Reflecting on six months of war

 

August 27, 2022

Editor’s Note: Weekly Spotlight is off next weekend for Labor Day. We will see you again on September 10! This past week marked the six-month anniversary of Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. We spent some time reflecting on the pain and violence the Ukrainian people have endured, but this sad anniversary was also a good reminder to keep pushing for stronger anti-corruption measures. Loopholes in the U.S. financial system allow Russian President Vladimir Putin and his cronies to continue hiding assets and laundering money in the U.S. — even as the U.S. government levies sanctions against these individuals. We’re championing a number of reforms that would make it harder for bad actors to use the U.S. financial system for their own gain. The House recently passed a landmark bill called the ENABLERS Act that would require financial service providers to prevent money laundering. Now we’re pushing for the Senate to pass this bill. If you haven’t already, use our action center to email your senator and urge them to back this crucial legislation. WANT MORE FROM POGO? The latest from us, straight to your inbox For updates on POGO’s investigations, upcoming events, and more ways you can get involved, subscribe to our emails. LETTER POGO Recommendations to NDAA Conferees POGO encourages lawmakers to promote accountability, encourage fiscal discipline, and advance military readiness through the NDAA. Read More ISSUE PAGE Protecting Democracy, Weakening Putin’s Kleptocracy It’s time to shut down the loopholes in the U.S. financial system that enable Putin and his cronies. Learn More ACT NOW Tell Congress that Pentagon reforms are long overdue. Sign our petition to demand reforms that will save our limited taxpayer dollars while still providing us with an effective, agile, and robust national security. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “[It’s] unfair to the potential future constituents and the voters to not have that information before they’re casting their vote.” Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Government Affairs Manager, in Insider OVERHEARD Read the complete thread on Twitter. ONE LINERS “We know very little of it because the Pentagon leaders decided that they weren’t going to make the same mistake that they did with the F-35. They don’t want to be raked over the coals like they [were] with the F-35 program, so they’re keeping this as secret as possible.” Dan Grazier, Senior Defense Policy Fellow, in Responsible Statecraft   “We talk about the tragedy of war and the people it impacts, but we don’t often wrestle with the incredibly flawed decision-making of our leaders that results in significant loss of life.” Caitlin MacNeal, Communications Director, in Podcast Bestie Enjoyed this weekend’s edition of the Weekly Spotlight? Forward to a friend. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Welcome! 👋 Subscribe here.   WANT MORE FROM POGO? Eyes on the federal government from every angle:   Paper Trail: Quick links to the news in the world of government oversight The Bunker: Military intelligence from POGO's Mark Thompson The Bridge: Analysis on the latest in government ethics from Walt Shaub   🎧 The Continuous Action Podcast 📺 YouTube 📱 Instagram 💸 Support our work

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