Trump Action Archive

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• Missouri Republican legislators threatened impeachment of state Supreme Court justices over redistricting ruling — Missouri Republican lawmakers sent a letter threatening impeachment of state Supreme Court justices if they held Secretary of State Hoskins in contempt for defying a court order on redistricting. The letter, sent before the U.S. Supreme Court intervened, insisted that Hoskins comply with the federal judge's order and questioned whether the state Supreme Court understood that federal law is "supreme." The impeachment threat was ultimately not carried out.

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• Utah Republicans threatened to impeach judge over gerrymandering enforcement — Utah Republicans threatened to impeach a state judge for enforcing a constitutional ban on gerrymandering. When the impeachment threat did not succeed in stopping the judge's rulings, Republicans subsequently packed the state Supreme Court to overturn the judge's decisions and allow gerrymandered districts.
• Utah Republicans packed state Supreme Court to overturn redistricting protections — After their impeachment threat against a judge enforcing a constitutional ban on gerrymandering failed, Utah Republicans packed the state Supreme Court. This court-packing effort was designed to overturn judicial protections against gerrymandered districts and allow partisan redistricting to proceed.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-11549 — Judge Talwani found that USPS Defendants violated the court's preliminary injunction related to “initiating or completing rulemaking to promulgate” specific regulations outlined in Section 3 of EO 14399 by sending a corresponding Final Rule to the Federal Register on Aug. 22, 2026. However, the court declined to impose a remedy “other than identifying the violation,” finding that the relief requested by Plaintiffs would not remedy the past violation but noting that Plaintiffs could choose to file an amended complaint.
• Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed lawsuit challenging the USPS mail-in ballot rule — Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule that allows the Postal Service to police mail-in ballot eligibility. The AGs sought an emergency block on the rule, with the first mail-in ballots set to go out the following week.
• Federal judge lifted the last remaining block on Trump's plan to give the Postal Service a new role in policing mail-in ballots — Judge Talwani granted Defendants' motion to reconsider and vacated the court's Aug. 11 preliminary injunction blocking Section 3 of EO 14399 following the Supreme Court's intervening stay of a separate preliminary injunction to Sections 2 and 3 of the same EO in a different but related case, Trump v. California . The vacatur is without prejudice to Plaintiffs amending their complaint. That same day, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Complaint adding claims directly challenging the USPS Aug. 21, 2026 Final Rule implementing Section 3 of EO 14399 as a separation-of-powers violation and as unlawful agency action exceeding USPS statutory authority under Title 39. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief that the EO and Final Rules are unlawful and enjoinment of Defendants from continuing implementation of the Final Rule.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of California v. United States Postal Service (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-13917 — A U.S. district judge reluctantly lifted the final injunction blocking Trump's plan to reshape how mail-in ballots are handled. The judge stated the Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week left her little choice. The new Postal Service rules could result in ballots being rejected from voters who do not appear on newly compiled federal eligibility lists. Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule and seeking an emergency block before mail-in ballots begin going out the following week.
• USPS implements Trump executive order restricting mail-in ballot delivery — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff Organizations' members to be at risk of irreparable harm, facing a significant risk of disenfranchisement and interference with their rights under state laws. The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Twenty-four states and DC file lawsuit challenging Trump mail-voting executive order — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff States face irreparable harm as “compliance [with the Final Rule's requirements] is practically impossible as to the 2026 midterm elections.” The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked mail-voting restrictions — The US Postal Service announced implementation of new rules requiring the post office to withhold ballots for mail-in voting to voters deemed ineligible by Department of Homeland Security and other federal records. The rules stem from a Trump executive order issued earlier in 2026 and apply immediately to November's midterm elections. The US Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction on Monday; US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted a nationwide block on Wednesday. Twenty-four states and DC filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the order as usurping state and congressional authority over elections.
• US District Judge Talwani lifts nationwide block on USPS mail ballot rule — Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block the Trump executive order restricting mail-in voting in the 2026 midterm elections. The states argue the USPS policy is part of a broader effort by the administration to "rewrite federal election law and usurp the authority of the states and Congress."
• — Late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked the Postal Service from enforcing Trump's new mail-voting rule, one day after USPS announced the requirements took effect. The temporary block lasts 14 days while the court considers a longer preliminary injunction, with a hearing scheduled for September 3. The case could quickly return to the Supreme Court. As of Friday morning, Trump's new mail-ballot restrictions are currently blocked.
• — US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted her nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the USPS mail ballot delivery rule, citing the Supreme Court's decision to lift the lower court injunction. The ruling clears the way for the rule to take effect for November's midterm elections.

