LobbyComply Blog

National/Federal

Federal Appellate Panel Rejects Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

A federal court ruled President Trump unlawfully invoked a centuries-old wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants, blocking one of his most contentious immigration initiatives and teeing up a legal battle sure to end up before the Supreme Court. A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged members of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang, concluding their presence in the country did not amount to the type of invasion or “predatory incursion” lawmakers envisioned when they drafted the statute allowing fast-tracked deportations.

Mark Warner Says Spy Agency Visit Canceled Over Posts by Laura Loomer

MSN – Noah Robertson and Warren Strobel (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said he was blocked from a planned visit to a major U.S. spy agency as part of his routine congressional oversight duties after a series of social media posts by Laura Loomer, the far-right activist and provocateur. Sen. Mark Warner had arranged meetings with top officials at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which analyzes data from spy satellites for the Pentagon and intelligence community, but said his visit was abruptly canceled after Loomer attacked him and the agency’s director online.

Republicans Fail to Censure Rep. LaMonica McIver as Democrats Threaten Retaliation

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

House Republicans surprisingly failed to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver and strip her from a committee assignment. The Republican-led vote came in response to McIver’s indictment by a federal grand jury earlier this year for allegedly interfering with law enforcement while attempting to enter an immigration detention facility. The House will also soon consider another resolution, this one to censure a Republican, brought by Democrats retaliating in defense of McIver.

Judge Rules Trump Administration Cannot Withhold Funding from Harvard

MSN – Susan Svrluga, Joanna Slater, and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated the Constitution by freezing federal research funding at Harvard University, dealing the White House a setback in its efforts to force change at the country’s oldest university and higher education nationwide. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs said freezing and canceling more than $2 billion in research grants and other federal actions violated Harvard’s First Amendment rights and amounted to “retaliation, unconstitutional conditions, and unconstitutional coercion.”

Epstein Accusers Join Lawmakers to Push for Full Release of Documents

MSN – Amy Wang, Mariana Alfaro, Kadia Goba, Marianna Sotomayor, and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

About a dozen accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein joined House lawmakers and a crowd of hundreds at the U.S. Capitol to push for the Justice Department to release all its files related to its investigations of the disgraced financier and of his imprisoned associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In emotional testimony, the women recounted how they were lured as teenagers into a sex-trafficking operation run by Epstein and Maxwell and abused for years. All voiced their support for lawmakers to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act that would compel the Trump administration to publicly disclose far more documents on Epstein.

The Supreme Court Has Expanded Trump’s Power. He’s Seeking Much More.

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 9/1/2025

The Supreme Court has expanded President Trump’s authority in a string of emergency rulings, but in his firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and other issues probably headed to the court, he is signaling that he continues to seek broader powers for the executive branch. The cases could serve as tests of how much further the high court is willing to go to bless the president’s assertion of executive authority. They differ from previous showdowns because of the magnitude of the authority Trump is seeking to wield and because he wants greater control over powers the Constitution ascribes to another branch of government.

Bipartisan Group of House Lawmakers Introduce Stock Trading Ban Legislation

MSN – Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 9/3/2025

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation to ban stock trading for members of Congress as pressure has escalated for elected officials to weed out corruption and restore public trust. The bill introduced in the House comes after Sen. Josh Hawley led a similar effort that advanced out of committee in July and is awaiting a Senate floor vote. One key difference is Hawley’s bill reaches into the executive branch and would impact President Trump as a result, while the House bill only addresses Congress.

Trump’s Pick for Federal Reserve Plans to Keep His White House Job While on Fed

MSN – Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025

Federal Reserve nominee Stephen Miran, a senior White House economic adviser, told senators he does not plan to resign from the Trump administration if confirmed to the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, an unusual arrangement likely to raise concerns about the central bank’s independence. Miran said he plans to take an unpaid leave instead of stepping down from the White House because he would only be filling a short-term slot on the board. He said repeatedly he was citing the advice of an attorney. If confirmed, he would be the first modern-day Federal Reserve Board member to maintain such close ties to the White House.

Wall Street Is Coming for K Street

WAMU – Taylor Giorno (NOTUS) | Published: 9/3/2025

Shamrock Capital recently purchased strategic communications and public affairs firm Penta Group from another private equity company, infusing a degree of confidence in these deals, which have been popping up along K Street in earnest over the past five years. Advisers on both sides of these deals also observe a growing comfort with investments in lobbying shops like Monument Advocacy, which made its first acquisition since the firm secured an investment from Everlane Equity Partners.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Trump’s Use of the National Guard During Los Angeles Immigration Protests Is Illegal, a Judge Says

Yahoo News – Olga Rodriguez (Associated Press) | Published: 9/2/2025

The Trump administration violated federal law by sending National Guard troops to Southern California during immigration enforcement operations and accompanying protests, a federal judge ruled. The order comes after California sued, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the administration argued the Posse Comitatus Act does not apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws.

Florida – Nonprofit Tied to Florida’s Lt. Gov. Won State Contracts During His Senate Stint

Yahoo News – Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 9/2/2025

In three years, Jay Collins has gone from nonprofit executive to state senator to a lieutenant governor viewed as having an inside track in the North Carolina governor’s race. During that time, the nonprofit organization where Collins served as a top officer entered the Florida market and received $16 million in disaster relief business from the state. The Legislature is responsible for deciding the state’s spending plan each year and setting rules for the awarding of grants and contracts. As a senator, Collins does not appear to have voted on any money going directly to his organization or appear to have disclosed any conflicts-of-interest.

Georgia – Judge Throws Out Campaign Finance Lawsuit Between Republican Rivals in Georgia Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Russ Bynum (Associated Press) | Published: 8/28/2025

A federal judge threw out a lawsuit by one of Georgia’s top Republican officials against his chief rival for the 2026 GOP nomination for governor that claimed the opponent had an unfair advantage in campaign fundraising. The judge’s ruling allows Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to continue raising unlimited campaign funds using a special leadership committee granted to a select group of Georgia officials under a 2021 law.

Iowa – Joni Ernst Expected to Announce She Won’t Seek Reelection in 2026, Sources Say

MSN – Stephen Gruber-Miller (Des Moines Register) | Published: 8/30/2025

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will not seek reelection in 2026, according to people familiar with her decision, setting off a major upheaval in one of Iowa’s marquee midterm contests. Ernst has endured national scrutiny over comments she made at a May town hall, saying, “well, we all are going to die,” after a constituent shouted that people would die because of Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s spending bill. The next day, after facing backlash, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video she filmed while walking through a cemetery.

Kansas – Advocates’ Lawsuit Against Foreign Contributions Ban Stalls as Kansas Crafts Rules

Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 8/27/2025

Kansas officials brought clarity to a new law that bans financial contributions from foreign nationals to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments, a law at the center of an ongoing lawsuit. The case in federal court has stagnated while parties waited for the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission to straighten out details of the law. A recent meeting was one of the first times commissioners were able to publicly weigh the law’s framework and craft rules for enforcement. Now, it is up to a judge whether the court case will continue.

Kentucky – Louisville Ethics Commission Sues City Over Alleged Power Grab by County Attorney’s Office

MSN – Lucas Aulbach (Louisville Courier Journal) | Published: 8/29/2025

The Louisville Ethics Commission is taking the city to court, claiming the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office is pushing for improper control over the advisory board. County Attorney Mike O’Connell’s office, meanwhile, has contended the commission’s lawyer has conflicts-of-interest that could lead to serious issues as he represents the board in charge of ensuring city employees are following the Ethics Code.

Maryland – Baltimore County Council Approves IG Appointment Board, Sends Question to Voters

MSN – Natalie Jones (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 9/2/2025

Baltimore County voters will decide whether the county’s inspector general should be selected by an independent appointment board in the future. The Baltimore County Council unanimously approved a charter amendment that would create a seven-member panel to appoint or reappoint an inspector general to the role. Under current laws, the county executive is responsible for appointing an inspector general, who the county council must also confirm.

Michigan – Records: Beydoun, other MEDC officials skipped conflict of interest reports

Bridge Michigan – Paula Gardner | Published: 9/2/2025

Members of the board in charge of Michigan’s billion-dollar economic development strategy skipped filing just over half of their required annual conflict-of-interest certification documents from 2019 to 2022. Records show the omissions peaked in 2022, when just four of 18 members on the Michigan Economic Development Corp. executive committee signed the documents – all of them in March, two months after they were due.

Missouri – Republicans Eye Next House Carveout with Missouri Special Session

MSN – Dylan Wells, Hannah Knowles, and Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 8/29/2025

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe moved toward helping the Republican Party gain another seat in the U.S. House, announcing a special session to redraw the state’s congressional maps. The session follows a nationwide pressure campaign from President Trump aimed at beefing up his party’s chances in the 2026 midterm elections with an aggressive and rare mid-cycle overhauling of congressional maps.

Missouri – Trump’s DOJ Seeks Election Equipment in Red State Ahead of 2026 Election

MSN – Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

A top official for President Trump’s Justice Department recently sought access to voting equipment used by two Republican clerks in Missouri during the 2020 election, an unusual request from federal officials amid continued efforts by the president to malign the integrity of the nation’s voting systems. Trump overwhelmingly won each of his three elections in Missouri, yet many of his supporters there and elsewhere continue to champion the president’s false claim that voting equipment was rigged against him in 2020 and ballots should be tallied by hand.

Missouri – Council Member Revives Effort to Cap Campaign Contributions for City Council Elections

Springfield Daily Citizen – Jack McGee | Published: 8/28/2025

The Springfield City Council will once again consider capping campaign contributions for city council and mayoral candidates. In 2016, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment establishing limits on campaign contributions to political parties and candidates for statewide offices, among other changes to campaign finance law. But the contribution limit did not apply to municipal elections, leaving Springfield without any cap on campaign contributions after a previous change to state law nullified the city’s $500 limit.

Nevada – A Majority of Nevada’s Legislation Aimed at Government Transparency Failed During the 2025 Session

MSN – Annie Vong (Nevada Independent) | Published: 9/2/2025

Though Nevada lawmakers in 2025 were able to pass some transparency laws focused on certain areas, such as requiring more reporting on school police use of force and creating a public records task force, the vast majority of transparency bills failed to make it across the finish line. According to a Nevada Independent analysis, 26 bills and resolutions were introduced in 2025 that sought to increase transparency in government and campaigns. Only eight were signed into law.

New Jersey – NJ to Regulate Campaign Spending on Security as Political Violence Mounts

Yahoo News – Dana DiFilippo (News Jersey Monitor) | Published: 8/28/2025

As political violence becomes a growing threat and reality, New Jersey’s election watchdog has moved to officially allow candidates to use campaign money to pay for security services and devices. The Election Law Enforcement Commission has historically permitted such expenses, but commission members voted to propose regulations to codify and standardize the use of campaign funds to bolster security.

New York – Campaign Board Deepens Probe into Eric Adams Fundraising

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 8/29/2025

A New York City oversight board petitioned the Department of Justice, hired an outside investigator, and issued subpoenas as part of a widening probe into Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign fundraising practices. Those revelations came in a trove of federal court papers that paint the clearest picture yet of the Campaign Finance Board’s independent investigation into Adams’ 2021 and 2025 mayoral runs, along with more detailed reasoning behind the board’s decision to repeatedly deny the mayor public matching funds.

New York – Talks Underway Over Trump Administration Role for NYC Mayor Adams Amid Efforts to Stop Mamdani, Sources Say

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 9/3/2025

While vowing to still run for reelection, New York City Mayor Eric Adams did not dismiss the possibility of joining President Trump’s administration as sources said conversations are underway about a potential job opportunity. Adams remains dogged in his reelection efforts by accusations that he is beholden to Trump, whose Justice Department quashed the mayor’s corruption indictment in a controversial move. It was reported that the push to get Adams a job is aimed at culling the mayoral race field to maximize chances of stopping Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, who is polling as the favorite to win November’s contest.

North Carolina – NC Indian-American Group Promoted Event as Political Fundraiser. Was That Legit?

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 9/2/2025

The North Carolina Association of Indian Americans hosted a fundraiser on May 31 that benefitted longtime Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall. The association’s filings with the state describe it as a nonprofit under the 501(c)(3) designation in the federal tax code, which means it is not supposed to engage in political fundraising. Bob Hall, the retired executive director of Democracy North Carolina, is preparing a complaint to the State Board of Elections about the fundraiser.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission Highlights Time Management in Annual Report

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (Noth Dakota Monitor) | Published: 8/29/2025

A new report shows that North Dakota Ethics Commission complaints that do not require a full investigation are usually closed in fewer than six months. The commission was directed by the state Legislature to compile annual reports to help the public understand how it operates, especially in light of ongoing concerns from state officials that the agency takes too long to resolve baseless allegations.

