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Dave Levinthal

@davelevinthal.com
21K followers 281 following 1.5K posts

Investigative journalist, Washington Sun senior editor, fake arctic explorer, free agent placekicker, #BillsMafia. DaveLevinthal.com

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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 2h
BREAKING: Congressional stock-ban bill passed by House dies in the Senate www.washingtonsun.com/congress/bil...
washingtonsun.com
Bill Banning Lawmakers From Trading Stocks Dies in the Senate
Democrats largely opposed the Republican-backed effort, citing loopholes and voter ID “poison pill.”
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 5h
Photo seems to suggest that this poor child may not have much in the way of a future.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 7h
DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General “declined further action” on an undisclosed matter involving AG Todd Blanche’s cryptocurrency trades, according to a new federal financial disclosure document reviewed by @washingtonsun.bsky.social’s @markalfred.bsky.social www.washingtonsun.com/money/todd-b...
washingtonsun.com
DOJ Inspector General ‘Declined Further Action’ on Todd Blanche Cryptocurrency Matter
The attorney general has faced questions over scuttling crypto investigations while invested in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
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Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It took 16 months to get Evan Gershkovich out of a Russian prison. It took many more months to get the Russian prison out of Evan Gershkovich. Now for the first time since the swap that freed him, he is talking about his ordeal -- and that of the Russians. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/u...
nytimes.com
The Russian Prison That Evan Gershkovich Carried Home
In an interview, Mr. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was imprisoned in Russia for 16 months, described his ordeal and the moment that nearly broke him.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 22h
NEW: During her time in public service, WH press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s private family investments included stock in: 🇺🇸 Trump’s social media company 🪖 Defense contractors 🛢️ Oil companies 🤖 Tech giants 🔌 Tesla In @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/karoli...
washingtonsun.com
Karoline Leavitt Discloses Family Investments in Trump Media and Tesla
An ethics document shows the former press secretary’s family holdings contain Trump’s social media company, defense contractors, oil companies and tech giants.
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Anna Kramer @annackramer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On Sept. 19th, OMB gave Customs and Border Protection $20 million. The next day, CBP awarded an ad company a contract for $20 million for a “national media campaign.” On Sept. 23rd, Trump ads start running on national tv as "paid for by U.S. government."
washingtonsun.com
CBP Got $20 Million for a ‘Media Campaign.’ Lawmakers Say It Was a Misuse of Funds.
The administration started running Trump-focused national ads that have come under ethical scrutiny for using taxpayer funds.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 28/09/2026
🇮🇱 Voters turning on Netanyahu? 🇺🇸 Does Trump have any plan for Iran? 🗳️ Can Republicans salvage the 2026 midterms? My conversation on @wbai.org w/ @jflannys.bsky.social @egbertowillies.com and @paulinepark.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen: www.wbai.org/archive/prog...
wbai.org
WBAI Radio Archives
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 28/09/2026
Another Navy warship is experiencing major issues, scoops @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social www.washingtonsun.com/defense/navy...
washingtonsun.com
U.S. Navy Warship Faced ‘Critical Threat of Mechanical Failure’: Documents
Problems with the USS Santa Barbara risked crew safety and invited "catastrophic flooding," according to a government contracting request.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 28/09/2026
How much has your member of Congress made from side hustling as a book author? www.washingtonsun.com/money/congre...
washingtonsun.com
Members of Congress Score Major Paydays From Books
Some lawmakers’ book sales have exceeded their paychecks from Congress.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 27/09/2026
