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Robert Gordon

@robertgo.bsky.social
1.6K followers 199 following 84 posts

Distinguished Visiting Fellow, McCourt School, Georgetown U. Former White House Domestic Policy Council, HHS, OMB, Michigan DHHS, etc. Government should work for everybody.

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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I am rooting hard for Zohran Mamdani, but if he’s going to deliver better for less, he needs to be as tough on bureaucratic nonsense as he has been on billionaires. In @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social, I wrote about what that means. www.vitalcitynyc.org/mamdani-nyc-...
vitalcitynyc.org
How Mamdani Can Run NYC Government Cheaper and Better
New York City can run more cost effectively, but it'll require fixing what's broken inside the bureaucracy.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Of the people, who are funny too
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Arne Duncan @arneduncan.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Our collective response to Trump generally, and ICE violence specifically, has been wildly inadequate. Please think about what we should do: A nationwide (or states willing) strike, in which everything shuts down? A march on Washington, where millions turn out? Something else? What are your ideas?
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
If you want Zohran Mamdani to succeed, you should want him to fix the crazy way NYC hires. www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/new...
vitalcitynyc.org
Vital City | New York’s Civil Service System vs. Public Sector Progress
Mamdani must fix city hiring if he wants to get big things done
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Not long ago, the idea of polling judges and asking them to cast votes, but not offer reasons, would have seemed reductive. "That's not what judges do." On the emergency docket today, this is all the Supreme Court does. Red and blue dots are perfect. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
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Steven Mazie @stevenmazie.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in a college applicant's file is blatantly unconstitutional ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
#freedc #freechicago
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Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
I read a couple of pieces this week that show how people are not just protesting but actively resisting Trump-era abuses and putting themselves on the line to protect their neighbors. They're well worth your time.
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Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
This is a superlative post. All constitutional law professor and students should read it -- and then, of course, go read Richard's great book, too. I continued to be somewhat amazed/alarmed, however, ... [1] @williambaude.bsky.social @johnmikhail.bsky.social @jackbalkin.bsky.social
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Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Carving out Jews as the special exception to the general anti-DEI rules of the federal government makes Jews into a specially protected buffer class, which both engenders resentment from others and enables the government to make us scapegoats if things go bad. It’s Court Jews all over again.
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The Burnes Center for Social Change @burnescenter.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
🏙️ Cities getting it right: Instead of blanket cuts, smart governments are modernizing! New in @nytimes.com by @pahlkadot.bsky.social @robertgo.bsky.social showcase pioneers using AI & digital tools to improve services, including @innovateus.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Cities and States That Are Getting It Right
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
A $1 Trillion Medicaid Cut Is THIS Close to Happening. Here’s What It’d Look Like. www.thebulwark.com/p/medicaid-c... from @citizencohn.bsky.social
thebulwark.com
A $1 Trillion Medicaid Cut Is THIS Close to Happening. Here’s What It’d Look Like.
Republicans are about to slash a lifeline for the needy. In North Carolina, people are preparing for chaos and calamity.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
Little-known, big-government & anti-work story from the Big Beautiful Bill: Literally looking for work can cost you your health care. More here:
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Striking and spot-on from a blue-state governor: “Democrats should not shy away from talking about accountability and outcomes,” Kotek said in an interview. “That’s a winning message.” Similar themes from several other folks, including me.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Millions of working people rely on Medicaid. If they are laid off, spending all day every day looking for a job will not be good enough to meet new work requirements. If they take too long to find a new job--which most people will, when unemployment is high--they'll lose their health care. 1/x
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Thanks for posting @donmoyn.bsky.social!
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Good vibes and good question in Alexandria today
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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Here’s a New York Times photo of the Chicago “No Kings” rally. NYT said the march that followed spanned at least 10 blocks.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Got my copy today. The kids are fighting over who gets to read it first. Gonna be me—very excited.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
On a bad welfare reform analogy: It's not, "‘Oh, I’m not going to earn cash because I am getting it already.’ Instead, it’s, ‘I’m not going to earn cash because I have health insurance.’ It’s a much weaker theory of the case... and it is wrong,” Gordon said. www.huffpost.com/entry/work-r...
huffpost.com
The Long Shadow Of Bill Clinton Over The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
Republicans are using the former president as a shield against Democratic attacks on work requirements.
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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Notable statements from a former Israeli Prime Minister.
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Olivia Golden @ogolden-policy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Read this deeply reported piece by @citizencohn.bsky.social on the repeated failure of so-called "work requirements" for Medicaid. Thx to @robertgo.bsky.social for explaining your MI experience & Georgia Budget & Policy Center @gbpp.bsky.social for studying results in GA. @clasp.org
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Democrats have many reasons to oppose DOGE, but so do Republicans. @jdmatsudaira.bsky.social and I wrote about how House GOP student aid proposals require a Department of Education that DOGE has destroyed.  www.chronicle.com/article/on-s...
chronicle.com
Opinion | On Student Aid, It’s Congressional Republicans vs. DOGE
Accountability measures require a strong Department of Education.
