News You Can Use Digest – January 23, 2026

National/Federal

Journalists Confront New Reality in Reporting After FBI Raid

MSN – Sarah Ellison, Patrick Marley, and Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 1/15/2026

After the FBI searched a Washington Post reporter’s home, journalists from multiple outlets said they moved swiftly to secure their phones and laptops, reassure confidential sources and consult newsroom leaders as they worried about the federal government’s seizure of devices containing sensitive information. Many journalists said they saw the FBI raid as a jarring new step aimed at limiting news organizations’ ability to gather information the government does not want to be made public.

Recent Trump Investments Reignite Concerns Around Potential Conflicts of Interest

MSN – Auzinea Bacon (CNN) | Published: 1/17/2026

President Trump purchased up to $2 million in Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery investments days after the announcement of a megadeal between the two media giants, among other purchases, according to a financial disclosure from the White House, renewing questions from ethics experts around potential conflicts-of-interest. A White House official said Trump’s stock and bond portfolio is independently managed by third-party financial institutions.

How EPA Ethics Officials Cleared Former Industry Insiders for Regulatory Roles

MSN – Amudalat Ajasa (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2026

Environmental Protection Agency ethics officials have interpreted impartiality guidelines in a way that has allowed several former industry insiders to oversee dramatic changes to chemical regulations, documents show. Those ethics decisions have cleared the way for a former agriculture lobbyist to help reinstate a pesticide that had been banned twice by federal courts, as well as for two former chemical industry executives to help reassess the agency’s stance on the dangers of formaldehyde.

Trump Administration Backs Labor Secretary Facing Misconduct Probe

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Lauren Kaori Gurley (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2026

The Trump administration is rallying around Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she faces professional misconduct allegations that led to the suspension of two of her top aides. The aides were named in a complaint to the agency’s inspector general alleging they scheduled personal travel during what were supposed to be official, taxpayer-funded trips, according to a report in the New York Post. Chavez-DeRemer was also accused of having an affair with a staffer and drinking in her office during the workday, the newspaper reported.

Trump’s Pardons Forgive Financial Crimes That Came with Hundreds of Millions in Punishments

MSN – Owen Auston-Babcock (NBC News) | Published: 1/20/2026

Just one year into his second term, President Trump has pardoned an unusually high number of wealthy people accused of financial crimes, according to an NBC News analysis of the last four administrations. Over half of Trump’s 88 individual pardons are for white-collar offenses, with money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud among the most frequent crimes. The 87 people and one corporation pardoned by Trump in the last year had been ordered to pay more than $298 million in fines and restitution, vastly more than the totals previously owed by those who received pardons during recent Democratic administrations.

‘No Longer in My Hands’: How Hill Republicans stopped caring about DOJ releasing the Epstein files

MSN – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 1/19/2026

One month after the congressionally mandated deadline to release all its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department has made only a fraction of the files public, and it remains silent on its plans to fully comply with the law. Also keeping quiet about the delays are congressional Republicans, almost all of whom voted in November to release the records after spending months heeding President Trump’s opposition to the move. Some of them are openly admitting it is no longer a priority.

Trump to Pardon Ex-Puerto Rico Governor Vázquez in Campaign Finance Case, Official Says

MSN – Darlene Superville (Associated Press) | Published: 1/16/2026

President Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez. She pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation in a federal case that authorities say also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker. Federal prosecutors had been seeking one year behind bars, something that Vázquez’s attorneys opposed as they accused prosecutors of violating a guilty plea deal reached last year that saw previous charges including bribery and fraud dropped.

Trump Administration Concedes DOGE Team May Have Misused Social Security Data

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 1/20/2026

Two members of Elon Musk’s DOGE team working at the Social Security Administration (SSA) were secretly in touch with an advocacy group seeking to “overturn election results in certain states,” and one signed an agreement that may have involved using Social Security data to match state voter rolls, the Justice Department revealed in court papers. The SSA referred both DOGE employees for potential violations of the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from using their official positions for political purposes.

