Taylor Giorno

Daylight-Saving Changes Are Dead in Congress — For Now Lawmakers and lobbyists acknowledge clock changing will likely continue for the foreseeable future despite public outcry for new laws.

Only 12% of Americans favor changing clocks twice a year.

But lawmakers and lobbyists say a bill that would make daylight savings time permanent is basically dead — for now.

NEW in @notus.com: www.notus.org/policy/dayli...

FEMA Staff Are Happy to See Kristi Noem Go “Anyone is better than that dog murderer,” a longtime FEMA employee said.

"Anyone's better than that dog murderer."

FEMA staff are rejoicing at Kristi Noem's ouster. I've had folks asking me for months if I knew when she might get fired.

That day is finally here, and they are delighted.

Presidential Libraries Are Black Boxes — And Not Just Trump’s Funding disclosure for these institutions is sometimes inconsistent, incomplete or inaccurate, leaving the public in the dark.

Some corporate donors didn’t actually donate. Others did, but didn’t disclose as lobbying law required. The law, one government watchdog said, is “inadequate to the task.”

@notus.com cracks open the black boxes that are presidential libraries: www.notus.org/money/presid...

Trump Using Iran War to Pad His Political Committee Account A supporter who “stands with President Trump and our brave U. S. troops” should give money to Trump’s Never Surrender Inc. PAC, a new fundraising message states.

Here's how Donald Trump is today using the Iran war to raise money for his own political committee.

From @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/money/donald...

Trump Using Iran War to Pad His Political Committee Account A supporter who “stands with President Trump and our brave U. S. troops” should give money to Trump’s Never Surrender Inc. PAC, a new fundraising message states.

NEW: Trump is “asking every SINGLE Trump supporter who stands with President Trump and our brave U. S. troops” to signal their support for the Iran war — with a donation to his leadership PAC. www.notus.org/money/donald...

‘Insects, Rodents’: Trump’s New York Golf Club Hit With Health Code Violations Records show officials issued five health code violations against Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, New York, last November.

“‘Insects, Rodents’: Trump’s New York Golf Club Hit With Health Code Violations”

🪲🐀🏌️

@taylorgiorno.bsky.social for @notus.com

RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Committee Appointee Has Called to ‘#StopTheShots’ Angelina Farella, a Texas-based pediatrician, has also called the RSV vaccine an “utter failure.”

Angie Farella, a Texas-based pediatrician, has called the RSV vaccine an "utter failure" and said the COVID-19 vaccine is "not safe nor is it effective.” On Friday, RFK Jr. appointed her to the CDC's vaccine recommendation committee. New from me:
www.notus.org/health-scien...

Americans Stranded in the Middle East Aren’t Getting Help from the State Department “Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation,” a State department hotline said when NOTUS called Tuesday afternoon.

NEWS: Americans were told to evacuate the Middle East — but the State Dept is not helping them do it.

We called the State hotline. First thing you hear is an automated message: "Do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation."

Rep. Jamie Raskin Opens Investigation Into Howard Lutnick and His Former Firm’s Tariff Dealings Before being appointed to Trump’s Cabinet as commerce secretary, Lutnick served as CEO of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald

EXCLUSIVE: @raskin.house.gov opened an investigation into potential conflicts of interest w/ Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick & his former company. How much Raskin can accomplish is another Q.

— via @ameliacolon.bsky.social @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com www.notus.org/congress/jam...

ICE Plans to Spend $220 Million on Tasers The company that manufactures the product spent nearly $2.5 million on lobbying efforts.

ICE wants to spend $220 million to arm immigration agents with about 17,800 new Tasers. Potential contract comes after Axon, the manufacturer, has spent nearly $2.5 million on lobbying efforts.
www.notus.org/immigration/...

Trump Finally Nominated New FEC Commissioners. But Their Confirmations Could Languish. The federal campaign finance enforcer and regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to fully operate since May 2025.

It's been almost 300 days since the FEC had a quorum.

President Trump has nominated a pair of Republicans to fill 2 of the 4 vacancies, but it could be weeks or even months before the agency is able to even hold a meeting.

What does that mean for 2026? www.notus.org/money/federa...

New FEC filing shows who gave big money to Trump's super PAC last month:

$5 million from Foris Dax, aka Crypto dot com

$1 million from Matthew Moroun, whose family owns and operates the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Canada

docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form...

Inside Lobbyist Efforts to Gut Federal ‘Forever Chemical’ Regulations More than 500 pages of emails, internal presentations and talking points obtained by NOTUS detail lobbying efforts around the EPA’s decision to walk back standards.

500+ pages of internal records obtained via FOIA reveal how industry lobbyists successfully pressured the EPA to gut "forever chemical" regulations, reports @taylorgiorno.bsky.social for @notus.com. www.notus.org/climate-envi...

A New Generation of MAGA Megadonors Is Emerging — And They’re Swamping Democrats Donors with little or no history of federal contributions are suddenly pumping millions into a pro-Trump super PAC.

DEEP DIVE: Meet the new generation of MAGA megadonors who are stepping to with tens of millions of dollars as other Trump-centric megadonors die off or step back.

From @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/money/maga-m...

Trump Finally Nominated New FEC Commissioners. But Their Confirmations Could Languish. The federal campaign finance enforcer and regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to fully operate since May 2025.

Will the 2026 midterms go forth w/ the FEC — the nation’s campaign finance law enforcer and regulator — unable to punish scofflaws, pursue investigations, finalize audits, issue advice or even conduct meetings?

