Dale
@dalepoak.bsky.social
Husband, dad, grandpa. Former House Approps Committee & OMB staff. Former Republican. Now retired and cranky. Posting on politics and Maine. https://substack.com/@daleoak?r=9q4gn&utm_medium=ios 🇺🇸🆘
Pinned
Dale
@dalepoak.bsky.social
· Aug 31
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Always happy to post good federal budget geek material.
Former OMB official Mark Sandy describes in @lawfaremedia.org how Trump’s OMB is infringing on Congress’s power of the purse.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...
Former OMB official Mark Sandy describes in @lawfaremedia.org how Trump’s OMB is infringing on Congress’s power of the purse.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...
Trump Is Usurping Congress’s Power of the Purse
How is the Trump administration impounding congressional appropriations, and will Congress reassert its authorities?
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Always happy to post good federal budget geek material.
Former OMB official Mark Sandy describes in @lawfaremedia.org how Trump’s OMB is infringing on Congress’s power of the purse.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...
Former OMB official Mark Sandy describes in @lawfaremedia.org how Trump’s OMB is infringing on Congress’s power of the purse.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...
Tom is always worth reading, and this one is exceptional. Or perhaps exceptionally troubling.
This is a new and dire development in the ongoing American constitutional crisis. The voters, Congress, and, yes, the U.S. military must all now be more vigilant than at any time in our modern history.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The President Is Losing Control of Himself
Donald Trump’s outbursts on social media this week were different than usual.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Tom is always worth reading, and this one is exceptional. Or perhaps exceptionally troubling.
What could possibly go wrong?
November 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
I’m sure it does violate federal law. And I’m sure Trump couldn’t care less.
A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.
Trump-Licensed Presidential Seal Beer Pong Set Could Violate Federal Law
A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.
www.forbes.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I’m sure it does violate federal law. And I’m sure Trump couldn’t care less.
If you do nothing else today, you have to read this piece on the destruction of American international aid and the lives lost as a result.
#USAID
#RovinasChoice
#USAID
#RovinasChoice
This May Be the Cruelest, Most Senseless Thing Trump Has Done
A conversation with Atul Gawande about the human toll of the dismantling of foreign aid.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you do nothing else today, you have to read this piece on the destruction of American international aid and the lives lost as a result.
#USAID
#RovinasChoice
#USAID
#RovinasChoice
Amen George
November 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Amen George
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
This UnPopulist article is porn for federal budget geeks.
The Trump administration’s violations of budget law are troubling and affect a wide range of federal programs. This is a good article to read even if you’re not a geek.
The Trump administration’s violations of budget law are troubling and affect a wide range of federal programs. This is a good article to read even if you’re not a geek.
Founders Would Be Horrified by Congress's Surrender of its Power of the Purse to POTUS
The shutdown is testimony to how a subservient legislature makes governance dysfunctional
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This UnPopulist article is porn for federal budget geeks.
The Trump administration’s violations of budget law are troubling and affect a wide range of federal programs. This is a good article to read even if you’re not a geek.
The Trump administration’s violations of budget law are troubling and affect a wide range of federal programs. This is a good article to read even if you’re not a geek.
One of the best-articulated cases I’ve seen of how law enforcement cooperation with ICE (especially today’s ICE) harms local policing.
I was a police chief in seven cities. Here’s how ICE undermines local law enforcement.
A career cop on why Trump’s strong-arm tactics are destined to backfire.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
One of the best-articulated cases I’ve seen of how law enforcement cooperation with ICE (especially today’s ICE) harms local policing.
There won’t be much more of this before the peasants storm the Bastille.
Eric Trump: "You can send $500 million worth of bitcoin on a Sunday night at 11pm while having a glass of wine with your wife for virtually zero fees."
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
There won’t be much more of this before the peasants storm the Bastille.
Good case made by @chriscillizza.bsky.social that the press needs to push hard at the White House to get better answers on what’s going on with Trump’s health.
What the heck is *actually* going on with Donald Trump's health? 🏥
The MRI.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Good case made by @chriscillizza.bsky.social that the press needs to push hard at the White House to get better answers on what’s going on with Trump’s health.
