Jennifer Pahlka
@pahlkadot.bsky.social
Author: Recoding America, Founder: Code for America, Co-founder: USDS and USDR.
Excellent use of "rococo" (and a good reminder of how useful that word is in Spelling Bee) paired with a shout out for everyone's favorite crackpot, Charles Guiteau. No, he's not a chocolate maker.
How social-democratic visions for New York (or anywhere else in the US) will require a thoroughgoing rationalization of our rococo civil service hiring system. (With guest appearance by Charles Guiteau)
If you care about Mamdani's success, you might want to read this.
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
November 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Excellent use of "rococo" (and a good reminder of how useful that word is in Spelling Bee) paired with a shout out for everyone's favorite crackpot, Charles Guiteau. No, he's not a chocolate maker.
If you care about Mamdani's success, you might want to read this.
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
Robert Moses's unfinished business should be Mamdani's priority
The mayor-elect has 25,000 job applicants in 24 hours and a civil service system designed to keep him from hiring any of them
www.eatingpolicy.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
If you care about Mamdani's success, you might want to read this.
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/robert-mos...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
This week we were joined by @pahlkadot.bsky.social & Robert Gordon for a conversation about their new project, Recode America, & how they are working to reimagine our regulatory process so that government at all levels can effectively deliver for Americans. open.substack.com/pub/statesfo...
Making Government Work for the People
A conversation with Jennifer Pahlka and Robert Gordon
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This week we were joined by @pahlkadot.bsky.social & Robert Gordon for a conversation about their new project, Recode America, & how they are working to reimagine our regulatory process so that government at all levels can effectively deliver for Americans. open.substack.com/pub/statesfo...
I am a huge Manoush Zomorodi fan, so getting to be on NPR's TED Radio Hour was a real treat. We talked about how to update the operating model of government in the service of our democracy. Take a listen!
www.npr.org/2025/10/31/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/31/n...
The tech revolution bureaucracy desperately needs
Government feels stuck on dial-up. Political advisor Jennifer Pahlka explains how smarter tech—and less red tape—could finally speed it up.
www.npr.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I am a huge Manoush Zomorodi fan, so getting to be on NPR's TED Radio Hour was a real treat. We talked about how to update the operating model of government in the service of our democracy. Take a listen!
www.npr.org/2025/10/31/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/31/n...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
Congrats to @pahlkadot.bsky.social & @robertgo.bsky.social on the launch of the Recoding America Fund!
America needs new, bold policy solutions that are ready to deliver effective governing & improve people's lives.
We're excited to work together towards this future. www.recodingamerica.fund
America needs new, bold policy solutions that are ready to deliver effective governing & improve people's lives.
We're excited to work together towards this future. www.recodingamerica.fund
American Government Needs to Deliver
Recoding America Fund is taking this once-in-a-generation opportunity to generate and pass reforms that shape that change in the public interest.
www.recodingamerica.fund
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Congrats to @pahlkadot.bsky.social & @robertgo.bsky.social on the launch of the Recoding America Fund!
America needs new, bold policy solutions that are ready to deliver effective governing & improve people's lives.
We're excited to work together towards this future. www.recodingamerica.fund
America needs new, bold policy solutions that are ready to deliver effective governing & improve people's lives.
We're excited to work together towards this future. www.recodingamerica.fund
Announcing the Recoding America Fund! It's time to update the operating model of government. eatingpolicy.substack.com/p/announcing...
Announcing the Recoding America Fund
A bipartisan reckoning with the administrative state
eatingpolicy.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Announcing the Recoding America Fund! It's time to update the operating model of government. eatingpolicy.substack.com/p/announcing...
What happens when a team turns a failure into a dramatic success? Sometimes, their hard work and courage earn them a GAO nastygram. That's because the GAO holds them accountable to the wrong operating model. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/gao-gets-s...
GAO gets schooled by the Department of Education
The FAFSA team stands up for itself, and for everyone operating in the product model
www.eatingpolicy.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
What happens when a team turns a failure into a dramatic success? Sometimes, their hard work and courage earn them a GAO nastygram. That's because the GAO holds them accountable to the wrong operating model. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/gao-gets-s...
