1) Strong belief in the rule of law for one. That all this was illegal and the courts would sort this out and prevent the total dismantling of a Congressionally authorized agency

2) Perception that resistance was futile, press didn't give a shit

3) Future employment (State) concerns

Most rank and file believed the courts would stop all of it, and everything would go back to normal.

Feds were in townhalls being told by members of Congress that will that was being worked on. There were very few places where internal resistance would've made a difference.

Big reason why there's such discord in talk and action on UKR and RUS IMO. Policy folks (and Hegseth) desperately believe they can peel RUS away from PRC, but selling out UKR and security cooperation with RUS is deeply unpopular in the building. And the envoys are all uniquely incompetent.

Do not underestimate the extent to which they want to normalize relations and establish a cooperative relationship (military included) with Russia. They have to get the war ended before they can do that but they know they can't simply serve Ukraine up entirely.

Somehow still less obnoxious than DON'T TREAD ON ME on the 8th Dodge Charger on my commute.

So...that latter opinion is essentially the belief of the MCPS Superintendent, who was essentially horrified our community loves the walkability of our local schools, and believes kids walking to school is manifestly unsafe. That informs MCPS planning sadly.

My radicalization occurred when I saw how radicalized opponents of walkability and safe streets in my own community are! You have to go incredibly hard just to match how scorched earth they're willing to go to prevent every tiny inconvenience to their twice-weekly drive to the grocery store.

Physical training. He takes a morning jog and does some pushups.

"Sir, moving to what our adversaries are saying about you..."

Me when I'm scrolling Bluesky: "Just checking out what our adversaries (laudatory) are saying about us."

First time I let it go bc people say dumb shit all the time, but twice now...

This guy's billing his morning shit and scroll as an "influence networks analysis."

About to find out whether Maduro has Prigozhin Disease.

We're learning the importance of diplomatic credibility from first principles here, right?

Exceptional book btw

“What do you think about American foreign policy?”

“It would be a good idea.”

A key enabler of drone CASEVAC has also been locating Role 1/2 medical and forward surgical teams close to the forward line, and hiding those facilities from attack.

Lots to learn from our partners to give us additional options to save lives on the battlefield.

Absolutely, and a big expectations gap. People across DoD kind of expect that the political challenges impacting change now will magically melt away in wartime bc the critical mission will reign supreme, which is just dramatically, dangerously wrong.

We've worked with Ukraine on mil med reforms, and they've done some major reorgs as the war has progressed (even dramatically changing the relationships between Min Health and Min Def), and you can make changes on paper, but implementation capacity is shot entirely in wartime.