National/Federal

Paul Weiss Chair Says Deal with Trump Adheres to Firm’s Principles

DNyuz – Matthew Goldstein, Jessica Silver-Greenbergm and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 3/21/2025

The chairperson of Paul Weiss sought to reassure employees at the giant law firm that the deal it reached with President Trump was consistent with principles the firm has long stood by. Brad Karp sent a firm-wide email, detailing the agreement he had reached with Trump, which allowed the firm to escape an executive order that could have cost it significant business. Despite Karp’s assurances, the deal caused concern among the broader legal community that large law firms were capitulating to Trump’s demands instead of fighting them in court.

Federal Judiciary Creates New Task Force with Threats on the Rise

DNyuz – Abbie Van Sickle and Mattathias Schwartz (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

A task force of federal judges will consider how to respond to “current risks” for the judiciary, following a spate of threats against judges who have ruled against the Trump administration. The formation of the task force is another sign the judicial branch is taking seriously an increasingly hostile and politicized climate.

Justice Dept. Tries to Intervene on Trump’s Behalf in Jan. 6 Lawsuits

DNyuz – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 3/20/2025

The Justice Department made an unusual effort to short-circuit a series of civil lawsuits seeking to hold President Trump accountable for his supporters’ attack on the Capitol. Department lawyers argued in court papers the cases that Trump was acting in his official capacity as president on January 6 and so the federal government itself should take his place as the defendant. That move, if successful, could protect Trump from having to face judgment for his role in the attack and from having to pay financial damages if he were found liable.

Lutnick Urges Fox News Viewers to Buy Tesla Stock, Raising Ethics Questions

MSN – Justine McDaniel and Sabina Rodriguez (Washington Post) | Published: 3/20/2025

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged Fox News viewers to buy Tesla stock, an apparent violation of federal ethics rules that prohibit officials from endorsing products or businesses. His promotion of Tesla was the latest move by a Trump administration official to bolster support for Elon Musk’s car company as it becomes a target for voters upset about the sweeping cuts Musk is leading across the federal government through the U.S. DOGE Service.

K Street Crashes Into ‘Nearly Un-Lobbyable’ Elon Musk

MSN – Sophia Call and Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 3/20/2025

Washington’s lobbying class is searching for an effective approach to an unprecedented challenge: how do you influence a mercurial outsider like Elon Musk who has immense but unofficial power and is the world’s richest person. But solving for Musk could pay huge dividends. If K Street can figure out how to lobby him, they can capitalize off the anxiety pervading Washington that drives companies and industries to sign six-figure retainers.

Health Benefits Company Co-Founded by Dr. Oz Could Be a Conflict of Interest

MSN – Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2025

Mehmet Oz, the nominee to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), co-founded health benefits company ZorroRX with his son last year. ZorroRX and similar companies promise to make hospitals money and save employers cash by connecting patients to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. As head of CMS, Oz would lead an agency that could directly influence how much money hospitals, and in turn companies like ZorroRX, make from the federal system.

‘This Is Not Your Grandmother’s Easter Egg Roll’: White House seeks corporate sponsorships for Easter event

MSN – Betsy Kline (CNN) | Published: 3/23/2025

The White House, through an outside event production company called Harbinger, is soliciting corporate sponsors for this year’s Easter Egg Roll, which is prompting major concerns from ethics experts and shock from former White House officials from both parties. The solicitation for sponsorships marks an unprecedented offering of corporate branding opportunities on White House grounds running counter to long-established regulations prohibiting the use of public office for private gain.

Trump’s Washington Runs on Secret Chat App Signal

MSN – Shira Ovide, Danielle Abril, and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 3/25/2025

Two months into the Trump administration, there is a sweeping shift underway in Washington as federal workers, and some high-level administration officials, migrate their correspondence to the messaging app Signal in a zeal for secrecy. Adopting Signal and other surveillance-dodging tactics of spies and billionaires comes at the potential loss of a real-time history of the Trump administration. The Atlantic magazine’s top editor said he was accidently added to a signal group in which U.S. officials planned a recent military attack in Yemen.

Trump’s Crackdown on Top Law Firms Spreads to Congress

MSN – Dasha Burns, Caitlin Oprysko, and Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 3/24/2025

An email circulated by a Republican Senate staffer to GOP Senate offices instructs them to pay heed to the lobbying clients of Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie, two law firms that President Trump has singled out in his campaign to crack down on those that oppose his policies. A person familiar with the email said the goal was to signal “that maybe Senate Republican staffers should consider whether they should be helpful to these individuals [that hire Covington and Perkins Coie], given their affiliation with firms deemed to be anti-Trump.”

For Many, Proving U.S. Citizenship to Vote Could Be Costly and Difficult

MSN – Anumita Kaur and Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/26/2025

Millions of Americans could be prevented from voting after President Trump signed an executive order requiring people to provide documents that prove they are citizens when they register to vote. High costs, bureaucratic delays, and transportation issues are among myriad hurdles preventing many Americans from acquiring these forms of identification, which means Trump’s new mandate will make it harder for citizens to reach the ballot box, experts said.

Masked Agents Whisk Away Tufts Student from Sidewalk, Video Shows

MSN – Niha Masih, Frances Vinall, and Julie Yoon (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2025

As Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk made her way to an interfaith center to break the Ramadan, plainclothes agents, some masked, descended on her. Within about a minute, the agents whisked her away in handcuffs. Ozturk’s lawyer said the agent belonged to the Department of Homeland Security. Ozturk is a Fulbright scholar on an F-1 student visa, her lawyer said. President Trump promised to deport international students he alleges are engaging in “pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American” campus protests over Israel’s war in Gaza.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Why Banning Huawei from the EU Institutions Is Harder Than It Seems

Euractiv – Anupriya Datta and Nicoletta Ionta | Published: 3/25/2025

The European Parliament quickly suspended lobbyists’ access after a new corruption case emerged involving Huawei, which allegedly paid bribes to politicians to support its 5G expansion in Europe. After the allegations became public, the European Commission issued internal instructions directing commissioners, cabinet members, and staff to immediately suspend all meetings and contacts with Huawei “until further notice.” But Huawei lobbyists could exploit loopholes to retain access to European Union premises despite the ban.

Canada – Canada’s Carney Calls Snap Election as Trump Looms Over Campaign

MSN – Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/23/2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap federal election for April 28, seeking to capitalize on momentum that has his Liberals resurgent. The campaign is likely to come down to one question: who can best handle President Trump and make Canada more resilient in the face of his threats? The election will pit Carney against Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, a populist firebrand who until recently held a commanding lead in the polls.

Arizona – GOP Lawmaker Undermines One of His Party’s Candidates for AZ Governor

Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 3/27/2025

The head of the conservative Arizona Freedom Caucus is advancing legislation that would bar Republican Karrin Taylor Robson from becoming the next governor, even if she were to win the election over his favored GOP candidate. The resolution says nothing about Robson, but it does say no person is eligible to become a state elected official who for two years prior to the primary election was required to register as a paid lobbyist.

California – S.F. Is Weak and Ineffective at Preventing Conflicts of Interest, Report Finds

Mission Local – Xueer Lu | Published: 3/24/2025

Since January 2020, San Francisco has had eight department head-level employees forced out of office due to allegations of corruption. A new report suggests the city’s systems meant to limit conflicts-of-interest are lax and ineffective. The Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office noted a distinct lack of process for reviewing financial disclosure forms, inconsistency across departments in ethics training, and failure of city employees to disclose secondary jobs and failure to catch and check them.

California – What Do the City Records Show About the Alleged Bribe in the Sacramento Mayor’s Race?

MSN – Joe Rubin (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 3/25/2025

Three weeks before allegedly offering a bribe to Sacramento mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer, California Black Chamber of Commerce President Jay King had a previously undisclosed lunch meeting with then-City Manager Howard Chan and developer Paul Petrovich. During a September phone call, Cofer said she was asked by King to extend Chan’s contract. If she did, she said, King promised that Petrovich would make a substantial campaign contribution.

California – Ousted Official Used City Cash for Son’s UCLA Tuition, Probe Finds

San Francisco Standard – Gabe Greschler, Noah Baustin, Jonah Owen Lamb, and David Sijostedt | Published: 3/20/2025

Investigators revealed new details about a former San Francisco department head who allegedly enriched herself through a corrupt scheme of bribes and illegal gifts that went on for years. The city attorney’s office said Sheryl Davis, who has resigned as the Human Rights Commission director, received tens of thousands of dollars from a city-funded organization that benefitted her personal business ventures, expensive travel, and her son’s tuition at UCLA.

Colorado – Trump Complained About a Portrait of Him in Colorado’s Capitol. Now It’s Being Removed.

MSN – Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 3/25/2025

President Trump likes having his name and image on things, but there is one representation of his likeness that he wanted gone – a portrait that hangs in the Colorado Capitol. Trump took to Truth Social to complain about the painting, blaming the state’s Democratic governor for it and demanding it be removed. Republican then asked for the portrait to be taken down, and the Democratic lawmakers who hold the majorities in the Legislature signed off on removing it.

Florida – Florida’s Top Gambling Regulator Became a FanDuel Lobbyist. A Bill Would Bar a Repeat.

MSN – Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 3/20/2025

As Florida’s first gambling regulator, Louis Trombetta took an aggressive approach to fantasy sports betting, driving three companies to shut down their games in the state. Then he went to work for one of their competitors. The sudden about-face has raised questions by ethics experts about the “revolving door” between regulators and the industry, a door one state lawmaker wants to shut behind Trombetta.

Idaho – Committee Sends Overhaul of Idaho’s Campaign Finance Law to House

Moscow-Pullman Daily News – Laura Guido | Published: 3/25/2025

A major overhaul of Idaho’s campaign finance law moved to the House floor. House Bill 442 would increase campaign expenditure reporting frequency, raise individual contribution limits, and include a trigger to significantly increase donation limits if a legislative candidate has $50,000 spent against them.

Kansas – Kansas Lawmakers Vote to Let More Organizations to Pay for Their Travel Expenses

MSN – Jack Harvel (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 3/26/2025

A bill sent to the Kansas governor would allow more nonprofits to reimburse politicians for travel to events and conferences and give more leeway for the executive branch to accept gifts or discounted tickets to entertainment events. Organizations like the National Conference of State Legislatures can pay travel-related expenses, but non-nationwide organizations are prohibited. The bill expands who can reimburse lawmakers to any nonprofit nonpartisan group that does not lobby in the state.

Kentucky – Democrat Grimes, Former Kentucky Secretary of State, Wins Appeal in Ethics Case

Yahoo News – Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 3/23/2025

The Kentucky Court of Appeals unanimously has upheld a lower court order that cleared former Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes of ethics charges. The court said the Executive Branch Ethics Commission missed its statutory deadline to charge Grimes with improperly ordering the downloading and distribution of voter registration data from her public office while she was secretary of state. The commission argued it was not bound by any statute of limitations.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Presses Louisiana on Use of Race During 2022 Redistricting

MSN – John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 3/24/2025

The Supreme Court grappled with a years-old, messy legal battle over Louisiana’s congressional districts during an oral argument in which several of the court’s conservatives questioned whether the state had violated the Constitution because of its focus on race. Several of those justices signaled they are prepared to further weaken the influence that the Voting Right Act has on redistricting, although it was not clear if there was a majority to do so in Louisiana’s case. That is partly because lower courts had guided the state toward redrawing its lines with race in mind.

Maryland – Gov. Moore’s Planned Attendance at Political Fundraiser Raises Legal Questions

MSN – Brooke Conrad (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 3/27/2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appearance at an upcoming event organized by the Unity First PAC is raising eyebrows in Annapolis. Maryland law places certain limits on fundraising activities by the governor and other state officials during the General Assembly session and the event is scheduled for April 2, five days before the conclusion of the session. David Mitrani, Unity First PAC’s lawyer, said the PAC does not “engage in activity that is covered under Maryland’s campaign finance law and is not a candidate committee … and is therefore not subject to the legislative session blackout period.”

Minnesota – Minnesota State Senator Resigns After He Was Charged with Soliciting a Minor for Prostitution

MSN – Steve Karnowski (Associated Press) | Published: 3/20/2025

Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn resigned after he was charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution, stepping down before the Senate could vote on whether to expel him. Investigators had placed multiple ads online offering sex for money, according to the charging documents. Eichorn exchanged text messages with an undercover officer purporting to be a 17-year-old girl for several days until they arranged a meet-up, where he was arrested.

Montana – Former Legislators Could Immediately Become Lobbyists Under Senate Bill

Daily Montanan – Jordan Hansen | Published: 3/20/2025

Former Montana legislators could immediately become lobbyists under legislation from Sen. Greg Hertz. Now, state lawmakers, elected state officials, department directors, appointed state officials, and members of an elected official’s personal staff are not allowed to be licensed as lobbyists if they have served in any of those positions over the previous two years. Senate Bill 222 would remove the statute entirely.

Montana – ‘Buckle Up’: In Montana, Republican lawmakers target the judiciary

DNyuz – David Chen (New York Times) | Published: 3/24/2025

As the Trump administration steps up its attacks on the federal judiciary, similar power struggles are unfolding at the state level. The Montana Legislature is weighing an avalanche of bills to reshape the judiciary and influence who gets to sit on the courts. Judicial elections would become partisan contests. A new court would be created to adjudicate constitutional claims, helmed by judges who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. At least two bills have even proposed that a judge’s “facial expressions” to be construed as evidence of bias, potentially resulting in disqualification.