Choose your variety of abundance. It's like having your colors done, but actually useful.
www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...
www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...
Varieties of Abundance - Niskanen Center
We will know that abundance has succeeded when there is a proliferation of “abundances,” different governing projects attached to previously existing ideologies, interests, and parties.
www.niskanencenter.org
August 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Choose your variety of abundance. It's like having your colors done, but actually useful.
www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...
www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
“As any gardener knows, planting is not the hard part. Gardening is about creating the right conditions: tending and fertilizing the soil, watering, weeding to give seedlings the space they need to grow.
Effective leadership in today’s sclerotic government also requires cultivation”
Effective leadership in today’s sclerotic government also requires cultivation”
In which I argue that Weeding is Fundamental. :)
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
Better Politicians
Weeding is Fundamental
www.eatingpolicy.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
“As any gardener knows, planting is not the hard part. Gardening is about creating the right conditions: tending and fertilizing the soil, watering, weeding to give seedlings the space they need to grow.
Effective leadership in today’s sclerotic government also requires cultivation”
Effective leadership in today’s sclerotic government also requires cultivation”
In which I argue that Weeding is Fundamental. :)
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
Better Politicians
Weeding is Fundamental
www.eatingpolicy.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
In which I argue that Weeding is Fundamental. :)
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
www.eatingpolicy.com/p/better-pol...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
Per @pahlkadot.bsky.social, “You can’t redistribute what doesn’t exist.”
Successful abundance policies must reduce the barriers that make it hard to access resources AND increase the supply of those resources.
Successful abundance policies must reduce the barriers that make it hard to access resources AND increase the supply of those resources.
July 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Per @pahlkadot.bsky.social, “You can’t redistribute what doesn’t exist.”
Successful abundance policies must reduce the barriers that make it hard to access resources AND increase the supply of those resources.
Successful abundance policies must reduce the barriers that make it hard to access resources AND increase the supply of those resources.
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
💼 “To transform the operations of the public sector, leaders will need both courage and creativity. Government unions and contractors alike will be uncomfortable." @nytimes.com @robertgo.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social buff.ly/fS3RQch
buff.ly
July 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
💼 “To transform the operations of the public sector, leaders will need both courage and creativity. Government unions and contractors alike will be uncomfortable." @nytimes.com @robertgo.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social buff.ly/fS3RQch
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
You can have government efficiency or you can wage the culture war through administrative policy.
You can't have both.
@gabemenchaca.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social
You can't have both.
@gabemenchaca.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
You can have government efficiency or you can wage the culture war through administrative policy.
You can't have both.
@gabemenchaca.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social
You can't have both.
@gabemenchaca.bsky.social @pahlkadot.bsky.social
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
Government can deliver better digital services—but only if it adopts the right operating model. Our new piece at @niskanencenter.bsky.social with @pahlkadot.bsky.social explains why moving from projects to products is the path to services that actually work. www.niskanencenter.org/the-product-...
by Ann Lewis Ann Lewis
The government could replicate some private sector practices that have provided results like digitizing more services.
www.niskanencenter.org
July 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Government can deliver better digital services—but only if it adopts the right operating model. Our new piece at @niskanencenter.bsky.social with @pahlkadot.bsky.social explains why moving from projects to products is the path to services that actually work. www.niskanencenter.org/the-product-...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
The President Accounts. A 1939 film by The Government. Newly available in the public domain. archive.org/details/FedF...
The President Accounts : Bureau of Accounts, U.S. Treasury : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
On government accounting practices affecting money spent on unemployment relief. President Roosevelt addresses Congress, unemployed men work on relief jobs,...
archive.org
June 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The President Accounts. A 1939 film by The Government. Newly available in the public domain. archive.org/details/FedF...
Bay Area people: I'll be in SF on June 24th and would love to see you at Mannys!