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• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Jared Kushner to discuss "potential areas of common ground" — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) met with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in recent weeks to discuss "potential areas of common ground," according to reporting by Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni in the New York Times. Jeffries emphasized that he wants "to get rid of toxic Trump cabinet secretaries," including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The meeting sparked significant controversy among Trump opponents and led to the public warning from Speaker Johnson.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Jared Kushner not to "bet against the House Republicans" following meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — Following a report in the New York Times about a meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner regarding "potential areas of common ground," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) publicly warned Kushner: "You better not bet against the House Republicans." The warning signals Republican leadership's concern about potential Democratic-Trump administration coordination and reflects internal party tensions over loyalty to Trump.

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• House Republicans block procedural motions to pressure Senate on voting restrictions — Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna and her allies ground the House to a halt in late June by opposing procedural motions that would have allowed consideration of unrelated bills. The tactic was designed to pressure GOP leadership over Trump's priority voting restrictions bill (Save America Act). Luna has signaled no shift in strategy since the recess and has publicly criticized Senate Republican leader John Thune for not backing filibuster changes to enable passage of the voting measure.

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• US House blocks extension of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) section 702 — The US House of Representatives failed to pass a short-term extension of FISA section 702 in a 198-218 vote on June 11, 2026. Democrats blocked the renewal in protest of Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte, a major Republican donor with no national security experience, as acting director of national intelligence. The law will lapse on June 12, though a FISA court certification allows collection to continue under existing orders through approximately March 2027.
• House rejected FISA renewal measure — Nineteen Republicans joined all but seven Democrats to reject a measure to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires on June 12, 2026. Under the fast-track procedure used by House Speaker Mike Johnson, the measure required a two-thirds majority but failed 218 to 198, not reaching even a simple majority. The rejection reflected concerns about Pulte's potential oversight of the program.
• Congress fails to reauthorize Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before deadline — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which permits warrantless collection of communications involving foreigners outside the US and incidentally sweeps up American communications, was set to expire on June 12, 2026. Congress failed to reauthorize it by the deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson blocked votes on reform amendments, particularly a warrant requirement for surveilling Americans' communications, refusing to allow longer extensions that included such reforms. The program continues operating under existing court certifications through March 2027, but the statutory authorization lapsed.
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act lapses — The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which grants the executive branch broad surveillance powers, lapsed on June 12 after Congress failed to pass a short-term extension. The lapse occurred amid Senate outrage over Pulte's potential appointment as acting DNI. Some Republicans attempted to pass a two-week extension, but their efforts failed.

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• Trump nominates Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence — Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, former SEC chair and current US attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as Director of National Intelligence. The nomination follows widespread criticism of Trump's earlier decision to install Bill Pulte as acting DNI. Clayton has no significant operational intelligence experience but has bipartisan early support. The nomination comes amid controversy over Pulte's tenure and a lapsed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization deadline.
• Trump nominates Jay Clayton as permanent director of national intelligence — Trump announced on June 11 that he was nominating Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, as permanent DNI. Clayton has no experience in any of the 18 intelligence agencies under DNI purview. The Senate Intelligence Committee immediately scheduled Clayton's confirmation hearing for June 17—an extraordinarily rushed timeline—with the apparent goal of confirming him before June 19, thus preventing Pulte from ever serving as acting director.
• Trump nominated Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence — Trump announced his nomination of Walter Joseph "Jay" Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to become the next director of national intelligence. Like Pulte, Clayton lacks national security experience. Clayton has been involved in the slow-walking of the release of the Epstein files.
• Trump withdrew nomination of Bill Pulte for DNI after Senate opposition — After a bipartisan group of senators indicated they would not vote to extend FISA surveillance authority if Bill Pulte remained Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Trump withdrew the Pulte nomination. Trump announced instead the nomination of Jay Clayton, former SEC Chairman and current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to the DNI position.
• White House sent nomination and withdrawal to Senate for Walter Clayton — The White House sent to the Senate a nomination of Walter Clayton of New York to be Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Simultaneously, the White House withdrew Clayton's pending nomination to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The dual action redirects Clayton's candidacy from a four-year SDNY post to the intelligence directorship.

