News You Can Use Digest – February 20, 2026

National/Federal

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Slavery Exhibits to the President’s House

MSN – Abraham Gutman and Fallon Roth (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 2/16/2026

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibits the National Park Service removed from the President’s House. The order does not give the government a deadline for the restoration of the site. It does require that the National Park Service take steps to maintain the site and ensure the safety of the exhibits, which memorialize the enslaved people who lived in George Washington’s Philadelphia home during his presidency and were abruptly removed in January.

Stephen Colbert Says CBS Blocked Interview with Texas Democrat Over FCC Concerns

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 2/17/2026

CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert rebuked his own network, claiming lawyers for parent company Paramount Skydance prohibited him from airing an interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate, over concerns it would violate the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) equal time rule. The rule requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunity to candidates. News and talk show interviews have traditionally been exempt from the mandate. But in January, the FCC issued a public notice saying daytime and nighttime talk shows would have to apply for exemptions to the equal time rule for each of their programs.

Supreme Court to Use Software to Identify Justices’ Conflict of Interests

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 2/17/2026

The U.S. Supreme Court will begin using software to scan litigants’ filings to identify potential conflicts of interest that might require justices to step aside from cases. Parties before the court will be required to list stock-ticker symbols and make other disclosures to support the automated reviews. The software will compare information about parties and attorneys in a case with a list created by each justice’s chambers. The new rules will take effect in mid-March.  

Democratic Lawmakers Ask Watchdogs to Probe Whether Former Lobbyists Serving in Trump Administration Violated Ethics Rules

MSN – Sara Lynch (CBS News) | Published: 2/18/2026

Four Democratic lawmakers are asking the top internal watchdogs at 16 different federal agencies to investigate whether former lobbyists appointed by the Trump administration may have violated ethics rules to benefit their own former clients. Federal ethics rules generally bar government employees for one year from working on matters involving their former employers or clients. During Trump’s first term in office, he extended the recusal period to two years, though he has not issued any sort of ethics pledge during his second term in office.

How the US Supreme Court Set the Stage for Partisan Gerrymandering Arms Race

MSN – John Kruzel (Reuters) | Published: 2/14/2026

Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings allowing starkly partisan voting maps to be used in the November midterm elections crucial to Donald Trump’s presidency highlight how a 2019 decision by the justices helped supercharge a political practice that polling shows most Americans oppose. The ruling by the justices in a 2019 case called Rucho v. Common Cause stripped federal courts of their power to police a practice known as partisan gerrymandering. It involves states redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts based on the partisan leanings of voters to boost a political party’s candidates.

Democratic-Led Cities Move to Block ICE, Setting Up Clash with Trump

MSN – Tim Craig (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2026

Elected Democrats in major U.S. cities have banded together to try to block the Trump administration from aggressive immigration operations such as the one now winding down in Minneapolis, issuing a slate of policy changes and vowing to prosecute agents who violate local laws. The policies broadly seek to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from city property and parks and, in some cases, direct local police to monitor the activities of federal agents.

Federal Court Blocks Hegseth Effort to Punish Democratic Senator

MSN – Connor O’Brien and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 2/12/2026

A federal judge sided with U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from punishing the former Navy captain for advising troops not to follow illegal orders. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon’s effort to demote Kelly’s rank and reduce his retirement pay. The decision is the second legal setback for the Trump administration’s campaign to punish Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers, who released a video last fall telling military personnel they do not have to adhere to illegal orders.

Trump Nominates Two Republicans to FEC, Paving Path to End Monthslong ‘Shutdown’

NOTUS – Taylor Giorno and Dave Levinthal | Published: 2/11/2026

President Trump nominated two Republicans to seats on the FEC, the first step toward reopening the idled federal campaign finance regulator as the 2026 midterms get underway. Trump nominated Andrew Woodson, a lawyer at Wiley Rein who previously worked for former FEC Chairperson Lee Goodman, and Ashley Stow, who previously worked with former FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor, to fill two of the four vacancies on the commission.

Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance AI Agenda

Seattle Times – Theodore Schleifer and Matt Zdun (New York Times) | Published: 2/18/2026

Meta is preparing to spend $65 million this year to boost state politicians who are friendly to the artificial intelligence industry. The sum is the biggest election investment by Meta. The company was previously cautious about campaign engagements, making small donations out of a corporate PAC and contributing to presidential inaugurations. It also let executives like Sheryl Sandberg, who was chief operating officer, support candidates in their personal capacities.

House Speaker Condemns Trump Justice Department Monitoring of Lawmakers’ Epstein Document Review

Yahoo News – Holmes Lybrand, Annie Grayer, and Manu Raju (CNN) | Published: 2/12/2026

Attorney General Pam Bondi obtained U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s search history of the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Justice Department’s tracking of lawmakers’ search history was inappropriate, a rare rebuke from the Republican who is usually in lockstep with the Trump administration. Jayapal said she did not know the Justice Department had surveilled her search until CNN contacted her for a comment on the matter.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – In Call, Alabama Power Lobbyist Sought Nonprofit’s Support for Bill Ending PSC Elections

Yahoo News – Ralph Chapoco (Alabama Reflector) | Published: 2/17/2026

A lobbyist for Alabama’s largest electric utility approached a nonprofit to persuade the organization to support legislation that would end popular elections to the state’s utility regulation board. R.B. Walker, director of state and federal governmental affairs for Alabama Power, told John Dodd, policy manager for Energy Alabama, the utility would not take an official position on the proposed legislation but said cited possible advantages for appointing members of the Alabama Public Service Commission. Dodd said in an interview he believed Alabama Power wanted the nonprofit to work for the bill without bringing the utility into the matter.

Arizona – Hobbs Releases Proposal to Reform Arizona’s Campaign Finance, Procurement and Lobbying Laws

KJZZ – Wayne Schutsky | Published: 2/17/2026

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs released long-awaited proposals to reform the state’s campaign finance and procurement laws in response to “pay-to-play” allegations lobbed against her administration by critics. But the governor is pairing those reforms with a ban on lobbyists entertaining state officials, including the lawmakers in the Republican-led Legislature that would have to vote to approve her proposal.

California – County Funds for Stopping Overdoses Instead Went to Personal Vacations, Prosecutors Say

MSN – Blake Nelson (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 2/18/2026

At least $132,000 in San Diego County funds were illegally spent on plastic surgery, streaming subscriptions, and trips to Disneyland and Hawaii, among other personal expenses, prosecutors alleged. That money was supposed to go toward preventing and reversing drug overdoses amid an ongoing opioid epidemic. Officials announced six felony charges against Amy Knox, the former chief operating officer of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.

California – Ex-San Leandro City Council Member Pleads Guilty in East Bay Bribery Case, Agrees to Work with Feds

MSN – Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 2/11/2026

Two days after announcing his retirement, San Leandro City Councilperson Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty to two felony charges connected to a far-reaching corruption case intended to help a powerful East Bay family win contracts in Oakland in exchange for kickbacks. Azevedo was the last defendant to be charged and the first to have their case adjudicated in what prosecutors described as a bribery scheme tied to former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and leaders of a Bay Area recycling company.

California – Southern California Air Board Rejected Pollution Rules After AI-Generated Flood of Comments

MSN – Hayley Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 2/17/2026

The opposition appeared overwhelming as thousands of emails poured into Southern California’s top air pollution authority as its board weighed proposal to phase out gas-powered appliances. But many of the messages that may have swayed the regulatory agency to scrap the plan were generated by a platform that is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). More than 20,000 public comments submitted in opposition to last year’s proposal were generated by a company called CiviClick, which bills itself as “the first and best AI-powered grassroots advocacy platform.”

Colorado – Colorado Capitol Caucuses Would Have to Disclose Their Donors, Spending Under Democratic Unity Bill

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven | Published: 2/13/2026

Colorado lawmakers would have to report who is donating to their caucuses and how they are spending that money under a bill brought in the wake of a dark money-funded retreat attended by a group of Democrats. Senate Bill 108 would require caucuses, committees, clubs. and other groups of lawmakers to file monthly reports with legislative staff detailing all money they received, accepted, or spent. The reports would then be posted online.

