LobbyComply Blog

National/Federal

Report: Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts

MSN – Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2025

Many publicly identified donors to President Trump’s White House ballroom have business before the administration, ranging from billions of dollars in contracts to federal investigations of their companies, according to a report released by Public Citizen. The White House donor list was not comprehensive, Public Citizen noted, which limited the scope of the review. The New York Times reported Trump’s fundraisers have been circulating donation pledge forms that give people the option of withholding their identities from public disclosure.

Justice Dept. Defends Lindsey Halligan Against Unlawful-Appointment Criticism

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2025

Justice Department lawyers defended Lindsey Halligan’s role as eastern Virginia’s top federal prosecutor, saying in court filings that even if her appointment as U.S. attorney is ruled invalid, she now has an additional title that will allow her to continue overseeing cases against two of President Trump’s perceived foes. The department attorneys said Attorney General Pam Bondi designated Halligan as a “special attorney” to the Justice Department, assigned to oversee the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Pentagon Readying Thousands of Guard ‘Reaction Forces’ as U.S. Mission Widens

MSN – Alex Horton and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

The Pentagon ordered thousands of specialized National Guard personnel to complete civil unrest mission training over the next several months, an indication the Trump administration’s effort to send uniformed military forces into urban centers, once reserved for extraordinary emergencies, could become the norm. The newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard must be trained, equipped with riot-control gear, and ready for deployment by January 1, according to internal documents.

Foreign Agents Look to Influence Conservative Think Tanks in Trump’s Washington

MSN – Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) | Published: 11/5/2025

Foreign agents are working eagerly to promote the causes of the nations that pay their salaries by reaching out to think tanks that have historically shaped conservative policymaking, Department of Justice filings show, even as the broader conservative movement has become increasingly skeptical of foreign entanglements following the GOP’s 2024 electoral victories. Foreign agents disseminated information to a trio of conservative think tanks, invited their scholars to participate in events, held meetings with staffers, and sought to gain information about the American policy landscape from them.

Judge Orders White House to Restore Sign Language Interpreters at Briefings by Trump, Leavitt

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 11/4/2025

A federal judge ordered the White House to restore real-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at all press briefings conducted by President Trump or press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali said the White House’s decision to end ASL interpretation illegally excluded deaf Americans from crucial updates from the government on matters of war, the economy, and public health. Evidence shows, Ali noted, that closed captioning and transcripts are insufficient alternatives.

Judge Scolds Comey Prosecutors for ‘Indict First and Investigate Second’ Approach

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2025

A federal judge scolded the prosecutors pursuing charges against former FBI Director James Comey for what he described as their “indict first and investigate second” approach to the case, saying it has placed an unfair burden on Comey’s defense. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick described the Justice Department’s handling of the case as “highly unusual” and ordered its attorneys to hand over a raft of potential evidence. That material includes full transcripts of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s presentation to the grand jury that indicted Comey on counts of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Trump Moves to Block Public Servants from Loan Forgiveness Based on Ideology

MSN – Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

Employees of nonprofit organizations that work with undocumented immigrants, provide gender transition care for minors, or engage in public protests would have a hard time getting their federal student loans forgiven under regulations advanced by the Education Department. The rule revises eligibility requirements for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. It will allow the education secretary to disqualify employers, not individuals, who engage in activities the department deems to have a “substantial illegal purpose” on or after July 1, when the rule takes effect.

DOJ Faces Ethics Nightmare with Trump Bid for $230M Settlement

MSN – Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Department of Justice is facing pressure to back away from a request from President Trump for a $230 million settlement stemming from his legal troubles, as critics say it raises a dizzying number of ethical issues. Trump has argued he deserves compensation for the scrutiny into his conduct, describing himself as a victim of both a special counsel investigation into the 2016 election and the classified documents case. The decision, however, falls to a cadre of attorneys who previously represented Trump personally.

FBI Fires, Rehires, Then Fires Again Agents Assigned to Trump Case

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

The FBI fired four agents who worked on the investigation during the Biden administration related to Donald Trump’s alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. FBI Director Kash Patel had initially fired the agents the day before, but after pushback from District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and others he reinstated them the same day, the people familiar with the matter said. Patel fired them again. Pirro attempted to save at least some of the agents because they were working on cases important to her office.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement

The Hill – Mike Lillis | Published: 11/6/2025

Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek reelection for another term, closing the book on a storied, four-decade career through which she rewrote history as the country’s first female House speaker, advanced some of the most consequential legislation of the modern era, and secured her place as among the most powerful, if polarizing, lawmakers ever to serve in Congress.

Federal Judge Rules Trump Can’t Require Citizenship Proof on the Federal Voting Form

Yahoo News – Ali Swenson and Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) | Published: 10/31/2025

President Trump’s request to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form cannot be enforced, a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled the proof-of-citizenship directive is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, dealing a blow to the administration and its allies who have argued such a mandate is necessary to restore public confidence that only Americans are voting in U.S. elections.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ontario Labour Minister’s Wife Lobbied for Advocate of Colleges That Got Millions in Grants: Records

CTV – John Woodward | Published: 10/30/2025

The wife of Ontario’s labor minister registered to lobby for an advocacy group for career colleges, and two of its members received millions of dollars from a government fund overseen by the minister, according to lobbyist registry records. The filings say Faith Chipman never registered to directly lobby her husband, Labor Minister David Piccini, to access the province’s controversial $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund.

California – A Day in the Life of a California Lobbyist

Comstock’s Magazine – Scott Thomas Anderson | Published: 11/4/2025

Rob Grossglauser has worked inside the state Capitol for 24 years. Throughout his time in Sacramento, he has learned that being an effective advocate for his lobbying clients is about having a reputation lawmakers can trust. That confidence, in turn, is built on maintaining relationships through mutual respect, personal integrity and being a source of reliable information. Grossglauser is the founding partner of Pinnacle Advocacy.

California – Meet the McOskers: How one South Bay family wields power at City Hall

MSN – Noah Goldberg (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/6/2025

For decades, the McOskers, a large, tight-knit family from San Pedro, have wielded power at Los Angeles City Hall. Unlike the Garcettis and the Hahns, the McOskers have not served in citywide or countywide elected office. But their breadth of influence in Los Angeles politics over the last quarter century may be unparalleled.

California – ‘Completely Inappropriate’: S.F. weighs proposal to weaken shield for ethics watchdogs

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/30/2025

For more than three decades, a key legal provision has ensured that San Francisco’s ethics watchdogs can freely punish City Hall officials for flouting the law, even their powerful bosses. But up for discussion is whether to remove that protection as part of a broader overhaul of San Francisco’s myriad oversight boards and commissions.

California – Coachella Mayor Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Conflict of Interest Over Downtown Development

MSN – Rebecca Plevin (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/30/2025

A grand jury indicted Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez on nine counts, including one felony charge of violating conflict-of-interest rules related to government contracts and four felony counts of perjury. If convicted as charged, Hernandez would be barred from public office for life and face more than seven years in state prison.

California – Newsom Wins on Proposition 50, Setting the Stage for Calif. Redistricting

MSN – Anabel Sosa (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/4/2025

In a landslide election, California voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure that reconfigures the state’s congressional map temporarily in a response to Republican gerrymandering efforts in other states. The approved measure will set the stage for a competitive midterm election next year as Democrats go head-to-head with Republicans in their battle to win back the House.

Colorado – Ethics Complaints Filed Against Democratic State Lawmakers Who Attended Vail Retreat with Lobbyists

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul | Published: 11/5/2025

Ethics complaints were filed with the Independent Ethics Commission against several state lawmakers alleging they violated Colorado’s prohibition on elected officials receiving gifts when they attended a retreat in Vail where they mingled with lobbyists at a ritzy hotel. The complaints ask the commission to investigate if the lawmakers who attended the retreat violated the state’s gift ban by having their lodging paid for by the nonprofit One Main Street.

Connecticut – Subpoenas Issued to Five Election Candidates in CT for Finance Records Including Two State Reps.

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 11/5/2025

Connecticut’s election watchdog moved to subpoena the campaign committees of two state legislators reelected last year using public financing and two losing candidates to explain how they spent state election grants that financed their 2024 campaigns. After every election, the State Elections Enforcement Commission randomly selects candidate committees for post-election reviews of their record-keeping and reporting. When candidates fail to provide campaign finance records, the SEEC falls back on its subpoena authority to encourage or compel compliance and production.

Connecticut – Corruption Conviction Could Cost Former Connecticut Official $75,000 Annual Pension

Yahoo News – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 10/30/2025

The public corruption convictions his defense lawyer said expose Konstantinos Diamantis to a “catastrophic sentence” in a federal prison could cost the 69-year-old former Connecticut budget official and legislator his $75,000-a-year state pension. To date, 31 court actions have been filed to reduce or revoke state and local government officials and workers, according to the attorney general’s office. The outcomes have been mixed.

District of Columbia – Trial Starts for Assault Case Against DC Man Who Tossed Sandwich at Federal Agent on Viral Video

Yahoo News – Associated Press | Published: 11/3/2025

Throwing a sandwich at a federal agent turned Sean Charles Dunn into a symbol of resistance against President Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital. Federal prosecutors are now trying to persuade a jury of fellow District of Columbia residents that Dunn simply broke the law. That could be a tough sell for the government in a city that has chafed against Trump’s federal takeover. A grand jury refused to indict Dunn on a felony assault count before U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office opted to charge him instead with a misdemeanor.

Florida – Uthmeier’s Brief Tenure at GrayRobinson Raises Potential Ethical Issues

Yahoo News – Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 11/2/2025

When James Uthmeier took a leave of absence from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration so he could run the governor’s flailing presidential campaign in 2023, he also signed up with one of Florida’s most powerful and politically connected law firms, which regularly lobbies the state of on behalf of its clients. Uthmeier’s stint at the private practice raises ethical and legal questions about the Republican attorney now running for the job of Florida’s top prosecutor.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson Blocked Attempts to Search for Gifts He Accepted Without Reporting Them as Required: Inspector general

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 11/4/2025

Mayor Brandon Johnson twice blocked the city’s watchdog from searching for gifts he accepted on behalf of the city without reporting them as required, Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said. In addition, Johnson’s staff did not turn a small City Hall room into a storage room for the gifts he accepted on behalf of the city until February, after Witzburg first revealed he had quietly accepted “cufflinks, designer handbags, and men’s shoes,” and failed to document those gifts, according to Witzburg’s report.

