Tuesday, March 18, 2025
All civic learning topics for this day
Today's Topics
Justice Department drops cases against Fortenberry, Ogles, and Eric Adams
DOJ under Bondi dropped investigations against Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and Rep. Andy Ogles, dismissed NYC Mayor Eric Adams corruption case, and withdrew from other Trump ally prosecutions while career prosecutors report pressure to apply different legal standards based on defendants' political connections to the president.
Republican states ban ranked choice voting in coordinated attack on democracy
By April 2025, Republican-controlled states banned ranked choice voting in 17 states—including Wyoming, West Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, and North Dakota—eliminating electoral systems that allow voters to rank candidates by preference and often break two-party monopolies.
HSI coordinates Massachusetts raids under 8 USC 1324 authority
ICE, FBI, and DEA arrested 370 people March 18-23, 2025, in Boston-area worksite raids targeting warehouses and restaurants, seizing 44 kilograms of methamphetamines and 5 kilograms of fentanyl while 205 arrestees faced "significant criminal convictions" disrupting essential workforce sectors.
USDA proposes 30% SNAP reduction through regulatory changes
White House proposed deepest food stamp cuts in program history on March 18, 2025, slashing SNAP benefits by 30%. Ten million households risk benefit loss while state budgets face emergency aid gaps as rural districts split with GOP leadership.