Sunlight Foundation

In today's edition, the Wisconsin Senate disapproves of the State's ethics and elections leaders, MuckRock explains why it's not worth trying to FOIA the White House and where your efforts would be better directed, tech giants make 2017 a big year for lobbying, bad news for a Russian opposition leader, and more. 

In today's edition, the federal government reopens, Facebook starts to face the facts, Ryan Zinke fails to disclose, varied interests boost their lobbying investment, we launch our crowdlaw guide, and more. 

As of Monday morning, the U.S. federal government is officially shut down. The Senate has a vote scheduled for 12 PM EST, but it is still unclear if there is a deal in place to fund the government.  Despite the closed government in Washington, it was a busy weekend for open government news. Read on for all the latest, including an attempt to undermine Congress' independent ethics office, a look at how President Trump handles his political money, renewed anti-corruption protests in Romania, and more.

In today's edition, Washington inches closer to a government shutdown, several Trump administration figures face conflict questions, Idaho lawmakers opt out of disclosing their finances, attempts to remove a key anti-corruption official face backlash in Portugal, and more.

In today's edition, President Trump announces his "fake news" awards, there were more FOIA lawsuits in 2017, the House makes moves on foreign lobbying reform, What Works Cities reaches a milestone, world press freedom is ranked, and much more. 

Quote of the day: “Only truth and transparency can guarantee freedom.” - Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Read on for the rest of the days open government news including, piloting our ideas around tactical data engagement, a subpoena for Stephen Bannon, a meeting of the FOIA Advisory Committee, and more. 

In today's edition, CREW looks back at the very unethical first year of the Trump administration, we check in on President Trump's continued aversion to filling key posts, a couple members of Congress could be in trouble, a campaign spending complaint is dismissed in the UK, and more. 

Sunlight is closed on this federal holiday, as our staff spend the day of reflection, service, recreation, and time with family and friends, but we are open to what celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. can teach us about our work and nation. In today's newsletter, we share ways to learn more about King and how the long moral arc of the universe is bending today.

In today's edition, President Trump plays host, the House votes on surveillance legislation, Missouri's governor gets caught in a scandal, Brazil looks to target fake news, and more. 

In today's edition, a reminder that the developers of "smart cities" shouldn't make the consent of the governed an afterthought, more progress on legislative transparency in Virginia, confirming widespread removal of climate change from federal websites, a report that the Trump Organization quietly cashes in some investments, automating Washington, and much more. Please send us your tips, news, analysis, new data releases, and events at todayinopengov@sunlightfoundation.com.