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• Mississippi governor cancels special session on supreme court redistricting, pledges future congressional map redraw targeting Democratic seat — Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves canceled a special legislative session scheduled to redraw state supreme court districts, citing difficulty in completing the work before the November 2026 midterms. However, Reeves stated he expects the state to redraw its four congressional districts between now and 2027, with explicit focus on eliminating the seat of Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's only Democratic representative and longest-serving Black elected official. Reeves indicated coordination with the Trump administration on timing and method.
• Mississippi and Southern Republican officials threaten redistricting to eliminate Black congressional districts — Following the Louisiana v Callais decision, Republican officials in Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama announced plans to redraw congressional districts to eliminate or dilute Black representation. Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson and State Auditor Shad White publicly called for redrawing Representative Bennie Thompson's district. Governor Tate Reeves stated it was "not a question of if, it's a question of when" regarding redistricting, referring to Thompson's tenure as a "reign of terror." Tennessee Republicans eliminated the state's sole Black congressional district; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new map; Alabama prepared maps for use.

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• South Carolina House advances proposal targeting Rep. Jim Clyburn's district — The South Carolina House advanced a proposal that could have allowed lawmakers to target and redraw the congressional district held by Rep. Jim Clyburn, a senior Black member of Congress. The state Senate blocked the effort on May 13 in a 29–17 vote, though organizers noted the fight may not be fully resolved if lawmakers are called back into session.

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• Tennessee governor redraws congressional map eliminating majority-Black district — Tennessee's governor called a special legislative session and signed a new congressional map that divides Memphis and eliminates the state's only majority-Black congressional district. The action was taken in response to the Louisiana v. Callais decision, which weakened Section 2 protections against racially discriminatory redistricting.
• Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved congressional map dismantling majority-Black district — Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that breaks apart Memphis and Shelby County, eliminating Tennessee's only majority-Black congressional district. The map splits Black voters across three majority-white districts, positioning Republicans to hold all nine of Tennessee's congressional seats after the midterms. This action follows the Supreme Court's April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as a tool for challenging racially discriminatory maps.
• Tennessee House speaker removes all Democrats from committees — On May 12, 2026, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, citing their protests against the mid-decade redistricting as disruptive to legislative processes. This action effectively stripped representation from nearly 2 million Tennesseans, including all Black elected officials in the state legislature.

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• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democrats from committee assignments — On May 12, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments, citing disruption during the special session redistricting vote. Sexton's letter accused Democratic lawmakers of interlocking arms, blocking aisles, and using prohibited props or noisemakers. Rep. Justin Pearson stated the removal affected "me and every Democrat, and therefore every Black elected official in the state legislature." Reps. Justin Jones, Gabby Salinas, and Gloria Johnson confirmed removal. Lt. Governor McNally's office indicated additional actions against participants may be under review.
• Tennessee House speaker removed all House Democrats from standing committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, claiming they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested the mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State Representative Justin J. Pearson noted the removal stripped "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and removed representation for "nearly 2 million Tennesseans."
• Tennessee House Speaker stripped Democratic lawmakers of committee assignments in retaliation for protest — Tennessee House speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, stating they had behaved in a way "aimed at disrupting the democratic and legislative processes" as they protested mid-decade redistricting that eliminated Tennessee's only majority-Black, Democratic district. State representative Justin J. Pearson noted that this action removed "every Black elected official in the state legislature from any committee we served on" and stripped "nearly 2 million Tennesseans from the representation they deserve."
• Tennessee House speaker removes all Democrats from committees — Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed House Democrats from their standing committee and subcommittee assignments following their protests during a special legislative session. This action occurred after Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that dismantles Tennessee's only majority-Black congressional district by splitting Black voters across three majority-white districts. Committee removal reduces the legislative voice of both the affected lawmakers and their constituents.
• — On May 12, 2026, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed all House Democrats from standing committees, citing their protests against the mid-decade redistricting as disruptive to legislative processes. This action effectively stripped representation from nearly 2 million Tennesseans, including all Black elected officials in the state legislature.

