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...

Part 2 of the series: what are the risks of designing a government around #abundance? See what participants had to say here: www.linkedin.com/posts/loren-...

Part 2 of the series: what are the risks of designing a government around #abundance? See what participants had to say here: www.linkedin.com/posts/loren-...

Does SOUTHCOM have a legal advisor? Does the chairman? Was every lawyer on the Pentagon on a 96? Jesus H Roosevelt Christ it’s evil and awful and so embarrassing too.

I used to advocate for the smallest basic baby changes to use of force decisions. Lame stuff.

does @lorenraeds.bsky.social love alliteration and word play maybe a little too much? noone knows now.

We also spend time on: - are new tariffs legal? what's up with the chief design officer? does the JROC need a funeral? - the redistricting arms race and how it fits into the story of American democracy - how it feels to own 10% of Intel (is this capitalism?) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

brand new @sirenspod.bsky.social for the school hear: JROC, Gerrymandering, and Guardsmen, with very special guest @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social to help us imagine the possible confrontation between state governors and the president over national guard deployments podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

increased public engagement in outcomes oversight and accountability; operating in radical transparency; move from waterfall / veto public engagement to agile, collaborative or negotiating models. Anyway: more on LinkedIn today and over next three days!

Strong view that the USG needs roductive and timely public engagement--not reduction or elimination--like: shift in public engagement for early steers and iterative builds (such as shifts elections, referenda, earlier public input; more agile and less structured public comment), and

They created a *lot* of detailed plans, but two things that struck me: (1) lots of effort to radically rethink and accept risk into federal systems that shy away from it, such that failure, fraud, and experiments are less dire and,

(I loved their use of elegant) 3/

Abundance groups said: In 2050, govt a high-performing, elegant, and efficient enabler for big and good things to happen. Its core mission is to drive down the cost of life's building blocks and scientific progress, ensuring Americans can readily pursue their own version of the good life 2/

This summer I convened futures exercises to explore blue-sky govt models in 2050. No surprise #abundance was a focal point as participants dreamed big o optimize their preferred systems, the potential consequences, and key ingredients. More on how they designed for abundance here: 1/ bit.ly/46k4IRu

This summer I convened futures exercises to explore blue-sky govt models in 2050. No surprise #abundance was a focal point as participants dreamed big o optimize their preferred systems, the potential consequences, and key ingredients. More on how they designed for abundance here: 1/ bit.ly/46k4IRu

Definitely a lost battle under this admin, but if we do eventually return to normalcy, would really appreciate a hard requirement that every announced use of force by the state be accompanied by stating the authority under which it occured

Curious about what happens next? you definitely want to check out the new @sirenspod.bsky.social tomorrow

Loved @sirenspod.bsky.social ep on lessons learned & good practices in hiring, being transparent, & leading w/ compassion. Ive led 3 different hiring processes for my team over last 2.5 years and wish I had this episode then. So many future lessons to use @lorenraeds.bsky.social @emsetc.bsky.social

Extremely obvious to anyone paying attention that I’ve been given unrestrained access to the @sirenspod.bsky.social insta account. Also go see us on Instagram!