The hottest Spending Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Shutdown Winnings: Billions in Earmarks for Coke-Driven Moby Dick Theatre, Horse Therapy, “Gay Utopia,” and More

OpenTheBooks Substack • 228 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. Lawmakers kept slipping earmarks into spending bills during the shutdown, with the signed stopgap containing 862 earmarks worth $2.4 billion and roughly $10.7 billion more under consideration.
  2. A large share of the funding goes to local or quirky projects far from core federal duties — things like restoring a giant elephant statue, supporting dance festivals, horse therapy, and youth squash programs.
  3. Earmarks were paused for a decade and are credited with big savings, but their return has rapidly increased spending while transparency and oversight remain weak, prompting concerns about fiscal discipline.

No Wonder Austin Stayed Out of Sight

Spoils of War • 412 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. American military power is facing challenges like reckless aggression and disarray.
  2. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hid in the hospital, trying to keep his ailment secret.
  3. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has taken on a more active role in issuing operational orders.

Economics Links, 5/16/2025

In My Tribe • 364 implied HN points • 16 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. The China shock might not be as bad as people think; cheap imports could help U.S. manufacturers by lowering their costs and making them more competitive.
  2. In Los Angeles, strict zoning laws have made housing scarce. This has led to high home prices and an increase in homelessness, making it tough for many to afford a place to live.
  3. Republicans are facing challenges with the federal budget, especially with rising entitlement spending. It's hard to fix the deficit by just cutting other spending without reforming entitlements.

Elon is out. Excessive spending is not.

OpenTheBooks Substack • 197 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. Change in government spending is possible with today's technology. We can find and track wasted taxpayer dollars.
  2. Many Americans want more accountability from the government. They were upset about the waste exposed by DOGE.
  3. Making real change is tough because some politicians want to keep things as they are. But it's important to keep pushing for transparency.

Privatizing the Iraq war

Speaking Security • 255 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. During the Iraq war, there were more US-funded contractors than US troops.
  2. The US spent over $155 billion on contractors in Iraq between 2003-2022.
  3. Contracts for the Iraq war were carried out not only in Iraq but also in nearby countries.
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DOGE Is Coming...

OpenTheBooks Substack • 383 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. A new initiative called DOGE aims to make the government more efficient and cut wasteful spending. They have a huge database of public spending to help identify areas for improvement.
  2. Key leaders, including Trump and Musk, have set ambitious goals to cut $2 trillion from the budget by 2026. This aims to create a smaller government that works better for taxpayers.
  3. The public can help by sharing reports on wasteful spending and using the available database to uncover more issues. It's a group effort to bring attention to these spending problems.

Continuous Fights

Points And Figures • 746 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. Education funding doesn't always result in better student performance; embrace school choice for improved outcomes.
  2. Republicans should address the abortion issue firmly, defund the abortion industry, and focus on education and conversation.
  3. Changing the tax code to consumption-based taxation could provide economic incentives for growth and burden levied based on richer individuals.

The Top Gun Effect: Why Hollywood Movies Matter to the U.S. Military

Humanities in Revolt • 119 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  1. The U.S. military sees Hollywood movies as a way to educate the public about warfare and shape public perception of the military.
  2. Movies like "Top Gun" have influenced recruitment and public image of the military by portraying it in a positive light.
  3. There is a significant financial and societal impact to the U.S. military's involvement in Hollywood movies, revealing the influence of entertainment on public perception and funding.

Buying Time

Comment is Freed • 93 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
💰 Finance Spending
  1. The government is trying to slow down a financial crisis by making tough choices, but this is just a temporary fix. They've had to reverse some tax cuts and allow for more borrowing.
  2. The previous government's budget projections were unrealistic, leading to anger and concerns about how much spending was really needed. Many departments are facing serious issues.
  3. Despite these reversals, the government doesn't have much time left to make the situation better. They're in a tough spot and need to find new ways to improve the economy.

How Transparency Changes Everything

OpenTheBooks Substack • 298 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Spending
  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.

Money Burn

Polymathic Being • 66 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
💰 Finance Spending
  1. We tend to hesitate to give fair prices to those in need while easily overpaying for unnecessary luxury items.
  2. We often show generosity to those who don't require it, while driving a hard bargain with those in need.
  3. Our spending behaviors are driven by the dopamine hits we get from scoring bargains and splurging on luxuries; it's about reframing our perspective to support those in need more.