What's happening inside Congress to modernize its operations and make legislative data available to everyone? As it turns out, a lot! congressionaldata.org/legislative-...

My chat with James Wallner start with "a magical, storied mountain, at the top of which are a group of people in robes." It cuts to pivotal moment where there's a flash of light, puff of smoke, and ascension of a mere senator to a committee, or perhaps even to committee chair.

DMT Ascension: Rainbow Stairway

ALT: DMT Ascension: Rainbow Stairway

static.klipy.com

The threats made against Congress -- 15k last year alone -- are rising. To understand the problem better, @americalabs.org and I interviewed US Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan. He was open and thoughtful and we really appreciate the opportunity firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/interview-...

Interview: U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan

We discuss with the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police how the department investigates the thousands of threats against Congress and its continuing efforts at reform.

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

The Congressional Data Task Force is one of the legislative branch’s most important modernization forums. It began as a working group on releasing Congress.gov data & now brings together internal + external stakeholders to improve congressional data, tools & standards

For our latest interview, @americalabs.org and I spoke with former Rep. Brian Baird, who is a defender of Congress, promoter of public service, and clinical psychologist, about member security and the toll of January 6. It's an audio and transcript interview for those who need more podcast

Rep. Brian Baird

Former Rep. Brian Baird is also a clinical psychologist. We ask him how members and staff are dealing with the current threat environment

open.substack.com

Just a reminder that Ari Fleischer is a terrible human being.

It was very kind of the @opengovpartnership.org to write about my work to open up government (and use a photo from when I was much younger). Many people keep showing up, year after year, in support of U.S. government transparency, and I'm inspired by them. www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/thos...

Those Who Keep Showing Up - Open Government Partnership

In March 2026, at the OGP’s Washington D.C. offices a short distance from the US Capitol, I met Daniel Schuman, a man who had spent fifteen years quietly transforming how Congress shares information w...

opengovpartnership.org

On Wednesday the House made fateful decisions regarding funding for the legislative branch. I was there until just before midnight watching the proceedings. Should GAO be cut? What about member security? Sexual harassment? Read about it here: firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/restarting...

Restarting the Legislative Branch Appropriations Game

Part one of our analysis of the institution-shaping package

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

This is so much fun. Stephen Colbert, back on public access in Monroe... 11 years later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJTX...

Only In Monroe --- May 22, 2026

YouTube video by Stephen Colbert

youtube.com

Thank you @pkcapitol.bsky.social and @535news.bsky.social for giving me the opportunity to talk about spending on Congress and the recent court opinion on member pay. It's a fundamental truth that we get what we pay for -- and we deserve better. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W16...

052126 Thurs Interview PK Schuman

YouTube video by 535 News

youtube.com

Whoah. As @hoyer.house.gov is arguing to member COLA, court issues opinion that says (cursory look) 27th amendment stops approps from varying pay in the way it has for 15 years. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

In years' past I've live tweeted the House and Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations markups. I'm now in Rayburn 2359, the hearing starts at 11 (although it's unclear if energy & water or leg branch will go first). Anyone interested in a running commentary?

The House Administration Committee just unanimously reported an important bill to update how the Librarian of Congress and GPO Director are appointed and removed. It will now be up to Congress. This is a big step forward for leg branch independence. @houseadmdems.bsky.social

Congress's ethics and accountability system doesn't work. They must rethink and rebuild an entirely new system. In the meantime, today we published 5 steps the House can take right now to address its ethics crisis. They are:

What if the problem with the House isn’t “chaos,” but that it isn’t chaotic enough? That the over-managed chamber is itself the problem? This runs against many veteran congressional observers, who see strong leadership control as the cure for dysfunction.

As part of our series of bad puns on star wars day that focus on Congress -- and in light of SCOTUS's decision in Calais -- we present to you ... the Umpire Strikes Back firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/do-or-do-not

The Umpire Strikes Back

THE PHANTOM MENACE: APPROPRIATIONS

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

House Republican leadership has come up with an abysmal funding bill for Congress that would cut GAO by 20%, remove its impoundment power, and set legislative funding levels that appear to be an effort to lock in Congress's decline. firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/there-they...

There They Go Again: House Approps Proposes to Starve Congress

Funding levels imposed from above will compromise Congress's capacity

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

Well, that's nonsense. House Republican Appropriators are once against trying to prevent GAO from litigating when the president has made an impoundment, which are (of course) illegal. H/T @nehls.bsky.social

I'm starting to read the just released leg branch approps committee mark for the House, and it still has the antiquated "death gratuity." Life insurance now exists and this practice is no longer welcome.

Congress has an intelligence undersight problem. The fight over FISA renewal underscores how surveillance hawks have the upper hand when it comes to controlling the institution, and they use it to make Congress weak, not strong. firstbranchforecast.substack.com/i/195549748/...

Power Outages

Appropriators risk a surge of legislative branch problems with budget top line; Members struggle to overcome leaders' advantages in FISA Section 702 extension fight

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

The Swalwell matter raises a lot of uncomfortable questions for Congress. So, of course, we dove right in. firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/a-crisis-i...

A Crisis in Ethics

The shocking allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell point to the institutional failures of Congress to police itself

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

I apologize for asking a multi-part question on the operations of the House of Commons, @ruthfox.bsky.social @darcyxtip.bsky.social, so please accept my appreciation for your taking it on in your excellent podcast, Parliament Matters. Hearing your answer was a pleasant surprise on today's walk.

Was at the @archive.org last week and saw an old friend.

There are few places today where Congress has a real opportunity to write laws. A big one is the appropriations process. That's why I'm so pleased to share with you our appropriations playbook for appropriations advocacy & our recs for what provisions Congress should adopt to strengthen itself.

The war started Friday. Congress is objecting — some Members threatening a War Powers Resolution, demanding briefings, asking for votes. That’s not meaningless. But it’s not sufficient. This week’s First Branch Forecast explains why.

This is a fun one - @americalabs.org and I interviewed Steny Hoyer soon after he announced retirement. Too much to summarize here, check it out

Interview: Rep. Steny Hoyer

We interviewed Rep.

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

Should Republicans lose their majority in the House of Representatives mid-session, how exactly could Democrats assert control? We have the answer to that question from Max Spitzer, who previously served in the House Parliamentarian's Office.

Switching Party Control in the House Mid-Congress

Guest author Max Spitzer

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

Announcing the replacement of the CIA Fact Book with the presidential vibe book. www.cia.gov/stories/stor...

What has happened at the Washington Post is horrible.