The hottest Bureaucracy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

THE SWAMP LOG: The Peace Hawk, Homeland Shutdown, An Extraordinary Assertion of Power

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2884 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. It aims to demystify Washington and push back against insider, elite-driven coverage so regular readers can understand how power works.
  2. This edition centers on high-stakes themes — a "peace hawk" stance, a homeland shutdown, and an extraordinary assertion of power — highlighting tensions in foreign policy and domestic authority.
  3. The publication is reader-supported and mixes paid subscriptions with sponsor-backed free posts so some content can be accessed without a paywall.

Bureaucracy Isn't Measured In Bureaucrats

Astral Codex Ten • 32830 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Bureaucracy isn't just about the number of workers; even fewer bureaucrats might not speed up processes if the rules remain the same. Cutting the number of workers could actually slow down operations instead of helping.
  2. Many bureaucratic processes take a long time because of legal needs and mandates set by Congress. Even if you fire some bureaucrats, the steps required to approve things won't change, resulting in delays.
  3. Instead of reducing the number of bureaucrats, the focus should be on cutting unnecessary rules or red tape to make things run faster. Some models have shown success in decreasing regulations by reevaluating what's necessary.

TPS Reports

Doomberg • 6294 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. California is introducing new rules for companies to report their climate impact by 2026. This means businesses will need to have clear roles for climate reporting and teams working together across different departments.
  2. These laws could affect many businesses, even if they only have one employee in California. So, companies will have to adjust their operations significantly to comply.
  3. The new regulations might seem like a big burden, especially since they could lead to more bureaucracy and paperwork for businesses trying to operate efficiently.

CCP Purges as Camp

ChinaTalk • 726 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Xi Jinping has removed more officials from power than Mao, making purges a normal part of his leadership. This has created lots of gossip and speculation about who will rise or fall next in the political ranks.
  2. Bo Xilai's rise and fall resemble a dramatic story with elements of revenge and intrigue. His ambitious nature and controversial actions caused friction with other party members and led to his ultimate downfall.
  3. The drama and excess of Chinese politics can make events feel very theatrical. Many past feuds and conflicts echo historical struggles, making the current political scene a blend of old rivalries and modern politics.

the chocolate helmet of government accountability

bad cattitude • 226 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Government oversight systems are hollow or intentionally toothless, leaving widespread fraud, opaque payments, and mismanagement unchecked.
  2. This isn’t merely incompetence — people and rules have been arranged to protect insiders and prevent real accountability.
  3. The only lasting fix is to follow the money, map and prosecute the networks (using tools like RICO), and roll up the whole corrupt ecosystem rather than just treating symptoms.
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A Year On: The DOGE Disaster

Can We Still Govern? • 311 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. DOGE acted as a vehicle for tech billionaires to capture state power, pushing deregulation of crypto and AI, securing favorable appointments, and creating business opportunities for allies.
  2. DOGE’s actions hollowed out government capacity through mass layoffs and contract cancellations; cuts like those to USAID weakened services and likely caused hundreds of thousands of deaths while protecting ideologically aligned agencies and donors.
  3. DOGE failed to deliver promised savings or service improvements, routinely exaggerated its achievements, misunderstood how government budgeting and public services work, and operated with little public accountability.

A Small Tip Jar for the Administrative State

Bet On It • 216 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Allow taxpayers to use a small part of their taxes to raise or lower the pay of specific government employees each year, with caps, limits on percentage changes, and a short written reason.
  2. The system acts like tipping to create individualized accountability, encouraging faster, kinder, and more responsive service from bureaucrats who currently face little personal feedback.
  3. It won’t fix major structural problems, but it’s a cheap, practical way to improve how government feels to citizens, increase everyday accountability, and reduce populist frustration.

Note on Gloating

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 8973 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. It's okay to feel some relief after a big defeat, but it's important to stay cautious. Some problems still linger in institutions like schools and media.
  2. Even if things seem better now, there’s a chance that old habits and beliefs can resurface. Staying vigilant is key.
  3. Humor can help us process tough topics, but we shouldn't forget the challenges that may remain.

The Prophet of Trump’s Second Term

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3399 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Angelo Codevilla introduced important ideas about a 'ruling class' in America, suggesting that this group has too much power and operates against ordinary citizens. His thoughts on this have changed the way people talk about politics today.
  2. Codevilla's influence can be seen in many government changes during Trump's administration, including shifts in foreign policy and reductions in federal positions. His students and followers are now in key roles, actively working on his ideas.
  3. Key political phrases like 'Deep State' and 'administrative state' originated from Codevilla. These terms have shaped how many people understand and discuss the current political landscape.

