Week of March 10th, 2025
Welcome to this week’s Week in the Rearview, which is a day later than I intended to publish it. Initially, I’d expected to publish a roundup of shutdown thoughts from some of the folks I’ve talked to for DOGE IS FOUR LETTERS on Friday. Then it turned out what we didn’t actually have a shutdown, and we got there in the dumbest way possible. I wrote a little bit about that here, in The Shutdown That Wasn’t.
DOGE IS FOUR LETTERS
Four new DOGE IS FOUR LETTERS pieces this week, along with a slight adjustment to the title format — rather than using initials and job title, I’ve started giving these pieces actual titles derived from the piece. I hope the change makes these a little more memorable, or at least easier to recall, because even I have trouble remembering all of them that I’ve done, and I wrote the damned things. Here’s this week’s rundown:
Sabrina told me about her time working to try to protect the South Louisiana coastline, and how she feels now that she’s been pushed out.
I talked with a Foreign Service Officer currently stationed in Africa, who told me about what FSOs do, how difficult the process to get the role is, and what he’s worried about going forward.
I’m pleased to note that, for the moment, the Field Ecologist I spoke with has actually been reinstated by the courts, and I hope that decision holds. I still think his perspective is valuable, and I hope you read it.
Archiving and record-keeping is an unglamorous job that doesn’t get enough attention or respect, but it ‘s one that’s absolutely critical for any government or any bureaucracy to function. I spoke with a supervisor who helps federal agencies store, manage, and maintain their records about their job and their concerns.
NEXT WEEK
Next week, I’ll be back with more DOGE IS FOUR LETTERS, a new WORK IS FOUR LETTERS, and, if I can find the time to do it, perhaps a new 10 SONGS playlist.
I also spoke with the fine fellows Noah Kunin and Julian Sanchez for their WatchCats podcast, wherein they interview important people like Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, New York Times reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mac, and, uh, well, me. I don’t have a release date yet, but I’ll be sure to include it in the newsletter when I do.
Until then, try to stay sane and take care of yourself.
GOLIKEHELLMACHINE