Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov®, which shares the latest from the wild west of political landscapes, highlighting news that fits the qualifications of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the downright absurd.

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GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, FR]

IL GOV. PRITZKER LAUNCHES LEGAL ADVICE HOTLINE FOR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY: In the face of unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by the Republican-led federal government, Dem Gov.of Illinois, JB Pritzker has launched a first-of-its-kind, LGBTQ-specific legal advice hotline called Illinois Pride Connect. The hotline, which is now officially live, will provide legal advice regarding a whole range of topics from health care access [ex: gender affirming care] to discrimination to identity documents, and more. The resource is available in both English and Spanish, and is run by the Chicago Legal Council for Health Justice. The hotline can be called at 855-805-9200, Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm; additional resources can be found at ilprideconnect.org. 

DE GOV. MEYER SIGNS BILL CREATING OFFICE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION: House Bill 54 got the signature of Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer [D]. The legislation establishes a statewide Office of Suicide Prevention within Delaware’s DHSS. The office will be tasked with coordinating on prevention efforts, analyzing mission critical data, and helping to create prevention-centric best practices to be used across state agencies, as well as in communities across Delaware.

MI GOV. WHITMER SIGNS BIPARTISAN BILL REMOVING RED TAPE FOR SMALL DISTILLERS: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer [D] signed HB 4403, knocking down a bit of cumbersome red tape that was hindering the growth of small distilleries and spirit manufacturers in the state. The signed legislation now allows distillers and mixed spirit manufacturers to use the same space and equipment to make their products. It’s giving sharing is caring, and it’s also giving a way for small businesses to work together to share major expenses and bring down cost prohibitive barriers to entry. In addition to opening a door to b2b cost-cutting collaboration, the new way2play aims to incentivize businesses to pick Michigan as their home.

NJ GOV. PHIL MURPHY SIGNS TWO BILLS FOCUSED ON REDUCING ENERGY COSTS: Here comes the sun, literally, as a result of NJ Gov. Phil Murphy signing two bills that aim to bolster the expansion of solar power access in the state. Together, the legislation will enable the expansion of solar access for an additional 450,000 residents. In translation, that math equals out to 1M households in NJ being able to access solar power by 2028. On a bill-by-bill note, this is the quick 1-2 from the Gov’s office:

• SB4530: directs the Board of Public Utilities to open registration by October ‘25 for an additional 3K megawatts of community solar projects.

• AB5267: creates a transmission-scale energy incentive program with the goal of hitting a 2K megawatt energy storage goal by 2030.

BIPARTISAN EDU. REFORM BILL LED BY NV SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NICOLE CANNIZZARO [D] PASSES: Some may find this good news, some may find this meh news, and some may find this to be news that fits somewhere in between. Wherever it finds you, the news is that Dem state Senate Majority Leader, Nicole Cannizzaro worked collaboratively with Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo [R] to pass a comprehensive education reform bill that included ideas and priorities from both sides of the aisle. Importantly, what’s in the package is funding that will be used to recruit and retain teachers, a pay differential for teachers that volunteer to teach in schools with vacancies that are hard to fill, funding for early literacy programs and for transportation for students to be able to attend schools outside of their zone, and more.

EXTREMISM

…that’s the tweet [or the x]

• The current president had the word dictator sloshing around his mouth this Monday during a presser addressing his militarization of D.C. and wet dream of doing so in other Blue cities, like Chicago and Baltimore, saying the following: “a lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator.” He also, in the same stretch of wildly insane words, said, “I’m not a dictator, I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.” 

• In his Monday presser, Trump tried to paint Chicago as a disaster in need of his help/protecting/saving, suggesting that he may drop troops into the city if state/local leaders don’t request his help – a move that appears like it would find itself in a legal gray area. IL Gov. JB Pritzker held his own presser, putting a mic to his message to the president: “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.” 

• Circling back to Baltimore, Trump threatened to withhold federal money allocated to repair the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, over MD Gov. Wes Moore’s comments that Trump should either visit Baltimore and see it for himself, or as said verbatim “keep our name out of your mouth.” For added context: Trump has been threatening to stop federal dollars from going to Dem-run cities and states over their push back on his inhumane immigration policies, while trying to paint his moves as “in the name of reducing crime.”

• Trump, while donning a hat that reads “Trump was right about everything,” told the media that he’s allowed to raid the homes of his so-called political enemies because he’s “actually the chief law enforcement officer.” Stellar.

