Author

Jacob Fischler

Jacob Fischler

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.

Republican presidential candidates (L-R) former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy participate in the NewsNation Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama Moody Music Hall on Dec. 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Haley draws fire from rivals in GOP presidential debate, as Christie calls Trump ‘unfit’  

By: and - December 7, 2023

Half of the four Republican presidential candidates on a debate stage in Alabama on Wednesday night focused their attacks on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s vying for the prized second place in the nominating contest. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy teamed up early in the debate to repeatedly hit […]

Members of a U.S. House panel on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 battled over what the United States should be doing to curb emissions. Shown is an electric car charging station. (Getty Images)

Ahead of climate conference, U.S. House panel tussles over curbs on emissions

By: - December 1, 2023

Republicans on a U.S. House panel argued Wednesday against aggressive moves to meet carbon reduction goals, saying U.S. fossil fuel companies are working to make their products cleaner. Democrats on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals countered that to achieve further reductions, federal policies should be continued […]

Democrats urge feds to update banking ‘red flags’ on legal marijuana businesses 

Democrats urge feds to update banking ‘red flags’ on legal marijuana businesses 

By: - November 17, 2023

The federal government unfairly penalizes state-legal marijuana businesses whose owners have been convicted of marijuana-related crimes, restricting them from loans and other banking tools, a group of U.S. Senate and House Democrats wrote to the Treasury Department asking for a change in policy. The group of 20 lawmakers, who mostly represent states where recreational marijuana […]

Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., left, talks with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., as they arrive for a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill Oct. 31, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Manchin announced on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, he will not run for reelection in 2024. Tester is running and is one of the Senate’s more vulnerable incumbents. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Democrats’ struggle to keep U.S. Senate majority complicated by Manchin decision 

By: , and - November 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III announced Thursday he does not plan to run for reelection come 2024, giving Republicans an opportunity to pick up a seat and increasing their chances of flipping Senate control. A centrist who has long frustrated his party’s leadership and outside advocacy groups with his views on fossil […]

Soldiers from Ft. Lee, Virginia help mark Veterans Day ceremonies at the World War II Memorial Nov. 11, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Veterans Day in the United States honors those who have served in the nation’s military and also coincides with the anniversary of the conclusion of hostilities on the western front in World War I. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Veterans’ health care coverage expanded by Biden administration

By: - November 10, 2023

Ahead of Veterans Day, Biden administration officials said Friday the Department of Veterans Affairs will expand health care coverage for certain groups of veterans and their families and create new programs meant to make care more accessible. The VA will make coverage of certain toxic burn pit-related conditions available sooner than anticipated. Family members of […]

Republican presidential candidates (L-R) former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy participate in the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on Nov. 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Five presidential hopefuls squared off in the third Republican primary debate as former U.S. President Donald Trump, currently facing indictments in four locations, declined again to participate. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

GOP presidential candidates brawl in Florida debate, while Trump rallies nearby

By: and - November 9, 2023

Five Republican candidates for president tussled over support for Ukraine and abortion policy at a debate in Miami Wednesday evening, while the leading contender for the nomination, former President Donald Trump, sought Latino votes in an event across town. Trump, who consistently garners more than 50% in polls of Republican voters, once again declined to […]

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., right, comforts Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., center, when Tlaib became emotional during remarks on a resolution to censure her for comments and tweets she has made about Israel. (Screenshot from U.S. House webcast) 

U.S. House votes to censure Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib over Israel remarks

By: - November 7, 2023

The U.S. House voted late Tuesday to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib for remarks the Michigan Democrat has made about Israel and Palestine amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. The chamber voted, 234-188, to adopt a resolution written by Georgia Republican Rich McCormick that censures Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, for a handful of […]

A poll worker in Williamson County, photographed during the 2022 early voting period. (Photo: Tennessee Lookout)

State and local election workers quitting amid abuse, officials tell U.S. Senate panel

By: - November 2, 2023

State and local election officials face threats and intimidation, driving experienced workers out of the profession, a panel of election officials told a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday. Conspiracy theories have fueled a more hostile environment for election workers, which has led many to quit, creating more challenges for the inexperienced new leaders, the top election […]

Jacob Lew, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill Oct. 18, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden pick for ambassador to Israel confirmed with all but two Republicans opposed

By: - November 1, 2023

The U.S. Senate voted, 53-43, Tuesday to confirm Jacob. J. Lew as ambassador to Israel amid a recent escalation in the U.S. ally’s war with the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Senators of both parties agreed the need to confirm an ambassador to Israel gained urgency after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 […]

“We’re going to do everything that we can from here, but really the answer is Congress has to act,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, one day after a mass shooter killed 18 people and injured 13 others in Lewiston, Maine. (Drew Angerer/ Getty Images)

White House calls for stronger gun policy reforms after Maine shooting

By: - October 27, 2023

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called on Congress on Thursday to strengthen gun safety laws in the wake of the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. Jean-Pierre opened Thursday’s press briefing with a statement on the shootings, saying President Joe Biden stepped out of a state dinner Wednesday night to receive an initial briefing on […]

Newly elected U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La. delivers remarks with fellow Republicans on the East Front steps of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol on October 25, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Who is Mike Johnson? New U.S. House speaker belongs to GOP’s religious conservative wing

By: - October 26, 2023

Before a relatively short time in elected office, new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana was a constitutional lawyer deeply involved in religious causes. Prior to a short stint in the Louisiana Legislature, Johnson spent two decades as a public interest lawyer mainly representing clients in so-called religious liberty litigation, he said in an […]

(Getty Images)

Eight Republicans are running for U.S. House speaker. Here’s your guide to the field.

By: and - October 23, 2023

WASHINGTON–– The eight Republican candidates to be speaker of the U.S. House were set to make their cases to their colleagues Monday evening, as the House Republican Conference restarted its process to choose a candidate. Nine had filed on Sunday to run for speaker but on Monday night Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser dropped out, after […]