The Gov Hub Newsletter: April 21, 2026

In Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Court ruled 4-3 that the state’s ban on public funding for abortion is unconstitutional. The ruling is particularly notable because it hinges on recognizing reproductive autonomy as a fundamental right protected by the state’s constitution. This particular fight over abortion access is expected to continue, with a likely journey to the state’s supreme court ahead [PA’s court structure cheat sheet].

Montana’s state supreme court ruled 5-2 that trans people are protected under the state constitution’s Equal Protection and Individual Dignity clause. The ruling blocks a 2023 law that, per reporting from Erin in the Morning, was a “definition-of-sex law and related state policies that stripped all legal recognition from transgender people and barred them from obtaining accurate birth certificates and driver's licenses.” Specifically, in the case, Kalarchik v. State of Montana, the court ruled that “transgender discrimination is, by its very nature, sex discrimination.” The next steps: the case heads back to the District Court.

A coalition of 22 state AGs, along with DC’s, secured a ‘W’ and a federal court order blocking a December 2025 declaration by RFK Jr.’s HHS that threatened to withhold Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to healthcare providers that continued to provide gender-affirming care. The court order not only blocks the previously made HHS declaration, but also applies to any policy of the same qualifications. 

NY AG Tish James opened a lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini, suing both on the premise that the two crypto companies have violated New York’s gambling laws via their prediction markets. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the prediction operations that they operate fall within the lines of the state’s definition of gambling, and with that, the companies have failed to obtain the proper licensure, follow related regulations, and pay required taxes.

Following a 2025 indictment over personal use of FEMA funds, and catalyzed moves to expel her from Congress, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus [D-FL] has resigned.

Over the weekend, allegations turned into an article in The Atlantic, detailing FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged excessive drinking, array of unexplained absences, and erratic behavior. The article, which The Atlantic has said they stand behind, has resulted in Patel not only going on a press tour to push back, but has resulted in him suing the publication. Patel is seeking $250M in the lawsuit, while the Democracy Forward Foundation has issued a FOIA request asking for Patel’s calendar and messages between his security detail related to not being able to reach Patel and/or wake him up.

Another one bites the dust in Trump’s Cabinet, with the resignation of the scandal-plagued now former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Chavez-DeRemer had been under fire and under investigation regarding an allegation that she’d pursued an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security team. Her team was also fielding allegations and investigations related to possible travel fraud. Her temporary ATM replacement is Keith Sonderling.

Because they’re #obsessed with election results in places they’ve lost [Republicans] – well, Trump seems to be at any rate – Trump’s DOJ has decided to “investigate” what it’s calling voting irregularities in past elections. In doing so, Trump’s DOJ has requested all the ballots from the November 2024 election in Wayne County, Michigan, a Dem-heavy area. Mind you, prior investigations into voter fraud in the area have turned up empty-handed.

The House Ethics Committee released a list of 28 sexual misconduct investigations into almost all former members of Congress – the ‘almost’ is because Congressman Cory Mills [R-Fl], who is still being investigated for a range of allegations from sexual misconduct to violating campaign finance laws, is still in office. That said, Congresswoman Nancy Mace [R-SC] has introduced a resolution to expel Mills from Congress.

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks [R-IA], who sits on the House subcommittee tasked with keeping an eye on drug pricing, rented her DC residence from two big pharma lobbyists.

According to a new report from The Washington Post, The National Institutes of Health has funded 2,700 fewer scientific projects in FY '25, marking a 15% drop in the amount of competitive grants from the year prior – with the number more than doubling to 31% when applied to women’s health-focused projects.

SecDef Hegseth announced that the military will no longer be requiring troops to get the flu shot. The reason? “Medical autonomy.” 

HHS Sec. RFK  Jr. is taking an axe to the Preventive Services Task Force, a 16-person group made up of scientists that determine what preventive medical services must be covered in-full by insurers. RFK Jr., after halting meetings for the task force last year, is now seeking new members, generating concern that he’ll lean into his passions of ignoring science and appoint loyalists to further his agenda. 

Blanketed under the term “fraud,” is yet another Trump Admin initiative – this one being led by Dr. Oz, the Administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid. The initiative will now require all 50 states to revalidate all of their Medicaid Providers to prove their legitimacy, something that Dr. Oz has cast doubts on.

A new study published in BMJ Open has found that AI chatbots give misleading medical advice at least 50% of the time. The chatbot with the largest number of issues was Grok at errors or misleading advice provided to users 58% of the time.

