US Policy Pulse

• Ohio River Restoration Program Act introduced bipartisanly to enhance water quality in the multi-state basin.
• Creates dedicated EPA national...

Key Senate introductions this week:

• S.609: Overhauls VA mental health with expanded access, staffing, telehealth to fight PTSD and suicide
• S.1227:...

• Historic low trust: Only 22% of voters have high confidence in the Court, amid polarizing rulings, ethics scandals, and GOP supermajority despite...

Emerging voter priorities and upset potentials in key state races:

• Texas Senate: Dem Talarico leads GOP Sen. Cornyn 44%-41% and AG Paxton 46%-41%,...

New executive order from December 2025 directs agencies to challenge state AI laws as interstate commerce barriers via an AI Litigation Task Force...

Partisan stakes escalate as Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling restores Republican-backed Texas map, potentially shifting 5 House seats to GOP while diluting...

• Trump backs viral proposal to rebrand ICE as 'NICE' (National Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
• Move aims to soften agency image amid scrutiny...

EPA Admin Lee Zeldin sparred with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) in a heated Monday hearing over Supreme Court rulings limiting federal regulatory authority on climate policies.

• Lobbying gap: Hospitals spent $116M on lobbying in 2024; independent physician groups spent none.
• Policy impact: Medicare favors hospitals despite...

Trump administration loses court battles to access state voter rolls, a setback to expanding federal election oversight as midterms approach. Democrats prevail in challenges to this unprecedented push.

• Effective today: Bureau of Land Management notice adopts categorical exclusion under NEPA for certain oil, gas, and geothermal actions.
• Procedural...

Intra-party backlash brews against Abdul El-Sayed's events with podcaster Hasan Piker at Michigan universities:

• Critics like McMorrow, Stevens, and...

Lobbying surge hits records pre-midterms as GOP targets health costs: AHIP spent $5.3M, PhRMA $12.2M, AMA ~$8M in Q1 2026.

• Big players eye $50B...

Supreme Court declines another parental rights challenge on schools supporting student gender identity without consent.

• Florida parents sued Leon...

Critical retirement policy update: The Retirement Earnings Test reduces benefits $1-for-$2 over the $24,480 2026 limit for ages 62 to full retirement...

• FDA/CMS unveil rapid Medicare pathway for critical devices, accelerating coverage timelines.
• Anteris secures reimbursement for PARADIGM Trial of...

• Virginia: Voters approved amendment bypassing bipartisan commission, enabling Dems-favoring maps (10-1 advantage); legal challenges loom.
• Florida:...

Key congressional hearing examines President’s FY2027 budget for NOAA, focusing on oceanic and atmospheric priorities. Full 2:03:51 video available...

• National skepticism: Many Americans doubt U.S. military action in Iran was worth it; Trump's approval hits term low amid war concerns.
• GOP...

• Legal setback: 2nd Circuit rejects Trump's mandatory detention without bond for immigrants, calling it a wrong law interpretation and broadest ever...