Good morning, it’s Friday, November 21, 2025. We’re taking next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday. See you in December! In today’s edition, states tighten their belts ahead of possible recession; Trump admin to allow offshore drilling; Swalwell joins crowded California governor field:
Top Stories
BUDGETS: About half the states cut spending this year, while 12 states raised taxes or fees as lawmakers deal with slumping revenues and budget deficits. Budgets are tightening as revenue growth slows, the cost of providing services increases and previously-adopted tax cuts kick in. President Trump’s reconciliation bill is adding to the pressure, reducing state tax collections this year. (Pluribus News)
ABORTION: The Ohio House has approved legislation to ban the prescription of abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth. The bill does not name the drugs specifically, but it requires an in-person visit for drugs that cause side effects for a certain number of patients. (Statehouse News Bureau)
ENVIRONMENT: The Trump administration announced Thursday it would allow new oil drilling off the coasts of Florida and California. Both Republicans in Florida and Democrats in California objected to the plan, which proposes six offshore lease sales in California and an unspecified number of new leases 100 miles off the Florida coast. (Associated Press)
IMMIGRATION: The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit challenging California laws that grant undocumented students in-state tuition at public universities. The suit asks a court to declare California laws giving undocumented students a pathway to financial aid unconstitutional. (Sacramento Bee)
EDUCATION: The Ohio House approved legislation allowing public schools to teach the positive impacts of Christianity. The Ohio Senate separately approved legislation allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms. That bill requires school districts to vote to display four of nine historical documents in classrooms, including the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Magna Carta and the Constitution. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
SECURITY: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has signed a bill allowing the legislature’s Sergeant-at-Arms to investigate threats and crimes outside Michigan’s Capitol at the direction of elected officials. Another bill would shield elected officials’ personal information from public records to protect their privacy after increased threats. (BridgeMI)
MARIJUANA: The Ohio Senate will return to session Dec. 9 to vote on a compromise marijuana package that eliminates a voter-approved Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund. The House-approved measure would allocate 36% of excise tax revenue to local governments. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
CALIFORNIA: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) will run for governor, he said Thursday on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Meanwhile, activist and billionaire Tom Steyer (D) has already purchased more than $2 million in television advertising after announcing his own bid earlier this week. (Los Angeles Times)
NEVADA: A new Emerson College poll finds Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) tied at 41%. Lombardo’s job approval rating is at just 34%, while 36% disapprove. (Emerson College)
INDIANA: At least four Republican lawmakers who oppose plans to redraw U.S. House district map lines have been the targets of attempted swatting attacks, in which police receive a false call of violence at their homes. A fifth legislator, Sen. Kyle Walker (R), said he had received threats of violence. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
RHODE ISLAND: Robert Raimondo (R) has filed papers to run for governor. He has not yet registered to vote, and he claims to be a cousin of former U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Gov. Gina Raimondo (D). Gina Raimondo’s family says they’ve never heard of him. (Providence Journal)
By The Numbers
33%: The share of Oregon school children who are chronically absent from school, one of the highest rates in the nation. The average among the 27 states that have posted attendance data is 21%, higher than the 15% rate before the coronavirus pandemic. (Oregonian)
$53.17: The average price of a turkey dinner in Arizona this Thanksgiving, down 21 cents from last year, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau. Much of the decline is due to a cheaper turkey, which costs an average of $18.89, down 47 cents from a year ago. (State Affairs)
Off The Wall
Roslyn Fortin, a fifth-grader at Highgate Elementary, has been elected Vermont’s first Kid Governor. Fortin’s platform focused on addressing homelessness. The other candidates will form her cabinet and advance their own platforms, including health care and anti-bullying programs. (VT Digger)
Residents of Hermosa Beach, Calif., are baffled by a patch of bubbles rising out of the Pacific Ocean this week. Some speculated they were caused by a submarine, others joked it could be a gassy whale. As it turned out, the bubbles were created by contractors working on an underwater fiber optic cable. (Los Angeles Times)
The Gassy Whales would be a great band name.
Quote of the Day
“I could tell he was not happy.”
— Indiana Senate President Rodric Bray (R), on his last conversation with President Trump about redrawing the state’s congressional district lines. The Senate has voted to delay any action on legislation until next year. (Politico)