The hottest Spending Substack posts right now

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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.

Education funding doesn't always result in better student performance; embrace school choice for improved outcomes.
Republicans should address the abortion issue firmly, defund the abortion industry, and focus on education and conversation.
Changing the tax code to consumption-based taxation could provide economic incentives for growth and burden levied based on richer individuals.

American military power is facing challenges like reckless aggression and disarray.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hid in the hospital, trying to keep his ailment secret.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has taken on a more active role in issuing operational orders.

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.
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.
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.

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During the Iraq war, there were more US-funded contractors than US troops.
The US spent over $155 billion on contractors in Iraq between 2003-2022.
Contracts for the Iraq war were carried out not only in Iraq but also in nearby countries.

Transparency in government spending is crucial in holding politicians accountable and changing how we are governed.
New technologies allow us to bring government spending into the light and make it accessible to the public in real-time.
Citizens play a key role in demanding transparency and responsible spending of tax dollars to bring about positive change.

The U.S. military sees Hollywood movies as a way to educate the public about warfare and shape public perception of the military.
Movies like "Top Gun" have influenced recruitment and public image of the military by portraying it in a positive light.
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.

We tend to hesitate to give fair prices to those in need while easily overpaying for unnecessary luxury items.
We often show generosity to those who don't require it, while driving a hard bargain with those in need.
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.