US Policy Pulse

Fed Chair Confirmation Hearing

• 🔥 Sen. Reed Challenges Warsh on Rate Pressure: Sen. Jack Reed questioned Kevin Warsh during the Senate Banking...

Bipartisan ethics scrutiny forces resignation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) over $5M federal disaster aid theft.

• House Ethics Committee...

• GOP backing: Republicans hail Warsh as a reformer to fix Fed's stagnant ways, overextended balance sheet, and inflation record.
• Dem scrutiny:...

Policy rollout heats up on psychedelics for mental health, targeting PTSD and vets:

• Oval Office signing: Trump, RFK Jr., Rogan direct FDA/DEA to...

• Fast-track FDA reviews for ibogaine, psilocybin, LSD, MDMA with $50M funding to tackle mental health needs
• Follows 2025 marijuana...

Trump's Psychedelics Research Order

• 🔥 President Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, to ease federal research restrictions on...

• Signed April 18: Trump issued EO to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research.
• Targets psychedelics: Eases restrictions on psilocybin/LSD to speed studies.
• Expert angle: Q&A with I. Glenn breaks down the policy shift.

• Session endgame: Adjournment Sine Die April 25; conference committees deadline passed April 17; few bills truly active.
• Hobbs moratorium: Vetoing...

Federal Enforcement Initiatives

• 🔥 FTC 'Made in USA' Sweep: The FTC announced three new enforcement actions against four companies for...

Key highlights from Sen. Collins' questioning of Dr. Miller on drug affordability barriers:

• Citizen petitions misused by manufacturers to delay...

US political divide sharpens on Iran amid Strait opening and Lebanon ceasefire: House rejects resolution to end war by one vote, with Rep. Jared...

The Trump administration is accelerating a coordinated anti-fraud push across sectors via executive actions:

• DOJ National Fraud Enforcement...

Oregon's short school year gets shorter no more: Gov. Tina Kotek's executive order bans using student-contact days for furloughs amid budget...

RFK Jr. Hearings Kick Off

• 🔥 Marathon Oversight Sessions: Lawmakers begin seven hearings over a week on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first year at...

RFK Jr.'s Capitol Hill hearings spotlight HHS affordability and fraud fights, like nutrition reforms and drug pricing.

• Democrats confront over...

Capitol Hill's expulsion wave brews over misconduct:

• Swalwell and Gonzales face ouster for sexual misconduct; Swalwell quit CA gov race, Gonzales...

PA Gov. Shapiro signed three executive orders Wednesday to expand protections and services for people with disabilities.

• Modernizes Developmental...

Key ruling from 8th Circuit:

• Rejected injunction sought by Female Athletes United against trans athletes in Minnesota girls’ sports; group lacked...

Budget Scrutiny

• 🔥 Vought Testifies on 2027 Budget: OMB Director Russell Vought is testifying before a Senate panel on President Trump's 2027...

A new executive order imposes mandatory contract language prohibiting racially discriminatory DEI for federal contracts and subcontracts, starting April 25.