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 14/05/2025
“Trump is cagey about whether he might try to stay in office after his current term expires,” writes Richard Primus. If the president’s goals conflict with the law, “he will disregard the project of the law as long as he can get away with it”:
bit.ly
Outsmarting the Constitution
Trump’s approach to a possible third term in office reveals his approach toward American law more generally.
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Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 14/05/2025
Of all the bad SNAP and Medicaid “reform” proposals I’ve seen in 30 years of working on this stuff, the cost shift is the worst. It’s not reform, it’s a bomb.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
The cost shift to states from these SNAP and Medicaid cuts is terrible for the people who depend on them …. And bad news for anyone who depends on state funding for education, or public safety, or transportation. Which is everyone. www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
cbpp.org
House Agriculture Committee Proposal Would Worsen Hunger, Hit State Budgets Hard | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The House Agriculture Committee reconciliation bill would radically alter the structure of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by requiring states to pay a portion of food benefi...
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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Read @crampell.bsky.social's excellent column on the GOP plan to cut Medicaid and SNAP (with a quote from yours truly)
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | Now might be exactly the worst time to cut Medicaid and food stamps
Cutting the safety net could prolong an economic recession.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
DOGE took over clearing HHS grant announcements a month ago. Guess how many new announcements the agency has posted since then? Zero. Ten were supposed to go up between April 11 and today, but none have. 1/4
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
When I led Michigan's DHHS, the state worked hard to implement work requirements humanely. Even so, more than 100,000 Michiganders were on track to lose their health care. Then, fortunately, the state's law was enjoined. That story here: www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2025/mi... 1/2
commonwealthfund.org
More Than 100,000 Michigan Residents Nearly Lost Medicaid Coverage Under Work Requirements
Proposed rule changes to ACA marketplace plans from the Trump administration would increase costs and reduce the financial protection plans offer.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Happened upon a Good Friday procession in DC tonight. Prayers in Spanish, signs in five languages. Not my faith, except American.
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Max Boot @maxboot.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
“Instead of cutting red tape, they are strangling grantees with it,” said Robert Gordon, who served as the HHS assistant secretary of financial resources during the Biden administration. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
DOGE begins to freeze health-care payments for extra review
DOGE is putting new curbs on billions of dollars in federal grants, requiring officials to manually review and approve payments that were previously routine.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Updating this thread from a couple weeks ago: Out of 1,447 HHS contracting staff (1102s) prior to the RIF, I am told that 446 remain, a reduction of 1,001.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
DOGE is now demanding that health grantees justify routine drawdowns of federal funds. At best, this is a waste of time like the “five things I did last week” emails. At worst, it will kill life-saving services. Disturbing story with more from me. 1/2
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Trump Admin. failure to properly follow court orders in Abrego Garcia case is grave threat to civil liberties of US citizens, as well as immigrants. We must stop this slippery slope before go further down it: reason.com/volokh/2025/...
reason.com
Trump Takes Big Step Towards Defying Court Orders in Garcia Abrego Case
When the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration must "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant illegally
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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Proud that my synagogue signed onto this excellent amicus brief in support of Rümeysa Öztürk. The intro is especially worth your time. www.templemicah.org/wp-content/u... #NotInOurName
II.
INTRODUCTION AND INTEREST OF AMICI
Amici are American Jewish congregations and organizations who revere the Constitution
and cherish its guarantee of freedom of speech. Without presuming to speak for all of Jewish
2:25-cv-00374-wks |
Document 85-1
Filed 04/10/25 Page 3 of 18
America a diverse community that holds a multitude of viewpoints— amici are compelled to file this brief because the arrest, detention and potential deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk for her
protected speech violate the most basic constitutional rights.
Öztürk, a Turkish national PhD student at Tufts University, co-authored a March 2024 op-
ed in her school newspaper, The Tufts Daily, criticizing the University's response to the Tufts undergraduate student senate's resolutions calling for divestment from Israel and characterizing
Israel's military actions in Gaza as a genocide. While many amici may disagree with these
sentiments, nothing in the op-ed violates any law. In short, it peacefully expressed dissent and
called for action.
On March 25, 2025, six masked plain-clothes officers apprehended Öztürk on the street as
she was going to an iftar dinner to break her Ramadan fast. They surrounded her, handcuffed her,
placed her in a vehicle, and eventually transported her to an Immigration and Customs
Enforcement facility in Louisiana. The video of the arrest was alarming. It was later revealed that
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had revoked Oztürk's student visa without notice to her, solely because she had co-authored the op-ed. As set forth in a letter addressed to Öztürk, the government
appears to justify these extraordinary measures under a rarely-invoked statute that expressly
prohibits the Secretary of State from detaining and removing a noncitizen because of their "past,
current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations," when lawful within the United States.