How Much Power Does the President Actually Have Over the Civil Service?

Can We Still Govern? • 139 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. The president actually has broad, statutory authority to shape hiring, exemptions, and conduct rules in the federal civil service—far more power than most people assume.
  2. That authority can be used to strengthen administrative capacity or to politicize and weaken agencies, and courts and Congress often defer or fail to check problematic uses.
  3. If we want laws to be implemented faithfully, Congress and the courts need to impose clearer statutory limits and enforce them, because professional norms alone won’t prevent abuse.

At will? Whose will?

Can We Still Govern? • 254 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. The Supreme Court seems poised to let presidents remove independent agency leaders, which will make agencies more political and reward loyalty over expertise.
  2. The federal government is already operating like an at‑will system right now, with partisan firings and stripped safeguards that weaken career staff, reduce state capacity, and invite corruption.
  3. State experiments with at‑will hiring offer weak, mixed evidence and don’t map well to the federal level; you can’t safely combine lots of political appointees with at‑will employment without risking politicized abuses, so reforms need careful evaluation.

What would a third Trump impeachment look like?

Can We Still Govern? • 154 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Major historical impeachments share a pattern: they often follow moments of racial or political realignment and involve election interference, abuse of executive power, and attempts to delegitimize opponents.
  2. Trump’s second term stands out for its aggressive politicization of the bureaucracy and use of agencies and enforcement in racially charged ways, which could create grounds for impeachment similar to past cases.
  3. A third impeachment would be as much political as legal: Democrats would need House control and must weigh the political costs, but a clear mix of racial backlash and abuse of state power can sometimes build the coalition to move forward.

DEATH BY PAPERWORK: Watch NYT Opinion video on health insurers' "prior authorization" practices

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Prior authorization is a process where patients and doctors must get approval from insurance companies before certain treatments can be covered. This often causes delays and can lead to worsening health issues for patients.
  2. The process can be very frustrating and complicated, leading some patients to skip necessary care altogether. This can increase stress and harm their health further.
  3. Doctors and their staff spend a lot of time dealing with the paperwork required for prior authorization, which takes away from actual patient care and can lead to burnout among healthcare providers.

CROSSPOST: ADRIAN MONCK [NIE HUIHUA]: How to Get a Job in the Chinese Communist Party

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 115 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Bureaucracy
  1. To get ahead in the Chinese bureaucracy you mostly need political survival skills: spot who’s rising, keep secrets, run errands, write well, hide your feelings, and take the blame.
  2. China’s long meritocratic civil service built competence and stability, but exams teach the wrong signals for real jobs: promotions follow patrons not performance, so officials behave risk‑averse and avoid telling hard truths.
  3. Recent structural strains — collapsing land‑sale revenue, poor local investment incentives, and intensified central inspections — make discretion costly and squash local experimentation; without more transparency, longer tenures, accountable budgets, and permissioned risk, China will struggle to adapt.

The Boys of DOGE

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1692 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Young engineers are stepping up to change how the U.S. government works. They are being brought in to make things more efficient.
  2. Elon Musk has created a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help with this process.
  3. These young people are seen as a new force that could shape the future of government operations.

Fake Data

Points And Figures • 1172 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. There's a belief that government data, like unemployment numbers, may not be accurate and could be manipulated for a specific narrative. This raises doubt about how trustworthy these figures really are.
  2. The independence of government employees from elected officials is questioned, suggesting that the current system might not align with constitutional principles. This brings up concerns about who is truly accountable in the decision-making process.
  3. Concerns are raised about the reliability of various types of government data, including health and agricultural statistics. This makes people wonder if they can trust any information provided by the government.

A Crusading Clerisy

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 963 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Marxism is not a religion, but post-Enlightenment progressivism ('Wokery') can be considered as one.
  2. The growth of the human-and-cultural capital class, along with technological evolution, has led to a shift towards jobs less grounded in physical reality, especially in entertainment, media, and education.
  3. Post-Enlightenment Progressivism (

Friday Funnies: CPR Alert

Who is Robert Malone • 36 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Federal civil servants in Northern Virginia are blamed for swinging the state to Democrats, and two remedies are proposed: cut federal jobs or relocate federal agencies around the country to break that concentration of influence.
  2. A severe multi-stage winter storm is expected, so people are urged to winterize farms and homes — fill tanks, set up heaters, stock water, food, fuel, batteries, and protect animals and vehicles.
  3. Recent Democratic policies are portrayed as harmful to the state, with concerns about higher taxes, weakened gun rights, permissive immigration and youth medical policies, and a cultural shift dubbed 'Californication' or 'Marxist' influence.

