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Mar 28, 2026

Saturday, March 28, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET

Federal Level

House Rejects Senate DHS Deal, Passes Own 60-Day Funding Bill as Shutdown Continues

The House voted 213 to 203 late Friday night to pass a 60-day continuing resolution that would fund all of the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, through May 22. Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring the Senate’s bipartisan bill to a floor vote, calling it “a joke” because it excluded ICE and parts of Customs and Border Protection. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded that the House measure is “dead on arrival” in the upper chamber. The Senate has left for a two-week recess, leaving no clear path to ending the 42-day partial shutdown.^1,2,3

Hegseth Removes Black and Female Officers from Army Promotion List

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally removed four Army officers from a one-star general promotion list, according to senior military officials who spoke to the New York Times. The officers include two Black men and two women, taken from a list of roughly 36 candidates that is predominantly white and male. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll reportedly resisted the removals, pointing to the officers’ strong service records. Hegseth’s chief of staff allegedly told Army leadership that the president would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events. The promotion list is now under White House review before heading to the Senate.^4,5,6

U.S. Service Members Wounded in Iranian Missile Strike on Saudi Air Base

An Iranian missile and drone attack struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, wounding at least 10 American service members and damaging several U.S. refueling aircraft. Two of the wounded are reported to be in critical condition. U.S. Central Command said earlier Friday that more than 300 service members have been injured since the conflict began on February 28. The attack marks one of the most serious breaches of American defenses since the war started nearly one month ago. Oil prices continue to top $100 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to tanker traffic.^7,8,9

Bipartisan Senate Bill Targets Insider Trading on Prediction Markets

A bipartisan group of four senators introduced legislation on Thursday that would prohibit federal officials from using insider information to trade on prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket. The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act, sponsored by Senators Todd Young, Elissa Slotkin, Adam Schiff, and John Curtis, would cover the president, members of Congress, their staffs, and political appointees. Violators would face fines of up to double the profit earned from the transaction. The bill reflects growing bipartisan concern over the rapid expansion of prediction markets into political wagering.^10,11

White House AI Framework Calls for Federal Control as States Pass Their Own Laws

The Trump administration is pushing Congress to establish a single federal framework for artificial intelligence regulation that would override the growing number of state laws on the subject. The White House released its legislative recommendations on March 20, arguing that a patchwork of state rules would hurt American competitiveness. Meanwhile, states are not waiting. Utah’s governor has signed eight AI-related bills this session, Washington enacted four AI measures this month, and dozens of additional bills are advancing in legislatures from Arizona to New Hampshire. The tension between federal preemption and state authority is expected to intensify as more legislatures act before Congress does.^12,13,14

State Level

No Kings Protests Set to Begin Today Across All 50 States

Organizers expect millions of Americans to take part in No Kings protests today in what could become the largest single day of political demonstration in the country’s history. More than 3,000 events are planned in all 50 states, building on two earlier rounds of nationwide protests held in June and October 2025. A rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, alone is expecting 100,000 attendees, with scheduled appearances by Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez. The protests are fueled by rising gas prices tied to the Iran conflict, ongoing airport disruptions from the DHS shutdown, and broader opposition to the Trump administration’s policies.^15,16,17

Wisconsin Governor Signs Antisemitism Definition into Law, Vetoes 16 Bills

Governor Tony Evers on Friday signed Assembly Bill 446, making Wisconsin the 37th state to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into law. The measure directs state agencies and local governments to use the IHRA definition when evaluating evidence of discriminatory intent. Civil liberties groups have opposed the bill, arguing it could restrict protected political speech. In the same session, Evers signed 27 bills and vetoed 16, including legislation that would have restricted university partnerships with foreign nations and a measure requiring petition circulators to be eligible Wisconsin voters, which he signed.^18,19

Hawaii Legislature Advances Bill to Ban Corporate Political Donations

A bill that would prohibit corporations from making political donations is advancing through the Hawaii Legislature with no opposition so far. Senate Bill 2471 would strip corporations, limited liability partnerships, and nonprofits of the ability to spend money supporting or opposing candidates, political parties, or ballot measures. Any organization that violates the ban would forfeit its state-granted powers and privileges. The bill has passed every committee vote without a single no, including from the lone Republican member. It must still clear the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs before reaching the governor’s desk.^20,21

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