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Daniel Schuman

@americalabs.org

12K followers 780 following 720 posts

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/

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 22h

I've been poking at @dwillis.bsky.social. I bet he doesn't even know about the legislative data map.

congressionaldata.org/legislative-...

Legislative Branch Data Map

congressionaldata.org

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 1d

The Congress dot gov and GPO APIs are the places to look.

gpo.congress.gov
www.govinfo.gov/features/api

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Reposted by Daniel Schuman

Ben Yoel @benyoel.bsky.social · 3d

@liampert.bsky.social, @mattgrossmann.bsky.social, and I are thrilled to launch SenateData, a new repository pertaining to the US Senate. We have variables on facets like bills, and members, including original data on senator characteristics and an associated R package. github.com/IPPSR/Senate...

GitHub - IPPSR/SenateData: SenateData: A Functional Tool for the SenateData Dataset

SenateData: A Functional Tool for the SenateData Dataset - IPPSR/SenateData

github.com

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 7d

If lawmakers are going to confront each other in person, maybe they should do it on the floor of the House of Representatives... in debate... with the chamber open for business.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 9d

I think he should just be fired.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 9d

If Russ Vought believes federal employees should continue to work during the shutdown and not be paid back for their work,* I can't see any reason why they'd show up for work at all.

______________________
* Federal law requires feds to receive back pay. Vought is refusing to follow the law.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 9d

Yes, and that's why we need OLC opinion transparency -- because there should not be secret law. Here's my testimony for FY 2026.

americalabs.org/wp-content/u...

americalabs.org

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 10d

ICYMI, the quiet shutdown becomes loud. The rupture in the government funding process exposes the constitutional stakes.

The Quiet Shutdown Becomes Loud

Appropriations rupture exposes the constitutional stakes

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 13d

They've got it exactly backwards. Why should Dems be willing to negotiate with Republicans on anything if the appropriations agreement can be changed at will by the administration? They key item to negotiate are provisions to ensure approps deals are followed by the admin.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 13d

Um. Going after the Southern Poverty Law Center?

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 15d

The Trump administration's efforts to extort Democrats by cutting off funds to their districts tells you everything you need to know. Congress must stand up for its power to determine where federal funding goes... otherwise they'll be at the mercy of the White House's whims.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 15d

I have seen some evidence from some Republicans in some circumstances.

Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 15d

Yes, I agree with this. AND I would add that a fair number of Republican members are sympathetic with the need for Congress to write the laws. They won't be publicly vocal about it, but when it comes time to make a deal, they *could* influence the terms of the settlement.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 15d

So many hot takes about who will win/lose the shutdown, but so little discussion about what's at stake. The stakes here are whether Congress makes the law or the president can rule by diktat. Everything else is commentary.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 16d

The Trump war on government accountability continues. They're (illegally) defunding the council of inspectors general.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 16d

The Trump administration plans to end funding starting Wednesday for an oversight group that helps inspectors general root out waste, fraud and abuse.

Trump administration moves to defund inspector general watchdog group

The decision marks the latest example of the administration’s push to limit government oversight activities.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 16d

@ddayen.bsky.social is 100% right: the government has been shut down for months.

prospect.org/politics/202...

The Government Has Been Shut Down for Months

Today is the day we stop pretending that it’s not.

prospect.org

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 16d

Thank you.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 16d

Tonight the Senate passed a Potemkin member security bill that won't protect members but will prevent oversight. The "privacy protections" it provides are for members only -- Sen. Cruz objected to efforts to provide privacy protections to all Americans or to only federal, state, and local electeds.

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 17d

Good morning. This week's First Branch Forecast newsletter is Vought of No Confidence: Russ Vought's Shutdown Wasn't an Accident. It was the Plan.

VOUGHT OF NO CONFIDENCE

Russ Vought’s Shutdown Wasn’t an Accident. It Was the Plan.

firstbranchforecast.substack.com

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Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 19d

New OLC Opinion: The Merit Systems Protection Board’s Authority to Adjudicate Constitutional Questions within an Administrative Proceeding

www.justice.gov

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