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• Federal judge in Rhode Island dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking voter records — A federal judge in Rhode Island dismissed the Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking to obtain sensitive records on every voter in the state. The ruling came after an unfavorable hearing for the government. This marks the fifth consecutive case in which the Trump administration's DOJ has lost its attempt to compel states to surrender voter data, with the administration having sued 30 states total on this issue.
• DOJ falsely claimed compliance with Privacy Act in voter roll complaints — The DOJ's complaints assert that the agency has complied with the 1974 Privacy Act, but the DOJ has not yet filed a Statement of Records Notice explaining how it will use the voter data it is demanding, as required by the Privacy Act. Legal experts characterize this as a premature assertion of an affirmative defense and a significant unforced error.
• DOJ filed California voter roll lawsuit in wrong federal court — The DOJ filed its California voter roll case in the Central District of Los Angeles rather than the Eastern District covering Sacramento, where the state capital and all voter registration files are located. This procedural error represents one of several mistakes in the DOJ's complaints that legal experts characterize as significant flaws in the litigation.
• DOJ files four new lawsuits demanding unredacted voter rolls from states — The U.S. Department of Justice filed four new lawsuits last week seeking unredacted voter rolls from states, bringing the total number of similar actions to 18 states, predominantly led by Democrats. The DOJ claims the lawsuits aim to ensure states are removing ineligible voters and to run rolls through Department of Homeland Security databases. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced Georgia, a GOP-led state, will also be sued, framing voter roll maintenance as "a bipartisan problem." Election experts question whether the stated purpose reflects the full scope of the DOJ's intentions.
• DOJ seeks memoranda granting unprecedented power over state list maintenance — Along with demand letters, the DOJ has asked states to sign memoranda that would grant the agency unprecedented power to conduct list maintenance and order states to conduct it in particular ways—not merely requiring general reasonable maintenance programs but directing specific voter removals by name. Legal experts argue the DOJ lacks statutory authority to take such power from states, and Congress has not authorized such delegation.
• DOJ shifts legal strategy from NVRA/HAVA to Civil Rights Act claims — The December lawsuits filed by the DOJ employ a different legal strategy than the September filings, dropping claims based on the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Votes Act (HAVA) and instead arguing that Title III of the 1960 Civil Rights Act (CRA) empowers the attorney general to demand unredacted voter data. Legal experts note this shift suggests recognition that the earlier statutory claims were weak, and that the CRA's inspection provisions do not authorize production of unredacted records.
• Judge Carter denies DOJ motion for production of voter records in California — In the California voter roll case, Judge David O. Carter, a Bill Clinton appointee, denied the DOJ's motion for an order to produce records in a short order that did not elaborate on his reasoning. The DOJ had filed the motion days before a scheduled hearing, and California responded with an emergency ex parte application arguing the demand was both rushed and improper.

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• Georgia State Board of Elections subpoenas 2020 election records from Fulton County — The Georgia State Board of Elections, which has a Trump-aligned majority, issued a subpoena for 2020 election records from Fulton County at the urging of Trump and election denialists. Fulton County initially sought to quash the subpoena in court. In December, a Fulton County superior court judge ruled in the state board's favor, ordering the county to turn over records. County officials estimated the cost of producing the documents at $376,800 and had scheduled a February 9 meeting to discuss the transfer process before the FBI raid occurred.
• Senate Democrats and Republicans reach deal to split DHS funding bill and avert partial government shutdown — Senate Democrats and Republicans negotiated a deal to separate the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill from a broader spending package, with DHS funded for two weeks at current levels while other agencies receive funding through September. The split was driven by Democratic demands for reforms to federal immigration enforcement following deaths of US citizens in ICE operations. The House, out of session until Monday, must approve the revised package to prevent a weekend shutdown.
• Senate Democrats Force Separate Funding for DHS — Senate Democrats successfully separated funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from five other spending bills, allowing for a two-week negotiation period regarding the conditions of DHS funding. This decision was influenced by public outrage over recent violence by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol. Democrats demanded accountability measures, including the use of body cameras and independent investigations into ICE operations. The Senate did not vote on the measure, and the House is currently out of session, leaving the fate of the funding uncertain.
• Senate passed appropriations bills with DHS funding pulled for longer discussion — The Senate passed appropriations bills to fund the government in 2026 with funding for the Department of Homeland Security pulled out for longer discussion. The bills now head to the House for consideration.
• Senate voted on Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal ICE funding increase — In the Senate, two Republicans joined all Senate Democrats to vote in favor of an amendment proposed by Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to repeal the $75 billion funding increase for ICE that Republicans included in their July 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Sanders proposed using those savings to reverse cuts to Medicaid. The amendment failed 49 to 51, but the vote demonstrated significant Senate concern over ICE funding and conduct. Sanders stated: "As we speak, ICE agents are shooting American citizens in cold blood, breaking down doors to arrest people, and sending 5-year-olds to detention centers, all in clear violation of our Constitution. Instead of funding Trump's domestic army, we should instead use that money to prevent hundreds of thousands of Americans from losing the health care they desperately need by investing in Medicaid."