Maine – Bipartisan Former Officials, Billionaires Defend Restrictions on Money in Politics in Maine Lawsuit

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 10/30/2025

Republican and Democratic former governors and members of Congress, billionaires, and democracy reform organizations are coming to the defense of Maine’s law in a case over the legality of campaign finance restrictions. This broad support was demonstrated in friend of the court briefs filed in the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Maryland – Maryland State Senator Charged with Extorting Ex-Consultant Over an Affair

MSN – Perry Stein, Katie Mettler, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2025

Federal officials charged Maryland Sen. Dalya Attar with extortion in a plot that allegedly involved surreptitious recordings of a political foe in bed with a romantic partner. Attar allegedly threatened to expose the foe’s affair to prevent her from saying negative things about Attar’s 2022 candidacy, according to an indictment. Attar, her brother, and a third co-defendant are charged with eight counts related to extortion and wiretapping.

Maryland – Md. Gov. Wes Moore Starts Redistricting Process Despite Key Opposition

MSN – Erin Cox (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore took the first step to starting a mid-cycle redistricting process, moving forward despite staunch opposition from the state Senate president, a fellow Democrat key to making it happen. Moore announced a redistricting commission that will draft proposed congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, pushing for deep-blue Maryland to join a political redistricting arms race, instigated by President Trump, that now involves a dozen states.

Massachusetts – Quincy Mayor’s Campaign Pays $55K to Resolve Campaign Finance Violations

WBUR – Chris Van Buskirk | Published: 11/5/2025

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s campaign paid a $55,000 penalty to resolve allegations that in 2022 and 2023, it received thousands of dollars in illegal corporate contributions, anonymous donations, prohibited checks, and donations where the true source of the money was not clear. The mayor’s campaign committee paid $15,000 to the state and another $40,000 to charities of his choice to resolve the matter.

Michigan – Ethics Rules Didn’t Require Sheffield to Disclose Past Relationship with Demolition Contractor

BridgeDetroit – Malachi Barrett | Published: 10/31/2025

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield sought opinions from the city’s ethics board before voting on contracts that involved a demolition contractor with whom she had a personal relationship. The ethics board, charged with interpreting the rules laid out in the city charter and in council legislation, said she had no conflict-of-interest in the matter. Conrad Mallett, corporation counsel for the city, said an executive order that prohibits employees from having relationships with people involved with contracts they oversee did not apply to council members.

Michigan – Former Lobbyist Files Complaint Against Group Helping Fund Governors’ International Trade Missions

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/4/2025

A nonprofit providing funding support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s overseas trade missions is the subject of a lobbying law complaint. The complaint accused the Michigan Economic Development Foundation of skirting state law requiring lobbyists to register. It notes that members of the foundation’s board receive “extraordinary access to meetings with lobby able officials” while some members are invited to travel with the governor and other public officials, The Detroit News found companies with seats on the board received about $2.2 billion in economic development incentives from the Whitmer Administration.

Montana – AG: Anti-dark-money ballot initiative doesn’t meet legal requirements

Yahoo News – Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) | Published: 10/30/2025

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen rejected a ballot initiative seeking to limit the power of corporations to spend money on elections, saying it did not meet legal review standards. The proposed ballot measure would amend the state constitution to redefine the powers of corporations (“artificial persons” under the constitution) to state they have no power to spend money “or anything of value on elections or ballot issues.”

New Jersey – The First-Term Democrat Facing a Trump Prosecution

MSN – Anna Liss-Roy (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

To hear the Trump administration tell it, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver attacked an immigration officer. McIver says she is being unfairly prosecuted as part of a broader campaign of political intimidation. McIver was charged with three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal officers during a clash outside a New Jersey detention facility. Exactly what happened during the 68-second encounter between McIver and federal agents at the facility could soon be addressed at trial, if a federal judge decides the case should move forward. That decision is expected imminently.

New Jersey – Sherrill Defeats Ciattarelli in Hotly Contested N.J. Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Brent Johnson, Brianna Kudisch, and Jelani Gibson (Newark Star Ledger) | Published: 11/5/2025

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill was elected as New Jersey’s next governor, decisively defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a nationally watched race considered an early referendum on President Trump’s new presidency and securing her party a rare third straight term in the seat. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, will become just the second woman governor, and first Democratic woman to hold the job.

New Jersey – Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and James Solomon Advance to Runoff in Race for Jersey City Mayor

Yahoo News – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 11/4/2025

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey is going another round in his attempted political comeback, more than two decades after he resigned from office. McGreevey will take on James Solomon in a December 2 runoff election in the race for mayor of Jersey City, the state’s second-largest city.

New York – Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Race, in a Historic Victory for Progressives

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 11/4/2025

Zohran Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim and person of South Asian descent, as well as the youngest in over a century, to hold the position. It is a remarkable ascent for Mamdani, who was a relatively unknown state Assembly member representing a district in Queens when he entered the crowded mayoral race last year. He went on to win June’s Democratic primary by 12 percentage points, quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular and polarizing politicians along the way.

North Carolina – N.C. GOP Spokesman Urges Reporter to Drop News Story, Citing Trump Ties

MSN – Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) | Published: 11/2/2025

North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer appeared to threaten the news outlet ProPublica – citing “connections” to the Trump administration – over a story it reported and ultimately published on conservative state Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby. After the story was published, Mercer doubled down in a social media post, urging President Trump to “feed ProPublica to the USAID wood chipper,” referring to the president’s termination of thousands in funding and grants from the foreign aid agency earlier this year.

North Dakota – 1 Named to North Dakota Ethics Commission, Other 2 Seats Still in Limbo

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/31/2025

State officials chose former Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp to fill one of the three open seats on the North Dakota Ethics Commission but remain divided on the reappointment of one commissioner. The selection committee must appoint commissioners by a consensus vote. They have been meeting since August to select the commission’s next members. The committee is at a standstill over whether to appoint Commissioner Murray Sagsveen to another term.

Ohio – Ohio Redistricting Commission Unanimously OKs Map of New Congressional Districts

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Ohio Redistricting Commission passed a bipartisan congressional redistricting plan that gives Republicans an advantage in 12 of Ohio’s 15 U.S. House districts starting next year. The plan, passed unanimously by the seven-member commission, comes after a last-minute deal between Republican and Democratic legislative leaders to avoid giving GOP lawmakers the chance next month to unilaterally pass a more lopsidedly advantageous map.

Virginia – Virginia Elects Spanberger as First Female Governor on Big Night for Democrats

MSN – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to become the first woman elected governor of Virginia, winning with a pragmatic focus on the economy on a night when her party swept all three statewide offices and made gains in the House of Delegates, amid promises to defend the state against President Trump’s policies. Her political record of winning in a conservative congressional district and brokering bipartisan deals in Washington, positioned Spanberger for a landmark win in this purple state.

Virginia – Democrat Jay Jones Wins Virginia Attorney General’s Race

MSN – Teo Armus (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2025

DemocratJay Jones was projected to become Virginia’s next attorney general, according to the Associated Press, riding a wave of enthusiasm for his party to overcome a scandal over violent text messages he sent years ago that nearly toppled his campaign. His victory over incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares makes Jones, the 36-year-old scion of a prominent Norfolk family of civil rights leaders, the first African American to be elected to an office he hopes to use as a bulwark against the Trump administration.

Virginia – Virginia Senate Approves Mid-Decade Redistricting Amendment in Party-Line Vote

Yahoo News – Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 10/31/2025

The Virginia General Assembly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers the authority to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional districts mid-decade. The amendment comes amid a national wave of redistricting fights, with Republican-led states having recently pursued mid-cycle map changes, a trend Virginia Democrats say threatens to weaken the commonwealth’s leverage and representation in Congress.

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Subpoenas Issued to Five Election Candidates in CT for Finance Records Including Two State Reps.” by Paul Hughes (CT Insider) for MSN

Elections

New Jersey: “Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and James Solomon Advance to Runoff in Race for Jersey City Mayor” by Michael Sisak (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Virginia: “Democrat Jay Jones Wins Virginia Attorney General’s Race” by Teo Armus (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Orders White House to Restore Sign Language Interpreters at Briefings by Trump, Leavitt” by Kyle Cheney (Politico) for MSN

National: “Judge Scolds Comey Prosecutors for ‘Indict First and Investigate Second’ Approach” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “A Day in the Life of a California Lobbyist” by Scott Thomas Anderson for Comstock’s Magazine

Colorado: “Ethics Complaints Filed Against Democratic State Lawmakers Who Attended Vail Retreat with Lobbyists” by Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul for Colorado Sun

National: “Foreign Agents Look to Influence Conservative Think Tanks in Trump’s Washington” by Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) for MSN

Ballot Measure 6, which would have moved local elections to the same year as presidential elections has been defeated after only receiving around 46% of the vote.

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Comply with state and local procurement lobbying rules. Our online guidebooks make it easy to view regulations all in one place. Learn more here.

Elections

California: “Newsom Wins on Proposition 50, Setting the Stage for Calif. Redistricting” by Anabel Sosa (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

New Jersey: “Sherrill Defeats Ciattarelli in Hotly Contested N.J. Governor’s Race” by Brent Johnson, Brianna Kudisch, and Jelani Gibson (Newark Star Ledger) for Yahoo News

New York: “Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Race, in a Historic Victory for Progressives” by Rachel Treisman for NPR

Virginia: “Virginia Elects Spanberger as First Female Governor on Big Night for Democrats” by Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Dept. Defends Lindsey Halligan Against Unlawful-Appointment Criticism” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson Blocked Attempts to Search for Gifts He Accepted Without Reporting Them as Required: Inspector general” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Lobbying

Michigan: “Charity Helping Pay for Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s Trips Draws Lobbying Complaint” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for ArcaMax

Redistricting

Maryland: “Md. Gov. Wes Moore Starts Redistricting Process Despite Key Opposition” by Erin Cox (Washington Post) for MSN

Elections

National: “Federal Judge Rules Trump Can’t Require Citizenship Proof on the Federal Voting Form” by Ali Swenson and Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “DOJ Faces Ethics Nightmare with Trump Bid for $230M Settlement” by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) for MSN

National: “Report: Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts” by Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Ethics Rules Didn’t Require Sheffield to Disclose Past Relationship with Demolition Contractor” by Malachi Barrett for BridgeDetroit

North Carolina: “N.C. GOP Spokesman Urges Reporter to Drop News Story, Citing Trump Ties” by Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) for MSN

North Dakota: “1 Named to North Dakota Ethics Commission, Other 2 Seats Still in Limbo” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Florida: “Uthmeier’s Brief Tenure at GrayRobinson Raises Potential Ethical Issues” by Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Virginia: “Virginia Senate Approves Mid-Decade Redistricting Amendment in Party-Line Vote” by Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Trump’s Desire for Loyalist Prosecutors Threatens the Case Against Comey

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2025

For months, the Trump administration’s unorthodox strategy to install and retain loyalists in key prosecutorial positions while bypassing Senate approval has roiled courts, drawn legal challenges, and earned condemnation from federal judges. Now, it threatens to imperil one of the cases the president cares about most. Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey asked a judge to dismiss the case against him, arguing President Trump’s handpicked prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed.