Montana – Montana Senate Can’t Muster Enough Votes to Punish Former President Ellsworth

MSN – Tom Lutey (Montana Free Press) | Published: 3/24/2025

The Montana Senate drew to a stalemate over whether to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth for ethics violations, though there is no limit to how many tries they get at taking some sort of disciplinary action. Lawmakers failed twice to get the necessary two-thirds majority required to expel a member. Between attempts to expel, senators were also unsuccessful at censuring Ellsworth. The latter entailed removing him from key committees and banning him from the Senate floor for a few weeks.

New Jersey – Sanctioned Trump Attorney Alina Habba to Be Interim N.J. Prosecutor

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2025

Alina Habba, a lawyer for President Trump who received sanctions and judicial reprimands while representing him, will be appointed interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba has been serving as a White House counselor and was a prominent figure on the campaign trail for Trump. Habba was heavily involved in Trump’s legal entanglements before the November election. In that role, she was sanctioned for running afoul of what judges considered appropriate attorney conduct.

New Mexico – One Signature Away from Becoming Law, Lobbyists Worry Over Reporting Bill

Yahoo News – Megan Gleason (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 3/20/2025

New Mexico lawmakers sent a bill to the governor that would require lobbyists or their employers to file reports disclosing stances on bills they are attempting to influence and, if positions change, to update their stances within 48 hours. Currently, lobbyists only need to publicly report who is employing them and money spent to benefit legislators for lobbying purposes. House Bill 143 has raised red flags for some lobbyists, who are concerned it would worsen existing logistical issues and be overly burdensome.

New Mexico – 60 Days Later, Cicero Institute’s Reason for NM Lobbying Still Hidden from Public

Yahoo News – Patrick Lohmann (Source New Mexico) | Published: 3/24/2025

The legislative session is over and hundreds of bills are closer to becoming law, but it is still unclear which of them a billionaire-backed think tank influenced when it hired two veteran New Mexico lobbyists. The Cicero Institute has been linked to legislative lobbying efforts in other states where lawmakers have made it a misdemeanor to camp in public. The lobbyists would not say, and state law did not require them to disclose which bills they lobbied for or against in the 60-day legislative session that ended March 22.

New York – Cuomo Failed to Disclose Lobbyists Who Bundled Donations

New York Focus – Chris Bragg and Julia Rock | Published: 3/20/2025

.In a recent campaign filing, Andrew Cuomo disclosed having had no “intermediaries” – also known as bundlers – that raised money for his New York City mayoral bid. But records show Tonio Burgos sent out a fundraising email on March 7 seeking donations for Cuomo’s campaign. The email directed potential donors to a fundraising webpage set up by the Cuomo campaign which told them their donations would be matched with taxpayer dollars, even though Burgos’s work as a registered lobbyist means any gifts he solicits are ineligible for matching funds.

New York – Newly Unsealed Memo Sheds Light on Justice Department’s Rush to Drop NYC Mayor’s Corruption Case

Yahoo News – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 3/25/2025

New court documents offer a behind-the-scenes look at how federal prosecutors built and then tried to salvage their criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the face of unprecedented pressure from President Trump’s Justice Department. The documents include a draft memo by the former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who resigned in protest rather than carry out a directive from a top Justice Department official to dump the case against Adams.

Ohio – Romantic Partner of Ex-Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones Charged in Corruption Probe

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/26/2025

The romantic partner of former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones was accused of lining her pockets with money from several schemes that authorities say the two carried out on nonprofits and through real-estate deals. Sinera Jones hid her relationship with Jones in the deals and allowed him to use his sway to get her a job with a nonprofit, according to prosecutors. Basheer Jones has pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Oregon – How Washington County Sewer Officials Scored Annual Hawaii Trips and 5-Star Lodging

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/20/2025

It is not uncommon for government workers in agencies large and small to attend out-of-state conferences. But what makes trips taken by officials with Washington Count’s sewer agency to Hawaii unusual is their frequency, cost, lack of transparency, and that the recurring tropical location is the result of a local business decision made by design. The trips are not accounted for in the agency’s annual budgets even though ratepayers of Clean Water Services indirectly footed the bill.

Pennsylvania – Democrat Notches an Upset in Pennsylvania State Senate Race

DNyuz – Campbell Robertson (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

A Democrat won a surprise victory in a special election for the Pennsylvania Senate, narrowly prevailing in a district that Donald Trump won by 15 points last fall. The election, conducted in the small towns and suburbs of Lancaster County where no Democrat had won since 1979, joined two currents that are powering the political moment.

Texas – Cornyn, Cruz Ask US Supreme Court to Hear Activist’s Case Against Texas Ethics Watchdog

MSN – Bayliss Wagner (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 3/25/2025

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are supporting a conservative activist and political website publisher’s effort to have his case against the Texas Ethics Commission heard in the nation’s highest court. The senators filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the Supreme Court to take up Michael Quinn Sullivan’s 10-year-old lawsuit challenging a $10,000 fine levied against him in 2014 by the commission. It unanimously found that Sullivan, then the president of advocacy group Empower Texans, failed to register as a lobbyist while he worked to influence state lawmakers.

Texas – Texas Senate Passes Weakened Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban Following GOP Amendment

The Texan – Brad Johnson | Published: 3/20/2025

The Texas Senate passed legislation intended to ban “taxpayer-funded lobbying” but tacked on an amendment that exempts groups like the Texas Association of School Boards. The bill prohibits local governments from hiring registered lobbyists and allows citizens to sue those localities if they violate the ban. It applies only to political subdivisions and not constitutional offices, like county sheriffs.

Vermont – Ways and Means: Experts say Vermont Legislature’s ethics disclosures are lacking

Seven Days – Hannah Bassett | Published: 3/26/2025

The public can follow much of Vermont lawmakers’ work easily these days. Bills are updated and tracked from the day they are introduced, and agendas are published online in advance of meetings. Since the pandemic, floor discussions and committee meetings are generally live streamed, and the recordings remain online for viewing after the sessions conclude. For a small state with relatively limited statehouse resources, this is a testament to how even Vermont’s oldest institutions can use modern tools to foster trust in government, when they choose to.

Wisconsin – Why Elon Musk and Tesla Have a Legal Bone to Pick with Wisconsin

DNyuz – Reid Epsien and Neal Boudette (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

Elon Musk is far away the biggest spender in this year’s race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, throwing his fortune behind a conservative candidate aiming to topple the court’s four-to-three liberal majority. The $20 million and counting from Musk and groups tied to him comes as Tesla is suing Wisconsin over its law prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from selling cars directly to consumers. The case is now before a court in Milwaukee County, but it could proceed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the coming months.

Campaign Finance

Wisconsin: “Why Elon Musk and Tesla Have a Legal Bone to Pick with Wisconsin” by Reid Epstein and Neal Boudette (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

Pennsylvania: “Democrat Notches an Upset in Pennsylvania State Senate Race” by Campbell Robertson (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

California: “What Do the City Records Show About the Alleged Bribe in the Sacramento Mayor’s Race?” by Joe Rubin (Sacramento Bee) for MSN

Kansas: “Kansas Lawmakers Vote to Let More Organizations Pay for Their Travel Expenses” by Jack Harvel (Topeka Capital-Journal) for MSN

New York: “Newly Unsealed Memo Sheds Light on Justice Department’s Rush to Drop NYC Mayor’s Corruption Case” by Michael Sisak (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “How Washington County Sewer Officials Scored Annual Hawaii Trips and 5-Star Lodging” by Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Colorado: “Trump Complained About a Portrait of Him in Colorado’s Capitol. Now It’s Being Removed.” by Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Texas: “Cornyn, Cruz Ask US Supreme Court to Hear Activist’s Case Against Texas Ethics Watchdog” by Bayliss Wagner (Austin American-Statesman) for MSN

Elections

Canada: “Canada’s Carney Calls Snap Election as Trump Looms Over Campaign” by Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Ousted Official Used City Cash for Son’s UCLA Tuition, Probe Finds” by Gabe Greschler, Noah Baustin, Jonah Owen Lamb, and David Sijostedt for San Francisco Standard

National: “Health Benefits Company Co-Founded by Dr. Oz Could Be a Conflict of Interest” by Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “‘This Is Not Your Grandmother’s Easter Egg Roll’: White House seeks corporate sponsorships for Easter event” by Betsy Kline (CNN) for MSN

Kentucky: “Democrat Grimes, Former Kentucky Secretary of State, Wins Appeal in Ethics Case” by Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) for Yahoo News

Minnesota: “Minnesota State Senator Resigns After He Was Charged with Soliciting a Minor for Prostitution” by Steve Karnowski (Associated Press) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Montana: “‘Buckle Up’: In Montana, Republican lawmakers target the judiciary” by David Chen (New York Times) for DNyuz

Redistricting

Louisiana: “Supreme Court Presses Louisiana on Use of Race During 2022 Redistricting” by John Fritze (CNN) for MSN

On March 19, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Eglinton–Lawrence (Ontario) is vacant. Marco Mendicino resigned his seat in Parliament to become Chief of Staff to newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney. Under the law, if a vacancy occurs less than nine months before the fixed date for a general election, no by-election is called, and the seat remains vacant until the general election. Therefore, no by-election will be held to fill this vacant seat.

National/Federal

Elon Musk’s Starlink Expands Across White House Complex

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman, Kate Conger, Eileen Sullivan, and Ryan Mac (New York Times) | Published: 3/17/2025

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now accessible across the White House campus. It is the latest installation of the Wi-Fi network across the government since Musk joined the Trump administration as an unpaid adviser. Musk, who is now an unpaid adviser working as a “special government employee” at the White House, controls Starlink and other companies that have regulatory matters before or contracts with the federal government. Questions about his business interests conflicting with his status as a presidential adviser and major Trump donor have persisted for weeks.

With Orders, Investigations and Innuendo, Trump and G.O.P. Aim to Cripple the Left

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

President Trump and his allies are attacking the players and machinery that power the left, taking a series of partisan official actions that, if successful, will threaten to hobble Democrats’ ability to compete in elections for years to come. So far, the attacks have been diffuse and sometimes indiscriminate or inaccurate. But inside the administration, there are moves to coordinate and expand the assault. It is not unusual for partisans in Congress or their outside allies to push for investigations into political groups on the other side of the aisle, but using the levers of government to target the opposition is considered an abuse of power.

Judges Fear for Their Safety Amid a Wave of Threats

DNyuz – Mattathias Schwartz and Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

President Trump’s angry call for the impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against his administration on deportation flights set off a string of social media taunts and threats, including images of judges being marched off in handcuffs. The threats and intimidation may have not become actual violence, but they appear to be mounting, as Trump, his advisers, and his supporters are questioning the legitimacy of the American legal system. There is no evidence that jurists’ judgment has been warped by their antagonists. But at the least, public perceptions of judicial decisions could be shaped by the volume of attacks on the courts.

Trump’s Ending of Hunter Biden’s Security Detail Raises Questions About Who Gets Protection

DNyuz – Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

While former President Joe Biden and his wife are by law allowed to have protection for the rest of their lives, their adult children had it only for a few months. Before leaving office, Biden issued an executive order that extended the protection to them, but President Trump revoked their detail. Despite the legitimate questions of cost for protecting so many people, the sudden announcement of the cessation of protection for Hunter Biden, coupled with Trump’s fixation on the former president and his only living son, raised questions about whether this move was the latest stop on the president’s revenge tour.

Two Democratic Commissioners Fired from FTC

MSN – Julian Mark, Cat Zakrzewski, and Will Oremos (Washington Post) | Published: 3/18/2025

President Trump fired the only two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, handing the remaining Republican commissioners exclusive control over the agency that oversees antitrust and consumer protection laws and serves as the U.S. government’s primary regulator of the tech industry. Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter announced their dismissals on social media, with both calling their firings illegal. Bedoya indicated that he intends to sue over his firing.

Judge Says Trump Penalties on Law Firm Send ‘Chills Down My Spine’

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 3/12/2025

A federal judge blocked provisions of President Trump’s executive order targeting attorneys at Perkins Coie. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said Perkins Coie was likely to ultimately prevail in court with its challenge of the order, which was prompted by the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and its prior work for Trump’s political opponents. Howell warned that the order could damage the integrity of the entire legal profession, intimidating lawyers from taking up cases that the president views as going against his interests.

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Curb Judges’ Power to Block Policies Nationwide

MSN – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 3/13/2025

President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to eliminate a key tool that lower courts have used to block various aspects of his agenda, Trump asked the justices to rein in or shelve three nationwide injunctions lower-court judges have issued against his bid to end birthright citizenship. But his request could have repercussions far beyond the debate over the controversial citizenship plan.

National Democratic Committees to Stage Town Halls in House GOP Districts

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 3/14/2025

A coalition of national Democratic committees is launching town hall meetings in Republican-held House districts across the country, ramping up the party’s efforts to put politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers on the defensive over President Trump’s agenda. The groups aim to hold town halls in all 50 states.

