The Gov Hub Newsletter: March 10, 2025

Egg-incomic fall out, DOGE x $25K on washing machines, and a Treasury Sec. that sold his Charleston house for over $18M

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Gov Hub
March 10, 2025

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Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov® – a Dem tent weekly that shares action items you can do from your phone, good political news, civic engagement tools and topics, and a little dose of political goss too, right to your inbox.  

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GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, those do exist]

NJ GOV. MURPHY SIGNS BILL REQUIRING UNIVERSITIES TO READMIT STUDENTS WHO WITHDREW DUE TO MILITARY SERVICE: New Jersey’s Democratic Governor has signed a bill that will now require that students who withdrew from a public university or college as a result of military service, to be readmitted to that school without any fees and with the same academic status at the time of their withdrawal. The requirement applies to students who withdraw as a member of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Readmission to the university or college is to be granted via a written request submitted by the student. The law aims to reduce barriers to higher education for service members in the state.

NY GOV. HOCHUL SIGNS BILL THAT EXPANDS ORGAN DONATION EDU: Aiming to tackle New York’s organ donation shortage, the New York state legislature passed a bill onto Governor Hochul to sign – which she did – to address the issue. The new law requires that info on registering as an organ and tissue donor be shared in the pre-licensing course for driving. The information sharing prior to acquiring a license, provides an opportunity for drivers-to-be to make a more informed decision on whether or not to become an organ or tissue donor.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Stories that are just about guaranteed to make it to the group chat

  • Following the sudden and tragic passing of Texas Congressman Sylvester Turner [D] last week, the question of what happens next has been posed, specifically around when a special election would or could be called by Republican Governor Abbott. Hint: Texas state law appears to not have a deadline by which Abbott has to set a date for it.

  • The current president of the USA [Trump], who campaigned largely on the economy, won’t rule out a recession this year. Given that he entered office not even two months ago, and was handed as a Politico calls it, “a rosy economic outlook” the 180 to an economy in free fall is checks notes embarrassing AF but a natural fit for someone that’s declared bankruptcy as many times as he has.

  • Instead of Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll, Congress has been described as the mecca of ‘Sex, Drinking, and Dementia’ by 25 lawmakers that chatted with Politico on the sh*t that happens behind closed DC doors.

  • Cue the receipts: Fmr reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, apparently accused Elon’s baby – DOGE [not the ones he won’t pay child support allegedly] – of firing air traffic controllers despite the fact there have been recent plane crashes and a serious need for more air traffic controllers. Then came Elon calling Duffy a liar, followed by Elon unfollowing Duffy on Twitter.

  • ICYMI - BlackRock purchased the controlling stake in a subsidiary that's in charge of operating the ports on both sides of the Panama Canal. If the deal is approved by Panama’s government, the BlackRock consortium will control over 43 ports in 23 countries

  • SCOTUS has taken up a case out of Colorado that challenges the state’s conversion therapy ban. The question of constitutionality is based on an accusation that the ban violates the first amendment, which then begs the question… are gender affirming care bans then in violation? raises eyebrow

CHRONICALLY ONLINE

Politics meets social media

  • The Trump trade war with Canada has turned into a battle of lyrics with the release of a parody tariff song from three Canadians that goes like this – and yes, it will be stuck in your head all day.

  • In Charleston, SC, a billboard has gone up asking Rep. Nancy Mace to show her face at an IRL town hall. Rumor has it she’s too booked and busy being a bathroom hall monitor.

  • The Tate Brothers were seen with birds of a feather, Dana White, the Prez/CEO of UFC and board member at META in Vegas. Meanwhile in Florida, the state AG has launched a criminal investigation into the brothers, hitting the go button on search warrants and subpoenas.

  • Senator Chris Murphy explained in short one of the strategic reasons Trump cut off federal spending – to have electeds come kiss the ring and prove their loyalty. It’s like Bridgerton but without the cute costumes and saucy romances. 

  • In Boston, a mayoral candidate made a blunder that had every Yankees fan hollerin’. The invite to a fundraiser by said candidate featured a skyline at the bottom…of New York, not Boston as this creator points out. The timing could also have not been worse, as Mayor Wu, who is running for re-election made waves on the national stage last week at this Congressional hearing.

TOP OF THE EARBUDS

Listen, watch, learn

  • Big Gretch joined Demetrius Harmon on this episode of Between You & Me. The two chatted about everything from Labradoodles, to how Big Gretch named her kids, to supporting creatives in the state.

