The hottest Administration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

Colleges

David Friedman’s Substack • 305 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🚌 Education Administration
  1. College has become much more expensive partly because schools now offer luxurious amenities and many more administrative and support services, and they use heavy price discrimination so published tuition often overstates what students actually pay.
  2. Many colleges actively organize students' social lives with curated housing groups, orientation trips, and staff-led programs, which reduces opportunities for students to learn how to make friendships on their own.
  3. Recent campus sexual-misconduct policies give institutions strong power to adjudicate disputes and can chill sexual activity by creating risks for one partner if accusations arise, effectively replacing old parental rules with administrative enforcement.

The commenters won

Read Max • 3451 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Several Trump administration officials were shaped by experiences in online comment sections, and one senior official, Sarah B. Rogers, has said she used multiple Gawker accounts to defend herself against criticism.
  2. Being repeatedly ignored, silenced, or treated as subordinate in comment communities creates a lasting resentment, and that online grievance can push people toward populist, Trump-style politics.
  3. Early Gawker commenters were often midcareer media, tech, finance, and law professionals who grew alienated as sites shifted culturally, and that sense of ownership and bitterness in comment culture helped drive some toward the political right.

Donald Trump’s State of Exhaustion

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 324 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The State of the Union no longer moves the public. It still serves as a clear window into what the president and his team are thinking.
  2. The recent speech revealed an exhaustion of ambition and no clear agenda for the rest of the term. It failed to clarify priorities or lay out a concrete plan.
  3. The administration lacks an organized policy process and is not meeting normal budget deadlines. It operates largely as an extension of the president's personal whims rather than a conventional governing team.

How to Evaluate Phone Policies in Schools

After Babel • 448 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🚌 Education Administration
  1. A free, research-informed toolkit gives schools ready-made surveys and measures to track how phone policies affect students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
  2. It works for both single-school evaluations and large, rigorous studies—Qualtrics formats and optional collaboration with the Stanford Social Media Lab support longitudinal tracking and advanced analysis.
  3. The toolkit adds practical analysis help (a manual scoring guide, a customizable survey builder, and a coming Data Dashboard), but it doesn’t by itself establish definitive causality without stronger study designs.

Actually-existing UATX

In My Tribe • 744 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🚌 Education Administration
  1. Students are earnest, hardworking, and take initiative. Many land internships as freshmen, so the school suits motivated, practical learners.
  2. The school still struggles with poor coordination and frequent changes of plan that create avoidable snafus. It needs better formal communication and modest structure without turning into rigid bureaucracy.
  3. Teachers should give clearer road maps but are experimenting with AI tools like “vibe-coding,” “vibe-reading,” and “vibe-tutoring” to improve learning and writing. The plan is to have AI show suggested edits while leaving rewrites to the students so they learn.
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Corporate Soap Opera at UATX

In My Tribe • 531 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🚌 Education Administration
  1. Personality and ego conflicts get amplified into supposed principled battles. Many disputes are more about people than deep ideological differences.
  2. The school’s challenges go beyond DEI to include debates over AI, curriculum, and earlier rushed commitments. A lack of shared priorities means individuals launch initiatives that often collide.
  3. Stronger internal processes and some bureaucracy are needed to manage trade-offs and reduce drama. A change in leadership may have made the place better positioned to improve things.

Trump’s Tough-Talking Antitrust Chief Is Pushed Out

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 255 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Gail Slater, the Justice Department’s antitrust chief, abruptly left her post after senior Trump officials decided to push her out.
  2. She led the Antitrust Division and was known as a tough antitrust hawk who focused on merger reviews and enforcement.
  3. Her exit highlights ongoing infighting and high-level turnover inside the administration, even as officials publicly thanked her for her service.

Nation Shrugs as Godzilla Eats Washington

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 18122 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. There's a lot of chaos happening in Washington with Trump's return, and many people are indifferent to the changes he's making. It feels like he's causing a big stir, but some see it as a refreshing shake-up.
  2. People are questioning the work and spending of groups like USAID, suggesting some of their projects aren't justifiable. There's a debate about whether funds for certain programs are worth it, especially concerning national security.
  3. The political atmosphere is tense, with ongoing legal challenges to Trump's actions and many officials rushing to defend policies that many find controversial. The situation is creating a lot of friction and public spectacles in politics.

