The hottest Government Structure Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

My American Story - July 4, 2025

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 794 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Even with big problems like political division and economic issues, many believe this is one of the best times to be alive. There's lots of positive change happening, especially in reducing poverty around the world.
  2. There's a noticeable divide in how proud people feel to be American, especially between Republicans and Democrats. Most Republicans feel proud, while many Democrats do not, which could be a problem for everyone.
  3. Younger people seem to feel less pride in the U.S. Compared to older generations, it’s important to find common ground and appreciate what makes America special, even if we might disagree on other things.

This Is Not an Administration. This Is Not Even a Renaissance Court. This Is, Pure & Simple, a Chaos-Monkey House

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 476 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Foreign policy decisions can change quickly and unpredictably, leading to confusion and instability for both allies and adversaries.
  2. The lack of a clear and consistent policy process means important decisions can be reversed without accountability, relying too much on one person's whims.
  3. When a government prioritizes personal loyalty over institutional expertise, it risks repeating the mistakes of past authoritarian regimes.

If I Ran the DOGE

In My Tribe • 1199 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Reorganizing the government can make it more efficient by reducing the number of management layers and clarifying who is in charge. This could lead to better decision-making and less wasted effort.
  2. Creating a Chief Operating Officer to manage executive branch operations would help streamline authority and reduce overlap between agencies. This would allow a focus on running the government smoothly.
  3. The government could be simplified by cutting down from many agencies to just eight main ones, which would help eliminate redundancy and make it easier to manage services for the public.

Shadow Cabinet

Thinking about... • 888 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. A shadow cabinet can provide an alternate political voice to the ruling party. This would give citizens access to different viewpoints and expert opinions on government actions.
  2. The existence of a shadow cabinet could help reshape American politics by promoting positive change and daily dialogue, rather than just focusing on election seasons.
  3. Having a shadow cabinet would also support the media by providing named experts who can comment on government issues, helping journalists offer more informed and diverse perspectives.

The Physiocratic Platform: Land Tax

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1108 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. A land value tax (LVT) is different from a property tax because it only taxes the value of the land itself, not any buildings on it. This means it encourages landowners to use their land efficiently.
  2. Implementing a 2% LVT could raise a lot of money for government services while avoiding economic issues that other taxes might cause. It's seen as a less harmful option for funding government needs.
  3. There are ways to protect homeowners from being forced out of their homes due to rising land taxes, like exemptions for primary residences or allowing tax deferrals until the property is sold.
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What Happens Next?

Can We Still Govern? • 993 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. If Trump returns to office, he will likely make major changes to how federal workers are treated, possibly firing many and reclassifying them as political appointees. This could create a government that is less experienced and more loyal to his administration.
  2. Trump's second term may be more organized but still chaotic, with a focus on advancing his goals and possibly reducing regulatory oversight. However, this could lead to a decline in the quality of public services and less effective governance overall.
  3. Corruption might become more common under Trump, with personal interests overlapping with government duties. This could result in conflicts of interest becoming normalized, making it harder to hold him and his administration accountable.

Notes from a quiet week in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 239 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The current Speaker pro tempore, McHenry, has very limited powers, mainly just to oversee the election of a new Speaker. This has been accepted by both political parties as a way to avoid major conflicts until after the election.
  2. Even though things appear quiet in the House, it can still act without a Speaker. The House's authority allows it to pass legislation, meaning it's not truly inactive; it's just choosing not to move forward right now.
  3. The upcoming Speakership election could be quite contentious, depending on how much unity the Republican party can maintain. The party's internal discussions will greatly affect how the election plays out on the House floor.

Can Constitutions Limit Government?

Fake Noûs • 348 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Many people believe constitutions limit government powers, but in reality, governments often operate outside these limits. Most actions by the government are not authorized by the Constitution.
  2. One big reason the Constitution fails is that there's no one to enforce its rules against the government. It's like letting robbers control the police; they won't enforce laws against themselves.
  3. To make a better constitution, we might need new ideas, like requiring a supermajority to pass laws or having a special court to deal with constitutional issues. This could help protect people's rights from government overreach.

WOULD YOU EVER GO ON VACATION TO A PLACE LIKE THAT?

Seymour Hersh • 23 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The Democratic Party needs to recognize what went wrong in its past to improve in the future. They seem stuck in a cycle, unable to find new solutions.
  2. There's a growing divide between the political elite and ordinary working people. The Democrats have been catering more to educated experts rather than the needs of regular folks.
  3. Money plays a big role in politics, especially after major court decisions like Citizens United. This has led to less accountability for politicians and more influence from wealthy donors.

The pleasure of error

Gray Mirror • 198 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Politics and comedy are closely linked. Both can deliver strong messages and reflect society's values in a memorable way.
  2. Being wrong in predictions can show that our understanding or model of reality needs to be updated. It's important to recognize the forces at play that we might not have fully considered.
  3. Big changes in government are often necessary to make things more efficient. Sometimes it's better to start new systems rather than trying to fix old ones that aren’t working well.

READING: Hamilton's Constitutional Convention Speech

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 153 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Hamilton believed that weak state governments could harm a strong federal government. He thought a perfect government needed clear powers and strong institutions.
  2. He was worried that pure democracy could lead to chaos and tyranny. Instead, he preferred a system where some leaders held power for a longer time to ensure stability.
  3. Hamilton highlighted that the interests of states often clash with the needs of the entire nation. He suggested a government structure that aligns individual and national interests better.