davelevinthal.substack.com/p/lee-greenw...
davelevinthal.substack.com
Lee Greenwood: Proud to be a Canadian?
Donald Trump’s unofficial MAGA troubadour is earning money from an all-but-forgotten song lauding the Great White North.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 25/09/2026
Following publication of this @washingtonsun.bsky.social article by @markalfred.bsky.social, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) filed her missing annual financial disclosure. It indicates she's broke. Document in the updated story here: www.washingtonsun.com/money/boeber...
washingtonsun.com
Three Republicans Failed to File Annual Financial Disclosures
Lauren Boebert, Dan Crenshaw and Michael McCaul aren't complying with a federal transparency law.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 25/09/2026
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) last year earned $345,000 for his 2025 book “Unfettered" — almost twice his Senate salary. That’s on top of the $172,500 he earned from the book in 2024. But the book was hardly a commercial blockbuster. www.washingtonsun.com/money/congre...
washingtonsun.com
Members of Congress Score Major Paydays From Books
Some lawmakers’ book sales have exceeded their paychecks from Congress.
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Wild stuff. Sheri Mecklenberg, career prosecutor accused of misconduct in Broadview 6 case, resigns from DOJ. The NYT obtained her scathing resignation letter, in which she says the U.S. attorney directed her to bring felony charges over her objection. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Read the document (Gift Article)
Sheri H. Mecklenburg resignation letter
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 25/09/2026
Lee Greenwood is getting very, very rich. www.washingtonsun.com/whitehouse/l...
washingtonsun.com
It Pays to Be ‘Proud to Be an American’
A federal ethics filing by Lee Greenwood’s wife, made after her ambassador nomination, shows the MAGA star has racked up royalty checks for Trump’s favorite song.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 25/09/2026
"Duly elected members of Congress are constitutionally required to be human, and all humans are biologically required to pee." Hilarious and telling story from @emilykennard.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/congress/hou...
washingtonsun.com
The Best Place to Catch a Lawmaker? Where They Pee.
The facilities next to the lavish antechamber off the House floor are where many senior lawmakers make frequent stops.
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The Washington Sun @washingtonsun.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson spoke out this week against the court’s use of the emergency docket, saying that the fast-tracked decisions risk upending the federal judiciary’s order.
washingtonsun.com
Ketanji Brown Jackson Speaks Out Against ‘Enormously Disruptive’ Emergency Docket Rulings
The Supreme Court’s use of the emergency docket has been criticized for its expedited decisions, oftentimes announced with little explanation.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 24/09/2026
Let's check in with the federal government agency charged with enforcing and regulating the nation's campaign finance laws. www.washingtonsun.com/money/federa...
washingtonsun.com
Federal Election Commission Seems Destined to Sit Out the Entire 2026 Midterms
The campaign finance regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to authorize investigations, issue legal opinions or levy fines since May 2025.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 24/09/2026
ICYMI: Four federal lawmakers are earning more money writing books than they are doing their day job on Capitol Hill. Several others are close. In @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/congre...
washingtonsun.com
Members of Congress Score Major Paydays From Books
Some lawmakers’ book sales have exceeded their paychecks from Congress.
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Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW: In court filing, Trump White House acknowledges that it has restored press passes for CNN/MSNOW/Politico In 9am eastern time hour today
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Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 24/09/2026
Don Jr.-backed drone-parts manufacturer congratulates Eric Trump-backed drone manufacturer on winning a DoD contract.
Unusual Machines
@UnusualMachines
18h
More momentum for XTEND. 🚀