I’ve been through quite a few government shutdowns over the years, and I have some thoughts on how this one ended.
On Ending the Shutdown
The outcome isn’t great, but it’s time to move on
oakd.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:35 AM
I’ve been through quite a few government shutdowns over the years, and I have some thoughts on how this one ended.
@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social is shipping up to Boston.
“If you’re coming under the punk-rock banner and you voted for that f*****g guy, and you support that f*****g s**t that they’re doing, you’ve twisted your mind into knots. The far right ain’t the new punk—you heard it here first.”
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
WATCH: The Punk Rock Frontman Calling Out Trump's BS
Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey to MAGA supporters: “You’ve twisted your mind into knots.”
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social is shipping up to Boston.
@politico.com, I’m sorry, but Steve Bannon’s muddle-headed rantings are hardly worthy of filling people’s in-boxes as “breaking news.”
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
@politico.com, I’m sorry, but Steve Bannon’s muddle-headed rantings are hardly worthy of filling people’s in-boxes as “breaking news.”
I suppose chronic ketamine use could make it harder for his brain to process a relatively straightforward ballot.
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I suppose chronic ketamine use could make it harder for his brain to process a relatively straightforward ballot.
On January 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters responsible for the #January6 Capitol attack, including Howard C. Richardson.
Richardson pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He beat an officer with a metal flagpole holding a Trump flag.
Richardson pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He beat an officer with a metal flagpole holding a Trump flag.
November 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
On January 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters responsible for the #January6 Capitol attack, including Howard C. Richardson.
Richardson pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He beat an officer with a metal flagpole holding a Trump flag.
Richardson pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He beat an officer with a metal flagpole holding a Trump flag.
My Bluesky feed: “That was an amazing game 7 and World Series”
My X feed: “President Trump is the greatest dealmaker in the world, and what about Hunter’s laptop?”
My X feed: “President Trump is the greatest dealmaker in the world, and what about Hunter’s laptop?”
November 2, 2025 at 4:41 AM
My Bluesky feed: “That was an amazing game 7 and World Series”
My X feed: “President Trump is the greatest dealmaker in the world, and what about Hunter’s laptop?”
My X feed: “President Trump is the greatest dealmaker in the world, and what about Hunter’s laptop?”
2025 World Series Game 7
2004 ALCS Game 4
Two of the greatest, probably *the* greatest, playoff baseball games ever.
The common factor - Dave Roberts was on the winning side for each.
Roberts for HOF.
2004 ALCS Game 4
Two of the greatest, probably *the* greatest, playoff baseball games ever.
The common factor - Dave Roberts was on the winning side for each.
Roberts for HOF.
November 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
2025 World Series Game 7
2004 ALCS Game 4
Two of the greatest, probably *the* greatest, playoff baseball games ever.
The common factor - Dave Roberts was on the winning side for each.
Roberts for HOF.
2004 ALCS Game 4
Two of the greatest, probably *the* greatest, playoff baseball games ever.
The common factor - Dave Roberts was on the winning side for each.
Roberts for HOF.
Reposted by Dale
Every single play is epic … I’ve never seen anything like this.
November 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Every single play is epic … I’ve never seen anything like this.
Reposted by Dale
One Halloween I dressed up as the GOP's Healthcare plan.
I never made it out of the House.
I never made it out of the House.
November 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM
One Halloween I dressed up as the GOP's Healthcare plan.
I never made it out of the House.
I never made it out of the House.
Reposted by Dale
The whole time on the Jan 6 committee, every republicans talking point to the media was “It’s just time to move on and look forward.” Now they are obsessed and on their SECOND investigation of the investigation and of course are at a brick wall
October 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The whole time on the Jan 6 committee, every republicans talking point to the media was “It’s just time to move on and look forward.” Now they are obsessed and on their SECOND investigation of the investigation and of course are at a brick wall
@michael-feinberg.bsky.social
These aren’t exactly classical Greek works, but could be helpful…
These aren’t exactly classical Greek works, but could be helpful…
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
@michael-feinberg.bsky.social
These aren’t exactly classical Greek works, but could be helpful…
These aren’t exactly classical Greek works, but could be helpful…