The product operating model: How government should deliver digital services

Source: Niskanen Center
by Ann Lewis & Jennifer Pahlka

“Too many federal digital projects arrive late, over-budget, or never work as promised. When that happens, Americans pay the price. It doesn’t have to be this way. While the government has fundamental differences from the private sector, best practices used by private firms can also work for government’s unique structures and requirements. One such practice with significant promise is the product operating model.” (07/10/25)

https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-product-operating-model-how-government-should-deliver-digital-services/

Thomas L. Knapp

Gang puts $50k bounty on hero who defended farm from raid

Source: NBC News

“The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward in the search for someone who appeared to fire a pistol at federal immigration agents during [a gang raid on a farm] Thursday near Los Angeles, the U.S. attorney for the region said. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California based in Los Angeles, announced the reward Thursday night, hours after what appeared to be tear gas was used against protesters near Camarillo in Ventura County. He shared on X helicopter news footage from ABC affiliate KABC of Los Angeles that showed a man in a black T-shirt point what appeared to be a handgun during the protest and tear gassing.” (07/11/25)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-offer-50000-reward-apparent-firing-gun-agents-clash-protesters-rcna218195

Thomas L. Knapp

DoJ whistleblower provides emails backing claim Emil Bove defied courts over deportations

Source: The Guardian [UK]

“Erez Reuveni, a former justice department attorney who was dismissed from his post, has provided text messages to the Senate judiciary committee supporting his whistleblower complaint involving Emil Bove, a top department official who is currently being considered for a seat on the federal bench. Reuveni’s initial complaint, filed last month, included the explosive allegation that Bove had told justice department lawyers that they ‘would need to consider telling the courts ‘fuck you’ and ignore any such court order’ blocking efforts to remove immigrants to El Salvador. … During a hearing before the Senate judiciary committee last month, Bove denied that he had ever instructed justice department attorneys to defy a court order. … But the messages released by Reuveni suggest that justice department lawyers were, at the very least, aware of the possibility they might have to ignore judicial orders.” (07/10/25)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/10/doj-whistleblower-deportations-emil-bove

Thomas L. Knapp

Netherlands: Russian convicted of breaching sanctions by sharing knowhow from tech giant ASML

Source: Seattle Times

“A 43-year-old Russian was convicted Thursday of breaching international sanctions by sharing sensitive information from Dutch semiconductor chip machine maker ASML and another tech company with a person in Russia. The man, whose identity was not released in line with Dutch privacy guidelines, was sentenced in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam to three years’ imprisonment. He was acquitted of some of the counts in his indictment, including that he received payment for the information.” (07/10/25)

https://archive.is/s4FOW

Thomas L. Knapp

Democrats Should Prepare for the Return of Debt Politics

Source: Washington Monthly
by Bill Scher

“Elon Musk’s still-hypothetical third party could become reality because, as I discussed yesterday, combining historically high debt levels with an economic downturn could stoke public frustration with both parties. We saw this in 1992 when independent billionaire Ross Perot exploited rising debt to garner nearly 20 percent of the presidential popular vote. But it’s not a given that a large faction of voters will blame both parties for today’s rising debt. With nearly every Republican in federal office having voted for the red-ink-laden budget reconciliation bill, Democrats have a political opportunity to exploit.” (07/10/25)

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/10/democrats-should-prepare-for-the-return-of-debt-politics/

Thomas L. Knapp