National/Federal

Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Is Canceled by CBS and Will End in May 2026

MSN – Alicia Rancilio and Andrew Dalton (Associated Press) | Published: 7/18/2025

CBS is canceling “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” next May, shuttering a decades-old television institution in a changing media landscape and removing from air one of President Trump’s most prominent and persistent late-night critics. CBS said “Late Show” was canceled for financial reasons, not for content. But the timing – three days after Colbert criticized the settlement between Trump and Paramount Global, parent company of CBS, over a “60 Minutes” story – led two U.S. senators to publicly question the motives.

Trump Reshaped the Supreme Court. Now Emergency Appeals Are Helping Him Reshape the Government

MSN – Mark Sherman and Chris Megerian (Associated Press) | Published: 7/15/2025

Six months into his second term, President Trump has gotten almost everything he has wanted from the Supreme Court that he reshaped during his first. The legal victories are noteworthy on their own, but how the president is achieving them is remarkable. Administration lawyers are harnessing emergency appeals, which were used sparingly under previous presidencies, to fast-track cases to the Supreme Court, where decisions are often handed down with no explanation. The result is a series of green lights from the nation’s highest court without any clarity on how the law should be interpreted in the future.

For Sale: Trump is leveraging power of his office to reap profits for family businesses

MSN – Brian Slodysko and Will Weissert (Associated Press) | Published: 7/18/2025

From crypto coins to bibles, overseas development deals to an upcoming line of cellphones, Donald Trump’s family business has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars since the 2024 election, an unprecedented flood of often shadowy money from billionaires, foreign governments, and cryptocurrency tycoons with interests before the federal government. The sums amassed by the Trump Organization are far greater than those collected by the family during the president’s first term, when patronage of his hotels, resorts, and golf courses was de rigueur to curry favor.

Trump’s DOJ Has Fired Dozens of Prosecutors, Upending Decades-Old Norm

MSN – Patrick Marley, Jeremy Roebuck, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 7/19/2025

The Justice Department under the Trump administration has fired dozens of career prosecutors during the past six months, making the dismissal of federal attorneys. The terminations have alarmed staff members and observers who worry agency officials are engaged in a broad campaign to erode civil service protections, bolster the political interests of the president, and weaken the rule of law. Prosecutors are typically fired only when they do something improper or fail to perform their duties.

Trump Officials Accused of Defying 1 in 3 Judges Who Ruled Against Him

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2025

President Trump and his appointees have been accused of flouting courts in a third of the more than 160 lawsuits against the administration in which a judge has issued a substantive ruling, a Washington Post analysis found, suggesting widespread noncompliance with America’s legal system. Plaintiffs say Justice Department lawyers and the agencies they represent are snubbing rulings, providing false information, failing to turn over evidence, quietly working around court orders, and inventing pretexts to carry out actions that have been blocked.

Well-Timed or Just Lucky? Top Trump Officials’ Stock Sales Clustered Before Tariff News

MSN – Suhail Bhat and Ramon Padilla (USA Today) | Published: 7/22/2025

Several top Trump administration officials sold off stock market holdings in the days leading up to the president’s announcements of sweeping tariffs that sparked fears of a global trade war and rattled financial markets. Sales by top officials, including Cabinet members, their deputies, and senior White House officials were clustered in two 10-day periods leading up to President Trump’s major tariff announcements on February 13 and April 2. Of the stock and stock fund sales administration officials reported between January 20 and April 30, 90 percent fell within 10 days of the tariff announcements.

The Government Was Once a Steady Partner for Nonprofits. That’s Changing

MSN – Thalia Beatty (Associated Press) | Published: 7/22/2025

In his second term, President Trump froze, cut, or threatened to cut a huge range of social services programs from public safety to early childhood education to food assistance and services for refugee resettlement. Staffing cuts to federal agencies have also contributed to delays and uncertainty around future grant funds. Altogether, his policies are poised to upend decades of partnerships the federal government has built with nonprofits to help people in their communities. This vast and interconnected set of programs funded by taxpayers has been significantly dismantled in just months, nonprofit leaders, researchers, and funders say.

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Consumer Product Safety Regulators

MSN – Ann Marimow and Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2025

A divided Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump to remove the Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, allowing the administration to continue to seize control of the federal bureaucracy while litigation continues in the lower courts. As is common in rulings rendered on the emergency docket, the majority did not offer a rationale for its decision. The move received sharp objections from the court’s three liberal justices.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Unconstitutional

MSN – David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2025

A federal appeals court ruled President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional and upheld a nationwide ban on his administration from implementing the measure. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said Trump’s directive violates the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. The president is seeking to deny automatic citizenship to the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign visitors.

Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files

MSN – Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey, and Alex Lear (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 7/23/2025

When Justice Department officials reviewed what Attorney General Pam Bondi called a “truckload” of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein earlier this year, they discovered Donald Trump’s name appeared multiple times, according to senior administration officials. In May, Bondi and her deputy informed the president that his name was in the Epstein files, the officials said. Many other high-profile figures were also named, Trump was told. Being mentioned in the records is not a sign of wrongdoing.

Columbia to Pay More Than $200 Million in Deal with Trump Administration

MSN – Susan Svrluga and Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2025

Columbia University and the Trump administration have reached an agreement to resolve a months-long dispute over federal research funding that made the university a symbol of White House efforts to force cultural changes in higher education nationally. The deal requires Columbia to pay the federal government $200 million to settle claims related to discriminatory practices. It reinstates most of the $400 million in research grants that were frozen by the government.

K Street Rakes in Record Cash Thanks to Trump

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 7/23/2025

Top lobbying firms in Washington reported large increases in second quarter revenues, with record-breaking demand for help navigating the Trump administration’s stream of policy pronouncements and shaping the president’s “big, beautiful” tax-and-spending bill. Firms with strong ties to the White House have skyrocketed to the top of the pecking order of lobbying outfits on K Street, according to an analysis of the latest quarterly lobbying disclosures.

Trump Document Dumps Raise Questions of Distraction

MSN – Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) | Published: 7/24/2025

The Trump administration has moved to release tranches of documents from controversial past investigations amid increasing scrutiny into its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, prompting criticism that the White House is seeking a distraction. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents related to the investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, something President Trump raised again when he said former President Obama was guilty of treason in connection with the matter.

