Loren DeJonge Schulman

Demystifying the New President’s Management Agenda In a year when management issues like human capital, IT modernization, and improper payments have received greater attention from the public, examining this PMA tells us a lot about where the Administ...

In most years, the President's Management Agenda should make your eyes glaze over. But his year's PMA is eye-popping in ambition and subject.

@lorenraeds.bsky.social and @gabemenchaca.bsky.social break down the good, the bad, and the bizarre ⤵️
fas.org/publication/...

This is a really well done analysis

This week on the #podcast! @normornstein.bsky.social @mindyromero.bsky.social @uscprice.bsky.social @sorendayton.bsky.social @ceciliwake.bsky.social
@lorenraeds.bsky.social

Listen now: www.buzzsprout.com/1073332/epis...

Demystifying the new president’s management agenda - Niskanen Center In a year when management issues have received greater attention from the public, examining this PMA tells us a lot about where the Administration’s policy is going to be focused through its last thre...

The Presidents Management Agenda came out this week. There are promising inclusions (real estate!) and strangely missing standards (customer experience), but the stand out is the Frankenstein nature of a typical management agenda taken over by culture wars. www.niskanencenter.org/demystifying...

*taps mic*

Ahem

THE US MILITARY IS NOT APOLITICAL, IT IS NONPARTISAN. BY ITS VERY EXISTENCE IT IS POLITICAL.

Please disseminate to the highest levels because they still aren’t getting it

That is all. Carry on.

Mr Trumps actions on deportation, tariffs, and the use of military force in the Caribbean are almost certainly abuses of power. But they’re also a break from the public sector incompetence that has helped erode faith in government.

I am still incensed that Dunkelman called these examples out as “public sector competence” when they are demonstrably reckless and drivers of decreasing trust in government. It’s a preposterous take. Reminds me of weird fetish some people had with SOF in GWOT.

The Soldier in the Illiberal State is a Professional Dead End The American political system today is indeed in crisis. Government function is in doubt, the administration has politicized and weaponized a previously

My latest this AM with @warontherocks.bsky.social. Of note: "[Military officers] will be active participants with choices to make about the degree to which they continue to serve civilians intent on undermining the liberal values enshrined in the Constitution."

1/

warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-...

this year in my watch up of Christmas + royalty Netflix movies I am deeply appreciating how they treat playing basic Christmas carols on the piano as unparalleled musical talent.

Sirens: A Bombshell production: AI Deals, the (Breaking) Justice System, and the Optimist Economy Everyone's negotiating these days, with the Ukraine deal, recent AI deals, and the near final Schedule F (er Schedule Policy/Career) closing up (or not) as the year wraps up and the holiday party circ...

New! Sirens welcomes @kedseconomist.com to explain (dun-dun) the economy (no pressure!), unpack the visit of "strategic partner" MBS and whose strategy he's partnering under, looks at the justice system and cringes through the lens of Comey, Epstein, and Kelly. sites.libsyn.com/92063/ai-dea...

Episode starts with my favorite Optimist Economy segment: what executive order would you issue if you had the chance?

New Paper: Presidential Control of the Civil Service.

Conventional wisdom holds that the civil service sits safely beyond the president's reach. Does it? (1) Not nearly as much as legal scholars think. (2) That's a problem for the execution of the law. 1/12

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

I travel back in time to visit 2018 Loren, who among many was getting crap for making too much of various civ mil issues: the president is calling for the execution of people who advocate for only following legal military orders; also there is a CSG in the Caribbean.

We don’t have to put up with this.

Tax Filing as Easy as Mobile Banking Americans trade stocks instantly, but spend 13 hours on tax forms. They send cash by text, but wait weeks for IRS responses. The nation's revenue collector ranks dead last in citizen satisfaction. The...

Recent @sirenspod.bsky.social listeners on our episode on taxes will love this new piece from Merici Vinton and Thushan Amarasiriwardena on creating a product-driven government

fas.org/publication/...

