iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A joint, bipartisan congressional inquiry into 9/11 with a team of 24 independent investigators found failures to adapt to new threats, recognize key intelligence, and share information. The report was unanimously approved in December 2002. levin-center.org/what-is-over...

Joint Inquiry into Intelligence On the 9/11 Terrorist Attack

9/11 Terrorist Attack - The Levin Center Portraits in Oversight provide a historical walk through crucial Congressional investigations.

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

📅 Join the GWU Trachtenberg School of Public Policy on Oct. 7 at noon ET for a discussion of Congress, GAO, and legislative oversight. Dave Rapallo, Levin Center senior advisor, will explore oversight tools and appropriations with fellow panelists. Register: gwu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

gwu-edu.zoom.us

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Symposium on Government Oversight & Accountability. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

To educate, discuss recent developments, raise awareness, and share insights about oversight.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Congress’s ability to oversee the executive branch and make sound legislative decisions rests on its ability to obtain accurate information from the news media. Barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico is an attack on the 1st Amendment and Article I. It must not stand. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/09...

nytimes.com

3 News Outlets Sue Trump in Widening Fight Over Press Freedom

After President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, major TV networks suspended their shared coverage of the president.

110

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Two dozen organizations across the political spectrum are urging Congress to take sole control of appointing the Comptroller General, head of GAO, its independent watchdog—and to change the process before filling the post. americalabs.org/wp-content/u...

americalabs.org

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The State Oversight Academy took our research on the road last week! We visited the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives to dive into its records from the Three Mile Island committee. Thanks to the wonderful archivists for hosting us!

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In 1978–79, a House subcommittee held 13 hearings on toxic waste sites, focusing on Love Canal. Its bipartisan investigation exposed serious health hazards and helped lead to the Superfund law for cleaning up toxic sites. Read more: levin-center.org/love-canal/

Love Canal - Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

The Love Canal Disaster, caused by hazardous chemicals buried into the canal, ultimately led to the Superfund Act of 1980. Read the Portrait in Oversight.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Could Rebooting Congress Save American Democracy? Join the Levin Center for Constitution Day @waynelawschool.bsky.social as experts, educators, and civic leaders explore the Constitution's enduring impact and the importance of informed citizenship. Register: levin-center.org/constitution...

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Check your voter status, register to vote, find your polling place, and be ready to vote! www.nass.org/can-I-vote

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Watch “Pushing the Purse,” featuring Levin Center Oversight Fellow Kevin Angell on how Congress uses budgeting and appropriations to conduct oversight, shape executive behavior, and respond to presidential noncompliance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Nx...

youtube.com

Pushing the Purse: Congressional Budgeting as a Tool of Oversight

Watch this seminar featuring the Levin Center’s 2025/26 Elise J. Bean Oversight Fellow, Kevin Angell, as he presents his research on the relationship between congressional budget processes and…

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

In 1975, the Senate created a select committee to investigate U.S. intelligence activities. Led by Sens. Frank Church (D-ID) and John Tower (R-TX), the 16-month investigation exposed previously unknown intelligence operations, including CIA assassination plots.

Frank Church and the Church Committee - Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It’s important to remember the value of intel communities when they're allowed to be apolitical. In 2005, Sen. Levin released proof of uncertainties agencies had about Iraq’s ties to al Qaeda. We'd be wise to learn from this, and base our actions on facts, not politics. irp.fas.org/congress/200...

irp.fas.org

Sen. Levin Releases Newly Declassified Intelligence Documents on Iraq-al Qaeda Relationship

Documents show Administration claims were exaggerated

011

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress launched its first-ever bicameral investigation by its two standing intelligence committees, examining intelligence failures surrounding the attacks. Read more: levin-center.org/what-is-over...

Joint Inquiry into Intelligence On the 9/11 Terrorist Attack

9/11 Terrorist Attack - The Levin Center Portraits in Oversight provide a historical walk through crucial Congressional investigations.

