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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 2h

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?'

Dead Carl @deadcarl.bsky.social · 3h

There’s the joke about Sun Tzu being basic instructions for idiots like “feed your troops” but the most important part of Clausewitz is also just “think about what you are actually trying to accomplish”

brasidas @brasidas.bsky.social · 3h

What I love about our habit of confusing Means for Ways is that we also confuse Ways for Ends.

Innovation is entirely neutral.

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Sirens: A Bombshell Production @sirenspod.bsky.social · 7h

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...

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Sirens: A Bombshell Production @sirenspod.bsky.social · 5d

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...

Climate Change on the Battlefield

Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/08/2025 · 27m

podcasts.apple.com

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 6d

Mhmm.

Speaker Johnson's website: "As agencies shut down, federal employees will either be furloughed, or in some cases required to work without pay. Under federal law, employees are entitled to back pay upon the government reopening."

Speaker Mike Johnson's website saying: As agencies shut down, federal employees will either be furloughed, or in some cases required to work without pay. Under federal law, employees are entitled to back pay upon the government reopening.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 6d

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.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 7d

I’m sorry what.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 9d

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

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 10d

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...

Kathleen Romig @kathleenromig.bsky.social · 19d

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...

Social Security signals potential benefit disruptions this fall for those still getting paper checks

Over half a million people still get their Social Security benefits via paper checks. They’ll need a waiver by the end of September to continue to do so, SSA says.

www.nextgov.com

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Sirens: A Bombshell Production @sirenspod.bsky.social · 11d

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...

UNGA, Advise & Consent, Democratic Data

Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/02/2025 · 1h 17m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Sirens: A Bombshell Production @sirenspod.bsky.social · 11d

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...

UNGA, Advise & Consent, Democratic Data

Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/02/2025 · 1h 17m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Out In National Security @outinnationalsecurity.org · 12d

“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...

Jen Bendery (@jbendery.bsky.social)

ICYMI: Trump has just about decimated the federal workforce, with more than 199,000 people pushed out since Jan, per a new report. Nearly 10% of the entire federal civilian workforce gone. “The serv...

web-cdn.bsky.app

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

great thread!

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Reposted by Loren DeJonge Schulman

Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

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. 📚

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

It’s also great to have less dense books you’ve read so many times that they’re like Top Gun on TV in then background. You can float through them, snuggle into favorite parts, skip chapters. I’ve basically memorized Discovery of Witches for some reason.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

Years ago I might have said, the Sparrow, which after 15 years of rereads I really parsed a line where an alien described water in a narrow gorge as ugly, and that more than anything suddenly revealed his alienness.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

For me: I’ve read Wolf Hall so MANY times and still find new things. My last read, I appreciated Gregory. It took me at least 4 reads to really fully notice Cromwell’s great project. Maybe 20 before I also asked if he’d betrayed the Cardinal. It’s still new!

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 12d

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. 📚

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 13d

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.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13d

Hegseth: "You should not pay for an earnest mistake for your entire career. That's why today, at my direction, we're making changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records."

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 13d

The Vice President looks at himself in the mirror.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13d

Hegseth: "Today, at my direction, the era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos ... if you don't meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don't want to shave and look professional, it's time for a new position."

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 13d

*strong deterrent to China.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 13d

“You can have a strong presence in Europe or a strong deterrent to or a strong Trump QRF command, but you can’t have them all.”

“Hmm, but why not all three and we just don’t talk about it.”

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 13d

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.

Daniel Y. Chiu @dycinwdc.bsky.social · 13d

Military leaders voice concern over Hegseth’s new Pentagon strategy

Top military officials have voiced concern over the Trump administration’s forthcoming defense strategy, exposing a divide between the Pentagon’s political and uniformed leadership.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 15d

Its on the spectrum (tho I wouldn’t wear it on travel simple because its not comfortable). However, one might offer a similar comment on the principal in the middle who never learned about where your pants should break.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 15d

I don’t love Kristina but there is nothing wrong this this outfit. Senior pentagon women dress like this across admins. This outfit might (might) have stood out in 2005.

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Loren DeJonge Schulman @lorenraeds.bsky.social · 15d

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.

David Alman @davidalman.bsky.social · 15d

This is of course a double-edged sword.

Congrats, general - civilians are in charge of you. Should have chosen a different career if you didn’t like it.

But also, this is why civilians need to actually have expertise and know what they’re doing. Can’t be young *and* dumb *and* get respect.

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 15d

It reminded me then of an earlier interaction with a different general, who told me how offended he was by the treatment from an assistant secretary of defense. The common denominator was substantially younger people with little or no military record failing to defer. 3/

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