Sirens: A Bombshell production: More on nuclear testing with Heather Williams Are you equal parts terrified and fascinated by recent mentions of restarting nuclear testing? The ladies of bombshell are here to help! Join us for the full-length interview with PONI Director Heathe...

Nuclear weapons, so hot right now (I crack myself up).

@heatherwilly.bsky.social stayed to chat on weapons testing, the health of our nuclear deterrent, how she wished the public would engage on nuclear weapons, and House of Dynamite in our new mini

sites.libsyn.com/92063/more-o...

Democracy Philanthropy Let's shift some of our investment to the long-term work of Democracy Renovation

Good recommendation by @dsallentess.bsky.social to invest in repairing democratic systems and institutions alongside campaign donations: open.substack.com/pub/therenov...

Your mid forties: kneading sourdough, “oh yeah this is some good shit,” in the voice of a Breaking Bad extra.

Enormous basil plant in a raised bed.

I want to pay tribute to this single basil plant that is still going strong with lots of bee friends today in the middle of November.

Trade Taxes, Acquisition Reform, and Nuclear Testing Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 11/14/2025 · 1h 8m

In the newest episode, Sirens explores life's certainties: taxes, trade taxes, acquisition reform, and nuclear annihilation. Wait, WHAT?

What's the end of direct file have to do with democracy, what's portfolio acquisition, and are we starting nuclear testing?

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Featured on the latest @sirenspod.bsky.social: the new book the Price of Democracy by @vanessawilliamson.bsky.social. What does Direct File have to do with democracy? We discuss that and attempt a lot more when it comes to taxes, but you should read Vanessa's book!!

Featured on the latest @sirenspod.bsky.social: the new book the Price of Democracy by @vanessawilliamson.bsky.social. What does Direct File have to do with democracy? We discuss that and attempt a lot more when it comes to taxes, but you should read Vanessa's book!!

Also, @heatherwilly.bsky.social for a short discussion on nuclear testing and House of dynamite ahead of a longer mini out next week!

Sirens: A Bombshell production News Commentary Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Sirens, a new podcast from the ladies of Bombshell, dissects the institutions of American power. With their trademark wit and charm, join Loren DeJonge Sch...

The Pentagon press corps has taught me so much in my career. @sirenspod.bsky.social extended our chat with @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore what makes it different, what DOD owes Americans in terms of transparency and access, and where we go from here. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Big admiration for folks like @gregjaffe.bsky.social @danlamothe.bsky.social @alexhorton.bsky.social @johnismay.bsky.social @wesleymorgan.bsky.social @aaronmehta.bsky.social and many many more for all they’ve done for our democracy

Sirens: A Bombshell production News Commentary Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Sirens, a new podcast from the ladies of Bombshell, dissects the institutions of American power. With their trademark wit and charm, join Loren DeJonge Sch...

The Pentagon press corps has taught me so much in my career. @sirenspod.bsky.social extended our chat with @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore what makes it different, what DOD owes Americans in terms of transparency and access, and where we go from here. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

What is trust in government was actually high?

I worry that we've given up on trust as fixable issue. So much that I hosted a workshop with FAS this summer. In addition to the worst, we imagined what high trust in govt workforce, CX, data, and procurement might look like. fas.org/publication/...

What is trust in government was actually high?

I worry that we've given up on trust as fixable issue. So much that I hosted a workshop with FAS this summer. In addition to the worst, we imagined what high trust in govt workforce, CX, data, and procurement might look like. fas.org/publication/...

Shutdown, Southcom, and Pentagon Press Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/30/2025 · 1h 3m

NEW episode with the spectacular @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore Pentagon Press Corps dynamics; plus, shutdown impacts, waking up to a totally new world in SOUTHCOM, and, what protest costume calls to you? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Exclusive: White House finds 11th-hour shutdown workaround to pay troops — for now Otherwise Trump isn't planning to budge on the nearly month-old shutdown, even with as many as 42 million people set to lose food stamp benefits Saturday.

Trump is illegally moving money around to pay the troops, but he won't feed hungry people under SNAP even though the contingency fund is sitting right there. www.axios.com/2025/10/29/w...