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• House passed measure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits — Seventeen Republicans joined all Democrats to pass a measure extending Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years by a vote of 230–196. The measure was brought to the floor through a discharge petition after Speaker Johnson refused to take it up. The bill now heads to the Senate.
• House passed measure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years — On January 8, 2026, the House of Representatives passed a measure to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years, providing continued healthcare subsidy support.
• Democrats threaten to withhold DHS funding over ICE killing — Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Chris Murphy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, announced they will use the Department of Homeland Security appropriations deadline (30 January) as leverage to force restraints on ICE. Murphy is preparing a reform package requiring warrants for arrests, banning masked agents during operations, and limiting border patrol agents far from the border. Democrats are conditioning DHS budget passage on agency accountability and operational restrictions.
• US House passes three-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credit subsidies with bipartisan support — The US House of Representatives voted 230-196 on Thursday to pass legislation extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for three years. All 213 Democrats and 17 Republicans supported the measure, breaking with Trump's opposition and Speaker Johnson's refusal to bring it to a floor vote. Four moderate Republicans had signed a discharge petition to force the vote after leadership rejected compromise proposals. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate, where experts expect significant revision before potential enactment.

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• Georgia prosecutor Pete Skandalakis appoints himself to take over Trump election interference case — Pete Skandalakis, executive director of Georgia's prosecuting attorneys' council and a Republican, appointed himself as prosecutor to replace Fani Willis on the state's election interference case against Donald Trump and others. Willis had been disqualified in September due to a conflict of interest involving her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Skandalakis stated he could not secure another prosecutor willing to take the case and appointed himself to conduct a comprehensive review and determine how to proceed, meeting a court deadline set by Judge Scott McAfee.
• Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys' Council deadline to assign new prosecutor for fake elector case — The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia faces a November 14, 2025 deadline to assign a new prosecutor to the fake elector case after Fulton County DA Fani Willis was disqualified over allegations of a romantic relationship with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade. The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the disqualification. Council executive director Pete Skandalakis stated the council will continue the prosecution "without being influenced by matters outside the scope of our assigned task," signaling intent to proceed despite Trump's federal pardons, which do not apply to state crimes.

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• Congressional vote on releasing Epstein files — Donald Trump is facing a potential congressional vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following a failed attempt to persuade two female members of Congress, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace, to withdraw their support for a discharge petition. The petition, which has gained enough signatures to force a vote, could lead to the release of emails suggesting Trump's prior knowledge of Epstein's activities. The vote, if passed, would still require Senate approval and could be vetoed by Trump, but it poses a political risk by potentially alienating his base.
• House Speaker Johnson announces floor vote on Epstein files disclosure bill — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that he would bring a bill compelling the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein to a full House floor vote the following week. The announcement came hours after Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in as Arizona's representative, becoming the 218th signature on a discharge petition that automatically triggers the vote. Johnson, who opposes the bill, scheduled the vote earlier than required under discharge petition rules. Republicans anticipate significant cross-party support for passage.
• House Republicans attempted to pass Epstein Files bill by unanimous consent to avoid recorded votes — Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Tim Burchett sought unanimous consent to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act without a roll call vote, allowing Republicans to avoid being recorded voting yes or no while Trump threatened them. Democrats objected, and the Republican chair ruled the request out of order. The discharge petition had reached 218 signatures, forcing a floor vote next week. Rep. Jim McGovern revealed the procedure would have given the speaker authority to postpone or never send the bill to the Senate, and would have shielded Republicans from any up-or-down vote.
• Speaker Johnson announced plan to repeal DOJ surveillance provision — Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he will bring a bill to the floor next week to repeal the provision allowing senators to sue DOJ for surveillance. Johnson stated he will personally lobby Senate Republicans to take up the bill once it passes the House and will urge senators to back it. However, the bulletin notes the bill will likely die in the Senate.
• Speaker Johnson refused to commit to floor vote on ACA subsidies — Speaker Mike Johnson was asked whether he would bring a bill to extend ACA subsidies to the floor of the House if it passes the Senate. Johnson refused to guarantee a vote, stating that Republicans would demand reforms before anything like that was possible and that the process would need to go through normal channels. The bulletin notes that the author predicted a 0% chance of the bill reaching the House floor.
• Speaker Mike Johnson announced floor vote on Epstein files for next week — Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN that the House will hold a full floor vote on the Epstein files discharge petition when Congress returns the following week. Johnson had previously stated the petition was "reckless" and "moot," but announced the vote after the petition was signed.

