iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Congressional problems, 1933: Senator leaves papers from another senator in a 🚕 and doesn't know the 🚕 driver's name or company 😳

240

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Can’t believe I’ve been tweeting this for 250 years 😂

1160

Reposted by Sarah Binder

Andrew Rudalevige @rudalev.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Some thoughts on the Slaughter-house Six and the death of Humphrey’s Executor on @goodauth.bsky.social … and look for @sarahbinder.bsky.social and Mark Spindel on the companion Cook decision too! goodauthority.org/news/after-t...

goodauthority.org

After the Supreme Court’s Slaughter decision, how far does the president’s power extend?

There’s a place for Congress in structuring the executive branch.

13718

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

New @goodauth.bsky.social post w/ Mark Spindel on Supreme Court Trump v Cook decision. Throws 🛟 to Gov Cook but carves out possibly only a tenuous safe harbor for the Federal Reserve. We also revise chief justice's revisionist history of central banking in America 🤓 goodauthority.org/news/scotus-...

goodauthority.org

SCOTUS stays Cook slaughter

What Trump v. Cook means for the Federal Reserve.

063

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Kevin Warsh confirmed Fed chair on most partisan confirmation vote ever (since Congress mandated vote to confirm chair). Dems likely viewed Warsh too close to Trump, unwilling to distance himself from POTUS even on q of who won 2020 election. Writing's been on the wall; remarkable shift all the same

3105

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Key takeaway from Trump (🌮) move to abandon criminal investigation of Powell & Fed renovation cost overruns: Fed independence" is no sure thing. The Fed needs defenders-- players who will come to the Fed's defense when politicians try to bully central bankers for lower rates.

2426

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Wishful Axios thinking that GOP can move Warsh nom to a floor vote just as Dems secured confirmation vote for Justice Jackson in 2022. Then, 50/50 Senate had a temporary majority discharge rule to free measures/noms tied in comm. Today, GOP would first need 60 votes for cloture on discharge motion

063

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

No shortage of carbs for this ❄️🌨️ 😂

1240

Reposted by Sarah Binder

Good Authority @goodauth.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

The Federal Reserve is still playing defense. Here are four takeaways from the latest bouts between Trump and the Federal Reserve. Read the latest from @sarahbinder.bsky.social & Mark Spindel: goodauthority.org/news/the-fed...

goodauthority.org

The Federal Reserve is still playing defense

The Federal Reserve is still playing defense. Four takeaways from the latest bouts between Trump and the Federal Reserve.

021

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

The Fed might seem on a roll. Today it drew support from SCOTUS; last week, from markets & key GOP senators. But the Fed is not out of the woods. New @goodauth.bsky.social post w/ Mark Spindel on why Fed remains on defense & vulnerable to POTUS efforts to steer it. goodauthority.org/news/the-fed...

goodauthority.org

The Federal Reserve is still playing defense

The Federal Reserve is still playing defense. Four takeaways from the latest bouts between Trump and the Federal Reserve.

055

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

New post for @democracyproject.bsky.social's "100 ideas" on the challenges of president-proofing legislative agencies-- especially GAO. Time is running out for Congress to consider ways to protect its non-partisan watchdog from a vortex of presidential power. democracyproject.org/posts/insula...

democracyproject.org

Insulating Legislative Agencies

A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.

12210

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Powell goes full Schattschneider 🤓! Expand the scope of conflict, get audience off the sidelines & into the game. Gambit to rally political support for Fed & put Trump on defensive. Reminder that Fed depends on political support (from lawmakers, markets, judges, POTUS) to secure its “independence”

0307

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Where's Congress on Venezuela? New Brookings post: Don't count on Congress but don't count it out either. Bipartisan Sen. WPR discharge vote today is case in point: WH failed to keep GOP in line. POTUS use of force is not a cakewalk for POTUS or slim GOP majorities. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...

brookings.edu

The global implications of the US military operation in Venezuela | Brookings

Brookings scholars assess the global implications of the U.S. military operation in Caracas, Venezuela.

