I look at Trump's firing of the Librarian of Congress, why the president appoints the Librarian, and where do we go next....

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/congresss-librarian-fired-by-the

From capitol hill to constitutional collapse — this week's newsletter covers the start of the leg branch approps process as big question marks surround whether appropriations matter at all. Plus, the Capitol Police's day before the committee and a round up of institutions caving to Trumpism.

(And yes, I use end-dashes when I write.)

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/from-capitol-hill-to-constitutional

If Senate Democrats wanted to fire Schumer as leader, how would they do it?

Here's how: https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/i/159723790/pushing-schumer-out

@FinchHaven Thank you for letting me know. Try here: https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/about

Thank you!

This week I recounting the America First plan to undermine our democracy through control of the spending process and how it lines up with what's actually happening.

Let me know what you think.

https://substack.com/home/post/p-158747181

Trump just terminated the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee, on which I served as chair.

You can read my statement on this news here: https://americalabs.org/2025/02/25/statement-on-termination-of-open-government-federal-advisory-committee/

The Trump administration is moving ahead at warp speed with its endeavor to consolidate power in the hands of the White House. I've identified ten legislative provisions Congress should insist upon writing into law before striking any deals on appropriations or the debt ceiling.

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/157462020/share-center

This morning I wrote about the rise of Caesarism, cataloging the Trump regime's transgression of the Constitution and dismantling of federal agencies.

Along the lines I touched upon Orwell, the French Republic, and the remaining bulwarks against authoritarianism.

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-caesarism

I wrote about impoundment and Trump's "flood the zone" strategy to overwhelm democracy.

https://open.substack.com/pub/firstbranchforecast/p/go-impound-sand?r=3ogr42&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Plan ahead -- plan to join the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee for its 1pm ET 2/7/25 meeting.

On the agenda: presentations from civil society and the FOIA Advisory Committee.

Send comments to ogfac@gsa.gov or request to provide oral comments.

RSVP: https://gsa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_9X8rLjypSC-cjmYMywyX6g

President Biden's pardons show he has no faith that the rule of law will hold. The last people left holding the line will be Republican elites who resist Trump.

Here's how we got here--and what's next.

https://open.substack.com/pub/firstbranchforecast/p/american-carnage?r=3ogr42&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

@digiphile Ralph Nader publishes his newsletter only in print form. To each their own.

What would ask I ask Attorney General nominee Bondi at her confirmation hearing this week? Glad you asked...

https://open.substack.com/pub/firstbranchforecast/p/what-id-ask-attorney-general-nominee?r=3ogr42&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Join the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee for its 1pm ET 1/8/25 meeting. On the agenda: GSA summarizes public recommendations for the open gov national action plan + we decide how to evaluate the recs.

Send comments to ogfac@gsa.gov or request to provide oral comments.

RSVP: https://gsa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_aBlbN3JKSj25yfsC0-9cBw#/registration

@mister_shade02X2 Yes. I published through Mailchimp for seven years and posted the articles on my bespoke website. (Before that it was Medium, which has its own problems.)

It was expensive (mailchimp is pricey), time consuming (to reformat and lay out the content), and had essentially no organic growth in users or donations.

@Khyrie @digiphile I'm posting these articles now on substack. They're set as "free" so you can click in and read it.

Looking for a combined House/Senate floor calendar for the 119th Congress that works with Gmail or Outlook? Here it is.

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/calendars-for-the-senate-and-house?r=3ogr42&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Congress is in a liminal state; today's joint session of Congress will certify the election of a man who sought to topple it. The show goes on, with the House adopting its rules on Friday; the Ethics committee punting decisions; and support offices continuing their work to modernize the Legislative branch.

My newsletter talks about power — who has it, who wishes to wield it, the mechanisms by which it is exercised — with a focus of how we collectively wield it.

https://lnkd.in/eq-9DP2v

House Republican leadership released their proposals for the rules to govern the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress.

What's inside the package? I run through the highlights.

https://open.substack.com/pub/firstbranchforecast/p/republicans-propose-rules-for-the

Today I wrote about the New Year's Eve Ethics Massacre, where it appears the House Ethics Committee has effectively legalized members of the House converting campaign funds for personal use. They also wiped away allegations regarding other unethical behavior.

https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/the-new-years-eve-ethics-massacre