Georgia – Rick Jackson Sues Burt Jones Over Campaign Finance in Governor’s Race

MSN – Irene Wright (USA Today) | Published: 2/12/2026

Healthcare executive and political outsider Rick Jackson has been in the race for Georgia governor for just 10 days, but he Is already charging forward in the polls and taking on his opponents in court. Jackson’s campaign filed a lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Jones, and Attorney General Chris Carr (both running for governor), and other state officials alleging Jones’ campaign financing is unconstitutional.

Hawaii – Gov. Green Cancels Out-of-State Work Trip ‘to Ensure Steady Leadership’

Hawai’i Public Radio – Ashley Mizuo | Published: 2/12/2026

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green canceled his annual trip to the National Governors Association meeting. When a Hawaii governor physically leaves the state, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor in their absence. This schedule change comes after Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke became the center of a story involving allegations an “influential lawmaker” accepted $35,000 in a paper bag during a January 2022 meeting. The claim came to light during the federal bribery investigation into former Rep. Ty Cullen and Sen. Kalani English.

Illinois – AIPAC Accused of Covert Campaigning as Democratic Support Falters

MSN – Matthew Choi (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2026

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel organization, is masking its involvement in competitive Democratic primaries in Illinois, according to candidates in those races, who accuse the interest group of trying to quietly maintain its influence as Democrats reexamine their stance on Israel. AIPAC describes itself as a bipartisan organization; through its political arm, it has long supported Democrats and Republicans aligned with its mission.

Maine – Maine Legislature Asks Courts to Weigh in on Potential Ranked-Choice Voting Expansion

Yahoo News – Lauren McCauley (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 2/10/2026

Amid a pivotal election year, Maine lawmakers are asking the state’s highest court whether it would be legal to expand ranked-choice voting. The House and Senate passed Legislative Document 1666, which would expand the voting method to special and general elections for governor, state senator, and state representative. The governor had intended to veto the bill but was open to a solemn occasion, a rarely used action in which lawmakers can ask the Supreme Judicial Court to produce a nonbinding decision on the legality of pending legislation.

Massachusetts – Former State Police Union Head, Lobbyist Get More Prison Time for Fraud, Racketeering

MSN – Darin Zullo (Boston.com) | Published: 2/18/2026

Dana Pullman, a former Massachusetts State Police union president, and the union’s former lobbyist, Anne Lynch, were sentenced for racketeering, fraud, obstruction of justice, and tax crimes. Pullman was sentenced to two years in prison and Lynch was sentenced to 15 months in prison. After the defendants initial sentencing in 2023, The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed some of the convictions while letting the others stand.

Michigan – Lobbyists Spent Record Amount on Free Meals for Michigan Lawmakers in 2025

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 2/13/2026

Lobbyists spent a record amount of money providing free food and drink for Michigan lawmakers in 2025. Advocates for special interests in Lansing reported spending more than $485,000 entertaining legislators and members of the executive branch.  More than $180,000 was spent toward meals with individual legislators, a record amount and nearly $40,000 more than was spent in 2024, the next-highest year.

Nevada – Nevada Ethics Panel Advances Complaints Against AG Aaron Ford

Las Vegas Sun – Kyle Chouinard | Published: 2/17/2026

A review panel from the Nevada Commission on Ethics advanced a complaint against Attorney General Aaron Ford to the rest of the commission. The complaint accuses Ford of using his position to “benefit his private interests,” including by accepting more than $35,000 in “luxury” trips from the Attorney General Alliance (AGA). Ross Armstrong, executive director of the commission, wrote in the complaint that the AGA was “largely funded by corporations, some of which are subject to regulation or litigation before his office.”

Nevada – Nevada Staffer Faces Ethics Complaints for Federal Official’s Visit

MSN – McKenna Ross (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 2/16/2026

Two complaints filed with the Nevada Commission on Ethics allege the lieutenant governor’s chief of staff used his position in state government to promote a charter school network and its software platform to a Trump administration cabinet member. The complaint says Rudy Pamintuan used his government role to benefit his private position with the charter school by inviting Education Secretary Linda McMahon to a local event where his business partner demonstrated their artificial-intelligence software.

New Jersey – Bombshell Corruption Case Is Over. N.J. Fails to Prove Dem Power Broker Did Anything Wrong.