Dominion Voting, Trump and Fox’s Target After 2020, Gets a MAGA Makeover

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Patrick Marley, and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 10/23/2025

When a Republican businessperson announced he had purchased a voting equipment company at the center of MAGA conspiracy theories, he rebranded the company in a way that seemed designed to appease critics who falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump. But behind the scenes, the new owner of Dominion Voting Systems is sounding skeptical of those conspiracy theories. The discordant messages reflect the near-impossible task that election technology companies are facing.

With East Wing Gone, Questions Now Turn to Trump’s Ballroom Donors

MSN – Dan Diamond and Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2025

President Trump’s swift demolition of the White House’s East Wing stunned conservationists and many Americans. But ethics experts and Democrats say they are turning to a question related to the next phase of the project: whether the donors behind the planned $300 million ballroom that will replace the demolished annex will receive any benefits in return.

Nation’s Biggest Law Firms Back Off from Challenging Trump Policies

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Clara Ence Morse, and Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2025

The largest law firms in the United States have been far less likely to challenge President Trump’s policies than they were during his first term, and smaller firms are carrying much more of the burden of high-stakes legal challenges, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. The shift by large firms has put a significant extra burden on small- and medium-sized firms.

Binance Founder’s Pardon Shows Power of Trump Allies on K Street

MSN – Daniel Barnes (Politico) | Published: 10/25/2025

President Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao is a remarkable turn of fortune for the entrepreneur who just over a year ago was serving prison time for allowing money launderers access to his cryptocurrency trading platform. For Zhao and his company Binance, the pardon represents a fresh start in Washington, emblematic of Trump’s friendly attitude toward the crypto industry and soft approach to regulation. For the lobbyists who helped make the pardon happen, it is a show of force that embodies the shifting power on K Street toward firms with direct ties to the Oval Office.

Justice Dept. Says It Will Monitor Polls in California and New Jersey

MSN – Andrew Jeong (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2025

The Justice Department said it will monitor polling stations in six counties in California and New Jersey ahead of the November 4 general election, describing the move as routine and aimed at ensuring transparency and ballot security at the polls. The announcement triggered criticism from Democrats, who have a growing distrust in the Trump administration’s ability to act as a truly nonpartisan referee in elections.

Red States Are Preparing for an End to the Voting Rights Act

MSN – Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 10/28/2025

Some Republicans across the south are preparing to redraw their congressional maps to boot Democrats out of office if the Supreme Court issues a ruling on a case gutting the Voting Rights Act in time for the midterms. While such a decision is no sure thing, some states are nonetheless planning for the scenario. The potential scramble to redraw could completely reshape the midterms, and Democrats are already sounding the alarm.

World Leaders Wooing Trump Turn to a Common Present: Golf clubs

MSN – Matt Viser (Washington Post) | Published: 10/18/2025

Everywhere President Trump goes, it seems, dignitaries have decided that the way to his heart is through the game he loves. At least eight countries have given him golf clubs in his second term, according to a list from the State Department. The art of wooing Trump has taken new importance during his second term, as foreign leaders seek to ingratiate themselves with a mercurial president who is redefining America’s relationships with the world.

Trump Administration Uses Misleading Videos to Portray Chaos, Push Deportations

MSN – Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

Officials in the Trump administration used misleading footage in at least six videos promoting its immigration agenda shared in the last three months, muddying the reality of events in viral clips that have been viewed millions of times. Some videos that purported to show the chaos of Trump-targeted cities included footage from completely different states. One that claimed to show dramatic examples of past administrations’ failures instead featured border crossings and smuggling boats recorded during Trump’s first term.

White House Fires Arts Commission Expected to Review Trump Construction Projects

MSN – Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2025

The White House fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that had expected to review some of President Trump’s construction projects, including his planned triumphal arch and White House ballroom. The White House in July fired President Biden appointees from the National Capital Planning Commission, another urban-planning agency that is required to review external construction projects at the White House.

Meet the Senate Aide with a $44,000 Taxpayer-Funded Commute

MSN – Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 10/29/2025

The top aide to U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas charged $44,000 to taxpayers over the past two years in commuting expenses between Washington and Lynchburg, Virginia, where he lives. The reimbursements paid to Brent Robertson are legal and comply with congressional rules governing expense reimbursements, according to experts who reviewed his arrangement, but they also said it was highly unusual and at odds with the intent behind those rules.

2 U.S. Prosecutors Suspended After Describing Jan. 6 Attack as Carried Out by ‘Mob’

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

The Justice Department has placed two federal prosecutors in Washington on leave a day after they filed a document in court that referred to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being suspended just hours after they submitted a sentencing recommendation in a case against Taylor Taranto, accused of participating in the Capitol attack who is now facing sentencing for unrelated weapons charges.

Maine and Texas Are the Latest Fronts in Voting Battles, with Voter ID, Citizenship on the Ballot

MSN – Patrick White and John Hanna (Associated Press) | Published: 10/29/2025

Maine’s elections in recent years have been relatively free of problems, and verified cases of voter fraud are exceedingly rare. That is not stopping Republicans from pushing for major changes in the way the state conducts its voting. Maine is one of two states with election-related initiatives on the November 4 ballot. In Texas, Republicans are asking voters to make clear in the state constitution that people who are not U.S. citizens are ineligible to vote.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ford Government to Raise Donation Limits, Scrap Fixed-Term Elections

MSN – Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mell (Global News) | Published: 10/27/2025

The provincial government announced it is planning to dramatically increase individual donation limits for political parties in Ontario, scrap fixed-term election dates, and allow governments to sit for five years in a potentially massive overhaul. The changes were not part of the Progressive Conservatives’ platform to fight against tariffs during the 2025 snap election, which they won in February. Duff Conacher, the co-founder of Democracy Watch, said if the changes pass, they would continue a pattern of more money entering provincial politics.

Alaska – Ranked-Choice Voting Opponents Fight Campaign Finance Fines at Alaska High Court

Courthouse News Service – Jeremy Yurow | Published: 10/29/2025

Alaska Supreme Court justices pressed attorneys on whether state campaign finance laws were violated when a businessperson funneled $90,000 through a church to fund efforts to repeal ranked-choice voting. Oral arguments in two related appeals centered on penalties totaling $94,000 imposed by the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Arthur Mathias, the Ranked Choice Education Association and other opponents of the state’s voting system. At the heart of the dispute is whether a penalty provision adopted as part of a ballot measure applies only to candidate elections or extends to ballot measure campaigns.

California – Prosecutor on High-Profile S.F. Corruption Case Tapped as City’s First Inspector General

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal prosecutor who handled the bribery case against former Public Works director Mohammed Nuru was selected to become San Francisco’s top official tasked with rooting out corruption at City Hall. Alexandra Shepard will be the city’s first-ever inspector general if confirmed by the Board of Supervisors. Her hiring comes as San Francisco grapples with repeated episodes of alleged impropriety by government officials and nonprofit contractors, including former department heads who recently faced scrutiny over their conflicted relationships with city vendors.

California – Judge Rules Trump’s U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles Is Serving Unlawfully

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal judge ruled President Trump’s acting U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has been “unlawfully serving in that role.” U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright concluded that Bill Essayli had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that position and the administration’s efforts to keep him beyond that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny. But the judge said Essayli could retain the job of first assistant in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California, allowing him to continue overseeing prosecutions in the region if no one else is appointed to the top role.

California – Feds Charge East Bay City Council Member in Corruption Case Linked to Sheng Thao

Yahoo News – Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/28/2025

Federal prosecutors have charged San Leandro City Councilperson Bryan Azevedo with two felonies related to what they described as a scheme to help a housing company win city contracts in exchange for kickbacks. Azevedo is the second East Bay elected official to face federal charges related to Evolutionary Homes, a company that sought to build modular housing for the homeless out of shipping containers. The company is not named in the charging documents, but its identity is clear from public records in the case.

District of Columbia – Eleanor Holmes Norton Scammed Out of Thousands of Dollars, DC Police Says

Yahoo News – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 10/24/2025

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s long-serving delegate in Congress, was scammed out of thousands of dollars recently. A police report said the 88-year-old Norton’s credit card was charged with over $4,000 for services at her home. The incident was reported by Jacqueline Pelt, a longtime aide and Norton ally, who is listed in the report as living at Norton’s home. The internal report described Norton as having “early stages of dementia” and characterized Pelt as a caretaker with power of attorney for Norton.

Florida – Lobbyist Wrote Proposal Directing Florida to Buy Pricey 4 Acres in Destin

MSN – Max Chesnes and Emily Mahoney (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 10/29/2025

Florida politicians, including prominent Republicans, expressed outrage and confusion over a fast-tracked state purchase of four acres of sandy land in Destin for $83 million, raising questions about how the unusual deal bypassed typical safeguards for conservation buys. Newly obtained public records provide an answer. The proposal that led to the purchase came from a lobbyist representing the property owner who stands to profit.

Hawaii – Maui Ethics Board Is Reconsidering New Confidentiality Rule

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nathan Eagle | Published: 10/24/2025

The Maui Board of Ethics will not enforce a new rule that forces citizens to keep details about their pending ethics complaints confidential after considering public input this week. The reversal came after the board unanimously approved 44 new rule changes recently, including a provision that some members of the public called a “gag order.”

Illinois – Supreme Court Asks for More Briefs on Trump Push to Send Troops to Chicago

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court asked the Trump administration and Illinois officials for additional briefs on their dispute over whether President Trump can send troops to Chicago, pushing a decision on the matter into mid-November at the earliest. After the Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court on October 17 to allow the deployment to proceed, the court asked Illinois officials to respond within three days. The tight timeline suggested the justices could have potentially intended to rule on the matter quickly. The new request for more information could signal the justices are more split on the issue than they first appeared.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Political Fund Returns $120K from PACs Connected to City Vendors

Yahoo News – Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/22/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign last quarter returned $120,000 from two PACs both led by developers with active city contracts, the latest instances of his political fund giving back money amid ethical and accounting issues. Since being sworn in the mayor’s office, Johnson’s campaign has refunded almost $290,000 in contributions, made several amendments to its reports, and spent another $120,000 for compliance services.

Indiana – Indiana Governor Summons Lawmakers for Redistricting Session Amid National GOP Pressure

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 10/27/2025

Gov. Mike Braun called a special session to take up congressional redistricting, a politically charged move that follows months of mounting pressure from national Republicans to redraw Indiana’s map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Braun’s order sets the session for November 3 and said it will focus primarily on revising the state’s congressional boundaries, lines that were last redrawn in 2021 following the U.S. Census.

