Poli Alert Politics & Civics

Casey Quinlan After the largest U.S. bank failure in more than a decade, regional bank stocks plunged on Monday as the federal government — with the 2007-2008 financial crisis still a fresh memory for many — rushed to reassure Americans that the U.S. banking system was stable. President Joe Biden …

Jake Johnson, Common Dreams More than a dozen House Republicans are expected to release legislation Tuesday that would impose more harsh work requirements on certain recipients of federal food aid, a clear signal that the GOP intends to target nutrition assistance in critical debt ceiling, budget, and farm bill talks. …

Danielle J. Brown, Florida Phoenix Republican lawmakers are proposing to expand legislation that would further limit majors and minors available to Florida university students, which would exacerbate concerns from faculty and other opponents of the bill that has already shaken up higher education in the state. The legislation also would …

Jon King, Michigan Advance A man from Michigan’s Thumb region, who authorities say made numerous threats to kill FBI agents, members of the LGBTQ+ community, President Joe Biden, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has been charged with illegally possessing firearms. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for …

President Joe Biden on Monday reassured Americans that the banking system is safe in the wake of the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the federal takeover of a second bank. “Americans can have confidence that the banking system is safe. Your deposits will be there when you …

Ariana Figueroa, Florida Phoenix Republican election officials from Florida, Ohio and Louisiana on Friday detailed to lawmakers on a U.S. House Administration panel the success of their states’ handling of the 2022 midterm elections, and said they can run their own elections without federal intervention. The chair of the Elections …

Robin Opsahl, Florida Phoenix Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Iowa Republicans Friday that standing strong in the culture wars around issues like education, criminal justice and health care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will help their party win elections. DeSantis, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, spoke to …

Ashley Murray, Michigan Advance A national “Parents Bill of Rights” is headed for a full U.S. House vote after the House Committee on Education and the Workforce early Thursday approved the measure designed to empower parents to inspect books and other teaching materials in schools. Lawmakers on the committee debated …

Julia Conley, Common Dreams Led by ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee this week warned that Republicans doubled down on “a dangerous lie” when they refused to back a statement denouncing white supremacy. Raskin (D-Md.) was joined by all 20 Democrats on …

Jennifer Shutt, Florida Phoenix The divided 118th Congress approved its first bill Friday, after lawmakers in both the House and Senate voted unanimously to send President Joe Biden legislation that would require declassification of intelligence on the origins of COVID-19. The four-page bill, which the House voted 419-0 to clear, would …

Mark Satta, Wayne State University On March 2, 2023, Tennessee became the first state to enact a law restricting drag performances. This law is part of a larger push by Republican lawmakers in numerous states to restrict or eliminate events like drag shows and drag story hours. These legislative efforts …

Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror March 9, 2023 Gov. Katie Hobbs has issued her 16th veto, nixing a bill that would have banned the teaching of critical race theory in Arizona schools. The measure, Senate Bill 1305, would have prohibited public K-12 schools in Arizona from a wide range of race-related …

Jacob Fischler, Ohio Capital Journal The CEO of Norfolk Southern, the railroad operating the train that last month derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, apologized for the derailment at a U.S. Senate hearing Thursday, but declined solicitations to endorse a bipartisan rail safety bill. Norfolk Southern CEO …

Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch President Joe Biden’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year asks Congress to boost funding for defense and domestic programs and levy a 25% minimum tax on billionaires, setting up a significant contrast with House Republicans, who hope to cut spending to last year’s levels …

Commentary Vanessa Gallman, Kentucky Lantern The fallout of the 2020 Breonna Taylor killing by police, resulting from an invalid warrant, made clear that the Louisville police department has serious problems in management and training. But a two-year federal investigation into the department exposed the depth of the bullying and overall …