With His Suit Against Murdoch, Trump Signals: No one is safe

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2025

One day after the Wall Street Journal published a story alleging Donald Trump wrote a “bawdy” birthday letter to deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, Trump sued the newspaper, the two authors of the story, and a raft of corporate overseers including Rupert Murdoch, whose family trust controls the Journal’s parent company and that of Fox News. By suing the Wall Street Journal and Murdoch, Trump is lashing out at one of his most powerful media allies, a fellow billionaire who has been one of his most influential advisers outside the White House.

Trump’s Pick to Protect Federal Workers Shares a Disdain for Them

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Cleve Wootson Jr. (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2025

Paul Ingrassia is unlike any nominee ever put forward to lead the Office of Special Counsel and his confirmation prospects are increasingly uncertain. A 2021 law school graduate with no senior government experience, Ingrassia has mostly made himself known as a loyalist to President Trump who repeats scorched-earth rhetoric, expresses admiration for controversial figures, and shares disdain for the federal workforce he would be tasked with protecting.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – New Guidelines Will Require More In-House Lobbyists to Register with Commissioner’s Office: Bélanger

iPolitics – Marco Vigliotti | Published: 7/22/2025

Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger released new guidelines for the profession lowering the threshold to trigger reporting requirements for people lobbying directly on behalf of their employer. These in-house lobbyists will now have to register if that work takes up at least eight hours of their time over a four-week period, a four-fold decrease from the current rules. Bélanger said the change would “enhance transparency” by requiring more people lobbying the federal government to publicly disclose their work.

California – Is OC’s District Attorney Leaning on His Campaign Donors to Pay a Court Fine?

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 7/21/2025

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is personally responsible for $25,000 after a judge ordered him to pay restitution to a whistleblower he retaliated against. But Spitzer might have set up a new way to get the money – his campaign donors. The opening of the legal defense fund raised concerns across Orange County. “Opening it now seems to imply that he wants to raise money from donors to pay his court ordered fine,” said Jon Fleischman, former director of the California Republican Party.

Colorado – Democratic State Senator Who Resigned Amid Ethics Investigation Now Faces Felony Criminal Charge in Denver

KUNC – Jesse Paul (Colorado Capital News Alliance) | Published: 7/22/2025

Former Colorado Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, who resigned this year amid an ethics investigation into her treatment of legislative aides, was charged with attempting to influence a public servant, a felony offense. Court records show Jaquez Lewis’ alleged offense occurred before she resigned from the Legislature on February 18. She stepped down when the Senate Ethics Committee, which was investigating a complaint against her, announced Jaquez Lewis submitted at least one fabricated letter of support sent to the panel that purported to be from a former aide.

Connecticut – Audit: Elections watchdog more than a year late with some campaign reports

CT News Junkie – Viktoria Sundqvist | Published: 7/23/2025

An audit of the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) says the watchdog failed to complete several post-election campaign finance audits in a timely manner. The audit, which covers the fiscal years ending June 2022 and 2023, reviewed seven and eight candidate committee commission audits, respectively, and found the commission issued four of its final summary reports between 132 and 454 days late from the 2020 election cycle. The SEEC said it has limited resources to process the statutorily required audits without delay.

Florida – In Boon for House GOP, Florida Supreme Court Sides with DeSantis, Upholds Congressional Map

MSN – Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 7/17/2025

The state Supreme Court upheld Florida’s congressional map, delivering a win to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who pushed through the changes that helped Republicans flip and maintain the House majority. The ruling could be far-reaching; it suggests legislators can sidestep protections for minority voters adopted in 2010. But the legal battle may not end, as one of the groups involved in the litigation said the battle over the district is “far from over.”

Florida – With Charity Cuts Looming, Miami-Dade Steers $250,000 a Year to This New Foundation

MSN – Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/19/2025

In a year where Miami-Dade may slash tens of millions of dollars in nonprofit funding, one new charity with a sparse track record recently secured a $250,000 yearly revenue stream mandated by a county contract. The president of the charity receiving the payments is a top official in the city of Miami’s government.

Florida – Miami Can’t Delay Its Election by a Year, Judge Rules

WLRN – Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) | Published: 7/22/2025

Miami city commissioners violated the Florida Constitution when they voted to postpone this fall’s election to November 2026, a state judge ruled, saying that such a change required voter approval. The judge ruled in favor of Emilio González, a candidate for mayor. The city commission said the delay was meant to save money and improve turnout. Critics noted it would give elected city officials an extra year in office.

Illinois – ‘You Had the Power to Stop This:’ Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore sentenced to 2 years in prison in scheme to bribe Speaker Madigan

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/21/2025

Once a rising corporate star, former Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) Chief Executive Officer Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $750,000 for her role in an scheme to funnel more than $1.3 million and other perks to associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for help with the utility’s legislative agenda. U.S. District Court Judge Manish Shah acknowledged Pramaggiore’s transformative leadership at ComEd and her history of charitable works but said the evidence at trial showed she participated in a nearly decade-long scheme that undermined the public’s trust in government.

Illinois – Judge Hands 2 Years in Prison to Michael McClain, Lobbyist and Madigan Confidant at Center of ComEd Bribery Scandal

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/24/2025

Michael McClain, who long served as the right-hand man and confidant of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was sentenced to two years in prison following his conviction in a conspiracy to bribe Madigan in exchange for passing Commonwealth Edison’s (ComEd) legislative agenda. It was through his close relationship with Illinois’ most powerful politician, prosecutors say, that McClain was able to leverage knowledge of Madigan’s thinking to induce ComEd executives to lavish money on Madigan’s cronies and meet his myriad other demands.

Iowa – Curious Iowa: What restrictions are there for ‘wining and dining’ Iowa state officials?

Cedar Rapids Gazette – Tom Barton | Published: 7/21/2025

Trade associations, companies, chambers of commerce, and other groups spent roughly $450,500 combined this year on food, drinks, entertainment, and other expenses hosting public receptions attended by Iowa lawmakers and other state officials. Lawmakers attended approximately 100 receptions during the 2025 legislative session, according to lobbyist reports. Iowa law imposes stringent restrictions on the acceptance of gifts by public officials, employees, and candidates.

