DOJ Watch: September 22, 2026 — 16 Charged in Multi-District Election-Crime Cases
A 60-year torture sentence, a $69M Medicaid fraud sentencing, new False Claims Act policy, and 16 election-crime defendants across eight districts.
Federal Register Watch: Sept. 22, 2026 — FDIC Proposes Sweeping Bank Merger Overhaul
The FDIC proposes a 136-page rewrite of bank merger review with a new deemed-approval track, alongside two executive orders, an SEC tokenized-stock order and a proposed $100 million FTC consent…
Morning Wire: September 22, 2026 — World Leaders Convene as UN General Debate Opens
Overnight developments across government, the courts, and international affairs as the 81st UN General Assembly general debate opens in New York.
Afternoon Wire: September 21, 2026 — H-1B Entry Restriction Renews as Trump Signals Iran Decision
The H-1B entry restriction renews for twelve months, the Supreme Court's emergency docket reshapes election administration, and German voters deliver a historic result.
Public Records Roundup: Week of September 14, 2026 — $9.5 Billion in Federal Paid Leave
GAO estimated federal agencies spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave salary costs in 2025, a sixfold increase since 2023. That finding led an unusually dense week of public records…
Court Watch: Week of Sept. 21, 2026 — Mail-Ballot Rule Left Blocked
The Supreme Court declined to revive a Postal Service ballot-mail rule for November, while district judges blocked a DHS visa cap and a retroactive SNAP compliance clock.
Belt & Road Watch: September 2026 — China Opens $10.2 Billion Canal as BRI Engagement Hits Record
Beijing opened the $10.2 billion Pinglu Canal on September 16 as new data shows record first-half Belt and Road engagement of $126.4 billion — with no recorded activity in Pakistan…
Fool’s Gold: A $185 Million Coin Scheme Targeted Conservative Retirees. Six Years On, Victims Have 11 Cents on the Dollar.
Court filings show a precious-metals operation regulators say deliberately marketed to politically conservative and Christian retirees has returned just 11 percent to approved claimants — 93 of whom have died…
Capitol Watch: September 21, 2026 — Russia Sanctions Act Signed as House Exits Until November
Congress cleared the Graham Russia-Iran sanctions act 262-159, passed an Iran war powers resolution 220-204, and held Leon Black in contempt 41-0.
DOJ Watch: September 21, 2026 — 16 Charged in Nationwide Illegal Voting Cases
A digest of the Justice Department's most consequential enforcement actions from the week of Sept. 14, 2026 — election-fraud charges, a 60-year torture sentence, health care fraud settlements, and $32M…