Year: 2025

  • Breaking down President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term in office

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, April 30, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Breaking down President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term in office April 29 marked the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s (R) second term in office. Today, we’ll give you the…

  • Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program

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    What’s the story? The Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 on April 24, 2025, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said on social media that he will sign it once it reaches him. Texas is the 16th state to enact a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for alternatives to…

  • Fannie Mae closes ESG department

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C., and around the world Fannie Mae closes ESG department What’s the story? Fannie Mae—the Federal National Mortgage Association, a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)—shut down its ESG department, firing over 30 employees, including Laurel Davis, head of the company’s mission and impact program. Why does it…

  • Arkansas is fifth state in 2025 to ban foreign spending on ballot measures

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    Arkansas is the 14th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the fifth state to do so in 2025—a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. In previous years, no more than one state passed a similar law per year. Arkansas House Bill 1837…

  • A look at mayoral partisanship in 2025

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at mayoral partisanship in 2025  As part of our continued coverage of local elections, today we’re examining partisanship in this year’s mayoral elections in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and…

  • Political speech or governmental mechanics: Ohio case asks if ballot summary reviews regulate speech or lawmaking

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    The U.S. Supreme Court declined on April 22, 2025, to block a district court’s ruling that found that Ohio’s fair and truthful requirement for ballot initiative petitions violates the First Amendment. This law requires the Ohio Attorney General to determine whether submitted petition summaries are fair and truthful statements of the proposed law before advancing…

  • Robe & Gavel: SCOTUS concludes April 2025 sitting

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    Welcome to the April 28 edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. Your favorite newsletter is back and packed with tons of federal courts updates. So grab a seat, dear reader. Let’s get right to it and gavel in!…

  • Ohio’s Parent’s Bill of Rights + Shifting Power Between States and School Boards

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    On this episode (#183): Authority over public education is shifting in many parts of the country, as states revisit the role of local school boards and adopt new policies on curriculum, student rights, and parental involvement. In Ohio, a recently enacted Parents’ Bill of Rights outlines new requirements for school districts related to parental notification…

  • We’re breaking down how states fill vacancies in state legislatures following the death of Rhode Island’s Senate President

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    Welcome to the Monday, April 28, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: We’re breaking down how states fill vacancies in state legislatures following the death of Rhode Island’s Senate President On April 21, Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D)—the longest-serving legislator in the state’s history—died…

  • Tennessee will be 15th state to decide on a Marsy’s Law ballot question

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    Tennessee voters will decide on a ballot question to add a list of crime victims’ rights to its state constitution, also known as  Marsy’s Law, in November 2026. Tennessee will be the 15th state to decide on a Marsy’s Law ballot measure. The effort to institute Marsy’s Law across the U.S. has been primarily backed…