The Speaker The University Didn’t Want Me to Invite

Juan David’s Newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🚌 Education Administration
  1. Campus bureaucracy can create slow, intimidating, and unnecessary barriers that make it hard for students to organize simple events.
  2. Persistence, creative problem-solving, and leaning on friends or technical know-how can overcome institutional roadblocks and get things done.
  3. Bringing challenging ideas to campus matters for intellectual growth and personal confidence, and successfully hosting them shows what student initiative can achieve.

URGENT: Kristi Noem is out as Secretary of Homeland Security

Unreported Truths • 27 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. President Trump removed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and named Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement.
  2. Noem’s inflammatory and often unsubstantiated claims about protesters, plus revelations about an alleged affair with her aide, undermined the administration’s credibility on immigration.
  3. The move looks like an attempt to repair political damage and signal to hardline advisers like Stephen Miller, potentially shifting toward a firmer but less extreme, more politically sustainable immigration approach.

Why Can’t the Trump Administration Log Off?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 217 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Trump team was once very effective at dominating media cycles and using new platforms like podcasts and X.
  2. After less than a year in power, that media edge is slipping as they make clumsy, tone-deaf moves.
  3. Their nonstop social posting and podcasting now risk backfiring, with ill-timed releases (for example, a podcast dropped during a major manhunt) that look like self-inflicted damage.

Two Pieces of the Puzzle

Phillips’s Newsletter • 231 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Trump administration is seen as faking support for Ukraine while really wanting to protect Russian assets from being used to aid Ukraine. This strategy has helped delay European efforts to assist Ukraine.
  2. Trump appears to accept the idea that Russia will ultimately win the war and has influenced negotiations based on this belief. He has used this narrative to pressure Ukraine into accepting a potentially unfavorable peace deal.
  3. The administration’s actions aimed to mislead European leaders into thinking they were committed to helping Ukraine, which in turn prevented them from taking more decisive action against Russia.

Assad’s Fall Has Humiliated Washington

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2633 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Syria's recent change in leadership happened despite the efforts of the Biden administration, not because of them. Many believe the U.S. played a minor role in this shift.
  2. President Biden claims that the weakening of Assad's supporters like Iran and Russia is due to his policies, but many disagree with this view. There is a belief that these countries have lost power for other reasons.
  3. Israel's actions in the region have been more impactful than U.S. influence. Some argue that Israel took bold steps that went against what the U.S. wanted, contributing significantly to the change in Syria.

⤴⤵ The rise and (maybe) fall of NEPA: A Quick Q&A with … law professor Nicholas Bagley

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Abundance movement believes that too many rules make it hard for the government to function effectively. This can slow down essential projects like building new infrastructure or developing energy sources.
  2. Regulations can sometimes be hijacked by powerful groups, making it difficult to approve new construction or changes that benefit the community. This creates a struggle between necessary development and local opposition.
  3. While the movement seeks to streamline government processes, it also acknowledges that making things easier for the government can lead to both positive and negative outcomes. This balance needs careful consideration.

Washington War Games: How the U.S. Prepared for an Iran Strike

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 848 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Trump administration prepared for military action against Iran starting in February. They wanted to be more involved in the conflict.
  2. In a private dinner, U.S. officials and Iranian dissidents discussed how to attack Iran. They talked about strategies that were very similar to Israel's recent military actions.
  3. Key military moves like targeting Iran's leadership and nuclear program have happened, but certain planned actions were still not carried out at the time of the discussion.

The Change From Biden To Trump Has Been Devastating For Ukraine

Phillips’s Newsletter • 175 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Trump administration's approach to Ukraine is much more favorable to Russia and harmful to Ukraine compared to the Biden administration's support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
  2. Under Trump, there are proposals that could limit Ukraine's military and recognize parts of Ukraine as Russian territory, which would significantly weaken Ukraine's position in Europe.
  3. The Biden administration aims to hold Russia accountable for its actions and supports Ukraine's path towards NATO membership without imposing limits on its military capabilities.

The Backlash Against Biden on Gaza Is Growing

Eunomia • 609 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Growing dissent and opposition within Biden's administration and party due to unchanged U.S. policy on Gaza
  2. Criticism towards Biden for neglecting Palestinian victims in statements, showing a one-sided view in the conflict
  3. Calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to ensure the release of hostages, highlighting the impact of U.S. support for the war

Jed Rubenfeld: The Supreme Court Flubs a Pro-Trump Ruling

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 319 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fire many Department of Education employees, but they didn't explain why. This lack of reasoning leaves people confused about their decision.
  2. Usually, the Supreme Court provides clear reasoning for its rulings, but recently, many of their decisions favor the government without proper explanation. This trend is concerning for legal transparency.
  3. The article suggests that while large-scale layoffs are allowed by law, the court's lack of communication about its reasoning raises questions about the fairness of the process.

