That Ukraine-Aide Vote

#72 A dot-connecting brief originally for paying subscribers, unpaywalled on Aug. 30 for the public, re-paywalled Nov 17 2024.

This partial infographic is a preview. The full image is unlocked for paying subscribers. (New signups *do* get a 7-day free trial, but that’s not the point.)

This week Congress is negotiating to vote on a foreign-policy funding package (I know, borrring!)

But, back before powers-that-be cut “Civics” from education curriculum while GenXers like me were finishing up elementary school, middle-school students probably learned of a concept in lawmaking called a “rider.”

Why rider’s an anachronism will be clear after the next paragraphs.

Because when it comes to vaccine disinformation, when it comes to votes on foreign aid for an American ally like Ukraine fighting a drawn-out conflict with Russia, one under-the-radar interest group nearly always hitches a ride.