Amid ‘DEI’ Purge, Pentagon Removes Webpage on Iwo Jima Flag-Raiser

MSN – Jon Swaine and Alex Horton (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

Until recently, a page on the Defense Department’s website celebrated Pfc. Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who was one of the six Marines photographed hoisting a U.S. flag on Iwo Jima in 1945. But the page, along with many others about Native American and other minority service members, has now been erased amid the Trump administration’s wide-ranging crackdown on what it says are “diversity, equity and inclusion” efforts in the federal government.

How Matt Gaetz Poisoned the House Ethics Committee

MSN – Haily Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 3/18/2025

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is gone from Congress, but the wounds he inflicted on the House ethics committee that investigated him remain fresh. As the committee prepares in the coming weeks to ramp up after a monthslong delay and a pileup of potential cases, it is still regrouping from its crisis last year over whether to break with recent precedent and release the results of an investigation into Gaetz, who was being considered for attorney general.

Jury Selection Underway in Bribery Trial of Wife of Convicted Ex-New Jersey Senator

Yahoo News – John Russell | Published: 3/18/2025

The public corruption trial of Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, is underway, having been split off from her co-defendants’ trial last year and then postponed by medical adjournments. Nadine Menendez was initially charged alongside her husband, accusing the couple of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes and gifts, including gold bars, from several businesspeople in exchange for the senator’s political influence.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Huawei Lobbyists Banned from Accessing European Parliament After Bribery Arrests

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 3/14/2025

The European Parliament banned lobbyists working for Huawei from its premises following the arrests of several people in a corruption probe linked to the company, in yet another scandal to hit the Legislature. Huawei is suspected by Belgian prosecutors bribing European Union lawmakers. The European Parliament said the decision to suspend the access of Huawei lobbyists has been taken as a precautionary measure, in line with its security rules.

California – An L.A. City Council Member Is Launching a Nonprofit. Ethics Experts Have Questions

Los Angeles Times – Dakota Smith | Published: 3/15/2025

Los Angeles City Councilperson Tim McOsker is launching a nonprofit to pay for basic services, including street lighting and park improvements, in his district, an unusual move that raises questions for ethics experts. The One Five Fund, which formally launches in the next few months, “will make requests of folks throughout the city for money,” McOsker said. McOsker will fundraise for One Five but will not be involved in allocating the money, according to his office.

California – Will Disgraced Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Serve Prison Time?

Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 3/17/2025

Federal prosecutors asked a judge to sentence disgraced former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu to eight months in prison and a $40,000 fine for wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and lying to FBI agents about trying to ram through the corrupted Angel Stadium sale to get $1 million in campaign support. Sidhu is asking for three years of probation and community service or a home arrest sentence. Sidhu resigned shortly after revelations of the corruption probe in 2022, and the stadium sale was canceled around the same time.

District of Columbia – D.C. Drops Lawsuit Against Proud Boys, Oath Keepers Over Jan. 6 Attack

Philadelphia Tribune – Ellie Silverman (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

The District of Columbia dropped a lawsuit against the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over the attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying the city was unlikely to recover enough money to justify continuing legal action against the far-right groups and others it had sought to hold responsible for the riot. The suit marked the first effort by a government agency to hold individuals and organizations civilly liable for the violence at the Capitol that day.

Florida – 2 Miami-Dade Health Inspectors Accused of Fabricating Violations to Extort Restaurants

MSN – David Goodhue (Miami Herald) | Published: 3/12/2025

Two Miami-Dade County health inspectors were arrested on accusations they extorted bribes from restaurant owners. In total, Charles Bryant II and Craig Bethel extorted $14,620 from 15 businesses, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said. Both men, who worked for the Department of Environmental Resources Management, are accused of making up bogus health violations and threatening the businesses with shutting them down if they did not pay them money.

Florida – Ron DeSantis’ Team Is Urging Florida Lobbyists Not to Back Rep. Byron Donalds for Governor

MSN – Matt Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 3/18/2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s political operation is making calls to state lobbyists, urging them not to support U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whose 2026 bid for governor has already collected more than $3 million, much of which has come from President Trump’s donors. Donalds announced his Trump-backed bid for governor in February, but there remains the prospect that DeSantis’s wife, Casey, also jumps into the race, which would set up a heavyweight Republican primary and continue the long-running political proxy war between Trump and DeSantis.

Florida – Lee School Board’s $180K Lobbying Contract Sparks Conflict-of-Interest Concerns

Yahoo News – Mickenzie Hannon (Naples Daily News) | Published: 3/13/2025

Some Lee County residents are questioning a new $180,000 contract the school board approved with Ballard Partners for federal lobbying services, raising concerns over potential conflicts-of-interest. Some residents voiced concerns about Ballard Partners’ ties to political consultant Terry Miller, who joined the firm as a partner in the Fort Myers office in 2023. He has also worked on campaigns for several board members. Critics argued the contract could give Miller undue influence over district affairs.

Hawaii – ‘Clean Government’ Bills Have Renewed Support

Yahoo News – Dan Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 3/18/2025

A series of bills aimed at further cleaning up government ethics, lobbying practices, and campaign contributions, while making it easier for new candidates to campaign for office, are suddenly enjoying renewed energy in the Hawaii Legislature after a lull in 2024. Collectively, the bills that remain alive this session are designed to tighten many of the practices that have directly or indirectly been linked to recent federal trials, guilty verdicts, and pleas by state and county officials.

Kansas – Kansas Senate Adds to Potential Makeover of State Elections with Passage of Two More Bills

Yahoo News – Sherman Smith and Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 3/17/2025

Lawmakers passed two bills that would ban the use of ranked-choice voting in Kansas and restrict funding for election-related activities, such as voter registration efforts. The Legislature now has sent three election bills to the governor’s desk. The other one would narrow the window for advance ballots to arrive at county election offices.

Kansas – Kansas GOP Activist, Democrat Legislator Find Common Ground in Opposition to Campaign Finance Bills

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 3/17/2025

Democratic Rep. Alexis Simmons and former Kansas Republican Party Executive Director Kris Van Meteren stand uncommonly side-by-side against elimination of contribution limits for political party committees. Both said they could see logic to House Bill 2054’s doubling of contribution limits for candidates seeking election as governor and other statewide offices, the state Legislature and State Board of Education.

Kentucky – Secrecy Shrouds Campaign to Form New Suburban City in Louisville Metro

WDRB – Marcus Green | Published: 3/11/2025

The battle over a new city proposed for Jefferson County has been waged on yard signs, in online forums, and through word of mouth. But one front where the campaign is not occurring is on disclosure forms bringing transparency to groups fighting for and against the city of Eastwood. In many cases, local and state laws require those advocating for high-profile issues in Louisville and Frankfort to identify themselves and explain how much they are spending to influence decision makers. That is not happening in the Eastwood debate.

Michigan – Detroit Chamber Can’t Comp Lawmakers for Mackinac Conference

MIRS – Staff | Published: 3/11/2025

The Detroit Regional Chamber is not allowed to give lawmakers free admission to their annual Mackinac Policy Conference, which other attendees pay $3,200 apiece to attend, the secretary of state’s office said in a preliminary ruling. Normally, registration is $3,200 for chamber members, but state law bans gifts worth more than $79 from lobbyists, like the Detroit Regional Chamber. The Senate is advancing a bill that would allow lawmakers to continue receiving tickets to charity events or admission to a conference or educational event directly related to their duties, like the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Michigan – Michigan House Democrats Take Second Run at Ethics and Transparency Legislation

Yahoo News – Jon King (Michigan Advance) | Published: 3/18/2025

Michigan House Democrats used Sunshine Week, which acknowledges the importance of transparency in government, to re-introduce a package of bills they say will provide needed accountability to the finances of elected officials. The bills failed to get through the House last year during the lame duck session. Several of the sponsors saying the package would improve accountability by stopping election and campaign finance law violations in real-time, while also curtailing the influence of lobbying and financial interests on the legislative process.

Montana – Witness Testimony Wraps in Ellsworth Ethics Probe as Business Associate Skirts Subpoena

Bozeman Daily Chronicle – Seaborn Larson and Blair Miller (Lee Newspapers) | Published: 3/17/2025

Witness testimony over three days before a legislative ethics committee fortified allegations that Sen. Jason Ellsworth failed to disclose an extensive personal and professional relationship when organizing a state-funded contract for a friend, special counsel Adam Duerk argued. The committee’s final meeting before it begins crystalizing its forthcoming report for the Senate included a video statement from Bryce Eggleston, the contractor whom Ellsworth awarded a $170,100 state-funded contract to analyze the rollout of the GOP’s judicial reform agenda after the 2025 legislative session.

Nevada – Nevada Official Faces Ethics Commission over Golden Knights Perks

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 3/19/2025

Dwayne McClinton, director of the Nevada Office of Energy, is the subject of a state ethics complaint that claims he accepted free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and solicited access to a private watch party while negotiating a potential taxpayer-funded partnership with the National Hockey League team. McClinton neither disclosed the gifts nor abstained from further work on the partnership project.

New Jersey – Pay-to-Play

MSN – Riley Yates (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 3/20/2025

Two years ago, the New Jersey Legislature eviscerated the state’s pay-to-play law, a once-heralded good government measure that seeks to prevent construction companies, insurance brokers, and law offices from buying contracts through campaign donations. That has helped funnel campaign funds to political machines across New Jersey. In total, public contractors poured $3.8 million last year into political parties at the state, county, or local level, more than double what they gave in 2023, when the new rules first took effect.

New Mexico – Campaign Finance Reform Is ‘Dead,’ Says Sponsor

KUNM – Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) | Published: 3/16/2025

A bill meant primarily to close loopholes in New Mexico’s law governing the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures crashed in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs committee. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth has sought to close loopholes in the Campaign Reporting Act since several groups exploited them in a partially successful attempt to evade disclosing their donors and spending in the 2020 election.

New Mexico – Major Lobbyist Transparency Bill Nears Finish Line

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 3/18/2202

The New Mexico Senate voted to require new reports from registered lobbyists and those that pay them about the legislation they support or oppose. The House must now agree with changes made to House Bill 143. Sen. Jeff Steinborn has pushed for this type of lobbyist reporting since 2017, but his bills have not made it far in the Senate before.

New York – Adams’s Associates Under Federal Investigation Over Ties to China

DNyuz – Bianca Pallaro, Jay Root, Michael Forsythe, and William Rashbaum (New York Times) | Published: 3/18/2025

The Trump administration appears likely to succeed in having federal corruption charges dropped against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in Manhattan. But in Brooklyn, a separate group of prosecutors has been conducting a long-running investigation involving the mayor’s most prominent fundraiser, and at one point searched her homes and office for evidence of a possible Chinese government scheme to influence Adams’s election, according to a search warrant.

New York – Judge Upholds Income Limits for State Legislators

Jamestown Post-Journal – John Whittaker | Published: 3/20/2025

A New York Supreme Court justice upheld outside income limits for state legislators but struck down a section of the law that would strip lawmakers of their voting rights if they violate the income limits. Republicans asked the judge to declare the law unconstitutional under the state and federal constitutions while the state argued limiting outside income falls within the Legislature’s legitimate interest in preventing conflict-of-interest and ethics issues caused by outside earned income.

Ohio – Six Years After Bribery Scandal, Ousted First Energy Lobbyists Still Aren’t Talking to the PUCO

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/13/2025

Nearly six years ago, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation that benefitted FirstEnergy, which was later deemed to be the fruit of a bribery scheme. Three corporate lobbyists and one executive, all since ousted from their roles with FirstEnergy, once again avoided answering questions under oath about what happened. The goal of the hearing was to establish a process and build a record that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio could take to court, where a judge could issue an order compelling them to testify while giving immunity from being held criminally accountable for whatever answers they may provide.

Oklahoma – Ryan Walters Used His Official-Looking X Account to Support Trump. It Cost Him $5K to Settle Ethics Complaint.

Yahoo News – Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) | Published: 3/17/2025

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters agreed to pay a $5,000 settlement after being accused of ethics violations for pushing for Donald Trump’s election on a social media account with his official title. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to settle three cases against Walters over his social media posts in support of Trump. It also voted to sue Walters over alleged campaign finance violations.

Oregon – Oregon’s 3 Most Populous Counties Don’t Track Who Lobbies Their Leaders

MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/14/2025

None of Oregon’s most populous counties track with whom lobbyists meet or how much they spend on events with public officials. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is looking to change that.

Tennessee – No Formal Ethics Commission Training Yet for Lee’s Cabinet After September Pledge

Des Moines Register – Vivian Jones (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 3/10/2025

Additional ethics training has not occurred for members of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s cabinet nearly six months after a state ethics board recommended that they do so. Last year, Lee and Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds both repaid travel payments to nonprofits with connected political groups that employ lobbyists after media reports led to ethics complaints that alleged the travel expenses constituted illegal gifts.

Texas – How At-Large Voting Creates Conservative Majorities on Texas School Boards

MSN – Jeremy Schwartz (ProPublica) and Dan Keemahill (Texas Tribune) | Published: 3/19/2025

The way communities elect school board members plays a key, if often overlooked, role in whether racially diverse districts experience takeovers by ideologically driven conservatives seeking to exert greater influence over what children learn in public schools In Texas. Since the pandemic, such groups have successfully leveraged the state’s long-standing and predominantly at-large method of electing candidates to flip school boards in their direction.

