The Gov Hub Newsletter: May 19, 2025

8.2M New Yorkers to receive inflation refund checks, GOP continues warpath against Medicaid, deadly tornados put eyes on major cuts made to NOAA & the National Weather Service

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Gov Hub
May 19, 2025

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]

MN GOV. WALZ SIGNS BILL ENHANCING SUPPORT FOR SERVICE DOGS IN TRAINING: In a win for the woofs, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill that provides service dogs in training with the same level of protections and support that’s given to active service dogs. The bill made edits to the housing allowances for service dogs in training, allowing them the same exemptions as their graduated colleagues, meaning they’re exempt from HOA’s and apartment rules that otherwise don’t allow dogs. What this means is more woofs can be trained by more people in more places and get the woofs into the paws of the people that need them. P.S. the pups that were at the bill signing? Adorbs.

INFLATION REFUND CHECKS WILL GO TO 8.2M NEW YORKER’S VIA GOV. HOCHUL’S INITIATIVE TO PUT MONEY BACK IN NY’ERS POCKETS: Everything is too damn expensive, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has been on a mish to put money back in people’s pockets – or in gov speak, generate an initiative and get it funded by the FY 2026 State Budget. The initiative is multi-pronged, and is headlined by Inflation Refund Checks, which will be sent to 8.2 million New Yorkers this fall, literally putting money back in pockets. The checks are based on three touchpoints, and per this run-down, will provide those eligible with checks up to $400. Those eligible do not need to apply, they will simply receive a check sometime in October-November. Also to note, and a part of the Governor’s larger initiative to save people money, is an increase in the child tax credit, raising it to up to $1,000/child; taxes cut for the middle class to the lowest levels in 70 years; and universal free school meals for kids [estimated to save families at least $1,600/child].

WA STATE GOV. FERGUSON SIGNS BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP FARMERS: So, awhile back the Washington State Legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act, and that baked into that Act was an exemption for agricultural producers and transporters from having to pay fees on fuel. Despite the exemption, the ag community, which operates on tiny margins, has struggled to find fuel to purchase that is in fact exempt, meaning costs went up for them. To rectify the issue, Republican state Rep. Tom Dent and Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson worked together to pass HB1912. The bill, which was just signed into law by Gov. Ferguson, requires that the state’s Department of Ecology provide farmers with the deats on where they can buy exempt fuel. In addition, the bill extends the exemption for another two years and also makes it super duper clear what fuels are exempt.

NJ GOV. SIGNS BILL EXEMPTING NURSING MOMS FROM JURY DUTY: In a move that’s actually pro-family, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill [S2236] that enables new moms that are nursing to be exempted from jury duty. Specifically, the bill allows new moms to request an exemption, covering moms that have a child that’s one year’s old or younger and is nursing. The new law, which is now in effect, allows new moms to put the health needs of themselves and their newborn first. 

HEALTH & WELLNESS

In the club, we’re all sick

  • As Republicans continue to go after making massive cuts to Medicaid, the healthcare that keeps millions of Americans alive, covers 41% of births in this country, and treatment for 1 in 3 kids with cancer, there is also massive concern about the hospital closures that will happen as a result. Per this map from Newsweek, over 300 rural hospitals are estimated to shutter their doors if these cuts go through. 

  • After voters in Missouri used their voices and turned out to the polls to say YES to protecting abortion and reproductive care in the state, Republican legislators have brought abortion back to the ballot, seeking to ban it. The abortion ban amendment will go in front of voters either in 2026 or earlier should the state’s governor call a special election for it. This ban up for consideration also includes gender affirming care for minors [already banned in the state btw].

  • The Trump Admin handed the gun lobby a win, approving the sale and possession of forced reset triggers, which turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns.

  • Florida has joined Utah in banning fluoride in public drinking water – you know the public health win that’s been keeping people’s teeth from rotting for decades. 

  • The EPA is working on their plans to roll back regulations curbing ‘forever chemicals’ aka PFAS in drinking water because that’s soOoO health conscious of them. For what to do to keep your water safe[r], tap these tips [pun intended].

EXTREMISM

…that’s the tweet [or the x]

  • A fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California was a victim of car bombing over the weekend, killing one person and injuring four. The bombing is being investigated as an act of terrorism, with authorities zero-ing in on a suspect with ‘anti-natalist’ views, or a belief that “no one should have children” and ‘pro-mortalist’ views, which per reporting by the Desert Sun is a view that “life should be ended as soon as possible because it only results in death.” On a positive note, the embryos and eggs stored at the facility were not harmed.

  • The law enforcement branch of the U.S. Postal Service is now participating in an effort to use data from packages to locate undocumented immigrants and thus assist in the Trump Admin’s mass deportations. Specifically, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will share photos and envelopes and packages with the Trump Admin via its mail surveillance program.

  • Not all hobbies are good for men apparently because per a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, as covered by CBS, combat sport clubs have become white supremacist group recruitment and training grounds.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Stories that are guaranteed to make it to the group chat

  • Kristi Noem clearly wasn’t on the short-list for a Qatar-gifted jet, so she’s now asked Congress to appropriate $50M in the Coast Guard’s budget to get herself a new plane.

  • It’s a big year for Signal group chat leaks for Republicans, and this leak featuring Republican state reps from New Hampshire, has State Rep. James Spillane suggesting violence, intimidation, and threats against members that vote against GOP leadership. Specific examples listed by Spillance: flogging, slashing tires, and “whatever fits the crime.”

