Julie O'Donoghue
@jsodonoghue.bsky.social
Senior writer at Louisiana Illuminator. I previously worked at The Times-Picayune, St. Louis Public Radio, The Connection Newspapers and The Northwest Current. Macalester College and Northwestern University alum.
I have no doubt that Gov. Landry visited FEMA while he was in DC ... But he planned the trip to attend Washington Mardi Gras, a multi-day party sponsored by lobbyists and Louisiana industries who rely on government support that's jammed with political fundraisers.
January 31, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I have no doubt that Gov. Landry visited FEMA while he was in DC ... But he planned the trip to attend Washington Mardi Gras, a multi-day party sponsored by lobbyists and Louisiana industries who rely on government support that's jammed with political fundraisers.
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
NEW: The Trump admin. has denied Alaska's request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts for the first 3 months following the devastating Western Alaska storms, though Gov. Dunleavy claimed it was promised last fall.
The state has filed an appeal.
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/30/t...
The state has filed an appeal.
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/30/t...
Trump administration denies full disaster funding for Western Alaska storms, state files appeal | Alaska Beacon
The Trump administration has denied Alaska’s request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts for the Western Alaska storms.
alaskabeacon.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:17 AM
NEW: The Trump admin. has denied Alaska's request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts for the first 3 months following the devastating Western Alaska storms, though Gov. Dunleavy claimed it was promised last fall.
The state has filed an appeal.
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/30/t...
The state has filed an appeal.
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/30/t...
The Washington Post goes looking for Greenlanders, Danes, members of Congress who are leaders on US foreign affairs who have heard from Gov. Jeff Landry about Greenland. They say he hasn't reached out. #lalege
www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
Jeff Landry is Trump’s envoy to Greenland. He wants to celebrate gumbo.
The Louisiana governor has picked up a second job. What, exactly, is he doing?
www.washingtonpost.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:02 AM
The Washington Post goes looking for Greenlanders, Danes, members of Congress who are leaders on US foreign affairs who have heard from Gov. Jeff Landry about Greenland. They say he hasn't reached out. #lalege
www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
Gov. Jeff Landry says he is still going to Greenland but there are no dates for travel yet. He was very publicly disinvited (or never invited to begin with?) to a dogsledding event there. #lalege
www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2...
www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2...
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry remains on call as Greenland envoy
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he spoke to President Trump as recently as January 24 about his role as a special envoy to Greenland.
www.shreveporttimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Gov. Jeff Landry says he is still going to Greenland but there are no dates for travel yet. He was very publicly disinvited (or never invited to begin with?) to a dogsledding event there. #lalege
www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2...
www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
PRISON SPENDING: Two years after Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers voted to lengthen dozens of prison sentences for criminal convictions, the governor’s staff says state incarceration expenses are surging. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports
Louisiana prison costs surge two years after Landry, lawmakers vote to lengthen criminal sentences • Louisiana Illuminator
Two years after Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers voted to lengthen dozens of prison sentences for criminal convictions, the governor’s staff says state incarceration expenses are surging.
lailluminator.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
PRISON SPENDING: Two years after Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers voted to lengthen dozens of prison sentences for criminal convictions, the governor’s staff says state incarceration expenses are surging. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports
Two years after @LAGovJeffLandry, lawmakers passed tough-on-crime bills to lengthen prison sentences, prison costs are surging.
Landry's budget proposal includes $82m more for corrections and plans to add 680 more inmates at Angola. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/27/l...
Landry's budget proposal includes $82m more for corrections and plans to add 680 more inmates at Angola. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/27/l...
Louisiana prison costs surge two years after Landry, lawmakers vote to lengthen criminal sentences • Louisiana Illuminator
Two years after Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers voted to lengthen dozens of prison sentences for criminal convictions, the governor’s staff says state incarceration expenses are surging.
lailluminator.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Two years after @LAGovJeffLandry, lawmakers passed tough-on-crime bills to lengthen prison sentences, prison costs are surging.
Landry's budget proposal includes $82m more for corrections and plans to add 680 more inmates at Angola. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/27/l...
Landry's budget proposal includes $82m more for corrections and plans to add 680 more inmates at Angola. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/27/l...
