Yuval Levin

and the administration is operating so far without really any sense that they need to get anything through Congress except the one big reconciliation bill that'll take care of taxes and spending for the year, they're not thinking in terms of how to advance their agenda as a legislative agenda. The secret to strong executive authority has a lot to do with stability.

and the administration is operating so far without really any sense that they need to get anything through Congress except the one big reconciliation bill that'll take care of taxes and spending for the year, they're not thinking in terms of how to advance their agenda as a legislative agenda. The secret to strong executive authority has a lot to do with stability.

The kind of sense of security that an effective administration can provide depends on knowing where you're headed and moving there incrementally in a way that allows you to achieve big things without making people scared of what you're up to. I think the logic of administrative power that we're seeing operating here so far is just about the opposite of that.

The kind of sense of security that an effective administration can provide depends on knowing where you're headed and moving there incrementally in a way that allows you to achieve big things without making people scared of what you're up to. I think the logic of administrative power that we're seeing operating here so far is just about the opposite of that.

It's the sense that you show strength by coming in and tearing everything down and starting everything over and doing big things right away at the start so that there's a kind of shock and awe that leaves people thinking, wow, these people are really assertive. And that has happened. I think people do have that sense. And obviously there are some advantages you gain by conveying that sense.

It's the sense that you show strength by coming in and tearing everything down and starting everything over and doing big things right away at the start so that there's a kind of shock and awe that leaves people thinking, wow, these people are really assertive. And that has happened. I think people do have that sense. And obviously there are some advantages you gain by conveying that sense.

You do scare people into doing what you want some, and you do give the impression that you're strong. But ultimately, it's very hard to make durable change in that way. Part of the reason I do think is exactly as you say, that durable change actually requires legislation in our system. Anything that isn't legislated isn't durable.

You do scare people into doing what you want some, and you do give the impression that you're strong. But ultimately, it's very hard to make durable change in that way. Part of the reason I do think is exactly as you say, that durable change actually requires legislation in our system. Anything that isn't legislated isn't durable.

But part of it is also just the sense that doing everything right away, everything at the start, and creating this sense of disjunction, of a break... actually doesn't give people the impression that things are under control. It gives people the impression that things are out of control. Bye.

But part of it is also just the sense that doing everything right away, everything at the start, and creating this sense of disjunction, of a break... actually doesn't give people the impression that things are under control. It gives people the impression that things are out of control. Bye.

Well, it's a lot depends on exactly what they mean by presidential priorities here. So the OMB memo was about federal grants and loans. And the thing about grants and loans is they're not specified. Their recipients are not specified in law. They are an amount of money that is designated for a specific purpose.

Well, it's a lot depends on exactly what they mean by presidential priorities here. So the OMB memo was about federal grants and loans. And the thing about grants and loans is they're not specified. Their recipients are not specified in law. They are an amount of money that is designated for a specific purpose.

And then the executive branch is charged with deciding among applicants who should receive them. And in making those decisions, there is a large amount of discretion afforded to the executive branch. Those grants do represent the president's priorities. And, you know, in a sense, they could have done what this memo wants to do without the pause.

And then the executive branch is charged with deciding among applicants who should receive them. And in making those decisions, there is a large amount of discretion afforded to the executive branch. Those grants do represent the president's priorities. And, you know, in a sense, they could have done what this memo wants to do without the pause.

They could have just told all the agencies, review all the grants you're giving. And if there are places where they clearly violate one of these new executive orders or something else on this list we give you. You're empowered to stop that now and provide the grant to another recipient or open it back up for competition. They could have done that without a pause and therefore without the chaos.

They could have just told all the agencies, review all the grants you're giving. And if there are places where they clearly violate one of these new executive orders or something else on this list we give you. You're empowered to stop that now and provide the grant to another recipient or open it back up for competition. They could have done that without a pause and therefore without the chaos.

I think the decision to stop it all is a way of asserting a kind of authority over all federal spending. and saying, Congress says how much we should spend, but the president says on what.

I think the decision to stop it all is a way of asserting a kind of authority over all federal spending. and saying, Congress says how much we should spend, but the president says on what.

And that's a fight they want to have, a fight over impoundment, where they want to suggest that the president basically has the authority to take Congress's legislative authorizations for spending as just a kind of beginning. And fundamentally, this is an executive decision.

And that's a fight they want to have, a fight over impoundment, where they want to suggest that the president basically has the authority to take Congress's legislative authorizations for spending as just a kind of beginning. And fundamentally, this is an executive decision.