  • Earlier this year, the Trump Admin took an axe to NOAA and its sub-agency the National Weather Service, cutting staff and funding for vital forecasting operations that warn people about tornados, designate who should evacuate ahead of a hurricane, and determine routes flights should avoid because of weather-related turbulence. Fast forward to this past weekend, when deadly tornadoes hit St. Louis, Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Colorado – and in many instances, survivors shared that they had no warning or not enough of one. 

  • More highly destructive storms are their way, and the Trump Admin is actively trying to dismantle FEMA, which per an internal doc from the agency, revealed that they’re not prepared for hurricane season. In addition, one of FEMA’s proactive programs that’s been running since 1989, the Hazard Mitigation and Grant Program, hit pause on new allocations in early April.  

  • This air-traffic controller sat down with the Wall Street Journal to discuss the trauma that they face on the job, every day, keeping thousands of people safe [and alive, literally]. He calls out United Airline’s CEO, who had accused air-traffic controllers of making the situation worse by “walking off the job” and mischaracterizing the situation.

  • Libraries across the country are being forced to scale back services or all out close, as the Trump Admin works to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, which is in charge of grants that keep the lights for things like e-books, audio books, interlibrary loan programs, and more.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

Bills, bills, bills

FEDERAL, PORN: Republican Senator Mike Lee [UT] has introduced a bill that would make porn a crime and redefine the federal definition of obscenity.  The bill is called the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, and should not come at a surprise for anyone that either all 900 pages of Project 2025, which literally called for it to be outlawed. If your local neighborhood fuckboy is having a panic attack over this possibility, let him know that the bill is riddled with First Amendment challenges. 

FEDERAL, CARTELS/FENTANYL: A bipartisan bill has been introduced by Senator Mark Kelly [D-AZ] and Senator Dave McCormick [R-PA] to take on the cartels and block the related flow of fentanyl into the country. The bill, dubbed the Mexico Security Assistance Accountability Act, which would require the State Department to generate a strategy for U.S. Security assistance in Mexico that would work with Mexico to dismantle the cartels. 

CHRONICALLY ONLINE

Politics meets social media

  • Senator Elizabeth Warren took to IG to highlight a scandal that tbh, not enough people are talking about. The scandal? Despite Elon, Vance, and Trump lying on Social Security and making grandiose claims of fraud, DOGE found “no significant fraud” and instead just slowed retired claim processing by 25%. Efficiency? Don’t think they know her! 

  • These three Dems, all members of the New Democrat Coalition, played a round of true or false on this episode of the Fly-In. The topic? Tanning beds and taxes.

  • Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor [FL], Becca Balint [VT], and Melanie Stansbury [NM] played myth-busters with mini mics on Trump’s big beautiful bull.

  • Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and her admin are taking action to cap health deductibles and co-pays that prevent people from going to a doctor. These are the deats she shared on the ‘gram.

  • Senator Mark Warner [D-VA] gave his morning update from the car on Moody’s downgrading their U.S. credit rating and Medicaid being very much on the chopping block with Trump’s tax bill.

CRASHING OUT 101…

Like the economy…

  • The Walmart Drama Recapped: Walmart’s CEO announced that they could no longer “hold the line” on keeping prices down because of tariffs. Trump lost his shit on Truth Social because of course, and demanded that Walmart “eat the costs” of the tariffs aka to create the image to its customers that prices aren’t going up because of the tariffs. Treasury Secretary Bessent admitted Sunday that Walmart will have to partially eat the cost or pass along some cost to the consumer.

  • Downgraded like an A-list celeb to the B-list, the U.S.’s credit rating was downgraded by Moody’s. For the first time since 1917, and following warnings about the possible downgrade since 2023, the U.S. has lost its perfect credit rating status. The reason? Increasing debt.

CATACLYSMIC CORRUPTION

Mostly stories that involve Elon and his besties

  • The Trump Admin is trying to do a solid for bestie Elon’s biz, Starlink, by reconfiguring broadband rules that would favor the South African’s satellite company. ATM, state and local officials are not into the plan, and are peeved that the $1.2 billion in broadband expansion funds that would connect their communities with high speed internet, are now on hold as a result.

  • Over at the DOJ, 70% of the Civil Rights Division’s lawyers are leaving, as the Department’s mission has evolved rapidly under Trump’s second Admin to now be a part of the enforcement mechanism for Trump’s executive orders.

  • This Thursday, Trump is hosting a private dinner to the top 220 holders of his meme coin, which he makes money from. Translation: he’s illegally using his meme coin to sell access to himself and his decision making. 

THE ACTION ITEMS

Get ‘em done from your phone

ACTION 1 - DRINKING WATER

The Ask: Tell the EPA not to rollback regulations on PFAS in drinking water.

The Background: Cancer causing PFAS shouldn’t be anywhere near drinking water, let alone in it. The EPA’s Lee Zeldin and crew are playing loose and fast with American’s health by working to undo Biden-era regulations that limit PFAS in tap water.

ACTION 2 - MEDICAID

The Ask: Tell Congress: hands off Medicaid.

The Background: Congress is pushing through major cuts to Medicaid via Trump’s tax bill. Tell ‘em no.

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KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

  • WHYY: Philadelphia suburbs could make history this election

  • Axios: Gabbard fires National Intelligence Council officials after Venezuela report

  • The Guardian: New Mexico made childcare free. It lifted 120,000 people about the poverty line

  • Gothamist: New Queensboro Bridge walkway opens, separating cyclists and pedestrians for first time

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