Kentucky – KY Ethics Commission Lawyers Ask Judge to Dismiss Rep. Grossberg’s Lawsuit

MSN – Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 7/23/2025

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit against it that was filed by state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, who is being investigated by the commission for alleged misconduct. The commission is following its statutory obligation to investigate the complaints filed last year against Grossberg, and as an elected representative, he does not have immunity from the outcome of that investigation, lawyers for the commission argued in their request for dismissal.

Kentucky – Public Will Be on the Outside as Kentucky Legislature Convenes in Temporary Quarters

Yahoo News – McKenna Horsley (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 7/21/2025

The Kentucky General Assembly plans to convene in temporary chambers for at least the next three years while the Capitol undergoes renovations. During those years, there will be no public galleries where citizens can watch as the House and Senate debate and vote on bills. No rotunda where advocates and protesters can gather for rallies, and less opportunity for citizens and lobbyists to personally interact with lawmakers in the halls. People will be able to watch the Legislature in session in real time from next door in the Capitol Annex via live streams of the proceedings.

Louisiana – When the Ethics Board Pushed Back Against Gov. Jeff Landry, He Changed the Law

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 7/21/2025

Earlier this year, the Louisiana Board of Ethics told Gov. Jeff Landry’s PAC to stop paying for the governor’s membership at the U.S. House of Representatives fitness center. But two months after receiving the letter, the PAC paid for the gym dues again. State lawmakers then approved legislation that allowed his PAC to cover the governor’s gym membership. It was one of five recent changes to anti-corruption laws that undo ethics board decisions which may have blocked Landry from getting what he wanted.

Minnesota – Sen. Nicole Mitchell to Resign by Aug. 4, Attorney Says

Yahoo News – Michelle Griffith (Minnesota Reformer) | Published: 7/21/2025

Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools, will resign from the Minnesota Senate by August 4. The unusual resignation announcement means Mitchell will continue to represent her constituents for up to two weeks as a convicted felon. It also means Democrats will lose their one-seat majority in the Senate until Gov. Tim Walz calls a special election to replace her.

Mississippi – Indicted Jackson Prosecutor’s Latest Campaign Finance Report Rife with Errors

Mississippi Today – Caleb Bedillion (The Marshall Project) and Anna Wolfe | Published: 7/18/2025

Tangled finances, thousands of dollars in personal loans, and a campaign contribution from a supposed investor group made up of undercover FBI informants were all contained in a long overdue campaign finance report from Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, who is fighting federal bribery charges. His recent campaign finance disclosure reflects a pair of transactions that correspond with key details in the government’s allegation that Owens took money from undercover informants to pay off a local official’s debt.

New Jersey – Judges’ Move to Oust Trump U.S. Attorney Pick Habba Triggers a Showdown

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/22/2025

A panel of New Jersey’s U.S. District Court judges opted not to appoint Alina Habba, President Trump’s former personal attorney, as the state’s top federal prosecutor on a permanent basis. The judges chose Desiree Leigh Grace, a career prosecutor, as her replacement. But within hours, Justice Department officials announced they fired Grace and reinstated Habba. The developments threw the leadership of the law enforcement agency into chaos and raised the prospect of another showdown between the administration and the federal judiciary.

New York – What Happened to the Federal Investigations into Mayor Adams’ Inner Circle?

Gothamist – Elizabeth Kim | Published: 7/23/2025

The criminal investigations of former senior members of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration appear to be on hold as the fallout from the dismissal of the mayor’s corruption charges continues. At least eight top Adams officials resigned after federal agents seized their phones. A judge tossed bribery and campaign finance charges against Adams at the request of the Department of Justice. Now, legal experts and attorneys are concerned those officials could also get a pass. Their growing alarm comes as the once-vaunted Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office is mired in dysfunction amid resignations and firings.

New York – New Eric Adams ‘Donors’ Say They Never Gave to His Reelection Campaign

MSN – Greg Smith and Haidee Chu (The City) | Published: 7/23/2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign in May once more accepted funds from individuals who appear to be straw donors and submitted them to the city’s public matching dollars program. The indictment filed against Adams last fall that was recently dismissed charged him with soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars of such contributions. To date, an Adams associate and a local businessperson have pleaded guilty to orchestrating straw donor schemes.

New York – Former Cuomo Aide Brittany Commisso Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $450,000

Yahoo News – Molly Crane-Newman (New York Daily News) | Published: 7/18/2025

New York state agreed to pay $450,000 to Brittany Commisso, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo who accused him of groping and subjecting her to persistent sexual harassment on the job at the governor’s office. The state settled a suit brought by former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett for the same amount in April in a case alleging similar claims. The agreement does not require Cuomo to admit to any wrongdoing, and Cuomo has repeatedly denied the accusations against him.

North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commissioners to Evaluate ‘Strained’ Relationship with Attorney General’s Office

North Dakota Monitor – Mary Steuer | Published: 7/16/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission is looking into whether strongly worded communications from the state Attorney General’s Office have negatively impacted commission staff. The decision follows a July 3 letter addressed to the commission from Attorney General Drew Wrigley that harshly criticized the commission’s recent investigation report on ethics violations by Rep. Jason Dockter.

Ohio – Ohio Aims to Reinstate Ban on Political Donations from Foreign Nationals

Courthouse News Service – Kevin Koeninger | Published: 7/23/2025

The threat of foreign influence in American elections is grave enough to allow states to ban political contributions from noncitizens, the state of Ohio argued an appeals court. Citing concerns about the “corrosive effects” of foreign money “pouring into campaign issues,” the state passed a law in 2024 that prohibited foreign nationals and those with green cards from making campaign contributions in any election. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson granted an injunction to prevent enforcement of the law against legal permanent residents.

Ohio – 5 Years After Ohio’s $60M Bribery Scandal, Critics Say More Could Be Done to Prevent a Repeat

MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 7/21/2025

Five years after a $60 million bribery scheme funded by FirstEnergy came to light in Ohio, expert observers say the resulting prosecutions, lawsuits, penalties, and legislation have not led to enough change and accountability to prevent politicians and corporate executives from cutting similar deals in the future. The scheme’s prospective $2 billion-plus price tag to consumers makes it the largest infrastructure scandal in U.S. history.

Pennsylvania – Big-Dollar Donors Are Helping Fund Fixes at the Governor’s Mansion. For Now, We Don’t Know Who They Are.