Exclusive: Trump Targets Biden’s $42 Billion Broadband Boondoggle

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 398 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Trump plans to change a $42 billion broadband program created by Biden because it hasn't successfully connected anyone to the internet yet.
  2. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is looking to remove rules that are seen as burdensome, which could speed up the program's goals.
  3. This broadband program was started to provide internet access to 25 million Americans, but the proposed changes can happen without needing Congress's approval.

DELETE, DELETE, DELETE, DELETE

OpenTheBooks Substack • 580 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. There are 75 federal agencies listed as defunct in the Federal Register. Many of these agencies haven't been active for years but are still listed.
  2. The Federal government lacks good record-keeping, leading to confusion about which agencies are still operating. This makes it hard for taxpayers to know where their money is going.
  3. To improve government efficiency, a new department aims to identify and eliminate these ghost agencies. This could help save money and streamline government functions.

Cass Sunstein

Sour Milk • 216 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Biden administration's open border policies have led to a significant increase in illegal immigration.
  2. Cass Sunstein, appointed by President Biden, plays a key role in rolling back immigration laws and shaping border control policies.
  3. Sunstein's 'counterspeech' doctrine aims to discredit critics and control public discourse on various issues.

University administrators have forgotten what leadership is

The Recovering Academic • 415 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🚌 Education Administration
  1. University administrators are being criticized for forgetting what true leadership entails, especially in the field of academia.
  2. Leaders in higher education should prioritize trust, respect, and shared risk with faculty and staff for effective leadership.
  3. Lessons from military history, like trusting and respecting subordinates, can offer valuable insights into effective leadership practices in academia.

Trump White House Payroll Shrinks 29% Year-Over-Year

OpenTheBooks Substack • 217 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The Trump White House payroll decreased by 29% compared to the previous year, spending $44.1 million on 404 employees. This is the lowest payroll cost since 2009 when adjusted for inflation.
  2. Trump's staff still receive high salaries, with the average staffer earning over $109,000. A significant number of employees, about 54%, make at least $100,000.
  3. Eight staff members work without pay, showing a mix of traditional roles and new positions like the 'pardon czar'. However, details about the Vice President's office payroll are still not publicly available.

Washington Gets the Full Musk Treatment

Nonzero Newsletter • 474 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. A lot of Americans think their government is run by a small group of powerful people. This idea shows concern about inequality in political power.
  2. Elon Musk's approach to leadership involves major cutbacks and challenges to existing processes. This style can lead to significant changes in organizations like the government.
  3. There are growing worries about the safety of AI as the US and China compete for technological dominance. Leaders emphasize that this race could have dangerous consequences.

Last chance to weigh in on Trump's plan to politicize the civil service

Can We Still Govern? • 227 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Trump's plan could turn many career civil servants into political appointees, which might influence their work based on loyalty rather than merit. This could affect government effectiveness and accountability.
  2. It's easy for the public to voice their opinions against this plan. Just a quick comment can make a big difference and it helps create a record of opposition.
  3. Managing through fear, like threatening job loss for dissent, harms creativity and quality in government work. It's better to have open discussions and diverse viewpoints to improve services.

Welcome to the Provost Dungeon

ailogblog • 139 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Administration
  1. Bureaucracy is essential for large organizations to manage data and control, but it can hinder community-building, and many share grievances about bureaucratic systems.
  2. Generative AI has the potential to transform bureaucratic processes in universities, leading to anxiety and excitement among bureaucrats, requiring a shift towards positive and pragmatic change.
  3. Educational bureaucracies can benefit from design thinking, incremental experiments, and a hybrid persona of intellectual-bureaucrat to create better structures that support teaching and learning.

December 16, 2025

Letters from an American • 23 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. U.S. forces have been striking small boats and killing dozens while the administration claims it is fighting narco-traffickers, but lawmakers and legal experts say there’s been no legal justification and key evidence has been withheld.
  2. The White House is escalating toward Venezuela with threats of blockades and demands to seize assets, signaling a push for regime pressure or change that many lawmakers warn could risk a wider conflict.
  3. The administration shows signs of chaos and poor transparency — from mistaken public statements and disputed briefings to a lawsuit over White House construction and insider comments suggesting punitive, unconstrained behavior.