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• Utah judge approves redistricting map creating Democratic-leaning House seat — Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Utah's Republican-controlled legislature's second redistricting attempt "unduly favors Republicans and disfavors Democrats" and approved an alternative map submitted by the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. The new map consolidates Salt Lake County—the state's largest Democratic-voting population center—largely within a single district rather than dividing it among all four seats, creating a competitive Democratic-leaning seat in a state where Republicans currently hold all four House positions.
• Utah judge rejected Republican-drawn congressional district map — A Utah state judge rejected congressional district lines drawn by Republican state lawmakers and approved an alternative map that includes a solidly Democratic seat ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The original Republican map was designed to protect the state's all-GOP congressional delegation through gerrymandering. The ruling is described as a major blow to Republicans' mid-decade redistricting efforts.
• Utah judge rejected Republican congressional map and ordered new map — A Utah judge rejected a congressional map passed by state Republican lawmakers on November 10 and ordered a new map that will likely give Utah Democrats a seat in the House in the 2026 midterms for the first time since 2021.

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• House Speaker Johnson refuses to swear in Representative-elect Grijalva — Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) was elected by voters on September 23, 2025, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has steadfastly refused to swear her into office. Grijalva has stated she will provide the final signature necessary on a discharge petition to force a vote on the public release of the Epstein files. Survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking enterprise sent a letter to Speaker Johnson on October 30 demanding that Grijalva be sworn in, stating that Johnson's refusal appears to be a deliberate attempt to block her participation in the discharge petition and obstruct transparency regarding Trump's connection to the Epstein files.

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• Arizona and Grijalva sue House of Representatives over refusal to swear in elected representative — The state of Arizona and representative-elect Adelita Grijalva filed suit against the House of Representatives over Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear Grijalva into office, thus depriving her Arizona constituents of representation. Arizona Attorney General Kristin Mayes argued that a duly elected representative who meets constitutional qualifications cannot be denied office simply because the Speaker has decided to keep the House out of regular session. Mayes requested the court authorize someone else to swear Grijalva into office.
• Arizona Attorney General and elected representative sue Speaker Johnson over obstruction of swearing-in — On October 21, 2025, Adelita Grijalva and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives challenging Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear in Grijalva. The lawsuit argues that the Constitution does not authorize the Speaker to deny a duly elected representative her office to prevent her from signing a discharge petition or to strengthen the Speaker's negotiating position on budget matters. Mayes contends that Johnson "has not identified any valid reason for refusing to promptly seat Ms. Grijalva" and that the delay injures Grijalva and Arizona voters by denying representation for a significant portion of the two-year term. The lawsuit requests that if Johnson continues to delay, Grijalva be sworn in by another authorized official.
• Arizona sues Mike Johnson to block swearing-in of elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva — Arizona's Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes filed suit against House Speaker Mike Johnson to compel him to swear in Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat elected to Congress on 23 September in Arizona's seventh district. Johnson has refused to schedule her swearing-in since early October, citing the ongoing government shutdown. Grijalva cannot access her office fully or vote without being sworn in. The lawsuit alleges Johnson is denying Arizona's district representation and suspects he is blocking her to prevent her from becoming the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