Spotlight PA – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 7/17/2025

In May, Pennsylvania’s five living former governors united to hold a fundraiser at the official residence just a few miles from the Capitol. The fundraiser, an invitation-only event, was for a cause few would quibble with – restoring or replacing items damaged in the attack just weeks earlier. The fire was set as Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family, and his friends were asleep inside, but all escaped unharmed. Yet the Shapiro administration, as well as officials with a nonprofit organization that is collecting the money, have not disclosed who attended the event or how much was raised.

Texas – Divorce, Adultery Allegations Against Paxton Jolt Senate Race in Texas

MSN – Patrick Svitek and Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2025

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s long record of political resilience in the face of scandal faces a new test after his wife filed for divorce and accused him of adultery, jolting a contentious primary for U.S. Senate. The race, seen as one of the biggest GOP primaries of the midterms, was already dramatic, with a longtime incumbent, John Cornyn, fighting for his political life. Now, Cornyn and his allies are bringing up the filing as they run against Paxton, and some Paxton backers are rethinking their support.

Texas – Texas Lawmakers Take Up Renewed Push to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

The Texan – Holly Hanson | Published: 7/23/2025

In response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s special legislative session call, Texas lawmakers will once again attempt to tackle the thorny issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying in hopes of curtailing the practice. Senate Bill 12 prohibits political subdivisions such as cities, counties, or traditional public school districts from hiring or contracting with registered lobbyists for the purpose of lobbying the state government.

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Audit: Elections watchdog more than a year late with some campaign reports” by Viktoria Sundqvist for CT News Junkie

Ohio: “Ohio Aims to Reinstate Ban on Political Donations from Foreign Nationals” by Kevin Koeninger for Courthouse News Service

Ethics

National: “Federal Appeals Court Rules Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Unconstitutional” by David Nakamura (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files” by Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey, and Alex Lear (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

New York: “What Happened to the Federal Investigations into Mayor Adams’ Inner Circle?” by Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist

Lobbying

Canada: “New Guidelines Will Require More In-House Lobbyists to Register with Commissioner’s Office: Bélanger” by Marco Vigliotti for iPolitics

National: “K Street Rakes in Record Cash Thanks to Trump” by Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for MSN

Texas: “Texas Lawmakers Take Up Renewed Push to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying” by Holly Hanson for The Texan

Elections

Florida: “Miami Can’t Delay Its Election by a Year, Judge Rules” by Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) for WLRN

Ethics

National: “Trump Officials Accused of Defying 1 in 3 Judges Who Ruled Against Him” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Well-Timed or Just Lucky? Top Trump Officials’ Stock Sales Clustered Before Tariff News” by Suhail Bhat and Ramon Padilla (USA Today) for MSN

National: “The Government Was Once a Steady Partner for Nonprofits. That’s Changing” by Thalia Beatty (Associated Press) for MSN

New Jersey: “Judges’ Move to Oust Trump U.S. Attorney Pick Habba Triggers a Showdown” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Kentucky: “Public Will Be on the Outside as Kentucky Legislature Convenes in Temporary Quarters” by McKenna Horsley (Kentucky Lantern) for Yahoo News

Minnesota: “Sen. Nicole Mitchell to Resign by Aug. 4, Attorney Says” by Michelle Griffith (Minnesota Reformer) for Yahoo News

Elections

Texas: “Divorce, Adultery Allegations Against Paxton Jolt Senate Race in Texas” by Patrick Svitek and Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump’s DOJ Has Fired Dozens of Prosecutors, Upending Decades-Old Norm” by Patrick Marley, Jeremy Roebuck, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “With Charity Cuts Looming, Miami-Dade Steers $250,000 a Year to This New Foundation” by Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) for MSN

Illinois: “‘You Had the Power to Stop This:’ Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore sentenced to 2 years in prison in scheme to bribe Speaker Madigan” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Louisiana: “When the Ethics Board Pushed Back Against Gov. Jeff Landry, He Changed the Law” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for MSN

National: “For Sale: Trump is leveraging power of his office to reap profits for family businesses” by Brian Slodysko and Will Weissert (Associated Press) for MSN

Ohio: “5 Years After Ohio’s $60M Bribery Scandal, Critics Say More Could Be Done to Prevent a Repeat” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for MSN

Lobbying

Iowa: “Curious Iowa: What restrictions are there for ‘wining and dining’ Iowa state officials?” by Tom Barton for Cedar Rapids Gazette

Campaign Finance

Georgia: “A Georgia Republican Governor Candidate Questions Legality of Rival’s $10M Campaign Loan” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Mississippi: “Indicted Jackson Prosecutor’s Latest Campaign Finance Report Rife with Errors” by Caleb Bedillion (The Marshall Project) and Anna Wolfe for Mississippi Today

Ethics

National: “Trump Reshaped the Supreme Court. Now Emergency Appeals Are Helping Him Reshape the Government” by Mark Sherman and Chris Megerian (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Trump Survived Many Scandals, but the Epstein Story Poses a New Test” by Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Is Canceled by CBS and Will End in May 2026” by Alicia Rancilio and Andrew Dalton (Associated Press) for MSN

North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commissioners to Evaluate ‘Strained’ Relationship with Attorney General’s Office” by Mary Steuer for North Dakota Monitor

Pennsylvania: “Big-Dollar Donors Are Helping Fund Fixes at the Governor’s Mansion. For Now, We Don’t Know Who They Are.” by Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA

Redistricting

Florida: “In Boon for House GOP, Florida Supreme Court Sides with DeSantis, Upholds Congressional Map” by Gary Fineout (Politico) for MSN

National/Federal

Texts, Emails Bolster Whistleblower Account of DOJ Defying Court Order

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2025

A fired Justice Department employee has given Congress a cache of internal communications supporting his claim that a top Trump appointee suggested prosecutors defy a judge’s order and that other officials directed attorneys to not be forthcoming in court. The messages provided by attorney Erez Reuveni show him seeking assurances from Justice Department and Homeland Security officials that they would abide by a judge’s order to halt the in-progress deportation of roughly 130 Venezuelans to El Salvador under an obscure wartime law.