Maine – Former Hawai’i Defense Contractor Gets Prison Time for Illegal Donations

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 10/20/2025

A former Hawaii defense contractor was sentenced to 33 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme that sent more than $200,000 in illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and a super PAC that backed her 2020 bid for reelection. Kao’s illegal donations were made shortly after his firm won an $8 million contract that Collins secured funding for and celebrated alongside company executives during an August 2019 ceremony.

Maryland – Maryland’s Democratic Senate President Blocks Anti-Trump Redistricting Fight

MSN – Erin Cox and Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2025

Two of Maryland’s top Democrats have been eager to jump into the redistricting arms race unfolding across the country and draw boundaries that could oust the state’s lone congressional Republican from office, but the third Democrat needed to run that special session, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, has refused. Democrats hold the governor’s mansion and supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, making the state a target of national Democratic efforts to shore up the party’s power in the 2026 midterms and counteract the red states that have drawn new districts favoring a GOP majority.

Michigan – Michigan House Votes to Close Loophole Shielding Secretary of State from Campaign Finance Penalties

MSN – Michael Kransz (MLive) | Published: 10/29/2025

The Michigan House unanimously approved legislation that would close a loophole allowing the secretary of state to avoid punishment for campaign finance violations. The bill would grant the attorney general the authority to punish the secretary of state in the event of a violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.

New Jersey – NJ ELEC Votes to Allow Ciattarelli to Sue Sherrill for Defamation During Campaign

MSN – Molly Parks (Washington Examiner) | Published: 10/27/2025

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli can sue his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, during their race to be New Jersey’s next governor. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) issued an advisory opinion saying as long as Ciattarelli uses his own personal funds, he can file a defamation lawsuit against Sherrill. Ciattarelli sought an opinion from ELEC to ensure that a lawsuit before Election Day would not violate any campaign finance laws.

New Jersey – ‘Corruption Doesn’t Go Away.’ Why the New Head of NJ’s Top Watchdog Still Believes in SCI

Yahoo News – Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) | Published: 10/29/2025

Nearly 60 years after it was established, the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) is at a crossroads. Staff members are fleeing, their faith in the agency’s top leadership shaken to its core. The agency has not published any investigative reports in a year. Legislative leaders have openly debated SCI’s future, wondering if there are too many government watchdogs in a state often used as a punchline for corruption. The commission named Bruce Keller as its new executive director to stabilize the agency.

New York – Transparency Advocate Rejected from Ethics Commission Plans to Sue

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/22/2025

A longtime state ethics commissioner is planning to sue New York’s ethics commission after his nomination to join a new iteration of the body was rejected. Gary Lavine served as a member of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) for a decade, where he ruffled feathers as he pushed for the panel to become more transparent and criticized then-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s influence over the body. JCOPE commission was disbanded in 2022 and replaced by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. This year, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay nominated Lavine to serve on the replacement body.

North Dakota – Governor Wants ‘Reset’ from North Dakota Ethics Commission as Committee Deadlocks on Candidates

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/23/2025

Ethics Commission reached a stalemate after Gov. Kelly Armstrong refused to reappoint incumbent Murray Sagsveen. Armstrong argued the Ethics Commission needs a “general reset,” citing a strained relationship with executive branch agencies. Armstrong also disagreed with a response Sagsveen gave during the selection process in which he said the North Dakota Legislature has passed laws to limit the commission’s authority, in violation of the state constitution.

Oregon – Appeals Court to Review Order Letting Trump Send Guard to Oregon

MSN – Erik Larson (Bloomberg) | Published: 10/28/2025

A federal appeals court agreed to reconsider a ruling that would allow President Trump to send National Guard troops to Portland, stalling the deployment again just as Oregon’s lawsuit challenging the plan heads to trial in a lower court. The decision by the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals extends a temporary block on Trump’s deployment of troops to Portland, where he claims federal property and personnel are at risk from out-of-control protesters.

Pennsylvania – Harrisburg Mayor Fined by Ethics Commission for Using City Dumpster for Personal Trash

MSN – Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) | Published: 10/24/2025

The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ordered Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams to pay a $912.70 fine for instructing city employees to deliver a city-owned dumpster to her home for her personal use. Williams agreed to pay the fine instead of going through a hearing, which the commission said would have found her in violation of state ethics laws.

Pennsylvania – Why Tracking Spending in This Year’s Critical Pa. Supreme Court Retention Races Is So Difficult

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer | Published: 10/29/2025

How much are state and national groups spending to flood the airwaves, fill mailboxes, and buy up digital ads ahead of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections? That is a harder question to answer than one might think, thanks to a mix of lagging reporting, weakly enforced rules, and a campaign finance system that requires little transparency. Many groups are trying to sway voters through independent expenditures, which are often made by groups that cannot legally give to candidates, including nonprofits that do not have to disclose their donors.

Tennessee – Former Rep. Robin Smith Sentenced to 8 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Corruption Conspiracy

Yahoo News – Sofia Saric (Chattanooga Times Free Press) | Published: 10/24/2025

Former state Rep. Robin Smith was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for her role in a corruption conspiracy described as a scheme to steal from Tennessee and its citizens through the General Assembly’s taxpayer-funded constituent mail program. Smith, ex-Speaker Glen Casada and his one-time chief of staff, Cade Cothren, all played a part in a scheme to illegally profit off the taxpayer-funded constituent mail program from October 2019 to early January 2021.

Texas – State Scrutinizes Payments from Dallas County Probation Department to Austin Consultant

MSN – Tracey McManus (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 10/22/2025

The selection process for three seats on the North Dakota When Dallas County’s adult probation director, Arnold Patrick, cut a $32,800 check to a contractor in May, he said it was to replace checks issued two years earlier the consultant forgot to cash. Patrick hired a lobbyist in 2023 to screen and handle vendors doing business with the probation department. But during the year Eric Knustrom was under contract with the Dallas County agency, he did not perform core duties of the agreement. While Knustrom was not fulfilling his contract, emails show the lobbyist was working pro bono on legislative issues with Patrick and a group the two men had launched to splinter from the state probation association.

Virginia – University of Virginia Reaches Deal to Pause Trump Administration Probes

MSN – Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2025

The Justice Department reached an agreement with the University of Virginia to pause several investigations into the school, after a months-long dispute that led to the resignation of its president. The agreement includes no monetary penalty and no external monitoring. But it requires the university to agree to follow federal guidance to ensure it does not engage in what the Trump administration considers “unlawful racial discrimination in its university programming, admissions, hiring, or other activities.” Some legal experts have questioned the guidance as an overly broad interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Virginia – Virginia Democrats Are the Next Surprising Entrant into the Redistricting Battle

Yahoo News – Brakkton Booker, Andrew Howard, and Liz Crampton (Politico) | Published: 10/23/2025

Virginia Democrats are poised to enter the nationwide redistricting battle, according to three Democrats familiar with the plans, taking on an effort to redraw the state’s congressional lines just days before closely watched elections in the state. The surprise effort would need to come together quickly, and it could face procedural and political hurdles. Virginia has a constitutionally mandated process that hands redistricting over to a bipartisan commission, and the decision to circumnavigate or eliminate that commission must ultimately go in front of voters.

Washington – Meta Appeals $35M Campaign Finance Fine at WA Supreme Court

Yahoo News – Jake Goldstein-Street (Washington State Standard) | Published: 10/28/2025

Court to overturn what the Washington attorney general has called the largest campaign finance penalty in the nation’s history. Meta argues the state campaign finance law used to justify the $35 million fine violates the First Amendment. The company also argues the punishment, for not providing required records for digital campaign advertisements hosted on its platform, is excessive and misguided. The state says provisions of the law are necessary to inform voters about who is spending money to influence Washington elections.

West Virginia – Morrisey Trips Fuel Conflict-of-Interest Concern Stemming from First Lady’s Lobbying

Logan Banner – Mike Tony (Charleston Gazette-Mail) | Published: 10/25/2025

Ethics experts say West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s wife accompanying him on state-funded, health policy-focused trips to Washington while she has been a health care industry lobbyist presents conflict-of-interest concerns. State records indicate Denise Morrisey traveled with the governor on four taxpayer-supported flights to Washington from February to April 2025 at a cost of just under $15,000.

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Ford Government to Raise Donation Limits, Scrap Fixed-Term Elections” by Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mell (Global News) for MSN

Elections

New Jersey: “NJ ELEC Votes to Allow Ciattarelli to Sue Sherrill for Defamation During Campaign” by Molly Parks (Washington Examiner) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Prosecutor on High-Profile S.F. Corruption Case Tapped as City’s First Inspector General” by Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

National: “World Leaders Wooing Trump Turn to a Common Present: Golf clubs” by Matt Viser (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Administration Uses Misleading Videos to Portray Chaos, Push Deportations” by Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “University of Virginia Reaches Deal to Pause Trump Administration Probes” by Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

West Virginia: “Morrisey Trips Fuel Conflict-of-Interest Concern Stemming from First Lady’s Lobbying” by Mike Tony (Charleston Gazette-Mail) for Logan Banner

Redistricting

National: “Red States Are Preparing for an End to the Voting Rights Act” by Andrew Howard (Politico) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Former Hawai’i Defense Contractor Gets Prison Time for Illegal Donations” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

National: “Justice Dept. Says It Will Monitor Polls in California and New Jersey” by Andrew Jeong (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Washington DC: “Eleanor Holmes Norton Scammed Out of Thousands of Dollars, DC Police Says” by Aaron Pellish (Politico) for Yahoo News

National: “Nation’s Biggest Law Firms Back Off from Challenging Trump Policies” by Shayna Jacobs, Clara Ence Morse, and Mark Berman (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Harrisburg Mayor Fined by Ethics Commission for Using City Dumpster for Personal Trash” by Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) for MSN

Tennessee: “Former Rep. Robin Smith Sentenced to 8 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Corruption Conspiracy” by Sofia Saric (Chattanooga Times Free Press) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Binance Founder’s Pardon Shows Power of Trump Allies on K Street” by Daniel Barnes (Politico) for MSN

Redistricting

Indiana: “Indiana Governor Summons Lawmakers for Redistricting Session Amid National GOP Pressure” by Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Political Fund Returns $120K from PACs Connected to City Vendors” by Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Dominion Voting, Trump and Fox’s Target After 2020, Gets a MAGA Makeover” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Patrick Marley, and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump’s Desire for Loyalist Prosecutors Threatens the Case Against Comey” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “With East Wing Gone, Questions Now Turn to Trump’s Ballroom Donors” by Dan Diamond and Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Transparency Advocate Rejected from Ethics Commission Plans to Sue” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus

North Dakota: “Governor Wants ‘Reset’ from North Dakota Ethics Commission as Committee Deadlocks on Candidates” by Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Texas: “State Scrutinizes Payments from Dallas County Probation Department to Austin Consultant” by Tracey McManus (Dallas Morning News) for MSN

Redistricting

Virginia: “Virginia Democrats Are the Next Surprising Entrant into the Redistricting Battle” by Brakkton Booker, Andrew Howard, and Liz Crampton (Politico) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Kansas: “Wichita Has New Rules for Reporting Contributions. So Far, Candidates Haven’t Followed Them” by Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) for Yahoo News

Elections

Georgia: “Georgia Voter Turnout Groups Are Closing, Raising Questions About Democratic Strength” by Charlotte Kramon and Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

California: “San Jose Scratches Head Over Official’s Ethical Dilemma” by Brandon Pho (San Jose Spotlight) for MSN

National: “Pentagon Press Confronts New Reality of Trump Era: Being banned from the Pentagon” by Scott Nover (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “George Santos, Freed by Trump, Says He Wants to Reform American Prisons” by Kadia Goba (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Orange County IDA Seeks to Scrap Oversight Role as Lawmakers Object” by Nora Mishanec (Albany Times Union) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Appeals Court Sides with Trump on Troop Deployment to Portland ICE Building” by Maxine Bernstein (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “How Trump 2.0 Blew Up Lobbying” by Brendan Bordelon, Amanda Chu, and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for MSN

National/Federal

Skeptical Judges Increasingly Question Administration’s Veracity

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 10/10/2025

In recent days, a Trump-appointed judge in Oregon declared the president’s decision to send the National Guard to Portland was “simply untethered to the facts.” As that and other admonishments have rained down from federal judges, White House officials have responded with increasingly fervid rhetoric. Taken to an extreme, that tension could threaten fundamental parts of the American legal system. In the more immediate term, the legal experts said, the increasingly adversarial relationship could reshape how prosecutors are viewed in courtrooms, making it harder for the federal government to convince judges that it is telling the truth.

Missouri Democrats Have an Opportunity to Block a New Congressional Map. They Say They’re Largely on Their Own.

MSN – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 10/11/2025

Democrats are pushing ahead with last-ditch efforts to stymie Republican mid-decade redistricting in Missouri and Ohio, although they face unclear paths to blocking the potential gerrymanders. Party leaders in the two states are mobilizing campaigns to prevent the GOP-drawn maps from going into effect ahead of next year’s midterms, but both efforts have seen only modest support from Washington.

Trump Escalates His Use of Federal Power to Target Democratic States

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 10/12/2025

President Donald Trump’s move to cancel projects in Democratic states during the government shutdown has prompted a furor and cries of partisanship. But it is only the latest example of his administration’s efforts to use power in ways that damage blue states and help red ones. Funding is not the only area fueling the allegation among Democrats that blue America is being targeted.

Airports Say They Won’t Air Kristi Noem Shutdown Video at TSA Checkpoints

MSN – Shannon Najmabadi and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 10/13/2025

Airports in more than a half-dozen U.S. markets have declined to display a video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames congressional Democrats for the government shutdown and any related travel delays, citing the political nature of its content. Officials that oversee airports in Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix, and Seattle said the video could violate internal policies that bar political messaging or contravene state or federal laws that prohibit the use of public resources for political activity.

Trump Allies Sold Sponsorships to What Appeared to Be a Treasury Event. It Wasn’t.

MSN – Josh Dawsey (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/13/2025

An investment fund run by prominent Trump supporters tried to sell sponsorships for a conference it pitched to companies as the “Inaugural U.S. Treasury A.I. Summit,” during which it said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would unveil the Treasury Department’s artificial-intelligence strategy. The fund, called 1789 Capital, circulated the pitch to technology companies in recent weeks, calling the event “historic.”  It offered an array of perks, including a VIP cocktail party and dinner, to those who paid.

Fox News Among Broadcasters Refusing to Sign Pentagon Press Pledge

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 10/14/2025

Fox News, along with ABC, CBS, and NBC, will not sign the Defense Department’s new press policy. Fox’s dissent is notable considering the Trump-friendly views of many of its opinion hosts, whose ranks previously included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The policy prohibits journalists from accessing or soliciting information the Defense Department does not make available for them and revokes Pentagon press credentials from those who will not sign on.

How Inflatable Frog Suits Became the Protest Fashion Statement of the Year

MSN – Ashley Fetters Maloy (Washington Post) | Published: 10/14/2025

Operation Inflation is an organization providing puff-up costumes, like Thanksgiving Day parade balloons in miniature, to those protesting the crackdown by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In high-profile protest movements, imagery is everything. In the days since Operation Inflation began, protesters in huge cartoon animal suits have been multiplying, adding to a long tradition of strategic costuming decisions in American political protests while giving it a new twist.

Judge Orders Trump Administration to Pause Shutdown Layoffs

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2025

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plans to lay off thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown, siding with unions, which have argued the dismissals were illegal. The government has argued that agencies have broad authorities to reorganize workforces to conform to the president’s priorities. But the unions for federal workers said the layoffs were improperly handled, politically motivated, and based on a false premise the shutdown allows the government not to continue its statutory requirements.

Supreme Court Rejects Alex Jones’s Bid to Set Aside $1.4 Billion Verdict

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/14/2025

The Supreme Court rejected a bid by conspiracy theorist and Infowars founder Alex Jones to set aside the historic $1.4 billion jury verdict against him for defaming families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary mass killing. Jones was found liable for falsely claiming the 2012 shooting that left 20 students and six adults dead was a hoax carried out to confiscate guns and create momentum for gun-control regulations.

Is Democracy Melting? With an Ice Sculpture, These Artists Think So

MSN – Nina Heller (Roll Call) | Published: 10/15/2025

As the government shutdown drags on with no clear end in sight, a 3,000-pound ice sculpture was unveiled on the National Mall, spelling out the word “democracy.” Glinting in the midday sun, it started melting almost immediately. Titled “Last Call – DemocracyICED,” the sculpture is part of a national campaign led by Ben & Jerry’s ice cream co-founder Ben Cohen called Up in Arms, which calls for less military spending and more money for social programs.

‘Law and Order’ Push Shows a Trump No Longer Encumbered by Naysaying Aides or Government Guardrails

MSN – Will Weissert and Jill Colvin (Associated Press) | Published: 10/16/2025

Now settled into his second term, President Trump has embraced the kind of tough-on-crime approach he has always campaigned on but was unable to achieve with the naysayers who often checked his most extreme instincts during his first four years in office. In the process, his administration has sometimes trampled law enforcement norms and critics say Trump has weaponized the Department of Justice, using it to go after political opponents.

Trump’s Pardon Proposals Go Global Despite Allies’ Corruption Charges

MSN – Patrick Marley and Adam Taylor (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2025

President Trump’s efforts to disband programs that promote democracy abroad and downplay allegations of corruption and human rights abuses in other countries took on an added dimension when he appeared before Israel’s parliament and called for pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The request to dismiss corruption charges was the latest in a long line of actions reversing America’s long-standing posture as an exporter of democratic values.

Trump Wants a White House Ballroom. These Companies Are Funding It.

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2025

President Trump said his ballroom construction project is fully financed after Coinbase, Apple, and dozens of other companies committed millions of dollars to please a president who has long dreamed of leaving his mark on the White House. Trump treated donors from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and the defense sector to a dinner in the East Room as a thank-you, praising them for quickly heeding his call for support and noting some offered as much as $25 million.

GOP Congressman Says Capitol Police Is Investigating Swastika in His Office

MSN – Alec Dent (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2025

Rep. Dave Taylor said he requested that the U.S. Capitol Police investigate an American flag with a swastika on it found in his office. A screenshot from a virtual meeting that included Angelo Elia, who works as a legislative correspondent in Taylor’s office, was shared online. The image shows Elia in front of what appears to be a cubicle wall bearing a small American flag altered so the stripes form a swastika, hung up alongside a copy of the Constitution and memes about Ohio.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Supreme Court Orders Dunleavy Backers to Comply with Subpoenas in Campaign Finance Case

Yahoo News – Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 10/10/2025

The Alaska Supreme Court ordered backers of Gov. Mike Dunleavy to respond to subpoenas that seek to find whether they violated state campaign finance laws in the lead-up to the 2022 election. The ruling stems from complaint alleging the Republican Governors Association created a group called A Stronger Alaska ahead of the election as a shell entity to improperly spend money in support of Dunleavy’s reelection campaign without disclosing its donors as required by state law.

California – Only One San Diego County Supervisor Pays to Rent a District Office. The Landlord? A Major Campaign Donor.

MSN – Lucas Robinson (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 10/12/2025

San Diego County’s lease for a district office used by Supervisor Joel Anderson is set to steer hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to the owners of the building over the term of the agreement. Those owners, records show, are a powerful family who have been notable donors to Anderson’s campaigns. The arrangement could create an appearance of a conflict-of-interest, as Anderson’s office has steered public dollars to a business owned by a family who have been his political benefactors.

Colorado – A Group of Democratic State Lawmakers Gathered with Lobbyists at a Vail Retreat. Who Paid the Tab?

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven and Jesse Paul | Published: 10/13/2025

At least 17 Democratic state lawmakers gathered with lobbyists during a weekend retreat at a Vail hotel organized by the nonprofit Colorado Opportunity Caucus. As a nonprofit, the Opportunity Caucus does not have to report its donors. Nonprofits file annual financial forms, called 990s, that generally only include their total revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities.

Colorado – Former State Senator Agrees to Pay Nearly $3K to Settle Campaign Finance Violations Surfaced by Colorado Sun

Colorado Sun – Jesse Paul | Published: 10/14/2025

Former Colorado Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis agreed to pay nearly $3,000 to settle allegations she violated campaign finance laws. The allegations stemmed from reporting by The Colorado Sun. Jaquez Lewis, who resigned from the legislature in February, admitted to failing to report campaign spending on several occasions. She also admitted using campaign funds to hire a staffer to campaign on behalf of another candidate, which is prohibited.

Florida – Florida Judge Temporarily Blocks Transfer of Downtown Miami Land for Trump’s Presidential Library

MSN – Kate Payne (Associated Press) | Published: 10/14/2025

A Florida judge temporarily blocked the planned transfer of prime downtown Miami land for President Trump’s future presidential library. The move by Circuit Court Judge Mavel Ruiz came after an activist alleged officials at a local college violated Florida’s open government law when they gifted the sizable plot of real estate to the state, which then voted to transfer it to the foundation for the planned library.