Oklahoma – Lobbyists Spent Hundreds of Thousands in Oklahoma’s Legislative Session. Here’s Where the Money Went

Golfweek – Alexia Aston (Oklahoman) | Published: 9/3/2025

A push to cut income taxes, solve a state agency’s financial crisis, and reduce government spending dominated the 2025 legislative session in Oklahoma. Lobbyists spent over $460,000 during the session, largely on meals and events with lawmakers. Lobbyists often play an outsize role in shaping policy, and they are required to disclose how much they spend on behalf of clients and who they spend it on. The Oklahoman analyzed their expense reports, as well as lobbying data compiled by the state Ethics Commission, from the 2025 session.

Oklahoma – Education Department Forced to Release Key Card Data for Matt Langston

Oklahoma Watch – Jennifer Palmer | Published: 9/3/2025

Texan Matt Langston has kept his campaign business in Texas running while collecting a six-figure salary as the Oklahoma Department of Education’s chief policy advisor, though he rarely comes into the office. He has spent just 42 days in the office since Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters hired Langston in January 2023 and issued a directive ending telework for the agency’s employees. Since 2023, Langston’s political consulting firm, Engage Right, has sent campaign emails on Walters’ behalf.

Pennsylvania – Lobbying: How public agencies spend millions to shape state government

LancasterOnline – Gregory Scott | Published: 8/30/2025

From school districts and townships to transit agencies and boroughs, public entities across Pennsylvania are paying big money to be heard in the Capitol. At least 90 local governments have paid nearly $7 million in taxpayer money to hire 38 private lobbying firms since last year, all to influence lawmakers and secure more state funding. Many of those firms were founded by or employ political insiders who know the system and have connections to the major players in the Legislature and the executive branch.

Rhode Island – Cranston City Council President, Lawyer Resign Over Relationship Concerns

Cranston Herald – Rosegalie Cineus | Published: 8/28/2025

Cranston City Council President Jessica Marino and council lawyer Stephen Angell resigned. Their departure from city government followed public allegations, including comments by Mayor Ken Hopkins, of a romantic relationship between the two and contentions it created conflicts-of-interest. Marino and Angell neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a personal relationship, but both said they had committed no wrongdoing.

Texas – Measures Seeking to Prevent Future Quorum Breaks by Texas Lawmakers Approved Wednesday

MSN – Aarón Torres (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 9/4/2025

Texas Republicans passed measures that aim to prevent future walkouts by increasing the punishments for lawmakers who break quorum and preventing them from fundraising during that time. House Bill 18 would ban any state lawmaker who is absent for the purposes of impeding legislative action from accepting campaign contributions greater than $221, the amount lawmakers receive as a daily per diem during a regular or special session.

Virginia – Public Housing Director in Virginia Caught Living in One of His Agency’s Units

MSN – Daniel Wu and Teo Armus (Washington Post) | Published: 9/2/2025

The city of Alexandria’s public housing agency is investigating its chief executive officer, Erik Johnson, after he was found to be living in a public housing unit near the Potomac River, sparking outrage in the wealthy Northern Virginia community where access to affordable housing has long been a challenge. His move into the project effectively allowed him to jump ahead of a decade-long waiting list that is rarely opened up to new families, officials and advocates said.

Campaign Finance

Texas: “Texas House Advances Fundraising Restrictions for Lawmakers Who Leave State to Block Legislation” by Alejandro Serrano (Texas Tribune) for MSN

Elections

Missouri: “Trump’s DOJ Seeks Election Equipment in Red State Ahead of 2026 Election” by Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Mark Warner Says Spy Agency Visit Canceled Over Posts by Laura Loomer” by Noah Robertson and Warren Strobel (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Republicans Fail to Censure Rep. LaMonica McIver as Democrats Threaten Retaliation” by Marianna Sotomayor, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Baltimore County Council Approves IG Appointment Board, Sends Question to Voters” by Natalie Jones (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

Michigan: “Records: Beydoun, other MEDC officials skipped conflict of interest reports” by Paula Gardner for Bridge Michigan

New York: “Talks Underway Over Trump Administration Role for NYC Mayor Adams Amid Efforts to Stop Mamdani, Sources Say” by Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Wall Street Is Coming for K Street” by Taylor Giorno (NOTUS) for WAMU

Oklahoma: “Lobbyists Spent Hundreds of Thousands in Oklahoma’s Legislative Session. Here’s Where the Money Went” by Alexia Aston (Oklahoman) for Golfweek

Campaign Finance

Georgia: “Judge Throws Out Campaign Finance Lawsuit Between Republican Rivals in Georgia Governor’s Race” by Russ Bynum (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Kansas: “Advocates’ Lawsuit Against Foreign Contributions Ban Stalls as Kansas Crafts Rules” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News

New York: “Campaign Board Deepens Probe into Eric Adams Fundraising” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for Yahoo News

Elections

Iowa: “Joni Ernst Expected to Announce She Won’t Seek Reelection in 2026, Sources Say” by Stephen Gruber-Miller (Des Moines Register) for MSN

Ethics

Kentucky: “Louisville Ethics Commission Sues City Over Alleged Power Grab by County Attorney’s Office” by Lucas Aulbach (Louisville Courier Journal) for MSN

North Dakota: “Ethics Commission Highlights Time Management in Annual Report” by Mary Steurer (Noth Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “Lobbying: How public agencies spend millions to shape state government” by Gregory Scott for LancasterOnline

Redistricting

Missouri: “Republicans Eye Next House Carveout with Missouri Special Session” by Dylan Wells, Hannah Knowles, and Kadia Goba (Washington Post) for MSN

The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) proposed a declaratory ruling to allow contributions from digital wallets for the 2026 election cycle on a provisional basis. Payments from digital wallets will be included in the definition of checks and credit cards for campaign contributions if the processor provides enough information to detect fraud. The SEEC is requesting written public comment until September 22 on the proposed ruling.

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National/Federal

As Campaign Spending Flows Unchecked, Some States Are Trying to Impose Limits

Christian Science Monitor – Simon Montlake | Published: 8/27/2025

Most elected officials now rely on outside groups, such as super PACs, that accept unlimited donations, to help bankroll their campaigns. As fundraising breaks new records – super PACs spent around $2.7 billion in the 2024 election cycle – reform advocates in two states are pushing back. Maine and Montana are challenging, in different ways, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of campaign finance laws. Reformers hope to lay out a blueprint for how states can regulate corporations, unions, and dark money groups that play an outsize role in determining who is elected to public office.

Trump Says He’s Firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook, Opening New Front in Fight for Central Bank Control

MSN – Christopher Rugaber and Will Weissert (Associated Press) | Published: 8/26/2025

President Trump said he is firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, an unprecedented move that would constitute a sharp escalation in his battle to exert greater control over what has long been considered an institution independent from day-to-day politics. Trump said he is removing Cook effective immediately because of allegations she committed mortgage fraud. The move is likely to touch off an extensive legal battle that will probably go to the Supreme Court and could disrupt financial markets.

CDC Leaders Who Resigned Said RFK Jr. Undermined Vaccine Science, Risking Lives

MSN – Lena Sun, Lauren Weber, and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2025

Senior leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who resigned in protest after CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired, said they were asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process they believe could harm the health of Americans. Staff and leaders of the agency are openly revolting against the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of the CDC and anti-vaccine activist, after months of tension over vaccine policy and staffing cuts.

Consumer Watchdog Ends Investigation into Buy Now, Pay Later Company Linked to Donald Trump Jr.

MSN – Fatima Hussein (Associated Press) | Published: 8/22/2025

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) dropped an investigation into a buy now, pay later company with close ties to Donald Trump Jr., saying the investigation was conducted in a biased manner and based off politics. The closure of the investigation also comes when the CFPB, which helps oversee the nation’s banks and financial services companies, has been undoing rulemaking, dropping other cases, and ending law enforcement work that was done under previous administrations, including President Trump’s first term.

Trump Repeatedly Pointed a Finger at Bolton in the Days Before Raids

MSN – Natalie Allison and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 8/23/2025

Days before his former national security adviser’s home and office were raided by the FBI, President Trump had trained his sights on his onetime aide, publicly rebuking John Bolton for criticizing his policy toward Russia. The president said he was not aware of the raids until they occurred, and there is no evidence the investigation was launched in response to Bolton’s recent criticisms of Trump. People close to Trump have privately noted, however, that the president was bothered by Bolton’s recent deprecation of his attempts at peacemaking.

Trump Rolls Back Rules Meant to Keep Politics Out of Climate Research

MSN – Scott Dance (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2025

Ahead of President Trump’s second term in the White House, scientists and advocates sought to tighten rules that protect climate researchers and their work from political interference. They added policies to prevent a repeat of the scandal known as “Sharpiegate” and even enshrined others in a union contract. The Trump administration has now rolled those changes back.

House Oversight Subpoenas Epstein Estate, Including for Any ‘Client List’

MSN – Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2025

House Oversight Committee Chairperson James Comer subpoenaed Jeffrey Epstein’s estate as part of an ongoing probe into the handling of the federal sex-trafficking investigation. The GOP base has been in an uproar since the Justice Department said there was no “client list” in its files associated with Epstein, contradicting what Attorney General Pam Bondi and some former administration officials have claimed. Several right-wing pundits and conspiracy theorists have accused the federal government of a cover-up aimed at protecting powerful men who might have engaged in improper behavior with teenage girls.

Redistricting War Between Texas and California Is About to Jolt the Midterms

MSN – Liz Crampton, Dustin Gardiner, and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 8/23/2025

California and Texas raced forward with parallel action to draw new congressional maps, setting into motion a national redistricting fight that could upend the midterms and determine control of the House. The nation’s two largest states had fired the opening salvo in what is likely to become an intense and protracted redistricting campaign by both parties to grasp power in Washington. Now other red and blue state governors face pressure to follow their lead and aggressively gerrymander their congressional maps.

FEMA Employees Put on Leave After Criticizing Trump Administration in Open Letter

MSN – Brianna Sacks (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

The Trump administration placed more than a dozen Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees on leave after they signed an open letter of dissent about the agency’s leadership. About 180 current and former FEMA staffers sent a letter to members of Congress and other officials, arguing the current leaders’ inexperience and approach harm FEMA’s mission and could result in a disaster on the level of Hurricane Katrina.

She Pushed to Overturn Trump’s Loss in the 2020 Election. Now She’ll Help Oversee U.S. Election Security.

ProPublica – Doug Bock Clark | Published: 8/26/2025

Heather Honey, a high-profile denier of Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, was appointed to a senior position in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in which she will help oversee the nation’s election infrastructure. In 2024, ProPublica reported Honey played a key role in the effort to change Georgia’s election rules to allow Republican officials to contest a potential Trump loss in that year’s presidential race. Honey also promoted election conspiracy theories.

State Lawmakers Reconsider Costs, Purpose of Serving After Minnesota Assassination

Yahoo News – Kevin Hardy (Stateline) | Published: 8/26/2025

Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman appeared via video message at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Boston and urged fellow lawmakers to refocus on the true purpose of public service. In June, he and his wife were shot just before the politically motivated shooter killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. The shooting hung over this year’s NCSL meeting. Lawmakers in attendance on the left and the right repeatedly lamented the toxicity of American politics and the growing threat of political violence at local levels of government.

Attorneys for Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Hit Back at ‘Unfounded’ Watchdog Probe

Yahoo News – Alexander Mallin (ABC News) | Published: 8/26/2025

Attorneys for former special counsel Jack Smith, who brought criminal charges against President Trump, denounced a watchdog investigation into Smith’s work, describing the reasoning for the probe as baseless and partisan. Sen. Tom Cotton’s complaint accused Smith of taking deliberate steps in his prosecutions of Trump, which included charges for unlawful retention of classified materials as well as a criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss, to impact Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in violation of the Hatch Act.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Who Wants a Pardon, Says She Never Saw Trump ‘in Any Inappropriate Setting’

Yahoo News – Erica Orden, Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 8/22/2025

Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who is seeking a pardon from Donald Trump, told top Justice Department officials during an interview she never witnessed the president “in any inappropriate setting” with girls introduced to him by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence, makes unfailingly flattering references to Trump, according to transcripts of the conversation. The Justice Department released the interview materials around the same time it delivered a tranche of the so-called Epstein files to Capitol Hill.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Denmark Summons US Envoy After Report of Americans Carrying Out Influence Operations in Greenland

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 8/26/2025

Denmark’s foreign minister had the top U.S. diplomat in the country summoned for talks after the main national broadcaster reported at least three people with connections to President Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland. Trump has said he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. He has not ruled out military force to take control of the island. Denmark and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. gathering intelligence there.

Canada – Manitoba Premier Didn’t Break Conflict of Interest Laws by Taking Charters to Grey Cup: Ethics commissioner

Yahoo News – Caitlyn Gowriluk (CBC) | Published: 8/27/2025

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew did not violate provincial conflict-of-interest laws when he took planes chartered by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup in 2023 and 2024, the province’s ethics commissioner found. The investigation came after a CBC article earlier this year raised questions about the trips, which were also offered to Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.

California – Ex-Dream Keeper Chief Is Under Criminal Investigation – but She Hasn’t Left the Spotlight

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 8/25/2025

Sheryl Davis resigned amid scrutiny over her handling of the Dream Keeper Initiative, San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s signature reinvestment in the Black community. City Attorney David Chiu later accused a major Dream Keeper beneficiary, the nonprofit Collective Impact, of making payments on behalf of Davis that investigators said amounted to bribes. Davis now seems determined to retain her seat in public life, after her position of authority was stripped from her.