Bondi Fires 20 Justice Dept. Employees Involved in Trump Prosecutions

MSN – Perry Stein and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 7/12/2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi fired multiple Justice Department employees who were involved in two federal prosecutions of President Trump during the Biden administration. In total, 20 people were fired from the department, including two prosecutors who worked under former special counsel Jack Smith. The rest of the dismissed employees were support staff and U.S. marshals who assisted those prosecutors.

Epstein Outcry Prompts Warning to Trump from MAGA Leaders: ‘A huge risk’

MSN – Natalie Allison (Washington Post) | Published: 7/13/2025

At a gathering of some of President Trump’s most devout supporters – young conservatives spending a weekend strategizing on how to further the MAGA movement – a cloud hung over the convention center. Attendees of Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit erupted in boos over the administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased child predator. The concerns raised at the conference followed days of conservative foment, fueling anxiety among Trump allies that conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein, promoted by Trump and administration officials before they took office, will continue to haunt them.

Vested Interests. Influence Muscle. At RFK Jr.’s HHS, It’s Not Pharma. It’s Wellness.

MSN – Stephanie Armour (KFF Health News) | Published: 7/15/2025

While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lambastes federal agencies he says are overly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, he and some other figures of the Make America Healthy Again movement have their own financial ties to a vast and largely unregulated $6.3 trillion global wellness industry they also support and promote. Kennedy and four advisers, three of whom have been tapped for official government roles, earned at least $3.2 million in fees and salaries from their work opposing the drug industry and promoting wellness in 2022 and 2023, according to a KFF Health News review.

DOJ Hits States with Broad Requests for Voter Rolls, Election Data

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

The Trump administration’s recent efforts to gather data on voters and inspect voting equipment have rattled state and local election officials from both parties who have spent years contending with threats, harassment, and litigation. Under the Constitution, states are responsible for running elections, and the federal government plays a limited role that must be spelled out by Congress. Election officials fear the administration could try to build a national file that includes personal information about voters or impose rules that would boot eligible voters from the rolls and make it harder to cast ballots.

NIH Official Fired Amid Probe of Contract Used to Potentially Hire Spouse, Officials Say

MSN – Carolyn Johnson, Hannah Natanson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 7/15/2025

A senior National Institutes of Health (NIH) leader was fired amid an investigation into a contract on autism and other topics that could have benefited his spouse. A $3.3 million NIH contract to Argo Chasing named Trish Duffy Schnabel, the wife of NIH’s chief operating officer, on its list of staff. The award supports work on several matters including autism, a topic that is a priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. NIH’s chief operating officer, Eric Schnabel, was escorted out of the building just three months into his new job.

Critics of Trump’s Presidential Library Fundraising Say ‘There Are No Rules’

MSN – Madeleine May (CBS News) | Published: 7/16/2025

President Trump’s efforts to direct millions of dollars to his future presidential library has drawn fresh attention to a lack of visibility into the identities or potential interests of the donors who are funding it, a longstanding concern facing past presidents from both parties. Two Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would regulate fundraising for presidential libraries.

Supreme Court Justice Pauses Ruling Weakening Voting Rights Act

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh paused a federal appeals court ruling that bars individuals in some states from filing lawsuits claiming discrimination based on the landmark Voting Rights Act. The administrative stay will allow the Supreme Court more time to consider whether to take up an appeal by Native American tribes in North Dakota who claim the ruling endangers a powerful tool to ensure equitable voting laws.

DOJ Fires Maurene Comey, Prosecutor Involved in Epstein, Diddy Cases

MSN – Perry Stein, Shayna Jacobs, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, who worked on the criminal cases of Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, was fired. Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, was also a prosecutor in the recent trial of Sean Combs, the entertainer known as Diddy. The notice informing the younger Comey of her termination did not provide a reason, citing the broad powers afforded to the president in the Constitution.

Trump Accuses Sen. Adam Schiff of Mortgage Fraud in New Attack on Critic

MSN – Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

President Trump accused U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud, and a senior administration official said a criminal case had been referred to the Justice Department, in a sharp escalation of the White House’s attacks on vocal Trump critics. Trump said Fannie Mae’s financial crimes division found Schiff had a “sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud,” which the president claimed, without providing specifics, had involved misstating which home Schiff used as a primary residence, helping him secure a cheaper mortgage.

Over 1 in 5 High-Level Trump Picks Held Crypto, Post Analysis Finds

MSN – Arfa Momin, Clara Ence Morse, and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 7/17/2025

The Washington Post identified nearly 70 nominees and officials of the Trump administration who held cryptocurrency or have invested in crypto or blockchain companies. The appointment of multiple officials with crypto holdings comes at a time when the administration has taken a hands-off approach to regulation of digital currencies. The administration has also backed policies supported by the crypto industry, including legislation in Congress.

IRS Weakens Johnson Amendment – Nonprofits Push Back

Nonprofit Quarterly – Isaiah Thompson | Published: 7/15/2025

The IRS stated in a court document recently that churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status, an announcement that would seem to overturn decades of established law firmly prohibiting all nonprofit organizations, including churches, from directly engaging in partisan politics. Nonprofit sector leaders warn that the blurring of the longstanding line separating nonprofits from politics could erode decades of public trust in charitable organizations, allow even more “dark money” to flow into politics via nonprofits, and potentially reshape American politics.

Bondi Ousts Justice Department’s Top Ethics Official

Yahoo News – Scott MacFarlane (CBS News) | Published: 7/15/2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi ousted the senior ethics attorney at the Justice Department who advised her and other senior officials on employee ethics, the latest firing that has come amid an ongoing purge of department employees. Joseph Tirrell wrote on LinkedIn that in his role as the director of the Departmental Ethics Office, he was responsible for advising Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on employee ethics and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the department’s ethics program.

From the States and Municipalities

California – OpenAI Accuses Nonprofit of Musk Ties, Lobbying Violations, in California Complaint

MSN – Chase DiFeliciantonio and Christine Mui (Politico) | Published: 7/10/2025

OpenAI is asking the California Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate a nonprofit that challenged its multi-billion-dollar business plans, alleging violations of state lobbying laws and again raising questions about the group’s connections to its rival, Elon Musk. The complaint accuses the Coalition for AI Nonprofit Integrity of likely fronting a fake leader and failing to report lobbying payments related to a state bill that would have potentially prevented the ChatGPT maker from converting to a for-profit entity.

