So Long

We’ve reached the last edition of The Bridge. I’ve learned so much from the Thursday afternoons we spent together, and I’m grateful for your readership through the seasons.

I’d also like to extend my gratitude to my colleagues behind the scenes — the stellar team of editors, fact checkers, and proofreaders who set the highest standards for accessibility and accuracy, and the brilliant policy experts and investigators who were ever-willing to share what they know — without whom The Bridge would not have been possible.

Over the past two years, we’ve covered a lot of ground. This newsletter may be sunsetting, but the inner workings of our government remain as complex as ever. Thankfully, there are many more POGO products that can help you navigate the nuances of our democracy and the obstacles it faces. Explore and subscribe on pogo.org.

I’d like to close things out by sharing with you a few editions of The Bridge that have stuck with me long after I’ve written them. I think these editions are especially worth revisiting. And remember that the entire Bridge archive will always be available to you on our website, if you ever need to refer back or want to forward any of our explainers to a friend.

• An office in the Department of Justice issues opinions that impact our daily lives, but it’s as transparent as a brick wall.
• How the government fumbled a big review of COVID pandemic relief fraud, letting millions of taxpayer dollars slip through the cracks.
• The Department of Justice is supposed to keep track of how many people die in government custody — but they’re failing.
• The quote-unquote China threat that’s fueling a new arms race.
• Most of us live in an official border zone. What does it mean to be under Customs and Border Protection’s jurisdiction?
• Some retired members of the military are coming out of retirement to work for foreign interests. Why that’s a problem.
• With no stock-trading restrictions in place, the House always wins. (And the Senate too.)
• Public scrutiny doesn’t seem to be motivating the Supreme Court justices to exhibit better behavior... but it should.
• A broken system for tracking federal spending means taxpayer dollars may be misspent and squandered — and we have no way of knowing if that money is being distributed equitably.
• How the merry-go-revolving-door between the Pentagon and major defense contractors inflates defense spending.
• A refresher on the grade-school lesson of government checks and balances.
• The Pentagon is overpaying for everything, including spare parts.
• Why the decennial census is more than just a headcount.

Once again, thank you for taking the time with me to delve deeper into POGO’s crucial work. It’s been a true pleasure and honor!

Best always,

Spurthi Kontham