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
An Evening with Jennifer Pahlka
Abundance is a reform movement to build a better government. Jen Pahlka is one of its leading lights.
www.eventbrite.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Bay Area people: I'll be in SF on June 24th and would love to see you at Mannys!
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
"I no longer believe that incremental fixes are enough."
I get very excited when leaders like Seemay make big, bold moves like this. More of this, please!
I get very excited when leaders like Seemay make big, bold moves like this. More of this, please!
We're excited to take this step, and to talk to other folks who are interested in experimenting. If you have something you're excited to try, reply here -- and we might even fund it. asterainstitute.substack.com/p/scientific...
Scientific Publishing: Enough is Enough
Why we're no longer funding journal publications
asterainstitute.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
"I no longer believe that incremental fixes are enough."
I get very excited when leaders like Seemay make big, bold moves like this. More of this, please!
I get very excited when leaders like Seemay make big, bold moves like this. More of this, please!
This is an excellent explanation of the politics of Abundance, and how it relates to the populist left. Must read.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/o...
Opinion | The Abundance Agenda Has Its Own Theory of Power
www.nytimes.com
June 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This is an excellent explanation of the politics of Abundance, and how it relates to the populist left. Must read.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/o...
"San Francisco’s municipal code runs about the same length...as 75 “Moby Dick"s and counting. No lawyer, or even a team of them, could ever muck out all the redundant and outdated sections contained in it. So City Attorney David Chiu is calling in Stanford’s AI experts to help him out."
June 6, 2025 at 10:17 AM
"San Francisco’s municipal code runs about the same length...as 75 “Moby Dick"s and counting. No lawyer, or even a team of them, could ever muck out all the redundant and outdated sections contained in it. So City Attorney David Chiu is calling in Stanford’s AI experts to help him out."
Just like Congress in the 90s, DOGE ate dessert first. The meal is yet to be served. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/what-doge-...
What DOGE didn't do
Sustainable change comes from changing rules and procedures, not just ignoring them
www.eatingpolicy.com
June 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Just like Congress in the 90s, DOGE ate dessert first. The meal is yet to be served. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/what-doge-...
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
Great read from @pahlkadot.bsky.social as Musk leaves DOGE www.eatingpolicy.com/p/what-doge-.... We have similar problems in the UK government and need action to fix them
What DOGE didn't do
Sustainable change comes from changing rules and procedures, not just ignoring them
www.eatingpolicy.com
June 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Great read from @pahlkadot.bsky.social as Musk leaves DOGE www.eatingpolicy.com/p/what-doge-.... We have similar problems in the UK government and need action to fix them
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
The wise @pahlkadot.bsky.social uses this slide with "Hill staffers who ask me what they should do to improve the performance of an underperforming agency." The key contrast is "something is wrong with these people" vs. "something is wrong with this system." Friction-fixers are system-fixers!
May 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The wise @pahlkadot.bsky.social uses this slide with "Hill staffers who ask me what they should do to improve the performance of an underperforming agency." The key contrast is "something is wrong with these people" vs. "something is wrong with this system." Friction-fixers are system-fixers!
Work requirements are welfare for Deloitte.
May 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Work requirements are welfare for Deloitte.
And all of a sudden, the House has a bipartisan Build America caucus!
May 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
And all of a sudden, the House has a bipartisan Build America caucus!
Reposted by Jennifer Pahlka
OK, we've imagined the Abundance omelet. Now, which eggs should we break, and how? That analysis must begin with a grasp on how the law promotes scarcity and where legal tools can crack it. It also reveals the bigger-than-Democrats dimension to this. hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/building-a...
Building a law of abundance
The artificial scarcity plaguing our economy is deeply rooted in a "law of constraint" built over half a century. How do we unwind it?
hypertext.niskanencenter.org
May 1, 2025 at 3:49 PM
OK, we've imagined the Abundance omelet. Now, which eggs should we break, and how? That analysis must begin with a grasp on how the law promotes scarcity and where legal tools can crack it. It also reveals the bigger-than-Democrats dimension to this. hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/building-a...