House Republicans have introduced a new health care package aimed at lowering costs through regulatory reforms rather than extending federal tax credits. The bill, titled the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 11), was introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) just days after the Senate failed to advance […]
Other News
CBP Proposes Major Changes to Visa-Free Travel: Social Media Checks, Mobile-Only Applications, and Expanded Data Collection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has unveiled changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization that would expand the personal information required from millions of foreign visitors seeking visa-free entry to the United States, according to a Federal Register notice published December 10. The proposed revisions would make social media […]
Raoul Joins 20-State Coalition Suing Trump Administration Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging a new policy that imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The lawsuit argues that the fee is unlawful, bypasses congressional authority, and threatens critical sectors, […]
Illinois ag director says Trump trade policies are ‘crushing’ farmers
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois December 12, 2025 Article Summary The Trump administration announced it will make $12 billion available for farmers who have suffered lost income due to ongoing trade disruptions with other nations. Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, says that won’t come […]
Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates Amid Sharpest Internal Divide in Six Years
The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point on December 10, marking the third consecutive cut this year. The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 to reduce the federal funds rate to a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%, the lowest level in more than […]
Trump Executive Order Targets State AI Regulations, Threatening Illinois Protections
President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating state-level artificial intelligence regulations and establishing a single federal framework for AI governance late this week. The executive order, titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” directs federal agencies to identify and challenge state AI laws deemed inconsistent […]
Indiana Senate Rejects GOP Congressional Map in Stunning Rebuke of Trump
The Republican-led Indiana Senate voted on Thursday to reject a mid-decade redistricting map. The measure, championed by President Donald Trump, would have redrawn the state’s congressional districts to virtually guarantee a Republican sweep of all nine U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms. The rejection was driven by a coalition […]
Pritzker signs ‘medical aid in dying’ bill amid religious opposition
by Maggie Dougherty, Capitol News Illinois December 12, 2025 Article Summary JB Pritzker signed a law Friday that will allow terminally ill Illinoisians to end their lives with physician-prescribed medication. The legislation will go into effect in nine months. The law will apply only to mentally capable adults who have […]
Pritzker signs bill enacting immigrant protections in courthouses
by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois December 9, 2025 Article Summary State lawmakers worked behind the scenes for weeks to craft a package to respond to the federal immigration campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.” People attending court would be “privileged from civil arrest inside state courthouses and within a […]
Leaked Bondi Directive Shifts DOJ Toward Policing Political Beliefs as Terror Indicators
Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a memorandum directing all federal prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and Department of Justice (DOJ) grant-making components to aggressively target “domestic terrorism” threats defined by a new, specific set of ideological markers. The directive, leaked to several news outlets, serves as the operational framework for […]





























