Trump’s DOJ sued over campaign to amass data on millions of voters Voting rights groups launched a legal challenge Tuesday against the Trump administration’s effort to sweep up sensitive data on millions of Americans with the aim of identifying noncitizen voters, arg...

Trump’s DOJ sued over campaign to amass data on millions of voters, @jonshorman.bsky.social reports for @statesnewsroom.com:

Republican states defend citizenship lists ordered by Trump as ‘optional’ election help A dozen Republican state attorneys general are moving to defend President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail ballots from legal challenges mounted by Democrats.The GOP officials, led by Missouri A...

Republican states defend citizenship lists ordered by Trump as ‘optional’ election help

For @statesnewsroom.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/repu...

Congress struggles with questions about ethics investigations after 3 members resign WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republican leaders Tuesday defended the secretive process used in that chamber to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, though they did confirm referring a complaint made aga...

Congress struggles with questions about ethics investigations after 3 members resign

@jennifershutt.bsky.social reports:

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/cong...

Fed chair nominee says he will be independent of Trump, though Dems see a ‘sock puppet’ WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, vowed Tuesday the central bank would remain “strictly independent” if he’s confirmed to the top spot, even as the p...

Fed chair nominee says he will be independent of Trump, though Dems see a ‘sock puppet’ -- @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fed-...

Show me the money: Businesses line up for $166B in refunds from Trump's illegal tariffs WASHINGTON — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live Monday, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in...

SHOW ME THE MONEY: The Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live Monday, a first step to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under Trump's emergency tariffs now ruled illegal @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/show...

Limits on speech rights for military retirees at issue in Sen. Kelly case against DOD WASHINGTON — Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s legal team is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that allows the former Navy captain to keep his retirement rank and pay while his Firs...

Limits on speech rights for military retirees at issue in Sen. Kelly case against DOD

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/limi...

Tax Day 2026: Democrats and Republicans battle over impact of new Trump tax cuts WASHINGTON — The 2026 tax filing season closed Wednesday with the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill hailing success under last year’s massive tax cuts law, while Democrats said any ...

TAX DAY 2026: Wow, there were a lot of words--Democrats and Republicans battle over impact of new Trump tax cuts -- by @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tax-...

Trump’s budget director defends ‘out of whack’ defense spending boost to skeptical Dems WASHINGTON — The White House budget director on Wednesday defended the administration’s latest request for Congress, testifying before the House Budget Committee that a 43% increase in defense spendin...

Trump’s budget director defends ‘out of whack’ defense spending boost to skeptical Dems

@jennifershutt.bsky.social reports on today's US House Budget Committee hearing:

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

US Senate again rejects attempt to limit Trump action in Iran WASHINGTON — An effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further war actions in Iran failed in the U.S. Senate for the fourth time Wednesday, with all but one Republic...

TAKE FOUR: U.S. Senate again rejects attempt to limit Trump action in Iran. Story by @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com:

Correction: March 18 was the third war powers vote in the Senate

Iran War Powers Resolution, meant to curb Trump's actions in Iran without Congressional authorization, failed for the fourth time in the Senate Wednesday on 47-52.

GOP yes: Rand Paul
Dem no: John Fetterman

Previous Iran War Powers Senate votes:
June 27
March 4
March 24

Committee Democrats disagree, criticizing DOGE cuts to IRS personnel and the termination of the universally free Direct File program.

The Senate Finance Committee holds its 2026 tax filing season oversight hearing this morning.

IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano says it was "the most successful tax filing season in IRS history." (Bisignano's position was created under Trump.)

Follow @statesnewsroom.com DC Bureau reporters @fischler.bsky.social @ashleymurray.bsky.social @jennifershutt.bsky.social @jonshorman.bsky.social today

D.C. Bureau | News From The States

BUSY DAY AHEAD IN DC: It's Tax Day; Budget Director Russ Vought is about to be grilled in Congress; Karoline Leavitt will brief at the White House; vote on war powers possible. Follow our reporters and as ever it all posts NO PAYWALL OR ANNOYING ADS here:
www.newsfromthestates.com/category/dc-...

Trump’s DOJ wants personal voter data for ‘improper purposes,’ Michigan official says

@jonshorman.bsky.social reports:

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

The House Clerk just read resignation letters from California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales.

They are no longer members of Congress.

Rep. Eric Swalwell to quit Congress as 3 more US House members may face expulsion votes WASHINGTON — California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Monday evening that he plans to resign from Congress, just one day after he suspended his campaign for governor over allegations of sexu...

Rep. Eric Swalwell to quit Congress as 3 more US House members may face expulsion votes

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rep-...

The WH has not responded to my request. But Trump just denied the image when speaking to reporters outside the Oval Office.

"I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross ... only the fake news could come up with that one,” he said.

Trump picks fight with Pope Leo as Iran peace talks dissolve WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict.

President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict.

via @ashleymurray.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

Trump's AI-generated depiction of himself as Jesus Christ has disappeared from his Truth Social feed. I've reached out to the White House for comment.

Spikes in energy prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran drove up inflation for Americans in March, according to the latest consumer price index figures released Friday.

via @ashleymurray.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gas-...

Melania Trump denounces ‘baseless lies’ connecting her to Epstein. @ashleymurray.bsky.social reports for @statesnewsroom.com:

US House Democrats call for Congress to come back into session for Iran war debate

My latest for @statesnewsroom.com:

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-h...

A day after Iran-US ceasefire declared, doubts linger amid continuing Gulf strikes WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran both claimed victory Wednesday, a day after agreeing to a two-week conditional ceasefire, though doubts loomed following continued strikes across the Gulf natio...

THE CEASEFIRE: A day after Iran-US ceasefire declared, doubts linger amid continuing Gulf strikes -- @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/day-...

Iran's foreign minister: "For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Brent crude price plunges to $92 a barrel, down from $109 earlier today, following news of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

oilprice.com/oil-price-ch...

Trump announces 2-week Iran ceasefire, backing off threat ‘a whole civilization will die’ WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday evening to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, at least delaying his threat of a catastrophic attack on the country’s civilian population as he said the ...

Updated mode more. @statesnewsroom.com story by @ashleymurray.bsky.social and me

Trump announces 2-week Iran ceasefire, backing off threat ‘a whole civilization will die’

Trump threatens ‘a whole civilization will die’ in Iran; Schumer calls him 'extremely sick' WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump continued to escalate his rhetoric against Iran Tuesday, even as some Republicans in Congress began to back away from his declarations, threatening that “A whole ci...

UPDATED: Trump's threat drew intense opposition throughout the day, including from Pope Leo XIV, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

Trump threatens ‘a whole civilization will die’ in Iran; Schumer calls him 'extremely sick' WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump continued to escalate his rhetoric against Iran Tuesday, even as some Republicans in Congress began to back away from his declarations, threatening that “A whole ci...

Trump threatens ‘a whole civilization will die’ in Iran; Schumer calls him 'extremely sick.' Story by @ashleymurray.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com: