Spending Watch: Week of Aug. 3, 2026 — Army Locks In $53.9 Billion Patriot Missile Buy
A $53.9 billion Patriot multiyear, nearly $11.9 billion obligated for submarines in a day, and a GAO audit questioning DOGE's published savings — this week in federal spending.
Court Watch: Week of August 3, 2026 — D.C. Circuit Blocks White House Ballroom Construction
A divided D.C. Circuit halted White House ballroom construction, a Texas judge struck down NFA registration rules for suppressors, and 23 states filed opposition on the Supreme Court emergency docket…
Public Records Roundup: Week of August 10, 2026 — GAO Finds DOGE Savings Claims Lack Support
GAO audits of DOGE savings and personnel, FEMA workforce losses, VA OIG findings on TBI evaluations, a Tennessee indictment, and two proposed FOIA rule changes lead this week's public records…
Capitol Watch: August 10, 2026 — Senate Clears December Funding Bridge, Russia Sanctions in Marathon Finale
In a session that ran past 4 a.m., the Senate passed a stopgap funding bill 90-6, approved the Graham Russia sanctions act 86-11, and confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general…
DOJ Watch: August 10, 2026 — $100M in Bounties on CJNG Cartel Leadership Caps a Heavy Enforcement Week
TIJ's daily DOJ enforcement digest: $100M in State Department rewards for CJNG leaders, an ex-Goldman banker convicted in a Ghana bribery scheme, a $95M Medicare fraud indictment in Nevada, a…
Federal Register Watch: August 10, 2026 — DHS Locks In Expanded H-1B and L-1 Biometric Fee
Today's Federal Register: DHS finalizes the expanded 9-11 biometric fee for H-1B/L-1 extensions, FMCSA proposes English-proficiency out-of-service rules, HUD moves on disparate impact, IRS finalizes 1099-K withholding relief, and more.…
SEC Watch: August 10, 2026 — ICE’s $167-a-Share MarketAxess Deal Leads a Crowded Disclosure Docket
Two multibillion-dollar cash mergers, two abrupt executive exits, a dismissed insider-trading case, and a new SEC accounting-fraud unit — the week in filings.
The 13.34 Percent Cliff: How a Late Addition to H.R. 1 Penalizes States That Cut SNAP Errors
A TIJ analysis of federal payment data and the text of Public Law 119-21 finds a statutory cliff at 13.34 percent that lets seven high-error jurisdictions defer $1.72 billion while…
Morning Wire: August 8, 2026 — New Citizenship Orders Head for Court Tests as July Payrolls Turn Negative
The Investigative Journal's overnight digest: new citizenship orders, a negative July jobs report, major court rulings, and the latest from Kyiv and the Gulf.
Afternoon Wire: August 7, 2026 — Payrolls Post Surprise 23,000-Job Drop as Senate Moves Sanctions Bill and Hormuz Framework Emerges
Payrolls unexpectedly fell 23,000 in July. Plus: Senate Russia sanctions votes, the PLO judgment stands, and a Strait of Hormuz reopening framework.