Topic: Congressional Research Service

Al Sharpton is criticized for claiming on MSNBC that a disproportionate number of "black and brown" service members die in Middle Eastern conflicts. Adam Curry cites a 2015 Congressional Research Service report to debunk this, noting that white service members account for the vast majority of casualties. The discussion also revisits racial statistics from the Vietnam War to challenge common historical narratives.

A Congressional Research Service report titled "Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Agency Travel Card Programs" reveals rampant misuse of government credit cards, including charges for laser eye surgery and unauthorized first-class trips to Hawaii. The Department of Defense reportedly failed to collect $100 million in refunds for unused airline tickets over seven years. Unlike the private sector, where such financial misconduct results in immediate termination, government employees rarely face discipline for these abuses.