Joshua Smith

Tearing down the East Wing and ruining the Reflecting Pool are bad, but symbolically so. This makes the experience of living in DC as a normal person – turning a place for cycling, fishing, birding, picnicking, and cheap golf into a playground for the rich – materially worse.

Jamie Dupree@jamiedupree.bsky.social

Trump releases his plan to re-do the East Potomac Park golf course in DC. His graphic does not show the current road which runs around Hains Point, or the picnic and memorial areas at the end. Getting rid of those public areas would be terrible.

gao.govImpoundment Control ActLearn about the Impoundment Control Act, which permits the President to “impound” appropriated funds, in certain circumstances.

The most recent non-Trump violaiton of the Impoundment Control Act was in 2006 under W.

Joshua Smith@smithmachine.bsky.social

This makes nine (9!) seperate times in less than two years that the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has determined the President has illegally withheld Congressinally appropriated funds.

gao.govU.S. GAO - Department of Health and Human Services—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality—Application of Impoundment Control Act to the Availability of Funds for GrantsCongress appropriated lump sum amounts to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to carry out various research initiatives for fiscal...

The President broke the law by illegally withholding funds to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

gao.govU.S. GAO - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—Application of Impoundment Control Act to the Administration of Community Change GrantsCongress appropriated amounts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants...

The President also broke the law by illegally witholding funds from EPA's Community Change Grants program, part of the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants Program, and illegally terminating the grants.

gao.govImpoundment Control ActLearn about the Impoundment Control Act, which permits the President to “impound” appropriated funds, in certain circumstances.

This makes nine (9!) seperate times in less than two years that the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has determined the President has illegally withheld Congressinally appropriated funds.

Incredible content

cbo.govHow Spending for Flood Adaptations Affects the Federal BudgetCBO examines how spending for flood adaptations today might affect the federal government's potential costs for disaster relief later, and what households are likely to pay for flood insurance that is...

Every $1 spent on flood adaptation saves $1.80 in federal disaster recovery costs. Seems like a good investment imo

wsj.comTrump Accounts’ Extraordinary Expansion Puts Individual Stocks Into Kids’ HoldingsThe latest shift in the program ties children’s wealth building directly to the fate of particular companies.

*guy pointing at his head meme* "Congress created Trump Accounts in last year’s tax-and-spending law, which says they can invest only in low-cost index funds. Treasury officials argue that the prohibition doesn’t apply to stock donations because account funds aren’t used to purchase the stock."

Richard Rubin@richardrubindc.bsky.social

New from us: Last week's Trump Accounts changes mean that millions of kids will get individual stocks that they can't reject and can't sell for five years.

This is a load-bearing "provided that." “I applaud this administration,” [Mark Iwry, a former senior Treasury official] said, “provided these measures are implemented responsibly, in good faith, and free of conflicts of interest, corruption, and ulterior motives.”

nytimes.comHow Congress Surrendered to the Supreme CourtTrump and his allies in the Capitol have revealed a problem that has been developing for decades.

This is a very good essay.

JFC

Every Film Now@everyfilmnow.bsky.social

The official launch video for Skydance, the newly merged Warner Bros. and Paramount company, has been released. #Skydance #WarnerBros #Paramount

on.wsj.comDecades After Watergate, Justice Department Reviews Whether Nixon Got a Raw DealA revisionist historian went to the DOJ headquarters to present his case that the former president and his associates weren’t treated fairly.

Come on now. This can't be real.

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com

Exclusive: More than 50 years after Watergate, the Justice Dept. is reaching back into history to consider whether Richard Nixon was treated unfairly.

Man, Jack Smith missed a great game. Steph hung 60!

GAO: **11 pages of legal reasoning as to what changed in the law since the '70s leading it to reverse itself** Vought: **Snarky tweet**

For those scoring at home... www.gao.gov/products/b-3...

gao.govU.S. GAO - DOGE: Congress and the Public Lack Assurance That Systems and Data Were Protected at Multiple AgenciesAn executive order required federal agencies to establish Department of Government Efficiency teams to implement the administration's goals. We...

"DOGE: Congress and the Public Lack Assurance That Systems and Data Were Protected at Multiple Agencies." Oh.