• Trump declared his interest in possibly opening an investigative probe into his former ally, Chris Christie, after Christie criticized Trump on the Sunday political show circuit. His threat involves a scandal from Christie’s past aka GW bridge-gate. As an aside, Trump also called Christie a slob.

• Director National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked the security clearance of 37 people who Trump has deemed his “political enemies.” The witch hunt targeted current and former intelligence officials that were involved in a 2017 assessment of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

• ICE has built an immigration detention center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas – a site that was used to imprison those of Japanese descent during WW2, connecting the dots between the country’s sins of the past and those being committed now.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

In the club, we’re all sick

• Mississippi has declared a public health emergency over a stunning rise in the state’s infant mortality rate, which clocks in at nearly double the national average [5.6 deaths/1,000]. The rate, which is at its highest level in more than a decade, sits at 9.7 infants deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024. Critical amongst the numbies is the racial disparity, with Black infants in the state more than twice as likely to die before they turn one, than their white counterparts. The declaration aims to help state officials move more quickly in response with things like expanding prenatal services in counties with OBGYNs – because yes, entire counties don’t have OBGYNS. However, federal programs that normally help in response and prevention, like The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System [PRAMS], are not just on the short-list for getting cut by RFK Jr.’s CDC, but have already had their staff fired. 

• RFK Jr. and his boss-boy Trump are working to pull the COVID vaccine off of the U.S. market. The news comes from the belly of the beast via Dr. Assem Malhotra, a British multi-hyphenate [cardiologist-conspiracy theorist], who spends his time as an advisor at lobbying group Make America Healthy Again Action, per the Daily Beast.

• Trump’s DOJ subpoenaed 20+ hospitals to provide any and all records/documents/writings for young patients that have received gender-affirming care in July. Since then, details have emerged showing the depths of the requests [violation of privacy and possibly HIPPA]. Amongst the requested record types was everything from who prescribed medicine, social security numbers of patients, notes taken by the doctors, insurance claims, billing records, and more.

• Another vaccine skeptic is going to be calling the CDC home, and that skeptic is none other than Retsef Levi, an MIT professor and critic of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Naturally, with that qualification, Levi will be leading the COVID-19 working group.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Stories that are guaranteed to make it to the group chat

• The Trump Admin has decided to cockblock an already approved offshore wind farm that's under-construction off the coast of Rhode Island – because nothing says ‘wasted money’ like ditching a major project that’s 80% done. If the wind farm is completed [TB-motherfuckin’ d] is expected to power 350K homes in RI and CT.

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom [D] launched a merch-shop decked out with troll-drip that includes a shirt that features the AI-masterpiece where Newsom is being prayed on by Kid Rock, Tucker Carlson, and Hulk Hogan.

• Maryland has one GOP-held Congressional district ATM. And in reaction to Trump’s threats on withholding federal funding and sending the national guard into Baltimore, remixed with the gerrymander of Texas, Gov. Wes Moore has said that he’s considering redrawing Maryland’s maps to axe the GOP-held district.

• Fox News host and prominent fixture of the overzealous spray tan community, Bret Baier was pulled over in D.C. for driving while on the phone. He was given a ticket for violating the law.

• Sen. Rick Scott [R-FL] is making news for disclosing his stock trades more than a year after the deadline, with the disclosure showing that the trades were worth $26M. And for the between the lines: he was doing this while playing regulatory God as a legislator. 

• Karolying Leavitt turned 28 – not kidding, 28 – and received birthday gifts from fellow staff that appeared to include something from French luxury brand, Louis Vuitton. And while the gift may seem off-brand for someone that’s trying to appear as the epitome of “America First” vibes, if you’ve ever seen a breakdown of bags that are Republican v. Democrat, you’ll know “the bag fits.”

• A painting, which looks like its origins are a paint n’ sip class where everyone was over-served, has been added to the White House depicting Trump coming out of a lava drip cave. 

• Airbnb founder, Trump bestie, and member of DOGE, Joe Gebbia, has been given a new job as the first ‘chief design officer.’ His role comes via an executive order and is to be focused on making government services more user friendly. And while that concept isn’t actually bonkers, his “thank you” note to Trump & Co, is an eyebrow raiser: “I will do my best to make the U.S. the most beautiful, and usable country in the digital world.”

CHRONICALLY ONLINE

Politics meets social media

• Michigan Lt. Gov. [and candidate for Gov] Garlin Gilchrist II [D] called out the state’s Republicans for holding funding that’s supposed to provide free school meals for students hostage, all while making lunch himself.

