Jeff Alexander
@techiewonk.bsky.social
Director, Innovation Policy @rti.bsky.social (the Research Triangle Institute). Unapologetic wonk at the intersection of #sciencepolicy, #innovation, and strategy. Ask me about R&D evaluation, innovation metrics, horizon scanning, & cocktails.
Ok seriously, WTF? The Fact Book is one of the most useful government reports published.
February 4, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Ok seriously, WTF? The Fact Book is one of the most useful government reports published.
Thank you for the link and for letting me know that First Monday still exists! I remember reading the first issue
February 3, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Thank you for the link and for letting me know that First Monday still exists! I remember reading the first issue
Reposted by Jeff Alexander
My colleague Ivy Estabrooke and I from @rti.bsky.social penned an editorial for @science.org on some of the potential implications if U.S. state governments boost funding of scientific #research as federal funding declines: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (not paywalled). #scipol #sciencepolicy
States pioneer a new frontier in US science funding
Thirty-five years ago, a survey of university faculty concluded that despite relatively stable public funding, the research environment in the United States had deteriorated to the point that “a major...
www.science.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:19 AM
My colleague Ivy Estabrooke and I from @rti.bsky.social penned an editorial for @science.org on some of the potential implications if U.S. state governments boost funding of scientific #research as federal funding declines: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (not paywalled). #scipol #sciencepolicy
My colleague Ivy Estabrooke and I from @rti.bsky.social penned an editorial for @science.org on some of the potential implications if U.S. state governments boost funding of scientific #research as federal funding declines: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (not paywalled). #scipol #sciencepolicy
States pioneer a new frontier in US science funding
Thirty-five years ago, a survey of university faculty concluded that despite relatively stable public funding, the research environment in the United States had deteriorated to the point that “a major...
www.science.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:19 AM
My colleague Ivy Estabrooke and I from @rti.bsky.social penned an editorial for @science.org on some of the potential implications if U.S. state governments boost funding of scientific #research as federal funding declines: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (not paywalled). #scipol #sciencepolicy
Ugh. Saw Manitou at a D&D convention as a middle schooler in Oakland. Messed up my sleep for weeks
January 12, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Ugh. Saw Manitou at a D&D convention as a middle schooler in Oakland. Messed up my sleep for weeks
To paraphrase William Gibson, fascism is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.
January 10, 2026 at 3:45 AM
To paraphrase William Gibson, fascism is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.
Glad I was paying attention in my undergrad Intro to Int’l Relations class. Really coming in handy in ways I never imagined when I was 18.
January 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Glad I was paying attention in my undergrad Intro to Int’l Relations class. Really coming in handy in ways I never imagined when I was 18.
Considering the fate of the Raiders, the Golden State Warriors, and the A’s, Oakland’s primary export appears to be professional sports teams
January 8, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Considering the fate of the Raiders, the Golden State Warriors, and the A’s, Oakland’s primary export appears to be professional sports teams
Reposted by Jeff Alexander
I come back from my winter PTO and day one Congress drops the text of a minibus. The dashboard has been updated with the Senate Homeland numbers, and all the info in the CJS-Int-E&W minibus. A House vote is scheduled tomorrow night, and Senate likely later this week.
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
FY 2026 R&D Appropriations Dashboard | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
www.aaas.org
January 5, 2026 at 6:10 PM
I come back from my winter PTO and day one Congress drops the text of a minibus. The dashboard has been updated with the Senate Homeland numbers, and all the info in the CJS-Int-E&W minibus. A House vote is scheduled tomorrow night, and Senate likely later this week.
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
This is one of the big costs of malfeasance. Things that would not be done by politicians acting in (relative) good faith now have to be legislated and regulated, which will consume time and resources that could be devoted to constructive policymaking.
December 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
This is one of the big costs of malfeasance. Things that would not be done by politicians acting in (relative) good faith now have to be legislated and regulated, which will consume time and resources that could be devoted to constructive policymaking.
Note that the “World’s Top 2% of Scientists” list has no connection to Stanford University or any other institution.
December 23, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Note that the “World’s Top 2% of Scientists” list has no connection to Stanford University or any other institution.