Texas – Bills Filed to Ban ‘Deepfakes’ in Political Ads in Texas

MSN – Bethany Blankley (The Center Square) | Published: 3/19/2025

Two bills were filed in Texas that would require additional disclosures for political ads. The bills were filed after the state Ethics Commission expanded disclosure requirements for campaign ads on social media posts. House Bill 366 would require disclosures on political ads that contain altered images known as “deep fakes.”

Utah – Utah on Path to End Automatic Mail Ballots after Wave of Misinformation

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

Utah is poised to abolish its practice of automatically mailing ballots to all voters, handing a victory to President Trump and Republicans who have vilified voting by mail since his 2020 election defeat. The likely changes in Utah are modest compared with Trump’s calls for ending mail voting altogether but would nonetheless mark a dramatic shift in a Republican stronghold that has long embraced mail balloting as convenient and secure.

Vermont – Vermont House Passes Change to Ethics Law, Despite Objections from the State’s Ethics Commission

VTDigger.org – Shaun Robinson | Published: 3/14/2025

The state panel tasked with reviewing alleged violations of Vermont’s ethical standards for government officials has been at odds with lawmakers over a bill that would limit the panel’s role in reviewing potential misconduct by state leaders. The House passed the bill that would, among other changes, exempt the panels and boards that investigate alleged misconduct by legislators, judges, and attorneys from a legal requirement to “consult” with the state ethics commission.

West Virginia – WV House Republicans Join Dems 54-41 to Reject Bill Allowing Direct Corporate Political Donations

West Virgina Watch – Caity Coyne | Published: 3/13/2025

The West Virginia House rejected a bill that would have allowed businesses and corporations in the state to directly donate up to $2,800, and potentially more, to candidates. Under House Bill 2729, business owners could have given the maximum amount of money to candidates multiple times by donating through their businesses, individual giving, and PACs.

Arizona’s 7th Congressional District Rep. Raúl Grijalva passed away on March 13 after complications from lung cancer, ending his decades-long career in public service. One of Arizona’s longest-serving congressmen, Mr. Grijalva championed immigrants’ rights and climate change policies. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs will call for a special election in accordance with state law within 72 hours after the office is officially declared vacant. A special general election must follow between 70 and 80 days after the special primary election.

National/Federal

Lawsuit Challenges Reporting Requirements for Conduit PACs

Campaigns and Elections – Max Greenwood | Published: 3/10/2025

A new lawsuit is challenging the requirement that conduit PACs disclose the personal details of small-dollar donors in their filings with the FEC. The complaint argues the provision in the Federal Election Campaign Act requiring conduit PACs like ActBlue and WinRed to publicly identify donors to give less than $200 to a campaign or committee violates a right to anonymity guaranteed by the Constitution.

ActBlue, the Democratic Fund-Raising Powerhouse, Faces Internal Chaos

DNyuz – Reid Epstein and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 3/5/2025

ActBlue, the online fundraising organization that powers Democratic candidates, has plunged into turmoil, with at least seven senior officials resigning recently and a remaining lawyer suggesting he faced internal retaliation. The departures from ActBlue, which helps raise money for Democrats running for office at all levels of government, come as the group is under investigation by congressional Republicans. They have advanced legislation that some Democrats warn could be used to debilitate what is the party’s leading fundraising operation.

Trump Expands Retribution Campaign Against Law Firms That Aided His Foes

MSN – Perry Stein and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 3/6/2025

President Trump targeted another elite law firm that has represented clients he considers his political enemies, sending a message that he is willing to punish firms who work for people or groups that oppose his administration’s agenda. Trump signed an executive order hitting Perkins Coie with a directive that bans the federal government from hiring it, or from using contractors who work with it, except in limited circumstances. The order also bars Perkins Coie employees from entering federal buildings and suspends their security clearances.

Fired Head of Federal Watchdog Agency Says He’s Ending His Legal Battle Over His Removal by Trump

MSN – Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) | Published: 3/6/2025

The fired head of a federal watchdog agency said he is abandoning his legal battle against the Trump administration to get his job back, acknowledging he was likely facing a tough road before the U.S. Supreme Court. Hampton Dellinger said he was dropping his case a day after the federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration in removing him as the head of the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency dedicated to guarding the federal workforce from illegal personnel actions.

Palestinian Protester Arrested by ICE Despite Green Card, Lawyer Says

MSN – Susan Syrluga (Washington Post) | Published: 3/9/2025

U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student, who played a prominent role in last year’s protests over the Israel-Gaza war at Columbia University. President Trump has promised to deport international students who participated in “pro-jihadist protests.” The federal agents told Khalil his student visa had been revoked. When Khalil told agents he was a lawful permanent resident, holding a green card, agents detained him anyway, his attorney said.

Secretive D.C. Influence Project Appears to Be Running a Group House for Right-Wing Lawmakers

MSN – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 3/6/3035

New evidence suggests Steve Berger, a pastor who runs a nonprofit that is trying to shape national policy, may be running what amounts to a group house for conservative lawmakers, with multiple members of Congress living with him at his organization’s headquarters. The six-bedroom, $3.7 million home is owned by a wealthy Republican donor. Berger has claimed to have personally spurred legislation, saying a senator privately credited him with inspiring a bill.

CDC Posts ‘Conflicts of Interest’ Database on Vaccine Advisory Group Members

MSN – Berkeley Lovelace (NBC News) | Published: 3/7/2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a webpage listing information about current and former members of its independent vaccine advisory committee, including what it describes as conflicts-of-interest. The new database comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose department oversees the CDC, has vowed to increase “radical transparency” at the federal health agencies. It was not immediately clear how the webpage would accomplish that.

Judge Says Trump Jan. 6 Pardon Doesn’t Apply to Man Who Conspired to Kill Investigators

MSN – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 3/10/2025

President Trump’s blanket pardon for the rioters who attacked the Capitol does not cover a conspiracy by one defendant to kill the law enforcement officials who investigated him, a federal judge ruled. Edward Kelley, who was convicted of conspiracy last year by a federal jury in Tennessee, had argued Trump’s sweeping clemency for rioters should also cover his conviction since the agents and officers he targeted were connected to the January 6 investigation.

A New Role for the South Lawn of Trump’s White House: Tesla car lot

MSN – Matt Viser (Washington Post) | Published: 3/11/2025

On the South Lawn of the White House, President Trump climbed into a Tesla Model S as Elon Musk slid into the passenger seat, converting one of the country’s most revered public spaces into a billboard for a company run by one of his closest allies. The president he made no secret of the fact that he was attempting to boost the financial fortunes of one of his supporters, whose cars, he noted, could be had for the low price of $35,000.

GOP Lawmaker Misgenders Democratic Rep. McBride, Derailing House Hearing

MSN – Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 3/12/2025

A House subcommittee hearing went off the rails when Rep. Keith Self misgendered Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, and abruptly adjourned the session after a colleague confronted him. Speaking at a hearing on arms control, international security, and U.S. assistance to Europe, Self, the chairperson of the subcommittee on Europe, addressed McBride, a transgender woman, as “the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride.”

Justice Department Is Expected to Slash Public Corruption Unit, AP Sources Say

MSN – Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 3/11/2025

Prosecutors in the Justice Department section that handles public corruption cases have been told the unit will be significantly reduced in size, and its cases will be transferred to U.S. attorney’s offices around the country, two people familiar with the matter said. The discussions about shrinking the public integrity section come weeks after the unit’s leadership resigned when a top Justice Department official ordered the dropping of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

USAID Workers Told to Shred, Burn Documents, Unnerving Congress

MSN – Missy Ryan and John Hudson (Washington Post) | Published: 3/11/2025

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) ordered employees to destroy internal documents, according to an agency directive, raising new questions about how sensitive records are being handled in the Trump administration’s drive to curtail America’s assistance activities overseas. According to an email, a senior USAID official ordered employees to shred or burn documents at the organization’s Washington headquarters, including those related to agency personnel and those stored in safes used for classified material.

Washington Post Columnist Quits After Her Opinion Piece Criticizing Owner Jeff Bezos Is Rejected

MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 3/10/2025

Ruth Marcus, a columnist who has worked at the Washington Post for four decades, resigned after she said the newspaper’s management decided not to run her commentary critical of owner Jeff Bezos’ new editorial policy. Her exit is the latest fallout from Bezos’ directive that the Post narrow the topics covered by its opinion section to personal liberties and the free market. The newspaper’s opinions editor, David Shipley, had already resigned because of the shift.

Trump Official Tasked with Defending DOGE Cuts Posted Fashion Influencer Videos from Her Office

MSN – Curt Devine, Casey Tolan, and Audrey Ash (CNN) | Published: 3/12/2025

A federal employee tasked with defending the Trump administration’s mass government layoffs has been using her office to film fashion influencer videos. McLaurine Pinover, head of communications for the Office of Personnel Management, which acts as the government’s human resources agency, modeled her outfit choices for the day while directing followers from her Instagram account to a website that could earn her commissions on clothing sales.

Brother of Trump’s GSA Leader Tried to Buy Prime Federal Property

MSN – Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) | Published: 3/13/2025

President Trump appointed former tech executive Stephen Ehikian as acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency that manages government buildings, supplies, and services. Two weeks later, Ehikian’s brother, Brad Ehikian, a real estate developer, proposed that the GSA sell his company a federally owned 17-acre campus in Silicon Valley for $65 million. The GSA tried to auction the property in 2022 for nearly twice that amount. Current and former agency officials said they had not encountered such a proposal from someone related to the GSA administrator.

Pleas on X, Biden Dirt and Attacks on the FBI: As Trump flexes his pardon powers, defendants angle for their get-out-of-jail free card

Politico – Ben Schreckinger | Published: 3/11/2025

President Trump’s moves to expand the use of pardons have white-collar defendants jolting to attention, and many are responding with creative maneuvers designed to appeal less to judges or juries than to the ultimate arbiter in the Oval Office. Trump’s appointment of a White House “pardon czar,” Alice Johnson, and an announcement by the Justice Department lawyer who oversaw pardons during Biden’s term that she has been fired, signal Trump is not done exercising his clemency powers.

Musk’s Team Must Produce Documents to Comply with Open Records Laws, Judge Says

Seattle Times – Zach Montague and Minho Kim (New York Times) | Published: 3/10/2025

A federal judge found Elon Musk’s government-cutting unit is likely subject to public disclosure laws and must promptly turn over documents to a group that had sued for access to its internal emails. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper said the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk leads had all the hallmarks of an agency that would typically be subject to laws like the Freedom of Information Act.

State Politics Has a Sexual Misconduct Problem

Yahoo News – Grace Panetta (The 19th) | Published: 3/11/2025

State Legislatures craft most of the laws passed in the U.S. and serve as the main pipeline for higher office. But sexual harassment in state politics “remains a systemic and ongoing issue affecting both parties” according to a new report from the National Women’s Defense League. Legislatures are largely self-governing bodies, and even after a spate of post-#MeToo reforms, many lawmakers surveyed said the mechanisms for reporting misconduct in their states are lacking.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Belgian Prosecutors Arrest Suspects in Huawei Bribery Probe Targeting EU Parliament

MSN – Samuel Petrequin and Sylvian Plazy (Associated Press) | Published: 3/13/2025

Belgian prosecutors announced the arrests of several people in a corruption probe linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese company Huawei. The arrests came as a media investigation said lobbyists working for the telecommunication giant were suspected of bribing current or former European Parliament members to promote the company’s commercial policies in Europe.

Canada – Supreme Court Strikes Down Doug Ford’s Controversial Campaign Finance Law

Toronto Star – Robert Benzie | Published: 3/7/2025

A key section of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s controversial campaign finance law has been struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada. The high court found it was unconstitutional for Ford to limit pre-election spending by unions and other third-party groups in his 2021 legislation. It is a major legal triumph for a coalition of labor unions and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which opposed the Progressive Conservatives’ bill that limited their spending to $600,000 on advertising and other political activities in the 12 months before an election.

California – Probe Finds Nonprofit’s Gift to Former Top S.F. Official Created ‘Appearance of a Bribe’

MSN – Michael Barba and St. John Barned-Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/11/2025

An investigation concluded a $5,500 gift from the nonprofit Urban Ed Academy to former San Francisco Human Rights Commission Executive Director Sheryl Davis appeared to break city ethics rules and created “at least the appearance of a bribe and undue influence.” Davis subsequently awarded a $270,000 contract to the nonprofit. That contract was one of $2.3 million in city contracts that Urban Ed Academy received in recent years under the Dream Keeper Initiative, a major city reinvestment in the Black community that Davis oversaw.

California – Contractors Might Have to Disclose Campaign Finance Violations in Santa Ana

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 3/6/2025

Contractors and developers in Santa Ana might soon have to disclose any campaign finance violations issued by state or federal officials, a move that could be a first for Orange County. Santa Ana City Councilperson Phil Bacerra wants it made clear to the public if a developer or business applying for a permit, contract, license, or entitlement has been found to have violated any state or federal campaign finance laws.

Colorado – Former State Senator Now Faces Investigation by Denver, Boulder District Attorneys After Resigning Amid Ethics Probe

Denver Post – Seth Klamann and Nick Coltrain | Published: 3/11/2025

Former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis is under investigation by the Denver and Boulder district attorneys’ offices, nearly a month after legislative staff determined Jaquez Lewis forged at least one letter of support in an ethics probe. Under Colorado law, using deceit in an attempt to influence a public servant is a felony, as is the use of certain forgeries.

