Year: 2025

  • President Donald Trump (R) ends June with 45% approval, 53% disapproval

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

    At the end of June, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 45% approval. Fifty-three percent of voters disapproved of his performance. The lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency is 44%, last seen on June 25, 2025. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on Jan. 22,…

  • Utah voters have decided 220 ballot measures since 1895, beginning with constitution ratification ahead of statehood

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    Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Utah ballot measures dating back to 1895, when voters approved the state constitution. Between 1895 and 2024, Utahns voted on 220 ballot measures—140 (63.6%) were approved and 80 (36.4%) were defeated. This count includes the ratification of the state constitution by voters in 1895, two months before the United States…

  • Maine voters to decide citizen initiatives on voter ID and extreme risk protection orders in November

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Maine voters to decide citizen initiatives on voter ID and extreme risk protection orders in November Maine voters will decide on two citizen initiatives this year – one that would require voters to…

  • Vice President J.D. Vance casts fifth tie-breaking vote to pass One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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    On July 1, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance cast his fifth tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget reconciliation bill currently before Congress. Fifty Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 45 Democrats, two Independents who caucus with Democrats, and Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine),…

  • Oregon governor signs ESG investing law

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world EU regulators propose ESG stress test standards What’s the story? Three EU financial regulators—the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, and the European Securities and Markets Authority—have proposed new rules requiring national banking and insurance regulators in member states to…

  • This year sees fewest officials facing recall at midyear since 2020

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, July 1, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: This year sees fewest officials facing recall at midyear since 2020 Twice a year, we release reports on recall efforts nationwide for all state and local elected offices. Today, we’ll explore our mid-year 2025…

  • After 2023 veto, Arizona legislature sends drug cartel terrorism designation law directly to voters as ballot measure

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    The Arizona State Legislature approved House Concurrent Resolution 2055 (HCR 2055), placing a ballot measure about drug cartels before voters in the 2026 election. If approved, the ballot measure would define drug cartels as terrorist organizations and require the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to “do everything within its authority to address the threat posed…

  • Oregon joins 45 other states in allowing the governor to make appointments to vacant U.S. Senate seats

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    On June 20, 2025, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed Senate Bill 952 (SB 952), which gives the governor the power to appoint an interim U.S. senator for the state if a vacancy occurs. The bill includes the following provisions: In 36 states, governors appoint individuals to fill vacancies temporarily until a special election. The…

  • Sen. Thom Tillis announces he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026

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    Portrait photo of Senator Thom Tillis

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced on June 29, 2025, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. On his retirement, Tillis said in a statement, “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming…

  • Louisiana is the eighth state in 2025 to pass a bill prohibiting foreign national contributions to ballot measure campaigns

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    Louisiana is the 18th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the eighth state to do so in 2025, a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. Louisiana House Bill 693 (HB 693) modified existing campaign finance rules, including establishing new rules for political…