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

📄 Matthew Dull explores the rise and decline of the House Appropriations Committee's Surveys & Investigations staff, offering new insight into congressional capacity and institutional competence. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70083

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thanks for following our series on The Politics of Congressional Reports in @LSQjournal.bsky.social. Together, these articles show what great research comes out of great data sets. Check out CORD here: www.cord-levin-center.org

cord-levin-center.org

CORD :: Home

Welcome to the Levin Center's upgraded Congressional Oversight Records Database (CORD)!

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

📄 Jenn Kim, Benjamin Kinnard, and John Patty show how selection effects can shape studies of congressional oversight, offering a new framework for understanding #oversight activity. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70081

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

📄 How do minority parties use #oversight? Cody Drolc and Jordan Butcher show how #oversight reports help minority lawmakers communicate priorities, challenge majority narratives, and document dissent. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70080

001

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

📄 How do oversight committees communicate information? Kenneth Lowande and Mark Weiss examine how partisanship shapes the types of claims made in congressional #oversight reports. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70079

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Labor Day was special for Senator Carl Levin. He loved the parades, particularly Detroit’s. He and his brother Sandy would walk the entire route, shake hands with the crowd, and happily honor the legacy and contributions of U.S. laborers and their organizations.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

📄 Claire Leavitt examines how House investigations contribute to legislative outcomes, showing that investigations are often an integral part of policymaking; not simply political theater. #Oversight #Congress onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70082

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Join us Sept. 10 @ 12:15pm for “Pushing the Purse: Congressional Budgeting as a Tool of Oversight,” a presentation by Oversight Fellow Kevin Angell on how Congress uses budgeting and appropriations as tools of legislative oversight and executive accountability. RSVP: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

us02web.zoom.us

RSVP Now!

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

📄 New research from Sean Theriault examines whether congressional oversight reports influence future legislative activity and finds strong evidence that #oversight and lawmaking are deeply connected. #Congress onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70078

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

“Since the 101st Congress (1989-1990), Congress has established over 170 congressional commissions.” Congress uses commissions as temporary entities to examine difficult questions and provide independent findings and recommendations. www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R400...

everycrsreport.com

Congressional Commissions: Overview and Considerations for Congress

December 19, 2008 – January 21, 2026 R40076

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

📄 New work by Grace Moore, David Rapallo, and Sean Theriault examines congressional #oversight reports as legislative branch work products and an important resource for understanding how #Congress conducts oversight. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.70091

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Behind every great dataset lies a phenomenal amount of hard work. Huge thanks to Grace Moore, Research & Data Specialist at the Levin Center, whose incredible work helps expand, maintain, and improve CORD every day! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162/2026/51/3

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This special issue of @LSQjournal.bsky.social is dedicated to Elise Bean, whose vision was instrumental in creating CORD. Her commitment to strengthening congressional oversight continues to shape new research and public understanding of Congress. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162/2026/51/3

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Congressional reports are among #Congress's most important tools for gathering information, conducting #oversight, documenting findings, and influencing policy. This special issue explores their impact on American governance. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162/2026/51/3

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

📢 New special issue of @lsqjournal.bsky.social using CORD data: The Politics of Congressional Reports. Featuring new research on #oversight, congressional capacity, and accountability. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19399162/2026/51/3

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

@waynelawschool.bsky.social students -- Tuesday coffee hours at the Levin Center have started again! Come grab some free coffee or tea and say hi (or don't; the coffee is free either way!)

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In 1922, the Senate investigated the Teapot Dome scandal -- “a vigorous, bipartisan investigation” exposing corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the US government and establishing “the right of Congress to investigate executive branch wrongdoing.” levin-center.org/senator-wals...

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Sara Zdeb, Asst. Professor at Emory School of Law, won the Levin Center’s 2026 Award for Excellence in Oversight Research for “Cooperative Oversight and the Separation of Powers,” which explores how cooperation can strengthen congressional oversight. Read the paper: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

000

Reposted by Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 25/08/2026

"It is puzzling, to say the least, that Congress would wish to further weaken its powers by destroying one of its key resources for oversight." Why Congress should vote no on dismantling the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency:

pogo.org

Congress Should Reject Newest Attempt To Defang Watchdogs

A new bill would dismantle the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Congress should vote no.