The Hansen Firing

Gordian Knot News • 139 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The current approach to reforming the NRC isn't effective. Both sides of the political aisle are missing the mark on how to make real changes.
  2. Making significant updates to nuclear regulations can face many challenges, including legal issues and pushback from those who benefit from the current system.
  3. A more strategic plan focusing on changing regulations and waiting for political tides, like the upcoming elections, might be a better approach for meaningful progress in the nuclear sector.

PROJECT SYNDICATE DRAFT: Chaos-Monkey Trade Policy

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 176 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The upcoming Trump II administration is expected to create harmful policies for the country. It's important to pay attention to how these policies are communicated and executed.
  2. There's a strong need for the press to scrutinize which of Trump's Twitter claims actually lead to real policy changes. This oversight is crucial to understanding the potential impact on American society.
  3. The chaotic nature of Trump's trade decisions, like fluctuating tariffs on imports, shows unpredictability in trade policy. This inconsistency can affect economic relationships with neighboring countries.

The Musk-a16z administration

Alex's Personal Blog • 230 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Inflation is slowing down, which is good news, but there are still bumps to deal with. It makes it less of a worry than before.
  2. Elon Musk seems to have a big role in the Trump administration, influencing political decisions and interactions. His support is seen as a key factor in Trump's election success.
  3. Despite concerns about AI development hitting a wall, there is optimism from leaders like Sam Altman at OpenAI, indicating that progress continues.

I Have been Appointed Co-Chair of the ACIP Committee

Who is Robert Malone • 71 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Administration
  1. The author has been appointed co-chair of the ACIP committee, which is related to immunization practices. This role was unexpected for them.
  2. They expressed a commitment to being objective, honest, and transparent in this new position.
  3. The author appreciates the support they've received from their subscribers over the years and values their connection with them.

I Screwed Up. Here's What I Learned.

The Radar • 39 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
💼 Business Administration
  1. Strong leadership is not always sufficient. It's important to balance leadership, management, and administration.
  2. Avoid neglecting any of the three leadership imperatives for too long. Juggling them dynamically is crucial.
  3. Leadership involves more than just love. It requires a combination of heart, brain, and bones to be effective.

New Report Reveals How Biden Staffers Helped Anthony Fauci Get Away With Misconduct During COVID

Unmasked • 48 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Biden's administration has been accused of being run by unelected staffers. This suggests that staff members were making important decisions behind the scenes.
  2. There are allegations that autopen signatures were used for official documents like pardons. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of those decisions.
  3. A recent report indicates that these staffers helped Anthony Fauci avoid accountability during the COVID pandemic. This points to a lack of transparency and oversight in the administration's actions.

Narrative and reality in Trump 47

Gray Mirror • 157 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. The differences in voter expectations between Trump 45 and Trump 47 show that people anticipate more from the new Trump administration, but they may not truly understand how the political system works.
  2. The reality of governance is complicated, and despite Trump being elected to shake things up, the existing structures and factions in Washington make it hard for any significant change to happen.
  3. Trump's ability to lead effectively is limited by the public's willingness to fully support him, meaning that voters need to trust him more to enable real progress in government.

Elon versus the USG

Gray Mirror • 146 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Elon Musk may be more valuable on Earth than in space. Some believe his ideas could improve how the US government works instead of focusing on Mars.
  2. The US government is more bureaucratic than it seems. Many people think the President is in charge, but Congress actually has more control over decisions and spending.
  3. Restoring the Constitution and fixing the government may not be possible. The systems in place now are so different that some question if the Constitution is even relevant today.

The Case for a "National Clarification Initiative" to Reduce Needless Bureaucracy

The Good Science Project • 100 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. A National Clarification Initiative could help clear up misunderstandings about laws that make government work less effective. Many agencies operate under incorrect beliefs about what the law actually requires.
  2. Simplifying and clarifying legal requirements could free up resources and improve innovation in federal programs. There's a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy that slows things down.
  3. Getting feedback directly from agency employees about what's confusing or restrictive can help highlight problems. This initiative would proactively seek these insights to make government processes better.

BIWEEKLY BRIEFLY NOTED: For 2024-12-18 Sa

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 84 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Administration
  1. Automation and AI are changing jobs in many industries. It could either lead to job losses or new kinds of jobs, just like what happened with tractors in farming a century ago.
  2. Students find it easier to ask ChatGPT questions instead of going to a teacher. This could mean they get less accurate answers, which is a concern for education.
  3. Economic forecasts are changing with the Federal Reserve adjusting interest rates. It’s an important factor for understanding the overall economy and its direction.