Year: 2025

  • Howard Lutnick confirmed as secretary of commerce

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as secretary of commerce on Feb. 18, 2025. The Senate voted 51-45 in favor of his nomination along party lines. This was the 17th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term.  Trump announced on Nov. 19, 2024, that he had selected…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #144

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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 the sick-out protest of Houston schools In this section,…

  • Checks and Balances, February 2025

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    Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include Trump’s first noteworthy executive orders on the administrative state and states modeling the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In Washington Bills limiting the administrative state reintroduced in 119th Congress What’s the story? Republicans introduced several bills in January and early February that would limit the…

  • Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session

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    The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…

  • How Israel and Palestine are showing up at the local ballot box

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: How Israel and Palestine are showing up at the local ballot box While most political coverage is focused on what’s happening in Washington, D.C., there’s a vast and vibrant political life outside the…

  • U.S. Senate and House Republicans release separate budget resolutions

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Feb. 19, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: U.S. Senate and House Republicans release separate budget resolutions In the Jan. 30 Daily Brew, we gave you a crash course on the budget reconciliation process. Since then, the U.S. Senate and House Budget…

  • Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session

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    The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…

  • Tennessee enacts private school choice scholarship bill, becoming the 13th state with a universal school choice program

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    Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 (EFA) into law on Feb. 12, 2025. The bill — House Bill 6004 — creates a universal private school student scholarship program under which all students are or will be eligible to receive the scholarship. Going into 2025, Tennessee had two existing education…

  • Acting SEC chairman pauses defense of ESG rule

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C. Acting SEC chairman pauses defense of ESG rule What’s the story? Acting SEC Chairman Mark Uyeda asked a federal court Feb. 11 to stop proceedings in a case challenging the commission’s proposed climate disclosure rules. Uyeda said in a press release, “The Rule is…

  • The fight against mosquitos in Louisiana

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: The fight against mosquitos in Louisiana There are thousands of political subdivisions in the United States, including more than 3,200 counties. In many states, those local governments are responsible for a host of…