Political News

Good Trouble With A Joyful Noise

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 7:55am

I spent some time (last) Saturday among a couple thousand or so who gathered at the Nebraska State Capitol for the No Kings rally.

As a journalist, a big part of being at Lincoln’s version of No Kings (one of 15 across Nebraska) — as it is with any similarly-situated event — was to see the numbers, measure the vibe and determine what, if anything, was new or newsy.

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Requests Denied: Nebraska Turns Down Records Requests On McCook-ICE Jail

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/20/2025 - 12:00am

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen before his press conference at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln on Sept. 29, 2025.
(Juan Salinas II / Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — As Nebraska moves forward in converting a McCook state prison into an ICE detention center, concerns grow about the Governor’s Office stonewalling public requests seeking more about what is going on.

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Nebraskans Rip Proposed Regulations On Medical Cannabis At Public Hearing

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/20/2025 - 12:00am

LINCOLN — Green shirts filled a hearing room in Lincoln full of Nebraskans who support the legalization of medical cannabis but oppose the regulations of the product proposed by the state’s new Medical Cannabis Commission.

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Trump Confirms The CIA Is Conducting Covert Operations Inside Venezuela

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/20/2025 - 12:00am

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro points at a map of the Americas during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Sept 15, 2025.
(Jesus Vargas / AP Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country.

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When Government Websites Become Campaign Tools: Blaming The Shutdown On Democrats Has Legal And Political Risks

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/20/2025 - 12:00am

For decades, federal shutdowns have mostly been budget fights. The 2025 one has become bigger than that: It’s turned into a messaging war.

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Former President Joe Biden Heads To Nebraska

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:00am

LINCOLN — Former President Joe Biden is coming to Nebraska next month for the Democratic state party’s top annual fundraising event, held this year in Omaha.

It will be one of the few public appearances for Biden since he dropped out of the 2024 presidential election amid concerns from party leaders over his electability following a debate performance against then-former President Donald Trump.

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Volume Of Voting Voices Turned Down

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:00am

Nebraskans have spoken. If only some people would have listened.

In November, Nebraska voters said no to Referendum 435, which repealed Legislative Bill 1402, a school voucher measure born in the state Legislature.

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‘This Shutdown Feels Different.’ States Might Not Get Repaid When Government Reopens.

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:00am

Democratic treasurer Zach Conine addresses reporters at a press conference to outline the priorities of Democrats who control Nevada's state Legislature on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
(Gabe Stern / AP Photo)

States are doing what they generally do during a federal government shutdown: continuing to operate programs serving some of the neediest people.

That means schools are still serving federally subsidized meals and states are distributing funding for the federal food stamp program. For now.

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These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:00am

Lindsey M. Burke, PhD, Director, Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation.
(Courtesy of heritage.org)

Trump’s Education Department Is Working to Erode the Public School System — ProPublica

by Megan O’Matz and Jennifer Smith Richards

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been clear about her desire to shut down the agency she runs. She’s laid off half the staff and joked about padlocking the door.