Category: Federal

  • Rep. Julia Letlow becomes the 15th U.S. House member to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026

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    Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) announced on Jan. 20, 2026, that she will run to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate in 2026 rather than for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is also running in the Republican primary. As of Jan. 20, 2026, independent race forecasters The Cook…

  • First year of Trump's second term by the numbers

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    One year ago today, Donald Trump (R) assumed office as the 47th president of the United States, making him one of only two presidents in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms. Here’s a closer look at the first year of his second administration, by the numbers. Executive actions: During the first year of his…

  • House passes three-year extension of expanded ACA subsidies

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    On Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, also known as the expanded premium tax credit (ePTC), for three years. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats to pass the measure 230–196. The legislation would revive the ePTC, which expired on December 31, 2025. Supporters said the vote…

  • How states provide oversight of federal grants

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    Federal grants make up a significant share of state budgets, and states use a wide range of statutory frameworks to review, approve, and manage these funds. These frameworks determine which actors—governors, legislatures, agencies, auditors, or the public—play a role in evaluating grant applications, accepting federal dollars, and regulating how entities administer those funds. Collectively, these…

  • Here's what the new U.S. Postal Service rule on postmarks means for absentee/mail-in voting

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    On Dec. 24, a new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule took effect, stating that mail is not necessarily postmarked on the day it is posted — implicating official documents that require postmarks, including tax returns, court documents, bill payments, and, in some states, absentee/mail-in ballots received after Election Day.  USPS officials have said the rule…

  • An overview of the rules, agency documents, and notices published in the Federal Register in the last quarter of 2025

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    The federal government added 14,353 pages to the Federal Register in the last quarter of 2025, spanning from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, for an annual total of 61,584 pages. According to the publication, that's the lowest annual page count of the Federal Register since 1992. The highest annual page count hit 95,894 in 2016.…

  • Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation leaves Georgia’s 14th Congressional District vacant

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    On Jan. 5, 2026, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving Georgia’s 14th Congressional District vacant.  Following Greene’s announcement that she would resign, CBS News’ Joe Walsh wrote that it came “after a weekslong falling-out with President [Donald] Trump and much of her party.” In a statement, Greene wrote, “I…

  • Trump signs more Congressional Review Act resolutions in 2025 than in every previous year combined

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    On Dec. 11, President Donald Trump (R) signed five resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), bringing the total number of enacted CRA resolutions this year to 22. Trump has now signed more CRA resolutions in 2025 than all presidents in every other combined. Between his two administrations, Trump has signed 95% of…