Washington Eyes the Ballot Box

US News

Washington Eyes the Ballot Box

What’s going on: President Donald Trump recently suggested Republicans should “nationalize” elections — then left everyone guessing what that actually meant. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said the president was referring to Senate legislation that would require proof of citizenship to vote. Trump’s remarks add to his renewed focus on election fraud, despite a lack of evidence. His administration’s actions, including the FBI’s raid at a Georgia county election office and the Justice Department’s demands for voter registration lists, have sparked pushback, even from some Republicans. And while the courts have blocked key parts of Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting and voter registration rules, he continues to target both and raise scrutiny of voting machines, according to The New York Times. 

What it means: Trump’s comments heighten concerns about growing federal pressure on elections — which can affect voters in small, practical ways. As the midterms approach, you may see changing rules, legal fights, or conflicting guidance about registration, mail-in ballots, or voting machines, depending on where you live. States still run elections — so check your official election site and verify your registration early. Voting by mail? Drop your ballot a few days earlier, especially with new USPS rules in play. And if something feels off — a missing ballot, a closed polling place, confusing instructions — document it and report it to your state election office or a voter hotline. Zooming out, this isn’t just about 2026 — it’s about whether elections stay decentralized.

Related: A Supreme Court Ruling Set the Stage for a Redistricting Arms Race (NPR)

The News in 5

🗞️ The Trump administration is pulling 700 ICE agents from Minneapolis as part of a “complete drawdown” — but plenty are still staying behind.

🗞️ In a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, a Texas resident has sued a California doctor for mailing abortion pills into the state under a new law.

🗞️ Kaitlan Collins fired back at President Donald Trump after he slammed her for “not smiling” — and she had a theory about what his outburst revealed.

🗞️ Nike is under federal investigation for allegedly discriminating against white employees in the name of diversity.

🗞️ Jeff Bezos axed a third of The Washington Post staff, torched the sports desk, and dumped reporters covering war zones — and that’s not all.

Money

The Great Housing Bet

What’s going on: Jokes about never being able to afford a home aren’t funny anymore — just painful. A new analysis of the US housing shortage isn’t helping. Estimates vary wildly, but experts agree the gap runs into the millions — anywhere from 2 million to 20 million homes. Whether you’re hunting for a forever home or a rental with working AC, coming up with a down payment or keeping up with rent is its own struggle. Congress says help is coming. The House is expected to vote next week on a bipartisan package that aims to cut red tape, encourage new construction and renovations, and potentially establish a national building code. As one expert puts it, these bills could “pull back regulatory barriers that are holding back housing” and make it easier to build new homes. 

What it means: No single vote fixes a crisis this big. Housing needs look very different from city to city, and even if Congress passes the package, rents and mortgage rates likely won’t fall overnight. The federal government also faces a tricky balancing act: lower costs without wiping out home values. If you want to buy, pay attention to local updates. Zoning changes in your town can move prices faster than anything happening in Washington. It’s also time to stop waiting for the right time to buy… because it doesn’t exist. One expert told Forbes that potential buyers should make an offer when they find a place they love and can afford. It could take a while, but patience beats trying to time the market.

Related: Renters Are Relying on “Rent Now, Pay Later” Services (Associated Press)

Money

Oh, Dollar, Where Art Thou?

What's going on: The only thing that fell lower than the temperatures last week was the US dollar. It tumbled to its lowest level in four years. Our Benjamins have lost at least 10% of their value since President Donald Trump returned to office last January. Many investors remain uneasy over his on-again, off-again tariffs, threats of military action abroad, attacks on the independent Federal Reserve, and the country’s growing $38 trillion debt. That economic whiplash has pushed some investors to pull back from US assets — a strategy dubbed “Sell America.” It’s not a full-blown exit, but it’s no love affair either. This is not what Lil Jon meant when he said “Get Low.”

What it means: The US dollar is still the “it girl” of global reserve currency. Central banks across the world hold a cumulative $7.4 trillion, and no real alternative comes close — at least not yet. Add tariffs to the mix, and a weaker dollar not only makes imports more expensive, but it also complicates the fight against inflation. That spells trouble for the president’s message on affordability and his comments that the dollar is “doing great.” Economists also warn that Trump’s push for the Fed to slash interest rates could weaken the dollar further. The dollar isn’t dead, but it’s no longer flexing on the world the way it once did.

Related: Trump’s Fed Chair Nominee Might Be Full of Surprises (Politico)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ A rare Michelangelo drawing heads to auction — it’s estimated to sell for $1.5 to $2 million.

🗓️ The NBA trade deadline comes to a close. Time to see if your favorite jersey gets tossed.

🗓️ World Nutella Day might be a marketing scam, but we are more than happy to indulge. 

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Gold prices keep going up, up, and up. As for what that has to do with the Olympics? One swimmer sold his gold medals for how much each…

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.