Florida – Citing Safety Concerns, Commission on Ethics Chair Requests Public Records Exemption for Staff

Yahoo News – Mitch Perry (Florida Phoenix) | Published: 10/15/2025

Saying that an individual has called more than 35 times making threats to the Florida Commission on Ethics in the past week, Commission Chairperson Jon Philipson is requesting lawmakers provide a public records exemption for the personal information and addresses of the staff and commissioners during the 2026 legislative session. Commissioners must now complete a financial disclosure that Philipson said was “more invasive and more expansive” than a previous version.

Hawaii – Campaign Commission Will Push Again for Reforms Lawmakers Keep Rejecting

Honolulu Civil Beat – Richard Wiens | Published: 10/9/2025

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission voted to resurrect four government reform measures next year that were rejected by the 2025 Legislature. For two of the bills, it will be the fourth try. One would expand partial public campaign financing while another would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during legislative sessions. Another proposal would close a loophole that allows contributions to officeholders from people connected with state contractors and grants.

Illinois – Ex-AT&T Illinois President Could Escape Conviction After Striking Deal in Madigan Bribery Case

Chicago Sun Times – John Seidel | Published: 10/14/2025

The former AT&T Illinois president who allegedly bribed ex-state House Speaker Michael Madigan agreed to resolve his prosecution by paying a $200,000 fine and admitting to most of the accusations against him. Still, Paul La Schiazza could walk away without a conviction if he holds up his end of a one-year deal made official in the courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman.

Illinois – Appeals Court Bars Trump from Deploying National Guard in Illinois

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/11/2025

A federal appeals court said it will not allow President Trump to deploy the National Guard in Illinois, largely preserving a ruling that had suspended the administration’s campaign to send troops into the Chicago area. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, however, said the president could federalize the Guard for now, as the appeals court said it will later decide on that question. It is unclear what the Guard will be doing without the ability to deploy.

Illinois – Election Board Hearing Officer Recommends Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Pay Nearly $10 Million Fine

Yahoo News – Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/14/2025

The State Board of Elections will decide whether it should follow a hearing officer’s recommendation and reject Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s appeal of a nearly $10 million fine for accepting campaign contributions in excess of state limits. At issue is an Illinois election law, which Harmon co-sponsored, aimed at curbing the influence of big money in campaigns and one key provision that ostensibly was written to ensure lesser-funded candidates were not hurt by the campaign contribution limits.

Indiana – Hogsett Ignored Thomas Cook’s Secret Relationship as Money Flowed to Developers

Yahoo News – Tony Cook (Indianapolis Star), Peter Blanchard, and Emily Hopkins (Mirror Indy) | Published: 10/13/2025

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has long cultivated a reputation for public integrity. One government watchdog group awarded him the title “Mr. Clean.” But a media investigation found Hogsett ignored conflicts-of-interest involving millions of dollars in city incentives. Perhaps nobody benefited as much as Thomas Cook, the mayor’s former chief of staff who was forced to resign because of a prohibited relationship with a subordinate.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Seems Open to Limiting Key Section of Voting Rights Act

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2025

The Supreme Court seemed open to further limiting the use of race in drawing legislative maps, a move that could undermine the last major pillar of the Voting Rights Act, which has bolstered the power of minority voters and candidates for more than half a century. The court’s conservative majority appeared sympathetic to arguments by attorneys for Louisiana and the Trump administration who said race played too large a role in the decision to create a second majority-Black congressional district in the state, in violation of the Constitution’s provision that all people must be treated equally.

Maine – Is This Top Senate Recruit Too Old to Run? Some Democrats Think So.

MSN – Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 10/14/2025

Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ campaign for U.S. Senate has reignited a contentious debate about candidates’ ages in a Democratic Party increasingly eager to inject more youth into its aging ranks. Mills is 77 and would be the oldest freshman senator ever if she wins the seat held by Sen. Susan Collins. Democratic losses in 2024 have led many party activists to urge a passing of the torch to younger leaders, particularly after years of dominance by congressional leaders in their 70s and 80s.

Massachusetts – Boston Prosecutors Invoke Law Used Against Anarchists to Charge Protesters

Seattle Times – Jenna Russell (New York Times) | Published: 10/10/2025

Protesters who clashed with police in Boston recently are facing felony charges of assault and inciting a riot, a strong statement by city and state officials at a high-stakes moment of federal intervention in other Democrat-led cities. Four Boston police officers were injured in a confrontation with more than 200 protesters. Thirteen protesters were to be charged with inciting a riot, a felony charge that is also known as “promotion of anarchy,” with origins in early 20th-century fears of anarchist violence. If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison.

New Hampshire – N.H. Ethics Panel Decides GoFundMe to Help House Staffer’s Tragic Loss Is Permitted

Yahoo News – Kevin Landrigan (Manchester Union Leader) | Published: 10/12/2025

The Legislative Ethics Committee decided that nearly $3,500 in donations raised by friends, colleagues, and one lobbyist on a GoFundMe page to help an executive assistant to New Hampshire House Speaker Sherman Packard after a fire seriously damaged her home were exempt from the state’s ban on gifts to lawmakers and staffers. Since 2016, the state has had a ban on gifts of more than $50 to lawmakers and staff but there are 15 extensive exceptions.

New Mexico – Ethics Commission: Lawmakers and campaigns allowed to spend funds for security

Yahoo News – Danielle Prokop (Source New Mexico) | Published: 10/14/2025

In the wake of recent bomb threats against New Mexico lawmakers, two legislators asked state ethics officials to decide whether lawmakers and candidates are allowed to use campaign funds for “security expenses.” The short answer, according to the state Ethics Commission, is yes.

New York – New York Man Convicted of Illegal Straw Donor Scheme during President Trump’s Reelection Campaign

Associated Press News – Staff | Published: 10/15/2025

A New York City man was convicted of conducting an illegal straw donor scheme in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. A federal jury found Xinyue “Daniel” Lou guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of making contributions in the name of others. Lou faces up to 10 years in prison.

New York – New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump Foe, Is Indicted by Trump’s DOJ

MSN – Erica Orden, Kyle Cheney, Jeff Coltin, and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 10/9/2025

Following sustained pressure from President Trump to prosecute his perceived political enemies, a federal grand jury indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges related to alleged mortgage fraud. The indictment charges James with one count of bank fraud and one count of false statements to a financial institution for allegedly obtaining a loan for a home in Virginia that required her to use the property as a secondary residence. According to the indictment, she instead used the home as a rental investment property.

New York – With Eric Adams in Albania, NYC Ethics Organization Mulls More Travel Disclosure Regs

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 10/10/2025

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board is proposing tighter disclosure rules for elected officials who accept travel perks from special interest groups or foreign governments. In part, the new regulations were inspired by public concern over trips like Mayor Eric Adams’ jaunts abroad during his time in office. Elected officials are required to report third-party reimbursements for official travel topping $1,000. The threshold for agencies to report gifts to the board, however, is $5,000. The board is now proposing to lower the agency threshold to $1,000.

North Carolina – North Carolina GOP Announce Plans to Vote on New House Map Amid Nationwide Redistricting Battle

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 10/13/2025

North Carolina Republican legislative leaders announced plans to vote on redrawing the state’s U.S. House district map, taking up President Trump’s call to secure more GOP seats nationwide. The push to retool already right-leaning boundaries for the ninth-largest state comes amid a major party battle spanning several states to revamp district lines to partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

North Carolina – Gambling Campaign Donations Go to Sheriffs, Legislators, NC Appeals Court Judge

Yahoo News – Brian Gordon (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 10/15/2025

Daniel Storie donated $6,500 to the campaign of Judge Jefferson Griffin, who was running for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Danny Storie, his father, contributed the same amount to the Griffin campaign the same day. When the Stories made these donations, Griffin was among 15 North Carolina appellate court judges who could have been selected to a three-judge panel that would hear the son’s appeal when Robeson County sheriff threatened to shut down Daniel Storie’s business, No Limit Games, which operated video sweepstakes.

Ohio – Investigation Reveals Ohio Commission Struggled to Recoup $96 Million Campaign Finance Fees

WKYC – Rochelle Alleyne (WBNS) | Published: 10/14/2025

An analysis found that almost $96 million in penalties the Ohio Elections Commission has handed out since 1987 remains uncollected. It is an issue that led Secretary of State Frank LaRose to describe the commission as a “toothless organization” in a May 2025 press release. Commission Executive Director Philip Richter said the agency does not have the power to make anyone pay.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Lawmakers Compare ‘Dark Money’ to Laundering in Interim Study, Discuss Red Tape

KOSU – Lionel Ramos | Published: 10/14/2025

Some Oklahoma lawmakers are keen on regulating ‘dark money’ used to influence state and local elections. An interim study of the subject in the House Elections and Ethics Committee discussed the dangers and possible solutions to a growing concern. “… It’s just like laundering money, is what it is,” Rep. Meloyde Blancett said.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Campaign Finance Website to Remain Offline for More Than a Month

MSN – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 10/10/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission plans to have its website for campaign finance reports back online October 28, putting it offline for more than a month. The system, called Guardian 2.0, is a revamped website that allows people seeking elected office to file their campaign filings and for the public to view those reports.

Pennsylvania – Man Who Set Fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Mansion Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder

MSN – Jesse Bunch (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 10/14/2025

Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting the governor’s mansion ablaze in an attempt on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s life, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and related crimes and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison. The blaze broke out as the governor and his family slept. They were awakened by state troopers and escaped unharmed with the two family dogs.

Rhode Island – R.I. Elections Board Slashes Campaign Finance Fines in the Hopes of Getting Scofflaws to Pay Up

Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 10/10/2025

Ric Thornton, director of campaign finance at State Board of Elections, aims to reduce the $6.2 million dollars of outstanding fines for missing or overdue Rhode Island campaign finance reports by 25 percent by the end of the year. He does not expect to convince former candidates and officeholders to make good on their six-figure debts. Instead, Thornton is invoking a new state regulation he helped create, which lets the elections board cap fines on campaign finance violations and suspend the old accounts to stop late fees from accruing.

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Former State Senator Agrees to Pay Nearly $3K to Settle Campaign Finance Violations Surfaced by Colorado Sun” by Jesse Paul for Colorado Sun

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Lawmakers Compare ‘Dark Money’ to Laundering in Interim Study, Discuss Red Tape” by Lionel Ramos for KOSU

Elections

Maine: “Is This Top Senate Recruit Too Old to Run? Some Democrats Think So.” by Dan Merica (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Allies Sold Sponsorships to What Appeared to Be a Treasury Event. It Wasn’t.” by Josh Dawsey (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

National: “Fox News Among Broadcasters Refusing to Sign Pentagon Press Pledge” by Scott Nover (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Ex-AT&T Illinois President Could Escape Conviction After Striking Deal in Madigan Bribery Case” by John Seidel for Chicago Sun Times

Pennsylvania: “Man Who Set Fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Mansion Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder” by Jesse Bunch (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN

Redistricting

North Carolina: “North Carolina GOP Announce Plans to Vote on New House Map Amid Nationwide Redistricting Battle” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN

National/Federal

Bari Weiss to Be Named Top Editor at CBS News

MSN – Will Oremus, Caroline O’Donovan, and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 10/3/2025

The newly formed media giant Paramount Skydance will acquire the Free Press, an online publication, and install its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor in chief of CBS News. The move heralds a new era at the 98-year-old broadcast network, whose corporate parents made moves to address the Trump administration’s allegations of liberal bias as they sought approval for an $8 billion merger that was finalized in August.