Another big blow to RFK Jr.’s beliefs came in the form of a new Danish study that encompassed 1.5M children, which found that there is NO link between Tylenol [acetaminophen] use during pregnancy and autism.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which is known for its work tracking hate groups, is the latest to catch the ire of the Trump Admin. Trump’s DOJ has unveiled an 11-count indictment against the nonprofit, alleging bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. The Southern Poverty Law Center called the allegations false.

Far-right lunatic and head of the groypers, Nick Fuentes has made a business out of his extremist views, according to a new report out by The Washington Post. The report looks at the 27-year-old virgin’s earnings, showing that he’s earned $900K through superchats and swastika-emblazoned shirts.

Surveillance company Palantir – the one with Alex Karp and Peter Thiel at the top, and U.S. government contracts to boot, published a 22-point manifesto. The manifesto – yes, literally what it’s been referred to as, includes a desire for required military service for Americans and “hard power.”

A new report out from The New York Times confirmed something that anyone with a scroll time over of over five hours a day would probably be able to guess – hundreds of pro-Trump AI influencers have popped up across social media platforms, sharing pro-Trump content, albeit inclusive of typos and phrasing that emphasizes what these accounts are – robots.

The company behind four of the major global condom brands is considering raising prices somewhere in the 20-30% range as a result of the chain supply disruptor known as Trump’s war.

Trump’s nominee for chairman of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, who is stuck running in place because of “I’m retiring so I might push back on Trump sometimes” Senator Thom Tillis [R-NC], faced the heat via Senator Elizabeth Warren [D-MA] on the independence of the fed, personal divestments, and his ethics agreement with the Trump Admin. Interestingly enough, when asked whether Biden won the 2020 election point blank, he did anything but answer the question.

As fuel continues to skyrocket in price, Lufthansa has canceled 20,000 short-haul flights to reduce costs and ensure operations can continue.

The Maine state leg has passed the first statewide ban on data centers, which if it gets signed into law, would ban the facilities until November 2027. The will it happen-will it not happen is currently in the hands of Gov. Janet Mills, who is reportedly undecided on the possible ban because of a project that was already underway.

Rumor has it, and Axios is reporting it, that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is begging Trump for a job in his admin, and was the crux of their convo at a lunch between the two frenemies at Trump National Doral Golf Club a few weeks back. DeSantis’s rush list apparently includes AG or SecDef.

Slated for today, Trump will read a Bible passage as part of a marathon bible reading event called “America Reads the Bible.” Related to this reading, was SecDef Hegseth’s participation last week when he read what he thought was a Bible passage that turned out to be from writing from Pulp Fiction.

Grindr – yes, the dating app that is all the buzz during big Republican gatherings like the RNC – is putting its party pants on in DC this weekend, hosting its first-ever White House Correspondents’ Weekend party.

Joe Rogan, the infamous podcaster that had a huge hand in getting Trump elected, and has recently been complaining on the mic for getting exactly what he voted for, was handed a “STFU get back on our team” present by the Trump Admin. The “present” came in the form of an executive order to put the pedal to the metal on the federal review of psychedelics being used to treat mental health conditions. The cherry on top: Joe got to stand behind Trump while he signed the EO.

Following what appeared to be a rather empty Turning Point USA “rally,” featuring JD Vance, and claims from Erika Kirk’s team that she canceled due to security concerts, the Secret Service determined that there were no credible security threats.

Nine counties in New Jersey have adopted anti-ICE regulations, with the latest addition being Camden County. Per NJ. com reporting, Camden County will not allow ICE to be on county-owned parks, at the Camden Correctional Facility, Camden CC, Camden Tech Schools, and county-owned or leased administrative buildings without a warrant.

Marking a turning point, Minnesota has charged an ICE officer with assault for their alleged actions during the ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. The ICE officer has been criminally charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

Starting in May, unless an agreement is reached, DHS will run out of money for salaries. Per the latest head of DHS, Markwayne Mullin, his agency has “one payroll left” and no room for an executive order-based bailout.

A Trump Admin. policy change that knocked the metaphorical walls down between the IRS and other federal agencies, like ICE, has resulted in a steep decline in immigrants filing their taxes out of fear of engaging with the federal government. As covered by the Washington Post, “the Yale Budget Lab estimates that the IRS stands to lose between $147 billion and $479 billion over the next decade as migration to the U.S. declines, deportations increase and immigrants of various statuses disengage from the formal economy for what some experts say may be an extended period.”

CNN: Exposing a global ‘rape academy’

Politico: From Attila the Hun to Donald J. Trump: A brief history of popes battling world leaders

AP: Wildfire survivors who lost their homes could face another blow from taxes on payouts

USA Today: Ossoff launches investigation of AI data centers amid reelection race