West
Trump Cabinet alum Ryan Zinke joins mass exodus of lawmakers leaving Congress
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Another House Republican has announced he is retiring from Congress at the end of this year, adding to the mass exodus of lawmakers heading for the exit halfway through President Donald Trump’s second term.
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who won his seat in Montana’s 1st congressional district in November 2022, served as Secretary of the Interior during Trump’s first White House stint.
He served as Montana’s only member of the House from 2015 to 2017 before redistricting added a second seat to its delegation.
Zinke is the 35th House Republican elected in 2024 not running for another term in the 2026 midterms. Another House GOP lawmaker re-elected in 2024, the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died in office earlier this year.
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., arrives to a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, May 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
On the Democratic side, 23 House lawmakers are not running for re-election.
Many of those members are running for another office. But some, including those who left before the end of their terms, like former Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Mark Green, R-Tenn., have not made any further public plans in politics.
Zinke had a decades-long career in the U.S. Navy before coming to Congress, achieving the rank of commander before retiring in 2008.
FLORIDA REPUBLICAN REP NEAL DUNN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS AFTER FIVE TERMS
He cited medical reasons for his decision not to run again in November, according to a letter shared on X.
Zinke cited medical reasons for his decision to retire. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
“While my belief in term limits for elected office is a consideration, I have quietly undergone multiple surgeries since I returned to Congress and unfortunately face several more immediately after leaving office,” Zinke said in his statement.
“The injuries sustained from a career in Special Operations are not immediately life-threatening, but the repair cannot be deferred any longer and recovery will require considerable time with my wife Lola and my family. My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes.”
He said serving Montana in his various military and political roles has been the “highest honor.”
JOHNSON WARNS HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO ‘STAY HEALTHY’ AS GOP MAJORITY SHRINKS TO THE EDGE
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk out of the White House to travel to the U.S. Capitol where he delivered the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)
Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., also confirmed Zinke’s retirement in his own statement shared with media.
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“For over 30 years, Commander Zinke has served his country with integrity, responsibility, and honor,” Downing said. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside Ryan while fighting for Montanans in Washington—from protecting our public lands to supporting our farmers and ranchers.”
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Zinke’s seat R+5, meaning it’s likely to stay in Republican hands but within striking distance for Democrats hoping to flip the district this year.
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco’s free, discounted childcare program adds over 700 new spots
California childcare providers struggle to stay alive
Hundreds of Bay Area child care providers closed their doors in 2020, as many parents worked from home and watched their children on their own. According to the Century Foundation, more than 70,000 childcare programs nationwide are projected to close. This is partly due to the expiration of the federal COVID-19 pandemic support program that kept many centers open.
SAN FRANCISCO – More San Francisco families will soon have access to free or discounted childcare thanks to an expansion of a city program announced Thursday by Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Who’s eligible for free or discounted childcare in San Francisco?
Dig deeper:
Under the mayor’s expansion of the city’s Family Opportunity Agenda, nearly 750 more children will have access to free or discounted care. To be eligible for free childcare, families must earn less than 150% of the city’s annual median income, $230,000. Families who earn under 200% of the median income – $310,000 – will receive a 50% subsidy for childcare.
The program expansion will offer more than 700 childcare spots, with a focus on infants and toddlers in the Sunset, Parkside, Richmond, Mission, Bayview, Portola, Mission Bay, Excelsior, Glen Park, and SoMa neighborhoods, the mayor’s office said.
“The new slots will expand the city’s early childhood system for infants and toddlers by more than 8%—broadening access to affordable, high-quality childcare for working families,” the city said, in part, in a statement Thursday.
What is San Francisco’s Family Opportunity Agenda?
Big picture view:
The mayor’s Family Opportunity Agenda was launched in January to make housing, childcare, education and more necessary resources affordable for San Francisco residents.
“When families have access to quality, affordable childcare, they can stay and build a life in San Francisco,” Lurie said. “For children, it supports their academic and emotional growth long before kindergarten. And for our entire city, it strengthens our future—helping families stay and keeping our communities strong.”
For more information on the city’s childcare program, click here.
How much does childcare cost?
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, full-time childcare for pre-school-age children can cost anywhere between $9,000 and $24,000 per year. For children under the age of two, the cost rises from $11,000 to $29,000, research shows.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2024 shows California has the third-highest costs for childcare across the U.S., at an average $16,945 per year.
The Source: Office of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie
Denver, CO
Ex-Broncos wide receiver lands in UFL; ex-Denver RB joins 49ers
Kaden Davis is taking his talents to the United Football League.
The former Denver Broncos wide receiver signed with the UFL’s Houston Gamblers earlier this week, and he could make his debut as early as Friday evening when the Gamblers face the Columbus Aviators (5:00 p.m. MT on Fox and FuboTV).
Davis (6-1, 193 pounds) entered the league with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State in 2022. After spending part of his rookie season on Denver’s practice squad, Davis played for the Michigan Panthers (then of the USFL) in the spring of 2023.
After that, Davis spent time with the Arizona Cardinals (2023) and Detroit Lions (2024) before returning to the Broncos as a member of the practice squad in 2024. He was later cut, re-signed, and cut again by Denver that fall. Davis joined the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad late in the 2024 campaign, and he remained with the Browns in 2025. He’ll now look to impress in the UFL.
Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the San Francisco 49ers signed running back Sincere McCormick, who had a brief stint on Denver’s practice squad last season.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Seattle, WA
Seahawks receiver makes surprise switch to cornerback
The Seattle Seahawks have an extensive history of taller cornerbacks on the roster, but not this tall.
The only reason why this is notable is because Broden was measured at just over 6’5 and weighed under 200 pounds. In addition to Broden’s height, he ran a reported 4.37 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. For context, Broden is taller than Richard Sherman (6’3), Riq Woolen (6’4), and Brandon Browner (6’4). Other reports of Broden’s height (including from Tyrone himself) have him up to 6’7. Unsurprisingly, Broden did not have any prior experience at corner during his college football days, and there’s nothing to indicate he had any cornerback work in high school.
At receiver, his chances of making the active roster are slim and none given the competition ahead of him, so why not have some fun experimentation? I’m not banking on it being much of anything, but I hope it continues into training camp so that fans can see this in person.
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