National/Federal

The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash

DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025

Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial situation has grown so bleak that top officials have discussed whether they might need to borrow money this year to keep paying the bills. Fundraising from major donors has slowed sharply. At the same time, he has expanded the party’s financial commitments to every state, and even to far-flung territories like Guam. Some Democrats say he has been unable to help unite his party against Republicans, who control the federal government.

Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid

DNyuz – Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) | Published: 6/19/2025

The Little Lobbyists formed in 2017 during Donald Trump’s first term to push back against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking to Capitol Hill to demand that lawmakers oppose the move. Their successful campaign to save the law was part of a broader backlash against the proposal, which was driven in large part by major health care lobbies. This year, the bigger lobbying players have been more muted about the sprawling Republican policy measure, which Democrats decry as an abomination. But the little ones are out in force.

Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says

DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2025

A senior Justice Department official, Emil Bove III, told subordinates he was willing to ignore court orders to fulfill President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign, according to a whistle-blower complaint by a department lawyer who has since been fired. In Erez Reuveni’s telling, Bove discussed disregarding court orders and other top law enforcement officials showed themselves ready to stonewall judges or lie to them to get their way.

Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target

DNyuz – Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025

Iran’s counterstrikes in retaliation for Israel’s assault on its nuclear program, littered Tel Aviv’s Sarona neighborhood with smoke and ballistic debris. Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, has discussed a potential partnership with the owners of the Sarona district hotel now under construction. The possible deal would likely allow the Trumps to manage the hotel once it opens and affix their name to the city’s skyline. If a deal in Israel came to fruition, and a Trump hotel eventually towered above a war zone, the president’s foreign policy could alter not only the fate of the region but also his own finances.

Trump Won by Turning Out Voters and Building a Diverse Coalition, Report Finds

DNyuz – Ruth Igielnik and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025

One of the most robust studies of the 2024 election shows Donald Trump’s return to the White House was powered more heavily by his ability to turn out past supporters than by winning over Democratic voters, even as he built one of the most diverse coalitions in Republican Party history. The new report from Pew Research Center offers some of the most detailed analysis yet of what happened last fall, in particular how infrequent voters broke for Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris.

DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities

MSN – Chris Johnson (Roll Call) | Published: 6/18/2025

The Department of Homeland Security placed new limits on members of Congress seeking to visit and inspect immigration detention facilities as lawmakers from New York and the Chicago delegations become the latest to encounter resistance from federal officials on an attempted tour. The department issued new guidance that includes several changes to the protocol on facility visits that appears to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement the ability to limit or prevent visits, including the power to end a visit if the protocol is not followed.

Trump Cites Presidential Immunity to Try to Toss Out $83M Judgment He Owes to E. Jean Carroll

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 6/24/2025

Donald Trump is waging his latest courtroom bid to avoid paying the $83.3 million judgment he owes the writer E. Jean Carroll for defamatory remarks he made about her after she accused him of rape. A lawyer for the president told a panel of appeals court judges the judgment should be tossed out because Trump should have been deemed immune from Carroll’s lawsuit. His argument hinges on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision that granted Trump broad immunity in one of his criminal cases.

Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself

MSN – Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025

A federal jury ordered a January 6 rioter to pay $500,000 in damages for assaulting a police officer who died by suicide nine days later. The jury awarded the damages to Erin Smith, the widow of District of Columbia police officer Jeffrey Smith, in her civil lawsuit against David Walls-Kaufman. The jury also ordered Walls-Kaufman to pay a further $60,000 to Smith’s estate for his pain and suffering.

Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say

MSN – Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025

The Trump administration is preparing to test a 1974 budget law by refusing to spend congressionally mandated funds, senior federal officials say, an escalation that could change the balance of power between Congress and the White House. Key White House aides have long argued the law is an unconstitutional limit on presidential power and suggested they will seek court rulings to overturn it, which could allow the White House to determine which spending to carry out.

Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries

MSN – Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 6/23/2025

The Supreme Court granted President Trump’s emergency request to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their homeland, including places like South Sudan, with minimal notice. The Trump administration had argued a lower court usurped its authority by ordering the Department of Homeland Security to provide written notice to the migrants about where they would be sent as well as an opportunity to challenge that deportation on the grounds they feared being tortured.

Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System

MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2025

President Trump is taking aim at post-Watergate reforms on transparency, spending, conflicts-of-interest, and more. This broad rejection of the laws underlines the country’s shift from an era focused on clean government and strict ethics to the rise of a president whose appeal stems in part from his willingness to violate such rules and constraints. Many of Trump’s moves face legal challenges, and they may be reversed by the courts, or the U.S. Supreme Court could enshrine them.

Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger

MSN – Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/22/2025

A federal judge ruled Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, is eligible for release from criminal custody, saying the government’s allegations that he is a flight risk or a danger to the community are based on problematic testimony and scenarios that “defy common sense.” Abrego García faces charges that he participated in a migrant smuggling ring for nearly a decade.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Newsom Gave His Political Rival a $380k Job. Special Interests Helped Foot the Bill

CalMatters – Alexei Koseff and Byrhonda Lyons | Published: 6/17/2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead a state infrastructure project paid for by an outside nonprofit, California Forward. The group relied on fundraising from special interests to cover the costs, but did not have to disclose the identity of those donors because of how the arrangement was structured. Elected officials in California can solicit contributions to outside entities for a governmental or charitable purpose. Newsom had to disclose he asked California Forward to pay Villaraigosa. But that disclosure requirement did not extend to the nonprofit.

California – How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/24/2025

Ahead of the deadline to pass a new two-year city budget, Oakland leaders were desperate to find sources of revenue to patch the city’s $265 million deficit. The city council’s budget-balancing maneuvers included an unusual tactic. The council assumed a proposed deal between the city and a billboard company would pass, delivering millions of dollars in new revenue. What was unusual about this budget decision was that the billboard deal had yet to be voted on by the full council. By baking it into the budget, the council tied its own hands, virtually forcing itself to sign off on the deal when it came before them a week later.

California – Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2025

A federal appeals court panel said President Trump can keep the California National Guard in Los Angeles for now, delivering a win for the president as he aims to use the military to police protests against his deportation efforts. The panel disagreed with the federal government’s stance that Trump’s authority to deploy the National Guard could not be scrutinized by the courts. But the judges rejected California’s legal argument that a federal statute clearly requires a governor to be consulted before the deployment.

District of Columbia – D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.

MSN – Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025

The U.S. House recently voted to repeal a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. This, in turn, will prohibit noncitizens from holding local office, like the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, because being registered as a voter is required to run. It marked the third time in as many years that the House has voted to repeal the noncitizens voting law. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans each time bipartisan interest in the city’s affairs that has become more common in recent years, particularly on hot-button political issues.

Florida – A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was lobbying for a Nomination.

Yahoo News – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 6/20/2025

A state judge in Florida, Ed Artau, met with staff in the office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott to angle for a nomination to the federal bench less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s election last fall. In the midst of his interviews, Artau was part of a panel of judges that ruled in Trump’s favor in the president’s case against members of the Pulitzer Prize Board. About two weeks after the court published his opinion, he interviewed with the White House Counsel’s Office. In May, Trump announced Artau’s nomination to the federal judiciary.

Hawaii – Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/22/2025

Māmaki tea, made from a plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, is so valued by state legislators that they near unanimously passed a bill this past session to ensure its viability as a Hawaii-grown cash crop. But a powerful state senator appears to have violated Senate rules for voting in favor of House Bill 496, which seeks to protect māmaki tea by requiring that only packages containing 100 percent of māmaki grown in Hawaii are allowed to use the word “māmaki.”

Louisiana – Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages

MSN – Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025

Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 6/24/2025

The Louisiana Board of Ethics will be required to broadcast its monthly public meetings starting in January under a new state law. Recordings of the meetings will be stored for at least two years in an online archive reached through the board’s website. Legislators have been frustrated with the ethics board’s decisions over the past year, and part of the motivation for broadcasting its meetings is to allow more scrutiny over its deliberations.

Maryland – Trump DOJ Sues All Federal Judges in Maryland Over Deportation Order

MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025

The Justice Department sued all 15 federal District Court judges in Maryland over an order that pauses any deportations under legal challenge in the state for 48 hours. Legal experts described the move as an unprecedented attack on judicial independence, while government lawyers said it was necessary to preserve President Trump’s constitutional authority over immigration.