Possible, writes @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com www.notus.org/money/federa...

Trump Nominates Two Republicans to FEC, Paving Path to End Monthslong ‘Shutdown’ The nominees have been on the president’s desk for months while the election agency languished without enough commissioners to carry out high-level responsibilities.

BIG NEWS: The FEC's monthslong de facto shutdown could soon be over!

President Trump has nominated two Republican commissioners. If they're confirmed by the Senate, the FEC will have a quorum for the first time since April 2025.

NEW w/ @davelevinthal.com in @notus.com www.notus.org/money/federa...

Trump Nominates Two Republicans to FEC, Paving Path to End Monthslong ‘Shutdown’ The nominees have been on the president’s desk for months while the election agency languished without enough commissioners to carry out high-level responsibilities.

NEW: After months of inaction, Donald Trump nominates two Republicans to the Federal Election Commission, which lost most of its powers 9+ months ago because it didn't have enough commissioners to operate.

— w/ @taylorgiorno.bsky.social in @notus.com www.notus.org/money/federa...

Republicans Want Nothing to Do With Conservative Efforts to Ban Gay Marriage Trump has moved the Republican Party away from its decades-old opposition to same-sex marriage, and public support remains high.

NEW: Prominent conservative groups created a campaign to overturn Obergefell, the SCOTUS ruling that legalized gay marriage

Republicans don’t want anything to do with it

“I don’t think it’s a viable effort, legally, politically or otherwise,” one House R said
www.notus.org/republicans/...

These Lawmakers Are Retiring. But Their Campaigns Are Still Spending. New records show how lame-duck members of Congress are still using their political wealth.

always interesting to see how lamakers running for a different office or leaving office are spending their campaign cash, as @taylorgiorno.bsky.social does here

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to 'Terminate' Reelection Campaign Norton’s campaign raised just $2,520 during the last three months of 2025. Her campaign hasn’t yet announced a formal decision on her future.

“D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to ‘Terminate’ Reelection Campaign”

@taylorgiorno.bsky.social for @notus.com

DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to 'Terminate' Reelection Campaign Norton’s campaign raised just $2,520 during the last three months of 2025. Her campaign hasn’t yet announced a formal decision on her future.

BREAKING: D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton's campaign has filed a "termination" report with the FEC — an indication that she will not seek re-election & retire from Congress.

Norton's campaign raised less than $8 in January.

Via @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Lobbyists Make Millions in Pursuit of Trump Pardons Connected criminals are willing to pay K Street huge money for a chance at a clean slate.

How much money are lobbyists making in the Trump presidential pardon economy?

Glad you asked, because @taylorgiorno.bsky.social of @notus.com has the receipts.
www.notus.org/money/pardon...

DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to 'Terminate' Reelection Campaign Norton’s campaign raised just $2,520 during the last three months of 2025. Her campaign hasn’t yet announced a formal decision on her future.

SCOOP: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton's campaign filed to "terminate" her reelection campaign on Sunday

For months DC has speculated about the political future of its long-serving nonvoting representative, and it appears we have our answer www.notus.org/2026-electio...

‘Don’t Poke the Bear’: How Lobbyists Are Helping Clients Dodge Trump’s Truth Social Wrath A K Street playbook has emerged for avoiding a dreaded Trump name-check — and minimizing damage when the president does pounce.

ICYMI: Since his inauguration, President Trump has used Truth Social to call out companies, colleges and other organizations at least 177 times across at least 129 posts.

One lobbyist said they're advising their clients "don't poke the bear." www.notus.org/donald-trump...

Brooke Rollins Got a Huge Bonus From a Pro-Trump Think Tank Before Becoming Agriculture Secretary America First Policy Institute gave Rollins a $300,000 send-off last year — six times her bonus in 2023.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins received a massive parting gift from her pro-Trump nonprofit organization before leaving to join the government, according to previously unreported tax records obtained by @notus.com's @taylorgiorno.bsky.social. www.notus.org/money/brooke...

Sarah McBride Lobbied Some Republicans to Vote Against an Anti-Trans Bill When House Democrats suspected a few members in their caucus would support a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for trans youth, McBride reached out to some Republicans who went on to oppose the...

SCOOP: House Democrats suspected a few in their caucus would support a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for trans youth

So Sarah McBride reached out to Republicans

Four Rs — Fitzpatrick, Lawler, Kennedy, Evans — joined Dems in opposing the bill
www.notus.org/congress/mcb...

Trump Is Mad at Jared Polis. Now He’s Dismantling Colorado’s Leading Weather Research Institution. “If Colorado had a governor who actually wanted to work with President Trump, his constituents would be better served,” a senior White House official told NOTUS.

NEWS: White House suggested to me that they’re dismantling the nation’s most important weather research institute bc Trump is mad at CO Gov. Jared Polis

“If Colorado had a governor who actually wanted to work with President Trump, his constituents would be better served.”

“These facts raise questions about whether these payments were a so-called ‘golden parachute,’ meaning bonuses paid on the basis of a person entering government service."
- @brendanfischer.bsky.social

Stephen Miller Scored a Big Cash Bonus Before Joining Trump 2.0 America First Legal, a pro-Trump nonprofit, spent an extra $175,000 on Miller and more on fellow departing executive Gene Hamilton.

NEW: White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller scored a big cash bonus from America First Legal before joining the second Trump administration. www.notus.org/money/stephe...