Elections, public policy, government decisions, budgets, regulation, ethics, civil rights, and public administration.
Abelardo de la Espriella became Colombia’s president on August 7, 2026, adding one of Latin America’s largest countries to a regional trend toward conservative leadership.
The Social Security Administration says it plans to complete the nationwide shift to electronic payments for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries this year.
The Government Accountability Office released a report examining recent workforce changes at the Office of Personnel Management, alongside five other reports issued July 16–20, 2026.
The Justice Department says its Civil Rights Division can seek statewide voter-registration data and share it with Homeland Security. States are challenging access and election procedures as the 2026 elections approach.
ICE says all of its field officers and agents are expected to receive body cameras by the end of August, expanding coverage of immigration enforcement.
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows directed most Texas state agencies to reduce their upcoming budget requests by 3% as lawmakers prepare the 2027-29 spending plan.
The Aug. 25, 2026, statewide runoff will include ballot questions that could change lawmakers’ authority over voter-approved Medicaid expansion and determine how local governments are reimbursed for revenue lost to manufacturing tax exemptions.
Virginia’s 2026 budget language requires an audit of Virginia State Police finances, with findings due to legislative budget committees by Aug. 30, 2026.
Marsha Blackburn and Jerri Green won their parties’ gubernatorial nominations, while Charlie Hatcher defeated incumbent Andy Ogles in Tennessee’s redrawn 5th Congressional District.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 budget in July, directing state spending toward schools, public safety and economic opportunity while projecting an approximately $8 billion surplus.
Gov. Tina Kotek said she intends to cancel the sale of 32 acres of state-owned land in Salem after a roughly $5 billion data-center proposal drew concerns about transparency and oversight.
North Dakota will receive roughly $28 million from the federal government under a settlement resolving a lawsuit over state costs tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016 and 2017.
Judge Mae D’Agostino issued a preliminary injunction barring New York from enforcing its face-covering and identification requirements against federal law-enforcement officers while the Justice Department’s lawsuit continues.
Abelardo de la Espriella took office as Colombia’s president on August 7, 2026, bringing a conservative government to a country facing drug gangs, contested ports and trafficking routes.
The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule rescinding 2022 public-charge regulations and revising public-charge bond rules. The changes are scheduled to take effect Sept. 18, 2026.
The White House says President Donald Trump released newly declassified documents concerning alleged foreign interference in U.S. elections and alleged intelligence suppression, while Vice President JD Vance backed the SAVE America Act.
A divided federal appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking above-ground construction of the planned White House ballroom unless Congress approves the project.
The Senate approved a short-term funding measure 90-6 on Aug. 8, but the bill still needs House approval and presidential action before it can become law.
A July 23 presidential memorandum directs the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate 60 economies over policies involving bans on goods produced with forced labor. No tariffs or import restrictions take effect under the order itself.
An interim final rule effective July 28 allows USCIS to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to immigration court without first conducting an asylum interview.
Greenville City Council approved the first reading of a proposal asking voters to consider a 1% local sales tax on the November 2026 ballot.
Appleton paused its automated license-plate-reader program while officials develop rules for privacy, security, data access and police oversight.
