The Top Line This week we’re covering everything from AI innovations to shifts in congressional power. AI tools like NotebookLLM are making it easy to turn lengthy reports into podcasts, streamlining how we consume complex information. We illustrate some ways it could change the Congressional information environment. There’s a lot happening in Congress post-Chevron, and […]
The Top Line I feel a little like Robert Caro this week except his prose sparkled and he had a much better editor. This week we cover a bit of everything. We look at efforts to weaken the discharge petition and let Member Moms vote. We dip our toes into continuity of Congress and reveal […]
The Top Line This past week was insanely busy, which is not surprising considering it’s the penultimate week before Congress goes on recess for the election, not returning until November 12th. Inside we cover everything from some great suggestions for updating the rules of the House of Representatives, a public conversion on Congress.gov, the Congressional […]
The Top Line This week contains the International Day of Democracy (generally not celebrated in the US), Constitution Day, a House Rules Committee hearing on the chamber rules for the 119th Congress, the Congress.gov forum and Congressional Hackathon, and so much more. Keep cool and keep caffeinated. If you want to brush up on your […]
September 9, 2024 The Top Line Here we are again. Over the next few weeks Congress will be at a performative peak, working hard to draw contrasts between the parties, distinctions among the factions, and assail the opposing party’s marquee candidates in any way possible. This is in stark contrast from what we can expect […]
This week’s newsletter will be shorter than usual. We’ll be back in full force next week. Technology and Democracy The Library of Congress will hold a public forum on September 18th from 1-3pm. The forum “provides an opportunity for the public to learn about recent enhancements to Congress.gov and to provide feedback about the site.” […]
The Top Line Congress is in the doldrums, comparatively, but the work of government rumbles on. We’ve got a surprising number of interesting items for you, but don’t forget to take some time for yourself before things get frantic in September. What tech should Congress build? **The Congressional Hackathon **is three weeks away. Have you […]
The Top Line Matt Lira, who held a wide variety of technology-related posts in Congress, recently spoke about how to modernize Congress – especially congressional technology – in a wide-ranging interview in Statecraft. Matt was around during the heady days when Reps. Darrell Issa, Steny Hoyer, Eric Cantor, Mike Honda, Nancy Pelosi, and others were […]
The Top Line I teased last week that much is happening behind the scenes in Congress that’s not about the re-election. August is the un-official starting gun for efforts to modify chamber and party rules plus subtle campaigning in leadership elections and for committee assignments. Everyone is focused on the election, of course, but savvy […]
The Top Line From our shameless self-promotion division, Roll Call was kind enough to profile me this past Tuesday. Do you support democracy? I mean, do you work at a foundation or are a high-net worth individual and want to see our political system work better? If so, the folks at Democracy Fund Voice have […]
The House of Representatives cut short the legislative session on Thursday and won’t be back in town until September 9th. At that point, they’ll have three weeks to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. The Senate will leave town later this week and won’t reconvene until September 9th. Loving criticism. I spill my […]
July 22, 2024 Good morning and welcome back to what likely will be an insane two weeks before the August recess. As we get started, a few programming notes. The next edition of the First Branch Forecast will come from news@firstbranchforecast.com. Please add that email to your address book, whitelist it, or say whatever incantation […]