Maryland – Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances

Yahoo News – Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) | Published: 6/20/2025

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, who is the new head of the Maryland Democratic Party, cannot immediately assume his full duties, and the possibility of an extended delay leaves open the potential the party might have to elect another leader before the end of summer. A snag involving state campaign finance law, and Pittman’s inability to immediately close the account that funded his county executive races, will bar him from fully assuming the role for now.

Massachusetts – GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/25/2025

Mike Kennealy, who is running for Massachusetts governor, has loaned his campaign double the amount allowed under state law since launching his bid, a move that could set up future legal action if he or his family ever decides to recoup the money. Kennealy’s decision to loan his campaign $400,000 and plan to loan another $1.6 million ahead of the 2026 election comes after campaign finance regulators dismissed his request to reconsider the limit on the amount candidates can loan themselves each election cycle.

Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details

ArcaMax – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 6/23/2025

Despite vows of transparency, annual financial disclosures filed recently by Michigan lawmakers provided an incomplete picture of the perks they receive from lobbyists. Officeholders were supposed to list gifts, including tickets and meals, they received from lobbyists in the prior year and trips they went on that were financed by lobbyists. Most lawmakers either reported receiving nothing from lobbyists or merely listed the names of firms or interest groups that provided some benefit, while not revealing the price tag or specifics.

Michigan – Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 6/20/2025

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson detailed solutions her department was crafting after a disastrous launch of the $9 million Michigan Information Transparency Network project, which replaced its aging, but heavily used and mostly user-friendly campaign finance reporting system. The rollout of the new system caused delays in reporting, and the overall functionality of the website was bothersome for many users, including reporters, watchdogs, and nonprofit groups who rely on access to campaign finance information to better track how politicians spend campaign money and who gives it to them.

Minnesota – Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules

MSN – Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 6/24/2025

Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights filed a lawsuit challenging state laws that require organizations to disclose spending meant to urge individuals to influence lawmakers, arguing the grassroots lobbying requirements violate the First Amendment. The rules require that when an organization or individual spends more than $2,000 on paid advertising to rally public support and influence lawmakers, it must disclose the spending and any specific subjects addressed by the advertising.

Montana – Former Public Officeholders Propose Constitutional Initiative to Take Corporate Money Out of Politics

Montana Free Press – Zeke Lloyd | Published: 6/18/2025

A coalition of former public officeholders is pushing to end corporate money in Montana politics via a proposed constitutional initiative they aim to put on the ballot in 2026. The Transparent Election Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Jeff Mangan, a former state commissioner of political practices, is pushing a constitutional initiative that would change new and existing corporate charters in the state to explicitly prevent corporations from donating to campaigns.

Nevada – Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 6/18/2025

The Nevada ethics commission determined the head of the state’s energy office, Dwayne McClinton, committed a willful violation of ethics statutes by accepting free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and other perks while negotiating a potential sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League franchise. The agreement includes a $1,000 penalty, an admonishment, and a requirement for McClinton and office staff to receive ethics training.

Nevada – Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute

Nevada Current – Eric Neugeboren | Published: 6/19/2025

The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s effort to dismiss sanctions imposed by the state’s ethics commission, sending the case back to a lower court. It is the latest development in the yearslong saga related to Lombardo’s use of his Clark County sheriff’s uniform and badge while running for governor in 2022. The high court’s ruling does not absolve Lombardo of wrongdoing, but it opens the door for a dismissal of the case down the line.

New Jersey – A Bizarre N.J. Corruption Case Ends with a Plea Over Kickbacks, Fraud and Plagiarism

MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/26/2025

Five years after former New Jersey Assemblyperson Willis Edwards III was indicted in a wide-ranging corruption scheme in 2020, the one-time business administrator of the city of Orange abruptly entered into a plea deal to admit guilt to five of the 31 counts against him. Edwards acknowledged approving a fake “management oversight” contract with a company he helped set up and receiving thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the deal. He also pleaded guilty to charges of mortgage and tax fraud. And, strangely enough, he admitted using public funds to pay a consultant to write his dissertation for a graduate program at Seton Hall University.