District of Columbia – D.C. U.S. Attorney Targets Ukraine Whistleblower Rep. Vindman

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 3/11/2025

Interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin has sent another letter to U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, a critic of President Trump, demanding information in what Democratic lawmakers say is a potential abuse of his prosecutorial power. Martin wants information about a business founded by Vindman and his brother to help arm Ukraine to fight Russia. Eugene and Alexander Vindman, both former U.S. Army officers with national security backgrounds, played key roles in Trump’s first impeachment, over his reported attempt to pressure Ukraine’s then-incoming president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to find damaging information about Joe Biden.

Florida – Florida Senate Committee Moves to Ban Using Tax Dollars on Ballot Initiative Campaigns

Yahoo News – Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 3/11/2025

After Gov. Ron DeSantis used millions of state dollars last year to battle against abortion and marijuana proposals, some Florida lawmakers want to ban the use of public funds to promote or oppose ballot amendments. The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee approved such a measure by voice vote, adding it to a controversial bill to further restrict the petition-gathering process citizens groups use to get amendments before voters.

Maine – Republican Maine Lawmaker Sues House Speaker Over Censure for Post on Transgender Athlete

MSN – Patrick Whittle (Associated Press) | Published: 3/12/2025

Maine Rep. Laurel Libby sued the House speaker over her censure that followed a social media post about a transgender athlete participating in high school sports. Libby posted about a high school athlete who won a girls’ track competition. The post included a photo of the student and identified them by first name, with the name in quotation marks, saying they previously competed in boys’ track. Libby claims the censure violated her right to free speech. The lawsuit also says the censure stripped her right to speak and vote on the House floor, and that disenfranchises the thousands of residents in her district.

Maine – Committee Rejects Clean Elections Expansion, Other Proposals to Alter Election Laws

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 3/10/2025

The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted down several proposals to alter election laws in Maine, including measures that sought to expand the state’s clean elections program, eliminate ongoing absentee voter status, and reestablish a component of ranked choice voting tabulations that was done away with last session. These mark the first few committee recommendations for how the state should alter its elections laws this session.

Maryland – Maryland Democrats File Elections Complaint Against ‘Shadowy’ Campaign Targeting Gov. Wes Moore

MSN – Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 3/7/2025

Maryland Democrats asked the State Board of Elections to sanction what they are calling a “shadowy” and illegal campaign against Gov. Wes Moore ahead of his reelection bid next year. The campaign, which has identified itself only as “No Moore” since its launch in February, has targeted the Democratic governor over his handling of the state’s budget deficit. Daily posts that evoke Moore and sometimes refer to his election prospects are likely a violation of state campaign finance law because the group behind those messages has not registered with the as a campaign entity, the Democratic Party argued.

Mississippi – Federal Trial in Jackson Corruption Case set for Summer 2026

Mississippi Today – Anna Wolfe | Published: 3/7/2025

U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan set the corruption trial for Jackson’s mayor, a city councilperson, and the county’s district attorney for July 13, 2026. A federal grand jury indicted Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, and council member Aaron Banks in a bribery scheme after concocting a sting involving undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers. All three officials pleaded not guilty.

Montana – Ravalli County Rep. Ron Marshall Resigns, Cites Influence of Lobbyists in Legislature

Yahoo News – Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) | Published: 3/4/2025

State Rep. Rob Marshall resigned from the Montana Legislature, citing corruption in a Capitol “run by lobbyists.” During previous sessions, Marshall said there was a greater appetite among legislators and the Republican leadership to work together and hear each other out on the merits of various pieces of legislation, but this year there is “more wheeling and dealing” going on in Helena.

New Jersey – New Jersey’s Ballot Design That Gave Party Bosses Big Influence Is Officially Dead

MSN – Ry Rivard (Politico) | Published: 3/6/2025

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a redesign of primary ballots, formally ending an entrenched system that gave unique influence to the state’s party bosses but faced an unexpected wave of opposition. The county line system gave political parties in all but two of the state’s 21 counties the power to help design primary ballots based on party endorsements. Party-backed candidates were grouped together while candidates without endorsements were displayed awkwardly or on obscure parts of the ballot. Getting the line could make or break a campaign.

New Jersey – This Democrat Is Running for Governor with No Staff – but $35M in His Corner

New Jersey Monitor – Dana DiFilippo | Published: 3/10/2025

In his last disclosure, Democrat Sean Spiller reported spending of just $64,253 since he launched his campaign to be New Jersey governor last June. What is fueling Spiller’s campaign is not money that he raised himself. He is backed by an outside spending group that told election officials it will spend $35 million on the race. That independent expenditure group, Working New Jersey, has not disclosed any of its financial information since Spiller entered the race. This should raise red flags for election observers, including the state’s Election Law Enforcement Commission, said Craig Holman of Public Citizen.

New Mexico – Lobbyist Disclosure Bill Advances – Minus Cap on Lobbyist Spending on Lawmakers

Santa Fe New Mexican – Daniel Chacón | Published: 3/10/2025

The Senate Rules Committee endorsed a bill designed to shine a brighter light on lobbying activities in New Mexico after the panel stripped a House floor amendment many interpreted as capping lobbyist spending at $50 per day per legislator during a legislative session. Sen. Jeff Steinborn said he believes the Republican-sponsored amendment was an attempt to “undermine the bill” and create a “side show.”

New York – For #MeToo Movement, Mayor’s Race in New York City Poses a Test

DNyuz – Emma Fitzsimmons (New York Times) | Published: 3/10/2025

This year, three Democratic candidates for mayor of New York City – Andrew Cuomo, Scott Stringer, and the incumbent, Eric Adams – will provide a durability test for the #MeToo movement in New York politics. All three have faced allegations of sexual misconduct; all have forcefully denied the accusations and challenged the accusers in court. Some of the accusers, their lawyers, and women’s groups are trying to keep the #MeToo allegations front and center, hoping to persuade voters that they should be viewed as disqualifying behavior.

New York – Adams Case Should Be Permanently Dismissed, Outside Legal Expert Recommends

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 3/7/2025

The Justice Department should dismiss a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams “with prejudice,” eliminating the possibility of bringing charges again in the future, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement said in court documents. The Justice Department had sought to toss the charges but leave open the possibility of reindicting the mayor. Their decision to abandon the case outraged career prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office in New York and at Justice Department headquarters, prompting a slew of resignations.

New York – What New York State Aide’s Help Was Worth to China: More than $15 million

MSN – James Avery (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 3/8/2025

In an indictment, the Justice Department alleged former gubernatorial aide Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, got rich as she levered proximity to two New York governors to help China. She was criminally indicted for illegally acting as a foreign agent and, along with her husband, was hit with financial charges including money-laundering conspiracies. Now prosecutors have unsealed details of how they allege Sun orchestrated a scheme that generated a stream of funds and gifts as she did favors for Chin and how managing the intake was a family affair.

Oklahoma – LOFT Report Uncovers Outdated Complaints and Revenue Discrepancies at Ethics Commission

MSN – Colleen Wilson (KOKH) | Published: 3/6/2025

A report by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency about the Ethics Commission revealed poor record keeping, as well as a misguided focus and a loss of sight of the original mission of the state agency. The report recommended several ways to get the agency back on track, including increasing transparency and creating a complaint tracking system.

Oregon – Citizen-Driven Ballot Measures Could Become More Rare Under Proposals Taken Up by Oregon Lawmakers

Oregon Public Broadcasting – Dirk VanderHart | Published: 3/11/2025

Landing a measure on the Oregon ballot could be more time-consuming and expensive under a pair of provisions lawmakers are considering putting before voters next year. Both seek to address what their backers say is a growing problem: the concentration of the state’s population in the Portland metro area that ensures measures can qualify for the statewide ballot without a say from the rest of Oregon.

Pennsylvania – Helping to Run an Election in Pennsylvania Often Starts with Running for Election

Votebeat – Carter Walker | Published: 3/10/2025

This year, voters across Pennsylvania will have a chance to choose the people who will staff their polling locations for the next four years. In most states, these workers are appointed, but in Pennsylvania, the people who oversee voting at the precinct level are elected officials with four-year terms. Pennsylvania is the only state that does it quite like this.

Tennessee – Ex-Tennessee Lawmaker Announces Trump’s Pardon 2 Weeks into Prison Time for Campaign Finance Scheme

MSN – Jonathan Matisse (Associated Press) | Published: 3/12/2025

Former Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey said President Trump pardoned him two weeks into his 21-month prison sentence for an illegal campaign finance scheme that he pleaded guilty to in 2022, before he tried unsuccessfully to take back his plea. Kelsy admitted his attempts to funnel campaign money from his state legislative seat toward his failed 2016 congressional bid.

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Ex-Tennessee Lawmaker Announces Trump’s Pardon 2 Weeks into Prison Time for Campaign Finance Scheme” by Jonathan Matisse (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

Oregon: “Citizen-Driven Ballot Measures Could Become More Rare Under Proposals Taken Up by Oregon Lawmakers” by Dirk VanderHart for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ethics

California: “Probe Finds Nonprofit’s Gift to Former Top S.F. Official Created ‘Appearance of a Bribe'” by Michael Barba and St. John Barned-Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

National: “Judge Says Trump Jan. 6 Pardon Doesn’t Apply to Man Who Conspired to Kill Investigators” by Kyle Cheney (Politico) for MSN

National: “A New Role for the South Lawn of Trump’s White House: Tesla car lot” by Matt Viser (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “GOP Lawmaker Misgenders Democratic Rep. McBride, Derailing House Hearing” by Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “State Politics Has a Sexual Misconduct Problem” by Grace Panetta (The 19th) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

New York: “What New York State Aide’s Help Was Worth to China: More than $15 million” by James Avery (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

Campaign Finance

California: “Contractors Might Have to Disclose Campaign Finance Violations in Santa Ana” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC

Canada: “Supreme Court Strikes Down Doug Ford’s Controversial Campaign Finance Law” by Robert Benzie for Toronto Star

National: “ActBlue, the Democratic Fund-Raising Powerhouse, Faces Internal Chaos” by Reid Epstein and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

New Jersey: “New Jersey’s Ballot Design That Gave Party Bosses Big Influence Is Officially Dead” by Ry Rivard (Politico) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Expands Retribution Campaign Against Law Firms That Aided His Foes” by Perry Stein and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Fired Head of Federal Watchdog Agency Says He’s Ending His Legal Battle Over His Removal by Trump” by Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) for MSN

Oklahoma: “LOFT Report Uncovers Outdated Complaints and Revenue Discrepancies at Ethics Commission” by Colleen Wilson (KOKH) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Montana: “Ravalli County Rep. Ron Marshall Resigns, Cites Influence of Lobbyists in Legislature” by Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) for Yahoo News

On March 4, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories recommended to the Commissioner the reappointment of Stephen Dunbar as Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for a second consecutive four-year term.

The CEO is an officer of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to a four-year term, and reporting to the Legislative Assembly through the Speaker.

According to the Public Affairs and Communications division of the legislature, Dunbar is currently leading a full repeal and replacement of the Elections and Plebiscites Act and is engaging with the NWT Association of Communities to discuss expanding Elections NWT’s mandate.

Dunbar, who was born and raised in the Northwest Territories, was appointed CEO of Elections NWT on November 25, 2021.

National/Federal

Democrats Challenge Trump Effort to Control Federal Election Commission

Courthouse News Service – Ryan Knappenberger | Published: 2/28/2025

The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration, challenging an executive order that ostensibly granted President Trump increased control over the executive branch, including independent agencies like the FEC. The order requires independent agencies to submit any proposed rules to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the White House. That gives Trump final say over previously nonpartisan decisions. Democrats argue the move eviscerates the Federal Election Campaign Act and would allow the president to dictate to the FEC’s bipartisan board.

Who Paid for Trump’s Transition to Power? The Donors Are Still Unknown.

DNyuz – Ken Bensinger (New York Times) | Published: 3/6/2025

After six weeks in office, President Trump has not disclosed the names of the donors who paid for his transition planning, despite a public pledge to do so. Preparing to take power and fill thousands of federal jobs is a monthslong project that can cost tens of millions of dollars. Previous presidents used private contributions as well as federal money to foot the bill. Those presidents made public the names of donors and their contributions within 30 days of taking office, as required under agreements they signed with the departing administration.

‘We Will Not Falter.’ Trump-Era Resignation Letters Take Center Stage

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 3/6/2025

Dozens of federal officials and employees have quit in protest or been forced out amid the upheavals the Trump administration has unleashed across government agencies. A number of the departing have documented their discontent in resignation letters that have found their way into public view. Taken together, the letters from career bureaucrats who in many cases worked under Democratic and Republican presidents, amounts to a collective cry of frustration in response to an administration they feel has belittled and discounted their work.

Speaker Mike Johnson Is Living in a D.C. House That Is the Center of a Pastor’s Secretive Influence Campaign

MSN – Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 2/28/2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been staying at a District of Columbia home with Steve Berger, an evangelical pastor. Berger’s stated goal is to minister to members of Congress so that what “they learn is then translated into policy.” The house is owned by a major Republican donor who has joined Berger in advocating for and against multiple bills before Congress. House ethics rules allow members of Congress to live anywhere, as long as they are paying fair-market rent.

