National/Federal

Trump Appointees Have Ties to Companies That Stand to Benefit from Privatizing Weather Forecasts

MSN – Michael Biesecker and Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) | Published: 7/9/2025

Deadly flooding in Texas has drawn a spotlight to budget cuts and staff reductions at the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, two agencies that provide the public with free climate and weather data that can be crucial during natural disasters. What has drawn less attention is how the downsizing appears to be part of an effort to privatize the work of such agencies. In several instances, the companies poised to step into the void have ties to people tapped by President Trump to run weather-related agencies.

Gabbard’s Team Has Sought Spy Agency Data to Enforce Trump’s Agenda

MSN – Ellen Nakashima, Warren Strobel, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) | Published: 7/8/2025

A special team created by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has expressed a desire to gain access to emails and chat logs of the largest U.S. spy agencies with the aim of using artificial intelligence tools to ferret out what the administration deems as efforts to undermine its agenda, according to several people familiar with the matter. The mission of the Director’s Initiative Group is to enforce President Trump’s executive orders to end “weaponization” of the federal government, declassify documents, and halt diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, according to Gabbard’s office.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino Resigns After Two Years at the Helm of Elon Musk’s Social Media Platform

MSN – Matt O’Brien (Associated Press) | Published: 7/9/2025

X Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino said she is stepping down after two bumpy years running Elon Musk’s social media platform. Since Musk’s takeover, a number of companies had pulled back on ad spending over concerns that his thinning of content restrictions was enabling hateful and toxic speech to flourish. Most recently, an update to Grok, the chatbot developed by Musk’s company xAI, led to a flood of antisemitic commentary from the chatbot that included praise of Adolf Hitler.

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Launch Mass Layoff and Restructuring Plans

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 7/8/2025

The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to launch plans for mass firings and reorganizations at 19 federal agencies and departments while litigation continues. The justices lifted a lower-court order that temporarily blocked plans to lay off thousands of federal workers, including at the State Department and the Social Security Administration, because the administration did not first consult with Congress.

California Awaits Disaster Relief as GOP Offers Full Support of Texas

MSN – Maeve Reston and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 7/9/2025

For months, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pressed the GOP-led Congress to free up $40 billion in federal relief for swaths of Los Angeles consumed by devastating wildfires. President Trump and other Republicans have so far withheld the funds, with many arguing Newsom and other Democrats in the blue state have mishandled the fires and should be forced to rescind liberal policies in exchange for aid. But now deadly floods have struck ruby-red Texas and Trump and others promising unfettered and prompt federal support. The contrast underscores the extent to which the Trump administration treats blue and red states differently.

Former FBI, CIA Directors Under Investigation, DOJ Indicates in Statement

MSN – Perry Stein and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) | Published: 7/9/2025

The Justice Department acknowledged it had opened criminal probes into former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan, two frequent targets of President Trump who played roles in the investigation into his 2016 campaign’s ties to Russia. CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred Brennan to the FBI to be criminally investigated for allegedly lying to Congress, according to a person familiar with the matter. The scope and nature of the investigation into Comey is unclear.

Lobbyists Revel in Trump Bonanza but Ask How Long It Can Last

MSN – Josh Dawsey, Rebecca Ballhaus, and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 7/9/2025

It is boom time on K Street for the influence industry, according to interviews with more than a dozen Republican lobbyists. The top 10 lobbying firms in Washington took in about $123 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared with about $80 million in the same time frame of both Joe Biden’s presidency and Trump’s first term. Lobbyists with close ties to Trump are having a particularly lucrative year and expanding their offices, with some firms even turning down clients because they already have too many.

Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Unloaded Trump Media Stock the Day Before Tariff Announcement

MSN – Suhail Bhat (USA Today) | Published: 7/10/2025

Dan Scavino had months to sell off up to $5 million worth of Trump Media stock after he joined President Trump’s administration as a deputy chief of staff. But Scavino picked April 1, the day before the president announced sweeping tariffs, to make the sale. Trump Media stock fell 11 percent after the announcement. There is no evidence that Savino had knowledge of the tariffs beforehand. But experts say when trades are placed in proximity to a major news event from the White House, they raise ethical questions as well as concerns of wrongdoing.

Federal Judge Places New Block on Trump’s Ban on Birthright Citizenship

MSN – David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2025

A federal judge in New Hampshire placed a new nationwide block on President Trump’s efforts to end birthright citizenship, a decision that came two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court opened a path for the administration to begin enforcing the order. During a court hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante said he would issue the temporary injunction after agreeing to a request from civil rights groups to certify a class-action lawsuit against the administration on behalf of U.S.-born children or future children whose automatic citizenship could be jeopardized by the president’s executive order, lawyers for the plaintiffs said.