Supreme Court Appears Likely to Allow Lisa Cook to Remain on Fed Board

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

The Supreme Court appeared likely to block President Trump from immediately firing Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve board, a move that would prevent Trump from exerting greater influence over the central bank that guides the economy. Nearly all the justices asked skeptical questions of Solicitor General D. John Sauer during roughly two hours of arguments, taking issue with most aspects of the government’s case that the president had met the legal bar to remove Cook while a lawsuit challenging her removal plays out.

FCC Targets Talk Shows by Revisiting ‘Equal Time’ Rule for Political Candidates

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 1/22/2026

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said network talk shows are required to give equal airtime to all candidates intending to run for the same public office, changing course on a decades-old ruling and raising free speech concerns. The “equal time” rule provides exemptions for “bona fide” news programs or interviews. In 2006, the FCC determined the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” qualified for the exemption, distinguishing it from an entertainment program and setting a precedent followed by other talk shows. But the FEC said TV networks could not rely on that decision as a blanket ruling and would have to apply for exemptions for individual programs.

Smith Defends His Trump Investigations at a Public Hearing, Saying, ‘No One Should Be Above the Law’

MSN – Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro, and Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) | Published: 1/22/2026

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a congressional hearing in which he insisted he had acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. Smith testified behind closed doors in December but returned to the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing, his first since leaving the job last year. The hearing split along partisan lines as Republican lawmakers sought to undermine the former Justice Department official as Democrats hoped to elicit new and damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct.

Lobbying Revenues Soared in Trump’s First Year, Breaking Records for Top Firms

Reuters – David Thomas | Published: 1/21/2026

President Donald Trump’s tax-and-spend legislation, a six-week federal government shutdown, and executive actions on trade, healthcare, and other policies helped make 2025 a record-breaking year for federal lobbying revenue for several top U.S. firms. It was an especially big year for Ballard Partners. The firm said it grew its lobbying revenue by 300 percent in 2025 to $88.3 million. The previous single-year record for an individual firm was $67.8 million, according to OpenSecrets.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Feds Argue Corruption Case Against Sheng Thao Built on ‘Significant’ Evidence

Oaklandside – Eli Wolfe | Published: 1/20/2026

The federal government says it had ample evidence to pursue its case against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three other defendants without relying heavily on the testimony of an informant with a checkered history. This is one of the big takeaways from a motion prosecutors filed in the case against Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions. The prosecutors’ latest filing sets the stage for the first major hearing in March in the sprawling Oakland corruption case, which erupted into public view with raids of Thao, Jones, and the Duongs’ homes.

Florida – Donors Gave Big to DeSantis’ Marijuana Campaign After Getting $10M from Hope Florida

MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 1/19/2026

Weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration steered $10 million from a legal Medicaid settlement to a charity spearheaded by the state’s first lady, the Hope Florida Foundation gave $5 million apiece to two separate organizations that gave millions of dollars to a political committee waging an anti-marijuana campaign championed by the governor. The payments raised questions about whether the administration diverted Medicaid dollars through Casey DeSantis’s key initiative to a political campaign.

Hawaii – Hawai’I Attorney General to Investigate $35K Bribery Case After All

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 1/20/2026

The Hawaii attorney general reversed course recently, announcing she will take up the case of a state lawmaker who was recorded accepting $35,000 in a paper bag from the subject of a bribery investigation in 2022. Public scrutiny has grown since the Honolulu Civil Beat revealed the monetary handoff’s existence last year. Questions have been raised about whether it was a bribe, an unreported gift, or a campaign contribution – which would be a state crime – or legal campaign cash bundling, typically arranged to curry favor with politicians.

Illinois – New Melissa Conyears-Ervin Ad in Illinois’ 7th District Race Highlights Federal Campaign Spending Loophole

Yahoo News – Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/21/2026

Generally, candidates for federal office are prohibited from using state campaign funds because state fundraising rules and contribution limits are much looser than federal restrictions. But in seeking a seat in Congress and a position on the State Central Committee, both from Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District, Melissa Conyears-Ervin is taking advantage of a loophole in federal campaign finance law that allows her to use state campaign money for commercials ostensibly promoting her campaign for state central committee but that also tout her run for Congress.