Democrats’ Defiance on Shutdown Shows a New, Tougher Approach to Trump

MSN – Naftali Bendavid and Yasmeen Abutaleb (Washington Post) | Published: 10/4/2025

Democrats’ defiant approach to the current government shutdown reflects a party mood that has shifted dramatically as a growing number of Democrats inside and outside Washington are embracing all-out confrontation with President Trump. Only a few months ago, some leading voices in the party, stunned by Trump’s broad election win, were counseling against picking unnecessary fights or appearing to reject the voters’ will. But in this shutdown battle, and a growing number of political fights around the country, it is harder to find Democrats arguing against forceful resistance.

States Try Getting Tough on Political Violence After Charlie Kirk Killing

MSN – Daniel Han and Natalie Fertig (Politico) | Published: 10/4/2025

Charlie Kirk’s murder spurred efforts to get tough on political violence in statehouses around the country. But states had been grappling with different types of legislation to stem the violence in a year that has been full of it, from the arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Political violence experts said legislation could be practical in mitigating some acts of violence, though not a panacea.

Trump Officials Keep Talking About DOJ’s Biggest Prosecutions – Putting Cases in Jeopardy

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 10/5/2025

President Trump is deploying the Justice Department to punish and prosecute his perceived enemies and advance his political agenda. But his color commentary, and that of senior members of his administration, about the cases is threatening to derail them in court. Public comments by Trump and high-ranking officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have already become flashpoints in high-profile cases.

Justice Department Takes Case Against Trump Supporter to Trial

MSN – James Fanelli (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/5/2025

A Justice Department firmly in Donald Trump’s control is in the unusual position of putting on trial one of the president’s supporters and dredging up allegations of Chinese money flowing into his unsuccessful 2020 re-election effort. Prosecutors charged Xinyue Lou during the Biden administration. He is accused of orchestrating a straw-donor scheme to circumvent contribution limits. Prosecutors said he recruited and reimbursed donors to a 2019 fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with the goal of helping Chinese nationals attend.

Trump Official Bypassed Ethics Rules in Criminal Referrals of Fed Governor and Other Foes, Sources Say

MSN – Marisa Taylor and Chris Prentice (Reuters) | Published: 10/6/2025

The Trump appointee accusing the president’s political foes of mortgage fraud skipped over his agency’s inspector general when making criminal referrals, bypassing rules meant to ensure that federal officials do not abuse their power for partisan purposes. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, earlier this year made criminal referrals against targets including Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve governor whom President Trump has tried to dismiss, for alleged crimes related to their mortgages.

Judges Appointed by Trump Keep Ruling Against Him. He’s Not Happy About It.

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 10/6/2025

While President Trump and his allies have spent all year leveling pointed attacks at Democratic judicial appointees, labeling them rogue insurrectionists and radicals, the president is increasingly facing stark rejections from people he put on the bench. The brushbacks have come mainly from District Court judges, who occupy the lowest level of the three-tiered federal judiciary. In some cases in which Trump-appointed judges have heard Trump-related cases, they have delivered sweeping warnings about the expansion of executive power, the erosion of checks and balances and have criticized his attacks on judges writ large.

James Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Criminal Charges Following Trump Pressure to Prosecute

MSN – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 10/8/2025

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in his first appearance in court as a criminal defendant in a case that has roiled the Justice Department and prompted outcry that President Trump is weaponizing criminal charges against his enemies. The judge set a January 5, 2026, trial date. Comey is facing two felony charges stemming from his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, when he discussed leading the FBI amid an investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

Conservative Push for Charlie Kirk Statues Revives Debate on Memorials

MSN – Kelsey Ables and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) | Published: 10/8/2025

It was not long after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot that pitches for monuments to the 31-year-old conservative activist began to surface. The push for such monuments, particularly at college campuses, is unusual, experts say. Many figures given statues in the U.S. have been deceased for decades. The effort reflects how Kirk, a star among young conservatives but also divisive for his controversial rhetoric on race, sexuality, and other issues, has been hailed by the right as a kind of martyr.

Trump Is Complicating the GOP’s Anti-Censorship Campaign

MSN – Naomi Nix and Will Oremus (Washington Post) | Published: 10/9/2025

For years, Republicans have denounced tech companies’ policies barring hateful and misleading posts, alleging that a sweeping liberal censorship operation led by the Biden administration was forcing social media platforms to suppress conservative voices. That campaign is running into an awkward new obstacle: President Trump’s efforts to rein in liberal speech.

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s Appeal

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

The Supreme Court said it would not hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her sex-trafficking conviction, declining to consider arguments from the imprisoned associate of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein that she was improperly prosecuted. The Epstein case and the prosecution of Maxwell have been an issue for the Trump administration for months. The case has long fueled conspiracy theories and speculation, and the decision not to release further Epstein-related files ignited outrage among President Trump’s right-wing base.

Jose Uribe Gets No Jail Time After Cooperating in Menendez Trial

MSN – Kristie Cattafi and Katie Sobko (Bergen Record) | Published: 10/9/2025

The star witness in former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption and bribery trial was sentenced to no jail time after cooperating with the federal prosecutors and pleading guilty to federal charges last year. Jose Uribe, one of three New Jersey businesspeople indicted alongside Menendez, spent several days during Menendez’s trial testifying against the then-senator and admitted bribing him. Instead of prison, Uribe was sentenced to home detention for six months and three years of supervision.

Trump Fires Black Officials from an Overwhelmingly White Administration

Seattle Times – Elisabeth Bumiller and Erica Green (New York Times) | Published: 10/8/2025

There have been a series of firings of Black officials from high-profile positions in an overwhelmingly white Trump administration that has banished all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government. While there are no statistics on firings by race, an examination of the people Trump is appointing to fill those and other jobs shows a stark trend. Of President Trump’s 98 Senate-confirmed appointees to the administration’s most senior leadership roles in its first 200 days, only two, or two percent, are Black.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ontario Labour Minister Attended Lobbyist’s Wedding After Granting His Clients Millions in Training Funds

The Trillum – Charlie Pinkerton and Jack Hauen | Published: 10/8/2025

Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini attended the wedding of a lobbyist after his office awarded the lobbyist’s clients millions of dollars through a training fund program the province’s auditor general recently described as “not fair, transparent or accountable.” Piccini, who has final say over who receives money through the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund, was in Paris to attend the wedding of Michael Rudderham, a lobbyist and longtime friend of the minister.

California – Favors & Deals at CapRadio

MSN – Ishani Desai (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/6/2025

Two influential Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) leaders skirted guardrails intended to fortify the nonprofit against ethical lapses and steered $1.1 million in contracts to a former board treasurer’s company. Western Contract, a company owned by Bill Yee, who was CapRadio’s board treasurer, secured two deals with CapRadio, the first for about $126,000 and the second for roughly $992,000. Records show Yee offered personal favors to Jun Reina, who was CapRadio’s chief financial officer, while brokering these transactions and succeeded in bypassing the competitive bid process.

California – Nonprofit Wins Ruling Over S.F. in Bribery Probe; City Officials Call Decision ‘Bizarre’

Yahoo News – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/9/2025

A San Francisco nonprofit accused of misappropriating public dollars and bribing a former city official will not be barred from doing business with the city, an official ruled in the administrative case against the organization. The ruling by hearing officer Andrea McGary in the case against Collective Impact is the first significant legal decision in the yearslong episode surrounding the nonprofit and its ties to Sheryl Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Colorado – Denver Board of Ethics ‘Appalled’ by Denver International Airport Spending on Overseas Conference

MSN – Brian Maass (KCNC) | Published: 10/3/2025

The city’s Board of Ethics cleared Denver International Airport and its chief executive officer, Phil Washington, of an ethics violation related to a trip to a conference in Madrid earlier this year. But the board said it was “appalled by both the amount of funds that were expended for this conference and by Mr. Washington’s seemingly cavalier attitude in responding to this complaint.”

Connecticut – Kosta Diamantis Bribery Trial Begins Following Multiyear Probe

Connecticut Public Radio – Andrew Brown (CT Mirror) | Published: 10/6/2025

The federal criminal trial of Konstantinos Diamantis, a former state deputy budget director who is accused of using his position overseeing Connecticut’s school building program to solicit tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from construction contractors, has begun. The trial is the culmination of a nearly four-year investigation into Diamantis, a former Democratic lawmaker who climbed to the highest levels of the state government before he became the target of the criminal probe in 2021.

District of Columbia – The Trump-Epstein Statue Is Back on the National Mall, Days After Its Abrupt Removal

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 10/3/2025

A statue of President Trump skipping hand-in-hand with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has returned to the District of Columbia’s National Mall, over a week after it was abruptly removed in the pre-dawn hours. Trump has sought to downplay his friendship with the disgraced financier, who died in jail in August 2019.

Hawaii – Senator Voted for Bills Backed by Lobbyists He’s Going to Work For

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair and Blaze Lovell | Published: 10/5/2025

State Sen. Henry Aquino is stepping down to go to work for one of the biggest lobbying firms in the state after serving in the Hawaii Legislature for 17 years. In the 2025 legislative session, Hawaii Public Policy Advocates backed two dozen bills before Aquino’s Labor and Technology Committee, which voted to approve more than a third of them. It is Aquino’s legislative experience that may be of the most interest to a business like Hawaii Public Policy Advocates with wide-ranging interests.

Hawaii – Dark Money Group Blankets Maui in Ads to Influence Vacation Rental Bill

Honolulu Civil Beat – Erin Nolan | Published: 10/7/2025

For months, a District of Columbia-based group called Progress Action has been spending thousands of dollars to inundate Maui residents with radio and online advertisements warning that Mayor Richard Bissen’s plan to phase out about half the island’s short-term rentals would be “a failure and a mistake.” Records that are available indicate Progress Action is a PAC or nonprofit that is effectively skirting state campaign finance laws and lobbying disclosure requirements that could normally provide greater transparency.