But the same statute includes an unconstitutionally vague exception allowing deportation if an individual's presence is deeme…2:25-cv-00374-wks Document 85-1 Filed 04/10/25 Page 4 of 18
antisemitism a goal that, on its face, is laudable. Antisemitism is a persistent scourge that has
threatened the Jewish people for centuries, and about which amici, like Jews everywhere, remain
ever-vigilant.
But arresting, detaining, and potentially deporting Öztürk does not assist in
eradicating antisemitism. Nor was that the government's apparent purpose. The government
instead appears to be exploiting Jewish Americans' legitimate concerns about antisemitism as
pretext for undermining core pillars of American democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental
rights of free speech and academic debate on which this nation was built.
Jewish people came to America to escape generations of similar predations. Yet the images
of Öztürk's arrest in twenty-first century Massachusetts evoke the oppressive tactics employed by
the authoritarian regimes that many ancestors of amici's members left behind in Odessa, Kishinev,
and Warsaw, among a great many others. To watch state authorities undermine the same
fundamental rights that empowered so many Jewish Americans is chilling; to know it is being done
in the name of the Jewish people is profoundly disturbing. And if anything, amici believe such unjust treatment of lawful residents like Öztürk will aggravate risks to American Jews, not ease them.
Our Constitution secures to all students and scholars, including noncitizens, the right to peacefully express political beliefs without fear of government reprisal. Öztürk's constitutionally protected expression does not, and cannot, cause her continued presence in the U.S. to compromise
a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest as the Secretary of State claims. Our foreign policy is not so fragile that an op-ed in a student newspaper could so easily compromise it, and our
constitutional guarantees are not so feeble that they may be so easily discarded. The Court should
grant the Petition and the Motion for Release.
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Richard Primus @richardprimus.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
To the list of hero firms, crucial to add the firms who are *representing* the firms that are fighting back: Williams & Connolly, Munger Tolles & Olson, Cooley. Kudos. Law students choosing where to work: which column do you want to be in?
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Important story that includes some thoughts from me. DOGE is now a superagency, managing processes deep within agencies but core to their missions. And DOGE can now impound funds by refusing to allow grant postings. Next question: Will DOGE begin to approve individual grant awards?
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Kathleen Romig @kathleenromig.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Axios: In less than a week, many Americans will no longer be able to apply for Social Security on the phone, setting the stage for disruptions & upheaval for millions of seniors. The abrupt change increases the likelihood that eligible people will miss out on benefits www.axios.com/2025/04/08/s...
axios.com
Exclusive: As Social Security services are cut back, millions of seniors face huge drives
Nearly 6 million seniors live more than 46.6 miles, roundtrip, from a field office, per a new analysis.
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Dan Gordon @dangordondc.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Check out this smart unpacking of the (not so smart) cancellation of billions of federal education funds last week. As @robertgo.bsky.social explains, Secretary McMahon says she trusts states but this action does not match her words.
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Wonky thread on Linda McMahon’s cancellation of reimbursement for billions in K-12 spending. It's bad news for kids. It's also an example of how the Administration talks devolving power to states, but actually turns states into supplicants.
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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Folks let’s do this today! There are protests everywhere — find yours at handsoff2025.com Spread the word!
HANDS OFF!
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Soon I will add to my bio, "an actual expert on how the government works."
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Have you noticed how all these settlements look the same? It is ritual humiliation. Trump is saying: Whatever integrity or identity you thought you had, now you belong to me.
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Olivia Golden @ogolden-policy.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
This thread from @robertgo.bsky.social is very important - it’s a topic that has so far been under-covered by the media: desire to control the $ and be able to direct it without following legal procedures as a motivation for the cuts. @citizencohn.bsky.social
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Dan Gordon @dangordondc.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Smart breakdown of a coming break down in federal contracting (this is about HHS but it holds true for other agencies for sure)
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Citizen Cohn / Jonathan Cohn @citizencohn.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A thread on why HHS cuts could backfire, leading to *more* waste and abuse, by somebody who is an actual expert on how the government works
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
More useful insights into the bloodbath at HHS, and how it will likely lead to less efficiency and more fraud bsky.app/profile/robe...
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Robert Gordon @robertgo.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Some news about RIFs within HHS's procurement staff. I oversaw HHS procurement policy as an assistant secretary for a year and know folks still there. Heavy sledding alert, but TLDR: Enormous cuts make contract bloat and fraud far likelier. 1/10
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Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
"Turned away when badges didn't work." Just gratuitous cruelty to committed civil servants who've already taken so much abuse. The costs of these reckless cuts to all of our health will be vast. But the inhumane treatment of hard-working employees is itself a moral stain.
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