Year: 2025

  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state

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    The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had scheduled a business meeting to consider Rubio’s nomination for January 20, 2025. Rubio must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…

  • Ballotpedia releases the state supreme court vacancies count for 2024

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    Twenty state supreme court justices vacated their seats before their term was scheduled to end in 2024. Of the 20 vacancies, 17 were caused by justices retiring, and three were caused by justices ascending to the chief justice position of the court. This is the first year since Ballotpedia started tracking state supreme court vacancies…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #139

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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 Bible references in Texas’ elementary curriculum In this section,…

  • 77 officials were recalled in 2024 – higher than the 10-year average

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: 77 officials were recalled in 2024 – higher than the 10-year average Seventy-seven officials were removed from office through recall elections in 2024. An average of about 55 officials were recalled between 2014…

  • Checks and Balances, January 2025

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    In this edition of Checks and Balances: Federal stories: State stories: Commentary: Regulatory Tally: In Washington U.S. House passes two administrative state bills What’s the story? The House of Representatives passed two administrative state bills in December—the Midnight Rules Relief Act and the Prove It Act. The bills proposed (1) allowing Congress to disapprove multiple…

  • BlackRock leaves net-zero alliance

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world EU bank regulators release stricter ESG guidelines What’s the story? The European Banking Authority released new guidance last week outlining additional measures for banks to assess their climate risks. Why does it matter? The guidelines highlight the increasing divide between American and European banks.…

  • The Minnesota House of Representatives might convene on Jan. 14

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    A dispute between Democrats and Republicans over control of the Minnesota House of Representatives may delay the start of the 2025 session, which was scheduled to start on Jan. 14. Ahead of the Nov. 5 general elections, Democrats had a 68-64 majority in the chamber with two vacancies. After the Nov. 5 general elections, the…

  • Ten candidates running for vacant Florida 1st District seat in Jan. 28 special Republican primary

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Jan. 14, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Ten candidates are running in the special Republican primary in Florida’s 1st Congressional District on Jan. 28 Ten candidates are running in the Republican primary on Jan. 28 for a special election in Florida’s…

  • Robe & Gavel: Federal Judicial Vacancy Count released for January 2025

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    Welcome to the Jan. 13 edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,The flying cloud, the frosty light;The year is dying in the night;Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.Ring out…

  • An early look at election administration state legislation activity

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    Welcome to the Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: An early look at election administration state legislation activity As we head into the third week of 2025, about half of the state legislatures around the country have begun their 2025 legislative sessions.…