Newswatch Geopolitics State-by-State
Arkansas
Trump team seeks waive of conservation law | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
March 28, 2026 04:56 AM EDT
Northwest Arkansas Newspapers.
A judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration can convene a meeting next week to seek an exemption from the Endangered Species Act on the basis of national security for expanded oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
California
Trump Signs Order Limiting Mail-In Ballots, California Leaders Vow Court Fight - edhat
March 31, 2026 07:37 PM EDT
Edhat.
President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order seeking new federal controls over voting by mail in states including California.
California
Trump signs executive order limiting mail-in ballots; California leaders say they'll fight
March 31, 2026 06:43 PM EDT
Los Angeles Times.
President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday purporting to place new federal controls on voting by mail in states such as California.
California
California Vote-By-Mail Faces Legal, Political Challenges From Trump Allies | KQED
March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
KQED Inc.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of 650,000 ballots, a challenge from Attorney General Rob Bonta, and a pending U.S. Supreme Court case raise new questions about election processes in California.
California
California sues Trump administration over Santa Ynez Unit restart - Santa Maria Sun
March 26, 2026 03:13 AM EDT
Santa Maria Sun.
On March 23, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy for ordering a restart of oil operations at the Santa Ynez Unit. “In a breathtaking power grab,” Bonta stated, “the federal executive branch has asserted that [it] may preempt and supersede all state laws governing hazardous pipelines … […]
Colorado
Judge throws out US Justice Department lawsuit challenging sanctuary laws in Colorado, Denver
March 31, 2026 07:23 PM EDT
WRAL-TV.
DENVER (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit accusing Colorado and Denver of interfering with the enforcement of immigration laws.
Colorado
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Colorado and Denver over immigration laws
March 31, 2026 04:27 PM EDT
The Denver Post
U.S. District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher ruled Tuesday that federal authorities could not compel officials in Denver or at the state level “to implement federal regulatory programs.”
Colorado
Supreme Court rules against Colorado ban on 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQ+ kids
March 31, 2026 11:27 AM EDT
The Tribune-Democrat
The Supreme Court has ruled against a law banning “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ kids in Colorado, one of about two dozen states that banned the discredited practice.
Florida
Miami Beach resistance to new law signals a legal fight
March 31, 2026 12:38 PM EDT
The Center Square.
(The Center Square) – A bill critics say tramples on home rule was signed into law by the Florida governor late last week.
Florida
A federal judge orders better attorney access at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz'
March 27, 2026 06:54 PM EDT
WJXT Channel 4
A federal judge has ruled that the immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” must provide people detained there with better access to their attorneys.
Georgia
Georgia's Smallest Town Takes On Washington's Biggest ICE Detention Plan
March 27, 2026 12:46 PM EDT
Know Your Rights Camp.
In a remarkable display of civic courage, the small Georgia town of Social Circle has become an unlikely beacon of human rights resistance, pushing back against the Trump administration's plans to transform a local warehouse into one of America's largest immigration detention facilities, capable of holding up to 10,000 people.At the heart of this resistance is city manager Eric Taylor, who has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to enable the facility. When ICE contacted him requesting util
Georgia
Georgia's Fulton County heads to court to argue for return of 2020 ballots seized by FBI
March 27, 2026 12:27 PM EDT
Public Broadcasting Service.
Fulton County said the seizure of ballots was improper and unconstitutional, while the FBI says it's investigating possible violations of the law.
Georgia
Trump wants SAVE Act only to ensure his side wins every future election
March 26, 2026 07:00 AM EDT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Even some Republican senators say the SAVE Act would disenfranchise American citizens. Many states, including Georgia, already have voter ID laws.
Hawaii
Hawaii Senators Pass Resolutions Seeking Federal Medical Marijuana Exemption From DEA - Marijuana Moment
March 31, 2026 01:08 PM EDT
Marijuana Moment
Hawaii senators are sending a message to the governor, state attorney general and health department to recognize their “clear legislative stance” in support of requesting an exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stipulating that Hawaii is permitted to run its medical cannabis program without federal interference. Members of the Senate Health and Human Services […]
Idaho
As Trump demands voter data, this fiercely independent red state says no
March 25, 2026 11:18 AM EDT
Boise State Public Radio
Wary of federal intrusion, Idaho passed a law three decades ago allowing it to sidestep so-called motor-voter laws. The exemption and the sentiment behind it are fueling resistance to President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.