Maryland – Baltimore City Councilman Joined Board of Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit He Wrote a Bill On

WBFF – Patrick Hauf (Spotlight on Maryland) | Published: 1/19/2026

Baltimore City Councilperson Mark Parker joined the board of a taxpayer-funded nonprofit the same month he drafted legislation to regulate that organization, a move that watchdogs say raises conflict-of-interest concerns as the nonprofit faces mounting scrutiny over how it spends millions of dollars in public money. Parker was added to the board of the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund in September as he introduced legislation to tighten oversight of the nonprofit, which is guaranteed $16 million in city taxpayer funding this fiscal year.

Massachusetts – Who’s Paying for the 2026 Ballot Questions? Mass. Senate Passes a Bill Requiring More Transparency

MSN – John Micek (MassLive) | Published: 1/16/2026

With a record number of proposals likely headed to the 2026 ballot, the Massachusetts Senate united behind a bill proposing more public reporting on ballot question fundraising and spending. But the chamber opted against forcing similar disclosure at the local level. Lawmakers unanimously approved legislation expanding disclosure rules for ballot question campaigns in a bid to reveal a steadier flow of information about funding sources.

Minnesota – Justice Dept. Enters New Territory with Probe of Minnesota Officials

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yasmeen Abutaleb (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2026

President Trump’s Justice Department crossed a new threshold with its criminal investigation of top Democratic elected officials in Minnesota, targeting vocal critics during a moment of crisis in which protesters and federal agents are clashing on the city’s streets. Subpoenas the Justice Department is preparing to send suggest the agency is looking at whether Gov. Tim Walz’s and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s public statements about the administration’s actions amount to illegal interference with law enforcement.

Minnesota – ICE Targeted Off-Duty Police Officers in Twin Cities, Local Police Say

MSN – Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

Local law enforcement leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul are raising concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents violating U.S. citizens’ civil rights, including those of off-duty police officers. Mark Bruley, police chief of suburban Brooklyn Park, said an off-duty police officer had been “boxed … in” by vehicles driven by ICE agents, who demanded with guns drawn to see paperwork proving the officer had a right to be in the country. “She’s a U.S. citizen, and clearly would not have any paperwork,” he said. All the off-duty officers who had been targeted by ICE in his city were people of color, Bruley said.

Minnesota – Exclusive: Justice Department leadership pushed FBI to investigate campaign contributions to Minnesota officials

MSN – Katelyn Polantz, Evan Perez, and David Wright (CNN) | Published: 1/20/2026

Top Justice Department officials pushed the FBI to investigate political campaigns in Minnesota over whether they illegally benefited from fraud in public service organizations. Some of the Justice Department’s interest, according to one of the sources, comes from a Washington Examiner report that said Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and other state politicians received campaign donations from people implicated in the Minnesota public benefits fraud scheme and community care providers.

Minnesota – Judge Limits ICE’s Crowd Control Tactics Following Minneapolis Shooting

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney, Hassan Ali Kanu, and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 1/16/2026

A federal judge barred federal agents in Minneapolis from arresting peaceful protesters or using nonlethal munitions and crowd control tools against them. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Kate Menendez lands amid an increasingly confrontational dynamic between the Trump administration and Minnesota officials who have accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of stoking fear and violence on local streets. It comes a week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good.

Mississippi – MS Secretary of State Sets Sights on Campaign Finance Transparency

MSN – Bea Anhuci (Mississippi Clarion Ledger) | Published: 1/21/2026

Secretary of State Michael Watson has been proposing a campaign finance database for years. Now, as corruption scandals unfurl into investigations and trials throughout Mississippi, he thinks he has the support to enact his vision into law. The proposed system would require all candidates to digitally file their campaign finance information. The bill, developed with Sen. Jeremy England, would also restrict cash donation amounts, among other reforms.

Missouri – Bill Would Ban Missouri Politicians from Using Recurring Donations to Fund Campaigns

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 1/13/2026

Missouri politicians would not be able to lure donors into recurring contributions with emotional appeals that do not disclose who would benefit from the money under a bill heard in committee. State Rep. Jim Murphy said the scheme leaves contributors, who are often elderly people, confused when thousands of dollars are drawn from their accounts months, or years, after they respond to a fundraising email or text.