California – Federal Judge Orders LAPD to Stop Shooting Journalists with Rubber Bullets at Protests

MSN – Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/11/2025

A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks Los Angeles police officers from using rubber projectiles and other so-called less-lethal munitions against reporters covering protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. U.S. District Court Judge Hernán Vera said a coalition of press rights organizations successfully argued that a court injunction was necessary to protect journalists and others exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

California – Federal Judge Halts Indiscriminate Immigration Stops in Los Angeles and Beyond

MSN – Brittny Mejia and Rachel Uranga (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/11/2025

A federal judge found the Department of Homeland Security has been making stops and arrests in Los Angeles immigration raids without probable cause and ordered the department to stop detaining individuals based solely on race, spoken language, or occupation. Once someone was in custody, the complaint argues, their constitutional rights were further violated by being held in “deplorable” conditions without access to a lawyer, or regular food and water.

California – S.F. Planning Commissioner Who Voted on Former Employer’s Projects Vows to Recuse Herself

MSN – Tom Li (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 7/15/2025

The vice president of the San Francisco Planning Commission said she will recuse herself from future discussions of projects involving her former employer, an architecture firm that paid her at least $10,000 a year since 2012. Planning Commissioner Kathrin Moore said the time she cast votes on projects in which Skidmore, Owings & Merrill played a role, she believed she was allowed by city rules to do so.

Connecticut – Elections Commission Closes 21 ‘Campaign-in-a-Box’ Investigations

Connecticut Inside Investigator – Marc Fitch | Published: 7/15/2025

The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) voted to dismiss complaints against twenty-one campaigns for state House and Senate candidates over “campaign-in-a-box” concerns raised by auditors, but SEEC officials indicate they will be updating regulations to address the issue in future elections. “Campaign-in-a-box” is a term used to describe when a campaign committee will turn over most or all their taxpayer-funded citizen election program grant money to a consultant who then takes care of most campaign spending.

District of Columbia – D.C. Ward 8 Voters Return Indicted Trayon White to Office After Expulsion

MSN – Meagan Flynn, Jenny Gathright, and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) | Published: 7/15/2025

Trayon White reclaimed his seat on the District of Columbia Council in a special election, five months after he was expelled over his pending federal bribery case. White stands accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his influence to steer contracts. He retained a decade’s worth of name recognition and close relationships with many in his ward, who have long been distrustful of police and government, believing White was unfairly arrested or deserved another chance. His trial is scheduled for January and could result in his removal from office if convicted.

Florida – Ron Book Victorious in Ethics Dispute Over Alleged Gift Violation

Florida Today – Peter Schorsch | Published: 7/16/2025

Ron Book, one of the most influential lobbyists in Florida, won a lawsuit filed against Palm Beach County’s Ethics Commission after it claimed he violated a local gift ban. A panel of judges found the Ethics Commission acted without legal authority in citing Book for providing a gift in excess of the allowable limit of $100 to Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter.

Florida – Leon Commission Forgoes Bid Process, Breaks Up with Longtime Lobbyists for Southern Group

Yahoo News – Arianna Otero (Tallahassee Democrat) | Published: 7/11/2025

Leon County commissioners voted to abruptly break up with their longtime state and federal lobbying partners, Squire Patton Boggs and Capitol Alliance Group, in exchange for one of Florida’s top lobbying firms, The Southern Group. At their 2025 State and Federal Legislative Priorities Workshop, county staff provided commissioners with options for additional lobbying services focusing primarily on appropriations, working to secure money for county projects and initiatives. In January, the county entered into a contract with the Southern Group for $40,000.

Illinois – Former ComEd Lobbyist John Hooker Gets 18 Months in Prison for Role in Madigan Bribery Scheme

WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 7/14/2025

John Hooker, one of the four former Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) officials convicted of conspiring to bribe ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500,000. Hooker spent decades at ComEd, including serving as the company’s executive vice president of legislative and external affairs. He then worked as an external lobbyist for the utility, a role through which prosecutors said he remained “directly involved in ComEd’s efforts to advance its legislative agenda in Springfield.”

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson, Inspector General Reach Compromise on Ethics Reform

Yahoo News – Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/14/2025

A long fight by ethics advocates to restrict the powers of City Hall’s mayor-controlled top attorney has ended with a compromise both sides said they support. The city council’s Ethics Committee advanced an ordinance that restricts when Chicago’s Law Department can attend investigative interviews and lays out when city attorneys can claim attorney-client privilege to avoid sharing records sought by the inspector general.

Illinois – Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan Asks to Remain Free on Bond Pending Appeal

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/15/2025

Attorneys for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan formally asked that he remain free on bond pending appeal of his conviction on corruption charges, arguing he is not a flight risk and there are complex legal issues which, if resolved in his favor, will require a new trial. Much of the uncertainty stems from a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that substantially reined in prosecutions under a federal bribery law known as 666, its number in the federal code.

Maine – Another Voter-Backed Maine Law Regulating Campaign Finance Halted, but the Case Is Far from Over

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/16/2025

A federal judge blocked the implementation of a law Maine voters approved in 2024 limiting the amount of money that can be donated to super PACs. The law set a $5,000 limit on contributions to PACs that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates. It also requires the disclosure of all donors who contribute toward independent expenditures, regardless of amount. Plaintiffs in the case placed the issue on the ballot with the goal of eventually bringing the question of the legality of such limits to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maine – Maine Legislature Opts for Status Quo on Campaign Finance Regulations

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/14/2025

The Maine Legislature largely opted to maintain the status quo regarding campaign finance regulations this year, rejecting attempts to expand clean elections, require more transparency into who is spending in elections, and ban direct corporate contributions to candidates. The most common reasons cited by lawmakers, who voted down many of these bills in committee before the proposals even reached the chambers, were the tight budget year, and the plans did not get to the root causes of money in politics.

Maine – First Circuit Rules Maine Ban on Foreign Government Election Spending Likely Unconstitutional

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/14/2025

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled a law passed by Maine voters in 2023 prohibiting foreign government spending in elections is likely unconstitutional. The decision, which affirmed a District Court’s temporary stay on the state from enforcing the law, is not the final word, as it will next return to the lower court. The law prevents foreign government-influenced entities, defined as companies with five percent or more foreign government ownership, from donating to state and local ballot measures.