Indiana
Tribune-Star Editorial: Former Gov. Daniels right to support state senators
March 28, 2026 06:45 AM EDT
Tribune-Star.
Indiana earned back much long-lost national respect in December, when a group of Indiana Republican state senators stood up to a federal politics power play.
Iowa
Trump approves temporary E15 waiver as Iowa officials push for more
March 25, 2026 02:02 PM EDT
The Des Moines Register.
The move garnered mixed reactions in Iowa, where officials have made an aggressive push for a permanent approval of the year-round sale of E15.
Kansas
Justice Department says Kansas handed over Social Security info of voters. The state says it didn't
March 25, 2026 11:20 AM EDT
High Plains Public Radio
The U.S. Department of Justice claimed in court it already has sensitive data on voters so it can check for people who should not be registered. However, the Kansas secretary of state said none of that information has been shared.
Louisiana
Louisiana AG: Federal deal limits social media censorship
March 26, 2026 10:03 AM EDT
The Shreveport Times.
Louisiana AG Liz Murrill announced a federal consent decree banning the government from coercing social media companies to censor speech.
Maine
Trump Administration to Investigate Maine's Abortion Laws, Janet Mills Responds
March 27, 2026 12:23 PM EDT
themainewire
The Trump Administration announced last week that Maine is going to be one of 13 states investigated over their abortion laws. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office for Civil Rights, the federal government is looking into whether the states in question are violating the 2005 Weldon Amendment, which prohibits
Maine
DOJ probes California, Maine over transgender inmate housing policies
March 27, 2026 09:05 AM EDT
WFMD Radio.
Federal officials are probing whether transgender inmate housing policies in California and Maine violate female inmates' constitutional protections.
Maine
DOJ to investigate Maine over transgender inmate at Windham women's prison
March 26, 2026 04:52 PM EDT
WABI Television.
The DOJ says investigation is related to allegations that the state has allowed a “biological male” to be housed in a women’s prison- despite complaints that the inmate has assaulted and harassed several female inmates.
Maryland
ICE deploys personnel to BWI-Marshall amid hours-long TSA lines
March 28, 2026 11:12 PM EDT
WBAL-TV.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deploys personnel Saturday afternoon to Baltimore's airport, according to the Maryland Aviation Administration.
Massachusetts
Healey worries Trump trying to 'weaponize' federal government ahead of 2026 election
March 27, 2026 02:32 PM EDT
WGBH Educational Foundation.
The governor dismissed the idea of voter fraud in Massachusetts, a day after federal prosecutors launched a new team to investigate it.
Massachusetts
Immigration enforcement is up in Massachusetts courthouses. Should it be allowed to continue? - The Boston Globe
March 26, 2026 07:07 PM EDT
The Boston Globe
Federal agents are increasingly targeting people at courthouses in immigrant communities from Chelsea to Lynn to New Bedford.
Massachusetts
House lawmakers send bill to Senate on restricting ICE from Mass. courthouses
March 26, 2026 02:37 AM EDT
WBUR-FM.
Massachusetts House lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday that would ban warrantless civil immigration arrests in courthouses, bar local law enforcement from asking about immigration status and ban new agreements that allow local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws.
Minnesota
Transgender athletes in Minnesota sports subject of new lawsuit - MinnPost
March 31, 2026 11:35 AM EDT
minnpost
The Justice Department alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday over transgender athletes that the state is violating federal Title IX law.
Minnesota
Minnesota Kicks Off Legal Battle With Trump Administration to Hold ICE Shooters Accountable
March 25, 2026 04:00 PM EDT
ProPublica.
With the Trump administration refusing to identify agents or share evidence, the case is a game of constitutional chicken: states’ rights versus federal immunity.
Mississippi
U.S. Supreme Court Appears Poised to Overturn Mississippi State Law Allowing for Late-Arriving Mail-In Ballots
March 25, 2026 12:01 PM EDT
Megyn Kelly
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in a case that could reshape how states handle mail-in ballots – specifically, whether ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving later can still be counted. As reported on Tuesday’s AM Update, at issue is a Mississippi law adopted in 2020 during the COVID pandemic that allows mail-in …
Missouri
Missouri bill would require citizenship proof for food stamps, health care
March 30, 2026 07:45 PM EDT
First Alert.
