Governance Under Pressure
From wildfires to AI to spending cuts — three stress tests for public institutions
Today’s TL;dr is around 1,500 words, a 6-7-minute read.
Governing is never simple, but it’s a lot easier when everything goes to plan. But what happens systems are overwhelmed, or the political culture shifts overnight? This week’s TL;dr looks at three moments of reckoning for public institutions — when the systems we rely on are tested under pressure.
🔥 L.A. Fires: A failed emergency response system, bureaucratic breakdowns, and finger-pointing. When the wildfire exploded into an unstoppable inferno, government wasn’t ready.
🤖 AI for Government: OpenAI just launched a government-specific ChatGPT model. Will it make agencies more effective, or just add another layer of automated frustration?
💰 DOGE: Elon Musk’s latest project is slashing billions in federal spending. But is it real reform or political theater? Cutting waste sounds great — until you see what gets left untouched.
💘 We’ll cap things off with a little love and laughter — because even in the chaos of governance, Valentine’s Day still calls for a sweet ending.
Fiery Death Trap: When Alerts Failed, Lives Were Lost
When the Eaton fire engulfed Altadena on January 7, emergency alerts failed at the worst possible moment. Residents east of Lake Avenue got early warnings and escaped. Those west — where all 17 deaths occurred — were left in the dark for hours. The first alert finally arrived at 3:25 a.m. — too late.
A Wall Street Journal investigation found multiple failures. Here are two:
Delayed and incomplete alerts left residents unaware of the growing danger.
Lack of coordination meant some radio stations never broadcast warnings, and county emergency accounts didn’t post updates.
The result was devastating. Some residents went to bed, unaware of the danger. Among the dead were elderly and disabled residents with no way to escape. One woman, believing she was safe, sent a final text to her sister after midnight: “Just checked the county website and confirmed I am not in the evacuation zone. Love you too.” Hours later, she was gone.
A Chance to Rebuild Smarter — If Leaders Step Up
The fires destroyed hundreds of aging, car-centric apartment buildings and businesses. Neal Payton, an L.A. based urban planner and friend of the Files, argues this is an opportunity to rethink outdated land-use patterns and embrace walkable, mixed-use development.
But this won’t happen on its own. The biggest challenge is fragmented land ownership, which makes large-scale planning difficult. Payton points to San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, which successfully revitalized after the Loma Prieta earthquake, as proof that zoning changes and smart infrastructure investments can turn disaster recovery into long-term wins.
L.A. leaders must act. They need to push zoning reforms that allow more flexible, pedestrian-friendly development and use tools like California’s Specific Plan process to coordinate redevelopment.
Bottom line: The fires were tragic, but they don’t have to define L.A.’s future. Smart policy and bold leadership can build something far better.
California’s Political Choices Helped Set the Stage for Disaster
In the Breaking History podcast, Eli Lake argues that decades of progressive governance have paved the way for California’s crises — including wildfires. From San Francisco’s radical politics of the 1970s to today’s policies on homelessness, crime, and environmental regulations, California has often prioritized compassion projects over practical governance.
Lake highlights policy decisions that worsened wildfire risks — like blocking fire prevention projects to protect rare plants or cutting fire department budgets while expanding social programs.
But change may be coming. Recent elections saw progressive DAs and mayors ousted in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Whether voters push for further change or return to the same patterns remains to be seen — but governance, done poorly, has real consequences.
ChatGPT Gov’s Impact on Local Government – Insights from John Proffitt
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Gov is a secure AI chatbot for federal, state, and local agencies. Built within Microsoft Azure’s government-approved cloud, it enables agencies to process sensitive data while ensuring security compliance.
John Proffitt, founder of GXFoundry and leader of the Franklin County (OH) Data Center, shared insights with GGF on the ChatGPT Gov launch and AI adoption in local government:
Government-Specific AI Was Inevitable. Gov agencies prefer products with built-in legal protections, security features, and U.S.-based data storage. ChatGPT Gov gives OpenAI a huge new customer base.
AI Adoption is Slow — By Design. Many local governments lack clear AI policies and hesitate to experiment. The biggest acceleration will come when vendors package AI into standardized, easily deployable products.
Cloud vs. On-Premises: The Big Question.
On-Prem AI offers cost and security control but requires vendors to simplify deployment.
Cloud-Based AI is likely to win out, as governments have accepted subscription-based models.
AI is Promising, But Not Yet Transformative. So far, government AI use cases have improved efficiency — but haven’t fundamentally changed service delivery.
Bottom line: John says ChatGPT Gov is a step toward AI adoption in government, but its real impact depends on standardization and ease of deployment. Governments move cautiously for a reason.
DOGE’s First Cuts: Symbolic or Substantial?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut $1 billion in spending in its first three weeks — a fraction of Elon Musk’s $2 trillion goal. The Wall Street Journal reports that while DOGE has targeted small-dollar programs, it’s now embedding in larger federal programs, including healthcare.
Jessica Riedl isn’t buying it. The Manhattan Institute senior fellow and fiscal policy expert blasted DOGE’s early cuts as gimmicks, arguing they pale in comparison to the $8 trillion in tax cuts and spending hikes Trump has proposed.
So no, I don’t get excited when DOGE cancels $1 billion in government contracts while Trump and Congress add $800 billion annually in new spending.
Federal Employees on Elon’s Buyout Offer: The Free Press reports that federal workers aren’t jumping at Musk’s buyout plan — even those taking the deal hate it.
Not Helping the Cause. I want federal spending reined in and bureaucracy made more effective. But FFS, when I checked the White House’s own list of questionable USAID programs ($2M for Moroccan pottery classes, $45M for DEI scholarships in Burma, etc.), the first line read: “Here is a list of 25 USAID spending items … based on recent web information.” Uh, guys, you ARE the federal government now. No need to scrape X for content — just email your colleagues for the deets.
Which rom-com will you be watching this weekend?
Two years ago, Vanity Fair ranked the 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time. The top two:
1️⃣ When Harry Met Sally
2️⃣ You’ve Got Mail
(I’d flip those — You’ve Got Mail wins my heart. Still, all hail the genius of Nora Ephron.)
Honorable mention: My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Here’s my favorite scene, where the newlyweds-to-be discuss their cultural differences. Watch until the end — Nia Vardalos’ last line gets me every time.
Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends.
Onward and Upward.