Neat! "The Extent to Which Selected Cybersecurity Controls for IT Security Rules Were Implemented or Followed at the Reviewed Agencies Could Not Be Determined Based on the Information Provided"

gao.govGAO ReportViolation of the Time Limit Imposed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998: Inspector General, Department of Commerce https://www.gao.gov/products/b-338097\?utm_medium\=social\&utm_source\=bluesk

17 Sept

I think it's bad when the President breaks the law.

U.S. Government Accountability Office@gao.gov

Violation of the Time Limit Imposed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998: Inspector General, Department of Commerce https://www.gao.gov/products/b-338097\?utm_medium\=social\&utm_source\=bluesky\&utm_campaign\=usgao

15 Sept

via Politico: "OUT AND ABOUT — Town & Country magazine celebrated its 180th anniversary last night at Library Bar inside Ned’s Club. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres by the chef Joshua Smith — including steak tartare croutons, lobster rolls and limoncello cheesecake."

2 Sept

Just realized that the #DCBikeRide is scheduled for Rosh Hashannah morning. Really? In the year 5787 we're still forgetting that this could be a conflict?? 🚲😢

14 Aug

Remember DOGE? Hahaha 🤦‍♂️

gao.govU.S. GAO - DOGE Wall of Receipts: More Transparency Needed on How Savings Are Derived from Contract, Grant, and Lease TerminationsThe President established the Department of Government Efficiency to transform federal spending. DOGE instructed agencies to review federal contracts...

6 Aug

My favorite anecdote in the GAO report: DOGE claimed $28 billion in savings from narrowing an Air Force contract, but then the Air Force just waited a few months and awarded a $27.4 billion no-bid contract to the same contractor to perform the same work that had been "descoped."

Joshua Smith@smithmachine.bsky.social

The Government Accountability Office, the actual professionals trying to root our government waste, is out with a 52-page report cataloging methodological errors and data limitations with DOGE's "Wall of Receipts." (I bet this was fun for them to write.)

6 Aug

niskanencenter.orgWashington, D.C.’s crime decline and its lessons for American policing - Niskanen CenterWashington, D.C., offers a rare opportunity to study how police departments throughout the country might, and in fact must, do more with less.

5 Aug

Another $1.4 billion for armed federal troops to patrol out city and yet they've had "no measurable effect on violent crime."

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

The Pentagon’s deployment of National Guard troops to D.C. is set to cost an additional $1.4 billion through the end of the Trump administration, according to information reviewed by The Post. The estimate encompasses October 2026 through January 2029.

washingtonpost.comTrump’s National Guard deployment in D.C. set to cost additional $1.4 billionThe estimate, provided to Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, covers the period from Oct. 1, 2026, through the end of the president’s term.

3 Aug

Reporting for duty 🫡

Jeff Passan Bot@jeffpassanbot.bsky.social

The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring utilityman Josh Smith from the Texas Rangers, sources tell ESPN. First on the news was @Evan_P_Grant.

@senatebudget.bsky.social

23 July

Fun fact! The “SAVE” part of the SAVE America Act stands for “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility,” so the bill is called the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility America Act.”

Joshua Smith reposted

Senate Budget Committee

23 July

NEW: @senatebudget.bsky.social analysis finds Trump's ICE and CBP are flush with more than $152 BILLION after the passage of Republicans' second partisan funding bill. All while American families struggle just to get by with no help from Trump. www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

budget.senate.govICE, CBP Now Sitting on $152 Billion After Republican Funding Bills | U.S. Senate Committee On The BudgetThe Official U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget

capitalweather.comScattered storms this afternoon and evening could be intenseStorms could produce both damaging winds and localized flooding. A flood watch is in effect.

18 July

Capital Weather@capitalweather.com

After smoke + gross humidity, severe storms may be today's final act. NWS has issued flood watch; severe storm watch may be coming. Very humid air mean high storm energy + poss v heavy rain Likely timing 2-7p west to east; prob 3-6p Beltway area. Details: www.capitalweather.com/scattered-st...

18 July

Is it just me, or is this simply too many severe weather alerts?

nytimes.comWhite House Faces Stiff Pushback on Subjecting Grants to Political ReviewAcademics, city leaders and congressional lawmakers number among the thousands to urge the Trump administration to reconsider a plan to assert more control over grants.

