SUMMARY: Florida’s special session begins on Monday, primarily addressing cooperation with President Trump’s border agenda. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasizes the need for immediate action on deportation plans, asserting that Florida leads on significant issues. While immigration dominates the agenda with 18 of 22 bills, other topics include repealing in-state college tuition for undocumented migrants, increasing penalties for election fraud by undocumented individuals, and reforming the ballot initiative process. Additionally, lawmakers will tackle issues stemming from the 2021 Surfside condo collapse that have impacted homeowner assessments and condo sales. Key bills include reforms on ballot initiatives and education access.

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SUMMARY: Pete Hegseth was confirmed as the Pentagon’s leader in a Senate vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, after a meeting with Hegseth, supported his nomination, despite initial doubts, alongside Sens. Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, and Lisa Murkowski who broke ranks with party lines. Tillis praised Hegseth’s military experience and commitment to modernizing the armed forces. All Democrats and two independents voted against the nomination. Following the vote, President Trump expressed satisfaction with the confirmation, and Hegseth pledged to prioritize American interests and military strength in his new role.

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SUMMARY: Federal recognition for North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe has received support from President Donald Trump and some congressional members, but faces skepticism from others, particularly the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Chief Michell Hicks emphasized a need for rigorous historical evidence to substantiate the Lumbee’s claims, warning that tribal sovereignty must be preserved. The Lumbee Fairness Act, which seeks to grant full federal recognition, has bipartisan support but also faces opposition. The Lumbees, the largest tribe east of the Mississippi, have awaited full recognition since being acknowledged by the state in 1885 and Congress in 1956, though without associated benefits.

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