OpenTheBooks Substack

OpenTheBooks Substack scrutinizes the opacity in U.S. public policy, highlighting the interplay of secrecy, financial mismanagement, and ethical concerns in government and allied institutions. It uncovers financial improprieties and misallocations involving high-profile individuals, agencies, and sectors, advocating for transparency and accountability.

Government Transparency and Accountability Financial Mismanagement in Public Sector Ethical Concerns in Governance Public Policy Critique Conflict of Interest in Public Institutions Health and Education Policy Analysis Investigative Reporting on Political Figures Government Spending and Waste

The hottest Substack posts of OpenTheBooks Substack

And their main takeaways

University of Virginia Spends $20 Million On 235 DEI Employees, With Some Making $587,340 Per Year

236 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Finance Health Politics World Politics News
  1. University of Virginia spends $20 million on 235 DEI employees, with some earning up to $587,340 annually.
  2. University of Florida saved $5 million yearly by eliminating 13 full-time DEI positions and reallocating funds to faculty recruitment.
  3. UVA has deep DEI infrastructure with various agencies and departments dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The $175.3 Trillion Doomsday Clock Is Ticking – That Is The Estimated Unfunded Social Security And Medicare Liability

170 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💰 Finance Government spending Social Security
  1. The estimated unfunded Social Security and Medicare liability is a staggering $175.3 trillion, which is a major financial crisis threatening the future.
  2. The funding gap for Social Security and Medicare over the next 75 years is projected to be $78.3 trillion, leading to potential options like increased borrowing, higher taxes, or reduced benefits.
  3. The $175.3 trillion gap is a result of a lack of significant reforms in recent decades, with the projection showing significant challenges with Medicare Part B, Social Security, and other programs in the future.

The Podcast Tax: If You’re Paying Taxes, You’re Paying For Government Podcasts!

108 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government funding Podcasts Artistic expression
  1. The federal government has funded numerous podcasts on various topics, including agriculture, linguistics, and religious life, some with ideologically charged content.
  2. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) have primary roles in funding podcasts for artistic and cultural expression.
  3. Many Americans might view the government-funded podcasts as wasteful spending, especially in light of the increasing national debt and the questionable topics covered.
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Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists.

143 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Terrorism Government Accountability Middle East Conflict International relations
  1. Biden allocated $1.2 billion in Palestinian aid to UNRWA, a UN agency linked with terrorist extremists.
  2. President Trump had previously cut U.S. aid to UNRWA to zero due to concerns about funding terrorism.
  3. The United States has been the largest funder of UNRWA since its founding in 1948, providing over one-third of its budget.

Anthony Fauci Defended NIH Culture Of Secrecy: The $325M Third-Party Royalty Complex... Now We Know More Details.

779 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Corruption Transparency Healthcare Research
  1. Anthony Fauci defended NIH culture of secrecy regarding third-party royalty payments.
  2. Chinese and Russian companies paid NIH for licensing technologies developed with U.S. taxpayer money.
  3. Companies like Purdue Pharma paid royalties to NIH scientists, raising questions about conflicts of interest.

Wealthy, Elite Universities Like Harvard Taxed You $45 Billion In Last Five Years

241 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Funding Taxation Policy Scandals
  1. Wealthy universities like Harvard received $45 billion in federal payments, tax breaks, and subsidies over the last five years.
  2. Top universities prioritized securing federal contracts and grants over student tuition, with $33 billion flowing to them annually.
  3. Elite universities also benefited from special tax treatment benefits on endowment gains and additional government subsidies.

Invent Your Own Gender. Governor Gavin Newsom Encourages Youth With Millions In Taxpayer Support

234 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government funding Education system Gender identity
  1. California schools are teaching that genders are limitless and encourage inventing new genders.
  2. Governor Newsom's administration is funneling millions of taxpayer dollars into promoting neogenders.
  3. Gender Spectrum organization's initiatives can exclude parents and keep them in the dark about their child's gender transitions.

How Transparency Changes Everything

298 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Transparency Spending Congress
  1. Transparency in government spending is crucial in holding politicians accountable and changing how we are governed.
  2. New technologies allow us to bring government spending into the light and make it accessible to the public in real-time.
  3. Citizens play a key role in demanding transparency and responsible spending of tax dollars to bring about positive change.

Top U.S. “Non-Profit” Hospitals & CEOs Racked Up Huge Pandemic Profits

343 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare system Medical Debt
  1. Top U.S. non-profit hospitals received $23 billion in Covid-aid but did not comply with price transparency rules.
  2. Hospital executives received huge compensation packages, with some CEOs making over $10 million per year.
  3. Despite receiving Covid aid, hospital net assets significantly increased while U.S. life expectancy dropped by 2.5 years.

Joe Biden’s Fat White House Payroll Spikes to Historic Highs—Includes 524 Employees Costing Taxpayers $52+ Million

228 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government White House Biden administration
  1. President Joe Biden's White House has seen a significant increase in staff and payroll costs since taking office.
  2. The turnover rate in the White House staff has been high, with a notable increase in employees from the previous year.
  3. Top-paid White House staffers include individuals in key roles such as policy advisors, with varying salaries and responsibilities.

The Silicon Valley Bank Coverup – And The Roads Leading To Gov. Gavin Newsom

298 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Corruption Governor Nonprofit Transparency Ethics
  1. Silicon Valley Bank faced transparency issues after being taken over by federal regulators and criticized for investment priorities.
  2. California Governor Gavin Newsom and his nonprofit have close ties with Silicon Valley Bank, raising ethical concerns.
  3. Investigations should be conducted into the relationship between Silicon Valley Bank and the Newsom administration.

House of Fauci: How Dr. Christine Grady, aka Mrs. Fauci, Used Her NIH Position To Backstop Her Husband’s Pandemic Health Directives

272 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics Pandemic response Government transparency Bioethics
  1. Dr. Christine Grady supported her husband Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic directives from her position at the NIH.
  2. The Faucis represent the clash between top-down public policy by elites and individual freedoms.
  3. Grady advocated for lockdowns, vaccine development, mandates, and mask-wearing, blurring ethical lines.

Newsom, Inc.

245 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Government Social Issues Legislation Public funding
  1. California's Newsom family is involved in a scheme of creating and solving problems to financially benefit themselves.
  2. Jennifer Siebel Newsom leverages taxpayer money to promote her nonprofit's films and curricula in public schools, potentially profiting personally.
  3. The establishment of the 'Office of First Partner' by Governor Newsom allowed Jennifer Siebel Newsom to push radical ideologies, influence policy, and receive significant taxpayer funding.