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Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | November 7, 2024
Dear Friends, Election Day 2024 is behind us, but it leaves in its wake one big immediate-term question (who will control the House?) and a long list of others that will take months and years to answer. One thing we do know is the lame duck session begins next Tuesday, and it should be
The Government We Deserve?
Laura Blessing | November 7, 2024
Election Day 2024 is behind us. The country is taking stock of who we are and where we might be going. The final calls on some congressional races are still forthcoming, as predicted. There are many ways of viewing the political moment we’re in, but any reading of political history shows precursors to phenomena of
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | October 3, 2024
Dear Friends, In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating toll on the southeastern US, I want to first express my hope that all of you and your loved ones are out of harm’s way. The damage is hard to fathom. As federal resources continue to surge toward areas in need, many members of Congress have
The Annual Appropriations Dance
Josh Huder | October 3, 2024
Congress has once again missed its annual deadline to fund the federal government for the entire fiscal year. This has become an all-too-familiar dance on Capitol Hill: Congress fails to adopt a budget; the House and Senate draft very different spending bills; nothing happens for a few months; then we watch as Congress fumbles around
Congress Two Beers In: Back to School Edition
GAI | September 9, 2024
On our latest podcast’s episode, Senior Fellow Mark Harkins talks with two college seniors to get the Gen Z perspective on our current state of politics. Mentioned material can be found at https://johnhaskell.substack.com/
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | September 5, 2024
Dear Friends, It never fails: September arrives and finds me utterly baffled that summer could have flown by so quickly. I hope you managed to wring lots of fun, sun and relaxation out of this one. Of course, summer isn’t quite over for Congress, which returns next week for a short stretch before disbanding again
What to Expect When You Are Expecting Nothing
Matt Glassman | September 4, 2024
Both the House and Senate will return from their annual summer recess next week. Given the paltry amount of legislation produced during the 118th Congress—just 78 laws enacted, almost none of them notable–you might think Members were gearing up for a strong finish to the second session. But almost nobody expects Congress to do
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | July 25, 2024
Dear Friends, It feels like we’ve said “unprecedented” so often recently, it’s starting to lose its meaning. But there is really no other way to describe the past few weeks (and indeed, months and even years). July is typically a busy time on Capitol Hill, but not usually for the reasons we have seen this
Eroding Checks and Balances: The Immunity Decision
Susan Sullivan Lagon | July 24, 2024
It seems the Founders are out of fashion. Alexander Hamilton’s language could use some updating—but not in the rhythmic style of the eponymous musical. Rather, a core principle of governance, his views of the judiciary as a branch showing “neither force nor will, merely judgement”, are out of step. It is now impossible to see
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | June 24, 2024
Dear Friends, While the upcoming presidential debate might be grabbing headlines this week, there’s also a flurry of activity on the House side of the Capitol as members seek progress on spending bills before heading home for a 4th of July recess. If all goes according to plan (never a guarantee!), we will