Some personal news—I’m now D.C. Correspondent for The Nevada Independent! As always, I aim to tell unique stories about how policy and politics affect regular people, to write human profiles about those in power, and to break news. Press lists/tips/coffee: mracker@thenvindy.com

The Trump administration is suing Nevada over state election officials’ refusal to share voters’ driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers. Nevada’s Dem secretary of state said the request was an effort “to intimidate us.” Read more here:

Good luck Nevada. https://t.co/FmAG0utebH

I'd love if you'd subscribe to Indy Elections: https://t.co/FT5o960oUM We work hard to get exclusives and do unique data analysis to make it your guide to Nevada politics. If you write to us, we'll work to cover what most interests you. And we'll be ramping up in the new year!

.@DrJeffGunter, former ambassador to Iceland and 2024 Senate candidate, announced today he is running for #NV03. In a release this morning, he promises to "give President Trump the backup he needs in D.C."

“The whole point of what the Republicans are trying to do here is allow their national party committees to bankroll their campaigns," Rachel Jacobs, general counsel for the @dccc, told me. A data deep dive on how SCOTUS could shape Nevada elections: https://t.co/W3KWEo5kA6

This @MiniRacker piece in NVIndy gets at the heart of why the campaign finance case in front of SCOTUS is so important to GOP Congressional candidates. In last 2 cycles, NV Dem SEN candidates vastly outraised the R candidates, even as outside spending is roughly even. BUT. 1/

Newly released data shows the ICE field office overseeing Nevada has never met the Trump administration’s goal of 75 daily immigration arrests. But arrests are still on the rise. @eric_neugeboren and @bella_tweetss report:

.@SenCortezMasto today introduced a bill that would eliminate several OBBBA provisions that apply to unaccompanied children who cross the border: numerous fees (including for immigration court), body screenings for gang tattoos, and funding to remove them without thorough review.

The story of how the tree got here: https://t.co/TKo4qwEghy

https://t.co/cY9IBXd07S

9-year old Grady Armstrong won the essay contest to light the tree. “Nevada’s not just a desert, it’s full of life, history and beauty,” he said, earning a standing ovation from the delegation. Johnson says he’s got a future as a Hill speechwriter.

Nothing brings the Nevada delegation together like Silver Belle, the state’s first Capitol Christmas tree. The whole gang is here for the lighting ceremony, along with LG Stavros Anthony, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Speaker Mike Johnson.

She also asks him for an update out of Secretary Turner and Secretary Burgum's meeting in Southern Nevada on identifying federal land that could be used for affordable housing. He says BLM and HUD have identified areas adjacent to populations of 5,000+.

Cortez Masto asks Raby if the Clark County bill mandates the sale of 25,000 acres of land. He confirms that it does not.

Raby also says "candidly, the agency does not have very good safeguards" to keep non-U.S. citizens or malicious actors from giving public comment on lands. He supports Barrasso's bill, which would try to deter AI involvement.

Jon Raby, state director for the BLM in Nevada, says in the hearing that the administration supports Cortez Masto's wildfire bill and both the Nevada lands bills.

It has support from the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, the Nevada Housing Coalition, the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, and the Conservation Lands Foundation.

The Sierra Club opposes the bill as written. "After a summer of robust opposition from the public to privatization of public lands, this bill is a slap in the face,” wrote @OliviaTanager, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Director, in a press release today.

.@SenCortezMasto's Clark County lands bill is being heard this afternoon in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources hearing that just began. Her Western Wildfire Support Act and @SenJackyRosen's Pershing County lands bill are on the agenda, too.