Year: 2025
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An introduction to Crypto Policy with form CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo
Episode #187 An introduction to Crypto Policy with form CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo On this episode: Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche experiment into a disruptive force with global implications—and U.S. financial institutions, lawmakers, and regulators are working to establish clear crypto-related policy. In this episode, we unpack the state of crypto policy in 2025:…
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Checking in on Trump's judicial nominations
Episode #186 Checking in on Trump’s judicial nominations On this episode: President Trump has made his first judicial nomination since returning to office, selecting a candidate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Most presidents make few judicial nominations in their first 100 days, and Trump’s current pace aligns with historical trends…
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Missouri voters to decide on overturning abortion rights amendment, banning gender transition procedures for minors
The Missouri State Legislature placed an amendment on the ballot that would overturn Amendment 3 (2024), which amended the state constitution providing for the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including abortion. Voters will decide on the new amendment in November 2026. This will be the first state where voters will be deciding to overturn an…
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Oklahoma State Legislature advances bill to change process of initiated ballot measures
The Oklahoma House of Representatives again advanced Senate Bill 1027 (SB 1027), a measure that would change the process of placing citizen-initiated amendments and laws on the ballot. SB 1027, which would take effect immediately after its passing, would make three changes to the initiative process in Oklahoma. First, it would implement a distribution requirement…
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ESG critic appointed to Labor Department
The Department of Labor this month appointed Justin Danhof—a critic of ESG investing and a proxy voting and corporate engagement expert—as a senior policy advisor in the Employee Benefits Security Administration. Danhof’s appointment brings an anti-ESG voice into a role that shapes guidance for retirement plans. Danhof previously led the Free Enterprise Project at the…
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House Energy and Commerce Committee includes Medicaid work requirement in budget reconciliation bill
The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed its budget reconciliation bill on May 14 with a 30-24 vote after a May 13th markup of the previous draft version. The current version of the bill would require states to adopt community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on Medicaid. The current version specifies community engagement…
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House Judiciary’s budget reconciliation bill considers REINS Act provisions
The House Judiciary Committee released a draft of their budget reconciliation bill on April 27, which included major provisions from the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS Act), and the markup version voted out April 30th by a 23-17 margin retained those provisions. The final omnibus bill may differ from this…
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Texas Democrats join Republicans to place citizen voting requirement on statewide ballots in 2025 after blocking the amendment in 2023
Fifteen House Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting to send a constitutional amendment to voters on Nov. 4 that would add noncitizens to the list of persons not allowed to vote in the state after the same resolution was defeated during the state’s last legislative session in 2023. The list in Section 1, Article…