050

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Discharge rule continues campaign for 2025 MVP award🏆! Coalition to extend ACA support hits 218 signatures, matching record 4 "entered" discharge petitions set 90 years ago (1937-8). Speakers today may have peak agenda power, but that's no match for angry 218 (and an organized minority).

22813

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Rare House discharge success today. Reminder that the rule was born of legislators' frustration with an overbearing and overreaching Speaker (Czar) Joe Cannon in 1910. Granted, Speakers Cannon & Johnson had different reasons to batten down the floor agenda. But overreach can sometimes prove costly!

1188

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Now this is a great speech for a POTUS to deliver when he visits the Federal Reserve (in 1937). Watch FDR live! (starts at .22) sarahbinder.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/... Or read the whole speech here 🤓 www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/ad...

032

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

What to expect while you're expecting (Massie's discharge petition ...)

010

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Senate GOP tactics to make 2017 tax cuts "permanent" required nuclear move on Senate floor-- weakening authority of the parliamentarian, blowing hole in Byrd Rule, & possibly making future debt crisis more likely. New @goodauth.bsky.social post on fallout from OBBB goodauthority.org/news/three-b...

goodauthority.org

Three big takeaways from that “One Big Beautiful Bill.“

Republican tactics seem likely to weaken the Senate – and make fiscal crisis more likely.

46022

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Reminder on Byrd process: Parliamentarian has identified OBBB text that violates Byrd rule. Her advice doesn’t block text. She’s saying: If GOP still keep Byrd-offending text in OBBB & send it to floor, a senator can cry fowl (😉). Supporters would then need 60 votes to keep each proposal in bill.

2189

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Senate parliamentarian never sleeps! More Byrd droppings! These Ag panel droppings will get most 👀: Mandating ⬆️ state $$ contributions to fund SNAP & banning undocumented from food benefits These Byrd calls very slightly shift OBBB to center. Likely angers hawks, but might help Thune. Full list ⬇️

budget.senate.gov

Several Additional Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to 60-Vote Threshold, According to Senate Parliamentarian | U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

The Official U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

071

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Byrd droppings piling up from S Banking text. GOP-sought savings from Fed/CFPB are good reminder of Fed's *structural* independence. Guessing Byrd rule blocks zero'ing out of CFPB & Fed staff salary cuts, since Fed is self-funded & not reliant on Congress for appropriations.

28722

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Why did Trump send such a narrow and small rescission request to Congress? New @Brookings.edu FixGov post on the politics and rules of rescinding appropriations spending under federal budget law— and what’s at stake. www.brookings.edu/articles/tru...

brookings.edu

Trump wants Congress to vote for his rescissions. Are Republicans willing to own the cuts?

President Trump has sent a “rescission” package to Capitol Hill, proposing $9.4 billion in cuts to international aid and public broadcasting.

0102

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

House GOP pay-fors more draconian for tax cuts this year compared to 2017 TCJA. Primary 2017 revenue raiser was🧂🧢 (after "border tax" killed). This time, slimmer GOP seeks more costly tax cuts & more politically salient revenue raisers (Medicaid/SNAP/ACA/Pell✂️). Pulls bill much farther to the right.

134

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Congress was hiding in plain sight 🤓. Join me & @johnsides.bsky.social for Episode 2 of @goodauth.bsky.social's Where's Congress? We consider the big (yes), beautiful (eye of beholder) bill House GOP are trying to pass thru House --Senate GOP views be damned (for now) www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvfR...

084

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Would Democrats take advantage of GOP-proposed tax-free "MAGA savings accounts" for their kids? Would be a good test of "partisanship is a powerful drug." Pre-register your survey experiment(s) now 🤓

020

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Re-appointed [Faculty] Senate parliamentarian. Unanimous consent, no objections 🤣 🤞🏻🤞🏻I don’t get ignored or fired 😳

180

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

House GOP struggles to identify politically-palatable cuts to Medicaid shouldn't surprise (esp given slim majority). Figure shows % district enrolled in M'caid/CHIP vs Trump vote (2024). Significant cuts would hit across red states, esp in those that expanded M'caid (comprising 60% of House GOP).

2136

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

House & Senate GOP likely view big cuts to Medicaid differently--especially S GOP from states that expanded Medicaid post ACA. Graph shows % of Medicaid recipients enrolled via expansion (Q3 2024 data). You can see impact on red states, especially (but not limited to) red states above trend line.