Yahoo News – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 2/17/2026

The state attorney general’s office said it will not appeal the dismissal of a sweeping corruption indictment against political powerbroker George Norcross III before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Nearly three weeks after an appellate panel upheld the tossing criminal charges, officials said the state was turning the page on the long-fought and controversial investigation, bringing an end to the politically charged case involving the powerful Democratic boss.

New Mexico – Lobbying Transparency Bill Awaits House Floor Hearing

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 2/13/2026

A bill that would require lobbyists in New Mexico to publicly disclose which legislation they are working to influence and whether they support or oppose passed its final House committee, but has since lingered, waiting for a floor vote before it can move to the Senate. Meanwhile, the legislative clock is ticking.

New York – White House Fires U.S. Attorney in N.Y. Hours After Judges Appointed Him

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 2/12/2026

Federal judges in Albany, New York, appointed a new U.S. attorney recently, exercising a rarely invoked legal authority to appoint top prosecutors in regions without a Senate-confirmed nominee. Their choice lasted less than five hours on the job. Donald Kinsella, a former prosecutor, was summarily fired via an email from the White House later that evening. Kinsella’s termination sent a signal to judges in several other federal court districts who have announced plans to make similar replacements of Trump-installed prosecutors whose appointments have been deemed invalid by the courts.

Ohio – Ex-Ethics Chief: FirstEnergy CEO blessed payment at heart of bribery trial

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/12/2026

Former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones signed off on a $4.3 million payment that prosecutors say was a bribe to a man who was about to become the state’s top utility regulator, a former company official testified. Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah, who was the company’s chief ethics officer until she was fired in 2020, also said the company’s then-top lobbyist, Mike Dowling, pushed other officials to speed up the payment. Jones and Dowling face corruption charges centered around accusations they bribed former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairperson Sam Randazzo in 2018 and 2019.

Ohio – Misconduct Accusations, Conflicting Testimony Roil FirstEnergy Trial

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/17/2026

The trial of two former FirstEnergy executives accused of bribery turned messy. Two major snags and an Ohio Supreme Court ruling against the presiding judge overshadowed testimony and slowed the trial of former Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and top lobbyist Michael Dowling, who are accused of bribing a former state utility regulator. The day unfolded outside the jury’s view and included defense attorneys asking a judge to toss out the case and a rare request from prosecutors to allow defense attorneys to view a key witness’ grand jury testimony.

Ohio – Witness Details How Ohio Regulator’s Decisions Enriched FirstEnergy in Bribery Trial

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/18/2026

A former FirstEnergy executive testified that decisions by former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairperson Sam Randazzo helped the utility avoid an estimated $150 million “haircut” to its annual revenue and reap roughly $79 million in additional profits over two years. Eileen Mikkelsen, FirstEnergy’s former vice president of rates and regulatory affairs, gave her testimony on the 10th day of the bribery trial of former Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and former company lobbyist Michael Dowling.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Commission Seeking Fix as Local Candidates Can’t File Finance Reports

MSN – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 2/13/2026

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is combating a new hurdle with its troubled campaign finance website, as it cannot accept reports from local candidates, though officials hoped a solution would have been in place months ago. This comes after months of problems with the state’s website that logs campaign donations. The site was down for three months in 2025 as the commission waited on RFD & Associates to build a new website. The site, Guardian 2.0, never materialized.

Oregon – Can Oregon Officials Text Each Other About City Business? State Lawmakers Want to Clarify

MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 2/17/2026

Oregon legislators are considering making changes to a law that bars city councils and other government bodies from secretly hashing out decisions via private text messages, chats, or other means, after elected officials complained the law was too confusing and a city lobbying group bashed state trainings on the rules. At issue is a section of state law that prohibits local officials from effectively bypassing Oregon’s open government mandate through “serial communications” by texting, calling, or otherwise talking to each other outside of public meetings.

Pennsylvania – Treasury Officials Question Whether Taxpayers Can Legally Pay for Security Upgrades at Shapiro’s Family Home

Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 2/18/2026

Last year, Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement agency revealed taxpayers would pick up the tab for more than $1 million in security upgrades to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s privately owned family home in Montgomery County. But the plan to use public dollars for the entirety of the work there has hit a roadblock. The state Treasury Department is questioning whether procurement rules permit public money to be used for construction work on a non-state-owned property like Shapiro’s house.