Trump’s Opponents Decry a Sweeping Crackdown on Free Speech

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 3/3/2025

Since taking office, Donald Trump has mounted what critics call a sweeping attack on freedom of expression. Some of the attacks are against diversity, equity, and inclusion, while others are aimed at media organizations that Trump dislikes. Also targeted are opponents who have spoken sharply about the administration. Together, critics – and in some cases, judges – have said Trump’s efforts have gone beyond shaping the message of the federal government to threaten the First Amendment rights of private groups and individuals.

The D.C. Power Broker Embroiled in a Global Hacking Scandal

MSN – Christopher Matthews and Jenny Strasburg (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 3/3/2025

A Washington strategist and lobbyist with deep connections to the Republican Party, Justin Peterson is accustomed to fighting aggressively on behalf of powerful clients such as Exxon Mobil. But at a November 2015 breakfast with an Israeli private investigator, Peterson launched a yearslong campaign that federal prosecutors now say crossed a line. As he put it in an email following the breakfast, Peterson wanted the investigator to “operationalize the research on the bad guys.” According to prosecutors, in practice that led to something very specific: hacking into the email accounts of Exxon’s enemies.

Ethical Concerns Surround Sen. Joni Ernst’s Relationships with Top Military Officials Who Lobbied Her Committee

MSN – Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) | Published: 3/4/2025

Earlier this year, the Air Force revealed that Maj. Gen. Christopher Finerty, who oversaw the Air Force’s lobbying before Congress, had inappropriate romantic relationships with three women who worked on Capitol Hill. Sources say one of the women whose relationship with Finerty was scrutinized by the Air Force inspector general was Sen. Joni Ernst. She sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Pentagon and plays a crucial role in setting its annual budget.

Republicans Advised to Avoid In-Person Town Halls After Confrontations Over Cuts Go Viral

MSN – Melanie Zanona (NBC News) | Published: 3/4/2025

Congressional Republicans are again being advised against holding in-person town halls after several instances of lawmakers being berated by attendees went viral. The cautions against town halls are just the latest warnings by top GOP leaders about participating in the events, which give constituents the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns.

Musk’s Starlink Gets FAA Contract, Raising New Conflict of Interest Concerns

MSN – Chris Isidore (CNN) | Published: 2/25/2025

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to use SpaceX’s Starlink internet system to upgrade the information technology networks it uses to manage U.S. airspace, raising new concerns about conflicts of interest for Elon Musk in one of his other roles, that of recommending funding cuts at federal agencies, including the FAA. Musk’s SpaceX is a is dependent on federal contracts. Its Starlink satellite internet provides service for government and private customers around the world.

Supreme Court Says Judge Can Force Trump Administration to Pay Foreign Aid

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Annie Gowan, and Ann Morrow (Washington Post) | Published: 3/5/2025

A divided Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court order on foreign aid funding, clearing the way for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to restart nearly $2 billion in payments for work already done. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in the order, which was the high court’s first significant move on lawsuits related to President Trump’s initiatives in his second term.

Al Green Kicked Out of Trump’s Speech as Democrats Bring Signs, Heckle

MSN – Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 3/5/2025

Within the first minutes of President Trump’s address to Congress, an extraordinary exchange unfolded as House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the sergeant at arms to remove from the chamber Rep. Al Green, who protested the president’s remarks. Green shouted at Trump, shaking his cane and saying the president had “no mandate” to cut Medicaid. Democrats have worked to find their footing in resisting Trump, and the speech brought different approaches from lawmakers, a handful of whom skipped it altogether and some of whom walked out mid-address.

Appeals Court Allows Trump to Remove Watchdog Hampton Dellinger for Now

MSN – Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) | Published: 3/5/2025

A federal appeals court allowed President Trump to temporarily remove the head of an independent watchdog agency while the judges decide whether the president has the authority to fire him without cause.  A lower court had blocked the president from firing Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit paused that ruling, saying the government had met the “stringent requirements” for securing a stay during the appeal.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Have Federal Agents Served Warrants at California’s Capitol? The Legislature Doesn’t Want You to Know

CalMatters – Ryan Sabalow | Published: 3/5/2025

The Legislative Open Records Act gives lawmakers and their staff members more discretion to withhold records than most other public agencies have under the similar California Public Records Act. But David Loy, legal director for the First Amendment Coalition, said even if they have a legal right to withhold records, public agencies usually have broad discretion to release them. “We should err on the side of disclosure. The public has a right to know,” Loy said.

California – Ethics Violation Lodged Against Former CalRecycle Director

MSN – Susanne Rust (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 3/4/2025

The former director of CalRecycle, Rachel Wagner – who oversaw, wrote, and promoted the single-use plastic legislation known as Senate Bill 54 – is now the executive director of the Circular Action Alliance, a coalition of plastic and packaging companies determined to delay, if not derail, the law. A whistleblower submitted a formal complaint to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, asking the agency to investigate Wagoner on the grounds she violated a ban that prevents former regulators from receiving compensation to work against the state on matters they once oversaw.

California – Jury Convicts Fired S.F. Building Inspector Who Approved Family Projects

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/4/2025

Van Zeng, a former San Francisco building inspector who inspected projects linked to his family – including construction on his own home – was found guilty by a jury of breaking conflict-of-interest rules. Zeng’s father is a building contractor who allegedly arranged illegal payments for Bernie Curran, a disgraced former building inspector at the center of a larger corruption scandal. Zeng’s parents flip houses, and his sister is a real estate agent.

California – Huntington Park City Hall and Mayor’s Home Raided in Corruption Investigation

MSN – Ruben Vives (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 2/26/2025

Huntington Park City Hall and the homes of the mayor and current and former city council members were searched as part of a corruption investigation. Electronics, paperwork and records were seized as part of the probe, dubbed “Operation Dirty Pond.” Investigators have been looking into alleged misuse of millions of dollars allocated for the construction of a regional aquatic center at Salt Lake Park, according to the district attorney’s office. The city allocated more than $20 million to the project and has spent about $14 million even though nothing has been constructed yet.

California – SF Waives Ethics Rules in Asks for Private-Sector Help

San Francisco Examiner – Adam Shanks | Published: 3/5/2025

San Francisco is asking the private sector to step up and fund what city government cannot – or will not – as it faces a major budget deficit. The Board of Supervisors has approved special waivers to allow department heads to widely solicit donations to support city services. In doing so, they have won an exception to an ethics law that was tightened up just a few years ago – and, according to those who shepherded the new rules through, with good reason.

Connecticut – Kosta Diamantis and Chris Ziogas Charged in Corruption Scheme

Connecticut Mirror – Andrew Brown and Dave Altimari | Published: 2/28/2025

Former Deputy Budget Director Konstantinos Diamantis and former Connecticut Rep. Christopher Ziogas were indicted on federal corruption charges for allegedly pressuring state employees to cancel a 2020 audit that was examining an optometrist’s Medicaid billing practices. The indictment comes just weeks after Helen Zervas, the optometrist and Ziogas’ fiancée, pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare and Medicaid and conspiring with two state officials to cancel the audit.

Connecticut – CT Lawmaker Eyeing PURA Seat Owes Struggling Ratepayers Over $1 Million

Energy and Policy Institute – Itai Vardi | Published: 3/4/2025

Connecticut Sen. John Fonfara, who is reportedly a candidate for commissioner at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), headed a delinquent electric supplier company that owes over $1.1 million to customers who are struggling to pay their electric bills. Fonfara has started multiple new companies whose interests could be affected by decisions made by PURA. At least one of them is in the electric supply industry. Another is invested in building data centers, which often require large investments in electricity infrastructure.

Georgia – Georgia Committee That Has Pursued Fani Willis Now Wants to Investigate Stacey Abrams

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 2/28/2025

A Georgia Senate committee pursuing a thus-far fruitless investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants to add Stacey Abrams to its list of targets. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and other Republicans say they want to further examine recent ethics findings that voter participation group New Georgia Project improperly coordinated with Abrams’ 2018 campaign for governor.

Hawaii – Hawaii Defense Contractor Exec Must Face Some Campaign Finance Conspiracy Claims

Courthouse News Service – Jeremy Yurow | Published: 3/3/2025

A federal judge in Hawaii dismissed racketeering claims against a defense contractor but allowed conspiracy and state law claims to proceed. Duke Hartman was formerly an executive at PacMar Technologies. PacMar claims he participated in a scheme to funnel illegal campaign contributions to a PAC. Hartman claims PacMar’s former chief executive, Martin Kao, along with his wife Tiffany and fellow executives, orchestrated an illegal donation scheme and subsequent cover-up.

Hawaii – Honolulu Officials Charged in Kealoha Retirement Payout Case

Yahoo News – Peter Boylan (Honolulu Star Advertiser) | Published: 3/4/2025

Honolulu’s former managing director, corporation counsel, and chairperson of the Police Commission were charged with conspiracy for their handling of a $250,000 retirement payment in 2017 to former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. The plea deal signals an end to a long-running public corruption probe by federal prosecutors in California that began with the Kealoha case and expanded to examine the intersections between politics, business, and law enforcement in Hawaii.

Illinois – Judge Grants Retrial on Four Bribery Counts in ‘ComEd Four’ Case Involving Madigan

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 3/3/2025

A federal judge granted a partial retrial on several bribery counts in the case of four former executives and lobbyists for electric utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) who were convicted in 2023 for their roles in bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. U.S. District Court Judge Manish Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants altered ComEd’s books to hide the scheme.

Kansas – Kansas Republican Dissidents Put Spotlight on Ethics Investigation and Effort to Rewrite State Law

Yahoo News – Sherman Smith (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 2/28/2025

A sudden burst of chatter around a three-year-old campaign finance investigation that has largely played out in the shadows, included the disclosure of a confidential document that details the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission’s findings of an alleged far-reaching scheme to circumvent campaign donation limits and the commission’s decision to clear a central figure in the investigation. But at least a handful of Republicans harbor a grudge over the alleged violations and an apparent attempt by others in the party to rewrite state ethics law.

Louisiana – More Louisiana Officials Can Shield Their Home Addresses, Ethics Board Decides

MSN – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 2/28/2025

The Louisiana Board of Ethics will allow statewide elected officials and more high-ranking government employees to keep their home addresses off forms posted online. Last year, the board’s staff redacted the home addresses of five executive office employees who work for Gov. Jeff Landry. The new ruling will allow 28 more officials to keep their home addresses off the ethics board website if they request it.

Louisiana – Bill Would Require Live Broadcast of Louisiana Ethics Board Meetings

The Center Square – Nolan McKendry | Published: 2/27/2025

A bill in Louisiana would mandate live broadcast and online archiving of meetings of the state Board of Ethics and the Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure. The legislation comes amid growing tension between the Legislature, the Board of Ethics, and Gov. Landry’s administration.

Maryland – Much Ado About $60. How 2 Republicans’ Complaints Led the Library to Cancel a Democratic Candidate’s Event.

Baltimore Banner – Rona Kobell | Published: 3/5/2025

The Baltimore County Public Library appears to be closing the book on a county council candidate’s plan to host events there after two delegates complained to library officials about a campaign kickoff held at one of its branches. Sharonda Huffman held a campaign event in December and put down $60 to reserve a room for a second event in February. The library canceled the February after it was alleged that Huffman’s December event was a fundraiser. The library encourages political activity but does not allow fundraisers or parties.

Michigan – Judge Will Take Additional Briefs Before Deciding on Trial for Ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield

MSN – Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 2/28/2025

A hearing to decide if former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield should stand trial over a series of alleged financial crimes related to his use of political funds wrapped up recently, although it could be months still before a judge issues a ruling. Chatfield was charged last year with embezzlement, conspiracy, and larceny. State Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office claims he knowingly used money from political funds to pay for vacations, dinners at upscale restaurants, and other non-permitted items when he was a lawmaker.

Mississippi – Mississippi Judge Vacates Her Order That a Newspaper Remove Its Editorial Criticizing Local Leaders

MSN – Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) | Published: 2/26/2025

A Mississippi judge vacated her order that a newspaper remove its editorial criticizing local officials, days after a city decided to drop the lawsuit that spurred it. The judge’s order had been widely condemned by free speech advocates as a clear violation of the paper’s First Amendment rights.

Montana – Judge Denies State Representative’s Request to Block Tobacco Lobbyists at MT Legislature

Longview News-Journal – Seaborn Larson | Published: 2/26/2025

A federal judge denied a state representative’s attempts to block lobbyists from major cigarette manufacturers from engaging lawmakers on his bill. Rep. Ron Marshall sued Altria and R.J. Reynolds, alleging the companies were violating anti-lobbying provisions set out in the 1998 settlement those companies made with several states.

New Mexico – No More Free Meals? House Approves Bill Restricting Certain Lobbyist Spending

Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd | Published: 3/4/2025

A bill expanding lobbyist reporting requirements was broadened before passing the New Mexico House. The change would also prohibit lobbyists from spending large amounts on food, beverages, or entertainment for state-elected officials, including lawmakers, during and just before legislative sessions.

