Politics and government news

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

1,613 stories · page 29 of 54

News · US

Trump’s press fight pulls focus from pocketbook issues

Elections and voting

A White House media ban has overshadowed Trump’s prescription drug message as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections.

The Ballot National DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

How the White House press pool works

Foreign policy

A dispute over access for three outlets has focused attention on the rotating group that reports on the president in restricted spaces.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

AP-KFF poll examines rural voters’ views of Trump

Elections and voting

A new AP-KFF poll focuses on rural voters’ feelings about Trump as the midterm elections approach.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

Democrats push back on Republican “extremist” label

Elections and voting

Some Democrats are seeking to persuade voters that Republicans’ broad characterization of their party does not reflect who they are.

The Ballot National DeskSep 23, 2026

News · CT

State Clears Officers After 17-Year East Hartford Delay

Public safety

Connecticut’s inspector general cleared three officers in a fatal East Hartford shooting and attributed the delayed finding to a missing report.

The Ballot Connecticut DeskSep 23, 2026

News · MI

Michigan board backs $10 million community lending loan

Economy and jobs

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved up to for a pooled fund serving community lenders across the state.

The Ballot Michigan News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · WA

Seattle mayor proposes more public safety spending

Economy and jobs

The mayor’s budget proposal raises public safety spending without adding new taxes, but it is not yet a final city budget.

The Ballot Washington DeskSep 23, 2026

News · UT

Utah postal worker indicted over 300 mail-in ballots

Elections and voting

The worker is accused of throwing away about 300 mail-in ballots in Utah County, with no specific race or election directly linked to the case.

The Ballot Utah News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · WY

Wyoming GOP backs property tax cut initiative

Economy and jobs

The state Republican Party is supporting a ballot initiative that would ask Wyoming voters to approve a property tax cut.

The Ballot Wyoming Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · OH

Ohio leaders plan return for Ramaswamy gas-tax vote

Economy and jobs

Legislative leaders said lawmakers could return next week to consider a gas-tax plan requested by Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy.

The Ballot Ohio Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · KS

Kansas voters to weigh constitutional voting-rights wording

Elections and voting

A proposed amendment would let Kansas voters decide whether to change state constitutional wording concerning voting rights.

The Ballot Kansas Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

Trump threatens Iran and defends foreign policy at U.N.

Foreign policy

The president said Iran could face destruction if diplomacy fails but predicted an agreement after the U.S. midterm elections.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

Experts flag China’s low-cost AI strategy as a U.S. risk

Foreign policy

Analysts say model copying and free software could weaken U.S. technology leadership and create new security risks.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

Trump’s UN speech puts peacekeeper label to the test

Foreign policy

A State Department spokesman discussed Trump’s United Nations address and what it means for America’s role in the world.

The Ballot National DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

U.S. plans 17,500 refugee slots, mainly for Afrikaners

Immigration

A State Department notice says most of the fiscal 2027 refugee places would go to White Afrikaners from South Africa.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · US

Lawmakers across Americas call for end to U.S. boat strikes

Elections and voting

More than 70 lawmakers from the United States, Canada, Colombia and elsewhere in the Americas are urging the Trump administration to halt the campaign.

The Ballot National DeskSep 23, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs 13 laws, cites election interference by Trump

Elections and voting

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 measures into law and linked the package to concerns about Trump’s involvement in California elections.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Abbott orders pause on Texas data center permits

Elections and voting

The governor’s directive temporarily stops covered data center permit decisions while the state determines the next steps.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · GA

Atlanta mayor proposes city surveillance oversight rules

Public safety

The plan would require reviews, use policies and audits for higher-risk tools, including some license plate readers.

The Ballot Georgia Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Texas orders audit of data center grid requests

Elections and voting

The state will review data center connection requests as ERCOT faces a backlog representing 474 gigawatts of requested demand.

The Ballot Texas News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · NC

Charlotte council vote focuses on I-77 South toll lanes

Elections and voting

Charlotte City Council is taking up the future of an I-77 South toll lane project through a formal council vote.

The Ballot North Carolina DeskSep 23, 2026

News · MO

Appeals court orders Missouri to use 2025 congressional map

Elections and voting

The 8th Circuit stayed its order through Sept. 28, leaving time for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the dispute.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · OH

What polls show about Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio

Elections and voting

No named poll or specific election supports the claim that Ramaswamy’s odds of winning in Ohio reached an all-time low.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Texas Pauses New Data Center Permits for Audit

Elections and voting

Texas has halted new data center permits while an audit reviews the permitting process.

The Ballot Texas DeskSep 23, 2026

News · VA

Jay Jones joins states opposing federal Medicaid proposal

Health care

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has joined other states opposing a proposed federal rule involving Medicaid.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 23, 2026

News · MO

Missouri ordered again to use disputed midterm map

Elections and voting

A renewed court order keeps Missouri’s gerrymandered district map in place for the midterms as the dispute moves toward the Supreme Court.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 22, 2026

News · MN

Minneapolis Council hears response to proposed ordinance

Elections and voting

Neighbors and rideshare drivers addressed the Minneapolis City Council as it considered a proposed ordinance.

The Ballot Minnesota News DeskSep 22, 2026

News · TX

Texas and California introduce data center rules

Elections and voting

The two states have introduced new rules for data centers, with their practical effects depending on each state’s final legal text and timeline.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 22, 2026

News · GA

Atlanta mayor proposes rules for Flock, surveillance tools

Elections and voting

The mayor’s proposal would establish new rules for Flock and other surveillance tools in Atlanta.

The Ballot Georgia News DeskSep 22, 2026

News · NC

Charlotte council backs I-77 South toll lane expansion

Elections and voting

The City Council supported the I-77 South toll lane project, while community opinion remains divided.

The Ballot North Carolina Policy DeskSep 22, 2026