National/Federal

Trump Says He’ll Replace Leader of National Archives

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman, Michael Gold, and Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 1/6/2025

Donald Trump said he plans to replace the head of the National Archives, the agency whose leaders’ concerns about Trump’s decision to hang on to boxes of documents after he left office ultimately led to a federal indictment. Colleen Shogan, the current national archivist, was not involved in the criminal investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents, and a letter expressing concerns about his actions was written by her predecessor. It is common for a national archivist to span across presidential administrations.

Trump Inauguration, Awash in Cash, Runs Out of Perks for Big Donors

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer, Maggie Haberman, and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 1/8/2025

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is no longer selling tickets for major donors to attend his swearing-in and accompanying private events in Washington. The committee has raised over $170 million. The haul is so big that some seven-figure donors have been placed on wait lists or have been told they probably will not receive VIP tickets at all because the events are at capacity.

Meta Ends Fact Checks as It Prepares for Trump Era

MSN – Naomi Nix, Will Oremus, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2025

Meta announced a set of changes to its content moderation policy that would effectively put an end to its longstanding fact-checking program. The company said it would allow its users to add context or debunk claims in notes that appear next to specific posts. Meta will also change its rules more broadly, lifting restrictions on hot-button topics and focusing enforcement on illegal or high-severity violations. The move is a victory for conservatives who have waged a campaign against fact-checking and content moderation.

Justice Dept. Says It Won’t Yet Release Trump Classified Document Report

MSN – Jerermy Roebuck and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2025

The Justice Department does not plan to publicly release special counsel Jack Smith’s findings on Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents until litigation against his co-defendants concludes. But prosecutors said Attorney General Merrick Garland does intend to release the portion of Smith’s report outlining his investigation into Trump’s efforts to undo the results of the 2020 election and to permit select members of Congress to review the withheld portions on the classified documents probe.

Congress Counts Electoral Votes, Clearing Path for Trump’s Return to Oval Office

MSN – John Bennett (Roll Call) | Published: 1/6/2025

Congress made Donald Trump’s Electoral College victory official on the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection. No Democratic lawmakers rose to challenge any state’s electoral results during the joint session of the Senate and House, meaning Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are set to be sworn in on January 20.

Gold-Plated Watches and Electoral Map Sneakers: Trump’s newest merchandise raises conflict of interest questions

MSN – Fredreka Schouten and Steve Contorno (CNN) | Published: 1/8/2025

In the two months since the election, Donald Trump has urged his nearly 8.5 million followers on Truth Social to buy limited edition guitars that bear his signature and Trump-themed fragrances that “represent winning.” The post-election sales pitches illustrate just how closely Trump’s personal business interests are entwined with his politics. But the president-elect and the Trump Organization have not offered details to the public on how they intend to wall off those varied interests from his job as president.

Trump Speaks with Justice Alito Amid Push to Halt Criminal Sentencing

MSN – Katherine Faulders, Jonathan Karl, and Devin Dwyer (ABC News) | Published: 1/8/2025

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke to Donald Trump by phone to recommend one of his former law clerks for a job in the new administration. The call occurred just hours before Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency request with the justices asking them to block a New York judge from moving forward with sentencing Trump in his criminal hush money case. Alito said he and Trump did not discuss that matter.

Federal Courts Won’t Refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to Attorney General Over Ethics

MSN – Lindsay Whitehurst (Associated Press) | Published: 1/2/2025

The federal courts will not refer allegations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may have violated ethics laws to the Justice Department. Thomas has agreed to follow updated requirements on reporting trips and gifts, including clearer guidelines on hospitality from friends, the U.S. Judicial Conference wrote to Democratic senators who had called for an investigation into undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips.

House Ethics Panel Recommends Further Review of Campaign Finance Allegations Against 2 Lawmakers

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 1/2/2025

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) wants to dig deeper into separate campaign finance allegations against two lawmakers, U.S. Reps. Andy Ogles and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. The OCE alleged Ogles may have misrepresented a loan to his 2022 campaign, transferring far less than the amount originally disclosed from an undetermined source. The OCE said Cherfilus-McCormick may have made “impermissible payments” to a state PAC that then paid vendors and her unofficial campaign manager.

Biden Awards Liz Cheney a Presidential Medal for Challenging Jan. 6 Attack

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 1/2/2025

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney, honoring one of Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics at a White House ceremony less than three weeks before Trump is set to reclaim the presidency. The medal, given to those who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country, is the nation’s second-highest award. Biden also p. Bennie Thompson, who along with Cheney led the House committee that investigated the assault on the Capitol.

Elon Musk Goes Global with His Playbook for Political Influence

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 1/4/2025

Last year, Elon Musk dominated U.S. politics, using his money and X microphone to boost Donald Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections. In the new year, Musk is flexing his political muscle on the global stage as well. He appears to be applying a playbook similar to the one he used to disrupt American politics, now boosting conservative politicians in the governments of the United States’ top allies. But his disregard for the veracity of his posts and his elevation of far right and extremist figures have alarmed liberal leaders around the world.

These ‘New’ Members Are Boomeranging Back to Congress

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 1/3/2025

The 118th Congress was, by some measures, one of the least productive in recent history. Public opinion remains persistently low, and on their way out the door, lawmakers did not mince words. Death threats and swatting take a toll on members’ families, said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster while in the eyes of Rep. Anna Eshoo, money in politics has become “corrosive.” In spite of all this, some people cannot get enough and a few even decided, after taking a hiatus from Capitol Hill, that now was the perfect time to come back.

‘A Day of Love’: How Trump inverted the violent history of Jan. 6

Seattle Times – Dan Barry and Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 1/5/2025

In the wake of the attack on the Capitol, Donald Trump’s volatile political career seemed over. Myriad factors explain his resurrection, but not least of them is how effectively he and his loyalists have laundered the history of January 6. The inverted interpretation defied what the country had watched unfold, but it neatly fit the persecution narrative that binds Trump to many of his faithful. Once he committed to running again for president, he doubled down on flipping the script about the riot and its blowback, including a congressional inquiry and two criminal indictments against him, as part of an orchestrated victimization.

Cartoon of Jeff Bezos That His Paper Axed Goes Viral

Yahoo News – Liam Archacki (Daily Beast) | Published: 1/4/2025

A Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist revealed she quit her job at the Washington Post after management axed her drawing of billionaires – including Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner – bending the knee to Donald Trump. Ann Telnaes said she drew a cartoon that criticized corporate titans for their efforts to curry favor with the president-elect. Like Amazon, Apple and Facebook also ponied up $1 million for Trump’s inauguration. But for the first time in her career, Telnaes said the paper killed the cartoon because of whom it targeted.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Trudeau Resigns After Nine Years in Power as Liberals Force Him Out

MSN – Brian Platt and Thomas Seal (Bloomberg) | Published: 1/6/2025

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is resigning after more than nine years leading Canada, bowing to sagging approval numbers and a rebellion within his political party. Trudeau will step down as head of the governing Liberal Party within months. He will remain as prime minister until a new leader is selected, and parliament has been suspended until March 24 while that process is underway. The winner of the Liberal leadership contest is set to become Canada’s 24th prime minister and will have to quickly prepare for an election, which the Conservative Party is the clear favorite to win, according to public opinion polls.

Colorado – Election Officials Advance Campaign Finance Complaint Against State Senator Prompted by Colorado Sun Reporting

Colorado Sun – Jesse Paul | Published: 1/3/2025

Colorado elections officials have advanced a campaign finance complaint against state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis. The complaint alleges Jaquez Lewis used campaign contributions for personal purposes not reasonably related to her campaign, made a prohibited donation to another candidate committee, and failed to report contributions and expenditures. It was reported that two of Jaquez Lewis’ Capitol staffers filed a workplace misconduct complaint claiming she used one of them to do chores like yard work and bartending at a party at her home and paid the staffer with a check from her campaign’s bank account.

Florida – A ‘Business-Friendly’ Lawyer’s Rise from Lobbyist to Attorney General Pick

DNyuz – Eric Lipton and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 1/8/2025

Pam Bondi would not be the first U.S. attorney general who previously served as a lobbyist. But while she was Florida’s attorney general, she became known for what one lobbying firm called her “business-friendly” attitude. She and her staff agreed to meet with a steady stream of lawyers whose clients had been targeted by other states for investigations. Then, in her time as a lobbyist, Bondi represented a long roster of corporate clients. Many of these companies have business with the federal government and could be subject to scrutiny by a Justice Department run by her, raising questions about potential conflicts-of-interest.

Georgia – Giuliani Is Held in Contempt of Court, But Avoids Jail

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 1/6/2025

A federal judge held Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt of court twice for failing to adequately respond to requests for documents and information sought by two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him in 2023. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman declared Giuliani can no longer present the central legal defense that could have allowed the former New York City mayor to avoid handing over his Palm Beach condo to the two women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

Illinois – Board of Ethics Said It Did Not Give Mayor Brandon Johnson an Opinion About CPS Leave

MSN – Nell Salzman, Alice Yin, and Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/8/2025

Despite City Hall’s claims, the Board of Ethics said it did not provide Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration with an opinion about whether he should resign from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to avoid a conflict-of-interest. It was reported that Ben Felton, a high-ranking CPS staffer, called on the mayor to resign from CPS after his election in 2023, but City Hall shrugged off the concerns.

Illinois – Back on the Witness Stand, Michael Madigan Rejects Bribery and Quid Pro Quo Allegations in Corruption Trial

WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 1/8/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan, who is charged alongside his longtime right-hand man Michael McClain, is alleged to have orchestrated multiple corruption schemes, wielding his political power to reward loyal allies and enrich himself. Madigan’s testimony in his trial seeks to discredit one of the main points federal prosecutors made in their case against him, that the speaker was seeking to use his public position to benefit his private tax law firm.

Indiana – Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Agrees to Plead Guilty in Campaign Finance Fraud Case

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 1/8/2025

Former Indiana congressional candidate Gabriel Whitley is admitting he falsified campaign finance records, saying he lied about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary. The U.S. attorney’s office said Whitley admitted he lied to the FEC in three separate reports about hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from supporters and loans from himself.

Kansas – Overland Park Lawsuit Leads Judge to Narrow Kansas’ Definition of Political Action Committee

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 1/7/2025

A federal court sided with a group that supported candidates, allowing it to remain a local advocacy group rather than become a political committee. The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission had ordered Fresh Vision OP to file as a PAC following the group’s expenditure of more than $100 to champion the 2021 mayoral candidacy of an Overland Park mayoral candidate with mailers and a website. Rather than comply with the commission’s directive and disclose its donors, Fresh Vision’s leadership suspended operations and filed a lawsuit.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Withheld Information on Landry Staff’s Financial Interests from Public

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 1/7/2025

For seven months, the Louisiana Board of Ethics kept private documents about the financial interests of a handful of Gov. Jeff Landry’s staff that are supposed to be public under state law. The documents Landry’s top staff members filled out reveal information about all their personal income sources, their spouses’ jobs, investment holdings, property ownership, and ties to charities.

Minnesota – GOP Sues Over Timing of Special Election Crucial to Minnesota House Power Balance

MPR News – Clay Masters | Published: 1/6/2025

Minnesota Republicans are suing over the timing of a late-January special election that could determine if the state House moves back into a tie or remains in Republican hands deeper into the new legislative session. Gov. Tim Walz invoked a seldom used state law to schedule the special election for January 28 even before the House convened with 133 members instead of the full complement of 134. The outcome of the case is crucial because Republicans will come into the 2025 session with 67 seats to 66 for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; the race for a seat favoring Democrats could push the House into a tie. fFor now

Montana – New Montana Legislative Website Has Problems, Legislative Services Working on Fixes

Yahoo News – Keila Szpaller (Daily Montanan) | Published: 1/8/2025

The chief information officer for the Legislative Services Division said a technology team is addressing problems with the Montana Legislature’s website, and the goal is to have a top-notch system once again. In the meantime, however, legislators, lobbyists. and members of the public are running into roadblocks in trying to follow lawmakers’ work.

New York – New York’s High Court Weighs Constitutionality of State Ethics Panel

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 1/7/2025

The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, heard arguments on whether the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government was formed in violation of the state constitution. The case stems from a yearslong battle between Andrew Cuomo and the state’s ethics commission, as well as its embattled predecessor agency, that stems from the former governor’s efforts to thwart an investigation of a $5 million deal he received for writing a book about his administration’s handling of the pandemic.

New York – Treasurer for Brooklyn Boro Prez Candidate Anthony Jones Pleads Guilty in Straw Donor Scheme

MSN – John Annese (New York Daily News) | Published: 1/7/2025

The treasurer for an unsuccessful Brooklyn borough president candidate pleaded guilty to charges she tried to scam the city out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in public matching funds. Erlene King tried to take advantage of the New York City’s matching campaign funds program with a straw donor scheme. She submitted $25,000 in straw donations to Jones’ campaign, along with five corresponding “fictitious records,” in the hopes of getting $400,000 in matching funds, prosecutors said.

New York – Judge Upholds Trump’s Felony Conviction, but Does Not Plan to Order Jail Time

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 1/3/2025

Donald Trump will be sentenced on 34 counts of falsifying business records ahead of his swearing-in January 20 but is not expected to face jail time, a judge ruled. The decision to uphold Trump’s conviction and schedule the sentencing for January 10 almost certainly means Trump will be the first felon to serve as a U.S. president. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said he plans to order an “unconditional discharge,” a designation in New York criminal courts for a non-jail and non-probation sentence that carries no other obligations.

New York – Board of Elections Director Made Racial and Sexual Remarks to Female Employees, City Probe Finds

The City – Greg Smith | Published: 1/7/2025

A Department of Investigation probe documented evidence that Michael Ryan, executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, routinely made racially insensitive and sexually suggestive remarks to two top-level minority female staffers, prompting the independent watchdog agency to recommend he resign. Both employees felt they had little recourse to confront Ryan about his comments because of his position according to the report.

North Carolina – North Carolina Justices Block Certification of Election Outcome in Race for One of Its Own Seats

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 1/7/2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked the certification of a November election result for one of its own seats so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate who contends over 60,000 ballots that were cast should not be counted. The decision by the Republican-dominated state Supreme Court to issue the temporary stay is a setback for Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Election results show Riggs ahead of GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes from over 5.5 million ballots cast.

North Dakota – Voters Created an Ethics Commission in North Dakota. Then the Legislature Limited Its Power.

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 1/6/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission has achieved less than the advocates had hoped in the six years since its inception, undermined in large part by the Legislature the commission is charged with overseeing. The commission has not substantiated any of the 81 complaints it has received. It has dismissed 47, most because it lacked the authority to investigate them. Thirty complaints are pending, some for more than a year. Numerous tips do not get investigated because the agency cannot proceed without a formal complaint, and complainants have said they fear retaliation if they file one, the commission’s executive director said.

Ohio – An Ohio Mayor’s Company Hired a Lobbyist to Weaken a State Ethics Law. The Legislature Passed It During Lame Duck.

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/5/2025

In a massive bill passed late on the final lawmaking day of 2024, Republicans slipped in an unvetted amendment creating an ethics exemption for small town mayors. The idea came from an Ohio mayor, who also serves as chief executive of a water treatment supply company. Under current law, businesses owned by public officials generally cannot accept public contracts unless the government gets the best treatment and the lowest cost, and the public official takes no part in the town’s decision. The change would have exempted village mayors’ businesses from the law under certain conditions.

Pennsylvania – Governor’s Office Forced to Reveal Why It Spent $368K on Private Law Firms

MSN – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 1/8/2025

The administration of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf spent tens of thousands of public dollars to hire private law firms for an ethics investigation, federal and state grand jury probes, and advice on taxes. In response to a public records request, the governor’s office originally released documents that showed which firms it hired and how much those firms charged, but it blacked out the reasons the private law firms were hired.

Rhode Island – R.I. Ethics Panel Postpones Vote on Reforming Gifts from Lobbyists

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 1/7/2025

Government watchdogs will have to wait and see whether the Rhode Island Ethics Commission pursues proposed changes to state rules regulating who can give public officials gifts. After an hourlong discussion, the commission voted to delay a vote until all nine of its members have had a chance to review the proposal’s origins, which were prompted by a less-than-pristine education consulting contract forged in the early days of Gov. Dan McKee’s administration.

South Dakota – Regulator Stays on New Carbon Pipeline Case After Prior Recusal, with No Explanation This Time

Yahoo News – Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) | Published: 12/30/2024

A trust controlled by a South Dakota regulator’s relatives still owns land along a proposed pipeline route, but the regulator has not recused herself from the project’s second permit application after recusing herself from the first one. Two years ago, Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen disqualified herself from Summit Carbon Solutions’ first carbon dioxide pipeline application. She cited state law prohibiting commissioners from participating in hearings or proceedings when they have conflicts-of-interest.

Texas – Republicans Prepare Fresh Effort to Ban Local Governments from Using Public Funds for Lobbying

Houston Public Media – Andrew Schneider | Published: 1/1/2025

Republican lawmakers will make another push to bar local governments from spending public funds on lobbying. A ban is all but certain to pass the Senate, but its prospects in the House are less clear. Asked whether he would support a similar ban on corporate lobbying to protect shareholders and customers from having their money used for lobbying against their wishes, state Sen. Mayes Middleton said there was no comparison.

Utah – Utah Legislature Could Explore Switching Authors of Ballot Initiatives

Yahoo News – Alixel Cabrera (Utah News Dispatch) | Published: 1/7/2025

After the description of a proposed amendment to the Utah Constitution sparked controversy, Democratic lawmakers are seeking more neutrality in future drafts. The Senate president and House speaker of are in charge of writing titles and questions submitted by the Legislature, summarizing the subject, and explaining any laws that could become effective if voters approve. But after the language of Amendment D prompted a successful court challenge by critics that left the question voided on voters’ ballots, Democrats want legislative attorneys, part of a nonpartisan body, to take over the job of drafting future ballot questions.

Virginia – Democrats Retain Control of Virginia Legislature in Special Elections

MSN – Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2025

Democrats retained control of Virginia’s General Assembly in special election on January 7, dimming Glenn Youngkin’s prospects for a big legislative legacy. Republicans could have upset the balance of power in Richmond and given Youngkin the chance to advance his conservative agenda in the final year of his term had they flipped two Loudoun County seats on the ballot. But Democrats held on to the Loudoun House and Senate seats, while Republicans retained a Senate post in central Virginia.

West Virginia – Senate President Craig Blair to Take Up Leadership Position Within a Leading Lobbying and Government Relations Firm

West Virginia MetroNews – Katherine Skeldon | Published: 1/2/2025

Soon-to-be former West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair says his new job is not of a lobbyist but a consultant in government relations. Blair announced he will begin serving as Senior Advisor of West Virginia for the LNE Group, a lobbying and government relations firm starting January 8. “I’ve learned a lot of things over the years and I’m going to be able to help us continue on the path to prosperity for the people of West Virginia, but I’m going to be for hire for being able to do that,” Blair said.

Wisconsin – Gov. Evers Wants to Let Wisconsin Voters Propose Statewide Ballot Measures

Yahoo News – Baylor Spears (Wisconsin Examiner) | Published: 1/6/2025

Gov. Tony Evers is proposing the Legislature create a way for Wisconsin residents to directly create ballot measures that make statutory and constitutional changes through the referendum process. State law currently permits lawmakers to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, after they pass two consecutive legislative sessions. But Wisconsin does not have a way for voters themselves to introduce initiatives or place a binding referendum on the statewide ballot.