California – OC Democrat Lobbyist Gets Six Months in Jail for Attempted Wire Fraud

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 8/22/2025

Melehat Rafiei, former head of the Orange County Democratic Party, was sentenced to six months in jail by a federal judge for attempted wire fraud. The sentencing comes after Rafiei signed a plea agreement admitting to the attempted fraud charge and acknowledging she tried bribing two Irvine City Council members for favorable cannabis legislation, something she was not charged for. U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Aelle-Rocha also ordered three years of supervised release once Rafiei serves her time and a $10,000 fine.

District of Columbia – D.C. Judges and Grand Jurors Push Back on Trump Policing Surge

MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Michael Laris (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2025

President Trump declared a crime emergency in the District of Columbia, giving federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard members unprecedented authority to patrol the nation’s capital. But the surge is meeting resistance in the city’s federal courthouse, where magistrate judges have admonished prosecutors for violating defendants’ rights and court rules, and grand jurors have repeatedly refused to issue indictments. A federal magistrate judge said one arrest was preceded by the “most illegal search I’ve seen in my life” and described another arrest as lacking “basic human dignity.”

District of Columbia – How a Thrown Sub Made ‘Sandwich Guy’ a Resistance Icon in Trump’s D.C.

MSN – Sophia Solano (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

Where protest movements take hold, symbols of resistance soon follow. In the District of Columbia since the Trump administration has taken over the city’s police force and ordered the National Guard to patrol the streets, that symbol has taken the form of a person who flung a footlong sub. His name, colloquially, is “Sandwich Guy.” His real name is Sean Dunn, a former Justice Department employee who was captured on video hurling a footlong at a federal officer and now faces a felony charge. A video of the incident quickly went viral.

Florida – Florida Ordered to Dismantle Alligator Alcatraz Over Environmental Impact

MSN – Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2025

A federal judge in Miami gave the state of Florida 60 days to clear out the immigrant detention facility called Alligator Alcatraz, handing environmentalists and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians a win after they clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the environmental impacts the makeshift site was having in the federally protected Everglades. The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams, which forbids state officials from moving any other migrants there, deals a blow to what had become a marquee symbol of President Trump’s immigration policy.

Iowa – Democrat Wins Iowa Senate Race, Upending Republican Supermajority

MSN – Ken Jeong (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2025

Catelin Drey flipped a vacant state Senate seat in Iowa’s Sioux City area formerly held by a Republican after she won more than 55 percent of the vote in a low-turnout race. The upset victory erased the GOP’s supermajority in the Senate. Drey’s triumph in a voting district that lies inside Woodbury County, which President Trump easily won in 2024, also offers a glimpse into the mood of conservative-leaning districts ahead of next year’s midterms.

Louisiana – Louisiana Asks Supreme Court to Gut Voting Rights Act and Ban Use of Race in Redistricting

MSN – Zach Montellaro (Politico) | Published: 8/27/2025

Louisiana is asking the Supreme Court to dismantle the central provision of the Voting Rights Act and ban any use of race in redistricting. In a legal brief, the state urged the court to overturn a landmark 1986 ruling that established a legal test for when a voting map illegally dilutes minorities’ voter power. That ruling, Thornburg v. Gingles, has been understood for decades to require that states with significant communities of minority voters draw districts that fairly reflect their voting power.

Maryland – Court Throws Out Lawsuit by Trump Administration Against All Maryland Federal Judges

MSN – Lea Skene (Associated Press) | Published: 8/26/2025

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Cullen threw out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Maryland’s entire federal bench in a ruling that underscored the extraordinary nature of the suit and accused the White House of a “concerted effort” to “smear and impugn” judges who rule against it. At issue in the lawsuit was an order by Chief Maryland District Judge George Russell III that stopped the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals. The Justice Department said the automatic pause impeded the president’s authority to enforce immigration laws.

Michigan – Michigan Panel OKs Signature-Gathering to Ban Political Spending by ‘Monopoly’ Utilities

Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 8/22/2025

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved petition language for an effort to ban political spending by utilities like Consumers Energy and DTE, as well as large state contractors. In addition to prohibiting campaign contributions for certain actors, the initiative also looks to expand state campaign finance laws to more clearly identify who is paying for political communications regardless of whether they are advocating for or against a cause.

Michigan – Michigan GOP Representative’s Earmark Request Raises Questions on Loopholes in New Ethics Rules

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 8/27/2025

The wealthy owner of the Dort Financial Center made a large political contribution to Michigan Rep. David Martin a month after Martin requested a $2.5 million earmark to renovate areas of the facility located in Flint. While the earmark ultimately was not included in the House budget plan, the request appeared to skirt new House ethics rules that ban legislatively appropriated grants to for-profit entities.

Montana – Lawmakers Detail Stolen Funds in Complaints to State’s Commissioner of Political Practices

Yahoo News – Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) | Published: 8/27/2025

Two state lawmakers have filed complaints with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices detailing how their campaign treasurer allegedly stole thousands of dollars. Sen. Cora Neumann and Rep. Zooey Zephyr filed their complaints after their former treasurer, Abbey Lee Cook, signed a plea agreement with the federal government admitting to an embezzlement scheme of more than $250,000.

Nevada – Ethics Panel Takes Issue with Lieutenant Governor Over Task Force on Trans Athletes

Nevada Independent – Rocio Hernandez | Published: 8/22/2025

A panel from the Nevada Commission on Ethics took issue with Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony using state resources for a task force aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports and is recommending he take corrective actions to avoid any further proceedings from the commission. The Nevadans for Equal Rights Committee filed an ethics complaint against Anthony after he stated during a legislative committee meeting that his staff has helped with work related to the task force. Anthony has also promoted the task force’s work on his official X account.

New Jersey – Judge Rules Alina Habba Serving ‘Without Lawful Authority’ as New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

A federal judge ruled Alina Habba, President Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney in New Jersey, is in that role “without lawful authority” – a decision that called into question the administration’s novel strategy for keeping her and other controversial interim choices in top prosecutorial roles. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brann concluded Habba, appointed as interim U.S. attorney in March, had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that role and the Justice Department’s efforts to keep her past that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny.

New Mexico – Albuquerque City Council Candidate Alleges Bribery, Extortion in Ethics Complaint

Yahoo News – Gillian Barkhurst (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/27/2025

Stephanie Telles, a candidate for Albuquerque City Council, alleged her opponent;s campaign manager, a longtime political consultant in New Mexico, tried to pay her to drop out of the race. In a letter to the city Ethics Board, Telles alleged Scott Forrester, the campaign manager for Ahren Griego, another candidate, offered to “retire” her campaign debt if she withdrew an appeal for a recount of her signatures submitted to qualify for the ballot.

New York – Mayor Adams’ Supporters Spotted Handing Out Red Envelopes with Cash at 3 Summer Campaign Events: Report

MSN – Craig McCarthy, Steven Vago and Shane Galvin (New York Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

Allies of New York City Mayor Eric Adams were spotted at several July campaign events handing out red envelopes stuffed with cash to attendees, including journalists from Chinese-language outlets, according to The New York Times. The report was published one day after disgraced Adams advisor Winnie Greco was caught giving cash to a reporter from THE CITY. The practice of receiving anywhere from $20 to $300 is common among Chinese-language journalists in New York, one anonymous reporter for a Chinese-language publication told The Times.

Ohio – Charter Amendment Would Align Cincinnati Campaign Finance Reporting with State Rules

WVXU – Becca Costello | Published: 8/25/2025

A charter amendment on the November ballot would align campaign finance reporting in Cincinnati with statewide rules. “It had to do with easier ways to track compliance with contribution limits, but because of the technology that we have today, particularly in the Office of Ethics and Good Governance, they are able to do that work without these separate reports,” city Councilperson Evan Nolan said.

Oregon – Oregon Government Transparency Advocates Aim to Beef Up Public Meetings Rules, Citing Troubling Ambiguities

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 8/22/2025

Leaders of cities, counties, and other governing bodies across the state have complained about inconsistent training and vague guidance from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which lawmakers empowered to enforce the state’s public meetings law beginning in 2024. The public meetings law essentially prohibits officials of a governing body from privately discussing policies under their authority with a majority of voting members. But proponents and critics of the law say it, and state guidance on how to follow it, contains significant ambiguity.

Pennsylvania – Dauphin County Fired Worker Charged with Computer Crimes, but Keeps Hiring His IT Company Anyway

MSN – Juliette Rihl and Joshua Vaughn (pennlive.com) | Published: 8/26/2025

Dauphin County fired an information technology employee in 2027 after he was convicted of computer crimes. Since then, the county has paid David Maurer’s company nearly $700,000 to serve as an information technology contractor. His company continues to receive county contracts. Maurer was terminated from his role as a county network technician after he was convicted of spying on his estranged wife.

Rhode Island – The RI Ethics Commission Could Double the Gift Limit for Lawmakers. Should They?

USA Today – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 8/25/2025

Is Rhode Island’s current $25 per gift cap and a cumulative $75 annually from any one “interested person” for public officials too low? Opinions vary widely among Rhode Island lawmakers. Some, like Sen. Todd Patalano, believe increasing the limit would allow for “normal human interactions” and clarify what is acceptable. On September 9, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission will give members of the public their own chance to comment on a proposal to double the gift limit.

Texas – State Ag Employees Told Police They Were Wary of Sid Miller’s Political Consultant. Now He’s the Agency’s Chief of Staff.

MSN – Kate McGee (Texas Tribune) | Published: 8/25/2025

Todd Smith was preparing to stand trial, accused of soliciting exorbitant fees in exchange for state hemp licenses. He was a top political consultant for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, whose office provided the licenses. Less than a week after prosecutors subpoenaed Miller to testify, Smith accepted a deal offered by prosecutors that will dismiss the charges after two years if he follows the terms of his probation. Three months after his guilty plea, Miller hired Smith to be his chief of staff at the same state agency at the center of his case.

Texas – Texas Showdown: Legal battle looming over Ten Commandments in schools

MSN – Michelle Boorstein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

With a new state law set to take effect requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom in Texas, many school districts are scrambling to figure out what to do. Some are holding off following a federal judge’s recent ruling against the mandate. Others are racing to fundraise for donated posters of the commandments. The law, and others like it in Louisiana and Arkansas, is part of a coordinated effort to get the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority, who advocates hope will end, or significantly weaken, restrictions on prayer in public schools.

Texas – Dallas Ousts Newly Hired Inspector General Due to Charter Violation

MSN – Devyani Chhetri (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 8/27/2025

The Dallas City Council discharged Inspector General Timothy Menke after weeks of discussing how city officials bungled his hiring process. Last November, voters approved a charter proposition that established an independent office of inspector general and called for its top officer to be “a competent practicing attorney of recognized ability.” Menke, who began his job on June 30 and has decades of experience investigating governmental fraud and misconduct, is not an attorney.

Texas – NAACP Asks Court to Block New Texas Congressional Map

MSN – Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

The NAACP asked a court to block what it called a “racially motivated” congressional map that dilutes the political power of Black voters. The organization is seeking to prevent Texas’s redrawn congressional map from taking effect, claiming the new district map is unconstitutional. In 2021, Republican lawmakers drew a new map and the NAACP and others sued, arguing the districts were racially discriminatory. A panel of judges held a trial this year but has not yet ruled.

Texas – Texas Senate Passes Bill Banning Elected Officials from Fundraising in Special Sessions

MSN – Aarón Torres (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 8/27/2025

Elected officials in Texas would be prohibited from receiving campaign donations during some special legislative sessions under a bill passed by the state Senate. The legislation bars a member who holds statewide office, including the governor, from being able to fundraise during any overtime session as long as that session begins before September 1. Senate Bill 19 now goes to the House.

Utah – Judge Rules Utah’s Congressional Map Must Be Redrawn for the 2026 Elections

MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 8/25/2025

The Utah lawmakers will need to rapidly redraw the state’s congressional boundaries after a judge ruled the Republican-controlled Legislature circumvented safeguards put in place by voters to ensure districts are not drawn to favor any party. The current map divides Salt Lake County – Utah’s population center and a Democratic stronghold – among the state’s four congressional districts, all of which have since elected Republicans by wide margins.

Gov. Henry McMaster called a special election in state House District 98 following the resignation of Rep. Chris Murphy. The special primary election will be held on November 4, with a special primary runoff election on November 18, if necessary. The special general election will be held on January 6, 2026.

National/Federal

Google Finds Workaround for Lobbying That Omits Big Bosses

MSN – Ted Mann (Bloomberg) | Published: 8/14/2025

Google executives in 2018 were tired of seeing stories in the media that showed the company spent more on federal lobbying than any other corporation. Then Google apparently found a workaround. A new analysis shows Google and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., used an internal reorganization to exclude the value of lobbying by its senior executives from disclosures. Google also moved its in-house lobbyists into a new subsidiary, called Google Client Services LLC. It is that unit which now files spending disclosures for Google’s lobbying activities.

Trump’s Answer to Numbers He Doesn’t Like: Change them or throw them away

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski, David Ovalle, Scott Dance, and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 8/14/2025

President Trump presented inaccurate crime statistics to justify a federal takeover of the District of Columbia Police, announced plans for the census to stop counting undocumented immigrants, and ordered the firing of the official in charge of compiling basic statistics about the U.S. economy after a weak jobs report. It marked an escalation in Trump’s war on data, as he repeatedly tries to undermine statistics that threaten his agenda and distorts figures to bolster his policies.

Judge Dismisses 2 Counts Against US Rep. Cuellar of Texas, Moves Bribery Trial to Next Year

MSN – Juan Lozano (Associated Press) | Published: 8/14/2025

A judge granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, as part of a federal bribery and conspiracy indictment. Prosecutors had asked the judge to dismiss the counts related to violating the prohibition on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal. Prosecutors said they were dismissing the two counts following a February memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that shifted the focus of charges filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Under Trump, the Education Dept. Has Flipped Its Civil Rights Mission

MSN – Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 8/18/2025

The Trump administration has upended civil rights enforcement at K-12 schools and colleges, prioritizing cases that allege transgender students and students of color are getting unfair advantages, while severe staff cuts have left thousands of other allegations unresolved. The office has a backlog of about 25,000 unresolved cases, up from about 20,000 when President Trump took office. At the same time, the civil rights office has announced investigations of at least 99 schools, often based on news coverage or complaints from conservative groups.

Newsmax to Pay $67 Million to Settle Dominion Defamation Lawsuit

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 8/18/2025

The conservative cable channel Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by the voting technology company Dominion Voting Systems over the network’s coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Dominion sued Newsmax in 2021, arguing the network “manufactured, endorsed, repeated, and broadcast a series of verifiable false yet devastating lies about Dominion” that made it out to be guilty in a “colossal fraud” to steal the election for Joe Biden.

Inside the DNC’s Money Problems

MSN – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 8/18/2025

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has fallen far behind in the cash race. Several months into rebuilding efforts under new party leadership, the DNC trails the Republican National Committee by nearly every fundraising metric. Major Democratic donors have withheld money this year amid skepticism about the party’s direction, while the small-dollar donors who have long been a source of strength are not growing nearly enough to make up the gap. The party has quickly churned through what money it has raised in the first half of the year.

Trump Budget Officials Claim Sweeping Spending Power from Congress, Records Show

MSN – Riley Beggin and Jacob Bogage (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2025

The Trump administration is asserting authority to withhold billions of dollars from low-income housing services, education assistance, medical research grants, and other programs approved by Congress, according to public documents. The new practices, which increase the leverage and power of budget chief Russell Vought, are likely to reignite a clash over the administration’s power to freeze dollars approved by Congress, usurping authority the legislative branch has under the Constitution.

Foundations Step in to Offer $37 Million Lifeline to Public Media

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2025

Major philanthropic organizations said they are committing nearly $37 million in emergency funding to keep public media stations afloat after Congress eliminated $1.1 billion in federal funding from PBS and NPR stations over the next two years. The Knight Foundation said it is most focused on helping the organizations that derived 30 percent of their annual budgets or more from federal funding doled out by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which recently announced it is shutting down in the face of defunding.

Republicans Push the Limits to Revamp Campaign Finance Operations

MSN – Ramsey Touchberry (Washington Examiner) | Published: 8/20/2025

Senate Republicans are pushing the boundaries of fundraising laws to fill their campaign coffers and stretch their ad spending to counter Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The increased use of so-called joint fundraising committees to score cheaper ads is a relatively new trend that GOP operatives and candidates, particularly for the Senate, have leaned into the past year to save millions of dollars and mitigate what has historically been a Democratic fundraising advantage.

Seven Months In, Trump’s Revolving Door Reaching Full Swing

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko and Sophia Cai (Politico) | Published: 8/20/2025

Barely a half-year into President Trump’s second administration, a handful of senior White House aides are already heading for the exits and right through the “revolving door” between the federal government and K Street. The departures and the White House’s response to them illustrate the ways in which the administration continues to push the bounds of ethics norms and guardrails designed to prevent government officials from profiting off their time in public service.

California Races to Counter Texas in Nationwide Fight Over Election Maps

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

California Democrats are rushing to advance a plan to draw a new congressional map, aiming to counter Texas Republicans in a national fight between the two parties to seize an advantage in next year’s midterm elections. But the process in California has more hurdles because the state constitution requires that an independent nonpartisan panel draw its congressional maps. Voters must approve any constitutional amendment. The dueling efforts by the two most populous states mark an unusual mid-decade showdown over election maps.

Trump, GOP Portray Cities as Chaotic Dystopias in Need of Occupation

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

As President Trump ramps up the military presence in Washington, and hints he may move to take over other cities, his crackdown punctuates a frequent Republican message that American cities embody chaos, lawlessness, and immorality, despite widespread recent drops in violent crime. With cities increasingly liberal and rural stretches ever more conservative, Republicans have a growing incentive to attack urban areas as the epitome of all that is wrong with America.

Democrats Alarmed Over New Data Showing Voters Fleeing to GOP

MSN – Amie Parnes (The Hill) | Published: 8/21/2025

Democrats are sounding the alarm on new data showing they are losing voters to Republicans across the country. A devastating New York Times report showed that of the 30 states that maintain voter registration records by political party, Democrats fell behind Republicans in all of them between the 2020 and 2024 elections. In total, Republicans added up to 4.5 million voters compared to Democrats, creating a huge hold that could set Democrats back for years.

Government’s Demand for Trans Care Info Sought Addresses, Doctors’ Notes, Texts

MSN – Casey Parks and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 8/20/2025

The Justice Department is demanding that hospitals turn over a wide range of sensitive information related to medical care for young transgender patients, including billing documents, communication with drug manufacturers, and data such as patient dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and addresses. The government’s unprecedented effort to gather this type of information related to gender transition care is having a chilling effect. Since the subpoenas went out, more than a dozen hospitals across the U.S. have scaled back or ended gender transition programs for people under the age of 19.

Two Big Law Firms Said to Be Doing Free Work for Trump Administration

Seattle Times – Michael Schmidt, Matthew Goldstein, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 8/20/2025

At least two large law firms that struck deals with President Trump to avoid punitive executive orders have committed to doing free legal work for the Commerce Department, according to two people briefed on the matter. In the past, some law firms have done work for the federal government at a reduced rate. But coming just months after they struck deals with the president, the free work is likely to raise new questions about whether Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Kirkland & Ellis felt compelled to do so to stay in Trump’s good graces.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Exclusive Ottawa Fundraising Event Draws Dozens of Lobbyists – Despite Liberal Promises

MSN – Maeve Ellis and Carly Penrose (Investigative Journalism Foundation) | Published: 8/19/2025

The annual Laurier Club Summer Reception and Garden Party is an exclusive event for Liberal supporters who donate the legal maximum of $1,750 to the federal party each year. It is a must-attend soiree not just for politicians, but also those hoping to influence them. An analysis found dozens of registered lobbyists attended this year’s event, gaining access to cabinet ministers without triggering federal lobbying disclosure rules.

Arizona – State Refers GOP AG Hopeful Rodney Glassman for Prosecution Over Illegal Donations

Yahoo News – Caitlin Sievers (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 8/19/2025

Prosecutors are investigating Rodney Glassman, a top Republican candidate for attorney general in Arizona, after state elections officials said they believe he violated campaign finance contribution limits numerous times over the last year. In 2024, when the limit in Arizona for individual donations was $5,400, Glassman accepted 22 donations for amounts beyond that, according to a complaint submitted to the secretary of state’s office.

California – Public Funding for Elections? The Idea Is Back in California

MSN – Frank Stoltze (LAist) | Published: 8/19/2025

A group of legislators is seeking to lift the ban on public financing for elections in California, a move to counter the ever-increasing amount of money spent on campaigns in the state. Supporters say the California Fair Elections Act could be a game changer for underfunded candidates facing well-financed opponents and make races more competitive. Right now, only cities governed by their own charter may enact public financing. Five of the state’s 121 charter cities have done that.

California – An Instagram with 60,000 Followers Linked to a Nonprofit Quietly Changed to a CA-40 Candidate’s Campaign Page. Now, a Rival Is Asking the FEC to Investigate

Orange County Register – Kaitlyn Schallhorn | Published: 8/14/2025

How much are social media followers worth to a congressional campaign? That question, along with how a candidate can go about amassing a following, are at the crux of a recent campaign finance complaint involving two Democratic rivals in the race for California’s 40th Congressional District. The use of social media is not new for campaigns, but it is still a bit of a “Wild West” in terms of how it is regulated by the FEC, said Michael Kowal, an expert in campaign finance and social media who teaches at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.

District of Columbia – Justice Department Investigating D.C. Police Over Alleged Fake Crime Data

MSN – Perry Stein and Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2025

The Justice Department is investigating whether Distrct of Columbia police manipulated data to make crime rates appear lower, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and local officials who have repeatedly cited drops in violent crime to protest the need for a federal takeover of law enforcement. The criminal probe is expected to examine the actions of multiple police officials, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Florida – How Miami Officials Use a Private Marlins Suite Meant for Charities

MSN – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/20/2025

Using more than a dozen complimentary tickets, City Commissioner Ralph Rosado attended a recent game Miami Marlins game with his family, staff from his district office, and some of their family members. The group watched the game from one of the stadium’s “MVP Suites,” which can cost as much as $4,566 per game. But the specific box Rosado was in is not meant for elected officials and their inner circle. The purpose of the box, which an operating agreement refers to as the “community suite,” is for “public or charity use.”

Indiana – Energy Lobby Ramped Up Spending on Lawmakers Amid Push for Nuclear. It Worked

Indianapolis Star – Marissa Meador | Published: 8/21/2025

The Indiana legislators ushering in a new era of nuclear power were showered with sports tickets and meals from the very utility companies that stood to benefit from the incentive-packed legislation, lobbying records show. Among those lawmakers were powerful utility committee chairs, Sen. Eric Koch and Rep. Ed Soliday, who led the charge on legislation to incentivize small modular reactors.

Louisiana – New Orleans Mayor Misused Public Funds on Romantic Getaways, Prosecutors Say

MSN – Ben Brasch (Washington Post) | Published: 8/15/2025

A federal grand jury indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, accusing her of pursuing an illicit affair with her police bodyguard at taxpayers’ expense, then lying to federal officials and deleting evidence to hide the relationship. Investigators allege Cantrell cost the public about $70,000 by bringing the bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie II, on the trips. At the time, Vappie was a New Orleans police officer. Vappie was indicted on similar charges in July after allegedly joining the mayor on trips to Los Angeles, Orlando, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates.

Michigan – Michigan Lawmaker Cites Sheetz Hiring of Local Official, Drafting Bill to Ban Practice

MSN – Dave Boucher (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 8/18/2025

State Rep. Donni Steele told local Republican leaders in Oakland County she wants to change Michigan law to bar county elected officials from holding outside jobs, citing a powerful elected Democrat who also works for a gas station empire. Steele referenced Oakland County Commission Chairperson Dave Woodward’s side job working as a consultant for Sheetz, a convenience store chain looking to expand in southeast Michigan.

Minnesota – Security Panel Tackles Question of Guns, Metal Detectors at Minnesota Capitol

MSN – Nathaniel Minor (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 8/20/2025

Guns and metal detectors at the Minnesota Capitol could become a sticking point this fall among members of a committee that advises lawmakers on security issues. Minnesota is one of about 10 states that do not require security screening such as metal detectors to enter their Capitol buildings. Security at the Minnesota Capitol complex has been under renewed scrutiny since Sen. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed at their homes in June.

New York – Homeless People Said They Were Paid to Be Listed as Donors for a Senate Candidate

Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 8/15/2025

An Albany Times Union investigation uncovered information that Caleb Slater, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for the New York Senate last year in the Syracuse region, reported contributions of $250 from several homeless people who told the newspaper they never donated money to his campaign and were paid to submit contribution forms for the campaign. One man said he was paid to recruit donors and front the contributions on their behalf. Two other donors said they contributed money to the campaign and were paid double for their donations by Slater.

New York – Brother’s Keepers: How two top Adams officials helped their sibling succeed

MSN – Greg Smith (The City) | Published: 8/18/2025

David Banks, the then-chancellor of the New York City school system, appeared in a video touting the benefits of 21st Century Education products as used in city school districts. The video, posted to YouTube, ends with a solicitation by the company: “Give us a call today so we can future-proof your students and educators.” This endorsement of a for-profit firm by the head of the nation’s biggest public school system did not come about completely out of the blue. As it happened, 21st Century Education had made a prescient behind-the-scenes investment by hiring a government relations consultant: David Banks’ brother.