Texas – Voting Controversy: Pastor on ballot raises concerns for conflict of interest at Dallas polling site

Yahoo News – Brittani Moncrease (WFAA) | Published: 2/16/2026

Friendship-West Baptist Church is a voting location in Dallas. The polling site has come into question with some calling it a conflict-of-interest. Mallory Caraway, a candidate in Texas’s 30th Congressional District race, said voting at the church raises concern because its senior pastor, Frederick Haynes III, is on the ballot.

Virginia – Va. Supreme Court Paves Way for Democrats to Add Four Seats in Congress

MSN – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 2/13/2026

The Virginia Supreme Court paved the way for state Democrats to move forward with a plan that would enable them to add four Democratic-leaning congressional districts, but the effort’s fate will still be under court review. The ruling means the Virginia General Assembly can hold an April 21 statewide referendum on redrawing the state’s congressional map. A circuit court judge in Tazewell County had blocked the referendum, which seeks to amend the state constitution to temporarily allow mid-decade redistricting in time for this fall’s congressional midterm elections.

Virginia – ‘Us Versus Them’: The battle that’s tearing a small Virginia town apart

MSN – Paul Schwartzman (Washington Post) | Published: 2/16/2026

Small towns often are known for their quirky, insular intrigue, but the drama unfolding in Purcellville, a Virginia exurb that is a 50-mile drive west of the District of Columbia, is a brass-knuckled version of quaint. The battle is rooted in tensions that often divide communities across the country – change versus status quo, growth versus no growth – only in Purcellville the weapons are lawsuits, an attempted citizen revolt, and the kind of ferocious rhetoric that defines much of public life in contemporary America.

West Virginia – WV Senate Passes Bill to Keep Employer Info for Political Donors Off Public Campaign Finance Reports

Yahoo News – Caity Coyne (West Virginia Watch) | Published: 2/16/2026

The West Virginia Senate approved a bill that will stop the public from accessing certain information about people who donate to candidates and campaigns. Senate Bill 640 would stop the secretary of state’s office or any other government agency from publicly posting information that some lawmakers say could be used by advocates to target political donors.

Wyoming – ‘Strapped at the Cap’: Lawmakers and lobbyists take advantage of the Wyoming Capitol’s repealed gun-free zone

MSN – Maya Shimizu Harris (WyoFile) | Published: 2/16/2026

The 2026 budget session is the first time that lawmakers and others are allowed to bring concealed firearms into the Capitol while the Wyoming Legislature conducts its business. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson sponsored the bill that allows this. Haroldson had run bills to repeal gun-free zones in Wyoming every year since becoming a lawmaker in 2021.

Wyoming – Wyoming Lawmakers Will Investigate Checks Activist Gave to Legislators on House Floor

MSN – Maggie Mullen (WyoFile) | Published: 2/12/2026

The Wyoming House voted to launch an investigation after a conservative activist handed out campaign contributions to lawmakers on the chamber floor. The unanimous vote in a legislative body that is normally heavily divided illustrates how much, and how quickly, the incident reverberated through the state Capitol and beyond. Rebecca Bextel, who unsuccessfully sought the top leadership spot of the state Republican Party last year, admitted to handing out checks on the House floor. Bextel said there was no wrongdoing in “delivering lawful campaign checks from Teton County donors when I am in Cheyenne.”

Wyoming – Gov. Mark Gordon Bans Campaign Contributions in State Buildings in Response to Wyoming Check Controversy

MSN – Jasmine Hall (Jackson Hole News&Guide) | Published: 2/17/2026

Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order banning campaign contributions in state buildings, bringing the executive branch into an expanding controversy centered on checks handed to lawmakers in the Wyoming Capitol. The ban applies to state facilities and commercial buildings where the state leases space, including the Capitol. It does not apply to areas controlled by the Wyoming Legislature, including the Senate and House floor, which is where the controversy started after a conservative activist was photographed handing checks to lawmakers.