The DSR Network Words Matter: Kleptocracy, Kakistocracy, Nihilocracy, Schemeocracy! This is a F**ckedupocracy
Mar 13, 2026
Norm Ornstein, political scientist and longtime Washington observer, offers sharp critique of administration competence and corruption. They discuss oil shocks and Hormuz risks. They examine missing expertise in policy and defense. They unpack kleptocracy, nihilocracy, voter data threats, and the danger of a cornered president escalating crises.
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Expertise Erosion Amplifies Risk
- The administration is stripping expertise across agencies, weakening responses to crises.
- Norm cites AI-driven grant cuts, attacks on Judge Advocate ranks, and firings that remove institutional memory and war-planning knowledge.
Oil Above $150 Risks Global Recession
- High oil prices above $150–$200 per barrel risk triggering a severe global economic reaction.
- Paul Krugman's framing (cited by Norm): $100 is manageable but higher spikes hit demand, supply chains, and growth, deepening affordability crises.
Energy Policy Raises Blackout And Price Risks
- Administration actions weaken alternative energy and increase electricity vulnerability.
- Norm warns cutting wind/solar and massive AI data centers' electricity draw plus climate-driven demand will raise blackout risk and prices this summer.