Congrats to the team on another important U.S. defense milestone. Proud to be an investor and supplier. 🦅

$UMAC $XTND #Drones #DefenseTech
Unusual Machines Inc
UMAC
$23.24
+2.42%
@XTEND_XR
XTEND
@XTEND_XR
Sep 23
XTEND has been awarded Phase III of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Modular Kinetic Lethal Drone (MKLD) program.

The award follows XTEND’s recent Gauntlet II top-performer selection under the Drone Dominance Program.

Read more: xtend.me/xtend-secures-…
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 23/09/2026
How much money has Lee Greenwood recently made from singing “God Bless the USA” and hawking Trump Bibles? ☀️ @washingtonsun.bsky.social has the receipts 💰 www.washingtonsun.com/whitehouse/l...
washingtonsun.com
It Pays to Be ‘Proud to Be an American’
A federal ethics filing by Lee Greenwood’s wife, made after her ambassador nomination, shows the MAGA star has racked up royalty checks for Trump’s favorite song.
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535 News @535news.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Just back from New Hampshire, @vanhollen.senate.gov tells @macfarlanenews.bsky.social & @lacaldwelldc.bsky.social on 535 he’s still “kicking the tires” on a 2028 presidential run: “My view is that the country is in trouble, that we do need to bring the country together… People are hurting.”
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 23/09/2026
📕 📚 We analyzed thousands of pages of financial disclosures to build the definitive list of members of Congress who make bank by … writing books. Some earn more than the value of their congressional salary. In the @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/congre...
washingtonsun.com
Federal Lawmakers Score Major Paydays From Books
Some lawmakers’ book sales have exceeded their paychecks from Congress.
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sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
lol my flight got diverted because of a medical emergency and they landed us in reykjavik in the middle of the night and deplaned us and sent us through passport control and then the crew vanished and then british airways sent us links to book an overnight hotel room but for a hotel at heathrow
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 23/09/2026
davelevinthal.substack.com/p/somethings...
davelevinthal.substack.com
Something’s going on in Tenne$$ee
A tale of power, politics and a most curious daisy chain made of money blossoms.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 22/09/2026
SCOOP: Reps. Lauren Boebert, Dan Crenshaw and Michael McCaul have violated a federal ethics law by failing to disclose their personal assets, liabilities and income sources for 2025. Via @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/boeber...
washingtonsun.com
Three Republicans Failed to File Annual Financial Disclosures
Lauren Boebert, Dan Crenshaw and Michael McCaul aren't complying with a federal transparency law.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 22/09/2026
Weapons, tobacco, AI, oil. Donald Trump went on a stock-trade bender during July. Details from @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/donald...
washingtonsun.com
Weapons, Oil, AI: Trump Made 1,156 Personal Financial Trades During July
Many of the president’s stock purchases and sales, which span numerous industries, were not disclosed by a federal deadline.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026
Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵
Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek, poses next to Sen. Susan Collins for a photo. Collins is holding a model of a boat in her hands. Behind them is a large sign with the Navatek logo.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 22/09/2026
Today is a really excellent day to introduce yourself to WashingtonSun.com.
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Jackie Llanos @llanosjackie.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez recounted being shot by an ICE officer, answering reporters' questions through a phone call from detention. “I was telling him it hurt a lot, that I couldn’t move. I was basically passed out,” he said. washingtonsun.com/immigration/ice-agent-shooting-austin-texas
washingtonsun.com
Venezuelan DoorDash Driver Recounts Being Shot by an ICE Officer
“I was telling him it hurt a lot, that I couldn’t move,” Wilber Rafael Garces Perez said during a press conference from detention.
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Laura Jedeed @laurajedeed.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
How much influence is end times prophecy exerting over American policy right now? The short answer: more than one might like My latest for The New Republic
newrepublic.com
We Need to Talk About the Apocalypse
End-times prophecy, pro-war prayer circles, Democrats as demons: Christian dominionism’s influence is everywhere in the second Trump administration—and increasingly, within America itself. Can democra...
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Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 21/09/2026
A reminder that the president already owns a streaming platform.
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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 21/09/2026
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding most detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, in a move that has made it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them.
bit.ly
AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding most detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, in a move that has made it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 21/09/2026
Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is open for business. The State Department is saying something rather different in documents reviewed by @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social. www.washingtonsun.com/foreign-poli...
washingtonsun.com
State Department: Strait of Hormuz Is Still ‘Unreliable and Dangerous’
Trump has repeatedly claimed the strait is “open.”
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 21/09/2026
🪖 More war in Iran ... or peace? 🇬🇱 Trump punkt in Greenland? 🏛️ Hope or despair for Kennedy Center? My conversation on @wbai.org in NYC with @jflannys.bsky.social @egbertowillies.com and @paulinepark.bsky.social. 🔊 Listen: www.wbai.org/archive/prog...