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• House Speaker Johnson refuses to seat elected representative Adelita Grijalva — House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to seat representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who was elected by voters on September 23, 2025, to fill a vacant House seat. Johnson has offered successive reasons to delay her seating. Without being sworn in, Grijalva has no access to government resources, cannot represent her constituents, and cannot provide the 218th signature needed on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• House adjourned for 77 of last 89 days to block Epstein files release vote — Speaker Mike Johnson kept the House adjourned for 77 of the previous 89 days, with House Republicans working only 12 days in three months. The stated purpose was to prevent a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Rep. Marjorie Greene publicly disagreed with the shutdown strategy, calling for the House to return to work on appropriations and legislation.
• House Speaker Johnson refuses to call House into session, blocking swearing-in of representative-elect Grijalva — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is refusing to call the House into session, keeping members out of Washington and preventing the swearing-in of representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who was elected on September 23. Johnson claims that keeping the House out of session prevents him from swearing in Grijalva, though speakers have sworn in representatives during pro forma sessions in the past. Grijalva has stated she will be the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• Johnson dismisses Grijalva lawsuit as "absurd" and "publicity stunt" — House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to the Arizona lawsuit by calling it "absurd" and characterizing it as "a publicity stunt." The lawsuit had noted that Johnson's excuse for delaying Grijalva's swearing-in—that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed swearing in Representative Julia Letlow—was inaccurate; Pelosi had contacted Letlow to determine when she wished to be sworn in.
• Arizona sued House Speaker Mike Johnson to compel swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva — Arizona sued House Speaker Mike Johnson and the U.S. House of Representatives to compel the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election last month. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes argued the delay violates the constitutional rights of the district's 800,000 residents to representation. Democrats said the delay is politically motivated, as seating Grijalva could give Democrats the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition to force a vote for the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
• Arizona and Grijalva sue House of Representatives over refusal to swear in elected representative — The state of Arizona and representative-elect Adelita Grijalva filed suit against the House of Representatives over Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear Grijalva into office, thus depriving her Arizona constituents of representation. Arizona Attorney General Kristin Mayes argued that a duly elected representative who meets constitutional qualifications cannot be denied office simply because the Speaker has decided to keep the House out of regular session. Mayes requested the court authorize someone else to swear Grijalva into office.
• Arizona Attorney General and elected representative sue Speaker Johnson over obstruction of swearing-in — On October 21, 2025, Adelita Grijalva and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives challenging Speaker Johnson's refusal to swear in Grijalva. The lawsuit argues that the Constitution does not authorize the Speaker to deny a duly elected representative her office to prevent her from signing a discharge petition or to strengthen the Speaker's negotiating position on budget matters. Mayes contends that Johnson "has not identified any valid reason for refusing to promptly seat Ms. Grijalva" and that the delay injures Grijalva and Arizona voters by denying representation for a significant portion of the two-year term. The lawsuit requests that if Johnson continues to delay, Grijalva be sworn in by another authorized official.
• House Republican leadership claims Trump exonerated in Epstein files — House Republican leadership, represented by Rep. James Comer, claimed that evidence gathered does not implicate President Trump in any way regarding the Epstein files. Comer stated that public reporting, survivor testimony, and official documents show Bill Clinton had far closer ties to Epstein. The files remain unreleased to the public.
• Arizona sues Mike Johnson to block swearing-in of elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva — Arizona's Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes filed suit against House Speaker Mike Johnson to compel him to swear in Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat elected to Congress on 23 September in Arizona's seventh district. Johnson has refused to schedule her swearing-in since early October, citing the ongoing government shutdown. Grijalva cannot access her office fully or vote without being sworn in. The lawsuit alleges Johnson is denying Arizona's district representation and suspects he is blocking her to prevent her from becoming the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
• Rep.-elect Grijalva blocked from being sworn in — Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva has been blocked from being sworn in by Speaker Mike Johnson, an unprecedented move that prevents her from voting on critical legislation.

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• Speaker Johnson has convened House for only 12 of 80 days — Speaker Mike Johnson has called the House into session for only 12 of the last 80 days, with House Republicans receiving full pay and benefits during the extended shutdown. The extended absence has been characterized as "The Epstein Shutdown," with 68 days off with full pay over the 80-day period.
• House Speaker Johnson delays swearing in of Representative Grijalva — Speaker Mike Johnson has not sworn in Representative Raúl Grijalva despite her written request, according to a Fox reporter's question at a House Republican press conference. Johnson denied the delay was related to obstruction of the Epstein files release. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent a letter to Johnson demanding he swear in Grijalva and stated her office is considering litigation to hold him accountable for the delay.
• Arizona attorney general accused Speaker Johnson of violating Constitution — Arizona's attorney general sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson accusing him of violating the Constitution by delaying the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who is expected to be the key 218th vote on a petition that would force a vote to require the Trump administration to release the Epstein files.
• Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva demanded Speaker Johnson release Epstein files — Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva responded to Speaker Mike Johnson's dismissive "bless her heart" comment about her demand to be sworn in by accusing Johnson of stalling and obstruction. Grijalva stated she is the 218th signer of a discharge petition for the Epstein files and that Johnson's delay in swearing her in is politically motivated, driven by fear of Trump.
• House adjourned for 74 of last 86 days; zero committee hearings in October — Speaker Johnson has had the House adjourned for 74 of the last 86 days. The House Committee Calendar for October shows zero hearings or business being conducted. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries criticized House Republicans for being on vacation for three consecutive weeks during a government shutdown, stating they were in "legislative witness protection program" and not holding town halls or engaging with constituents.
• Speaker Johnson dismissed Arizona AG's lawsuit as a "publicity stunt" — When asked about the lawsuit filed by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to compel him to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Speaker Johnson dismissed it as a "publicity stunt" by a "Democrat attorney general in Arizona" seeking a "national moment," claiming she had "nothing whatsoever to do with what's happening in Congress."

