Articles
Independent, non-partisan analysis of federal spending, the national debt, Federal Reserve economic data, and congressional accountability — sourced directly from primary government databases.
All analysis
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The Biggest Defense Contractors in 2026 (By Federal Contract Dollars)
Federal SpendingWho are the biggest defense contractors? A ranked guide to the top U.S. defense companies by federal contract dollars, and how to track what each is paid.
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Palantir Government Contracts: How Much the Government Pays Palantir
Federal SpendingHow much does the U.S. government pay Palantir? A plain-English look at its federal contracts — Maven, Army Vantage, ICE/DHS work — and how to track the dollars.
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Does Congress Have Insider Trading? The STOCK Act, Explained
Congressional Stock TradesCan members of Congress legally trade stocks on information from their jobs? A plain-English guide to the STOCK Act, what it requires, how weak the enforcement is, and how to track the trades.
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Government Shutdown 2026: What's Funded, What Stops, and Where It Stands
Congressional VotesA plain-English guide to a 2026 government shutdown — what causes it, what stays open, what stops, who gets paid, and how to check the current status in real time.
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Debt Passed $39 Trillion. The Next Risk Is the Cost of Rolling It Over.
Budget & Deficit
Treasury data shows U.S. public debt above $39 trillion while average interest rates and record bill auction sizes keep refinancing risk at the center of the federal budget outlook.
FY2026 Deficit at Midyear: Borrowing Slows, Interest Stays High
Budget & Deficit
First-half FY2026 deficit improved from last year, but net interest outlays stayed near $970B and total federal debt remained close to $39T in April data.
The IEEPA Collapse: How the Supreme Court's 6-3 Ruling Rewired the Legal Framework Governing $166 Billion in U.S. Tariffs
Regulatory Watch
6-3 Supreme Court ruling strikes down IEEPA tariffs, forcing $166B in refunds and a pivot to Section 122 trade authority. What changed, and what's next.
The Trade Whipsaw: Tariff Front-Running, GDP Stall, and a Consumer Under Pressure
Economic Data
The U.S. trade deficit swung $81B in a year. GDP near-stalled at 0.7% in Q4 2025. Consumer sentiment sits at 56.6. Here's what the data actually reveals.
Where the $7 Trillion Goes: FY2025 Federal Agency Cost Breakdown
Federal Spending
FY2025 Treasury data reveals agency-level net costs and how $970 billion in annual interest payments now exceeds all discretionary federal agencies combined.
The $970 Billion Interest Bill: How a Shrinking Workforce and Exploding Debt Costs Are Rewriting the Federal Budget
Budget & Deficit
Federal interest costs hit $970B in FY2025 as labor force participation fell to 62.0%. The data reveals a widening gap between tax base and debt service.
USTR Section 301 Investigations: 76 Nations, Two Investigations, One Office
Regulatory Watch
USTR opened simultaneous Section 301 investigations targeting manufacturing overcapacity in 16 economies and forced labor in 60 — the broadest deployment of U.S. trade law in modern history.
Consumer Confidence Is at a 3-Year Low. GDP Growth Has Stalled. What the Data Says.
Economic Data
Michigan sentiment fell to 56.4 — a 3-year low — as Q4 2025 GDP growth stalled at 0.7%. Five federal data series reveal the consumer confidence collapse.
Record Treasury Auctions, 3.32% Average Rates: The Mechanics of Borrowing $39 Trillion
Federal Spending
Treasury auctioned a record $110B in 4-week bills in Oct 2025. Debt: $39T, avg rate: 3.32%. How the U.S. government's borrowing machine works and its cost.
The $1.83 Trillion Deficit: How Mandatory Spending and Interest Payments Are Crowding Out the Federal Budget
Budget & Deficit
The FY2025 federal deficit reached -5.77% of GDP. Mandatory spending and $970B in interest payments now consume 86 cents of every revenue dollar collected.
$39 Trillion and Climbing: The U.S. Is Borrowing $6.73 Billion Every Day
Federal Spending
The U.S. national debt crossed $39 trillion on March 19, 2026, adding $1.14 trillion in 169 FY2026 days. At $6.73 billion per day, taxpayers owe $116,400.
230,000 and Counting: What Initial Jobless Claims Reveal About the Federal Workforce Reduction
Regulatory Watch
BLS data shows initial jobless claims surged to 230,000 in late January 2026 as federal workforce reductions hit peak pace — what the government's numbers show.
GDP Growth Fell to 0.7% in Q4 2025 — The Sharpest Single-Quarter Deceleration in Two Years
Economic Data
Real GDP growth fell from 4.4% to 0.7% in Q4 2025 — the sharpest quarterly deceleration in two years. Federal data shows 4.4% unemployment, 0.44% CPI inflation, and a flagging 4.5% personal saving rate.
Senate DHS Deadlock: Four Cloture Votes, Zero Results
Congressional Votes
The Senate has failed four cloture votes on DHS funding — always 9 votes short of 60. After 34 days, 366 TSA officers resigned and spring break travelers face 3-hour waits.
FY2026 Deficit Hits $1 Trillion in Five Months — On Pace for $1.9T Full-Year Gap
Budget & Deficit
The federal government ran a $1 trillion deficit in the first five months of FY2026, CBO reports. With $308B borrowed in February alone, Washington is on pace for a $1.9T full-year gap.
88% Workforce Cut, 17 Enforcement Cases Dropped: GAO Report Documents CFPB's 2025 Restructuring
Regulatory Watch
A GAO audit of the CFPB (Feb–Aug 2025) documented stop-work orders, 88% workforce cuts, 17 dismissed enforcement cases, and 70 rescinded guidance documents.
CBO Final Score: OBBBA Adds $3.4 Trillion to Deficit
Congressional Votes
CBO's post-enactment score of Public Law 119-21 raises the deficit impact to $3.4 trillion—$1T above early estimates. We document the vote tallies, procedure, and fiscal cost.
FY2025 Federal Spending by Agency: The $7 Trillion Breakdown
Federal Spending
In FY2025, the federal government spent $7.0 trillion. Three agencies — HHS, Social Security, and Defense — consumed nearly two-thirds. GTP maps every dollar.
Federal Interest Payments Top $1 Trillion for First Time in U.S. History
Budget & Deficit
Federal net interest payments crossed $1 trillion in FY2025 for the first time, now outpacing defense spending as national debt reaches $38.9 trillion.
CBO Projects $1.9 Trillion Deficit for FY2026 As 10-Year Shortfall Hits $24.4 Trillion
Federal Spending
The CBO's February 2026 baseline projects $1.9 trillion in FY2026 deficits rising to $3.1T by 2036, with cumulative 10-year shortfalls of $24.4 trillion.
One Big Beautiful Bill: 215-214 House, VP Tie-Break Senate
Congressional Votes
H.R. 1 passed the House 215–214 and Senate 50–50 on a VP tie-break. Three Republicans defected. CBO projects $2.4 trillion in new deficits through 2034.
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