Civ mil people: it's totally not weird that I set a google alert for "best military advice," right, that's not deeply obsessive?

I would guess that issuing the double reverse Thunderdome Hiring EO is not an excepted activity. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

In nerd reading today I discovered this gem: the stupid rule button. Which puts the rule up for review or request positive justification by leadership. www.goodthingsguy.com/business/the...

I found @martylederman.bsky.social's post on @justsecurity.org particularly compelling, not just on questions of law but also "The Military’s Longstanding Commitment to the Fundamental Principle of Distinction Prohibiting the Targeting of Civilians." - LDS www.justsecurity.org/120296/many-...

Throwback: earlier episode "AI Skills, Appropriations, and Armed Conflict Law" goes into depth on why these strikes are decidedly unlike prior administration's signature strikes (though the very question highlights how poorly those were communicated). podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

This also (positively) suggests to me that senior political leaders are now able to view the federal workforce as less a Rube Goldberg machine (press that and who knows?) and more a sensitive logic model (press that and ZOMG wait no don't press that).

"I want government to prioritize ___ so that in 2050 …” My summer in a nutshell, and the series of findings kicks off today. One fascinating thing: over a dozen radical reimaginings of the role and design of government had several pretty basic ingredients in common! fas.org/initiative/r...

I would love a genre consisting solely of people traveling to inns. The most dramatic thing that happens is running out of stew in the public room and instead being offered a dinner of cheese and sausage. Variety is the herbs in the cake of homemade soap in the copper bath. There’s a storm.

Reminding me I have to start my little one on the Children's Illustrated Clausewitz (a real thing that really exists: www.helios.house/books/childr...) early, so she can learn basic things many security 'professionals' have failed to, like, 'what is war and what is it for, exactly?'

What happens when Administration's stop being polite and start acknowledging they don't believe appropriations are real? Throwback to Sirens episode "AI Skills, Appropriations and Armed Conflict Law" for more on Schroedingers Appropriations. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

New mini with the brilliant @erinsikorsky.bsky.social to dig into her new book Climate Change on the Battlefield. What is the threat militaries are facing from climate change? How is it shaping the landscape they operate in? And what are they doing about it? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Former OMB associate director on personnel here: This is blatantly false and inexplicably undermines Congress's authority. Congress made extremely clear in 2019 that furloughed feds are to be paid, full stop, period. There is no question, except why the Speaker would make such a statement.

Unclear if the people who got married 16 years ago ate carbs

On @sirenspod.bsky.social “it’s a drill” section this week, I highlighted the final paper to digital checks transition at SSA. For much more, check out this great thread and any of Kathleen’s work bsky.app/profile/kath...

New episode! UNGA, Advise & Consent, Democratic Data - should the senate review nominations in batches? why is the Admin extorting H1B visa applicants? and can you have an accountable government without government data? Also, our favorite Redford movies. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...

New episode! Special guest Denice Ross joins to talk about the federal data ecosystem and why it matters for democratic accountability. Plus: H1B changes, new senate rules on nominations, and yes, the great gaggle of gobsmacked GOFOs. Plus: Robert Redford! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

“We’re seeing the arson of our government,” warns Max Stier of Partnership for Public Service. Bendery’s reporting shows how today’s shutdown accelerates talent & knowledge loss. Our explainer follows ⬇️ web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/jben...

If you could only read one book form the rest of your life, what two would you have a hard time choosing between? Prep for @sirenspod.bsky.social out tomorrow, distraction from the late unpleasantness. 📚

If you could only read one book form the rest of your life, what two would you have a hard time choosing between? Prep for @sirenspod.bsky.social out tomorrow, distraction from the late unpleasantness. 📚

Did you physically abuse someone, or encourage toxic climate? Earnest mistake! Did you give consideration to women's ability to serve effectively and honorably? oh. no. no no no.

The Vice President looks at himself in the mirror.

My warmed over take is that while some parts of our defense establishment want genuine and clear prioritization, much prefers defense strategy with broad loopholes you can drive BCTs and some carriers through. As if were.

Good discussion on civilian control in the various embedding threads here. 2 thoughts: Civ control + Civ mil relations concepts presume mutual seriousness and, to a degree, competence but don’t really get practiced that way. Every admin has to deal with the weird hang ups created by the prior.

As Trump once more threatens to send National Guard troops to an American city uninvited and unneeded, check out the last chapter of "JROC, Gerrymandering, and Guardsmen" for a master class on domestic military deployments with @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Sirens @ NY Climate Week! @lorenraeds.bsky.social interviewed @eliorg.bsky.social's Jordan Diamond, former EPA Admin Carol Browner, and Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen on the path to climate progress through govt reform. thx @climategroup.bsky.social! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Here’s the thing about doing this now: cabinet secretaries have figured out they need at least some capacity to do anything (in fact, some agencies are in the middle of mass rehiring). DOGE and early RIFs didn’t have experienced principals to say shove it. They might now. Does Vought have the juice?

