Alison O'Leary
How Offshore Oil Drilling Rights Are Decided in the United States
Decisions about offshore oil and gas drilling—whether to sell new leases, hold sales, or ban development—are not made…
Why Americans Keep Re-electing Congresspeople They Dislike
Voters are unhappy with their government. This anti-incumbency sentiment, defined as a desire to vote out officeholders, is…
Does the Economy Always Decide Elections?
"It's the economy, stupid!" James Carville's famous phrase from Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign became an iron law of…
Can the Trump Administration Use Federal Websites to Blame Democrats for 2025 Shutdown?
During the October 2025 federal government shutdown, Americans visiting official government websites for essential information saw something unusual.…
How Federal Reserve Bank Supervisors Protect the U.S. Financial System
While the bank supervision staff of the Federal Reserve rarely makes headlines, their daily efforts are a cornerstone…
Why Biden’s Autopen Use Sparked Constitutional Fight Over Presidential Authority
For over 70 years, the presidential autopen has operated quietly in the White House. The machine uses a…
How to Donate to the U.S. Government: Rules and Requirements
Governments fund operations primarily through taxes, but they can accept voluntary donations. This comes with significant restrictions. Federal,…
Types of U.S. Federal Agencies: How the Executive Branch Is Organized
To many Americans, the federal government is just an "alphabet soup" of agencies. We hear about the FBI,…
Trump’s White House Ballroom: How Construction Bypassed Federal Oversight
The White House is the seat of executive power and one of the nation's most secure facilities. Its…
Why Trump Is Demanding $230 Million From Justice Department
President Donald Trump is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to pay him approximately $230 million for two…
FEMA Housing Assistance: What’s Covered and How to Apply
When a major disaster strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) becomes a critical lifeline for millions of…
Federal Workforce Crisis: How Skeleton Crews Are Asked to Manage Your Tax Dollars
With a budget of approximately $6.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. federal government is one of…
How Congress Calculates State Costs of Federal Budget Cuts
When Congress debates cutting federal spending or enacting new national standards, a critical question arises: Who ultimately pays…
How Federal Actions Drive Up Costs for States and Cities
In October 2025, Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency in response to a wave of federal…
Why Federal Judge Blocked Trump Plan to Fire Thousands of Furloughed Workers
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to permanently terminate thousands of furloughed federal employees…