Akheil Singla

Some incredibly troubling moves in past 48hrs; I hope to write later abt the most worrisome at DOJ/FBI, etc. But I don't want to skip a 🧵on the spending freeze/s, where cts are moving fast & public pressure helps. Q I've been getting: If they w/drew the OMB memo, why is so much $$ still frozen? /1

Everyone seems to be framing Trump's freeze on federal grants as a Constitutional fight over powers of the purse & whether presidents can disregard Congressional appropriations. It is that. But also at stake is the fundamental validity of government contracts! I see much less discussion on this... 🧵

I see some suggestions, in the reporting regarding the OMB impoundment order, that a mere delay in spending appropriated funds is legal. But that's not really true. The delay OMB has ordered specifically contradicts the Impoundment Control Act. A thread.

Everybody Loves FRED: How America Fell for a Data Tool From Facebook political debates to college classrooms, the St. Louis Fed’s data tool has gained a major following.

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/b...

Things I learned from this article:

1) Loving FRED makes me less of a weirdo than I thought.
2) FRED MERCH EXISTS.

Presidential impoundment is back in the news, thanks to Trump. Congress took the impoundment option off the table decades ago. Now Trump wants to use impoundment to slash programs.

With impoundment back in the news (sigh), here's an explainer I did for @goodauth.bsky.social about what it was and might be.

goodauthority.org/news/good-to...

Come One, Come All? How Housing Prices Respond to Taxes on Foreign Buyers of Residential Properties - Austaxpolicy: The Tax and Transfer Policy Blog To reduce foreign demand and relieve pressure on housing prices, NSW introduced a four per cent surcharge on stamp duty for foreign buyers in June 2016.

Depressed by American politics? Need a distraction? How about a post about Australian housing & tax policy!?! Sian Mughan, Anthony Howell, and I wrote one on Austaxpolicy. I think it's exciting and cool! You may find it sleep-inducing. Either helps!

www.austaxpolicy.com/come-one-com...