So Much for That Tariff Shock

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1052 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Washington's political landscape is changing, and decisions can happen quickly, like pausing tariffs unexpectedly.
  2. There's a sense of adjusting expectations, especially for those used to previous norms before Trump.
  3. Independent journalism is vital to provide honest insights about these changes and the real world.

Making sense of the DMV experience

Archedelia • 805 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Getting things done at the DMV in California often requires engaging with 'fixers' who have connections in the bureaucracy.
  2. California's bureaucratic landscape reflects a shift towards multiculturalism and political monopoly, impacting how services are obtained.
  3. The collapse of the Republican Party in California has led to a political environment where competition occurs within the Democratic Party under a shared political vision.

New Episode! #24 - Samo Burja - How to Prevent Civilizational Collapse

Win-Win • 79 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🎙 Podcasts Bureaucracy
  1. Bureaucratic growth can weaken institutions and slow down decision-making. It's important to streamline and maintain efficiency in governance.
  2. Understanding the difference between tacit (unspoken) and explicit (clearly defined) knowledge is crucial for effective organization and leadership.
  3. Different systems of governance, like democracy and monarchy, have their own strengths and weaknesses that can impact how societies function.

Bigger State Doesn’t Mean Bigger Bureaucracy

Erik Examines • 358 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. A bigger government doesn't always mean more bureaucracy. Sometimes, more money just flows through the same systems without needing extra workers.
  2. Smaller governments can create more confusion by pushing tasks to local groups or private companies, leading to more regulations and complexity.
  3. Clear standards and smart designs in government can help manage complexity better than just trying to shrink the size of the state.

Will President Trump Revive Liberalism?

In My Tribe • 774 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Liberalism works best when it allows for competition and debate, but those in power might forget this when they become too dominant.
  2. People in powerful positions often become resistant to change, even if they originally supported liberal ideas.
  3. To truly revive liberalism, there needs to be a system that encourages regular changes in leadership and holds those in power accountable.

One Regulator

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
💰 Finance Bureaucracy
  1. The financial market regulation in the U.S. is complicated and outdated, with many agencies like the SEC and CFTC often conflicting with each other. This can lead to innovation being stifled.
  2. There are concerns that some regulators, like Gary Gensler, may be overly controlling and negatively impact innovative companies, especially in the emerging cryptocurrency space.
  3. Many believe that simplifying the regulatory structure to have one main regulator could boost competition and innovation, but achieving this change seems very challenging.

Why the Deep State Loves Tariffs

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 579 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Tariffs raise prices for consumers, going against the goal of reducing inflation. It's a way for bureaucrats and lobbyists to benefit at the expense of everyday people.
  2. The system of tariffs is controlled by complex bureaucracies that aren't transparent. This means that the true impact and manipulation of tariffs can be hidden from public view.
  3. If someone wants to reduce the power of the government and its administration, getting rid of tariffs would be a good starting point.

Accountability and Authority

In My Tribe • 683 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
💼 Business Bureaucracy
  1. Clear job descriptions should state the authority and the accountability of a role. This helps everyone know who is responsible for what.
  2. Bureaucracy tends to make it hard to point fingers when something goes wrong. In businesses, leaders try to keep accountability clear, unlike in government.
  3. When people have less authority in their jobs, it's harder to hold them accountable for results. Finding the right balance is crucial for effectiveness.

Lessons About the Civil Service and Political Appointees

Cremieux Recueil • 567 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Civil servants often prioritize their own beliefs over the goals of the president, which can create problems in running the government. This misalignment can lead to delays and increased costs in government projects.
  2. Political loyalty plays a big role in how well civil servants perform their jobs. When civil servants are aligned with the president's party, they tend to work more effectively and efficiently, saving the government time and money.
  3. Changes in political leadership can affect civil servants' loyalties, but many will still lean toward their original party. This can create challenges for a new administration trying to implement its policies, especially if they face resistance from a predominantly opposing workforce.

