Year: 2025

  • Biden has appointed 235 federal judges through January 1 of his fourth year

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    President Joe Biden (D) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 235 Article III federal judges through January 1, 2024, his fourth year in office. This is the most Article III judicial appointments confirmed through this point in all presidencies since President Ronald Reagan (R). The Senate had confirmed 234 of President Donald Trump’s (R)…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #138

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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 eighth-grade algebra In this section, we curate reporting, analysis,…

  • Update on 2025 and 2026 ballot measure certifications: Ohio certifies one for 2025, Wyoming certifies one for 2026

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    The number of certified ballot measures for 2025 and 2026 is trending above the average as of Jan. 7, 2025. For 2025, five statewide ballot measures have been certified in two states—Louisiana and Ohio. Five is two measures above the average (three) for this point in an odd-numbered year election cycle since 2010. For 2026,…

  • First initiative certified for the ballot in Wyoming since 1996

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 8, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: First initiative certified for the ballot in Wyoming since 1996 On Jan. 2, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray (R) certified a citizen initiative regarding property taxes for the 2026 general election ballot. This…

  • Banks exit net-zero alliance

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world GFANZ announces restructuring What’s the story? The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ) has announced restructuring plans, including an initiative to expand participation to all financial institutions seeking guidance on climate-related plans and goals. Previously, the group limited participation to institutions that joined one…

  • Inside the battle to be Texas State House Speaker

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Jan. 7, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Inside the battle to be Texas State House speaker  When new members of the Texas House of Representatives are sworn in on Jan. 14, they will elect their next speaker. Dustin Burrows (R) and…

  • Californians decided on 1,306 ballot measures between 1910 and 2024

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    Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all California ballot measures since 1910, the year before the state adopted the initiative and referendum process. Californians decided on 1,306 ballot measures between 1910 and 2024. Seven hundred fifty-two (752) measures were approved, and five hundred fifty-four (554) were defeated. Of the 1,306 ballot measures, 27 were decided by…

  • Kannan Srinivasan (D) and Tumay Harding (R) are running in the special election for Virginia’s 32nd Senate District

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    Kannan Srinivasan (D) and Tumay Harding (R) are running in the special election for District 32 of the Virginia Senate on January 7, 2025. Incumbent Suhas Subramanyam (D) is resigning to represent Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. The Downballot’s David Nir and Jeff Singer wrote before the election, “Given Democrats’ slender 21-19 edge in the Senate,…

  • State supreme court vacancy count for December 2024

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    In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from December 1 to December 30, 2024. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: Following an unsuccessful November 2024 retention election, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger announced she would retire on December 1, 2024.…

  • In the largest U.S. cities and throughout California voters decided a record number of local ballot measures last year

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    Welcome to the Monday, Jan. 6, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: In the largest cities and throughout California voters decided on a record number of local ballot measures last year Voters in the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and throughout California decided on…