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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman
@americalabs.org
12K followers 780 following 710 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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 16h
I think he should just be fired.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 17h
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 1d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 1d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 4d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 5d
Um. Going after the Southern Poverty Law Center?
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 6d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 6d
I have seen some evidence from some Republicans in some circumstances.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 6d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 6d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 7d
The Trump war on government accountability continues. They're (illegally) defunding the council of inspectors general.
washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 7d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 7d
@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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 7d
Thank you.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 8d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 8d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 10d
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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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
But, then what? Asking for a friend
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
I've been taking tennis lessons. It's fun to try new stuff.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
I'm sorry that you lived it. And yes, report illegal and unethical actions to the state bar. They don't always act (see, e.g., John Yoo), but they don't always forebear acting, either.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
Your represent the people of the United States. That's your client.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
In case it's handy, here's:

- the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct: vsb.org/Site/Site/ab...

- the Washington, D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct www.dcbar.org/for-lawyers/...
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
If you're a federal prosecutor, don't resign. Follow your conscience when doing your job and don't do anything that violates your state bar's code of ethics.

If they want you to do unethical things, decline to do so and work to make it stick. Make them fire you if they persist.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
I think so too
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
He's making a really good argument to disestablish OMB.
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americalabs.org
Daniel Schuman @americalabs.org · 12d
Vought took the government hostage and fired 12% of the civilian workforce. Now Vought says if Congress holds out for a spending bill that limits on Vought's power, he's going to fire more people.

He's gonna fire them anyway. Congress must stand up for its power to make the law.
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