West Virginia Watch

‘A gun to a knife fight’: Democrats' chief pledges a more pugnacious party in more states • West Virginia Watch Democrats must be more aggressive organizers and campaigners to win back the working-class coalition, according to DNC Chair Ken Martin.

Democrats must be more aggressive organizers and campaigners to win back the working-class coalition they have increasingly lost to President Donald Trump, according to Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, reports @fischler.bsky.social.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to close its doors after loss of funding • West Virginia Watch The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funds for NPR and PBS, announced Friday that it will be shutting down.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced Friday that it will be shutting down, reports Shauneen Miranda.

Trump levies a host of new tariffs on U.S. trading partners • West Virginia Watch President Trump pushed ahead with his promise to raise tariffs on foreign goods by Aug. 1, signing an order late Thursday.

President Donald Trump pushed ahead with his promise to raise tariffs on foreign goods by Aug. 1, signing an order late Thursday increasing import taxes on products from nearly every U.S. trading partner, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

State obligations for future retiree costs continue to grow, study finds

States have decreased their total debts, but lower-than-expected investment returns have widened the gap, reports Kevin Hardy.

Federal appeals court skeptical of cases for and against Trump tariff authority • West Virginia Watch Judges on the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit questioned the legality of Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs.

Judges on the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit questioned the legality of President Donald Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs Thursday as the White House pushes on with its Aug. 1 deadline for import taxes at levels not seen since the 1930s, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

Trump’s big proposed cuts to health and education spending rebuffed by US Senate panel • West Virginia Watch A U.S. Senate panel rejected Trump administration proposals to slash funding for education programs, medical research grants and others.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Thursday largely rejected Trump administration proposals to slash funding for education programs, medical research grants, health initiatives and Ukraine security assistance, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social and Shauneen Miranda.

‘Half-baked’ USDA relocation irritates members of both parties on US Senate Ag panel • West Virginia Watch Members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee chastised a USDA official for not consulting Congress before proposing to shift thousands of jobs out of the Washington, D.C., area.

Members of both parties on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee chastised a U.S. Department of Agriculture official Wednesday for not consulting Congress before proposing to shift thousands of jobs out of the Washington, D.C., area, reports @fischler.bsky.social.

Annual West Virginia tax holiday begins Friday • West Virginia Watch This weekend, West Virginians can save a little money on back-to-school clothing and supplies as well as other items.

This weekend, West Virginians can save a little money on back-to-school clothing and supplies as well as other items. The state’s annual tax holiday runs from Friday through Monday night.
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U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to speak at three West Virginia events Aug. 8 and 9 • West Virginia Watch U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a one-time candidate for president, will bring his speaking event tour to three West Virginia locations.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a one-time candidate for president, will bring his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” speaking event tour to three West Virginia locations next weekend. 
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New federal school voucher program poses a quandary for states: Opt in or opt out?

Lawmakers in blue states must weigh whether to reject participating in the first-ever national tax credit scholarship program outright on ideological grounds — or try to reshape it into something that reflects their own values, reports Robbie Sequeira.

COMMENTARY: Don’t believe it when they tell you they are only going after “waste, fraud and abuse” to shore up Medicaid. Medicaid has mechanisms for dealing with waste and fraud, and it represents an infinitesimal amount of overall spending, writes Ellen Allen.
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A radio cooperative serving Pocahontas County expects to lose more than half its annual budget after Congress passed a bill rescinding $1.1 billion previously approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, reports @lorikerseywv.bsky.social.
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Lawmakers must be allowed immigration detention visits, US House Dems’ suit says • West Virginia Watch Dems filed a lawsuit charging that the Trump administration is blocking lawmakers from conducting oversight of federal immigration detention centers.

A dozen Democratic members of Congress filed a lawsuit Wednesday charging that the Trump administration is blocking lawmakers from conducting congressional oversight of federal immigration detention centers, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.

Epstein files must be released by Trump administration under obscure law, Democrats contend • West Virginia Watch Senate Dems began charting a little-known legal path to force Trump’s administration to release the investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein.

U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday began charting a little-known legal path to force President Donald Trump’s administration to release the investigative files on the now deceased Florida sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

WV Attorney General McCuskey joins others calling on Congress to act on abortion shield laws • West Virginia Watch Attorney General J.B. McCuskey has joined with 15 attorneys general to call on Congress to consider banning abortion shield laws.

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey has joined with 15 other attorneys general from around the country in calling on Congress to consider banning abortion shield laws.

