The hottest Government transparency Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Livestream, 2:00 PM ET: Matt Taibbi and Ryan Lovelace on the FBI's "Prohibited Access" Files

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1361 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. Reporters uncovered the FBI's secret "Prohibited Access" filing system and turned a declassified description into a published story in about a week.
  2. A livestream discussion will go over what the files likely contain, why the story matters, who helped reveal them, and what might come next.
  3. The conversation will also explore possible downsides—including how to tell if attempts to expose the system are being blocked—and tells viewers where to tune in to watch.

The Truth About Aliens Is Hiding in Plain Sight

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. The government is being pushed to release its files on aliens, which will likely spark more public questions than clear answers.
  2. High-profile figures have made eye-catching comments about aliens, but officials say there’s no verified evidence of extraterrestrial contact.
  3. Many people think life elsewhere in the universe is probable, but that doesn’t mean aliens have visited Earth across vast space distances.

What to make of the Epstein Files?

The Reactionary • 37 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. A law forced the DOJ to release millions of pages about Epstein on an unrealistic 30‑day deadline, making thorough review and redaction essentially impossible.
  2. Rushed processing and redaction errors led to innocent people being mistakenly implicated — several men named had no ties to Epstein and one was briefly fired after being outed.
  3. The document dump has been politicized and weaponized, showing that crowdsourcing the truth requires public discernment and that bad‑faith actors can use partial records to push false narratives.

Federal Government Spending $20,474 Per Person, 98 Times More than in 1916

OpenTheBooks Substack • 108 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. Federal spending per person hit about $20,474 in 2025, roughly 98 times the inflation‑adjusted per‑person spending in 1916, and now amounts to nearly a whole four‑person household's pre‑tax income.
  2. Spending has trended steadily upward for a century with big spikes during crises like World War II, the 2008 mortgage crisis, and COVID, and it hasn’t returned to prior lows after those shocks.
  3. Most recent growth is driven by Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, rising interest costs, and large deficits that require heavy borrowing, so taxpayers face higher obligations and need more transparency and accountability.
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Links for November

By Reason Alone • 114 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. Hosting a public conversation about science funding and peer review can open up important discussions about how science is evaluated and funded. It's a chance to explore the role of philanthropy in the scientific landscape.
  2. Encouraging a culture of giving through student donation matching can help support effective charities like the Against Malaria Foundation. This initiative could inspire similar efforts in other countries.
  3. Working as a researcher in a library can significantly enhance productivity compared to traditional open-plan offices. A shorter commute and quiet study environments can lead to better focus and more accomplishments.

Atrium Health is a unit of ‘local government’ like no other

The Charlotte Ledger • 275 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. Atrium Health enjoys the benefits of being a government entity but operates like a private corporation.
  2. The Atrium Health board meetings lack openness, with limited public access and closed committee meetings.
  3. Atrium's status as a government entity allows it to avoid taxes, receive antitrust immunity, and benefit from eminent domain powers.

Update 8/2/23

FOIA Around And Find Out • 432 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
📰 News Government transparency
  1. Author is involved in litigations under Freedom of Information Act and Open Records laws against the US government and individuals.
  2. Author is a journalist without formal training, focusing on researching scandals and seeking transparency from the government.
  3. Author emphasizes the importance of citizens questioning government actions and being informed about their privacy rights.

Who is Thomas Crooks?

Who is Robert Malone • 24 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump, and there are many details revealing his online activity and ideological shift that contradict the FBI's claims. This suggests there may have been more to his motives than previously stated.
  2. Crooks' online presence showed a range of disturbing interests and a change from being a Trump supporter to opposing him, hinting at influences that need further investigation.
  3. The FBI has faced criticism for not being transparent about their findings in the Crooks case, which could lead to distrust and more conspiracy theories among the public.

Links to Consider, 2/25

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Government transparency
  1. In some areas, class status is heavily influenced by college education and the prestigious Yankee settled areas.
  2. Martin Gurri envisions a future where the online electorate has more direct engagement in government and information is more transparent.
  3. It's important to consider the long-term effects of defense spending on the economy, as resources might be more beneficial if allocated elsewhere.

New Zealand’s 2023 Census is a dog (no disrespect to dogs)

A B’Old Woman • 179 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. The 2023 Census in New Zealand will focus more on gender than biological sex, aiming to collect data on people's self-identified genders.
  2. Statistics NZ is prioritizing responses about gender and will interpret any unclear answers in favor of a gender identity, even if the participant does not explicitly answer the question about sex.
  3. The approach taken by Stats NZ has raised concerns about clarity and the conflation of biological sex and gender identity, potentially creating confusion and social division.

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

OpenTheBooks Substack • 272 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  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.

American Glasnost

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 40 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government transparency
  1. History sometimes gets rewritten, and people can ignore tough realities. It's important to face hard truths, even if they are uncomfortable.
  2. The idea of 'glasnost' reflects a push for openness and honesty about the state. This is happening in America today as people seek transparency about government actions.
  3. There's a shift happening where tech leaders want to uncover and expose government issues. Instead of just swapping political power, they aim to hold the government accountable.

V-Safe Part 10: Federal Judge Orders CDC to Make Public 7.8 Million V-safe Free-Text Entries Within 12 Months

Injecting Freedom • 91 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Government transparency
  1. Federal Judge orders CDC to release 7.8 million V-safe free-text entries for public access.
  2. The decision aims to promote transparency, trust, and accountability in government health data.
  3. Releasing the V-safe data is crucial for independent research and evaluating the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

Thư ngỏ Tôi và Sứ quán

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 19
🌍 World Politics Government transparency
  1. Many Vietnamese communities abroad face challenges with corruption and inefficiency in their country's embassies and consulates.
  2. Despite encountering difficulties with diplomatic missions, Vietnamese individuals in Silicon Valley are regarded as talented and brilliant by the US government and top tech companies.
  3. Efforts have been made to address issues with Vietnamese diplomatic missions, with suggestions for increased transparency, accountability, and professionalism within these establishments.