A mainstream American newspaper is putting out a guide to "control munitions" — tear gas, pepper spray and the like - so the public can be informed about what type they might exposed to...
Here's how to identify some crowd control munitions, canisters of which federal agents have left on the ground after deploying them against people in Minnesota. bit.ly/3YWp1jE
Graphic by Mark Boswell/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Graphic by Mark Boswell/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 26, 2026 at 11:48 PM
A mainstream American newspaper is putting out a guide to "control munitions" — tear gas, pepper spray and the like - so the public can be informed about what type they might exposed to...
Though notably, Gov. Jeff Landry mentioned that he is going to be asking for federal assistance/relief for the ice storm, which would go through Noem. There's a world in which he is trying to play it safe by not making a statement on immigration while asking for help.
I think this response (or lack of one) from Gov. Jeff Landry on the immigration policies could be a sign of how nervous Republicans are. Gov. Landry has never been shy about expressing his support for Trump, Secretary Noem or tough immigration enforcement before.
At a press conference about the freezing temperatures/bad weather, Gov. Jeff Landry declined to answer two media questions about immigration. One about the status of Catahoula Crunch. A second about whether he agrees with the National Gov. Association's "reset" immigration statement. See below.
January 26, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Though notably, Gov. Jeff Landry mentioned that he is going to be asking for federal assistance/relief for the ice storm, which would go through Noem. There's a world in which he is trying to play it safe by not making a statement on immigration while asking for help.
I think this response (or lack of one) from Gov. Jeff Landry on the immigration policies could be a sign of how nervous Republicans are. Gov. Landry has never been shy about expressing his support for Trump, Secretary Noem or tough immigration enforcement before.
At a press conference about the freezing temperatures/bad weather, Gov. Jeff Landry declined to answer two media questions about immigration. One about the status of Catahoula Crunch. A second about whether he agrees with the National Gov. Association's "reset" immigration statement. See below.
January 26, 2026 at 10:37 PM
I think this response (or lack of one) from Gov. Jeff Landry on the immigration policies could be a sign of how nervous Republicans are. Gov. Landry has never been shy about expressing his support for Trump, Secretary Noem or tough immigration enforcement before.
At a press conference about the freezing temperatures/bad weather, Gov. Jeff Landry declined to answer two media questions about immigration. One about the status of Catahoula Crunch. A second about whether he agrees with the National Gov. Association's "reset" immigration statement. See below.
January 26, 2026 at 8:56 PM
At a press conference about the freezing temperatures/bad weather, Gov. Jeff Landry declined to answer two media questions about immigration. One about the status of Catahoula Crunch. A second about whether he agrees with the National Gov. Association's "reset" immigration statement. See below.
I don't know if this is helpful but I've covered many political protests in my life where many protesters were carrying guns. There are certain gun rights groups in Virginia that stage political demonstrations where everyone in the crowd has a gun.
January 25, 2026 at 5:28 PM
I don't know if this is helpful but I've covered many political protests in my life where many protesters were carrying guns. There are certain gun rights groups in Virginia that stage political demonstrations where everyone in the crowd has a gun.
Well this statement got my attention.
January 25, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Well this statement got my attention.
Gov. Jeff Landry is once again pushing to expand Louisiana's publicly-funded private school voucher program (LA GATOR) — this time with an additional $44.2m.
Legislative leaders still have doubts about expanding vouchers. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2026/01/23/l...
Legislative leaders still have doubts about expanding vouchers. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2026/01/23/l...
Landry pushes again to expand Louisiana’s private education vouchers, though lawmakers have doubts • Louisiana Illuminator
For the second year in a row, Gov. Jeff Landry is asking Louisiana lawmakers to double state funding for vouchers that pay for students’ private education expenses. The request has put him at odds wit...
lailluminator.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Gov. Jeff Landry is once again pushing to expand Louisiana's publicly-funded private school voucher program (LA GATOR) — this time with an additional $44.2m.
Legislative leaders still have doubts about expanding vouchers. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2026/01/23/l...
Legislative leaders still have doubts about expanding vouchers. #lalege #lagov
lailluminator.com/2026/01/23/l...