New York – The Case of the Missing $3M: Eric Adams’ campaign finance woes grow

MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 2/27/2025

A mysterious $3 million sitting in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection account is the latest irregularity giving campaign finance officials cause to deny him public matching funds. The Campaign Finance Board nixed Adams’ request for $4.5 million in taxpayer-funded campaign dollars in December and has renewed its decision monthly. “The Campaign is not eligible for payment because the difference between the Campaign’s reported receipts and documented receipts is equal to or greater than [10 percent],” the board said.

New York – Andrew Cuomo Enters Crowded NYC Mayor Race, Says He Will Fix a City in Crisis

MSN – Ginger Adams Otis and Victoria Albert (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 3/1/2025

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace three years ago, announced his return to politics with a bid to be New York City’s next mayor, joining a crowded primary field that includes embattled incumbent Eric Adams. Cuomo launched his comeback with a video that acknowledged past errors, without providing details, while outlining how he would tackle housing, crime, and other issues if elected to lead the city. He promised to work with his party’s progressive wing, as well as President Trump.

New York – N.Y. Ethics Watchdog Pressures Legislative Leaders to Fill Open Vacancies

Spectrum News – Kate Lisa | Published: 2/28/2025

The head of New York’s ethics watchdog said he is putting pressure on legislative leaders to quickly fill three vacancies on the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) after the state’s highest court affirmed the agency’s constitutionality. COELIG Executive Director Sanford Berland said commissioners will have a busy year with the case behind them, but legislative leaders must step in to make that possible.

Ohio – Neo-Nazis Targeted a Majority-Black Town. Locals Launched an Armed Watch.

MSN – Daniel Wu (Washington Post) | Published: 2/27/2025

For weeks, men carrying rifles have guarded the roads leading into Lincoln Heights, Ohio, stopping and questioning those who approach the small, majority-Black town near Cincinnati suburb. In February, a truck of neo-Nazis came to Lincoln Heights’s doorstep. Masked demonstrators, some carrying rifles, hurled racist slurs and waved flags with red swastikas on a highway overpass leading into town. Residents say they are distraught after being surrounded by hate and suspicious of police officers whom county officials criticized for not cracking down on the neo-Nazi march.

Oregon – Portland Voters Approved a Strict Campaign Finance Law. A City Watchdog Wants to Soften It

MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 2/28/2025

City Auditor Simone Rede is pushing to upend significant portions of Portland’s pioneering campaign finance law, alarming advocates who have worked to curb the influence of money in politics. Rede wants the mayor and city council to take actions that would allow potential changes to contribution limits and disclosure requirements, either by allowing state law to preempt the city’s stricter rules or by proposing a local ballot measure this fall.

Oregon – ‘Get the Junk Out of Our Rates’ Bill Could Limit How Oregon Utilities Pay for Lobbying, Ads

OPB – Monica Samayoa | Published: 3/4/2025

Legislation in Oregon aims to ensure customers are not paying for utilities’ lobbying and advertising expenses. Natural gas rates and electric rates are set through a process that allows utilities to charge rates that cover the cost of doing business, and then to turn a profit. Senate Bill 88 would create more clarity around utility spending, and when it must come out of those allowed profits. If they spend on advertising, political influence, litigation, or pay for trade associations or membership fees and fines, that spending would not be allowed to push up rates.

Pennsylvania – Former Dauphin County Employees Are Getting Contracts, Raising Ethical Questions

MSN – Juliette Rihl (PennLive) | Published: 3/5/2025

When government employees in Pennsylvania leave their jobs, state law prohibits them from getting a contract with their former agency for the first year. But in Dauphin County, some former employees are getting contracts anyway. Over the past year, the county hired at least four former employees as consultants almost immediately after they left their full-time government roles, some at a higher pay rate than they had as full-time employees. Several ethics experts said the practice is unethical and, in some cases, may have been illegal.

South Carolina – North Charleston Council Members, Others Charged in Money Laundering, Bribery Schemes

Yahoo News – John Monk (The State) | Published: 2/26/2025

Three North Charleston City Council members and five other people were accused of being involved in a variety of bribery, kickback, extortion, and money laundering schemes. The charges follow a yearlong investigation by the FBI code-named “Southern Shake.” Some of the charges have to do with the rezoning of a hospital site and others with a million-dollar-plus violence prevention grant program run by the city government.

Tennessee – Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. Federally Charged with Bribery and Tax Evasion

Memphis Commercial Appeal – Lucas Finton | Published: 2/28/2025

An indictment charges Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. with one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, and six counts of attempting to evade or defeat tax payments. Three nonprofits were named in the criminal complaint along with businesses owned and operated by Ford. The charges are connected to a nearly four-year-long investigation into Ford’s grant-funding habits.

National/Federal

On X, Conservative Activists Find a Direct Pipeline to Musk’s Team

DNyuz – Zach Montague (New York Times) | Published: 2/26/2025

As his operation targets spending considered unaligned with President Trump’s agenda, Elon Musk has personally appealed to users of his social media platform X to help root out what he has termed “waste, fraud and abuse.” He has been responsive to complaints that go viral, with his team trumpeting the apparent changes pushed through as a result. For at least two prominent conservative activists, a Trump administration so carefully attuned to right-wing social media has created the opportunity to build an extraordinary pipeline of influence and access.

Justice Dept. Takes Broad View of Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons

DNyuz – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 2/26/2025

When FBI agents searched the home of Jeremy Brown in connection with his role in the attack on the Capitol, they found several illegal items. Brown was ultimately convicted on charges of illegally possessing weapons and classified material and was sentenced to more than seven years in prison. Now, federal prosecutors say because the second case was related to January 6, it was covered by the clemency President Trump issued on his first day in office to all the people charged in connection with the Capitol attack.

She Lobbied for a Carcinogen. Now She’s at the E.P.A., Approving New Chemicals.

DNyuz – Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) | Published: 2/26/2025

Formaldehyde can cause cancer and severe respiratory problems. So, in 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a new effort to regulate it. The chemicals industry fought back. Its campaign was led by Lynn Dekleva, then a lobbyist at the American Chemistry Council, an industry group that spends millions of dollars on government lobbying. Dekleva is now at the EPA in a crucial job: She runs an office that has the authority to approve new chemicals for use.

Jeff Bezos Announces ‘Significant Shift’ Coming to the Washington Post. A Key Editor Is Leaving Because of It

MSN – Liam Riley (CNN) | Published: 2/26/2025

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos announced a “significant shift” to the publisher’s opinion page that led David Shipley, the paper’s editorial page editor, to resign. The changes upended precedent and rattled a media company that has already been shaken by years of turmoil and leadership turnover. The Post will now publish daily opinion stories on two editorial “pillars”: personal liberties and free markets, Bezos said. The opinion section will cover other subjects, too, Bezos wrote, but “viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

Trump, Schmoozing Saudis, Plays Two Roles: President and mogul

MSN – Natalie Allison, Abigail Hausohner, and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 2/24/2025

In back-to-back events, President Trump held court with Saudi government officials and investors who do business with his family’s firms. The meetings demonstrated how Trump has blended the roles of president and business mogul. The Trump Organization has treated Saudi Arabia as a critical partner in its efforts to expand its empire of hotels and resorts.

Firings of Some Federal Workers Should Be Halted, Watchdog Recommends

MSN – Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 2/24/2025

A federal watchdog agency argued the Trump administration’s firings of probationary federal workers were likely illegal, recommending the terminations be halted pending an investigation. The request for the halt was issued by Hampton Dellinger, the embattled head of the independent Office of Special Counsel, whom Trump has tried to oust but a judge has temporarily kept in place. It is now in the hands of the Merit Systems Protection Board, another independent agency whose head Trump has tried to depose.

White House Will Decide Which Journalists Get Access to It in an Unprecedented Step

MSN – Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 2/25/2025

The Trump administration is stripping the White House Correspondents’ Association of its role in managing the White House Press Pool, taking control of deciding who will be a part of the small rotating group of journalists and photographers who accompany the president. It is an aggressive move by the government to control which news outlets have access to the president, one that is unprecedented in modern American politics and comes amid President Trump’s long-standing efforts to erode Americans’ trust in fact-based reporting.

Experts Say Trump Comes Close to the Red Line of Openly Defying Judges

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Leo Sands, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 2/20/2025

Federal judges have blocked President Trump’s attempts to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, halt billions in foreign assistance, and dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. But in each case, the administration has said it still has legal authority to do at least some of those things, prompting judges and those challenging Trump’s actions to accuse him of failing to comply. Legal experts said the administration’s aggressive maneuvers have approached the red line of openly flouting court orders.

Trump Loyalist Kash Patel Becomes Director of FBI, Which He Vows to Remake

MSN – Jeremy Robuck and Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 2/20/2025

The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director, installing a close ally of President Trump and a staunch critic of the bureau. Patel will take command of an organization with far-reaching surveillance powers and access to sensitive intelligence at a moment when it is engulfed by turbulence and uncertainty. Since Trump’s inauguration, at least eight top officials have been forced out, and people familiar with the FBI’s workforce say morale has plummeted amid fears of further staffing shake-ups.

As Trump Pursues His Policies, Democratic States Block His Path

MSN – Maeve Reston, Reis Thebault, Janna Slater, and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 2/22/2025

Amid a barrage of executive orders from President Trump and dramatic steps by billionaire Elon Musk to downsize the federal government, Democratic attorneys general have emerged as the new administration’s most persistent, and effective, adversaries. While congressional Democrats who lack control of either chamber have struggled to respond to Trump’s first weeks, state attorneys general have marched into court, pledging to rein in an administration intent on pushing the limits of presidential power.

Trump Wants More Power Over Agencies. Experts Worry About Campaign Finance Regulators

NPR – Ashley Lopez | Published: 2/20/2025

There are currently about 80 agencies across the federal government that were designed by Congress to be independent of the White House. An executive from President Trump seeks to require these agencies to run all new policies, rulings, and regulations by the president. Campaign Legal Center Executive Director Adav Noti said the FEC, in particular, was created following the Watergate scandal to be both bipartisan and independent, so it would not be “beholden to any particular president.” It is a view contested by the Trump administration.

FEC Clears Ted Cruz of Wrongdoing Over Podcast Syndicator’s Donations to Super PAC

Yahoo News – Jasper Scherer (Texas Tribune) | Published: 2/21/2025

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz did not run violate campaign finance laws when the company that syndicates his podcast contributed nearly $1 million through a series of payments to a super PAC supporting Cruz’s reelection bid, the FEC ruled. The agency dismissed a complaint filed by watchdog groups, who alleged Cruz could have violated campaign funding rules if he played any role in iHeartMedia’s contributions to the pro-Cruz Truth and Courage PAC. Under federal law, candidates can only direct or solicit up to $5,000 in donations to super PACs, which can otherwise raise unlimited sums to support candidates.

From the States and Municipalities

California – In Huntington Beach, Politics on a Plaque

Seattle Times – Orlando Mayorquin (New York Times) | Published: 2/24/2025

The Huntington Beach City Council, all of whom are Republicans, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the city’s central public library into a political statement, using their favorite acronym. The council-approved design of the plaque describes the library in this bold-letter fashion: Magical Alluring Galvanizing Adventurous. The wording of the plaque has thrown Huntington Beach into the national spotlight. But the dispute is part of a yearslong battle over the city’s political and cultural identity.

California – California Agrees to Drop Parts of Social Media Law Challenged by Elon Musk’s X

Yahoo News – Tyler Katzenberger (Politico) | Published: 2/24/2025

California agreed to drop portions of a law that requires large social media companies to disclose their policies for handling hate speech, disinformation, harassment, and extremism. A settlement between state Attorney General Rob Bonta and Elon Musk’s social media platform X stops short of tossing the entire law, as X demanded when it first filed the case, citing First Amendment complaints. But it deals a blow to California’s push to publicize how social media platforms define and referee speech on their platforms.

Colorado – Appeals Court Says State Campaign Finance Enforcement Framework Is Constitutional

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 2/26/2025

Colorado’s second-highest court said the state’s current method of adjudicating campaign finance complaints is constitutional and is not the “very definition of tyranny.” State law allows any person to file a complaint alleging a campaign finance violation, which the secretary of state’s office then screens, decides whether to dismiss or investigate, and potentially imposes a penalty. Campaign Integrity Watchdog argued the process consolidated legislative, executive, and judicial functions within “a single, partisan elected office.”

Connecticut – New Head of IT at CT Election Enforcement Agency Raises Conflict of Interest Concerns

CT Insider – Joshua Eaton | Published: 2/25/2025

Mann Hasen left the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) in 2014. Since then, he founded a company that processes online credit card donations for campaigns, a process SEEC oversees. Hasen was also treasurer for a failed state Senate campaign that is now the subject of an open complaint with SEEC over allegations of improper in-kind donations. Hasen is named in that complaint. The SEEC recently re-hired Hasen as head of IT at the agency, which was his former position. “I have to really question the decision to hire from the very start, given the entanglements he has,” said Bilal Sekou of Common Cause Connecticut.

Florida – Florida Lobbying Ban Likely to Survive 11th Circuit Scrutiny

Courthouse News Service – Alex Pickett | Published: 2/26/2025

An attorney for a Florida mayor and county commissioner asked an appeals court to strike down part of a state constitutional amendment that restricts lobbying by elected officials. The amendment prohibits elected officials from paid lobbying of any government bodies “on issues of policy, appropriations or procurement” during their terms in office. The Florida Legislature then passed a law putting the amendment into effect and adding penalties. Plaintiffs argue the ban violated their First Amendment right to free speech.