The Supreme Court and Congress Cede Powers to Trump and the Presidency

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 7/4/2025

In a striking dynamic of the Trump era, analysts say, the judicial and legislative branches have been steadily transferring many of their powers to the executive – or at least acquiescing in the transfers. That has shaken up a system that depends on the three branches of government jostling sharply as each jealously guards its own prerogatives, many critics contend. But the country has become so divided, some scholars say, that leaders of the three branches are often more loyal to their parties than to their institutions.

Trump Administration’s Push to Deport Student Activists Goes on Trial

MSN – Joanna Slater and Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 7/7/2025

The Trump administration’s attempts to deport international students and scholars involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy are unconstitutional, lawyers argued during the opening of one of the first federal trials challenging the president’s broad immigration policies. Instead of challenging individual detentions, the plaintiffs in the trial have taken a broader approach. Their case focuses on stopping what they have termed the “ideological deportation policy” of the  administration, which they say includes revoking visas and extends to arrests and deportations.

Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban

MSN – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 7/4/2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi told tech companies that they could lawfully violate a statute barring American companies from supporting TikTok based on a sweeping claim that President Trump has the constitutional power to set aside laws, documents show. The letters portrayed Trump as having nullified the legal effects of a statute that Congress passed by large bipartisan majorities in 2024 and the Supreme Court unanimously upheld.

ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform

MSN – Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 7/7/2025

President Trump’s demand for an investigation into ActBlue worried some Democrats who argue his order was not about allegations of campaign finance violations but an attempt to stifle liberal campaigns. So far, ActBlue remains a Democratic juggernaut. The platform brought in more than $393 million during the second quarter of this year, nearly on par with the $400 million it processed in the first quarter. The platform remains integral to Democratic campaigns trying to capitalize on progressive anger at Trump’s second-term agenda, even as some Democrats adopt ActBlue alternatives.

Roughly 140 EPA Staffers Who Signed ‘Dissent’ Letter Are Put on Leave

MSN – Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 7/3/2025

The Trump administration has placed on leave roughly 140 staffers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who signed a letter of dissent protesting the agency’s current direction and policies. Nearly 300 EPA workers had signed the letter sent to Administrator Lee Zeldin, which said President Trump’s changes to the agency “undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment.” More than 170 of the signatories chose to be named, and some began receiving notifications they had been placed on leave.

IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit

Salt Lake Tribune – David Fahrenthold (New York Times) | Published: 7/7/2025

The Internal Revenue Service said churches and other houses of worship should be allowed to endorse political candidates to their congregations, carving out an exemption in a decades-old ban on political activity by tax-exempt nonprofits. The agency made that statement in a court filing intended to settle a lawsuit filed by two Texas churches and an association of Christian broadcasters.

Military Veteran Gets a Life Sentence for Plotting an FBI Attack After His Jan. 6 Arrest

Yahoo News – Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) | Published: 7/2/2025

A military veteran was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to attack an FBI office and assassinate law enforcement officers in retaliation for his arrest on charges he was part of the mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Edward Kelley was one of the first rioters to breach the Capitol. Nearly two years later, Kelley made plans with another man to attack the FBI office in Knoxville, Tennessee. Kelley argued that his pardon was broad enough to cover his conduct in the Tennessee case, but the judge disagreed.

From the States and Municipalities

California – ‘Ghost’ Candidates, Pay-to-Play Accusations: Grossmont school board critics say messages suggest ‘wildly unethical’ campaign efforts

MSN – Kristen Taketa (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 7/5/2025

Grossmont Union High School District teachers, parents, and community members are raising concerns about records they say suggest some board trustees and their allies manipulated last year’s board election, including a pay-to-play transaction and an effort to run fake spoiler candidates to pull votes away from their political rivals. Trustees’ text messages and emails revealed the plotting by an inner circle of select board trustees and their allies who were often instructed by Jerry Hobbs, an ousted former teacher who briefly became the district’s chief of staff before leaving with a six-figure settlement amid a dispute with trustees.

California – City Official Got Paid by Architecture Firm While Approving Its Projects

San Francisco Standard – Gabe Greschler | Published: 7/3/2025

A San Francisco planning commissioner supported the development of at least two projects in the city by an architecture firm from which she also receives income. Kathrin Moore, who was appointed to the commission in 2006 and currently serves as the body’s vice president, has reported earning between $10,000 and $100,000 each year since 2012 from the global firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. San Francisco prohibits city officials from making decisions that involve entities from which an individual has received more than $500 in the past year. The state has similar regulations.

Georgia – Georgia Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Saying Election Officials Must Certify Results

MSN – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 7/7/2025

A Georgia appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that said county election officials in the state must vote to certify results according to deadlines set in law. Certification became a political flashpoint when Donald Trump tried to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 general election. Republicans in several swing states refused to certify results during primary elections last year, and some sued to try to keep from being forced to sign off on election results.

