Sirens: A Bombshell production JROC, Gerrymandering, and Guardsmen
Sep 3, 2025
Join civil-military relations expert Dr. Lindsay Kahn, a visiting professor at Columbia SIPA, as she dives into the complexities of the National Guard's role amidst legal and federalism challenges. Discover how state governors influence federal military deployments and the implications for future governance. Additionally, explore ongoing redistricting battles ignited by Texas and the ramifications for democracy in the U.S. The conversation is both enlightening and thought-provoking, shedding light on critical aspects of modern governance.
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Design Office Announcement Broke With Past Practice
- The White House's new national chief design officer announcement ignored prior multi-administration design work and felt dissociative.
- That emphasis on aesthetics over outcomes risks undermining trust in user-centered service improvements.
Pentagon Centralizes Requirements Authority
- The Department of Defense replaced the JROC/J-CIDS process with a RRAB co-chaired by the Vice Chairman and Deputy Secretary of Defense.
- Shifting requirements and program authorities to the Deputy Secretary centralizes power but raises staffing and capability questions.
Court Limits Use Of Reciprocal Tariffs
- A federal appeals court questioned the legality of Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs under emergency powers, while sector-specific tariffs remained.
- Removing emergency-authority cover reduces the administration's day-to-day leverage but increases market certainty.