DC BUREAU

Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.

STAFF

Jane Norman

DC Bureau Chief

Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories.

Jacob Fischler

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.

Ashley Murray

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Jennifer Shutt

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Ariana Figueroa

DC Bureau Reporter

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

STORIES

Tougher ethics rules for U.S. Supreme Court justices advocated in Senate hearing

BY: - June 15, 2023

The series of Senate hearings came after recent revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas’ luxury travel and real estate transactions with a GOP donor.

D.C. spending standoff ahead as U.S. House Republicans demand $130 billion in cuts 

BY: - June 15, 2023

The GOP produced a budget plan Wednesday with significantly lower spending than the level both parties agreed to in the debt limit deal just two weeks ago.

Democrats in Congress renew push to protect access to birth control

BY: - June 14, 2023

A new bill would ensure people have the right to use contraception and that health care providers have a right to share information about contraception as well as provide it.

Trump pleads not guilty in federal documents case, heads back out on campaign trail

BY: - June 13, 2023

Trump, the first former president charged with a federal crime, remains the leading contender for the Republican nomination for president in 2024

Questions and answers about Trump’s indictment on federal criminal charges 

BY: - June 9, 2023

It’s the second indictment this year for the former president, who is also facing state business records fraud charges in New York.

The indictment is unsealed: Trump faces 37 felony counts in classified documents probe

BY: - June 9, 2023

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday unsealed the 37-count indictment against former President Donald Trump, who prosecutors accuse of “willful retention” of classified records.

On a record day in D.C. for smoke pollution, U.S. Senate panel debates wildfire strategy

BY: - June 9, 2023

Washington state Democrat Sen. Maria Cantwell said “America is waking up — at least on the East Coast — to this problem.”

White House to name coordinator to push back against book bans, among new LGBTQ protections 

BY: - June 8, 2023

There has been an unprecedented wave of book bans spurred by parents and conservative groups to target books that center the LGBTQ+ community, Black history and diverse stories.

Statue of renowned author Willa Cather unveiled in U.S. Capitol

BY: - June 8, 2023

Cather wrote the widely acclaimed “O Pioneers!,” “My Ántonia” and the Pulitzer-winning “One of Ours,” depicting the human experience in Nebraska and beyond in the years surrounding the turn of the 20th century.

Lawmakers zero in on AI, insulin costs, pandemic prep in D.C. policy discussion

BY: - June 8, 2023

Nearly a dozen members of Congress on Wednesday outlined their work on policy during an annual legislative session focused on fostering bipartisanship.

Hate groups’ political influence growing, watchdog says

BY: - June 6, 2023

The report attributes some trends to “growing GOP extremism,” citing comments Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Senate sends Biden debt limit legislation ahead of Monday default deadline

BY: - June 2, 2023

Senators said during debate the legislation was far from perfect, though many opted to support it despite their reservations over some of its provisions.