Final Tally for Biden-Era Improper Payments? $925 BILLION

OpenTheBooks Substack • 405 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. The total amount of improper payments during Biden's presidency is reported to be $925 billion. This means a lot of money was incorrectly sent out by the government.
  2. In just one year, federal agencies noted almost $162 billion in improper payments. This issue has been growing and was particularly bad during the COVID pandemic.
  3. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had the highest amount of waste, totaling $87 billion. Also, many payments were sent to people who have died, showing problems with tracking who should receive money.

40 Months? The Eternal FOIA Backlog

OpenTheBooks Substack • 137 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. FOIA requests are taking way too long to process, with some taking up to 40 months. This makes it hard for the public to hold the government accountable.
  2. Many government agencies are not responding to FOIA requests on time, often claiming backlog issues. This lack of transparency is harmful to public trust.
  3. There are calls for better management of FOIA processes, including higher staffing and better training, to ensure public records are accessible in a timely manner.

Trump Transition Issues

In My Tribe • 425 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Trump's appointees may struggle because they lack management experience and don't bring their own teams. This can make it hard for them to effectively lead their agencies right away.
  2. Scott Bessent has clear goals for economic growth and budget management. His plan might help improve the economy if implemented well.
  3. There's a debate about government efficiency. Some think we should reward agencies for being cheap and effective, but others believe we need to challenge the way many agencies operate instead.

Social Learning Links, 1/28/2025

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Barton Swaim discusses Cipolla's idea of classifying people into four categories: helpless, bandit, intelligent, and stupid. He argues that even well-credentialed elites can act stupidly, benefiting themselves while causing harm to others.
  2. Lorenzo Warby warns against the dangers of activism, suggesting that it attracts manipulative personalities who use power without accountability. This can lead to aggressive behavior and undermine responsible governance.
  3. Dan Williams highlights a debate about whether ordinary citizens can understand today's complex world and argues for giving more decision-making power to experts. This raises questions about the nature of democracy and who truly understands political issues.

CROSSPOST: LEIF WEATHERBY: Our Spreadsheet Overlords

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 146 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Bureaucracy
  1. AI tools like ChatGPT are often seen as super smart, but they're really just advanced digital bureaucrats. They help manage data and tasks but can hide errors behind a layer of complexity.
  2. Relying too much on AI can lead us to overlook its limitations. It doesn't think like humans; it's more about processing and translating data rather than genuine understanding.
  3. There's a risk in using AI for important tasks without careful oversight. As it automates jobs and decision-making, we need to stay aware of the potential for misuse and the loss of human judgment.

TOO MANY SUBSCRIPTIONS? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

OpenTheBooks Substack • 281 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. The federal government has spent $44 million on POLITICO subscriptions since 2017. This spending comes from various agencies, showing a trend of reliance on paid news sources.
  2. The White House, especially under Biden, dramatically increased its spending on subscriptions, reaching $7.8 million in 2023. This raises questions about efficiency and whether multiple officials need separate subscriptions.
  3. Many people are skeptical about supporting media outlets with tax dollars, especially when there are many who already don't trust these sources. It's worth considering if the government should be funding private news businesses at all.

Will civil servants guard against illiberal power grabs?

Can We Still Govern? • 124 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. Civil servants may not always oppose undemocratic policies. Their views vary based on their political beliefs and affiliations.
  2. When civil servants see proposed changes as threats, they often consider quitting their jobs rather than resisting, reflecting their desire to maintain their integrity.
  3. In polarized societies, bureaucracies may fail to act as neutral defenders of democracy because their members have differing opinions on what's harmful to democracy.

flood the zone

bad cattitude • 269 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. A significant change is happening in government, aiming to reduce waste and increase efficiency. This might mean many current programs are being cut back.
  2. There's a new focus on meritocracy, meaning qualified people will be put in positions instead of relying on connections. This could improve government operations.
  3. To make these changes last, there needs to be a legal framework supporting them. Court actions could ensure that reductions in federal power remain in place for the future.

getting squirrely

bad cattitude • 372 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bureaucracy
  1. A squirrel named Peanut was taken from his home by health officials after a complaint, even though he was a beloved pet. This incident raises concerns about government overreach and the treatment of innocent animals.
  2. Many people reacted strongly online, showing that this event struck a chord with public sentiment regarding personal rights and the power of regulation. It symbolizes a larger issue of government's intrusion into private lives.
  3. The situation highlights the idea that if people accept small violations of their rights, larger issues can follow. It's crucial to uphold the sanctity of one's home and personal freedom to prevent further abuses.