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• House Democrats demand FCC Chair Carr's resignation over media pressure — Six House Democratic leaders, led by Hakeem Jeffries, issued a joint statement demanding the resignation of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, accusing him of "corrupt abuse of power" for bullying ABC into suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live. The lawmakers characterized the suspension as government-coerced censorship, warned of congressional investigations, and threatened to deploy "relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power" to expose the truth to the American people.
• House Oversight Committee announced investigation into Trump administration pressure on media — House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia announced he will launch an investigation to examine communications between the Trump administration, FCC officials, and media executives to determine whether political influence played a role in ABC's programming decisions. Garcia stated "We will not be silent as our freedoms are threatened by corrupt schemes and threats." The Oversight Committee has broad authority to subpoena documents and compel testimony.
• Rep. Eric Swalwell warned FCC officials of future accountability — Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) stated in committee that "There's going to be a Democratic majority in just over a year. To the FCC chairperson and anyone in involved in these dirty deals: get a lawyer and save your records because you're going to be in this room answering questions."
• House Democrats launched investigation into Kimmel suspension — Top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into ABC, Sinclair, and the FCC over the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," writing in a letter to FCC Chair Carr that "this corrupt political intimidation is unacceptable." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team called for Carr to resign.

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• Texas legislature approves partisan redistricting plan to secure Republican House seats — On August 23, 2025, the Texas legislature approved a partisan redistricting plan that would secure up to five additional U.S. House seats for Republicans, engineered at Trump's behest. The plan directly prompted California Governor Newsom's counter-redistricting initiative and represents a coordinated federal-state effort to manipulate congressional representation for partisan advantage.
• Texas Senate approves redrawn congressional map heavily favoring Republicans — The Texas Senate gave final approval to a redrawn congressional map that would shift Republican advantage from 25 of 38 districts to 30 of 38, eliminating Democratic-held districts in Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The map was approved on a party-line vote after Democrats attempted a filibuster that Republicans blocked procedurally. Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is expected to sign it into law. Democrats have vowed to challenge it in court, alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters' influence based on race.

Supporting reports

• California Republicans file suit to block Newsom's fast-track redistricting plan — Republican state legislators in California filed an emergency petition on Tuesday to block Governor Gavin Newsom's mid-year redistricting plan, which aims to counter Texas's redrawn congressional maps. The suit argues the legislative process violates a 30-day introduction-to-vote requirement and bypasses the state's independent citizens redistricting commission. Newsom announced the plan to use California's voting power to counteract Republican gains expected from Texas redistricting, framing it as a response to Trump's influence over mapmaking in Republican-led states.
• Texas House Republicans impose surveillance protocols and "permission slips" on Democratic lawmakers — Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered around-the-clock police escorts and mandatory "permission slip" forms for Democratic representatives who had left the state to break quorum on redistricting votes. Democrats, who had fled to California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York to delay Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts favoring Donald Trump, returned to Austin on Monday. Upon return, they faced surveillance including plainclothes officers following them to homes and grocery stores. On Tuesday, Democrats tore up the permission slips and occupied the House floor in protest, calling the protocol "demeaning" and an attack on their dignity and freedom of movement.
• Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows demanded Democratic representatives sign commitment statements and assigned state troopers to monitor their movements to ensure attendance at redistricting vote. — After 51 Democratic Texas state representatives returned from a quorum-breaking absence on August 19, House Speaker Dustin Burrows required them to sign statements committing to appear for a Wednesday vote on congressional redistricting maps. Refusal to sign risked arrest. Burrows also assigned state troopers to monitor the Democrats' movements around the clock until the final vote. The measure would convert five Democratic congressional seats to Republican-dominated districts at President Trump's direction.
• Texas House speaker assigned state troopers to police Democratic members — The Republican Texas House speaker assigned state troopers to police Democratic members to ensure they show up and provide enough lawmakers present to conduct business. This enforcement mechanism was used to compel attendance during legislative sessions, including redistricting votes.

Supporting reports

• Texas House files arrest warrants for Democratic representatives in Illinois — The Texas House of Representatives filed arrest warrants with an Illinois court seeking the civil arrest and return of Texas Democratic representatives who fled the state to prevent a quorum on redistricting legislation. The filing requests that Illinois law enforcement coordinate with the Texas Sergeant of Arms and Department of Public Safety to compel the representatives' return to Texas.