First Branch Forecast on Substack
The First Branch Forecast newsletter has moved to Substack. It’s all the same information that you’ve grown to rely upon. We made the move to increase the reach of the newsletter, make it easier to disseminate, and make it easier to raise funds. You can see the most...
FBF: AI, Senate Reform, and Big Challenges for Congress (10/14/2024)
The Top Line Good morning, everyone. I recently had the opportunity to attend LegisTech: Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments, a conference hosted by Bússola Tech and the Organization of American States here in Washington, D.C. The event, which brought together...
FBF: AI for EZ learning & building a post-Chevron Congress (10/7/2024)
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...
FBF: You’d think it’d be quiet (9/30/2024)
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...
FBF: The last week before splitsville (9/23/2024)
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...
FBF: Christmas in September (9/16/2024)
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...
FBF: It’s Showtime (9/9/24)
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...
FBF: The calm before the storm (9/3/2024)
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...
FBF: The Doldrums of Congress (8/26/2024)
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...
FBF: Hacking Congress, but in a good way (8/19/2024)
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....