Idaho – Idaho Lawmaker Worked to Legalize This Drug. He Was Among the First to Sell It

MSN – Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) | Published: 7/7/2025

In the final days of this year’s legislative session, Idaho lawmakers passed a bill to allow pharmacies to sell ivermectin over the counter. Soon after, a pharmacy owned by the bill’s sponsor began selling the drug. Rep. Jordan Redman, who owns Medicine Man Prairie Pharmacy, disclosed – as required – that as a pharmacy owner, he had a conflict-of-interest in sponsoring and voting on the legislation. But after lawmakers make these declarations, they are still free to vote on the bills in question unless they volunteer to abstain.

Illinois – Ex-Ald. Carrie Austin Too Sick to Stand Trial on Corruption Charges, Federal Judge Rules

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 7/9/2025

Former Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin is too sick to stand trial on charges she took bribes in the form of home improvements including new kitchen cabinets and granite countertops from a developer and lied to federal agents, a federal judge ruled. Prosecutors argued Austin was healthy enough to stand trial and agreed to ensure she had access to additional supplies of oxygen, access to medication during the day, and breaks when needed during a trial. Austin’s attorneys argued a trial could prove fatal for the former city council member.

Illinois – Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Appeals Potential $9.8 Million Fine for Improperly Accepting Campaign Cash

Yahoo News – Dan Petrella (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/7/2025

A lawyer for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s political operation says state election authorities reached an “absurd” conclusion earlier this year in issuing nearly $10 million in penalties against Harmon’s campaign fund after determining he violated fundraising limits. Attorney Michael Kasper also laid out what amounted to a legal justification for Harmon’s unsuccessful attempt in the closing hours of this spring’s legislative session to pass a measure that could have negated the case and the $9.8 million potential penalty.

Kentucky – Probable Cause Rep. Daniel Grossberg Violated KY Ethics Code, Commission Finds

MSN – Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 7/9/2025

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission found probable cause that Rep. Daniel Grossberg violated the state ethics code on three different counts, including when he invited a young woman to his legislative office, asked her sexually intimate questions, and offered her alcohol. There also exists probable cause that Grossberg violated the Code of Ethics when he made “intimidating statements (and) actions toward a private business.”

Louisiana – Longest Serving Louisiana Ethics Board Member Says Lawmakers Want the Board Dismantled

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 7/3/2025

La Koshia Roberts, the immediate past chairperson of the Louisiana Board of Ethics, said Gov. Jef Landry and state lawmakers are tearing down government ethics enforcement with the massive overhaul of ethics and campaign finance laws they enacted in June. At the urging of Landry, lawmakers passed sweeping changes to ethics and campaign finance laws that loosen dozens of existing restrictions on public servants and create new ways for people accused of government misconduct to push back on charges they face for allegedly breaking the law.

Maryland – Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election

MSN – Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 7/7/2025

Lobbyists seeking to influence Maryland officials donated about $2.6 million to the campaigns of those officials since the last statewide election in 2022, a nearly 75 percent increase compared to the same period during the previous four-year term, according to an analysis by The Baltimore Sun. Companies with a stake in decisions made by state lawmakers have spent millions of dollars every year on lobbying. Critics say the spending reflects the complex, and generally spreading, web of money involved in Maryland policymaking.

Missouri – How Missouri’s Ethical Watchdog Was ‘Quietly Dismantled,’ According to New Report

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

Dozens of complaints of misconduct have been effectively dismissed over the past two years as the Missouri Ethics Commission remains hobbled by vacancies. A new report from Progress MO, a progressive advocacy group, argues that failures by Gov. Mike Kehoe and his predecessor to fill those vacancies have “quietly dismantled” the commission, leaving it unable to investigate complaints, issue fines, or hold meetings. “The consequence is a system vulnerable to corruption, where big donors influence decisions and there is no oversight for those in power,” the report’s executive summary said.

Nevada – LVCVA Fires Executive, Alleging Conflict of Interest, Appoints New Chief Sports Officer

MSN – Mick Akers (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 7/9/2025

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority fired an executive in charge of sports deals over conflict-of-interest concerns related to the hiring of her ex-husband for a contracted position. The authority appointed Brian Yost to the new role of chief sports officer to replace Lisa Motley. She was fired after the hiring of sports marketing firm Position Sports for services tied to the 2027 College Football Playoff national championship game.

New York – NY Public Campaign Program Fuels Spending for Political Consultants

Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 7/6/2025

New York’s new public campaign finance program has triggered big business for political strategists, fundraisers, accountants, and advertisers. Legislative candidates in New York spent more money last year than in any election in the past 25 years, except one when accounting for inflation, and much of that money flowed to the legion of professionals who orchestrate campaigns behind the scenes.