New York – Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips

MSN – Greg Smith and Yoav Gonen (The City) | Published: 8/20/2025

A former top City Hall advisor and current campaign aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams attempted to give money to a reporter following a campaign event. The failed payoff – a wad of cash in an envelope stuffed inside an opened bag of potato chips – was made by Winnie Greco, who resigned last year from her position as the mayor’s liaison to the Asian community after she was targeted in multiple investigations. A spokesperson said Greco has been suspended from the campaign.

New York – Appeals Court Voids $500 Million Fine in N.Y. Case Against Trump, Leaves Fraud Finding

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

A state appeals court voided the civil fraud penalty against President Trump, calling the roughly $500 million verdict against him and his real estate empire “excessive: while leaving in place a lower court’s finding that fraud was committed. New York Attorney General Letitia James won the civil case against Trump, his company, two of his adult children, and two former executives last year when a state court judge determined they collectively committed a long-running fraud and specific illegal acts were employed including falsification of business records, conspiracy, and insurance fraud.

New York – ‘They Can Kiss My Ass’: Top Adams aide ran brazen pressure campaign, indictments claim

Politico – Jeff Coltin | Published: 8/21/2025

The former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams ran bribery schemes out of City Hall, selling off her help as a public official four different times to people willing to give her money or gifts, according to a series of indictments. Ingrid Lewis-Martin is accused by a grand jury of helping friends secure city contracts and expediting their regulatory issues with city government in exchange for cash payments to her son, karaoke parties, free home renovations, nearly $10,000 worth of seafood for city events, and a guest appearance on the television show “Godfather of Harlem.”

New York – Crypto-Fueled Pro-Adams Super PAC Slow to Disclose Spending to City Panel

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/19/2025

A cryptocurrency industry-backed super PAC that is boosting Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection run failed to disclose its spending to New York City campaign finance regulators for weeks, potentially opening it up to fines. Empower NYC has to date spent more than $330,000 on ads, consultants, and get-out-the-vote canvassing efforts as the mayor faces long odds as an independent candidate in November’s election. PACs must start reporting expenditures every Monday to the CFB once they exceed $1,000 in spending on any given race.

New York – Turkish Businessman Hit with Probation, Fines for Funneling Illegal Cash to Mayor Adams’ Campaign

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt and Molly Crane-Newman (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/15/2025

Construction company executive Erden Arkan was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay more than $27,000 in fines after pleading guilty to pumping illegal straw donations into New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign coffers as part of a scheme prosecutors say involved Turkey’s government. Though the related criminal case against Adams is over, it was revealed that Arkan has been cooperating in the city Campaign Finance Board’s ongoing investigation into allegations the mayor’s 2021 and 2025 campaigns engaged in a variety of straw donor schemes.

North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Attorney Calls Out AG’s Office; Lawmakers Call for Civility

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 8/15/2025

A career attorney who assisted in a state Ethics Commission investigation told lawmakers that she thinks the attorney general’s office is pressuring the commission’s staff to resign. The attorney general’s office and the Ethics Commission have been at odds since this year’s legislative session. In February, the agency told lawmakers the commission would infringe on the state constitution if it tried to penalize officials who violate ethics laws. The Ethics Commission says the constitution grants it this authority.

Ohio – Ohio Ethics Commission OKs Public Officials Keeping Frequent Flyer Miles from Work Travel

MSN – Kaitlin Durbin (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/14/2025

Ohio public officials and government employees may now keep and personally benefit from frequent flyer miles, hotel points, and other rewards earned during official travel under certain conditions, according to a new ruling from the Ohio Ethics Commission. The advisory opinion clarifies that such rewards may be kept for personal use so long as they are accrued under the same conditions available to the public and do not increase the cost to the government.

Ohio – Cleveland Councilman Joe Jones Threatened to Kill Staffer, Report Finds

MSN – Cory Shaffer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/14/2025

Cleveland City Councilperson Joe Jones threatened the life of a staffer earlier this year, according to a letter from council leadership summarizing the results of an outside investigation that found credible a new set of allegations into the embattled council member. The council will vote at its September meeting to censure Jones, who was already stripped of his committee assignments in January after a separate investigation into multiple complaints of bullying and harassment.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Will Test Some Incoming Teachers with ‘America-First’ Exam

MSN – Daniel Wu (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2025

Teachers from New York and California who apply to teach in Oklahoma will now have to answer questions meant to screen out “woke indoctrinators” with left-wing views, the latest attempt by Oklahoma officials to push the state’s education system rightward. Teachers unions have criticized the move as a political stunt that will discourage applicants as Oklahoma faces a teacher shortage.

Oregon – Portland City Councilors Accused of Breaking Public Meetings Law Won’t Face Investigation Due to Technicality

MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 8/19/2025

State and local officials said they will not investigate allegations that a group of seven Portland city council members broke transparency rules, citing a state law that provides only a narrow window in which grievances can be filed. The decision drew sharp criticism from experts, who warned the provision undermines accountability. Complaints were made following a Willamette Week article that reported a council bloc constantly over a private text message thread throughout public budget meetings this spring.

Rhode Island – R.I. Ethics Commission Wrestles with Lawmaker’s Bid to Rejoin List of Attorneys Hired by State

Yahoo News – Christopher Shea (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 8/19/2025

Does a state lawmaker qualify as an independent contractor when hired by Rhode Island’s court system to represent clients who cannot otherwise rely on a public defender? Rhode Island Ethics Commission staff say the state’s ethics code bars Rep. Jason Knight from rejoining the judiciary’s roster of attorneys representing indigent clients because he is a lawmaker and thus an independent contractor that would be paid by the court. But the panel is now exploring whether there is a way to let him back without running afoul of its own “revolving door” rule.

Tennessee – Critical Report Shows How Knox County Officials Abused Their Power: Cars, hotels and data

MSN – Allie Feinberg and Tyler Whetstone (Knoxville News Sentinel) | Published: 8/9/2025

From using county SUVs and trucks for personal travel to staying in pricey hotels to making whopping profits on property transactions made with insider information, some Knox County government staff blurred the lines of legality, state watchdog investigators say. In two cases, a grand jury decided, they demolished those legal lines: Property Assessor Phil Ballard and former director of operations Jason Dobbins were charged with felony counts of official misconduct.

West Virginia – Casting a Long Shadow: Former state auditor employee, foundation president may have tested West Virginia’s lobbying rules

Parkersburg News and Sentinel – Steven Allen Adams | Published: 8/16/2025

In April, West Virginia Family Policy Council President Caiden Cowger was upstairs at the Capitol lobbying lawmakers during the recent legislative session to support bills of importance to his organization. Downstairs, Cowger was working for the state auditor’s office. Cowger is alleged to have violated state law by lobbying while working as a part-time temporary public employee and parted ways with the auditor’s office after it was brought to their attention. But questions remain about what Cowger’s role at the office was and his job responsibilities there, as well as his lobbying work.

National/Federal

Harrison Butker’s PAC Is Low on Cash. But So Far, None Has Gone to Candidates

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

In the weeks before the 2024 election, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stepped into politics, launching a PAC designed to promote politicians who fight for conservative Christian values. But the Upright PAC raised just $4,023 in the first six months of 2025 and ended June with less than $1,800 in cash on hand. None of the money Butker’s PAC spent went to Republican candidates. Most of the money went to a political consultant who is listed as an employee of a company Butker co-founded called MDKeller.

America’s CEOs Come to the White House Bearing Gifts and Flattery

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and HyoJung Kim (Washington Post) | Published: 8/8/2025

Corporations have changed their lobbying strategies to adapt to a uniquely transactional president who prioritizes wins and deals. Executives who have long outsourced the messy practice of lobbying to consultants or dark-money groups have learned the best way to shape Donald Trump’s policies is often through a late-night call to the president or a visit to one of his golf resorts. The executives who have pulled off these charm offensives largely have been rewarded by Wall Street, with some companies reaching record valuations. But Trump has also used the powers of his office to threaten those who don’t stay on his good side.

Foreign Governments Bet Big to Lobby Trump on Tariffs. Most Came Up Empty.

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko, Daniel Desrochers, and Ari Hawkins (Politico) | Published: 8/9/2025

Countries across the globe have dropped tens of millions this year on lobbyists with ties to President Trump as they rushed to stave off tariffs that could cripple their economies. In most cases, the spending has gotten them nowhere. But employing those lobbyists appeared to bear little relation to whether the countries were able to avoid the most punishing tariffs. As Trump has taken a scattershot approach to setting tariff rates, traditional lobbying tactics in Washington appear to have had little influence.

Pentagon Plan Would Create Military ‘Reaction Force’ for Civil Unrest

MSN – Alex Horton and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

The Trump administration is looking at plans to set up a 600-person National Guard “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force” to quickly deploy to U.S. cities to quell protests or other unrest. The proposal represents another potential expansion of President Trump’s willingness to employ the armed forces on American soil. It relies on a section of U.S. Code that allows the commander in chief to circumvent limitations on the military’s use within the United States. The documents, marked pre-decisional, are comprehensive and contain extensive discussion about the potential societal implications of establishing such a program.

Trump Nominates Bureau of Labor Statistics Critic to Replace Fired Agency Head

MSN – Lauren Kaori Gurley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/11/2025

President Trump will nominate the top economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, replacing the previous commissioner whom the president fired after a report revealed a weaker-than-expected job market. E.J. Antoni, a staunch critic of the agency, had emerged in recent days as a favorite candidate. He has questioned the legitimacy of the agency’s data over the past year.

GOP Has the Edge in Redistricting Arms Race with Democrats

MSN – Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2025

President Trump’s push to redraw the congressional map has fueled a redistricting arms race, with blue and red states rushing to counter each other. But it is an uneven fight. Republicans appear to hold the advantage in the nationwide scramble, according to strategists and nonpartisan analysts, with more opportunities to shift the lines in their favor ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats have vowed to “fight fire with fire” since the GOP moved to add five red seats in Texas, but they face many barriers.

White House Announces More Aggressive Review of Smithsonian Museums

MSN – Janay Kingsberry (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

The White House will launch a sweeping review of Smithsonian exhibitions, collections, and operations ahead of America’s 250th-birthday celebrations next year, the first time the Trump administration has detailed steps to scrutinize the institution, which officials say should reflect the president’s call to restore “truth and sanity” to American history. Trump’s focus on the Smithsonian has stoked concerns about political interference at the institution, which is not a traditional government agency and is historically considered nonpartisan.

After CDC Shooting, Its Employees Turn Their Anger to RFK Jr. and Trump

MSN – Lauren Weber and Lena Sun (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

Patrick White fired scores of bullets at the Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officials alleged, forcing hundreds of workers into lockdown as gunfire bombarded windows around them. White and a responding police officer died. Investigators say White targeted the public health agency because of he believed coronavirus vaccines were dangerous, according to two CDC officials briefed on the case. Days after the shooting, the initial shock has morphed into anger for many CDC employees.

Bessent Has Yet to Fully Divest Assets, Raising Concern at Ethics Agency

Seattle Times – Alan Rappaport (New York Times) | Published: 8/13/2025

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has failed to fully comply with an agreement that required him to divest his financial assets, posing potential conflicts-of-interest as he leads the Trump administration’s economic policy agenda. Cabinet officials are required to shed certain holdings and investments within 90 days of being confirmed.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Federal Court Says Alabama Must Use Map That Creates 2nd Black Majority District

MSN – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 8/7/2025

Alabama must use independently drawn congressional maps that created a second Black-majority district more favorable to Democrats in the state for the rest of the decade, a federal court said. A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ruled unanimously that the state must use the map drawn up by a court-appointed special master until regular redistricting is scheduled to be done in 2030. In May, the same panel of judges ruled the state’s 2023 map violated the Voting Rights Act.

Arizona – Arizona AG Says Pinal County Attorney Can’t Investigate Lawmaker’s ICE Posts

KJZZ – Wayne Schutsky | Published: 8/11/2025

After state Sen. Analise Ortiz shared a post online about real-time immigration enforcement actions in her community, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller offered to investigate her on behalf of the Legislature. But Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said that falls outside of Miller’s authority. Republican lawmakers accused Ortiz of doxing federal immigration enforcement agents. Ortiz and other Democrats denied that, saying she shared information about activities happening in public spaces and did not include personal information about agents.

California – L.A. City Councilman Curren Price to Face New Corruption Charges

MSN – James Queally and Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/12/2025

Prosecutors filed two additional corruption charges against Los Angeles City Councilperson Curren Price, who already is facing multiple counts of grand theft and perjury, allegedly for voting in favor of projects in which his wife had a financial interest. Prosecutors said Price’s wife – Del Richardson, founder of the consulting company Del Richardson & Associates – received “payments totaling more than $150,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers before [Price] voted to approve projects.”

California – Orange County Supervisors Revise Their Ethics Code in Wake of Corruption Scandal – but Does It Go Far Enough?

MSN – Jill Replogle (LAist) | Published: 8/12/2025

The Orange County Board of Supervisors revised its code of ethics Tuesday to include greater protection for whistleblowers but several of the supervisors questioned whether the measures go far enough. Among other concerns, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said the code lacks any enforcement mechanism. The vote comes the same week that former Supervisor Andrew Do is slated to begin a five-year prison term on a federal bribery charge related to his work when he was a sitting official.