• Sen. Brian Schatz [D-HI] hit 66K likes and 9.3K reposts on this Tweet that reads, “If you hated Biden because you didn’t want an old guy in charge and prices were too high and the government was too involved in the private sector and there was chaos on the street oh boy I’ve got bad news.” The man has a pt.

• MN Gov. Tim Walz [D] taste-tested a state fair delicacy, an “uncrusta-burger,” which is exactly what you think it is.

• TX state Sen. Molly Cook [D] absolutely cooked within an inch of this man’s last brain cell, on the actual impact of SB8 and the increased dangers anti-trans bathroom bills and related legislation pose to all women [what he’s claiming the bill would protect].

• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore [D] seamlessly clapped back at Trump during an interview on Face The Nation, where he was asked about Trump talking about him the other day. He said “I’ve been on his mind a lot,” which is really the profesh version of “living rent free in his head.”

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu vlogged her experience on the new Pier 10 ferry, bringing a mini mic along for the ride and to get q’s to FAQs about how the ferry will help commuters.

• Out on the water and makin’ moves via water taxi, IL Gov. JB Pritzker [D] answered q’s about Trump’s threat to send troops to Chicago, sharing some fun tourist-y options they can check out if they come, like a nice lil’ boat ride.

• While campaigning for Dem candidate for Congress, Rebecca Cooke [WI], Sen. Slotkin [D-MI] took a bet about the upcoming football season [Lions v. Packers], with both agreeing to eat these foods if their team doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl.

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom’s social team stays clocking Trump and his crew every damn day, and this Reel coming for Trump’s neck [and balance] hits all the right notes – and so does this one.

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IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID

That money though

• The tax rate for America’s wealthiest .0002% went down significantly as a result of the Trump x GOP bill, meaning the people saving money in Trump’s economy are not just rich, they’re the billionaires on the Forbes 400 List. And that’s all before you factor in creative accounting strategies used by the billionaire bunch to pay less in taxes [by a lot] than the average American household.

• As the leader of the world’s fourth largest economy, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs for a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] between the state and country focused on cooperation and collaboration on boosting the green economy and bolstering “innovation eco-systems” that benefit both partners.

• The Republican Trump Administration has been getting really into Communism, like to the point that they’re actually doing it. The headliner move on it, is an agreement signed between the U.S. gov and Intel, which gives the U.S. a 10% stake in the company, in other words “seizing the means of production.”

• John Deere has estimated that it will take a $600M hit in the fiscal year 2025 because of Trump’s tariffs, which was factored into a multi-variable based decision to conduct another round of layoffs, impacting hundreds of workers. Also on the variable list: worker shortage – I’m sure you can do that math when you factor in ICE raids.

• In deep red West Virginia, new reporting has gone live from Amelia at West Virginia Watch, showing that the state has lost 4,000 jobs in the last year across mining, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail industries. The number isn’t the only one for concern, with the latest, marking a consecutive 14-month employment decline.

• Trump announced on Truth Social that he’s firing Federal Reserve Governor, Lisa Cook, leveling up his attack on the independence of the U.S. central bank. In the move, he accused her of mortgage fraud, a claim that has not been substantiated.  

LEGAL BEAGLE

Lawsuits & legal tings to know about

• In pursuit of a pardon, Epstein’s bestie, Ghislaine Maxwell, made claims [in an interview with Trump’s DOJ last month] that she never saw Trump in an “inappropriate setting” or “acting in an inappropriate way.” And the sky isn’t blue on a sunny day, right?

• Congressman James Comer [R-KY], the leader of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has subpoenaed almost three decades worth of documents and other materials from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Specific to the request are materials that include references to all presidents and vps, contact logs, and videos taken on Epstein's properties.

• Trump signed an executive order aka put a threat in writing that his Admin would withhold or revoke federal funding to local and state governments that offer cashless bail.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

Bills, bills, bills

→ FEDERAL, TARIFFS: A bipartisan bill, supported mostly by those who represent a state that shares a border with Canada, if passed, would exempt U.S. owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Naturally, the bill is called the CANADA Act and has been intro’d in both the Senate and the House.

→ OHIO, STATE PRIDE: To end on something ~sweet~, Ohio state Sen. Bill DeMora [D] has intro’d a bill that would make the ‘buckeye candy’ the official state candy.

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

• NY Mag: Democrats Want Fresh Blood – But Keep Betting on Old Candidates

• Politico: This blue state is the first to grapple with megabill response

• Mother Jones: How Trump’s FEMA Cuts Put You at Risk, According to Staffers

• Time: Climate Change is Coming for Your Bananas

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