162

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Truer words never spoken (even if not limited to the House...)

1162

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Pretty remarkable (not surprising) that recap of Trump's 1st 100 days mentions Congress just 3 times: Judge says Congress has power of 👛, Trump tells Congress he will shutdown USAID, & 2 House Dems introduce a bill to require weekly DOGE reports to Congress www.axios.com/visuals/trum...

axios.com

Trump's boundary-breaking 100 days: A timeline in excruciating detail

How Trump is reshaping the federal government and upending the legal system in his second term.

1114

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Defenders of "Fed independence" have, for now, deterred Trump from firing Powell. But Fed independence remains contingent & fragile. New @goodauth.bsky.social post w/ Mark Spindel on legal, political & historical forces that imperfectly insulate Fed from politics. goodauthority.org/news/federal...

goodauthority.org

Could the Supreme Court kill the Fed’s independence?

Maybe, but keep your eyes on politics – and the markets.

2167

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Back by popular demand ... Hope it's not too early to gear up for the next Peepal Conclave 🐤 🐤

831171

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Lots of questions abt Trump's (implied) threat to fire Fed chair. NB: Federal Reserve Act dictates "for cause" removal protection for Fed governors. When lawmakers amended the act in 1977 (1st time they required Senate confirmation of governors as *chair*) they dropped for cause protection for chair

1130

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

We're live with "Where's Congress?" 🤓🤓 Got topics or questions you'd like me and @johnsides.bsky.social to tackle in future @goodauth.bsky.social episodes? Send them along!

063

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

I give Senate approps 🥇 for best named 🍒🌸🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏾Congressional team Would be funnier team name had the March CR not eliminated most earmarks !

010

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Would you read 800 words on the difference (if any) between “not overruling” and “ignoring” the Senate Parliamentarian?

10290

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Times like these (as Booker closes in on Strom's Senate record) require listening to former Senate parliamentarian Alan Frumin explain the "porta potty" incident. You can guess what the 🚽 story is about. Start at 21:17 on the great Civics 101 podcast 🤓 www.civics101podcast.org/civics-101-e...

civics101podcast.org

The Senate Parliamentarian — Civics 101: A Podcast

Since 1935, the Senate has had a parliamentarian. Their job is to decide, in a truly nonpartisan way, how things operate in the chamber. Their power to decide what can and cannot be done when it comes...

194

Reposted by Sarah Binder

ringwiss @ringwiss.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

“Gavel.”

392

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Only one of these top stories is meant to be satire 😂

011

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Ladies & gentlemen: We have a winner! Rob Oldham is now the proud owner of decades of my hand collected and coded NYT editorials (before they were available online) to juice his research on crisis & legislative action And no, I'm not retiring. Just some purging to clear space on my office floor! 🤓

0472

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Crunch time for Senate Democrats on funding the government. New @goodauth.bsky.social post on why and how the GOP has put Democrats in a vise — and Democrats’ limited options for getting out of it. goodauthority.org/news/us-gove...

goodauthority.org

A government shutdown is looming. Can Congress avert it?

Congress faces a government shutdown on Friday, March 14. Will that threat secure enough votes from Senate Democrats?

01311

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Another sign of a disappearing Congress: “Oversight” conducted via evidentiary hearing in federal court rather than by a congressional committee under the lights. Here, tough to shine public spotlight on policy consequences of dismantling CFPB & impact on consumers. www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/p...

cnn.com

DOGE’s efforts to dismantle consumer finance agency have slowed, official testifies | CNN Politics

A top official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau testified in court Monday that efforts by DOGE to quickly and aggressively abolish the agency have been somewhat reined in by Trump-appointed...

0254

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Still life with … 🐔🍞🍞🍞

0110

Sarah Binder @sarahbinder.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Variation in poverty by cong. districts-- between and within parties. Swing district GOP wary of slashing Medicaid/SNAP, but poverty rates are higher in GOP-held safe red districts. Still, poverty rates vary markedly across the 20 most competitive GOP-held districts-- from <4% to >15% of families

21815