Year: 2025

  • A look at the current state of absentee/mail-in voting in the U.S.

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    On Aug. 18, President Donald Trump (R) said in a social media post, "I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly 'Inaccurate,' Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.” Trump said he would issue an executive order ending mail-in voting before the 2026…

  • A look at the state of mail-in voting in the U.S.

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    Welcome to the Thursday, August 21, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at the state of mail-in voting in the U.S.  As the November 2025 general elections draw closer, one thing on the top of many people's minds is the mechanics of casting…

  • Checks and Balances, August 2025

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    Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include deep dives into Trump's executive order expanding the role of political appointees in federal grant administration and the release of Ballotpedia's 2025 administrative state legislative tracker session-end report In Washington Trump expands role of political appointees in federal grant administration What’s the Story? On Aug. 7,…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #170

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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: The debate over whether blue states should support private school choice In…

  • Judge denies effort to stop California climate reporting law

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world Canadian think tank publishes report on ESG ratings What’s the story? On Aug. 15, The Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank, published a report titled "A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen: The Use of Non-Financial Metrics by the Investment Industry." The report states that: Why…

  • A look at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections on Nov. 4

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Aug. 20, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections on Nov. 4 Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices—Christine Donohue (D), Kevin M. Dougherty (D), and David N. Wecht (D)—are up for retention elections on Nov.…

  • Five Supreme Court rulings that changed the balance of power between states and the federal government

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Five Supreme Court rulings that changed the balance of power between states and the federal government  Daily Brew readers may recall that last month, we examined several recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on…

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

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    Since our last update on July 22, 2025, five members of the U.S. Congress—all members of the U.S. House of Representatives—have announced that they will not seek re-election in 2026.  Here are the five members who have announced their retirements since our last update, as well as how three independent race forecasters have rated the…

  • Fewest open state legislative seats since 2011

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    There are eight open seats in this year’s state legislative elections, four percent of all 180 seats up for election. That is the lowest by percentage of any odd-year cycle since 2011. An open seat is where no incumbent filed to run, meaning it is guaranteed to be won by a newcomer. Ballotpedia uses the…

  • Three justices are up for a retention vote in Pennsylvania on November 4, 2025

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    Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices—Christine Donohue (D), Kevin M. Dougherty (D), and David N. Wecht (D)—are up for retention elections on November 4, 2025. WHYY’s Carmen Russell-Sluchansky wrote, "State judicial elections typically garner little attention, but Pennsylvania’s 2025 state Supreme Court races are shaping up to be the next major political battleground," and Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s…