Michigan – After Benson Violation, GOP Eyes Change to Michigan Campaign Finance Law

Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 7/15/2025

Months after an investigation found Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson accidentally violated a state campaign finance law but could not be punished for it, Michigan Republicans are pushing to expand the attorney general’s powers of prosecution. Benson, who is running as a 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, unknowingly violated state law when she held a campaign press conference in a state building. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued Benson a warning but said because of “legislative oversight,” state law would not have allowed the attorney general to enforce additional penalties against the secretary of state.

Missouri – After Scathing Report, Missouri Governor Fills Vacancies on Ethics Watchdog

MSN – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 7/11/2025

The Missouri Ethics Commission will now have enough members to investigate complaints of ethical misconduct after Gov. Mike Kehoe filled two vacancies. The appointments from Kehoe came just days after a scathing report became public criticizing the fact that the commission did not have enough members to conduct investigations, issue fines, or hold meetings.

New York – Leader of Pro-Eric Adams Super PAC Banking on Crypto Cash

MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 7/14/2025

A leader of the super PAC supporting New York City Mayor Eric Adams hopes to raise upwards of $10 million from the cryptocurrency community and alarmed government ethics groups in the process. In May, Eric Lerner, president of the Empower NYC super PAC, attended the same Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas where Adams spoke. The decision by Lerner to speak about the PAC’s work at the same conference that the mayor, in his official capacity, delivered a crypto-focused address on city policy has stoked discomfort inside ethics organizations.

New York – Cuomo Digs in to Take on Mamdani Again in NYC Mayoral Race

MSN – Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) | Published: 7/14/2025

Andrew Cuomo said he plans to remain in the race for New York City mayor, brushing off calls to step aside after his shocking loss to Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary. In the immediate aftermath of the June primary, in which Cuomo lost to the 33-year-old democratic socialist by 12 points, speculation swirled that Cuomo would ultimately stop campaigning for the general election. But people familiar with Cuomo’s thinking said he believes he is a more viable candidate to challenge Mamdani in November than incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.

New York – Mayor Adams Again Denied Matching Funds as Campaign Finance Board Shifts Tactics

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 7/15/2025

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board again denied Mayor Eric Adams public matching funds for his reelection effort, but the panel switched up the reason for depriving him of the cash after a key judicial ruling. Since December 2024, the board has withheld more than $3 million in matching funds for Adams’ campaign, in large part due to his federal indictment, which accused him of taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors.

North Dakota – Governor Questions Scope of Ethics Commission Authority

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 7/14/2025

Gov. Kelly Armstrong expressed concerns that a recent North Dakota Ethics Commission advisory opinion effectively created a new law without input from the Legislature. The opinion addressed whether it is unethical for a public official or someone running for office to use campaign money to pay for childcare or security services. Armstrong’s remarks came after his public testimony on the Ethics Commission’s proposed travel disclosure rules.

Oklahoma – Ethics Commission Votes on Cases Involving Gamefowl Commission, Rep. Ajay Pittman, Shelley Zumwalt

NonDoc – Bennett Brinkman | Published: 7/10/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to open another formal investigation into state Rep. Ajay Pittman. The commission also voted to make more information public on the first case against her, which was approved for litigation in Oklahoma County District Court. In addition, commissioners revealed the agency is investigating the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission, a nonprofit organization that advocates for easing laws related to cockfighting. They also voted to execute a settlement agreement with former Employment Security Commission Chief Executive Officer Shelley Zumwalt.

Oregon – An Oregon Lawmaker Pushed to Fix His Road with Wildfire Recovery Money. He Says It’s His Job

MSN – Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/13/2025

A powerful Oregon lawmaker will see the roads in his subdivision resurfaced using federal wildfire recovery money after he wielded his position and access as a legislator to press state housing leaders to clear hurdles raised by lower-level employees who repeatedly questioned whether the project qualified for funding. Rep. David Gomberg regularly contacted state housing leaders from his legislative email account about a $760,000 grant application and spoke directly with them in his capacity as a lawmaker about that project and others, records show.

Oregon – Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves

MSN – Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/15/2025

The Oregon Department of Justice says officials in Morrow County bought a fiber-optic business from a local nonprofit at a lowball price, improperly capitalizing on Amazon’s booming data center business in the small community and generating a windfall for themselves. A civil complaint accuses eight people, including four former officials in Morrow County and state Rep. Greg Smith, of exploiting a nonprofit called Inland Development Corp., which was founded at the beginning of the century to provide internet access to rural schools, hospitals, and government offices.

Oregon – Former Information Officer Implicated in Latest Ethics Ruling for Oregon Bourbon Scandal

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Shaanth Nanguneri | Published: 7/16/2025

A former high-ranking official in the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission used his status and inside knowledge to improperly acquire bottles of highly sought-after liquor, the Government Ethics Commission concluded. In recent weeks, the commission has been finalizing investigations into six former top officials for using their positions to obtain rare, expensive bottles of liquor that normal Oregonians can usually only access through a lottery. The latest case involves Boba Subasic, the commission’s former chief information officer.

Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Watchdog Rejects Settlement Offer on Lawmaker Complaint

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 7/16/2025

Tennessee’s campaign finance watchdog is balking at a PAC’s offer to pay a $2,500 settlement in connection with illicit attack ads against a 2024 Republican House candidate. Tom Lawless, chairperson of the Registry of Election Finance, questioned the proposal at a recent board meeting and said the offer is not high enough. He added that political professionals know the state’s rules for running campaigns yet try to skirt them and then get away with paying a small penalty.

Texas – How Republicans’ Texas Gerrymandering Plan Could Backfire and Help Dems

MSN – Nicholas Wu, Andrew Howard, and Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 7/10/2025

Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Legislature to consider congressional redistricting during a special session set to begin July 21, citing the Trump administration’s concerns. If the Legislature, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, redraws map lines ahead of next year’s midterm elections, it could bolster the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House. But some Texas Republicans have voiced concerns that the plan could backfire and endanger incumbent conservatives.