Keep in mind that CRS is a research branch in the Library of Congress and has no investigative or oversight powers (unlike GAO). This report at most indicates that some member of Congress asked for information about NIH awards.
December 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Keep in mind that CRS is a research branch in the Library of Congress and has no investigative or oversight powers (unlike GAO). This report at most indicates that some member of Congress asked for information about NIH awards.
I’m torn about this kind of thing. The Science of Science working group has been in planning for a while—pre-dating the current administration. While I don’t at all assume the current leaders act in good faith, we need people in the group who can bear witness to what is discussed.
December 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I’m torn about this kind of thing. The Science of Science working group has been in planning for a while—pre-dating the current administration. While I don’t at all assume the current leaders act in good faith, we need people in the group who can bear witness to what is discussed.
It states that those are current US assets, but does not advocate for investing in them—or even for retaining them. The strategy focuses on military dominance and realpolitik as the operational assets (in Trumpworld).
December 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
It states that those are current US assets, but does not advocate for investing in them—or even for retaining them. The strategy focuses on military dominance and realpolitik as the operational assets (in Trumpworld).
In many cases when I’ve asked a “stupid” question, people later tell me that they were wondering the same thing.
December 5, 2025 at 12:37 AM
In many cases when I’ve asked a “stupid” question, people later tell me that they were wondering the same thing.
This was in Brazil last week.
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This was in Brazil last week.
And they subpoenaed the Epstein estate because a lawyer for the victims went on Lawrence O’Donnell’s show and said that doing so would enable them to get around DOJ’s intransigence. Masterful move.
November 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
And they subpoenaed the Epstein estate because a lawyer for the victims went on Lawrence O’Donnell’s show and said that doing so would enable them to get around DOJ’s intransigence. Masterful move.
Umm…the timescale of these investments are NOT similar. GenAI infrastructure investment (based on announcements) is supposedly happening over a much shorter period
October 21, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Umm…the timescale of these investments are NOT similar. GenAI infrastructure investment (based on announcements) is supposedly happening over a much shorter period
Happened when DHS was created after 9/11
October 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Happened when DHS was created after 9/11
Reposted by Jeff Alexander
Trying to crowd source crowd estimates with help from @thexylom.com
Instructions are on the document for estimating crowds, and adding proof or a snapshot of those crowds.
Instructions are on the document for estimating crowds, and adding proof or a snapshot of those crowds.
Based on early numbers, there are easily more people participating in the second No Kings Day than in the first. Trump's strategy of constantly talking about this on TV and GOP govs sending in the national guard obviously energized the left. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
20251018_No Kings Day 2 Protests Unofficial Attendance Crowdsourcing
docs.google.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Trying to crowd source crowd estimates with help from @thexylom.com
Instructions are on the document for estimating crowds, and adding proof or a snapshot of those crowds.
Instructions are on the document for estimating crowds, and adding proof or a snapshot of those crowds.
I would totally bet that they had grok rewrite the code.
October 12, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I would totally bet that they had grok rewrite the code.
“The software, called AutoRIF, which stands for Automated Reduction in Force, was first developed by the Department of Defense more than two decades ago. Since then, it’s been updated several times and used by a variety of agencies to expedite reductions in workforce.”
October 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
“The software, called AutoRIF, which stands for Automated Reduction in Force, was first developed by the Department of Defense more than two decades ago. Since then, it’s been updated several times and used by a variety of agencies to expedite reductions in workforce.”
Um, that is actually pretty close to what happened: www.wired.com/story/doge-a...
DOGE Is Working on Software That Automates the Firing of Government Workers
Operatives working for Elon Musk’s DOGE appear to be editing the code of AutoRIF—software designed by the Defense Department that could assist in mass firings of federal workers, sources tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Um, that is actually pretty close to what happened: www.wired.com/story/doge-a...
The alternative is that millions of contractors (including call center agents, data entry workers) would be furloughed or fired upon shutdown. Unlike feds, furloughed contractors do NOT receive back pay when the gov’t re-opens. And the contract workforce is much bigger than federal workforce.
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The alternative is that millions of contractors (including call center agents, data entry workers) would be furloughed or fired upon shutdown. Unlike feds, furloughed contractors do NOT receive back pay when the gov’t re-opens. And the contract workforce is much bigger than federal workforce.