New York – Eric Adams’ Chances of Getting Public Campaign Matching Funds Just Got Worse

MSN – Greg Smith (The City) | Published: 7/9/2025

The New York City’s campaign finance watchdog has greatly expanded its investigation into Mayor Eric Adams’ fundraising, targeting alleged illegal straw donations arranged by an agent of the Uzbekistan government and demanding records related to several fundraisers Adams failed to disclose. The Campaign Finance Board has repeatedly denied Adams’ requests for public matching funds as he runs for re-election, charging that credible evidence of illegal donations render him ineligible for generous matching funds paid for by taxpayers. In response, Adams has sued the board.

Ohio – Ohio Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Free Sports Tickets for Legislators

MSN – Frances McGowan (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/8/2025

An Ohio lawmaker wants to ban state legislators from accepting free or discounted tickets to professional sporting events, pointing to ethical concerns raised by the state’s $600 million commitment to a new Cleveland Browns stadium. Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan said the legislation would close a loophole that allows lobbyists and team officials to offer lawmakers perks to high-profile games. The bill would require state lawmakers to pay fair market value for any tickets to professional sporting events, regardless of who offers them.

Oregon – Powerful Oregon Union May Have Skirted Lobbying Laws, Republican Lawmakers Allege

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/9/2025

In a complaint filed with the Government Ethics Commission, some lawmakers contend the Oregon chapter of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) provided false information on letters they delivered to lawmakers supporting a bill they lobbied for this year. The union represents thousands of workers who could have benefited from provisions in the bill. The complaint said SEIU violated state lobbying rules by providing information to legislators that misrepresented individuals’ support.

Oregon – Portland’s Campaign Finance Program Met Expectations in Unusual 2024 Election, Report Finds

Oregon Public Broadcasting – Alex Zielinski | Published: 7/8/2025

Faced with a new election system, limited cash, and questionable politicking, Portland’s campaign finance program appeared to met expectations during the November 2024 election cycle, according to an analysis by the city’s independent elections commission. The commission found the Small Donor Election program, paired with massive changes to the city’s form of government, created a clear path for candidates to win races with small donor contributions.

Pennsylvania – CEO of Pa.’s Largest Cyber School Made $700K on the Side from Its Bank

MSN – Oliver Morrison (PennLive.com) | Published: 7/9/2025

The leader of Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter school earned more than $700,000 from his side job as a bank director from 2016 through 2024. The bank, Orrstown, was the school’s primary financial institution during that time and now holds more than $230 million in deposits from Commonwealth Charter Academy. Acting as chief executive for the charter school while getting income from its bank raises conflict-of-interest questions for Tom Longenecker, ethics experts said.

Rhode Island – How an Amendment, a Lobbyist and a Phone Call Led to Big Drama Over a New Self-Storage Law

USA Today – Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) | Published: 7/7/2025

Nothing seems to slow the growth of self-storage units across Rhode Island, and at the state Legislature, the industry also appears unstoppable. In the most improbable sequence of this year’s General Assembly legislative session finale, industry critics passed a rare amendment to a self-storage bill against the wishes of General Assembly leadership, only to have that win snatched from them minutes later.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Appeals Potential $9.8 Million Fine for Improperly Accepting Campaign Cash” by Dan Petrella (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Elections

California: “‘Ghost’ Candidates, Pay-to-Play Accusations: Grossmont school board critics say messages suggest ‘wildly unethical’ campaign efforts” by Kristen Taketa (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

Georgia: “Georgia Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Saying Election Officials Must Certify Results” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit” by David Fahrenthold (New York Times) for Salt Lake Tribune

Ethics

National: “Roughly 140 EPA Staffers Who Signed ‘Dissent’ Letter Are Put on Leave” by Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Military Veteran Gets a Life Sentence for Plotting an FBI Attack After His Jan. 6 Arrest” by Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Kentucky: “For KY Lawmakers, Sexual Harassment Isn’t ‘Ethical Misconduct.’ That Could Change” by Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald-Leader) for MSN

Missouri: “How Missouri’s Ethical Watchdog Was ‘Quietly Dismantled,’ According to New Report” by Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) for MSN

National/Federal

The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down

MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025

Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in between, according to interviews with more than 40 employees across two dozen agencies. No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said, and communication among colleagues has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal. This shift is affecting every aspect of external and internal communications. The overall effect has been to impede honest discussion, slow work, stir confusion, and depress morale.

GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill

MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not seek reelection next year, less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened him with a primary challenge for opposing the massive tax and immigration bill. Tillis’s decision not to run for a third term scrambles the Senate race in North Carolina. It injects fresh uncertainty into the GOP’s push to pass the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s top legislative priority, by their July 4 deadline. It underscores the perils for Republicans of defying Trump when his grip on the party is stronger than ever.

US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case

MSN – John Kruzel (Reuters) | Published: 6/30/2025

The Supreme Court announced it will consider a challenge to the limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with federal candidates. The justices took up an appeal by two Republican committees and Vice President JD Vance, who was running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio when the litigation began, of a lower court’s ruling that upheld restrictions on the amount of money parties can spend on campaigns with input from candidates they support. The justices are due to hear the case in their next term.

Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025

A federal appellate panel appeared poised to back President Trump’s use of a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track deportations of Venezuelan migrants in a case widely expected to put that debate back before the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit grilled an attorney for targeted detainees during oral arguments, asking what authority judges had to “second-guess” the president’s decisions in defending the country amid armed conflicts.

DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk

MSN – Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025

For months, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency plumbed the federal government’s information systems, scouring arcane internal records that the billionaire said were guiding his hunt for waste. Now that Musk has stepped away from his government role, some of that data could be valuable in another way – by giving the world’s richest man a competitive advantage over his rivals in the private sector.

Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional

MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 6/27/2025

A federal judge struck down President Trump’s executive order that sought to punish the law firm Susman Godfrey, ruling it is unconstitutional and blocking the administration from enforcing it. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan caps an unbroken streak of victories for the four major law firms that were targeted by Trump as part of his efforts to go after his perceived enemies and chose to challenge his directives in court, rather than commit millions of dollars in free legal services, as nine other firms have done.

Carveouts for Alaska and Tax Breaks for Whalers: How Lisa Murkowski got to yes on Trump’s agenda bill

MSN – Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 7/1/2025

The fate of President Trump’s domestic agenda was in U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s hands, and she used that leverage to force a series of changes that will deliver more federal dollars to Alaska. The Senate passed the bill after a marathon of negotiations and amendments during which Murkowski, as she put it later, “struggled mightily” with the impacts of cutting Medicaid and food stamp benefits in Alaska before voting for the legislation.

How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2025

CBS’s parent company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the network’s editing of a campaign interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The deal makes Paramount, which is attempting to complete an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, the latest company to pay millions of dollars to Donald Trump-aligned entities to avoid punitive government action. The money, minus plaintiffs’ fees and costs, will go to Trump’s presidential library.

DOJ Considers Criminal Charges for State Officials Over Election Integrity Policies: ‘No option off the table’

MSN – Ross O’Keefe (Washington Examiner) | Published: 7/2/2025

The Department of Justice is considering whether it can charge local or state election officials who do not adhere to Trump administration standards on voting security. The administration is reportedly driving the effort forward based on its skepticism about the security of the nation’s elections. President Trump previously said the 2020 election was “rigged” and called for an investigation into widespread voter fraud.

Trump Says He Will Move Aggressively to Undo Nationwide Blocks on His Agenda

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Cat Zakrzewski, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/28/2025

An emboldened Trump administration plans to aggressively challenge blocks on the president’s top priorities, from immigration to education, following a major Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Scholars and plaintiffs in the lawsuits over Trump’s executive orders agreed the ruling could profoundly reshape legal battles over executive power even as other legal experts said the effects would be more muted. Some predicted it would embolden Trump to push his expansive view of presidential power.

Bondi Made Changes to DOJ Policy. Her Former Client Pfizer Might Have Benefited

MSN – Ben Wieder (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/3/2025

For the past several years, Pfizer has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential foreign corruption violations related to its activities in China and Mexico, according to the company’s financial filings. But that appears to have changed after the Trump administration tapped Pam Bondi, previously an outside legal counsel for Pfizer, to be attorney general.

Dead Members of Congress Can’t Stop Posting

MSN – Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing (Politico) | Published: 6/28/2025

After Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee liked an Instagram post congratulating him on his win. But Jackson Lee died last July. From new profile pictures to a posthumous endorsement, accounts for dead lawmakers have seemingly resurrected on social media in an unsettling trend of beyond-the-grave engagement. How to handle the social media presence of politicians when they die is a fairly new phenomenon.

Trump Tried to Fire Them. But These Democratic Appointees Are Still on the Job.

MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 6/30/2025

President Trump fired a host of Democratic appointees at independent boards and commissions across the government. But some of them are still working. More than a dozen leaders of independent federal agencies received emails from the White House purporting to fire or demote them, even though their roles are governed by laws that bar termination without cause. Those officials’ resistance could end up shaping how courts view pending questions about the hiring-and-firing powers of the presidency, and whether Congress can create federal agencies with some degree of independence from the chief executive.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit

Voice of OC – Angela Hicks | Published: 6/30/2025

Irvine city leaders are settling a lawsuit with a group of residents who alleged the city council violated the state’s open meeting law when it passed new lobbying regulations last year. In a series of meetings, the council discussed and approved new regulations that require lobbyists to register with the city earlier and disclose their activities more often. Orange County Advocates for Transparency alleged the city violated the Brown Act by improperly agendizing the item and failing to fully alert the public.

California – Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes

Yahoo News – Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) | Published: 7/2/2025

Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet was sentenced to two years’ probation, avoiding jail time despite admitting he took bribes from developers for years. Pougnet pleaded guilty to a scheme in which he conspired with real estate developer Richard Meaney to be paid money in exchange for facilitating the developer’s projects in the city council.