California – This Candidate for California Governor Has a Potential Conflict of Interest in Her Own Home

MSN – Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) | Published: 8/11/2025

The California Department of General Services in 2020 hired a consulting firm to help prioritize sites, conduct market research, and evaluate applications from contractors. That firm, LeSar Development Consultants, is owned by former state Senate leader Toni Atkins’ spouse, Jennifer LeSar. Because of California’s community property law that gives couples equal ownership of assets in their marriage, the $1 million contract has been worth tens of thousands of dollars to Atkins. It is just one of the potential conflicts of interest with her spouse’s business dealings that Atkins faces as she runs for governor.

California – Matt Haney Pays Huge Lawyer Fees Amid 2 Political Watchdog Probes

San Francisco Standard – Josh Koehn | Published: 8/7/2025

California Assemblyperson Matt Haney has spent tens of thousands of dollars of campaign money on international trips, Broadway shows, and sporting events since his election in 2022, including $75,000 on 49ers, Giants, and Warriors tickets. Now he is burning through donor dollars on a far less glamorous expense: attorneys’ fees. Haney’s legal bills have surged amid two open investigations by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

California – Westminster Councilwoman Accused of Attempted Bribery to Get Ethics Training

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 8/11/2025

An Orange County judge ordered Westminster City Councilperson Amy Phan West to complete an in-person ethics training course and 20 hours of community service as part of a diversion program after the elected official was charged with a misdemeanor for attempted bribery. The ruling comes months after Phan West pleaded not guilty to attempting to bribe parking enforcement officers in 2023 to stop her husband’s car from being towed.

District of Columbia – Trump Readies Federal Moves on D.C. Crime, Takes Over D.C. Police

MSN – Michael Birnbaum, Kelly Kasulis Cho, and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/11/2025

President Trump placed the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deployed the National Guard to the streets of Washington to fight crime and clear the city of its homeless population, a flex of federal power that could expose residents of the nation’s capital to unpredictable encounters with a domestically deployed military force. The decision to deploy troops comes as the president has been slamming America’s cities as places where crime is out of control, despite two years of declines that have brought homicide levels in many major cities to their lowest levels in decades.

Georgia – A Top Republican in the Georgia Governor’s Race Is Suing His Rival Over Campaign Financing

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 8/7/2025

One of the top Republicans running for Georgia governor sued the other leading GOP candidate, challenging the legality of the rival’s campaign funding. State Attorney General Chris Carr sued Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in federal court, asking a judge to permanently cut off Jones’ ability to spend money from his leadership committee, a special fundraising vehicle that allows Georgia’s governor, lieutenant governor, and legislative leaders to raise unlimited funds.

Indiana – Is Rep. Baird Using Taxpayer Funds to Prep His Son for a Congressional Seat? An Opponent Thinks So

MSN – Brittany Carloni and Kayla Dwyer (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 8/11/2025

Recently, U.S. Rep. Jim Baird has used pictures of his son, state Rep. Beau Baird, in taxpayer-funded mailers and has started omitting his first name in some materials when identifying himself in prominent spots, referring to himself instead as simply “Congressman Baird.” Jim Baird has not yet said if he is running for reelection, and legally he is not doing anything wrong, experts say. But if his son runs instead, he will get the perk of already-built-in name recognition from years of the last name being on the ballot and on official office material. For years, Beau Baird has been rumored as a future candidate for the seat should his father choose not to run.

Indiana – Certain Local Offices Now Subject to More Campaign Finance Requirements

Yahoo News – Whitney Downard (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 8/12/2025

Some locally elected officials in Indiana now have to file annual campaign finance reports following a new state law. Now, any elected official making at least $5,000 annually, which includes county council members and many township trustees, will be subject to the new requirements.

Kansas – Wyandotte County Official’s ‘Despicable’ Hand Gesture Prompts Ethics Probe

MSN – Sofi Zeman (Kansas City Star) | Published: 8/8/2025

Wyandotte County commissioners are calling on ethics officials to weigh in after a fellow commissioner allegedly threw up his hands and mimed male masturbation during a recent public meeting. Commissioner Philip Lopez commented on a resident’s social media post that the situation had been taken out of context and he was actually shaking his hand to reduce irritation in his wrists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Offers Top Staff Member Permanent Job Following Political Dispute

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted unanimously to make a job offer to its acting ethics administrator after legislators took unprecedented steps to block his hiring. The board made David Bordelon its top staff member on a temporary basis in December to appease state lawmakers. Legislators filed an unsuccessful lawsuit last fall to try to stop the board from picking a new administrator at that time, and Bordelon’s interim status was considered a compromise.

Maryland – Judge Is Skeptical of DOJ Lawsuit Against Entire Maryland Federal Bench

MSN – Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2025

The Justice Department’s lawsuit against all 15 federal district judges in Maryland over limits to the pace of deportations was met with skepticism by another judge, who presided over a rare courtroom battle pitting the executive branch against the judiciary. The lawsuit alleges the U.S. District Court in Maryland, its judges, and chief clerk have been violating federal law this year with a standing order that grants a two-day stay of removal proceedings to anyone who files a petition claiming wrongful detention, complicating the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up immigration enforcement.

Michigan – False Statement Gets Consultant Probation in ‘Dark Money’ Probe

MSN – Paul Egan (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 8/13/2025

A fundraising consultant was sentenced to three months of probation, 20 hours of community service, and a $2,500 fine for giving a false statement in a “dark money” investigation conducted by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nessel probed the financing of the Unlock Michigan campaign of 2020 and 2021, aimed at overturning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minnesota – Minnesota Republican PAC Violated Campaign Finance Laws, Investigation Finds

MSN – Ryan Faircloth (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 8/9/2025

A PAC that reported spending no money on behalf of candidates and hundreds of thousands of dollars on “internet access and web hosting” services has been fined for violating Minnesota’s campaign finance laws. The Campaign Finance Board found a key figure behind Right Now Minnesota misclassified more than $240,000 in expenditures during the 2022 midterm elections. The board also found the PAC ran political ads without proper disclaimers. Right Now Minnesota and its chairperson, Elliott Olson, were each fined $10,000.

New Mexico – New Mexico Gov. Removes Game Commissioner Over Undisclosed Conflict of Interest Tied to Mexican Gray Wolf Campaign

Albuquerque Journal – Cathy Cook | Published: 8/13/2025

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fired a game commissioner, Sabrina Pack, for failing to disclose she had worked on an outside persuasion campaign on the Mexican gray wolf. Management of the endangered Mexican gray wolf has long been a source of debate in New Mexico, with environmental advocates asking the federal government to take more aggressive action to conserve the species and livestock producers concerned about wolves killing their cattle. Pack worked on a campaign for the latter camp.

New Mexico – Nonprofit Group Discloses Hefty Trial Lawyer Contributions After Settlement Agreement

Yahoo News – Dan Boyd (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/11/2025

The State Ethics Commission announced it reached a settlement agreement with New Mexico Safety Over Profit, resolving allegations the group failed to comply with provisions of the Lobbyist Regulation Act. The commission filed a lawsuit arguing New Mexico Safety Over Profit violated the law by refusing to register and disclose both its donors and expenditures. The group agreed to pay a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under state law. It also released a full list of donors going back to 2021.

New York – Ex-Eric Adams Aide Pleads Guilty to Federal Straw Donor Conspiracy Charge

Courthouse News Service – Josh Russell | Published: 8/12/2025

Mohamed Bahi, a former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to organizing illegal campaign contributions, putting to bed one of the outstanding indictments that stemmed from multiple investigations into the mayor. Bahi said he was instructed by a volunteer of the Eric Adams 2021 campaign to organize a fundraiser where he would collect employees’ straw donor campaign contributions that both he and the Adams campaign knew would be reimbursed by their companies’ owners.

New York – Justice Department Subpoenas Letitia James About Trump Fraud Probe

MSN – Perry Stein, Shayna Jacobs, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/8/2025

The U.S. Justice Department is intensifying its legal battle against New York Attorney General Letitia James, issuing at least two subpoenas to James in recent days. One of the subpoenas focused on James’s successful civil fraud case against President Trump and his real estate business, in which a judge ordered that Trump and his company pay more than $450 million in fines and interest. A second subpoena suggested the department is looking into James’s litigation against the National Rifle Association, which led to court-mandated reforms of the group.

New York – A $9,200 Portrait, $20K for Decorations: Questions raised about Frank Seddio campaign spending

Yahoo News – Graham Rayman (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/10/2025

Almost $175,000 in expenditures by Friends of Frank Seddio and the Kings County Democratic County Committee when Seddio was leading it raise questions, either because they could be seen as benefitting Seddio personally or lack required information in campaign finance records. The expenditures made between 2012 and 2024 fall into two broad categories – a series of specific purchases totaling $94,824.33, either with no listed purpose or explanation as required by law or vague justifications for the expenditure. The second totals $77,576.12 in payments by the Kings County committee via Signature Bank that have no listed purpose or explanation.

North Carolina – NC Lawmaker Returns Lobbyist Money, Following Public Scrutiny

MSN – Will Doran (WRAL) | Published: 8/12/2025

A powerful state lawmaker whose campaign took thousands of dollars from lobbyists during this year’s legislative session is giving the money back, after drawing concerns over the legality of those transactions. Rep. Sarah Stevens has spent years as a top member of House Republican leadership in North Carolina. She is not seeking reelection, choosing instead to run for a seat next year on the state Supreme Court. That is where the campaign finance issues begin.

Ohio – Sherrod Brown Plans to Run for Senate in Ohio Again

MSN – Hannah Knowles and Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2025

Sherrod Brown plans to run for U.S. Senate in Ohio again, according to several people familiar with his plans, boosting Democrats’ hopes of retaking a seat in the increasingly red-leaning state. First elected to the chamber in 2006, he defied his state’s rightward shift for many years and was viewed as Democrats’ best shot to keep Ohio competitive. He outperformed Democrats’ presidential ticket – courting working-class voters through his own brand of left-leaning populism – but lost by about four points last fall.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Opinion Says Officeholders Can Use Campaign Funds for Some Security Costs

Yahoo News – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 8/11/2025

Campaign funds can be used for officeholder security expenses in certain cases, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission recommended in a draft advisory opinion. Any “reasonable” expenses must be the direct result of holding the elected state office and would not be incurred if the individual did not hold the office, the draft opinion read. The opinion only covers the officeholder, not family, staff, or others connected with the individual.

Oregon – Oregon Government Ethics Commission Opens Third Investigation in 2025 for State Lawmaker

MSN – Dianne Lugo (Salem Statesman Journal) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission launched an investigation into whether Rep. Greg Smith violated state law regarding the reporting of income sources, marking the third probe into potential violations by Smith in recent months. The commission voted unanimously to open an investigation into whether Smith violated state laws when he failed to disclose income from the Morrow Development Corporation in his 2024 and 2025 Statements of Economic Interest.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Pursues Legislative Action, Further Revision on Meetings Policy

Yahoo News – Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) | Published: 8/8/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission agreed there is not enough clarity surrounding their recently acquired power to ensure public officials only make governing decisions in front of their constituents, leaving the door open for future legislative action or additional guidance from the commission. The 2023 legislation aimed to crack down on what the law calls “serial communications,” in which a majority of members of a governing body discuss issues relevant to their work and make decisions outside of the public eye in text messages, emails, or private meetings.

Pennsylvania – As Penn State Ramps Up Lobbying, Lax Disclosure Laws Make It Difficult to Tell Who or What It’s Trying to Influence.

Spotlight PA – Wyatt Massey | Published: 8/13/2025

Penn State University outspent its peers lobbying state lawmakers in recent years, but the commonwealth’s lax disclosure requirements and the university’s protection from the open records law make following the school’s activity in Harrisburg difficult. Spotlight PA reviewed more than 15 years of quarterly lobbying reports from the Department of State and adjusted the figures for inflation to make annual comparisons. The data show Penn State increased its lobbying expenditures after 2020 and is now spending more on its influence efforts than any year since 2008.

South Carolina – SC Legislator Accused of Distributing Videos of Child Sexual Abuse Resigns House Seat

Yahoo News – Skylar Laird (South Carolina Daily Gazette) | Published: 8/11/2025

Rep. RJ May resigned his South Carolina House seat two months after his arrest on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. May, who remains in jail without bond, has been suspended from the House without pay since his June arrest, as per state law for any public official indicted on a felony. He was also the subject of a House Ethics Commission investigation, which would have been the first step toward expelling him.

Texas – Texas Private Schools Hire Relatives and Enrich Insiders. Soon They Can Do It with Taxpayer Money.

MSN – Lexi Churchill (Texas Tribune) and Ellis Simani (ProPublica) | Published: 8/13/2025

Private schools in Texas operate largely outside those rules because they have not historically received direct taxpayer dollars. Now, as the state moves to spend at least $1 billion over the next two years on private education, lawmakers have imposed almost none of the accountability measures required of the public school system. If held to the same standards, 27 private schools identified by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune through tax filings likely would have violated state law. Supporters of the voucher program argue oversight of private schools should come not from the state, but from their boards and the marketplace.