.@LAGovJeffLandry compared Trump's aggressive immigration policy to disciplining children yesterday.
That's the same day that one of the lead news stories in the country was about ICE agents taking a 5 year-old child into custody in Minnesota.
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
That's the same day that one of the lead news stories in the country was about ICE agents taking a 5 year-old child into custody in Minnesota.
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
Landry tells Hispanic Chamber his immigration policies will boost Louisiana economy
Gov. Jeff Landry said his efforts to stem illegal immigration and improve public safety have ensured economic prosperity for the state in a keynote speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisi...
www.theadvocate.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:18 PM
.@LAGovJeffLandry compared Trump's aggressive immigration policy to disciplining children yesterday.
That's the same day that one of the lead news stories in the country was about ICE agents taking a 5 year-old child into custody in Minnesota.
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
That's the same day that one of the lead news stories in the country was about ICE agents taking a 5 year-old child into custody in Minnesota.
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
UPDATE: If your Medicaid coverage in Louisiana is through UnitedHealthcare, you have until Feb. 15 to switch plans — or the state will do it for you. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2026/01/22/u...
Louisiana starts to wind down UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid contract covering 330,000 people • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Department of Health opened up a special, monthlong re-enrollment period Jan. 15 for all Medicaid recipients with UnitedHealthcare plans.
lailluminator.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
UPDATE: If your Medicaid coverage in Louisiana is through UnitedHealthcare, you have until Feb. 15 to switch plans — or the state will do it for you. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/2026/01/22/u...
Louisiana's 10 commandments for public schools law in back in court today. Story from @patrick-wall.bsky.social
#lalege
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
#lalege
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is back in court today. Here’s what to know.
A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments Tuesday over Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments — the contested law’s third time in court and likely its last stop b...
www.theadvocate.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Louisiana's 10 commandments for public schools law in back in court today. Story from @patrick-wall.bsky.social
#lalege
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
#lalege
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
I talked to foreign policy experts (and a few people in Louisiana) to see what it would mean for a sitting governor to serve as a special envoy.
One interesting question was whether Landry would receive federal staff? Many envoys do. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
One interesting question was whether Landry would receive federal staff? Many envoys do. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
Jeff Landry now has two roles: Governor and Greenland envoy. It’s unclear how he will manage both. • Louisiana Illuminator
Most of Jeff Landry’s predecessors as Louisiana governor never saw the need for a side hustle. But recently, Landry picked up a second role as special envoy to Greenland.
lailluminator.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I talked to foreign policy experts (and a few people in Louisiana) to see what it would mean for a sitting governor to serve as a special envoy.
One interesting question was whether Landry would receive federal staff? Many envoys do. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
One interesting question was whether Landry would receive federal staff? Many envoys do. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
Louisiana's Republican State Central Committee debated whether to censure Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser for expressing concern about the immigration crackdown in New Orleans. Ultimately, the committee decided not to take that action.
lailluminator.com/2026/01/17/l...
lailluminator.com/2026/01/17/l...
Louisiana GOP votes to endorse Trump’s immigration policies • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Republican Party voted overwhelmingly Saturday to officially endorse President Donald Trump’s aggressive and controversial immigration enforcement efforts
lailluminator.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Louisiana's Republican State Central Committee debated whether to censure Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser for expressing concern about the immigration crackdown in New Orleans. Ultimately, the committee decided not to take that action.
lailluminator.com/2026/01/17/l...
lailluminator.com/2026/01/17/l...
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to create opportunities for Louisiana in Greenland while envoy. His splans alarmed foreign policy experts.
“It could get messy if ... any company that has an office ... in Louisiana that would benefit from mining, refining or shipping."
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
“It could get messy if ... any company that has an office ... in Louisiana that would benefit from mining, refining or shipping."
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
Jeff Landry now has two roles: Governor and Greenland envoy. It’s unclear how he will manage both. • Louisiana Illuminator
Most of Jeff Landry’s predecessors as Louisiana governor never saw the need for a side hustle. But recently, Landry picked up a second role as special envoy to Greenland.
lailluminator.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to create opportunities for Louisiana in Greenland while envoy. His splans alarmed foreign policy experts.
