Cost of Kabul: The 5-Year Anniversary of Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Rachel O'Brien joins The National Desk to discuss the speculation about taxpayer money ending up with the Taliban, 5 years after the disastrous US withdrawal.
OpenTheBooks
Transparency revolutionizes U.S. public policy and politics.
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Bad Synergy: When Consultants Help Score $1.5 Billion from Medicaid
This story continues Open the Books’ ongoing series on the Cost of Fraud, tallying the hidden fees on American tax returns.
Swamp Update: 2025 Federal Payroll Down $1.9 Billion, Civilian Headcount Down More than 50,000
New data obtained by Open the Books gives a fresh look at the state of the federal workforce.
Feds Struggled to Claw Back Covid Fraud while Schemers Put Down Payments on Yachts, Lamborghinis
COVID-19 programs to help families and businesses stay afloat inadvertently diverted hundreds of billions to scammers who spent thousands on wish-list items like luxury cars and plastic surgery.
It's Not Just Health Care: $225M+ in Fraud Found in K-12 Schools
Open the Books has spent the summer quantifying recent spending spikes across Medicare and Medicaid, along with the cost of fraudulent schemes that sap the programs of resources for those who need care.
A Big Win for Military Families on America’s 250th
The Founders’ transparency vision delivered once again.
Making Your Mortgage: Local Governments Confiscated Nearly $1 Billion in Fees and Fines for Short-Term Rentals
After years of historic inflation, still at elevated levels today, most Americans are facing an affordability crisis that reaches nearly every staple category from groceries to health care.
“Total Boomer Luxury Communism”: Why the Federal Deficit is on Autopilot
The budget can’t be balanced without reform to Social Security and Medicare. Why won’t politicians admit it?
Ghost Rides: Massachusetts Billed Medicaid for 16,907 Trips That Never Happened
Open the Books obtained Medicaid billing data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services covering Massachusetts providers from 2018 to 2024.
Southern Poverty Law Center Received Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Spread its Message and Materials, Including in Schools
The Department of Justice announced last month that the nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center, organization designed to confront “hate” in society, was being charged with wire fraud, false statements, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.