Connecticut – CT Veterans Affairs Director Ousted Over Questionable Ethics Violation

Inside Investigator – Mark Fitch | Published: 7/2/2025

The former director of safety and security for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs says he was forced to retire from his position under threat of termination and the loss of his medical benefits after the department claimed he violated state ethics laws by asking maintenance personnel to do small contracting jobs at his home, contrary to a determination of the Office of State Ethics (OSE). Stephen Scatena said officials threatened if he did not voluntarily sign a stipulated agreement by April 9, 2025, roughly two months before the OSE issued their finding.

Connecticut – Ted Kennedy Jr., Former CT State Senator, Cleared After 11-Year Election Investigation

Stamford Advocate – Ken Dixon | Published: 7/2/2025

Connecticut election regulators closed the books on one of its longest-lingering investigations, finally dismissing a 2014 case involving former state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. and nearly $300,000 in campaign support he received from the Democratic State Central Committee. The State Elections Enforcement Commission agreed there was not enough evidence to link the party’s contribution to a direct exchange with Kennedy family members and friends who raised more than $308,000 from 188 people for the state party.

District of Columbia – As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On

MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025

At a rare appearance at a Ward 8 candidates forum, ex-District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. answered one last question. Why, a voter wanted to know, had White never explained himself to residents after his bribery indictment? It was the unignorable question at the center of the July 15 special election, in which White, who stands accused of pocketing tens of thousands of dollars in bribes, is asking voters to reelect him even with the risk he could be disqualified from office if convicted.

Florida – DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office

Yahoo News – Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 7/1/2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would, in part, have prohibited state officials from using their position to solicit campaign contributions. The legislation was in part a reaction to NBC News reports since 2023 that officials in his administration were asking lobbyists for political donations, raising ethical concerns.

Hawaii – State Watchdogs Are Keeping the Pressure on for Government Reform

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/29/2025

Fired up by the fate of a major “pay-to-play” bill that died in April at the Legislature, the heads of the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaii State Ethics Commission are stepping up their efforts to lobby for reform in the 2026 session that beings in January. The cooperation between Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of campaign spending, and Robert Harris, executive director of ethics, entered a new phase when Izumi-Nitao appeared by invitation at the ethics commission’s public meeting. The purpose was to hear insights and explore collaboration between the agencies.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions

Yahoo News – Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/30/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s inner circle worked with outside lobbyists who were not registered to lobby on behalf of the city in the Illinois General Assembly. Email records and sources indicate three lobbyists coordinated with top Johnson officials during the most recent session. But they did not update their state registration to show the city among their lobbying clients before the Legislature adjourned June 1. If state officials were to find the three did not properly disclose their representation, they could be in violation of the law.

Illinois – Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board

Yahoo News – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/27/2025

Cook County’s Board of Ethics fined Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele and her aides for a series of breaches, finding she provided confidential information to the press about the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights property and wrongly allowed a staffer to attend a conference on county time. Steele is one of three commissioners on the county’s Board of Review, which hears property tax appeals. She must pay the $3,000 fine in 30 days.

Iowa – Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court

MSN – Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025

Lawyers for President Trump filed a motion to drop his federal lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer – a longtime Iowa pollster, and the Des Moines Register – and refiled the suit in a state court in Iowa. Attorneys for Trump sued Selzer and the newspaper in December over a poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the state just days before the 2024 presidential election. The suit alleged Selzer’s poll amounted to “election interference” and accused the newspaper of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.

Kansas – Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns

Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 7/1/2025

A federal judge sided with state officials and allowed a Kansas law to go into effect that bans “foreign nationals” from contributing financially to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments. Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which has accepted such funds directly and indirectly in the past, said the law was broad, vague, and infringed upon constitutionally protected political speech.

Louisiana – Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025

The Supreme Court put off deciding whether to uphold a Louisiana map that added a second majority-Black congressional district in the state, saying it would rehear the case in its next term. The justices said they would consider whether race was the predominant factor in the drawing of the new Louisiana district.

Maine – Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion

Portland Press Herald – Randy Billings | Published: 6/27/2025

Lawmakers recalled a bill from Gov. Janet Mills’ desk that would have allowed ranked choice voting to be used in the 2026 gubernatorial race after Mills signaled she would veto the bill. Advocates say they plan to ask the Maine Law Court to revisit its 2017 advisory opinion, which would not be possible if Gov. Janet Mills vetoed the bill as they expected.

Massachusetts – MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 7/1/2025

The group that backed a successful ballot question to end the use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4,000 penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3 million in contributions in a timely manner ahead of the November 2024 election. The fight between the Massachusetts Teachers Association and business groups was the most expensive ballot question battle in the state in 2024, with tens of millions flowing between the two sides.