16 July

500,000 (!!!!) formal comments to this rule have been submitted to the Federal Register. Insane. (And well deserved.)

tony romm@tonyromm.bsky.social

NEW: Artists, academics, city leaders, civil engineers, congressional lawmakers, doctors, housing experts and more are among the many critics of a White House push to subject $1T in federal grants to political review. In short, they say it would damage public services www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/u...

washingtonpost.comHouse passes Trump’s plan to make daylight saving time permanentThe bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act would end the practice of switching clocks twice per year.

14 July

👎 I, for one, would not like the sun to rise at *8:27 a.m.* in the dead of winter here in DC.

Dan Diamond@ddiamond.bsky.social

Wow. The House has *passed* the Trump-backed plan for year-round daylight saving time. States would be able to opt out. The bill heads to the Senate. This is a huge development for those of us on the sunshine policy beat. with the great @annalissroy.bsky.social

14 July

Somone is taking the France loss hard. (Don't worry, Senator! Spain and England are still in it!)

newyorkermag.visitlink.meAn O.M.B. Plan to Defund Science—and Anything Trump Doesn’t LikeUnder a new proposal, Administration officials could deny government grants to any group or project on the ground that it didn’t fit the President’s agenda.

12 July

“The proposal in question comes, not surprisingly, out of the Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russell Vought, the architect of Project 2025.”

The New Yorker@newyorker.com

A new proposal could transform the way hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are disbursed—according to President Trump’s agenda. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/EYgKbk

nytimes.comWhistle-Blowers Accuse Kennedy Center of Contracting Flaws Under TrumpDocuments submitted to Congress detailed concerns about competitive bidding processes and a White House order to tear up new bathroom tile because of its color.

11 July

“The center said in its statement that it had confirmed with the Office of Management and Budget that, as an independent entity, it was not bound by federal contracting regulations.” Yeah man I checked with the arsonist and he said it’s cool to light ‘er up

6 July

Texted this on the group chat literally two days ago. Ah well nevertheless

6 July

Et tu, official MLB app? Somewhere Pete Rose is laughing his ass off

4 July

Fancy Qatari jet just buzzed the neighborhood

bit.lyThe Capital Is a MessChain-link fences, construction cranes, armed guards, and portable toilets everywhere

There are fences *everywhere* blocking movement and they all say "FREEDOM"

The Atlantic@theatlantic.com

Trump has transformed D.C. into a dirty construction site, @mviser.bsky.social reports. He explores what awaits those who come to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Went down to the Great American State Fair. My personal highlight might have been this Madison cosplayer arguing before literally ones of people that we’re a republic and not a democracy.

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Dying to know who the mystery “Multi-Platinum Hip-Hop Artist” could be. Unless that’s his name?

The NASA display was legit cool. But it’d have been cooler if you didn’t turn around to be confronted by the Truth Social booth. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Went down to the Great American State Fair. My personal highlight might have been this Madison cosplayer arguing before literally ones of people that we’re a republic and not a democracy.

Not so much in the way of “people,” but the Faith & Family tent was legit crowded.

30 June

*Maxes Muncy

Sarah Langs@slangsonsports.bsky.social

Max Muncy vs Max Muncy day!! Both playing third Both batting 7th Both born Aug 25 Both drafted by the A’s Baseball is the best!!

nytimes.comOpinion | The Science That Turned Lizard Venom Into GLP-1s Is Under Attack

20 June

Great op-ed in the Times today about serendipitous scientific discoveries. I think about this every time a certain Senator pretends we could balance the budget if only we would stop funding experiments where we give quails cocaine.

washingtonpost.comAnalysis | The various dishonesties in Rand Paul’s cocaine-quail presentationThe Kentucky senator took a strong stand against government spending that ended years ago.

20 June

E.g.

19 June

And his company is called “Greenwater Services”?!?? Stop it. This is too much.

Philip Bump@pbump.com

I’m sorry, no. This is not the guy who did the reflecting pool. No. Come on. We’re just putting a hat on a hat here. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/u...

15 June

“Note: To activate the account, you enter willingly into an agreement with Robinhood Securities, LLC, which serves as the trustee for Trump Accounts.” 🇺🇸