Search by Topic
- 118th Congress
- 119th Congress
- 2024 Election
- ARPA-H
- Agriculture
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Biden Administration
- Budget
- Budget & Appropriations
- CCUS
- COVID-19
- Climate
- Commerce Department
- Court of International Trade
- Drug Pricing
- EPA
- Economy
- Energy
- Environment
- FDA
- Farm Bill
- Food
- Government Shutdown
- HHS
- Health
- Hurricane
- ITC
- Immigration
- International Trade Commission
- Israel
- Labor
- MAHA
- Maritime
- Medicare
- Nutrition
- Oil & Gas
- PFAS & PFOA
- Permitting Reform
- Pharma
- Plastics
- Ports
- SEC
- Section 232
- Section 301
- Senate
- Small Business
- Supply Chains
- Supreme Court
- Tariffs
- Tax
Oil Surges as Iran Conflict Continues
U.S. crude prices jumped above $80 per barrel as the escalating conflict involving Iran disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for global energy trade that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. Tanker traffic through the strait has largely halted following attacks and threats from Iran, including reports from Iranian state media that a missile struck an oil tanker and a British Navy report of a major explosion involving another vessel near Iraq.
Trump Unveils Data Center Energy Plan in State of the Union
President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to strongly defend his economic record, while Trump touched on retirement savings incentives, congressional stock trading bans, immigration restrictions, tariffs, and foreign policy flashpoints, including warnings to Iran and comments on Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro; the data center and energy provisions stood out as among the most forward-looking and economically significant elements of the speech. President Trump framed the issue as both an economic and an infrastructure crisis, arguing that the explosion of AI-driven data centers is straining the nation’s aging electric grid and driving up household utility costs.
New Farm Bill Proposed, The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
The House Agriculture Committee has unveiled a long-delayed effort to reauthorize the nation’s sweeping farm and food policy law.
U.S. – Canada Trade Dispute and Domestic Backlash
Relations between the United States and Canada are under significant strain as a sweeping trade dispute centered on tariffs, infrastructure leverage, and broader geopolitical alignments intensifies. At the same time, Trump’s broad tariff regime targeting Canadian steel, aluminum, and other imports has provoked retaliation from Canadian authorities, disrupted deeply integrated supply chains, and fueled political backlash within the United States over rising costs and trade policy direction.
Senate Finance Democrats Focus on Drug Pricing Ahead of Midterms
On February 4, 2026, Senate Finance Democrats put a spotlight on rising drug costs ahead of the midterms, pushing reforms aimed at lowering prescription prices and increasing transparency, while President Trump prepared to launch a new website, TrumpRx, allowing Americans to buy medicines directly from manufacturers at discounted rates.
Constitution Partners Welcomes Federal & State Veteran Advisor Christina Gungoll Lepore As New Partner
Constitution Partners is pleased to welcome experienced state and federal advisor Christina Gungoll Lepore as a Partner, further bolstering the firm’s position as a trusted advisor to energy, critical mineral, food and technology companies and strengthening state relationships.
The DHS Funding Fight
On January 31, 2026, the U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation ahead of the fiscal year deadline...not because lawmakers couldn’t agree on overall spending, but because of a bitter dispute over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Europe’s Davos Reality Check
This week marked the World Economic Forum’s 56th Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The gathering brought together global leaders, industry executives, and a bipartisan delegation of U.S. governors and lawmakers. Among the many geopolitical issues on the agenda, President Trump’s continued threats to take over Greenland stole the spotlight.
White House Releases "The Great Healthcare Plan" Amid Tense Affordable Healthcare Act Negotiations
On January 15, 2026, the White House rolled out President Donald Trump’s “Great Healthcare Plan,” framing it as a cost-cutting package that would lower drug prices, reduce insurance premiums, and force more transparency from insurers and providers.
A Show of Force in the Western Hemisphere: Reactions from the American Political System and Impact on our Energy Sector
The dramatic events of January 2026 have fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere. With the execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve," the United States has transitioned from a policy of diplomatic pressure and sanctions to direct military intervention in Venezuela.
2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes the importance of 'eating the right amount for you' and prioritizing whole, minimally processed foods to support overall health and nutrient intake.
SPEED Act Advances to Senate Following Contentious House Debate
The SPEED Act passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 221-196 and is now pending in the Senate. Passage followed a contentious debate on Tuesday, during which an anti-wind amendment was added to the final bill.
Healthcare Policy Update: End-of-Year Outlook on ACA Subsidies and 2026 Coverage Landscape
As Congress prepares to adjourn for the holidays, end-of-year negotiations over Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies have stalled, making a lapse on January 1, 2026 increasingly likely. Despite a flurry of bipartisan activity in both chambers, lawmakers now concede that no legislative fix will be enacted before the credits expire, setting up a politically consequential start to the new year for millions of Americans who rely on the subsidies for affordable coverage. Below is Constitution Partner’s assessment of where things stand, and what to expect in 2026.
Congress Faces Year-End Crunch as ACA Subsidies Poised to Expire
Thursday afternoon, the Senate rejected two competing measures aimed at addressing the impending expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, making a Jan 1 increase in premiums ever more likely. Four Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski, and Josh Hawley, joined Democrats in supporting a three-year extension to the program, but fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed. The Republican plan to partially replace the lapsed subsidies with federally funded tax-advantaged health savings account also failed on a 51 to 48 vote.
White House Eyes Thanksgiving Deadline for Ukraine Peace Proposal
The White House is asking Ukraine to accept a new 28-point peace proposal by next week or risk losing U.S. support in its war with Russia. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll delivered the plan in Kyiv on Thursday to President Zelensky.
The proposal, drafted by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in coordination with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, was leaked to the media Friday morning. The plan was drafted without Ukrainian or other European involvement, and outlines sweeping concessions in exchange for “reliable security guarantees” from the United States.
Record Shutdown Ends
Last night, the historic 43-day government shutdown finally ended. The final tally was 222 to 209. The House passed legislation that reopens the federal government and funds several agencies but excludes an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. The bill also reinstates federal workers laid off during the shutdown, guarantees back pay for furloughed employees, and prevents further layoffs through the holiday season.
White House Freezes Canada Talks, Launches China Trade Investigation
On Friday, President Trump announced he is terminating U.S.–Canada trade negotiations, citing an Ontario government television ad that uses excerpts from a 1987 Ronald Reagan radio address to argue that tariffs harm American workers; the Reagan Foundation criticized the ad’s use of Reagan’s remarks and said it was not authorized.
Senate Advances Defense Policy Bill After Weeks-Long Stalemate
Last Thursday, the Senate approved its version of the annual defense policy bill (S.2296) in a 77-20 vote. The measure authorizes $925.8 billion in national defense spending, $32.1 billion above the levels requested by the Trump administration. The vote ends a nearly month-long impasse over the amendment process that had stalled the bill since early September.
Negotiations Continue, Agencies Release Shutdown Directives, and the Executive Branch Retaliates
The federal government officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, October 1, following the Senate’s failure to pass the House-approved continuing resolution (CR) [217 - 212]. The House remains in recess, leaving the Senate as the only chamber currently in session and capable of taking action to reopen the government.
Trade Pressures and Policy Shifts: Insights from Business Leaders Across Sectors
It has been an eventful week in the world of tariffs and trade. From President Trump’s discussion of providing tariff revenue to farmers, the formalization of the US-EU tariff agreement to new tariffs placed on pharmaceuticals, trucks, and cabinets, this week has seen meaningful developments in the administration’s trade policy.
This week, we’ve compiled recent pieces that highlight the perspectives of industry leaders and their outlook on today’s rapidly changing economic landscape.