Texas – Federal Appeals Court Sides with Texas on ID Requirements for Voting by Mail

MSN – Alex Nguyen (Texas Tribune) | Published: 8/5/2025

A federal appeals court upheld Texas’ requirement that potential voters must list their identification information in their application for a mail-in ballot. In Texas, voting by mail is only available for certain groups of people, including elderly voters and people with disabilities. Under Senate Bill 1 passed in 2021, voters must also include an ID number such as a driver’s license number on both the vote-by-mail applications and the mail-in ballots and both numbers need to match.

Utah – Stuart Adams Says He Won’t Resign Over Claims He Influenced New Law to Help Family Member

Yahoo News – Bridger Beal-Cvetko (Deseret News) | Published: 8/13/2025

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams rejected calls for his resignation, defending his decision not to disclose a personal connection to a law passed in 2024 that was inspired by a criminal case involving an 18-year-old relative accused of having sex with a 13-year-old. In a stated effort to keep the process fair, Adams did not tell legislators, except for the bill’s sponsor, that his granddaughter was currently the defendant in a Davis County criminal case falling into that narrow category.

Campaign Finance

New York: “Ex-Eric Adams Aide Pleads Guilty to Federal Straw Donor Conspiracy Charge” by Josh Russell for Courthouse News Service

Elections

Ohio: “Sherrod Brown Plans to Run for Senate in Ohio Again” by Hannah Knowles and Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “L.A. City Councilman Curren Price to Face New Corruption Charges” by James Queally and Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “White House Announces More Aggressive Review of Smithsonian Museums” by Janay Kingsberry (Washington Post) for MSN

Texas: “Texas Private Schools Hire Relatives and Enrich Insiders. Soon They Can Do It with Taxpayer Money.” by Lexi Churchill (Texas Tribune) and Ellis Simani (ProPublica) for MSN

Utah: “Stuart Adams Says He Won’t Resign Over Claims He Influenced New Law to Help Family Member” by Bridger Beal-Cvetko (Deseret News) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “As Penn State Ramps Up Lobbying, Lax Disclosure Laws Make It Difficult to Tell Who or What It’s Trying to Influence.” by Wyatt Massey for Spotlight PA

Redistricting

National: “GOP Has the Edge in Redistricting Arms Race with Democrats” by Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

New York: “A $9,200 Portrait, $20K for Decorations: Questions raised about Frank Seddio campaign spending” by Graham Rayman (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Opinion Says Officeholders Can Use Campaign Funds for Some Security Costs” by Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) for Yahoo News

Elections

Texas: “Federal Appeals Court Sides with Texas on ID Requirements for Voting by Mail” by Alex Nguyen (Texas Tribune) for MSN

Ethics

Arizona: “Arizona AG Says Pinal County Attorney Can’t Investigate Lawmaker’s ICE Posts” by Wayne Schutsky for KJZZ

California: “Westminster Councilwoman Accused of Attempted Bribery to Get Ethics Training” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC

National: “Pentagon Plan Would Create Military ‘Reaction Force’ for Civil Unrest” by Alex Horton and David Ovalle (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Nominates Bureau of Labor Statistics Critic to Replace Fired Agency Head” by Lauren Kaori Gurley (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

North Carolina: “NC Lawmaker’s Judicial Campaign Faces Complaint Over Lobbyist Donation” by Ahmed Jallow (NC Newsline) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

California: “Matt Haney Pays Huge Lawyer Fees Amid 2 Political Watchdog Probes” by Josh Koehn for San Francisco Standard

Georgia: “A Top Republican in the Georgia Governor’s Race Is Suing His Rival Over Campaign Financing” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Harrison Butker’s PAC Is Low on Cash. But So Far, None Has Gone to Candidates” by Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Ethics

National: “America’s CEOs Come to the White House Bearing Gifts and Flattery” by Cat Zakrzewski and HyoJung Kim (Washington Post) for MSN

Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Offers Top Staff Member Permanent Job Following Political Dispute” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

New York: “Justice Department Subpoenas Letitia James About Trump Fraud Probe” by Perry Stein, Shayna Jacobs, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Pursues Legislative Action, Further Revision on Meetings Policy” by Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Alabama: “Federal Court Says Alabama Must Use Map That Creates 2nd Black Majority District” by Aaron Pellish (Politico) for MSN

National/Federal

Push to Ban Lawmaker Stock Trading Finds New Life

MSN – Mychael Schnell (The Hill) | Published: 8/3/2025

The long effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks is back in the spotlight following a House ethics committee report that took issue with transactions made by a member’s spouse, and after a Senate panel advanced legislation to prohibit lawmakers from making transactions. Some lawmakers are vowing to keep the topic front and center into the fall as they look to make headway on a matter that has mystified Congress.

Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith Faces Investigation by Office of Special Counsel

MSN – Maegan Vazquez and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 8/2/2025

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said it is taking the unusual step of investigating Jack Smith, the former Justice Department official who oversaw two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump, for potentially violating the law barring federal officials from political activity. If the office concludes a federal employee has violated the law, it refers the case to the president. The investigation is out of the norm for the OSC, an office responsible for looking into federal employees’ potential violations of prohibited personnel practices.

CPB Says It Is Shutting Down After Being Defunded by Congress, Targeted by Trump

MSN – Ted Anthony and Kevin Freking (Associated Press) | Published: 8/1/2025

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a cornerstone of American culture for three generations, announced it would take steps toward its own closure after being defunded by Congress. The demise of the corporation is a direct result of President Trump’s targeting of public media. The closure is expected to have a profound impact on the journalistic and cultural landscape – in particular, public radio and television stations in small communities across the United States. CPB helps fund both PBS and NPR.

Revealed: Threat of political violence is keeping parents of young children out of politics

MSN – Barbara Rodriguez (The 19th) | Published: 8/4/2025

When Liuba Grechen Shirley ran for Congress in 2018, she began a journey that helped change federal policy to ensure parents like herself could use campaign funds to pay for childcare. Less known was the harassment and threats of violence that she says she experienced at the time. Now Vote Mama, the umbrella organization Grechen Shirley founded that supports parents who run for office, is elevating the use of campaign funds for security measures.

Smithsonian to Restore Trump to Impeachment Exhibit ‘in the Coming Weeks’

MSN – Jonathan Fischer and Samantha Chery (Washington Post) | Published: 8/20/2025

The Smithsonian said it would restore information about President Trump’s two impeachments to an exhibit in the National Museum of American History within weeks. In July, the museum removed a placard describing Trump’s impeachments and reverted the exhibit to how it looked in 2008. That display – a glass case dominated by a file cabinet damaged in the Watergate break-in – says that “only three presidents have seriously faced removal”: Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton.

Trump’s Tactics Are Bending the Criminal Justice System to His Personal Preferences

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 8/6/2025

President Trump’s team has mounted a direct assault on all three pillars of the justice system, attacking judges whose rulings he dislikes, firing prosecutors for doing their jobs, and taking revenge on law firms for having clients or partners he considers hostile. The president has also broken one of the chief taboos of an independent justice system by using it to attack his political enemies. He is not the first president to be accused of trying to inappropriately sway, but Trump’s actions have been more far-reaching.

Ghislaine Maxwell’s Move to ‘Country Club’ Prison Smacks of Special Treatment, Experts Say

MSN – Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) | Published: 8/5/2025

The Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas looks almost like a college campus, befitting its reputation as one of the nation’s most lenient lockups for nonviolent women offenders. That it is now Ghislaine Maxwell’s new home for serving her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking flouts federal guidelines on who should be held in such minimum-security facilities, according to corrections experts, who said Maxwell appeared to have received preferential treatment for answering the Justice Department’s questions about her deceased partner in crime, Jeffrey Epstein.

MAGA Antitrust Agenda Under Siege by Lobbyists Close to Trump

MSN – Dave Michaels and Annie Linskey (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 8/6/2025

The second Trump administration seemed poised to deliver on MAGA’s embrace of aggressive antitrust enforcement. Instead, those efforts have run headlong into power brokers with close ties to President Trump who have snatched up lucrative assignments helping companies facing antitrust threats. The injection of politically connected lobbyists and lawyers into antitrust investigations is a shift in an arena that for decades was a niche area dominated by specialized lawyers and economists.

Republicans Quietly Fret About ‘Disturbing’ Cory Mills Allegations

MSN – Hailey Fuchs, Gary Fineout, and Meredith Lee Hill (Politico) | Published: 8/6/2025

Rep. Cory Mills has faced accusations that he benefited from federal contracts while in office, assaulted a onetime girlfriend in his Washington apartment, and threatened another ex-girlfriend with the release of nude videos. So far, the drumbeat of tawdry allegations has raised eyebrows in Washington, but it has not translated into any overt effort to sideline Mills. GOP leaders in the House appear to be betting Mills’ various messes will sort themselves out without blowing back on the party more broadly and potentially threaten its hold on power.

House Republicans Issue Subpoena for Jeffrey Epstein Files

MSN – Kadia Goba and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/5/2025

The House subpoenaed the Justice Department for its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, potentially setting up a contentious standoff between Congress and the administration over an issue that has sparked major headaches for President Trump. Oversight Committee Chairperson James Comer also subpoenaed documents or testimony from several high-profile figures, who had either investigated or associated with Epstein in the past. That list included Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as a slew of former attorneys general under Democratic and Republican administrations.

Trump Fires Labor Statistics Chief After Large Revision to Jobs Report

MSN – Andrew Ackerman and Jacob Bogage (Washington Post) | Published: 8/1/2025

President Trump said he ordered the dismissal of the official in charge of compiling basic statistics about the U.S. economy after the release of a soft jobs report that showed lackluster July employment growth and revealed large downward revisions for hiring in May and June. Trump, who announced Erika McEntarfer ouster on social media, criticized her as a Biden appointee. Without evidence, he alleged the jobs numbers had been manipulated for political purposes.

Donor List Suggests Scale of Trump’s Pay-for-Access Operation

Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) | Published: 8/2/2025

Lobbyists, political consultants, and others in the influence industry have capitalized on President Trump’s aggressive fundraising while in office to deliver for clients and earn points with a president who keeps close tabs on who is delivering cash and listens to their appeals. It is a cycle that has helped Trump fill the coffers of his political groups, defying the gravity that sometimes drags down the fundraising of term-limited presidents.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Turning Point USA Political Arms Accused of Violating Arizona Dark Money Disclosure Law

Yahoo News – Jerod MacDonald-Evoy (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 7/31/2025

A student-led Democratic PAC has filed a complaint against Turning Point USA’s political arms accusing it of violating Arizona’s dark money disclosure law by not revealing its funders who are providing money to run a campaign backing U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs’ bid for governor. The complaint alleges the two political advocacy arms of Turning Point USA have not filed the needed financial disclosures that are required under the Voters’ Right to Know Act which requires that the identities of each donor who contributes “directly or indirectly” more than $5,000 for campaign media spending to be revealed in a report that is available to the public.

California – Federal Judge Rebukes California Laws Targeting Misinformation

Courthouse News Service – Alan Riquelmy | Published: 8/5/2025

A federal judge knocked down a California law requiring large social media companies to remove deceptive content from their platforms, saying federal law preempts the state. Social media giants challenged Assembly Bill 2655, which requires certain platforms to remove “materially deceptive content” about candidates, elections officials, and elected officers. They argued the federal Communications Decency Act gives service providers like social media platforms immunity from content posted by a third party.

California – Sacramento County Administrator Overseeing COVID Food Program Profited from It

MSN – Joe Rubin (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 8/4/2025

The Sacramento County official who oversaw the troubled COVID-19 food aid program not only profited from it through public money distributed to her private business but also participated in the audit that concluded the initiative improperly allocated federal funds the county should demand be returned. A review of the audit and records of the Dine-In 2 program shows Stephanie Hopkins, a program planner with the county’s Department of Human Assistance, was paid by one of the leaders of the project accused of wrongdoing while approving the very dispersal and the invoices for it.  

Connecticut – Former CT Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo Fined in Ethics Case

MSN – Andrew Brown (Connecticut Mirror) | Published: 8/4/2025

State ethics officials fined Richard Colangelo Jr., Connecticut’s former chief state’s attorney, $7,000 for allegedly hiring the daughter of former state deputy budget director Konstantinos Diamantis to secure raises for himself and other state prosecutors. The job that Diamantis’ daughter was selected for paid $99,000 per year. Diamantis, who worked as a deputy in the Office of Policy and Management at the time, had influence over the state’s budget and state employee pay.

District of Columbia – Senate Confirms Jeanine Pirro as Top Federal Prosecutor for D.C.

MSN – Grace Moon, Theodoric Meyer, and Afia Barrie (Washington Post) | Published: 8/3/2025

The Senate confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. She is one of a number of Fox hosts whom Trump has recruited for the administration. In a written response to senators’ questions ahead of her confirmation, Pirro declined to say whether those convicted in the Capitol riot cases should have been pardoned, and sidestepped several other questions, including whether there would ever be a legal basis for someone from the executive branch of government to defy a federal court order.