Technology vs Democracy

Comment is Freed • 123 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Elon Musk has gained significant influence in Trump's administration, compared to his lack of support during Trump's first term. This shift has raised concerns about the impact on government and democratic processes.
  2. There are serious worries about the constitutional implications of Musk's involvement in government. Courts are starting to react, but many changes could be harmful before any legal decisions are made.
  3. Musk's actions and the ideology behind them are confusing to traditional political systems. New internet culture is impacting politics in ways that make it hard for older generations to understand what's happening.

What does Trump's win mean for the world?

Comment is Freed • 131 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Trump's presidency might lean towards nationalism and isolationism. This could challenge established alliances like NATO and impact international cooperation.
  2. Expect unpredictability in Trump's upcoming administration, with potential government restructuring and a focus on unilateral decisions. This may lead to issues in the usual functioning of government.
  3. Trump's approach to foreign conflicts, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East, could shift, leading to concerns among allies about U.S. support and stability in those regions.

Tax Policy: Breaking the Impasse

Comment is Freed • 93 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Tax reform in the UK is really hard because changes lead to public outrage, making it tough for politicians to make sensible decisions. Politicians often focus on how changes will be viewed rather than on what makes sense.
  2. The current tax system is too complicated and has become a way to solve a variety of issues, leading to confusion and resistance. There needs to be a clearer and simpler approach to tax policy that takes all aspects into account.
  3. Creating a separate office for tax policy could help develop better ideas and solutions without getting caught up in daily politics. This could support governments in making more informed decisions about tax reform.

It's not easy from here

Gray Mirror • 112 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Focusing on the wrong targets can lead to wasted effort. It's important to identify and direct energy towards the right problems instead of getting distracted by less significant issues.
  2. Political systems can change, but restoring the past often ignores the unique challenges of today. Acknowledging how history shapes our current situation is key to moving forward.
  3. There's a need to rethink how power is used in government. Rather than trying to go back to what worked before, it might be better to find new solutions that fit our current realities.

"Medical Freedom Movement" Circular Firing Squad

Who is Robert Malone • 41 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The 'Medical Freedom Movement' is facing internal conflicts, with prominent figures criticizing each other instead of working together. This creates distrust and divides among supporters.
  2. Some key players in the movement look to avoid criticizing certain narratives around vaccines while still questioning others. This complicates their unity and decreases trust.
  3. The movement has qualities similar to a cult, including strict leadership, mind control, and a fear of dissent, which can be harmful to its members.

January 15, 2025

Letters from an American • 20 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Joe Biden announced a significant ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after months of negotiations, focusing on humanitarian efforts and returning hostages.
  2. In his farewell address, Biden reflected on his administration's achievements, emphasizing job creation, healthcare improvements, and infrastructure modernization.
  3. He warned about the dangers of wealth concentration and misinformation in America, urging reforms to protect democracy and ensure fairness for all citizens.

December 16, 2024

Letters from an American • 19 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. Frances Perkins was the first female Cabinet secretary, and she pushed for important things like unemployment insurance and minimum wage. Her work helped shape the modern American government and support workers.
  2. Despite her success, Perkins faced opposition, especially from groups that didn't want changes that promoted equality. This opposition grew over the years, especially against women's rights.
  3. President Biden is working to honor Perkins by creating a more inclusive government and recognizing women's contributions. He emphasized that a good government should support all its people, not just property owners.

Trump And The Evil "Deep State!"

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 18 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. There's a belief that the real power in the U.S. isn't the deep state, but a group of wealthy elites who control the government for their own interests.
  2. Some people argue that the current political drama distracts from important issues, like how the rules and leadership are being shaped by money.
  3. The idea that public service and government jobs are under threat highlights a struggle between working people and a powerful corporate influence in politics.

November 13, 2024

Letters from an American • 19 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. John Thune has been elected as the new Senate majority leader, showing a divide between traditional Republican leaders and MAGA Republicans.
  2. Trump's recent nominations are raising eyebrows among Republicans, especially choices like Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, who are seen as controversial.
  3. Even though Republicans control the House, Senate, and presidency, many of Trump's policies remain unpopular, making it hard for them to govern effectively.

Is Lai losing his grip on the DPP caucus?

Taipology • 13 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The DPP party recently rejected one of its own nominees for the Constitutional Court, raising questions about party unity and leadership. This move surprised many, especially since the party needs to fill vacancies to maintain court functions.
  2. Lai Ching-te, the President and current DPP Party Chairman, faces challenges in controlling his party as factional conflicts seem to be increasing. The rejection of the nominee indicates a possible power shift within the party.
  3. With the Constitutional Court unable to reach a quorum, Taiwan risks entering a constitutional crisis. If they do not appoint moderate and qualified candidates soon, the court's functions will be severely limited.

ADDENDUM P: The Semantic Collapse of “Invasion” and the Constitutional Consequences of Legal Denial

Autodidact Obsessions • 4 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The concept of 'invasion' is too narrowly defined in legal terms today, making it hard to deal with modern security threats. We need to rethink what 'invasion' means to include more than just traditional military attacks.
  2. Current legal interpretations don't cover many real threats we face, like undercover paramilitary groups or cyber-attacks. This limits the government's ability to respond effectively to those threats.
  3. To protect the Constitution and ensure national security, we should redefine 'invasion' to include any attempts to harm the country, even if the attackers aren't wearing uniforms or are acting in disguise.

In the Shallows Of The Deep State.

Trying to Understand the World • 5 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Structure
  1. The idea of a 'Deep State' has become popular as people try to explain political power hidden behind the scenes. It's used to describe unseen influences that control governments and decisions.
  2. Many people find comfort in believing that chaos has some hidden plan or control, rather than accepting that the world could be disorganized and unpredictable.
  3. In Western societies, trust in political leaders is low, leading people to think there might be secret groups managing things better than visible leaders, which can help make sense of troubling events.