Daniel Schuman
@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/
Like what you see? More at https://firstbranchforecast.substack.com/
Thank you, Catherine Szpindor, for your service as the House's Chief Administrative Officer. Anne Dressendorfer Binsted
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Thank you, Catherine Szpindor, for your service as the House's Chief Administrative Officer. Anne Dressendorfer Binsted
Also, she could move to censure other members, like committee chairs. Those would be privileged motions. If successful, House Republican conference rules say they should step down. But it could be waived.
November 22, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Also, she could move to censure other members, like committee chairs. Those would be privileged motions. If successful, House Republican conference rules say they should step down. But it could be waived.
She's been in at least 5 years? If she's a short termer, she may have a little help, per CRS.
November 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
She's been in at least 5 years? If she's a short termer, she may have a little help, per CRS.
Here's how CRS explains their benefits. It appears the better pension benefit ended in 2012.
www.everycrsreport.com/files/2023-0...
www.everycrsreport.com/files/2023-0...
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Here's how CRS explains their benefits. It appears the better pension benefit ended in 2012.
www.everycrsreport.com/files/2023-0...
www.everycrsreport.com/files/2023-0...
Here's Mel Watt from 2014. Note that the Speaker pro tempore is providing the document (laid before the House).
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Here's Mel Watt from 2014. Note that the Speaker pro tempore is providing the document (laid before the House).
It doesn't have to be only this language. See Fortenberry from 2022. Letter to the House, letter to the governor (Nebraska)
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 AM
It doesn't have to be only this language. See Fortenberry from 2022. Letter to the House, letter to the governor (Nebraska)
Here's Mark Foley's resignation -- another Florida Member.
November 22, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Here's Mark Foley's resignation -- another Florida Member.
This is what that letter looks like. From Congressional Record on November 14, 2024.
November 22, 2025 at 1:38 AM
This is what that letter looks like. From Congressional Record on November 14, 2024.
If it makes you feel any better, the wayback machine didn't get my college newspaper for quite a while.
November 20, 2025 at 1:14 AM
If it makes you feel any better, the wayback machine didn't get my college newspaper for quite a while.
Once corrected, I had it put it into ical format, and the rest is straightforward.
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Once corrected, I had it put it into ical format, and the rest is straightforward.
But what it extracted was wrong, so I had to feed it corrections.
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
But what it extracted was wrong, so I had to feed it corrections.
I then uploaded the whole-year-in one calendar, and Chat GPT started turning it into data.
November 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I then uploaded the whole-year-in one calendar, and Chat GPT started turning it into data.
I used AI to do it. There's probably a story or something in what it took to do. I first uploaded the month-by-month calendar, and ChatGPT freaked out.
November 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I used AI to do it. There's probably a story or something in what it took to do. I first uploaded the month-by-month calendar, and ChatGPT freaked out.
This doesn't seem good.
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
This doesn't seem good.
Surely no senator would make use of the provision to sue the government that Sen. Thune snuck into the approps bill, right?
November 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Surely no senator would make use of the provision to sue the government that Sen. Thune snuck into the approps bill, right?
Individual members of the conference may recommended changes to the Rules as the need arises... and may bring that proposal directly to the Conference for its consideration w/ 1 week notice. A self-executing rule change could provide for removal and require only a majority of conference vote.
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Individual members of the conference may recommended changes to the Rules as the need arises... and may bring that proposal directly to the Conference for its consideration w/ 1 week notice. A self-executing rule change could provide for removal and require only a majority of conference vote.
I'm turning this into the First Branch Forecast newsletter, but some initial notes.
November 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
I'm turning this into the First Branch Forecast newsletter, but some initial notes.
You likely have it already, but it did show up in the movie Airplane II, from 1982.
October 18, 2025 at 2:28 PM
You likely have it already, but it did show up in the movie Airplane II, from 1982.
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.
October 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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.
Um. Going after the Southern Poverty Law Center?
October 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Um. Going after the Southern Poverty Law Center?
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.
September 30, 2025 at 2:35 AM
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.
Relevant language on congressional security in the recently Approps-passed CJS appropriations committee report
See p. 43 docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...
See p. 43 docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...
September 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Relevant language on congressional security in the recently Approps-passed CJS appropriations committee report
See p. 43 docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...
See p. 43 docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/...
I don't know who needs to know this, but a new DOJ OLC opinion dropped on Tuesday. www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
September 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I don't know who needs to know this, but a new DOJ OLC opinion dropped on Tuesday. www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
So, it looks like you can provide public announcements of classified briefings. Rep. Steil, House Admin Chair, put out this press statement.
cha.house.gov/press-releas...
cha.house.gov/press-releas...
September 4, 2025 at 3:24 PM
So, it looks like you can provide public announcements of classified briefings. Rep. Steil, House Admin Chair, put out this press statement.
cha.house.gov/press-releas...
cha.house.gov/press-releas...
That squad is shrinking...
September 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
That squad is shrinking...