Author: Briana Ryan

  • 30 states have adopted English as an official language—11 through ballot measures—since 1920

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, March 5, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: 30 states have adopted English as an official language—11 through ballot measures—since 1920 On March 1, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order “[designating] English as the official language of the United States.”…

  • Test scores and immigration policy in schools cause infighting in Oklahoma

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    Welcome to the Friday, Feb. 21, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Test scores and immigration policy in schools cause infighting in Oklahoma The Trump administration’s push to curb undocumented immigration through greater enforcement has had a number of ripple effects on state and local governments.…

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

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    As of Feb. 19, four members of the U.S. Congress—two senators and two representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. The total number of 2026 retirement announcements—four—is the same as it was at this point in 2020 and 2018. However, it is less than it was in 2024 and 2022. U.S. Senate Two…

  • 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…

  • Nine states will have new signature requirements for citizen initiatives in 2025

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    Welcome to the Friday, Feb. 7, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Nine states will have new signature requirements for citizen initiatives in 2025 The number of valid signatures required to place a citizen initiative on the ballot in nine states will change in 2025. That’s…

  • Democrats gain a seat in the Iowa Senate

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    On Jan. 28, Mike Zimmer (D) defeated Katie Whittington (R) in the special election for Iowa Senate District 35, 51.7% to 48.1%. The seat became vacant in November 2024 after Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) appointed Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R) to serve as lieutenant governor. The last time that the seat was up for election in…

  • A crash course on the budget reconciliation process

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Jan. 30, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A crash course on the budget reconciliation process You may have heard a lot in the news lately about how Congress is expected to seek to pass key elements of President Donald Trump’s (R)…

  • The latest on two special elections for the Minnesota Legislature

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    Welcome to the Friday, Jan. 24, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: The latest on two special elections for the Minnesota Legislature Two special elections are coming up to determine control of both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature. Both were scheduled for Jan. 28.  However, as…

  • No members of Congress have announced 2026 retirement plans since Dec. 19

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    Since our last update on Dec. 19, no members of the U.S. Congress have announced plans to not seek re-election in 2026. That means the total number of congressional retirements for 2026 remains at one. The last incumbent to announce their retirement was Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who said he would not seek re-election to…

  • President Donald Trump (R) signs 26 executive orders on his first day in office

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 21, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: President Donald Trump (R) signs 26 executive orders on his first day in office Hours after his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump (R) signed 26 executive orders. Today, we’ll dig into what…