The Latest Breaking News from Richard Briffault

Paxton’s security travel cost millions

Records show the Texas attorney general has taken nearly 1,000 trips during his tenure, costing $3.3 million

Salon · Oct 11

Trump's unusual stock frenzy: Portfolio shows 3,600 trades in 90 days

Trump's investment accounts saw thousands of trades totaling hundreds of millions of dollars between January and March. This feverish activity, dominated by tech stocks, has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and ethics experts over potential conflicts of interest, though the Trump Organization denies the president's direct involvement.

The Economic Times · Jun 16

Trump accused of ‘corruption, plain and simple’ after UAE invested in family firm

White House says president is not involved in running his businesses. Ethics experts remain concerned

The Guardian - US · Feb 2

Why Trump’s Qatar plane ignited a fierce political debate and could cost more than $1bn

The president insists only a ‘stupid person’ would turn down extravagant gift intended to replace Air Force One, but risks violating U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause

The Independent UK · May 14, 2025

Trump’s sons pushing family business deals in Qatar amid country’s rumored gift of $400m Air Force One replacement

White House insists Trump is always acting ‘in the best interest of our country’

The Independent UK · May 13, 2025

How much gerrymandering is too much? In New York, the answer could make or break Dems' House hopes

New York’s highest court just gave Democrats a chance to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a major victory as the party tries to flip seats in the state to win control of the U.S. House next year

The Independent UK · Dec 17, 2023

Supreme Court ethics code doesn't satisfy Democratic appetite for legislation - Roll Call

The Supreme Court’s announcement of its first code of conduct Monday did little to damper Democrats' drive to pass legislation on the issue.

Roll Call · Nov 14, 2023

Trump's political action committee wants a $60 million refund on paying his legal fees – 3 key things to know about PACs

Save America, one of former President Donald Trump’s political organizations, is seeking a US$60 million refund from Make America Great Again, Inc., another Trump political organization that is less strictly regulated by federal rules.

The Conversation · Aug 4, 2023

Many redistricting redos pending, but ’24 election outlook unclear

Lines could be redrawn — or litigation could drag on — in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina South Carolina and Utah.

Roll Call · Jul 25, 2023

Some GOP leaders say Republican Santos 'lied' about career and Jewish heritage

Rep.-elect George Santos from New York has acknowledged deceiving voters about most of his life story. He's still slated to be sworn in as a part of the new Republican House majority next month.

WEKU · Dec 27, 2022