lobbyist

MSN – Paul Egan (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 2/4/2026

A former member of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s cabinet has registered as a Lansing lobbyist, days after resigning as director of a major state government agency, prompting renewed “revolving door” concerns in Michigan. Michelle Lange, who stepped down as director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget on January 31, registered as a lobbyist with the law firm Dykema on February 3, state records show.

Missouri – Missouri House Backs Bill to Ban Candidates from Using Automatic Recurring Donations

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 2/4/2026

A bill aimed at curbing the use of automatically recurring campaign donations, a fundraising tactic employed by a prominent Republican candidate, won first-round approval without opposition in the Missouri House. The bill would prohibit candidates from setting up recurring contributions without explicit authorization from donors. It also would require campaigns to shut off recurring donations once an election is over.

Nebraska – Pillen Team Offers New Explanation for Timing of $2.5 Million No-Bid Emergency Contract

MSN – Aaron Sanderford (Nebraska Examiner) | Published: 2/5/2026

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration, facing scrutiny for a no-bid emergency contract with a lobbyist to whom he steered more than $2 million in state money, again changed its story about how and why the contract was awarded. A gubernatorial spokesperson said Global Sustainability LLC executive Julie Bushell had already been helping the state, free of charge, boost a federal grant application during the Biden administration, so it made sense to award the formal contract to her once lawmakers approved the funding for it. But that is at least the third different story the Pillen administration has told about the contract.

Nevada – Lombardo’s 2025 Campaign Fundraising Heavily Reliant on Donors Using Legal Loophole to Give More

MSN – Eric Neugeboren (Nevada Independent) | Published: 2/8/2026

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo’s 2025 campaign fundraising haul of $4.3 million relied heavily on so-called bundling arrangements, where donors are easily and legally able to skirt contribution limits by sending donations through different names. About $1.9 million of Lombardo’s fundraising total came from these kinds of arrangements, which The Nevada Independent defined as donations from entities with known connections or with the same listed address that totaled more than the single-cycle contribution limit. This made up about 44 percent of his campaign’s haul.

New York – Conflicts Board Slaps Adams for Cuomo Whistle Low Blow

MSN – Katie Honan (The City) | Published: 2/9/2026

Former Mayor Eric Adams was fined $4,000 for an August 2025 press conference where he ordered City Hall staff to buy whistles to make a political opponent look bad. Adams had his staffers put whistles on reporters’ chairs as dig at Andrew Cuomo who was running for New York City mayor and faced sexual harassment allegations as governor.

Ohio – Jury Can Hear How HB 6 Hiked Electric Bills in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/9/2026

Prosecutors can tell a jury in the FirstEnergy bribery trial that customers’ electricity rates spiked because of the House Bill 6 scandal that erupted in 2019, a judge ruled. Assistant Ohio Attorney General Matthew Meyer had argued in a prior hearing the evidence was crucial to prosecutors’ case that former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and onetime top lobbyist Michael Dowling paid a $4.3 million bribe to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairperson Sam Randazzo.

Ohio – Former FirstEnergy Lawyer Says He Was Troubled by Randazzo Agreement

MSN – Patrick Williams (Akron Beacon Journal) | Published: 2/10/2026

A former lawyer for FirstEnergy said he was not sure why the company agreed to pay Sam Randazzo hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for five years. Mark Hayden formerly worked as an attorney at FirstEnergy Services Co., a subsidiary of the Akron-based electric utility. Hayden testified he held “a number of concerns” about an agreement that FirstEnergy Services Company had with Sam Randazzo, who at the time was a prominent attorney in the energy space. Later, in 2019, Randazzo became chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, a state regulatory agency.

Oregon – Oregon House Republicans Test Rule Barring Political Donations During Session

KLCC – Dirk VanderHart (OPB) | Published: 2/6/2026

The rules of Oregon’s House of Representatives are clear: representatives cannot accept campaign donations during a legislative session. As he runs for governor, state Rep. Ed Diehl is doing it anyway. The contributions buck decades of practice in the House, but they also might be perfectly legitimate.

Oregon – Key Pieces of Oregon’s Campaign Finance Overhaul Could Be Delayed Under Democrats’ Proposal

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 2/10/2026

Two years after Oregon lawmakers approved new limits on and oversight of political contributions, a top Democrat has proposed delaying major pieces of the campaign finance law, leaving the limits intact but pushing back some other provisions by several years. An amended version of House Bill 4018 represents the first substantial step that lawmakers have taken to refine the 2024 law since they rushed to craft and approve the policy. Key aspects of the law, including the limits on campaign contributions, are set to go into effect next January.

Texas – Austin Officials Correct Campaign Donation Cap After Providing Incorrect Information

MSN – Chaya Tong (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 2/6/2026

Individual donors to Austin City Council candidates may contribute up to $500 per election, not $450 as previously stated by city officials. The clarification follows recent reporting that raised questions about whether Councilperson Paige Ellis had accepted campaign contributions exceeding the city’s individual contribution limit. At the time, both Ellis and the city told the media the limit was $450.

Virginia – Virginia Democrats Quickly Approve Proposed Redistricting Map

MSN – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2026

Virginia Democrats approved legislation setting out proposed political maps that could give them a 10-to-one advantage in the state’s congressional districts during elections this fall, setting the stage to send the matter to Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The maps are part of a multistep process that still faces a legal challenge and would have to be approved by state voters before going into effect.