Afternoon Wire: August 14, 2026 — Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Baltic Oil Hub; July Retail Sales Extend Streak
Ukraine strikes Russia’s Baltic oil hub, July retail sales extend their streak, the en banc Fifth Circuit moots the Alien Enemies Act challenge, and the White House orders a shipbuilding…
EPA Watch: Week of August 10, 2026 — $2.5 Billion New Jersey PFAS Settlement Wins Court Approval
Court approval of New Jersey's $2.5 billion PFAS settlements headlines a week that also saw the Keystone spill decree clear public comment, a $1.5 million Clean Air Act penalty for…
Fact-Check: Is Trump the ‘Lowest of the Last 10 Presidents on Inflation’?
WASHINGTON — This week produced an unusually dense run of checkable public claims: a presidential boast about inflation rankings, dueling congressional statements on the July Consumer Price Index, a new…
Regulatory Roundup: Week of August 10, 2026 — DHS Expands H-1B and L-1 Visa Fees
DHS extends the $4,000 H-1B fee to same-employer extensions, CMS bars federal Medicaid funds for youth transition procedures, OCC and FDIC propose a CRA rewrite, and FDA moves to end…
Influence Watch: August 2026 — Federal Lobbying Hits $2.7 Billion at Midyear as the Revolving Door Accelerates
Q2 2026 disclosures show near-record lobbying, rapid revolving-door registrations, a rare FARA conviction and a pitched fight over digital-asset legislation.
Capitol Watch: August 14, 2026 — Dueling Stopgaps Set Up September Funding Fight
Pre-recess Senate votes on the stopgap, Russia-Iran sanctions, and the Blanche confirmation set up a high-stakes September. A digest from the official record.
DOJ Watch: August 14, 2026 — 11 Charged in Decade-Long Nationwide Marriage Fraud Takedown
Today's DOJ Watch: a 1,000-marriage green card fraud takedown in New York, the largest Sunshine Act recovery on record, an Operation Gold Rush banker sentenced, and the Fraud Division's new…
Federal Register Watch: August 14, 2026 — FinCEN Finalizes Rollback of Beneficial Ownership Reporting for U.S. Companies
FinCEN finalizes its beneficial ownership rollback as the Unified Agenda, a BIS drone rule, and the FCC's E-Rate review land in the Aug. 14 Federal Register.
SEC Watch: August 14, 2026 — Alleged $425 Million Crypto Ponzi Tops a Heavy Enforcement Docket
Four SEC fraud actions in four days allege over half a billion dollars raised from investors, as Q2 13F filings come due and Securitize reports its first quarter as a…
Morning Wire: August 14, 2026 — DOJ Presses Supreme Court to Revive Mail-Ballot Order as Injunction Goes Nationwide
In today's Wire: DOJ renews its Supreme Court bid on the mail-ballot order, a trade-court win on de minimis, flat July PPI, Leavitt's exit sets up a succession race, and…