FEC commissioners deadlocked on major campaign-finance enforcement actions and advisory opinions — pausing investigations into undisclosed independent expenditures ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Pew Research finds only 18% of Americans trust the federal government 'just about always' or 'most of the time' — near historic lows amid institutional legitimacy crisis.

Center for Progressive Reform reports over 53% of Project 2025's domestic administrative policy agenda initiated or completed within the administration's first year.

32 states introduced 127 bills restricting voting access, including limits on mail ballot drop boxes, shortened early voting, and expanded voter roll purges.