Texas – Here’s the Donor Behind the Mysterious Trust That Gave Greg Abbott $1M

MSN – Benjamin Wermund (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 7/16/2025

Joe Gebbia, an Austin billionaire, Airbnb co-founder, and close friend of Elon Musk, is behind a mysterious $1 million donation to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor’s campaign reported the gift from Peachtree Trust, one of four million-dollar donations Abbott received in June, in a new filing. But the campaign did not include any information on who is involved in the trust, which experts said could be a violation of campaign finance rules.

Campaign Finance

National: “Critics of Trump’s Presidential Library Fundraising Say ‘There Are No Rules'” by Madeleine May (CBS News) for MSN

Maine: “Another Voter-Backed Maine Law Regulating Campaign Finance Halted, but the Case Is Far from Over” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

New York: “Mayor Adams Again Denied Matching Funds as Campaign Finance Board Shifts Tactics” by Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Watchdog Rejects Settlement Offer on Lawmaker Complaint” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “DOJ Hits States with Broad Requests for Voter Rolls, Election Data” by Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “NIH Official Fired Amid Probe of Contract Used to Potentially Hire Spouse, Officials Say” by Carolyn Johnson, Hannah Natanson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Ron Book Victorious in Ethics Dispute Over Alleged Gift Violation” by Peter Schorsch for Florida Today

Oregon: “Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves” by Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Elections Commission Closes 21 ‘Campaign-in-a-Box’ Investigations” by Marc Fitch for Connecticut Inside Investigator

Michigan: “After Benson Violation, GOP Eyes Change to Michigan Campaign Finance Law” by Jordyn Hermani for Bridge Michigan

Elections

Washington DC: “D.C. Ward 8 Voters Return Indicted Trayon White to Office After Expulsion” by Meagan Flynn, Jenny Gathright, and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “IRS Weakens Johnson Amendment – Nonprofits Push Back” by Isaiah Thompson for Nonprofit Quarterly

Ethics

National: “Vested Interests. Influence Muscle. At RFK Jr.’s HHS, It’s Not Pharma. It’s Wellness.” by Stephanie Armour (KFF Health News) for MSN

National: “Bondi Ousts Justice Department’s Top Ethics Official” by Scott MacFarlane (CBS News) for Yahoo News

Illinois: “Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan Asks to Remain Free on Bond Pending Appeal” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

North Dakota: “Governor Questions Scope of Ethics Commission Authority” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Maine Legislature Opts for Status Quo on Campaign Finance Regulations” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

Maine: “First Circuit Rules Maine Ban on Foreign Government Election Spending Likely Unconstitutional” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

New York: “Leader of Pro-Eric Adams Super PAC Banking on Crypto Cash” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN

Elections

New York: “Cuomo Digs in to Take on Mamdani Again in NYC Mayoral Race” by Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Federal Judge Orders LAPD to Stop Shooting Journalists with Rubber Bullets at Protests” by Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

California: “Federal Judge Halts Indiscriminate Immigration Stops in Los Angeles and Beyond” by Brittny Mejia and Rachel Uranga (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “Epstein Outcry Prompts Warning to Trump from MAGA Leaders: ‘A huge risk'” by Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Former ComEd Lobbyist John Hooker Gets 18 Months in Prison for Role in Madigan Bribery Scheme” by Matt Masterson for WTTW

Campaign Finance

New York: “Mayor Adams’ Lawsuit Over $3.4M Campaign Funds Withheld Tossed — but Here’s Why It Could Help His Re-Election Bid” by Craig McCarthy (New York Post) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Texts, Emails Bolster Whistleblower Account of DOJ Defying Court Order” by Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Bondi Fires 20 Justice Dept. Employees Involved in Trump Prosecutions” by Perry Stein and Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “After Scathing Report, Missouri Governor Fills Vacancies on Ethics Watchdog” by Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Ethics Commission Votes on Cases Involving Gamefowl Commission, Rep. Ajay Pittman, Shelley Zumwalt” by Bennett Brinkman for NonDoc

Oregon: “An Oregon Lawmaker Pushed to Fix His Road with Wildfire Recovery Money. He Says It’s His Job” by Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “OpenAI Accuses Nonprofit of Musk Ties, Lobbying Violations, in California Complaint” by Chase DiFeliciantonio and Christine Mui (Politico) for MSN

Redistricting

Texas: “How Republicans’ Texas Gerrymandering Plan Could Backfire and Help Dems” by Nicholas Wu, Andrew Howard, and Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN

National/Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Launch Mass Layoff and Restructuring Plans

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

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

California Awaits Disaster Relief as GOP Offers Full Support of Texas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IRS Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit

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

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

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

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “Portland’s Campaign Finance Program Met Expectations in Unusual 2024 Election, Report Finds” by Alex Zielinski for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ethics

National: “Trump Appointees Have Ties to Companies That Stand to Benefit from Privatizing Weather Forecasts” by Michael Biesecker and Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Gabbard’s Team Has Sought Spy Agency Data to Enforce Trump’s Agenda” by Ellen Nakashima, Warren Strobel, and Aaron Schaffer (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Ex-Ald. Carrie Austin Too Sick to Stand Trial on Corruption Charges, Federal Judge Rules” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

National: “X CEO Linda Yaccarino Resigns After Two Years at the Helm of Elon Musk’s Social Media Platform” by Matt O’Brien (Associated Press) for MSN

Nevada: “LVCVA Fires Executive, Alleging Conflict of Interest, Appoints New Chief Sports Officer” by Mick Akers (Las Vegas Review-Journal) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Rhode Island: “How an Amendment, a Lobbyist and a Phone Call Led to Big Drama Over a New Self-Storage Law” by Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) for USA Today

Lobbying

Oregon: “Powerful Oregon Union May Have Skirted Lobbying Laws, Republican Lawmakers Allege” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Campaign Finance

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

Elections

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

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

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

Ethics

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

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

National: “ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform” by Fredreka Schouten (CNN) for MSN

New York: “NY Public Campaign Program Fuels Spending for Political Consultants” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union

Ethics

National: “The Supreme Court and Congress Cede Powers to Trump and the Presidency” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Administration’s Push to Deport Student Activists Goes on Trial” by Joanna Slater and Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban” by Charlie Savage (New York Times) for MSN

Idaho: “Idaho Lawmaker Worked to Legalize This Drug. He Was Among the First to Sell It” by Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) for MSN

Louisiana: “Longest Serving Louisiana Ethics Board Member Says Lawmakers Want the Board Dismantled” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News