This week is National Police Week. Last week, apparently, also was: it seems fitting that police would give themselves an even longer recognition week than others, even though they reliably get what they want out of elected officials at all levels. The Republican House celebrated by passing two bills…

On March 20, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report underscoring how critical the current decade is to ensuring a livable planet. Ten days later, the US House of Representatives showed how little they care. That was the day they passed a new giveaway to Big Oil and…

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. There will be many incisive retrospectives of this disastrous decision and its legacy in lives lost, trillions wasted, insecurity fomented, and lessons not yet learned. What I want to offer is a quick reminder of who voted for…

You may not realize it, but the September 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) for US operations in Afghanistan is still in place. Yes, even though the US has withdrew military personnel from Afghanistan almost two years ago. What is this AUMF even authorizing? For one, the US…

The District of Columbia deserves voting representation in Congress. That is obvious all the time (“no taxation without representation,” of course), but it becomes especially salient when Congress tries to intervene to block DC from passing its own laws — something Congress can do given DC’s lack of full autonomy. …

House Republicans began their new session in power with a chaotic series of Speaker votes, an attack on the IRS, and an attack on abortion rights. They continued this past week with an attack on climate action. In particular, on Friday, House Republicans passed the Strategic Production Response Act, which…

Last month, the Pentagon failed its audit — for the fifth time. If this were any other agency in federal government, you would hear howling from members of Congress. But when it comes to the military, the response is always to increase the budget. Indeed, this past week, Congress finished…

Last Thursday, the US House voted 329–101 to approve the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The $839 billion authorization was even $37 billion more than the Biden administration asked for. While Democrats and Republicans joined hands to vote for more war spending, remember that the Pentagon has never…

Last Wednesday, the House passed the Protecting Our Kids Act 223 to 204. Two Democrats — Jared Golden (ME-02) and Kurt Schrader (OR-05)— voted against it. Five Republicans voted for it: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Kinzinger (IL-16), and Fred Upton (MI-06). …