District of Columbia – Trump Regulatory Czar Jeffrey Clark Should Be Disbarred for Role in 2020 Election Plot, Disciplinary Board Rules

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 7/31/2025

The District of Columbia Bar’s disciplinary arm has recommended that longtime Donald Trump ally Jeffrey Clark lose his law license for assisting Trump’s failed bid to overturn the 2020 election. The recommendation now moves to the Court of Appeals for a final determination. It also triggers an automatic suspension for Clark from practicing law, unless he convinces the court within 30 days to intervene and block that immediate punishment.

Florida – Newly Released Records Linked to Hope Florida Reignite Intra-GOP Political Battle

MSN – Arek Sarkissian (Politico) | Published: 8/6/2025

Records released by the Florida attorney general revealed new details about community-based welfare program Hope Florida and its financial and legal dealings, reviving one of the state’s largest political battles this year. The documents reveal details of a $67 million settlement between Florida and the state’s largest Medicaid provider, meant to settle overbilling claims. The final drafts of the settlement included a $10 million donation to the nonprofit arm of Hope Florida, an effort spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis. The donation was later used to fund the campaign to defeat a marijuana initiative last year.

Illinois – Longtime ComEd Lobbyist Gets 1 Year in Prison for Role in Madigan Bribery Scheme

Capitol News Illinois – Hannah Meisel | Published: 8/5/2025

Longtime Chicago lobbyist Jay Doherty was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme between his biggest client, electric utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Doherty agreed to use his consulting company as a pass-through in order to pay several political allies of Madigan’s, who did nothing for ComEd but received monthly checks. Two separate juries found the payments were the cornerstone of a larger bribery scheme aimed at influencing Madigan while the utility pushed for major legislation in Springfield.

Kentucky – An Inside Look into Frankfort Lobbying Events: Bourbon, breakfast & Jimmy John’s

MSN – Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 8/7/2025

In 2024, the total reported amount that lobbying groups spent on events to influence Kentucky lawmakers was $484,000, a 160 percent increase from the pre-pandemic average. The rise has raised some eyebrows among Democrats and observers. Others argue the events, whether an elaborate reception or a quick breakfast, do little to sway policy or are merely a reflection of the increasingly active way the GOP-led Legislature is shaping the state. But what actually happens at a legislative reception?

Louisiana – The Supreme Court Just Dropped a Hint About Its Next Big Voting Rights Act Case

MSN – Zach Montellaro and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 8/1/2025

The Supreme Court said it will weigh the constitutionality of a common form of redistricting used to protect the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters: the drawing of congressional districts where racial minorities make up at least half the population. Experts in election law said the move signals that the court may be poised to further narrow the Voting Rights Act. The order came in a case challenging Louisiana’s congressional map, which contains two majority-Black districts out of the state’s six House seats.

Michigan – MAGA Michigan Sheriff Faces New Criticism for Politicking with Official Resources

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 8/6/2025

Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy, who is also running for the Michigan Senate, held a political fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and coordinated the event using taxpayer-funded resources to do it, according to emails. Michigan law prohibits public officials from using their offices and public resources for outside political purposes. The records show he helped coordinate aspects of the event using his government work email.

Montana – Group Releases Text of Proposed Montana Constitutional Amendment to Curb Dark Money

Yahoo News – Darrell Ehrlick (Daily Montanan) | Published: 8/1/2025

Montana began the constitutional initiative process aimed at challenging dark money, corporate campaign spending, and the Citizens United ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court has said the power to spend money in elections is tantamount to free speech and so most attempts to thwart or limit it have run afoul of the Constitution and the nation’s highest courts. But the wording of the new initiative seeks to limit the amount of money corporations can spend, not through traditional campaign laws or limitations, but rather by limiting corporate charters.

Nebraska – Rep. Mike Flood Met with Anger at Nebraska Town Hall

MSN – Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 8/5/2025

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood faced about 750 voters during a contentious town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska recently. The two-term Republican lawmaker was there to explain his vote for President Trump’s signature achievement: the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that extended the 2017 tax cuts and plowed billions into immigration enforcement while slashing health care and food programs for the poor. But from the start of the 90-minute session, Flood was met with an angry crowd that asked substantive questions but rarely seemed satisfied with his answers.

Nevada – Clark County Commissioners to Face Ethics Board Over Accepting Pricey F1 Tickets

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 7/31/2025

Five current and former Clark County commissioners will face the Nevada Commission on Ethics in connection with accepting free Formula One racing tickets. Each accepted a four-day ticket worth $10,900 to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2023. Leading up to the event, commissioners approved the use of public roads for the race and streamlined the permitting process. In January 2024, the five commissioners reported accepting the tickets in an annual disclosure form, though in some instances incorrectly or belatedly.

New Jersey – Federal Judge Will Decide Whether Trump Ally Alina Habba Can Lead Prosecutions in New Jersey

Yahoo News – Ry Rivard, Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein and Matt Friedman (Politico) | Published: 8/1/2025

A federal judge will decide whether President Trump’s pick to lead federal prosecutors in New Jersey, Alina Habba, has the legal authority to continue operating as the state’s acting U.S. attorney. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brann indicated Friday that he would delve into the thorny question following a series of unusual maneuvers by Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to keep Habba in the role on a temporary basis. That prompted some criminal defendants to raise questions about Habba’s legitimacy.

New Mexico – Most Ethics Complaints Filed Against NM Lawmakers Resolved Quietly

Yahoo News – Dan Boyd (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/4/2025

The recent internal ethics investigation into Sen. Mimi Stewart marked the first time in years that a complaint against a New Mexico lawmaker led to a public hearing. But there has been no shortage of filed complaints. With the exception of the complaint against Stewart, all other allegations of misconduct filed against lawmakers in the last five years – there have been a total of 17 – were quietly resolved without any details being publicly released.

New York – NYC Campaign Finance Board Denies Mayor Eric Adams Millions in Matching Funds

MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 8/6/2025

The New York City Campaign Finance Board denied Mayor Eric Adams millions of dollars in matching funds for the tenth time and suggested in a strongly worded statement that Adams will not be getting a penny anytime soon. The board denied Adams the public funding for his general election bid on two grounds: his campaign has not submitted required paperwork, and the board has reason to believe the campaign violated the law.

New York – GOP Mayoral Hopeful Curtis Sliwa’s Group Bills Itself a Charity Despite Losing Tax-Exempt Status

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/6/2025

New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa’s crime prevention group, the Guardian Angels, is soliciting donations while portraying itself as a tax-exempt charity even though it was stripped of that status years ago amid tax issues and legal troubles involving the organization’s longtime treasurer. The Guardian Angels, which Sliwa founded in 1979 and still controls, has not filed a 990 Form with the IRS since 2019.

North Carolina – Lobbyist’s $6,800 Donation to Rep. Sarah Stevens’ Supreme Court Campaign Likely Violates State Law

Yahoo News – Ahmed Jallow (NC Newsline) | Published: 8/7/2025

A donation from registered lobbyist Harold Brubaker to Rep. Sarah Stevens’ campaign for North Carolina Supreme Court appears to violate a law that bars lobbyists from contributing to sitting legislators regardless of the office they are seeking. The $6,800 contribution matches the maximum allowed from an individual donor under current state limits.

Ohio – ‘He Was Not Supposed To’: Cleveland Councilman’s role in gift card giveaway draws attention from state auditors

MSN – Sean McDonnell (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/4/2025

State auditors are reviewing whether Cleveland City Councilperson Joe Jones breached a city contract when his office helped hand out $50,000 in taxpayer-funded gift cards, a role that was supposed to fall entirely to a nonprofit. Records suggest Jones was cautioned against participating in the giveaway. Jones denies ever receiving such a warning, and said only his staff handed out the cards, not him personally.

Ohio – Ohio Elections Commission Getting Affairs in Order Ahead of Jan. 1 Handoff

Yahoo News – Nick Evans (Ohio Capital Journal) | Published: 8/4/2025

The Ohio General Assembly tacked an expiration date on the state’s independent campaign finance watchdog as part of the latest state budget. On January 1, the Ohio Elections Commission’s responsibilities shift to a new office under the secretary of state’s umbrella. Beyond that date-certain transfer, much of what happens next is still up in the air. In the meantime, their work continues.

Oregon – Judge Overturns Campaign Finance Violations from Rene Gonzalez’s 2024 Run for Portland Mayor

MSN – Jamie Parfitt (KGW) | Published: 7/31/2025

A pair of penalties against Rene Gonzalez for campaign finance violations during his 2024 run for Portland mayor were overturned by a Circuit Court judge. While the judge’s determination does not concern the merits of the campaign violations, Gonzalez successfully argued the process under which he was penalized, which is written into the city charter’s section on campaign finance, did not afford him due process rights under the U.S. Constitution because he was not afforded a hearing.

Pennsylvania – We Finally Know Who Paid for Josh Shapiro’s Inauguration Celebrations (Kinda)

MSN – Stephen Caruso (Spotlight PA) | Published: 8/4/2025

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2023 inauguration and the ball that followed it cost more than $4 million, but the identity of the benefactors who paid the bill remained a secret. Now, through a first-of-its-kind analysis, Spotlight PA identified a portion of those donors, which include influential lobbying firms, unions, and corporations with interests before the commonwealth’s government.

Texas – The IRS Says Churches Can Now Endorse Candidates. That Could Give Texas Pastors More Power Than Ever.

MSN – Marissa Greene (Fort Worth Report) | Published: 8/4/2025

The IRS recently decided to allow religious leaders to endorse candidates from the pulpit. For decades, pastors have fought for the right to speak on political issues and actively endorse candidates in their capacity as religious leaders. Now, before a judge has weighed in on whether to allow the IRS policy change, some religious leaders are already calling on congregations to demand greater political involvement from their churches.

Texas – Texas Democrats Flee State in Effort to Block GOP’s House Map Overhaul

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/3/2025

With control of the U.S. House hanging in the balance in the midterm elections, Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled the state to prevent a Republican effort to redraw district boundaries. Democrats plan to stay away for two weeks to run out the clock on a special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott to draw a map that would give the GOP five more seats. While some states have adopted nonpartisan systems for drawing maps, Texas and many others have not, and partisans there have free rein to give themselves as much power as possible.

Utah – A Utah Progressive Group Mentioned a GOP Lawmaker in Its Fundraising. He Sent a Legal Threat.

MSN – Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake Tribune) | Published: 7/31/2025

On the homepage of its website, Alliance for a Better Utah lays out a one-sentence description of its purpose: “a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies.” But after a Republican lawmaker saw his name in the organization’s recent fundraising messages, he sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding Better Utah remove his “name, photograph, and likeness” from its content and issue a public retraction.

Washington – Seattle Prop 1 to Fund ‘Democracy Voucher’ Program Passing

Seattle Times – Daniel Beekman | Published: 8/5/2025

Seattle voters appear to have approved a 10-year, $45 million renewal of the city’s taxpayer-funded democracy vouchers. Proposition 1 would set the city on a course to continue an unusual campaign finance program that began with fanfare in 2017. The program mails four $25 vouchers to each voter, each city election cycle. Voters can sign the vouchers over to candidates, who convert them into cash to pay for things like yard signs and consultants.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Is Getting a New Electronic Campaign Finance System. Here’s What to Know About the New Website.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Anna Kleiber | Published: 8/6/2025

After 16 years, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission will be upgrading to a new website for its electronic Campaign Finance Information System. Candidates and other users will have about five months to learn how to use the new system before a report is due. The Ethics Commission will also do an online training seminar, which will be recorded and posted on its website.

Campaign Finance

New York: “NYC Campaign Finance Board Denies Mayor Eric Adams Millions in Matching Funds” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Is Getting a New Electronic Campaign Finance System. Here’s What to Know About the New Website.” by Anna Kleiber for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

Texas: “The IRS Says Churches Can Now Endorse Candidates. That Could Give Texas Pastors More Power Than Ever.” by Marissa Greene (Fort Worth Report) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Federal Judge Rebukes California Laws Targeting Misinformation” by Alan Riquelmy for Courthouse News Service

National: “Trump’s Tactics Are Bending the Criminal Justice System to His Personal Preferences” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Newly Released Records Linked to Hope Florida Reignite Intra-GOP Political Battle” by Arek Sarkissian (Politico) for MSN

Nebraska: “Rep. Mike Flood Met with Anger at Nebraska Town Hall” by Kadia Goba (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Kentucky: “An Inside Look into Frankfort Lobbying Events: Bourbon, breakfast & Jimmy John’s” by Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) for MSN

The city of Miami has recently attempted to change the date of elections from November 2025 to November 2026. The purpose of the change was to have the local election coincide with federal election and boost voter turnout. The change inadvertently allowed the mayor and county commissioners to have a 1-year extension to the current term. This has caused legal issues, and a mayoral candidate has sued the city stating the change was unconstitutional. Both the district court and the appeals court agreed the schedule change was unconstitutional. The city is currently exploring further appellate options. Additionally, this ruling could have further implications for other cities such as Coral Gables who have also made changes to election schedules.

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