Something to watch next week: the deadline for the Social Security Administration (along with the rest of gov) to stop issuing paper checks. www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...

on the train to NYC (love a train!) to for Climate Week, forcing people with big ideas on climate to talk about advocating for a government capable of implementing those ideas. Oh you want to talk permitting? I insist we discuss personnel classification reform. I am so much fun at parties.

I listen to most audio at 3-4x; it's just about input. When I want to enjoy something, I listen at 1x speed. When I really like something—e.g., the recent Scaling Laws podcast with @pamelasamuelson.bsky.social in my feed or @ifbookspod.bsky.social or @sirenspod.bsky.social—I listen twice.

I didn’t realize this administration would be so embarrassing.

which raises a huge AND THEN WHAT question for me that it should raise for everyone. we expect our military to refuse illegal orders. we ALSO expect a national security system to largely filter those.

While we should want the average officer to be generally familiar enough with ROE and use of force authorities to question when necessary, we ALSO want them to be confident a process exists, and know what it is, and know what its strengths and weaknesses are. Hegseth is erasing that confidence.

In prior era one could be reasonably confident that a veritable horde of lawyers had dug into the basis of military operation, which itself forces a lot of good and bad conversations (emphasizing 'is it legal' vs "is it wise or likely to have impact) 2

We spent a ton of time on this on the latest @sirenspod.bsky.social. The multiple layers of legal meetings that usually underwrite the national security process are a value in practice (in addition to a tedious norm). Hegseth is killing off that norm - and I worry where and how that trickles down. 1

We spent a ton of time on this on the latest @sirenspod.bsky.social. The multiple layers of legal meetings that usually underwrite the national security process are a value in practice (in addition to a tedious norm). Hegseth is killing off that norm - and I worry where and how that trickles down. 1

I did a podcast with the NAPA that is titled with basically the question that keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning: have we tried asking Americans what they actually want from government? www.buzzsprout.com/1073332/epis...

Big new episode of @sirenspod.bsky.social today. Yes, we discussed the Department of War, we had to. Also: do we even have an appropriations process anymore? Do we have a use of force decision making process anymore? And how should we talk about political violence? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Big new episode of @sirenspod.bsky.social today. Yes, we discussed the Department of War, we had to. Also: do we even have an appropriations process anymore? Do we have a use of force decision making process anymore? And how should we talk about political violence? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

This would be a good time for Congress to prebut every predictable and predicted element of this play from every platform they have

Not following us on instagram? Loren gets to be more sarcastic AND have ironic music choices there AND badly make memes. PS: the 10% happier interview with @olgakhazan.bsky.social is INCREDIBLE.

When @sirenspod.bsky.social isn't hard at work making podcasts, what is it listening to? SO much. Some of our fave recent episodes featured on Insta, from @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social (electricity markets!) @jonquilynhill.bsky.social (wellness costs!) and @empirepoduk.bsky.social (lost colony!)

I’ve now binged like a LOT of Optimist Economy podcast and can safely advise @sirenspod.bsky.social or Bombshell of yore fans that you will LOVE it. There’s nerdy Econ learning, there are regular bits, there’s etymology, there’s hilarious EOs. It’s so good. @kedseconomist.com ❤️❤️

Upcoming @sirenspod.bsky.social dips into this issue: in normal circumstances there would be an emergency NSC, lots of yelling at Noem, and an immediate profuse series of apologies, probably with a visit by two cabinet officials.Now - do we even have any NSC?

made myself start watercoloring badly again.

Really interesting paper about the role of stigma and welfare take-up. People tend to overestimate perceptions of welfare stigma. www.researchgate.net/publication/...

A private individual with power to get public servants fired, put them at physical risk, get them investigated, threaten their post government careers, go after their families and defame them with fantasies is an enormous threat to our national security and public well being. This can't stand.

No day shall erase you from the memory of time.

These are really outstanding. I always learn something or see a new angle on something. Lash yourself to the mast if applicable and have a listen.

If you are concerned about the mobilization of the National Guard to support law enforcement, you should listen to this podcast to learn about the titles and authorities in question from the brilliant @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social , these are issues that get at the core of federalism

We're live with Episode 7! JROC, Gerrymandering, and Guardsmen. With thanks to our amazing guest @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social! Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j... Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/5Xo8...