wbai.org
WBAI Radio Archives
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 21/09/2026
Confirms @washingtonsun.bsky.social reporting from August that Sen. Gary Peters was in negotiations with USC: www.washingtonsun.com/senate/gary-...
washingtonsun.com
Retiring Sen. Gary Peters Is Already Negotiating His Next Gig
The Michigan senator’s term ends early next year.
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Michael Beckel @mjbeckel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
House Majority PAC, the House-focused super PAC aligned with Democrats raised $25 million in August, new FEC filing shows. 80% of that sum — $20 million — came from HMP's allied dark money group, House Majority Forward docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 20/09/2026
www.washingtonsun.com/donald-trump...
washingtonsun.com
Naming Your Kid ‘Donald’ Has Never Been So Unpopular
“Donald” is the nation’s 690th most popular baby name amid the president’s return to the White House.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 20/09/2026
State of the Reflecting Pool, from about 1,000 feet up.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 19/09/2026
davelevinthal.substack.com/p/federal-ju...
davelevinthal.substack.com
Federal judge: Trump administration must release internal USAID records
Ruling comes amid Washington Sun’s ongoing FOIA lawsuit
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 19/09/2026
Money-in-politics nerds: the @washingtonsun.bsky.social has published some absolute bangers this month. www.washingtonsun.com/money
washingtonsun.com
Money
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 19/09/2026
Something’s happening in Tenne$$ee. www.washingtonsun.com/2026-electio...
washingtonsun.com
Blackburn Is Raising Millions for a Federal Race While She Runs in a State One
Some of the funds from her federal joint fundraising committee are making their way toward her gubernatorial bid.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 18/09/2026
ICYMI: Federal judge rules that the Trump administration must release USAID records to the @washingtonsun.bsky.social www.washingtonsun.com/about-us/pre...
washingtonsun.com
Judge Rules Trump Administration Must Give The Washington Sun USAID Records
The ruling comes after The Washington Sun sued the government for not responding to a Freedom of Information Act request.
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Taylor Giorno @taylorgiorno.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A Senate committee is nearly out of time before Election Day to consider two Republicans nominated for seats on the Federal Election Commission, which hasn’t had enough commissioners to authorize investigations, issue legal opinions or levy fines since May 2025. www.washingtonsun.com/money/federa...
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Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 17/09/2026
New: Trump called crypto "thin air." Last year, he reported $1.4 billion in income from it. Buyers of his crypto? They're an estimated $4.7 billion underwater. I made an 8-bit game out of it— 📈 Play as Trump: you cannot lose money. 📉 Play as an investor: you cannot win.
thinairrealmoney.com
‘THIN AIR,’ REAL MONEY — The Trump Crypto Game
An 8-bit game about real money. Play as Trump: you only make money. Play as an investor: you only lose. Every figure is drawn from Public Citizen's report and the sources it cites.
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Taylor Giorno @taylorgiorno.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
McConnell's spokesperson, David Popp, said he's "be sure to let you know when I have an update." Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, the committee vice chair, told the @washingtonsun.bsky.social that it’s “not clear” if there will be a hearing before the election. www.washingtonsun.com/money/federa...
washingtonsun.com
Federal Election Commission Seems Destined to Sit Out the Entire 2026 Midterms
The campaign finance regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to authorize investigations, issue legal opinions or levy fines since May 2025.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 17/09/2026
Federal Election Commission: not doing federal elections. From @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social: www.washingtonsun.com/money/federa...
washingtonsun.com
Federal Election Commission Seems Destined to Sit Out the Entire 2026 Midterms
The campaign finance regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to authorize investigations, issue legal opinions or levy fines since May 2025.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 16/09/2026
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com Stephanie Murray suspected that ditching her smartphone would make her more reliant on other people. “But I think it’s more accurate to say that I’ve become more reliant on other people’s smartphones,” she writes.
nyti.ms
Opinion | My Dumbphone Made My Life Better. It Made Everyone Else’s Worse.
An extended digital detox is freeing, but it can be hard on friends and family.
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Dave Levinthal @davelevinthal.com · 16/09/2026
Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.) sent taxpayer-funded mailers to his constituents about how he supports a congressional stock-trade ban. Meanwhile, Kean was trading stocks. Reporter @markalfred.bsky.social of @washingtonsun.bsky.social has the receipts — and a response. www.washingtonsun.com/money/tom-ke...
washingtonsun.com
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Runs Anti-Congressional Stock Trade Mailers As He Trades Stocks
The taxpayer-funded messages don’t mention the New Jersey congressman’s own frequent financial moves.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
News you can use! What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms, by @teddyamen.bsky.social
propublica.org
What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms
The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from imposing new rules on mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. That means nothing has changed for voters — and mail-in voting can p...
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