Michigan – New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics

Detroit Free Press – Arpan Lobo | Published: 6/30/2025

A new ballot committee hopes to ask Michigan voters next year whether the state should ban large corporations that hold government contracts and utility monopolies from making political donations through affiliated PACs. Backers of the committee say companies like DTE and Consumers have outsized political influence due to their contributions to candidates and campaigns. The companies defended their political spending practices, saying the money does not come from ratepayers and they have an obligation to advocate for their best interests.

New Mexico – Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission

Yahoo News – Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) | Published: 6/28/2025

In addition to staying at five-star resorts, buying luxury furniture, and traveling the world at taxpayers’ expense, former Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard also took money intended for building an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway and ramp and used it to build a patio near his house where he could host a welcome event and dancing for his daughter’s wedding, a new lawsuit by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission alleges.

New York – Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme

Reuters – Dave Thomas | Published: 6/26/2025

A New York appeals court disbarred Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, following his 2023 guilty plea to a charge stemming from efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat in Georgia. Chesebro had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit filing of false documents in Fulton County after prosecutors accused him of crafting the legal strategy behind a scheme to use alternate electors to circumvent Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.

North Carolina – NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?

Yahoo News – Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 6/26/2025

North Carolina House Republicans unveiled a broad elections bill that could convert about a third of the State Board of Elections’ nonpartisan civil service staff into political appointees, alongside a host of other changes to ballot counting, voter ID, and more. It comes a month after Republicans gained a majority on the elections board and ousted Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, replacing her with a lawyer who has worked for the state’s top GOP legislators.

North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 6/30/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission found Rep. Jason Dockter committed three ethics violations related to his ownership of a Bismarck building, but the agency did not hand down any penalties for the lawmaker. The Ethics Commission noted Dockter likely leveraged his position and his relationships with state employees to arrange a lease with the attorney general’s office.

Oregon – Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/27/2025

State lawmakers did not advance a bill this year that would have delayed the imposition of campaign contribution limits in Oregon for four years. The effort died after good government advocates said the proposed delay was an attempt by lawmakers to avoid restricting the massive flow of money into politics. Oregon is one of just five states without such limits. Secretary of State Tobias Read said he was “deeply disappointed” that lawmakers finished this year’s session without making any substantial refinements to last year’s law.

Oregon – Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise

Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) | Published: 6/28/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission ordered an investigation into whether state Rep. Greg Smith illegally used his position as a public agency executive to raise his own pay. Investigators also were directed to examine whether Smith failed to disclose a conflict-of-interest in the process, a violation of state ethics laws.

South Dakota – Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations

MSN – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 6/30/2025

While Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota, she accepted a portion of the money she raised for a nonprofit that promotes her political career. In what experts described as a highly unusual arrangement, the nonprofit routed funds to a personal company of Noem’s that had been established in Delaware. Since the group is not required to disclose the names of its donors, the original source of the money remains unknown. She did not include the income on her financial disclosure form, which experts called a likely violation of federal ethics requirements.

Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 6/23/2025

The Registry of Election Finance requested an investigation into a former state staffer’s secret PAC to determine whether it involved criminal activity. The registry formally asked the Williamson County district attorney’s office to reactivate a 2020 request for a probe of Cade Cothren, a former aide to one-time House Speaker Glen Casada, and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. Registry Chairperson Tom Lawless has said the investigation should commence now that a trial of Casada and Cothren is complete.

Texas – Elon Musk Hired a Dozen Texas Lobbyists This Year. State Law Keeps the Extent of Their Influence Under Wraps.

MSN – Lauren McGaughy (Texas Newsroom) | Published: 7/3/2025

Elon Musk’s team of Texas lobbyists during the 2025 legislative session did not rival those of huge energy and telecommunications companies, which typically employ dozens of people to represent them. But Musk and his companies still hired more lobbyists this year than any other since 2021. His lobbyists spent money on things like gifts and meals for elected officials and others during the session. In most cases, the state’s transparency laws do not require lobbyists to disclose which politicians they entertained or on behalf of which clients. Ethics experts said the responsibility to improve transparency lies with Texas lawmakers.

Vermont – Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law

VTDigger.com – Shaun Robinson | Published: 6/27/2025

Gov. Phil Scott signed a package of changes to Vermont’s election procedures into law, among them an expansion of who must file campaign finance disclosure forms and a restriction on candidates running in a general election who have lost a preceding primary election. A provision in the new law is meant to clarify that certain campaign finance rules apply to individuals who raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate, but who are not directly affiliated with that candidate.

Virginia – State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered

Cardinal News – David Poole | Published: 7/2/2025

Virginia’s inaugural audit of campaign finance reports raises almost as many questions about state oversight than it does in answering how accurately a group of seven randomly selected candidates listed their contributions and expenses. In a report to the General Assembly, the Department of Elections suggested changes to the audit law, providing more time to complete future reviewing and updating the agency’s computer systems.

