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americalabs.org
Progressive institutionalist with an interest in modernizing Congress and strengthening our democracy. Bluesky is my penance for working at an org that once encouraged Congress to tweet. Like what you see? More at https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/
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Posts 13 Comments 37

Yes, I'll be in attendance at today's Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee markup at 6 p.m. in the Capitol.

submitted 10 hours ago • 0 comments

I'm reading GAO targeted by House Republicans, by @ktullymcmanus.bsky.social

submitted 10 hours ago • 1 comment

Why @adamsmith.house.gov @jahimes.bsky.social @meeks.house.gov are you writing a *different* war powers resolution when you could support the bipartisan one from @rokhanna.bsky.social + Massie? I am concerned you are making this a partisan issue and can't attract R votes.

submitted 16 hours ago • 1 comment

House Republicans have proposed a 50% cut to the Government Accountability Office and a 12% cut to the Library of Congress in a bill to be marked-up tomorrow. This would destroy Congress's non-partisan expert agencies and blow up the Legislative branch.

submitted 1 day ago • 16 comments

How could anyone support a candidate who sexually harassed at least 11 women, retaliated against women who made complaints about that conduct, was partly responsible for causing and covering up thousands of nursing home deaths, and was forced to resign in the midst of an impeachment investigation.

submitted 1 day ago • 7 comments

Countdown to Jared Golden saying something ridiculous.

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

1. Expect a further escalation of domestic repression under the guise of security and nationalism. 2. Only Congress has the power to declare war. It also has the power to end it.

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Jose Padilla is the person who was accused, but never charged, with plotting a dirty bomb attack, declared by Bush as an enemy combatant, and sent to a military prison. He was also tortured by the government.

submitted 2 days ago • 3 comments

How should Congressional security be modernized to lessen the likelihood of the Minnesota tragedy at the federal level? I look at reform efforts over the last decade for where they succeed, where they have failed, and what to do next.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

“There was no… threat here. The building is secure, weapons are screened, and a competent security operation would have known Sen. Padilla was on site. Simply listening to him identify himself as a senator would have sufficed.” firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/sen-padill...

submitted 11 days ago • 10 comments

Sen. Padilla was just assaulted on camera at DHS Secretary Noem's press conference. Congress must defend itself.

submitted 11 days ago • 2 comments

It seems to me like a Senate resolution condemning the manhandling and arrest of @padilla.senate.gov would be fairly easy to draft and introduce. In fact, I could imagine a senator making a UC motion to have it considered the next day the senate meets.

submitted 11 days ago • 8 comments

This is how the Department of Homeland Security treats a senator who dares ask a question at the DHS Secretary's press conference.

submitted 11 days ago • 4 comments