‘Good government’ group urges blue states to back away from a redistricting arms race • West Virginia Watch States led by Democrats should resist the temptation to conduct their own mid-decade redistricting officials with Common Cause said.

States led by Democrats should resist the temptation to conduct their own mid-decade redistricting in response to Republicans in the Texas Legislature moving to redraw U.S. House lines before the 2026 elections, officials with Common Cause said.
@fischler.bsky.social reports.

Bove confirmed by US Senate as federal appeals judge, despite misconduct complaints • West Virginia Watch The U.S. Senate confirmed Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, Emil Bove, to a lifetime position on the federal appeals bench.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday night confirmed President Donald Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, Emil Bove, to a lifetime position on the federal appeals bench, in the face of whistleblower allegations and criticism from former judges and advocates, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

US Senate confirms Trump pick to head Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • West Virginia Watch The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.

The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, reports Shauneen Miranda.

Trump’s EPA proposes rollback of basis for climate change rules, sparking Dem outrage • West Virginia Watch The EPA submitted a proposal to rescind a finding that has provided the foundation for the agency’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. EPA submitted a proposal Tuesday to rescind a 2009 finding that has provided the foundation for the agency’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, drawing strong opposition from Democrats and climate groups, reports @fischler.bsky.social.

Stigma still keeps police from seeking mental health care, study finds

Police officers may face hundreds of traumatic incidents over the course of their careers, but many still hesitate to seek mental health support when they need it, reports @amandavhernan.bsky.social.

COMMENTARY: The introduction of a $200,000 lifetime borrowing cap in the budget bill puts students in a financial chokehold, restricting opportunities before students even have a chance to crack open a casebook, writes Nyjilah Webb.
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West Virginia is partnering with the federal government to perform two flood mitigation studies in regions known for widespread and often devastating flooding events, according to a news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey. Caity Coyne reports.
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‘Devastating’ spending cuts: Advocates decry Trump tax law's harm to Latino communities • West Virginia Watch Trump's massive tax package will affect Latinos using federal safety net programs and those living in communities vulnerable to environmental pollution.

The massive tax and spending cuts package signed into law by President Trump earlier this month will affect not only Latinos using federal safety net programs but also those living in communities vulnerable to environmental pollution, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.

Federal judge issues new order protecting all Planned Parenthood clinics from Medicaid ‘defunding’ • West Virginia Watch Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide are once again protected from a “defunding” provision passed by Congress.

Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide are once again protected from a “defunding” provision passed by Congress after a federal judge in Massachusetts granted an emergency request for a new preliminary injunction, reports @kelciemmorris.bsky.social.

COMMENTARY: For those who have been following the state’s opioid epidemic over the years, it probably came as no surprise more than half of the money cities and counties spent last year went to law enforcement, writes @leannray.bsky.social.
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European imports to see 15% tariffs after Trump strikes trade deal • West Virginia Watch President Donald Trump and European Union leaders announced a trade framework of 15% tariffs over the weekend.

President Donald Trump and European Union leaders announced a trade framework over the weekend, just days ahead of Trump’s self-imposed Friday deadline to increase import taxes and his emergency tariffs come under scrutiny in federal appeals court Thursday, reports @ashleymurray.bsky.social.

West Virginia Republican Party elects 23-year-old Holstein as chairman • West Virginia Watch Josh Holstein, a 23-year-old state delegate representing Boone County, is the new leader of the state’s Republican Party.

Josh Holstein, a 23-year-old state delegate representing Boone County, is the new leader of the state’s Republican Party. Holstein was elected chairman during the summer meeting of the state executive committee in Morgantown Saturday.

Fewer than half of ICE arrests under Trump are convicted criminals

ICE has netted more criminals than under Biden, but also swept up many more non-criminal immigrants, reports Tim Henderson.

COMMENTARY: I am a proven fiscal conservative who wants a balanced federal budget. Otherwise, we are leaving our children and grandchildren a tremendous crisis which will blow up in their lifetimes, ruining the U.S. economy, writes Jack Bernard.
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NIOSH black lung mobile unit returns after federal cuts; WV screenings scheduled in NCWV next week • West Virginia Watch A mobile unit that provides free black lung screenings is up and running again this month after federal cuts led to the service’s pause.

A mobile unit that provides free black lung screenings to coal miners is up and running again this month after federal cuts led to the service’s pause earlier this year, according to a news release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. @caitycoyne.bsky.social reports.