Author
Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court
By: Jacob Fischler and Ashley Murray - March 20, 2024
Former President Donald Trump renewed his call to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to dismiss charges against him, asserting that presidents enjoy near-total immunity from criminal prosecution. In addition, as a deadline loomed for briefs in the case, 18 Republican-led states filed an amicus brief Tuesday urging the Supreme Court to reverse the lower […]
Former special counsel in Biden classified documents probe attacked by both sides in hearing
By: Jacob Fischler - March 12, 2024
Former U.S. Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur on Tuesday defended from both Republican and Democratic critics on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee his conclusion that President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents likely broke federal law but was not worthy of prosecution. Few new facts emerged from the acrimonious five-hour hearing. But Hur’s conclusions […]
Five major takeaways from the Biden budget request
By: Jacob Fischler - March 11, 2024
President Joe Biden’s budget request for fiscal 2025 would continue several administration goals to lower costs for most families while raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, spend on climate initiatives and provide aid to U.S. partners abroad. The $7.266 trillion budget request that calls for expanding the child tax credit, funding overseas partners and increasing taxes on the […]
Trump, Biden close in on clinching nominations after broad Super Tuesday victories
By: Ashley Murray and Jacob Fischler - March 6, 2024
WASHINGTON — Despite facing 91 felony counts, hefty civil penalties and a packed 2024 legal calendar, Donald Trump emerged on Super Tuesday as the Republican Party’s presumptive choice as its presidential candidate in November. The former president has secured 995 of the necessary 1,215 GOP delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination, and likely will […]
Five months late, Congress is poised to pass a huge chunk of federal spending
By: Jennifer Shutt, Jacob Fischler, Ariana Figueroa and Ashley Murray - March 5, 2024
WASHINGTON — Congress is on track to approve a staggering $468 billion in government spending this week, finishing part of the work it was supposed to complete by Oct. 1 — including a big boost intended to shore up the federal WIC nutrition program for women, infants and children. Other agencies will see cuts, including […]
US Supreme Court to decide if Trump is immune from prosecution for acts as president
By: Jacob Fischler - February 28, 2024
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear former President Donald Trump’s argument that he should be immune from criminal charges related to the 2020 election. In a one-page order, the court set an expedited briefing schedule, with oral arguments to be held the week of April 22. Proceedings in the federal trial court will […]
More than 500 new Russia sanctions levied by White House after Navalny death
By: Jacob Fischler - February 23, 2024
The Biden administration will impose a new round of economic sanctions targeting Russian fuel exports and military-industry imports, the Treasury Department announced Friday. Coming one week after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in the custody of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government and one day short of the two-year anniversary of the country’s invasion of […]
Worried Biden and Trump are too old to be president? Calm down, experts on aging say
By: Jacob Fischler - February 16, 2024
Age should not preclude either Joe Biden or Donald Trump from serving another four years as president, a group of aging experts said Thursday at a webinar organized by the American Federation for Aging Research. If Biden, 81, and Trump, 77, are the candidates on Election Day, as appears likely right now, they would break […]
Trump’s calendar becoming crowded as legal battles escalate in New York, D.C.
By: Ashley Murray and Jacob Fischler - February 16, 2024
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s days fighting criminal charges in two courts could be arriving soon. Special Counsel Jack Smith urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday not to pause federal election interference proceedings and a New York state judge on Thursday set a late March trial date on charges related to hush money […]
Biden administration picks airports for nearly $1 billion in terminal upgrades
By: Jacob Fischler - February 15, 2024
The Biden administration will send close to $1 billion to airports across the country to upgrade terminal facilities, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Thursday. The $970 million in grants will go to 144 airports in 44 states and three territories. Earmarked for terminal improvements, Buttigieg and other administration officials said the grants would fund projects to improve […]
Trump asks U.S. Supreme Court to pause federal trial over presidential immunity question
By: Jacob Fischler and Ashley Murray - February 12, 2024
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to further delay his federal criminal trial on charges he attempted to subvert the 2020 election, contending his actions were protected by presidential immunity. In a 40-page application to the Supreme Court late Monday, Trump and his attorneys asked the justices to pause pretrial activities […]
Biden’s natural gas export pause fought over by U.S. House panel
By: Jacob Fischler - February 6, 2024
Members of a U.S. House panel on climate and energy issues split along party lines Tuesday about the Biden administration’s recent move to pause new approvals of liquified natural gas exports. Republicans called a hearing to challenge the Energy Department’s announcement last month that it would indefinitely bar new LNG permits to non-free-trade partners as it studies […]