Washington – Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) | Published: 6/26/2025

A political committee that helped defeat last year’s ballot measure to repeal a Washington climate law was fined $20,000 for not disclosing how it spent $1 million until after the election. The Public Disclosure Commission levied the civil penalty on Green Jobs PAC, which admitted to the violation and two other breaches of state campaign finance laws as part of an agreed upon settlement.

Campaign Finance

Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News

Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for Detroit Free Press

Virginia: “State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered” by David Poole for Cardinal News

Elections

North Carolina: “NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?” by Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) for Yahoo News

Ethics

California: “Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes” by Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) for Yahoo News

National: “How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees” by Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN

North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “Carveouts for Alaska and Tax Breaks for Whalers: How Lisa Murkowski got to yes on Trump’s agenda bill” by Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Kansas: “Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News

Massachusetts: “MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN

Elections

Iowa: “Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court” by Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk” by Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional” by Melissa Quinn (CBS News) for MSN

Illinois: “Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

California: “Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit” by Angela Hicks for Voice of OC

Campaign Finance

National: “US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case” by John Kruzel (Reuters) for MSN

Vermont: “Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law” by Shaun Robinson for VTDigger.com

Elections

National: “GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill” by Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN

New Mexico: “Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission” by Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise” by Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) for Portland Oregonian

South Dakota: “Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations” by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) for MSN

Lobbying

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions” by Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

On June 30, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a federal by-election will be held on August 18 for the electoral district of Battle River-Crowfoot in Alberta.

Earlier this month, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, had received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat was vacant. MP Damien Kurek had resigned in order to allow Pierre Poilievre to run for his place in the House of Commons.

Perrault’s announcement of the vacancy, made on June 18, signaled the start of the election period.

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Campaign Finance

Oregon: “Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Washington: “Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations” by Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) for Yahoo News

Elections

Washington DC: “As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On” by Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN

Maine: “Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion” by Randy Billings for Portland Press Herald

Ethics

National: “Pardon Applications Are Being Carefully Crafted with One Man in Mind: Donald Trump” by Jim Mustain (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Limits Nationwide Injunctions, but Fate of Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Unclear” by Mark Sherman (Associated Press) for MSN

New York: “Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme” by Dave Thomas for Reuters

Redistricting

Louisiana: “Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District” by Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News

Elections

Washington DC: “D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.” by Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Mamdani Poised for Major Upset After Cuomo Concedes NYC Mayor Primary. Here’s What’s Next.” by Sarah Ellison and Marie-Rose Sheinerman (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries” by Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) for MSN

National: “Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says” by Devlin Barrett (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself” by Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) for MSN

Texas: “New Texas Law Mandates Ten Commandments in Public Schools. Next Stop, the Courts.” by Sophie Hills for Christian Science Monitor

Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight” by Amanda Berg for Spotlight PA

Campaign Finance

Montana: “Former Public Officeholders Propose Constitutional Initiative to Take Corporate Money Out of Politics” by Zeke Lloyd for Montana Free Press

Rhode Island: “R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade” by Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash” by Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

California: “Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was Lobbying for a Nomination.” by Hailey Fuchs (Politico) for Yahoo News

National: “DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities” by Chris Johnson (Roll Call) for MSN

Nevada: “Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute” by Eric Neugeboren for Nevada Current

Redistricting

North Carolina: “North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Bills to Change Alabama’s Campaign Finance Laws Fail in Legislature” by Ralph Chapoco for Alabama Reflector

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Approves Prosecuting State Representative for Campaign Finance Misuse” by Thomas Pablo for KOSU

Elections

Virginia: “Jay Jones Projected to Win Va. Democratic Nomination for Attorney General” by Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “‘My Duty Is to Call It Out’: Judge accuses Trump administration of discrimination against minorities” by Kyle Cheney and Danny Nguyen (Politico) for Yahoo News

National: “Federal Employees Celebrate Their Oscar Night Under a Shadow” by Maryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Tech Flaws, Weak Rules Mar Michigan System to Shine Light on Lawmaker Conflicts” by Simon Schuster for Bridge Michigan

National: “After Minnesota Shooting, Some States Are More Tightly Guarding Officials’ Personal Information” by Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) for MSN

New York: “NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested at Immigration Court” by Cedar Attanasio (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

National: “Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Executive Order, Siding with Democrats Who Called It Overreach” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Florida: “Miami Doubles Down on Proposal to Delay Election, Teeing Up Battle with the State” by Tess Riski (Miami Herald) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Watches the Military Parade of His Dreams March Through D.C.” by Matt Viser and Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison After Conviction in Landmark Corruption Case” by Matt Masterson for WTTW

Minnesota: “Suspect in Minnesota Shootings in Custody After Wide Manhunt” by Patrick Marley and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns” by Minho Kim (New York Times) for DNyuz

Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Votes to Launch Investigation into Former Sewer CEO’s Food, Travel Spending” by Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

Louisiana: “Louisiana AG Investigating CVS for Sending Mass Text Messages Lobbying Against Legislation” by Sara Cline and Jack Brook (Associated Press) for MSN

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