0104

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The Trump Administration is proposing changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act that would give the government “exclusive discretion” to decide whether public participation is useful. Public input is essential to informed decision-making. We strongly disagree.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

In 1965, after years of skyrocketing car-related fatalities across the country, a year-long Senate oversight investigation chaired by Senator Abe Ribicoff "not only fundamentally changed how the federal government handled motor vehicle safety problems, but also helped save millions of lives."

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Our mission includes promoting “civil discourse [and] good governance.” Trump has violated these principles repeatedly, and today he did it again — something no president has said or ever would say: Trump told Fox News’ Trey Yingst, “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the sh*t out of them.”

foxnews.com

Trump confirms IRGC backchannel, but calls for Iran's 'white flag of surrender'

Trump confirmed a direct backchannel with the IRGC for peace talks and issued an extraordinary bombing warning to Oman as the ceasefire expires.

001

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

In 1963, Joseph Valachi testified for 5 days before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, exposing Mafia operations on national TV. Its 135-page bipartisan report helped lead to the passage of the Organized Crime Control Act, which included RICO laws.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This week, our State Oversight Academy trained 28 state legislators and two Medicaid directors at CSG’s Medicaid Conference. Participants explored their role in Medicaid policy, proactive oversight of H.R. 1 changes, and practiced conducting oversight through a rural maternal health case study.

000

Reposted by Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Could Rebooting Congress Help Save American Democracy? Join the Levin Center for Constitution Day as experts, educators, and civic leaders explore the Constitution's enduring impact and the importance of informed citizenship. Learn more and register:

Constitution Day 2026 - RSVP - Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Join us on September 17 for a Constitution Day panel on how to reboot Congress to strengthen American Democracy.

001

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

"In this 250th year of our Declaration of Independence, when we revisit the brilliance of both the goals and the concerns held by our country’s Founders, let’s not forget the lessons we have learned along the way." thehill.com/opinion/cong...

thehill.com

Remember the lessons of Watergate — so we’re not doomed to relearn them

With the nation reaching the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Linda Gustitus reflects on how the Watergate scandal led to critical congressional reforms designed to prevent pre…

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

After joining the Senate in 1940, Harry Truman drove 10,000 miles inspecting military spending. Alarmed by the waste, he helped establish the bipartisan Truman Committee, whose investigations saved an estimated $10–15 billion—and thousands of lives.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

If you're in Michigan, don't forget to vote in the primary elections today! Find your precinct at the Michigan Voter Information Center: mvic.sos.state.mi.us

021

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

In 1932, the Senate launched an investigation into the 1929 stock market crash. After hiring Ferdinand Pecora in 1933, the inquiry took off. Pecora personally served subpoenas and waited for documents. The investigation laid the foundation for sweeping financial reforms.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

On the 5th anniversary of Sen. Carl Levin’s passing, CORD adds U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee oversight reports—honoring the committee he led and his bipartisan belief that strong national security requires strong oversight. www.cord-levin-center.org

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

📢Today, we are proud to announce that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appointed LevinCenter Director Jim Townsend as the chair of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)! Read our full statement here: levin-center.org/levin-center...

Levin Center Director Jim Townsend Appointed to Chair Michigan Gaming Control Board - Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Today Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she has appointed Jim Townsend as the chair of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Just 4 days after Titanic survivors reached NYC, the Senate Commerce Committee opened hearings at the Waldorf Astoria, later continuing in D.C. The Senate’s “quick, effective, bipartisan” investigation uncovered what happened and helped spur concrete reforms across the maritime industry.

000

Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy @levincenter.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

In 1871, a Senate select committee investigated Ku Klux Klan violence. The majority documented murders, whippings, and terror; the minority denied that the KKK existed. The inquiry helped spur civil rights laws, the creation of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the prosecutions of KKK members.