In today's edition, we launch some exciting new projects, lobbying pays off for payday lenders during the Trump administration, the NIH opens up more publicly funded research, big tech companies work to circumvent FOIA, and more. 

In today's edition, we explore the state of open data and journalism, some high profile retirements are announced in the House, the CDC director steps down, we help Madison, Wisconsin understand its open data users, Ghana inches closer to passing a Right to Information law, and more. 

In today's edition, we reflect on the state of the State of the Union speech in 2018, the FEC has a draft online ad disclosure rule, California takes a step towards passing its own net neutrality law, how a trove of secret government documents ended up in an Australian second-hand shop, and more. 

In today's edition, we explore a new report on trust in the media, President Trump prepares for his first State of the Union address tonight, we make the case for transparency around a leaked Brexit analysis, Seattle shares privacy tips, and more.

In today's edition, the revolving door spins smoothly for the pharmaceutical industry,  Russian bots love President Trump's Twitter, whistleblowers and journalists are under threat in Australia, Bellevue, Washington becomes a high tech hub, and more. 

In today's edition, President Trump reportedly tried to fire Robert Mueller last year, hedge funds have Washington wired, John Wonderlich weighs on the transparency and open government leadership by cities across the country, and more. 

In today's edition, we ask 24 federal agencies about their plans for open government and aren't impressed by the answers, the GAO agrees to probe fake comments to the FCC, the UK government forms a unit to fight fake news, Boston loses its CIO, and more. 

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.