Illinois – Illinois Sues to Block Trump’s National Guard Deployment to Chicago

MSN – Ben Szalinski, Brenden Moore, and Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 10/6/2025

Illinois and Chicago filed a federal lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s planned deployment of National Guard troops to the state, a move Gov. JB Pritzker called an “invasion.” Trump pushed forward with the plan to activate hundreds of National Guard soldiers, including some from Texas, despite monthslong opposition from state and local leaders, as well as objections from civic and business groups in the city.

Illinois – Supreme Court Poised to Revive GOP Congressman’s Absentee Ballot Suit That Could Spur More Election Litigation

MSN – John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 10/8/2025

A majority of the Supreme Court indicated it will back a Republican member of Congress from Illinois who is challenging a state law that allows mail ballots to be received after Election Day, a decision that would let him proceed with a potentially explosive lawsuit that lower courts had rejected. Rep. Michael Bost’s appeal is not focused on the ballot issue itself but rather it raises the question of whether federal candidates may sue over election regulations, even if, as in Bost’s case, they represent a safe district and are highly favored to win election.

Illinois – Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin Will Pay $30,000 to Settle Ethics Cases

Yahoo News – Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/2/2025

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin will pay a $30,000 fine to settle two ethics cases stemming from findings that she misused taxpayer resources for personal and political purposes and improperly fired whistleblowers. The Chicago Board of Ethics found Conyears-Ervin violated the city’s ethics ordinance 12 times and issued the maximum fine of $60,000, or $5,000 per breach.

Indiana – Undisclosed Conflicts, Contracts with Donors, Lavish Travel: What the IEDC audit found

Yahoo News – Kayla Dwyer and Hayleigh Colombo (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 10/2/2025

Gov. Mike Braun’s administration unveiled the results of an audit into the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), the quasi-governmental organization that drives economic strategy for Indiana, finding a “lack of transparency and accountability in the management of state funds” by third parties and raising concerns about “the potential for favoritism and misuse of public funds.” Some areas of concern overlap with the findings in an Indianapolis Star investigation, which unveiled that a top executive at the IEDC was part of decisions to award millions in grant money to entities he or two of his business associates were involved in.

Iowa – ICE Arrest Reveals Hidden Past of an Iowa Schools Superintendent

MSN – Marianne LeVine (Washington Post) | Published: 10/5/2025

When the Des Moines School Board announced former Olympic athlete Ian Roberts as superintendent in 2023, he was praised as a “career educator” and a “proven champion for creating equitable opportunities for all students to thrive.” Now, his tenure at Iowa’s largest school district has come to an abrupt end. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Roberts, surprising the education world by revealing him as an undocumented immigrant with a final order of deportation.

Kansas – Wichita City Council Candidate Returns Campaign Cash Amid Confusion Over Finance Rules

MSN – Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) | Published: 10/7/2025

The Kansas Legislature voted in March to increase limits for political contributions from $500 to $2,000 for large city elections, and Gov. Laura Kelly signed it into law in early April. But a Wichita city ordinance that was in place before the changes caps contributions for city council candidates at $500. The conflicting rules have led to controversy.

Massachusetts – Mike Kennealy Plans to Continue Ignoring Mass. Loan Limit Law, Lawyer Tells Regulators

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 10/7/2025

Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy plans to continue ignoring a Massachusetts law that limits the amount of cash a candidate for governor can loan themselves for each election, even after regulators asked him multiple times to reclassify hundreds of thousands of dollars that he has loaned his campaign. Kennealy pledged to seed his campaign with $2 million in loans. But the loans, including $200,000 he recently gave his campaign, have started to draw scrutiny from state regulators because of a law that limits candidate loans to $200,000 per election cycle.

Michigan – Oakland Co. Executive Moves to Strengthen Ethics Policies Among Officials After Backlash

Detroit News – Max Bryan | Published: 10/3/2025

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter is moving to strengthen the county’s ethics policies after backlash about the chair of the board of commissioners working as a paid outside consultant for private firms and a contract that was awarded to a county employee. Coulter’s announcement comes after some county commissioners and Oakland County residents raised concerns about Board of Commissioners Chairperson Dave Woodward working as a paid consultant for Sheetz.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Investigating Ryan Walters Again Over Possible Ethics Violations

MSN – Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) | Published: 10/7/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is investigating Ryan Walters – again. Walters resigned as state schools superintendent recently to become the chief executive officer of a new nonprofit organization called the Teacher Freedom Alliance. The commission revealed it is actively investigating potential violations of its conflict of interest rule “as related to … Walters’ departure.”

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Campaign Finance Site Offline for Weeks as State Revamps System

Yahoo News – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 10/4/2025

Oklahoma’s website for campaign finance reports remains offline after a new launch of the site fell behind schedule. Lee Anne Bruce Boone, the executive director of the state Ethics Commission, has not yet said when the system will be back online.

Oregon – Judge Deals Trump New Setback in Plans to Deploy Troops to Portland

MSN – Holly Bailey, Praveena Somasundaram, Joseph Menn, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

A federal judge dealt another blow to the Trump administration’s plans to send troops to Portland, temporarily blocking hundreds of California National Guard members as they were deploying to Oregon’s biggest city over objections from Democratic governors in both states. U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut said the government appeared to be directly defying her previous temporary restraining order from a day earlier blocking the administration from sending Oregon’s National Guard to the city by instead deploying members of California’s Guard.

Texas – Former Lawmaker Sent $450K in Unspent Funds to His Own Charity

MSN – Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/7/2025

Like many outgoing members of the Texas House, Rep. Chris Paddie in 2022 still had unspent campaign money he would need to offload in the coming years – in his case, $450,000. Under state law, he could either return that money to donors, give it to political causes, donate it to a charity, or surrender it to the state treasury. Paddie opted for charity, but not just any. The same day he resigned, he filed paperwork to launch his own nonprofit, and three weeks later he transferred $450,000 to the newly formed Paddie Family Foundation.

Texas – Texas GOP Lawyer and Former FEC Chair Trey Trainor Announces Run for Chip Roy’s Seat in Congress

MSN – Gabby Birenbaum (Texas Tribune) | Published: 10/6/2025

Trey Trainor, a longtime Republican operative and former chairperson of the FEC, launched a bid for the 21st Congressional District in Texas, setting up a competitive GOP primary for the open seat. Trainor, who has decades of experience in the state’s conservative legal movement, is running to succeed Rep. Chip Roy, who is giving up his seat to run for Texas attorney general. The district is situated in the Hill Country and contains parts of Austin and San Antonio.

Texas – Majority of Harris County Commissioners’ Campaign Dollars Come from People Whose Contracts They Approve

Yahoo News – John Lomax V and Matt Zdun (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/5/2025

A Houston Chronicle analysis of campaign finance reports from January 1 to June 30 of this year indicates that Harris County commissioners’ campaigns are funded largely through contributions made by individuals and businesses that contract or work with the county. Commissioners are not directly involved in awarding contracts, but they do vote to approve contracts presented at meetings. Support from at least three of the five commissioners is also needed to hire or fire department heads, who have a more direct hand in selecting county contracts.

Utah – Lawmakers in Utah Pass New Congressional Map Aimed at Preserving GOP Power

MSN – Patrick Marley and Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 10/6/2025

Republican lawmakers in Utah adopted a GOP-leaning congressional map, diminishing Democrats’ hopes of gaining a House seat in the conservative state. The Legislature was compelled to redraw its map after a judge ruled the one it approved four years ago violated the state constitution. Democrats hoped the ruling would give them an advantage in one of the state’s four House seats, which are all held by Republicans. The new map, which still needs court approval, could result in more competitive races, but the GOP retained an advantage in all four districts.

Vermont – Vermont’s Legislators Don’t Have to Disclose Gifted Trips

Seven Days – Hannah Bassett | Published: 10/8/2025

Five state representatives from Vermont were among 250 lawmakers from around the country that attended a conference in Israel that promised to offer an “in-depth exploration of Israel’s leadership, society, heritage and spirit of innovation,” according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry paid the participants’ expenses of $6,500 per person. Despite its high price tag and Israel’s effort to woo participants, neither the Vermont lawmakers nor the foreign ministry were required to disclose anything about the trip or the gifts provided to make it possible, such as compensated airfare, hotel stays, or meals.

Virginia – Democratic Candidate’s ‘Abhorrent’ Texts Threaten to Shake Up Bellwether Virginia Elections

MSN – Gregory Svirnovskiy (Politico) | Published: 10/4/2025

A string of text messages from Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, where he mused about violence directed toward a political rival is triggering widespread backlash and threatening to shake up the state’s November election. In August 2022, Jones wrote about shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert in text messages he sent to state Del. Carrie Coyner. Jones publicly apologized for the messages.

Virginia – Financial Disclosure Gaps, Questionable Gifts Cloud Earle-Sears’ Bid for Governor

Yahoo News – Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 10/8/2025

Virginia gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears built her political brand on transparency and accountability. Her public filings reveals a pattern of omissions and inconsistencies in her financial disclosures, including a $12,000 “gift” far above the state’s legal limit. The records show Earle-Sears, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2022, repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel benefits as required under state law, and in several instances amended her filings only after watchdogs or reporters raised questions.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin GOP Bill Aims to Clamp Down on Credit Card Campaign Contributions

Wisconsin Public Radio – Rich Kremer | Published: 10/9/2025

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are pushing a bill to bar any political party or candidate from accepting online credit card donations unless the contributor provides a verification code and U.S. address. The bill is part of growing right-wing scrutiny of the Democratic fundraising juggernaut ActBlue, fueled in large part by President Trump. ActBlue has called the allegations politically motivated.

Elections

Illinois: “Supreme Court Poised to Revive GOP Congressman’s Absentee Ballot Suit That Could Spur More Election Litigation” by John Fritze (CNN) for MSN

Texas: “Texas GOP Lawyer and Former FEC Chair Trey Trainor Announces Run for Chip Roy’s Seat in Congress” by Gabby Birenbaum (Texas Tribune) for MSN

Virginia: “Democratic Candidate’s ‘Abhorrent’ Texts Threaten to Shake Up Bellwether Virginia Elections” by Gregory Svirnovskiy (Politico) for MSN

Ethics

Canada: “Ontario Labour Minister Attended Lobbyist’s Wedding After Granting His Clients Millions in Training Funds” by Charlie Pinkerton and Jack Hauen for The Trillum

National: “James Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Criminal Charges Following Trump Pressure to Prosecute” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for MSN

National: “Conservative Push for Charlie Kirk Statues Revives Debate on Memorials” by Kelsey Ables and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Investigating Ryan Walters Again Over Possible Ethics Violations” by Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) for MSN

Vermont: “Vermont’s Legislators Don’t Have to Disclose Gifted Trips” by Hannah Bassett for Seven Days

Virginia: “Financial Disclosure Gaps, Questionable Gifts Cloud Earle-Sears’ Bid for Governor” by Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) for Yahoo News