“It could get messy if ... any company that has an office ... in Louisiana that would benefit from mining, refining or shipping."
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
“It could get messy if ... any company that has an office ... in Louisiana that would benefit from mining, refining or shipping."
lailluminator.com/2026/01/18/j...
Reposted by Julie O'Donoghue
ROYALTY RIGHTS: A Jefferson Parish judge who has been chosen king of a Carnival krewe can spend his campaign money to purchase merchandise for his role, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/c...
Ethics board says judge can spend campaign money on his role as Mardi Gras krewe king • Louisiana Illuminator
The judge, who is up for reelection this year, had sought an advisory opinion from the confirming that his Mardi Gras expenses could be covered with campaign money.
lailluminator.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:16 PM
ROYALTY RIGHTS: A Jefferson Parish judge who has been chosen king of a Carnival krewe can spend his campaign money to purchase merchandise for his role, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. @jsodonoghue.bsky.social reports. lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/c...
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to overhaul the duties and responsibilities of the state inspector general. He has already replaced the longstanding IG with a new appointee.
This is the 2nd anti-corruption agency that Landry has sought to change. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/g...
This is the 2nd anti-corruption agency that Landry has sought to change. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/g...
Gov. Landry replaces state government watchdog, will pursue changes to duties • Louisiana Illuminator
Gov. Jeff Landry said he intends to change the role of the state Office of the Inspector General, an agency that acts as a watchdog over public officials and is tasked with rooting out government corr...
lailluminator.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to overhaul the duties and responsibilities of the state inspector general. He has already replaced the longstanding IG with a new appointee.
This is the 2nd anti-corruption agency that Landry has sought to change. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/g...
This is the 2nd anti-corruption agency that Landry has sought to change. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/01/15/g...
Private citizens are required to provide an address when they make political donations. All that info is available in an online campaign finance database.
But next month, hundreds of public officials will be able to ask for their addresses removed from the database. #lalege
But next month, hundreds of public officials will be able to ask for their addresses removed from the database. #lalege
The Louisiana ethics board may seek a reversal to a new law that will allow hundreds public officials to remove information like their home address from campaign finance reports, government travel forms and financial disclosures posted online.
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
Louisiana ethics board might seek exemption to new privacy law for elected officials • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Board of Ethics might seek an exemption from a new privacy law that allows current and retired judges — and soon hundreds of other public officials — to remove their personal information...
lailluminator.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Private citizens are required to provide an address when they make political donations. All that info is available in an online campaign finance database.
But next month, hundreds of public officials will be able to ask for their addresses removed from the database. #lalege
But next month, hundreds of public officials will be able to ask for their addresses removed from the database. #lalege
The Louisiana ethics board may seek a reversal to a new law that will allow hundreds public officials to remove information like their home address from campaign finance reports, government travel forms and financial disclosures posted online.
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
Louisiana ethics board might seek exemption to new privacy law for elected officials • Louisiana Illuminator
The Louisiana Board of Ethics might seek an exemption from a new privacy law that allows current and retired judges — and soon hundreds of other public officials — to remove their personal information...
lailluminator.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:12 PM
The Louisiana ethics board may seek a reversal to a new law that will allow hundreds public officials to remove information like their home address from campaign finance reports, government travel forms and financial disclosures posted online.
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
lailluminator.com/2026/01/13/l...
Furniture distributors say a state senator, who also owns a furniture business, is using his position to get furniture contracts with local hospital districts and governments. Sen. McMath says he's done nothing wrong. Story from
@wwltv.bsky.social
www.wwltv.com/article/news...
@wwltv.bsky.social
www.wwltv.com/article/news...
Senator with furniture business accused of exploiting ethics loophole; records show no laws were broken
Competitors claim they've lost major government and hospital contracts to a company owned by state Sen. Patrick McMath (R-Covington).
www.wwltv.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Furniture distributors say a state senator, who also owns a furniture business, is using his position to get furniture contracts with local hospital districts and governments. Sen. McMath says he's done nothing wrong. Story from
@wwltv.bsky.social
www.wwltv.com/article/news...
@wwltv.bsky.social
www.wwltv.com/article/news...