Year: 2025

  • North Dakota could become the 17th state with an initiative process to establish a single-subject rule

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    Welcome to the Thursday, May 8, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: North Dakota could become the 17th state with an initiative process to establish a single-subject rule On June 9, 2026, North Dakota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would establish a single-subject…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #155

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues In this section, we curate reporting, analysis, and commentary on the issues…

  • Trump makes his first judicial nomination of his second term

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Trump makes his first judicial nomination of his second term  On May 1, President Donald Trump (R) announced that he would nominate Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth…

  • House subcommittee addresses proxy advisory firms

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C. House subcommittee addresses proxy advisory firms What’s the story? The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets held a hearing last week on proxy advisory firms, which guide institutional investors on how to vote their shares.  Why does it matter? Opponents say proxy firms…

  • President Donald Trump issued thirty-four executive orders in April

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    President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-four executive orders in April, bringing his total to 143. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in March, click here. Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than any other month of his presidency. He issued 30 executive orders in February 2025, fewer…

  • Trump has not officially appointed any federal judges in his second term

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    Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

    President Donald Trump (R) has not nominated any Article III federal judges through May 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents through May 1 of their first year in office is 0.1. Since Ronald Reagan (R), only one president (Trump, during…

  • Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D) announces she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026

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    Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) announced on May 5, 2025, that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. On her retirement, Schakowsky said in a statement, “For my entire career, I have made it my mission to mentor and guide the next generation of leaders. In fact, when I talk…

  • From town halls to calling gas stations — What it takes to cover local elections

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    Episode #185 On this episode: What does it really take to track down local election information? On this episode of On the Ballot, Ballotpedia’s Thomas Grobben joins host Doug Kronaizl for a behind-the-scenes look at the quirky, persistent, and sometimes unexpected lengths our team goes to in order to gather candidate data from all corners…

  • Fourteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, May 6, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Fourteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026 Since our April 15 update on congressional retirements, five members of Congress—one senator and four representatives—have announced they will not seek…

  • Robe & Gavel: Federal Judicial Vacancy Count released for May 1, 2025

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    Welcome to the May 5 edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. I am a man: little do I last and the night is enormous. But I look up: the stars write. Unknowing I understand: I too am written,…