  • Anderson Clayton, the chair of the NC Dems joined the Living South for a convo that gave a specific spotlight on how to approach voters that regret their Trump vote. The full chat is available here. *Editor’s Note: There is a paywall on this.

→ Considering starting a pod? Have a pod and are not sure how to get it in front of your target audience? Girl and the Gov® can help with that. Explore options here.

CATACLYSMIC CORRUPTION

Mostly stories that involve Elon and his besties

  • DOGE has gained read-only access to the sensitive data hub that’s home to sensitive child support information – a database that holds income and federal benefit info for just about every U.S. worker. Interesting timing given this situation from DOGE’s #1.

  • The DOGE crew has been reported to have moved into a federal building, taking over a whole floor. They’re going for long term slumber party vibes and apparently have put in a request to spend $25K of taxpayer money on installing washer/driers. 

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

NEW YORK, AIR QUALITY: The air quality focused state Senate bill S.122 has passed and now goes to the state Assembly for consideration. The bill, per this release, would create air quality standards for lead in ambient air, soil-lead hazard standards for lead-contaminated soil, and dust-lead hazard standards, as well as dust-leads clearance levels for floors, along with windows, and window troughs.

TEXAS, GUNS: Today, March 10, a bill will be heard in the Texas state Senate’s Affairs Committee - SB 1362. Per Mothers Against Greg Abbott, the bill “would make it a crime to enforce an extreme risk protective order in Texas, that temporality removes guns from people at risk of harming themselves.”

FEDERAL, APPRENTICESHIPS: This career focused bill – the Apprenticeship Opportunity Act – aims to reduce barriers to those taking part in apprenticeship programs. The bill specifically would require states that get what are known as TANF block grants to “disregard income earned during the first year of an apprenticeship when determining eligibility for cash assistance.” The goal is to enable those training for careers to be able to stay in that training. 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

In the club, we’re all sick

  • The Dept. of Agriculture has eliminated two vital committees related to food safety - the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and The National Advisory on Meat and Poultry Inspection.

  • Despite voters in Missouri approving a constitutional amendment protecting the right to an abortion in the state, anti-abortion Republicans are still coming for reproductive care. In this flavor of the WTF week, state lawmakers have moved a bill along that would allow residents to donate to crisis pregnancy centers instead of paying state income taxes. The cap would be $50K/yr per taxpayer, meaning most could nix their income taxes for a donation, resulting in less revenue for the state to fund critical resources with, according to ProPublica. 

  • MTG might just make a name for herself as Measles Marjorie because she actively promoted on social the concept of parents holding measles parties, so that people’s children could become living breathing petri dishes of a disease that can kill you.

  • At RFK Jr’s place of work, they sent out an offer to Dept. of Health and Human Services employees – all 80,000 of them – to be bought out for a bargain basement offer of $25,000.

EXTREMISM

…that’s the tweet [or the x]

  • Kingsley Wilson, a fan of “The Great Replacement Theory” and tweeter of antisemitic conspiracy theories is now a deputy press secretary at the Pentagon. She also, according to NPR, <3’s Putin.

  • For awareness: Matt Walsh, who is a self-declared theocratic-fascist and does not believe that women should be allowed in the public square, not only was an invited State of the Union/Join Address/SOTU attendee, he also has a podcast that ranks in the top 20 news pods weekly on Apple. 

THE ACTION ITEMS

Get ‘em done from your phone

ACTION 1 – CDC NOMINEE

The Ask: Tell your senators to vote no on David Weldon to lead the CDC.

The Background: David’s passions do not include taking long walks on the beach as far as we know, but what we do know is that he’s anti-abortion, anti-science, and should be nowhere near the CDC let alone leading it.

ACTION 2 – 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS

The Ask: Tell your federal reps to co-sponsor and pass the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025.

The Background: The World Trade Center Health Program has been responsible for ensuring that 9/11 first responders get the care they need – with that need only continuing to grow. The program needs to be fully funded and staffed to ensure those that put their lives on the line have medical care.

ACTION 3 – VOTING

The Ask: Register to vote [or check to make sure you’re all set].

The Background: 2025 has elections. 2026 has elections. Make sure you’re ready to roll to the polls.

WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT

!! GATG Merch !!

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

  • Tampa Bay Times: Trump wants to end the Department of Education. Here’s what it does.

  • The Hill: Utah becomes first state to pass app store age verification law

  • Washington Examiner: Democrats eyes Republicans’ success with social media to transform messaging

  • Newsweek: The Democratic Civil War Has Started. Who Will Triumph?

  • The Hill: Late car payments hit highest level in decades

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