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.
Energy and climate: Where do Harris and Trump stand?
By: Jacob Fischler - October 8, 2024
Highlighted in Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign as one of the major crises facing the country, climate change has received much less attention in the 2024 race for the presidency. The candidates, Republican former President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, share the twin goals of lowering energy costs and increasing U.S. jobs in […]
National Dems to ship $2.5M to state parties, aiming beyond presidential battlegrounds
By: Jacob Fischler - September 27, 2024
The Democratic National Committee will send $2.5 million to more than 30 of its state and territorial parties, including Missouri, in the closing weeks of the 2024 election cycle, the DNC said in a Friday statement. With the new grants, national Democrats will have contributed to all 57 state and territorial chapters for the first […]
U.S. House panel on Trump assassination attempt points to multiple failures by Secret Service
By: Jacob Fischler - September 26, 2024
Members of the U.S. House task force investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed the U.S. Secret Service for poor planning and breakdowns in communication and coordination with local law enforcement. Republicans and Democrats on the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump at their first […]
Trump floats theory Iran was responsible for assassination attempts
By: Jacob Fischler - September 26, 2024
Former President Donald Trump suggested without evidence Wednesday that Iran could be responsible for two apparent assassination attempts he has faced this year, saying foreign leaders objected to his position on tariffs. Authorities have made no public statements to support the claim that either would-be assassin — in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July and near Trump’s […]
Louisiana Republican’s ‘overtly racist’ tweet sparks calls for censure in U.S. House
By: Jacob Fischler - September 25, 2024
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford of Nevada took to the U.S. House floor Wednesday night to condemn an “overtly racist” tweet against Haitians and Haitian Americans by Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins. Hours before members were scheduled to depart for a recess through the November elections, Higgins posted to X a comment that […]
Trump refuses to debate Harris again before November election
By: Jacob Fischler - September 12, 2024
After a poor showing in Tuesday night’s ABC News presidential debate, Republican nominee Donald Trump said Thursday in a post to his social media platform he will not participate in any more debates with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris before the Nov. 5 election. Former President Trump and Harris had differing proposals for a […]
Trump’s support of Florida marijuana legalization may show growing bipartisan consensus
By: Jacob Fischler - September 10, 2024
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s early Monday statement that he would vote to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida sent a strong signal that both major parties are moving to adopt popular marijuana reform efforts, unexpectedly elevating the issue in the presidential battle. But the campaign for the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, expressed […]
In a ‘town hall’ with no questions, Trump grouses about polls, attacks debate host
By: Jacob Fischler - September 5, 2024
Former President Donald Trump questioned polls showing a close race against Vice President Kamala Harris and complained about the conditions of an upcoming debate during a Fox News interview Wednesday in Pennsylvania. Under questioning from a friendly interviewer, Sean Hannity of Fox News, in front of an arena of cheering supporters in Harrisburg, the Republican […]
U.S. Senate Dems’ campaign chief predicts sweep of tough races in Montana, Ohio
By: Jacob Fischler - August 20, 2024
CHICAGO –– The leader of Democrats’ U.S. Senate campaign arm projected confidence Monday at a Politico event organized outside the Democratic National Convention, saying the party would sweep competitive races this cycle and retain control of the chamber with a win in the presidential race. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who chairs the Democratic […]
What to know about the Democratic National Convention
By: Jacob Fischler - August 16, 2024
Democrats will gather in Chicago for their once-every-four-years convention, beginning Monday. Here’s a rundown: National political conventions are large gatherings of party officeholders, candidates and allies. They meet every four years to officially nominate candidates for president and vice president; to adopt a party platform, the list of policy proposals most party members agree on; […]
The big moment arrives for Harris: Democratic convention kicks off Monday in Chicago
By: Ariana Figueroa and Jacob Fischler - August 16, 2024
WASHINGTON — Just a little over a month after she became a candidate for president in the biggest shakeup in generations of presidential politics, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday will deliver a widely anticipated speech accepting the Democratic nomination at the party’s convention in Chicago. Harris’ ascent to the top of the ticket after […]
Trump asks New York judge to delay felony sentencing past Election Day
By: Jacob Fischler - August 15, 2024
Former President Donald Trump asked a New York court Thursday to delay until after November’s presidential election his sentencing for the 34 state felonies the court convicted him of in May. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept. 18. But that date overlaps with early voting in the presidential election and gives Trump […]