Missouri lawmakers are considering 43 bills on immigration and immigrant rights this year.
Missouri
Trump Consent Decree Exposes Biden Social Media Censorship
March 27, 2026 04:39 AM EDT
Standing for Freedom Center.
In Missouri v. Biden, the Trump administration secured a 10 year consent decree barring federal agencies from pressuring social media companies to censor protected speech.
Montana
What to know about Montana's new sex definition bill
March 30, 2026 04:00 PM EDT
The Derrick.
Montana has a new law that defines sex as strictly male or female, based on a person’s reproductive system. Gov. Greg Gianforte signs Senate Bill 437 last week, after legislative
Montana
Bill defining sex as strictly biological throughout Montana signed into law
March 24, 2026 06:56 PM EDT
the Fairfield Sun-Times
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has signed Senate Bill 437 into law, enacting a strict, biological-only legal definition of sex and related terms (female, male, man, woman, father, mother) across Montana
New Jersey
New Jersey's Stand Against Federal Immigration Enforcement | Law-Order
March 25, 2026 06:53 PM EDT
Devdiscourse.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed three laws aimed at limiting state officials' role in federal immigration enforcement, amidst opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies. These laws restrict personal data collection and demand transparency from law enforcement, emphasizing adherence to constitutional rights.
North Carolina
Federal judge upholds NC voter ID law two years after trial
March 26, 2026 04:58 PM EDT
the John Locke Foundation
A federal judge has upheld North Carolina’s voter identification law nearly two years after holding a trial in a lawsuit challenging the ID requirement.
Oregon
Oregon leaders slam President Donald Trump order on mail-in voting
March 31, 2026 07:54 PM EDT
Statesman Journal.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the state will "use every legal tool available" against a new executive order from President Donald Trump.
Oregon
Trump signs order targeting mail-in voting nationwide; Oregon vows to sue
March 31, 2026 06:43 PM EDT
Central Oregon Daily News
President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to create a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and to restrict mail-in voting. Oregon is already vowing to sue.
Oregon
Appeals court pauses orders restricting federal officers' use of tear gas at Portland ICE building
March 26, 2026 02:50 PM EDT
The Independent.
An appeals court has paused lower court rulings in Oregon that restricted federal officers' use of tear gas during protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland
Rhode Island
Judge rules that HUD effort to change criteria for homeless funding is unlawful
March 31, 2026 07:05 PM EDT
WPXI-TV.
A federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled that the Trump administration's effort to change the criteria for using tens of millions of dollars in funding to aid homeless people was unlawful
South Dakota
South Dakota election integrity bills signed into law - UPI.com
March 26, 2026 07:14 PM EDT
United Press International
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed six election-related bills, including one that requires newly registered voters to prove their citizenship
Texas
Voting rights groups sue Texas over alleged illegal voter purge | Houston Public Media
March 30, 2026 06:23 PM EDT
Houston Public Media
The lawsuit alleges Texas' use of a federal immigration database to review voter eligibility could have put eligible voters at risk.
Texas
Texas sued over removal of voters flagged by SAVE database
March 27, 2026 09:59 PM EDT
The Texas Tribune
The lawsuit says officials failed to check for proof of citizenship that voters may have already provided the state.
Vermont
Vermont defends climate superfund law in federal court
March 30, 2026 06:16 PM EDT
WCAX-TV
Attorneys defended Vermont's landmark climate superfund law on Monday, as it faces a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration.
Virginia
Voting rights advocates hail Virginia's return to multistate voter roll system | ARLnow.com
March 27, 2026 09:15 AM EDT
ARLnow.
Prominent voting rights advocates are applauding a new executive order returning Virginia to a multistate voter roll program and limiting when voters can be removed from the rolls before elections. An executive order signed earlier this week by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) reverses Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)'s 2023 decision to leave the Electronic Registration Information
Virginia
College credit in high school? Trump administration pushes new limits for undocumented students
March 27, 2026 07:51 AM EDT
Chalkbeat
Chalkbeat reporting found that nearly every Virginia school district agreed to block undocumented students from accessing federally funded career-technical education programs. The leader of a superintendents’ group said it was “a compliance exercise.”
Virginia
Virginia governor moves to secure elections, rejoin ERIC
March 25, 2026 11:59 AM EDT
The News Leader.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger issued an executive order to secure voter ballots, including rejoining ERIC, a multi-state database.