Nebraska – Auditor Flags Possible Pillen ‘Favoritism’ in $2.5M No-Bid Bioeconomy Contract with Lobbyist

Yahoo News – Aaron Sanderford (Nebraska Examiner) | Published: 1/15/2026

Gov. Jim Pillen, while pressing the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in 2024 to tighten its belt, steered the state agency to award a $2.5 million no-bid emergency contract to a bioeconomy consultant and lobbyist he knew and had traveled with as part of state delegations. Auditor Mike Foley alleges the Economic Development Department, in carrying out that Pillen-picked contract, broke state law by not specifying in writing what emergency justified skipping the required step of bidding out contracts worth more than $50,000.

New York – Judge Strikes Down Republican Congressional District in New York

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2026

A New York judge ordered state officials to redraw the congressional district held by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, handing Democrats a likely victory amid a nationwide political brawl over congressional lines. State Judge Jeffrey Pearlman concluded Malliotakis’s Staten Island-based district violates a provision of the state constitution that bars the abridgment of voting rights for racial minorities. An appeal is expected, and Malliotakis said she is confident the existing lines will ultimately be upheld.

New York – Gov. Kathy Hochul Hasn’t Released Her Meeting Logs in 15 Months

MSN – Chris Bragg (New York Focus) | Published: 1/20/2026

When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ran for a full term in 2022, she released her schedule of meetings on a rolling basis, usually several months after they occurred. The schedules indicated that Hochul’s record-breaking campaign fundraising was fueled by constant meetings with donors. As Hochul runs for a second full term this year, the public no longer has that view into how she is spending her time. That is because the most recent schedules her office has released are from September 2024, more than 15 months ago.

Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma Mental Health Department Official Settles with Ethics Commission

Yahoo News – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 1/15/2026

The former deputy director of the state’s mental health department settled with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and will pay $2,500 for violating lobbyist registration and reporting law.  Heath Hayes communicated with state officials “for the purpose of influencing governmental action” without being registered as a lobbyist, according to a statement from Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Ethics Commission.

South Dakota – Donations to SD Campaigns from Foreign Nationals Would Be Banned by Bill Sent to State Senate

Yahoo News – Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) | Published: 1/21/2026

South Dakota lawmakers advanced a bill that would bar candidates and political committees from taking campaign contributions or loans from a foreign national. Under the draft, accepting a contribution from any of the listed entities would be moved to a more severe class of misdemeanor, and a subsequent offense within a calendar year would change from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Texas – After a Hard-Fought Campaign, Austin Neighborhood Elects a Canine Mayor

MSN – Sydney Page (Washington Post) | Published: 1/22/2026

On a January night on Austin’s 37th Street, neighbors gathered to count the final ballots and swear in a new mayor. The mayor-elect did not give an acceptance speech – instead, he barked. Mo Bamba, a pug-chihuahua mix, was sworn in as the new mayor of 37th Street, following the neighborhood’s fourth annual pet election that drew more than 12,000 votes. The annual pet election began as a playful neighborhood tradition four years ago, designed to draw attention to Austin’s upcoming human mayoral runoff election amid a season of notably low voter turnout.

Virginia – Lindsey Halligan Out as U.S. Attorney Following Pressure from Judges

MSN – Steve Thompson, Salvador Rizzo, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 1/20/2026

Lindsey Halligan, a Trump administration lawyer who was named head of a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia last year with instructions to seek criminal charges against President Trump’s perceived political adversaries, left her post at the Justice Department. Halligan’s departure followed moves by two federal judges who issued court orders hours earlier saying they intended to replace Halligan at the helm of the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia and threatening disciplinary sanctions for any government lawyer who continued to refer to her as U.S. attorney in legal filings.

Washington – Prominent Seattle Lobbying Firm Defaults on Debts, Ousts Founder

Seattle Times – Jim Brunner | Published: 1/19/2026

A prominent Seattle lobbying firm ousted its well-known founder, laid off much of its staff, and is under new ownership after defaulting on millions of dollars in debt under a bankruptcy restructuring plan. The sale of Strategies 360 caps a public fall for a once-dominant firm and its founder Ron Dotzauer, a consultant with ties to top Washington politicians.