Florida – Florida Appeals Court Overturns Ethics Committee’s Decision on Doug Underhill. Here’s Why.

MSN – Mollye Barrows (Pensacola News Journal) | Published: 2/26/2025

A state appeals court overturned decisions by the Florida Commission on Ethics that former Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill should have been removed from office over allegations he misused his public office and that he owed $35,000 for ethics violations while serving as commissioner. The appeals court ruled the ethics commission “abused its authority” in the case.

Florida – Centners’ Ex-Lobbyist Sues Them, Alleges They Let Him ‘Take the Fall’ in His Criminal Case

MSN – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 2/25/2025

Miami lobbyist and attorney Bill Riley Jr. filed a lawsuit against his former clients David and Leila Centner, alleging the couple let him “take the fall” and failed to provide information to prosecutors that would have exonerated him in a now-dismissed money laundering and bribery case involving Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla. Prosecutors had alleged that nearly $250,000 in campaign contributions was channeled from the Centners to Díaz de la Portilla-controlled political committees to secure his support for an arena the Centners wanted to build.

Florida – In Trump’s DC, K Street Clamors for Florida-Linked Lobbyists

MSN – Kimberly Leonard (Politico) | Published: 2/20/2025

Powerful interest groups are moving to hire lobbyists with ties to Florida to influence the Trump administration. The president has chosen officials from the state for top positions, and he continues to spend plenty of time in Florida, making appearances at galas, hosting Republicans at Mar-a-Lago, and signing executive orders. Because the state legislative session in Tallahassee lasts only 60 days, some lobbyists say adding work in Washington is easy enough to juggle.

Georgia – Giuliani’s Legal Battle with Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss Has Finally Ended

MSNBC – Clarissa-Jan Lim | Published: 2/25/2025

After a protracted legal saga in which he was held in contempt twice, Rudy Giuliani has finally put an end to the defamation case brought by two former Georgia election workers, having “fully satisfied” the judgment against him. According to the federal court filing, Giuliani satisfied the judgement that required him to pay Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss nearly $150 million for spreading lies about them after the 2020 election.

Idaho – Idaho Legislators Address ‘Monetization of Politics’ in New Campaign Finance Bills

Yahoo News – Mia Maldonado (Idaho Capital Sun) | Published: 2/21/2025

House leadership introduced four bills to address the influx of out-of-state spending involved in Idaho elections. House Bill 309 would require lobbyists to disclose expenses on a weekly basis during the legislative session and a monthly basis outside of session.

Illinois – Rift Widens Between Johnson and Inspector General He Inherited

WBEZ – Fran Spielman | Published: 2/25/2025

The rift between Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the inspector general he inherited increased over efforts to remove what chief watchdog Deborah Witzburg views as roadblocks impeding her internal investigations. Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry responded after Wirtzburg accused Johnson and his predecessor Lori Lightfoot of withholding documents, selectively enforcing subpoenas, and demanding to have the Law Department sit in on interviews that “risk embarrassment” to the mayor.

Kentucky – Questions Spur Further Investigation of London Mayor’s Improper Contributions to Beshear Campaign

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 2/21/2025

The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance wants more information in the investigation of whether London Mayor Randall Weddle made illegal contributions to help Gov. Andy Beshear win reelection in 2023. The registry staff recommended the board find Weddle violated the law by making numerous contributions in the names of other people to Beshear’s campaign for governor and the state Democratic Party, but Weddle did not know his actions violated the law. Registry members said they were unsure of many important details of what happened and could not make any findings for now.

Maine – Maine House Votes to Censure Lawmaker Over Social Media Posts Showing Transgender Minor

Maine Public – Kevin Miller | Published: 2/26/2025

The Maine House voted to censure Rep. Laurel Libby, whose social media posts about a transgender high school athlete have drawn national attention to the student and to Maine’s policies. The censure resolution accuses Libby of “reprehensible” actions as part of an effort to “advance her political agenda” – actions the resolution and Democrats said could endanger the student.

Maine – Should Unenrolled Candidates Be Able to Take Twice as Much from Contributors? These Lawmakers Think So.

Maine Wire – Libby Palanza | Published: 2/18/2025

Two lawmakers want to increase the campaign contribution cap for unenrolled candidates running for office in Maine. Under state law, candidates are limited in the amount of money from any given individual or PAC during an election. Legislative Document 390 would double these limits for candidates who are not associated with one of the officially recognized political parties.

Maine – Portland Establishes Ethics Commission More Than 2 Years After Voters Approved It

Yahoo News – Grace Benninghoff (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 2/24/2025

The Portland City Council passed an order that establishes a city ethics commission. Ever since voters approved the creation of the commission more than two years ago as a part of an overhaul of the city charter, the council has been working to put it in place. In the intervening years there have been multiple workshops, more than two dozen proposed amendments, and several opportunities for public comment.

Maryland – Maryland Lawmakers Want Governors to Face Stronger Ethics Laws

MSN – Natalie Jones (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 2/27/2025

Lawmakers want Maryland governors to place their personal financial holdings into a blind trust months after conflicts-of-interest were raised during the state’s U.S. Senate race between former Gov. Larry Hogan and now-Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. Companion bills in the House and Senate would require the governor to either place their financial interests into a certified blind trust approved by the State Ethics Commission or divest from any interest the commission determines may pose a conflict with the governor’s public duties.

Michigan – Michigan House Passes Plan to Close ‘Revolving Door’ of Lawmakers, Lobbyists

MSN – Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 2/20/2025

The Michigan House passed legislation that would impose a waiting period on themselves before they could become lobbyists. The bills would ban executive officeholders, including the governor and heads of state departments, from engaging in lobbying for the first two years after they leave office.

Mississippi – Mississippi City Stuns Newspaper with Restraining Order Over Editorial

MSN – Ann Branigin (Washington Post) | Published: 2/20/2025

A newspaper in Mississippi was ordered to take down an editorial that criticized public officials. The city of Clarksdale filed a defamation lawsuit against the Clarksdale Press Register following the editorial that called out the mayor and city council for holding a meeting about a proposed tax without alerting the media. City leaders said they were “chilled and hindered” in their efforts to lobby for the tax in the state capital “due to libelous assertions and statements” made in the article. The order was condemned by free-speech advocates.

New Jersey – In Stunning Development, Corruption Charges Against N.J. Political Boss Dismissed

MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 2/26/2025

The indictment against one of the most powerful political figures in New Jersey was thrown out of court in a startling decision by a judge who found no crime had been committed. George Norcross, a wealthy insurance executive from Camden who has never held elected office but held far-reaching sway over government and politics, was accused of orchestrating a wide-ranging corruption scheme. Authorities charged that enterprise diverted state-funded tax breaks intended to spark economic development in the state’s poorest city.

New Mexico – Lobbyist Transparency Bill Clears First Hurdle

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 2/25/2025

Legislation in New Mexico that would bring more transparency to lobbying behind the scenes at the statehouse began moving through the legislative process with almost four weeks to go in the session. Senate Bill 248 would require more details about the money lobbyists spend to achieve policy goals.

New York – Hochul Announces Guardrails Around Eric Adams

MSN – Nick Reisman and Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 2/20/2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled guardrails hemming in New York City Mayor Eric Adams in light of his alliance with President Trump and Trump’s leverage over Adams. The governor, facing pressure to remove the mayor, is proposing a series of oversight measures she said are meant to prevent undue influence by the White House. Hochul left open the possibility of forcing Adams from office.

New York – Judge Appoints Outside Lawyer to Argue Against Dropping Adams Charges

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 2/21/2025

The federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams appointed an outside lawyer to present arguments in opposition to the Justice Department’s efforts to dismiss the charges. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Ho declined a request from top leadership at the department to immediately close the case. Instead, he appointed Paul Clement, U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, to advise the court on the matter.

North Dakota – House Defeats Bill to Streamline North Dakota Ethics Commission

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 2/25/2025

The North Dakota House overwhelmingly defeated a bill that aimed to give the state’s Ethics Commission more freedom over how it investigates potential violations. The Ethics Commission pushed for House Bill 1360 as a way to simplify the rules and laws that govern its work. Commission staff said this would both help reduce the commission’s backlog of complaints, as well as make the process easier to navigate for the public.

Ohio – Vivek Ramaswamy Launches Campaign for Ohio Governor

MSN – Patrick Svitek and Dylan Wells (Washington Post) | Published: 2/24/2025

Vivek Ramaswamy, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate and short-lived co-chairperson of President Trump’s government efficiency commission, launched his campaign for Ohio governor, joining a contested primary that will test his star power in the Trump-led GOP. Ramaswamy’s candidacy could add to a major period of transition for Republicans in Ohio, a onetime battleground state in presidential elections that has become more comfortable territory for Republicans under Trump.

Oregon – Questions Over Oregon Politician’s Pay Lead Defense Department to Terminate Agency Funding

Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Malheur Enterprise) | Published: 2/23/2025

State Rep. Greg Smith’s unsupported pay claims and effort to boost his own pay resulted in the federal government pulling funding for an agency that was supposed to create jobs, preserve parts of the Oregon Trail, and protect wildlife on a former military base in eastern Oregon. That could cost the Columbia Development Authority nearly $800,000 a year, a loss that local governments may have to make up if they want the small agency to survive.

Oregon – Multnomah County Awards a Billion Dollars in Contracts Each Year Without Lobbying Rules

Willamette Week – Anthony Effinger | Published: 2/26/2025

Unlike the state of Oregon, the city of Portland, and many large counties on the West Coast, Multnomah County does not require contractors or their lobbyists to register or report hours spent pitching their services to public officials. People familiar with the county’s operations say the lack of lobbying requirements opens the door for abuse. County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards is working on lobbying rules for the county. She oversaw compliance with lobbying and ethics rules across the country as a senior director at Nike.

Pennsylvania – Johnny Doc’s Bribery Conviction Just Cost His Former Union Local 98 Another $25,000 in Ethics Fines

MSN – Chris Palmer (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 2/20/2025

The union that convicted labor leader John Dougherty once molded into one of the state’s most powerful political forces agreed to pay nearly $25,000 to the Philadelphia Board of Ethics to resolve issues that stemmed from Dougherty’s criminal conduct a decade ago. The penalties relate to Dougherty’s failure to register as a lobbyist as he and the union he directed sought to influence government officials between 2014 and 2016.

Texas – Texas Lawmaker Is Targeting Publicly Funded Lobbying. Will Restrictions Pass This Session?

MSN – Alex Driggars (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 2/26/2025

State Sen. Mayes Middleton is taking aim at local taxing entities’ long-standing ability to hire lobbyists to help them navigate the Texas Legislature. Middleton filed Senate Bill 19, which would prevent local governments, such as school districts and cities, from hiring lobbyists with public money or paying dues to organizations that lobby on their behalf. One such organization is the Texas Association of School Boards, a named target of Middleton’s bill, which drew the ire of some Republican lawmakers last session for its opposition to school vouchers.

Ethics

National: “White House Will Decide Which Journalists Get Access to It in an Unprecedented Step” by Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Centners’ Ex-Lobbyist Sues Them, Alleges They Let Him ‘Take the Fall’ in His Criminal Case” by Tess Riski (Miami Herald) for MSN

National: “Jeff Bezos Announces ‘Significant Shift’ Coming to the Washington Post. A Key Editor Is Leaving Because of It” by Liam Riley (CNN) for MSN

New Jersey: “In Stunning Development, Corruption Charges Against N.J. Political Boss Dismissed” by Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Maine: “Maine House Votes to Censure Lawmaker Over Social Media Posts Showing Transgender Minor” by Kevin Miller for Maine Public

Lobbying

National: “On X, Conservative Activists Find a Direct Pipeline to Musk’s Team” by Zach Montague (New York Times) for DNyuz

Oregon: “Multnomah County Awards a Billion Dollars in Contracts Each Year Without Lobbying Rules” by Anthony Effinger for Willamette Week

Texas: “Texas Lawmaker Is Targeting Publicly Funded Lobbying. Will Restrictions Pass This Session?” by Alex Driggars (Austin American-Statesman) for MSN

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump Wants More Power Over Agencies. Experts Worry About Campaign Finance Regulators” by Ashley Lopez for NPR

Ethics

National: “Experts Say Trump Comes Close to the Red Line of Openly Defying Judges” by Justin Jouvenal, Leo Sands, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Mississippi: “Mississippi City Stuns Newspaper with Restraining Order Over Editorial” by Ann Branigin (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Hochul Announces Guardrails Around Eric Adams” by Nick Reisman and Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Trump Loyalist Kash Patel Becomes Director of FBI, Which He Vows to Remake” by Jeremy Robuck and Mark Berman (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “In Trump’s DC, K Street Clamors for Florida-Linked Lobbyists” by Kimberly Leonard (Politico) for MSN

Michigan: “Michigan House Passes Plan to Close ‘Revolving Door’ of Lawmakers, Lobbyists” by Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Johnny Doc’s Bribery Conviction Just Cost His Former Union Local 98 Another $25,000 in Ethics Fines” by Chris Palmer (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN