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/
I spy... bill text and report language for Senate FSGG and Energy & Water, published today.
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I spy... bill text and report language for Senate FSGG and Energy & Water, published today.
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
Reposted by Daniel Schuman
As a retiring but still sitting member of the House, MTG has the opportunity to read into the public record documents that otherwise could not be released... and would be protected by the constitution's speech or debate clause from prosecution.
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
As a retiring but still sitting member of the House, MTG has the opportunity to read into the public record documents that otherwise could not be released... and would be protected by the constitution's speech or debate clause from prosecution.
So, do we need to write an explainer on what it takes to officially quit as a member of Congress?
November 22, 2025 at 1:33 AM
So, do we need to write an explainer on what it takes to officially quit as a member of Congress?
Reposted by Daniel Schuman
@americalabs.org and I spoke with ND prof James Curry about how leadership in Congress restricts info to control members and ideas for how the rank and file can have more info at their disposal open.substack.com/pub/firstbra...
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
@americalabs.org and I spoke with ND prof James Curry about how leadership in Congress restricts info to control members and ideas for how the rank and file can have more info at their disposal open.substack.com/pub/firstbra...
This week's passage of the Epstein resolution isn't just surprising, it's nearly astonishing. The House Speaker lost control of the floor, which is something that *almost* never happens. One of the reasons for that is how leadership controls information.
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This week's passage of the Epstein resolution isn't just surprising, it's nearly astonishing. The House Speaker lost control of the floor, which is something that *almost* never happens. One of the reasons for that is how leadership controls information.
The Crimson seems to be the only college paper that routinely gets picked up by the national press.
November 20, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The Crimson seems to be the only college paper that routinely gets picked up by the national press.
Senate is now added.
Good news, everyone. I've updated my publicly-available 119th Congress calendar so that it now includes House session days for 2026. Here's the link: calendar.google.com/calendar/emb...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Senate is now added.
The Republican Appropriations Vice Chair wanted to reclaim Congress's power of the purse and included language to block pocket rescissions in his approps bill. The White House and fellow congressional Republicans *persuaded* him to take it out.
www.notus.org/congress/mar...
h/t @nehls.bsky.social
www.notus.org/congress/mar...
h/t @nehls.bsky.social
A Top Republican Wanted to Reclaim Congress’ Spending Authority. The White House Stopped Him.
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a top appropriator, tried to add guardrails from ‘pocket rescissions’ in an appropriations bill. But then Office of Management Budget Director Russ Vought talked to him.
www.notus.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The Republican Appropriations Vice Chair wanted to reclaim Congress's power of the purse and included language to block pocket rescissions in his approps bill. The White House and fellow congressional Republicans *persuaded* him to take it out.
www.notus.org/congress/mar...
h/t @nehls.bsky.social
www.notus.org/congress/mar...
h/t @nehls.bsky.social
Good news, everyone. I've updated my publicly-available 119th Congress calendar so that it now includes House session days for 2026. Here's the link: calendar.google.com/calendar/emb...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
November 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Good news, everyone. I've updated my publicly-available 119th Congress calendar so that it now includes House session days for 2026. Here's the link: calendar.google.com/calendar/emb...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
If you want it in ical format (to import): calendar.google.com/calendar/ica...
The shutdown didn’t settle the big question hanging over Washington: can Congress still defend its own power against an aggressive White House? Our latest punnily-entitled newsletter lays out what happened from a balance of powers perspective, and why we're back in the quiet shutdown.
Vought No, Hope Yes?
Congress Still Matters — but Only If It Uses Its Power
firstbranchforecast.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The shutdown didn’t settle the big question hanging over Washington: can Congress still defend its own power against an aggressive White House? Our latest punnily-entitled newsletter lays out what happened from a balance of powers perspective, and why we're back in the quiet shutdown.
This doesn't seem good.
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
This doesn't seem good.
@nehls.bsky.social and I chatted with the amazing Ruth Bloch Rubin on congressional factions. She's written 2 fantastic books on how members of congress collaborate & compete -- including the institutions they built to overthrow the Dixiecrats, defeat big banks, and (alas) prevent health care fixes.
Fantastic @americalabs.org and @nehls.bsky.social interview of Ruth Bloch Rubin, one of the smartest Congress scholars out there firstbranchforecast.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview: Ruth Bloch Rubin
"I think the idea that there can be flavors to partisanship is good when voters chafe at the two-party structure."
firstbranchforecast.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
@nehls.bsky.social and I chatted with the amazing Ruth Bloch Rubin on congressional factions. She's written 2 fantastic books on how members of congress collaborate & compete -- including the institutions they built to overthrow the Dixiecrats, defeat big banks, and (alas) prevent health care fixes.
The Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion undermining funding for the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau was just published on OLC's website yesterday having already been used in court filing on Monday to attack the agency (www.politico.com/news/2025/11...).
www.justice.gov
November 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion undermining funding for the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau was just published on OLC's website yesterday having already been used in court filing on Monday to attack the agency (www.politico.com/news/2025/11...).
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?
This is why OLC opinions must be made publicly available, per my testimony. americalabs.org/2025/06/04/t...
And the DOJ should not be allowed to forebear prosecution on the basis of acting pursuant to an opinion.
And the DOJ should not be allowed to forebear prosecution on the basis of acting pursuant to an opinion.
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
This is why OLC opinions must be made publicly available, per my testimony. americalabs.org/2025/06/04/t...
And the DOJ should not be allowed to forebear prosecution on the basis of acting pursuant to an opinion.
And the DOJ should not be allowed to forebear prosecution on the basis of acting pursuant to an opinion.
Reposted by Daniel Schuman
Free idea for Senate Democrats, here's how you get rid of Schumer. Thank you to @americalabs.org for explaining.
One Weird Trick to Get Rid of Chuck Schumer - The American Prospect
Multiple Democratic groups, House members, and candidates say it’s time for the Senate minority leader to go. It turns out any single Senate Democrat can force a vote on Schumer’s job.
prospect.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Free idea for Senate Democrats, here's how you get rid of Schumer. Thank you to @americalabs.org for explaining.
It is very unusual for lawyers to march. Alexis de Tocqueville described attorneys as an aristocracy and "the most powerful existing security against the excesses of democracy." Things must be bad when they—when we—take to the streets to oppose dictatorship.
Worked in legal organizing for the last few years, and I never would have thought a movement of lawyers was possible until I had the displeasure of doing this job under Trump 2.0. Attacks on the rule of law are so blatant that even usually nonpartisan lawyers are done newrepublic.com/article/2026...
The Legal Professionals Planning to March Against Trump
Recent history has shown that attorneys and jurists can play a big role in bringing their nations back from the brink of autocracy. That day is coming for us as well.
newrepublic.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
It is very unusual for lawyers to march. Alexis de Tocqueville described attorneys as an aristocracy and "the most powerful existing security against the excesses of democracy." Things must be bad when they—when we—take to the streets to oppose dictatorship.
I don't know who needs to see this, but @nehls.bsky.social wrote a banger of an article assessing Nancy Pelosi's legacy for the House of Representatives. It's not what you'd expect, and everything you need to understand why we're stuck.
Master of the House: The Pelosi Paradox
How the Strongest Speaker Made Congress Weak
firstbranchforecast.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I don't know who needs to see this, but @nehls.bsky.social wrote a banger of an article assessing Nancy Pelosi's legacy for the House of Representatives. It's not what you'd expect, and everything you need to understand why we're stuck.
Dr. @louisevthompson.bsky.social has written a thoughtful article on modernizing the British parliament. Her focus is on the emergence of multiple parliamentary parties and how best for them to fully participate in the parliamentary system.
I wonder what lessons there may be for us in the U.S.
I wonder what lessons there may be for us in the U.S.
Modernising the House: Why the 2024 Parliament Highlights the Need to Formalise Party‐Group Rights in the House of Commons
The 2024 general election underscored how significantly the British political party system is changing. It produced the most fragmented party system in the history of British democracy, with thirteen...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Dr. @louisevthompson.bsky.social has written a thoughtful article on modernizing the British parliament. Her focus is on the emergence of multiple parliamentary parties and how best for them to fully participate in the parliamentary system.
I wonder what lessons there may be for us in the U.S.
I wonder what lessons there may be for us in the U.S.
Some folks are calling for Schumer's removal as Democratic Leader. Senate Democratic caucus rules, which hasn't changed since 2017, don't appear to allow removal, don't appear to allow no confidence votes, and generally contemplate elections only at congress's start or when vacancies occur. BUT...
Rules for the Democratic Conference | Senate Democratic Leadership
Senate Democratic Leadership
www.democrats.senate.gov
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Some folks are calling for Schumer's removal as Democratic Leader. Senate Democratic caucus rules, which hasn't changed since 2017, don't appear to allow removal, don't appear to allow no confidence votes, and generally contemplate elections only at congress's start or when vacancies occur. BUT...
Reposted by Daniel Schuman
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
Master of the House: The Pelosi Paradox
How the Strongest Speaker Made Congress Weak
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
I wonder to what extent senators who are retiring or are far away from primaries agreed to vote for the CR/minibus so that their colleagues, like Sen. Schumer, could vote against.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I wonder to what extent senators who are retiring or are far away from primaries agreed to vote for the CR/minibus so that their colleagues, like Sen. Schumer, could vote against.