New York – A New Political Star Emerges Out of a Fractured Democratic Party

DNyuz – Liam Stack (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025

The national Democratic establishment struggled to absorb the startling ascent of a democratic socialist in New York City. Voters turned away from a well-funded familiar face, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and in doing so made a generational and ideological break with the party’s mainstream. They turned to a 33-year-old, three-term state Assembly member, Zohran Mamdani. That Mamdani had such success while running on a far-left agenda, including positions that once were politically risky in New York, may challenge the boundaries of party orthodoxy and unnerve national Democratic leaders.

New York – Former Aide to Hochul and Cuomo Faces Fresh Corruption Charges

DNyuz – Santul Nerkar (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025

More legal troubles have been piled on Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors who has been accused of using her position to help the Chinese government. Sun and her husband face new charges they helped steer lucrative contracts to Chinese companies to sell masks and ventilators to New York’s government at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They received millions of dollars from those companies for helping secure the contracts and then failed to report the money as taxable income, according to federal prosecutors.

North Carolina – North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025

North Carolina congressional and state legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan, and not racial, considerations helped inform their decision-making.

Oregon – Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/25/2025

Oregon lawmakers proposed delaying the establishment of campaign contribution limits by four years amid concern the state would not be ready to enact them by their planned 2027 start date. At the end of last year’s legislative session, lawmakers promised to return this year and make technical fixes to the law before it was scheduled to take effect. But with only days left until the current session ends, they have yet to follow through with that pledge. Oregon is one of just five states without campaign donation limits.

Pennsylvania – GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight

Spotlight PA – Amanda Berg | Published: 6/24/2025

An all-out political war is erupting at the Capitol between the most powerful Republican lawmakers and a deep-pocketed company that has reshaped the gaming landscape in Pennsylvania. The conflict escalated suddenly and bitterly over the past week, with skill games developer and distributor Pace-O-Matic now accusing the state Senate’s top two GOP leaders of intimidating its lobbyists at the Legislature.

Rhode Island – R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade

Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/18/2025

Rhode Island’s antiquated campaign finance software system is poised for a refresh under a $140,000, one-year contract approved by the Board of Elections. The unanimous vote sets in motion the long-awaited upgrade to the electronic system used to report and share information about campaign donations and spending. Rhode Island’s campaign finance software has not been updated since its 2002 debut.

Tennessee – Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies

Chattanooga Times Free Press – Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) | Published: 6/25/2025

Seven Metro Nashville Council members are suing over a Tennessee law that imposes felony charges, including terms of up to six years in prison, on local elected officials who vote in favor of immigration policies deemed to be “sanctuary policies.” No other state has ever passed a law criminalizing elected officials for their vote. The suit argues that due to the vagueness of the law, it could criminalize anyone from council members to office staff to clerks to constituents who lobby their representatives to pass sanctuary policies.

Virginia – Virginia Slashes Voter Data Costs Ahead of 2025 Elections

Virginia Mercury – Markus Schmidt | Published: 6/25/2025

In a sweeping move aimed at promoting transparency and leveling the playing field in election access, the Virginia Department of Elections announced it will reduce the cost of purchasing voter lists by 90 percent starting in July. The change dramatically lowers the price of essential voter data – including lists of registered voters, new registrants, and past voters – for candidates, political parties, and PACs legally entitled to access them under state law.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenges to the State’s Congressional District Boundaries

MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025

The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to throw out the battleground state’s current congressional district boundaries before the 2026 midterms. Democrats asked the court to redraw the maps, which would have put two of the state’s six congressional seats currently held by Republicans into play. It was the second time in as many years that the court had refused to hear the challenges.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Republican Legislature in Fight with Governor

MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/26/2025

A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court handed a victory to the Republican-controlled Legislature in a power struggle with Gov. Tony Evers, reining in the governor’s expansive veto powers. The court struck down Evers’ partial veto of a bill in a case that tested both the limits of his veto powers and lawmakers’ ability to exert influence by controlling funding. The ruling against Evers comes after the court earlier this year upheld Evers’ partial veto that locked in a school funding increase for 400 years.