Following a closed session vote, two confidential complaints from Milwaukee and Green Bay were referred to the Brown County district attorney’s office for potential criminal prosecution, with prosecutors having 40 days to respond. This action comes after significant spending by Elon Musk and affiliated organizations, totaling over $20 million, in support of Republican Brad Schimel’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to influence control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The race, which saw over $100 million spent in total, is noted as the most expensive judicial election in American history.
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Hawaii’s Democratic governor has signed a bill into law that redefines corporations to limit their election spending, aiming to curb the influence of corporate and “dark money” in politics. This innovative approach, taking effect in July 2027, seeks to counteract the impact of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. While some, like the Center for American Progress, hail it as a bold move to reduce outside political spending, the state’s Attorney General’s office has expressed concerns about potential legal challenges and defense costs.
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President Trump insists his proposed East Wing ballroom will cost under $400 million, funded by donors, despite Senate Republicans proposing $1 billion for associated security upgrades. While a spokesperson for Senator Grassley claims the funds are strictly for Secret Service enhancements and not the ballroom itself, Trump and his aides have described the structure as a security feature. This comes as a federal judge ordered a halt to above-ground work until Congressional approval, and a poll indicates strong public disapproval of the project.
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Hawaii lawmakers have passed a bill to prohibit corporations from spending money in state elections, aiming to return power to individual citizens. This landmark legislation challenges the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, arguing that as states create corporations, they can limit their political spending. Despite concerns about potential legal challenges and taxpayer costs, supporters believe it is crucial for states to take a stand against the influence of corporate money in democracy and to protect the voices of the people.
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Senate Democrats are reportedly pushing for a vote on a Republican-backed proposal to allocate $1 billion for White House security upgrades, which critics argue is a thinly veiled attempt to fund President Trump’s large-scale ballroom project. This move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who accuse Republicans of prioritizing the president’s vanity project over the needs of working families, especially amidst a cost-of-living crisis. Despite past claims of private funding, the project has faced legal challenges and renewed calls for funding following a recent assassination attempt against the president. White House officials maintain that the renovations, including the ballroom expected to be completed by the end of Trump’s term, are intended to enhance the White House’s grandeur and are not taxpayer-funded, while dismissing Democratic opposition as politically motivated.
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Hawaii is taking a potentially groundbreaking step, aiming to be the first state to leverage dormant legal authority to significantly reduce corporate influence in its elections. This bold move seeks to undo the effects of the *Citizens United* decision, and while it raises legal questions, the underlying legal framework suggests these challenges may have clean answers. The core of Hawaii’s strategy lies in redefining the powers granted to corporations within the state. Unlike the previous understanding that corporations inherently possess certain rights, including the ability to spend money in politics, Hawaii is asserting that corporate existence and powers are granted by the state itself, and therefore, the state can place limitations on those granted powers.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood