Government Matters

National Digital Reserve Corps could protect federal infrastructureRep. Tony Gonzales and Rep. Robin Kelly discuss their plan to create a National Digital Reserve Corps to help the government deal with technology emergencies. Tackling unemployment fraud Seto Bagdoyan, director of forensic audits and investigative services at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the aftermath of unemployment fraud that took place during the pandemic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Navigating threats from China and RussiaLt. Gen. A.C. Roper, Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command, discusses the Chinese spy balloon and Russia's threat to the Arctic. Recruiting women to the militaryKatherine Kuzminski, director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at Center for a New American Security, discusses the military's efforts in recruiting more women. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diversity in genetic research is a key part of health careNeil Hanchard, senior investigator, and section head at the National Human Genome Research Institute, discusses genetic diversity in research. Chinese surveillance balloon elevates US-China tensions Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses how the U.S. took down the Chinese surveillance balloon. American satisfaction with the government increases for first time in years Forrest Morgeson, director of research at the American Customer Satisfaction Index, discusses the increase in American satisfaction with the government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hiring new tech talent in the governmentKimberly Holden, deputy associate director of Talent Acquisition, Classification and Veterans programs at the Office of Personnel Management, discusses the ways OPM is trying to attract people in the tech industry to apply for government jobs. Russia violates nuclear treatyLynn Rusten, vice president of the Global Nuclear Policy Program at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, discusses Russia's refusal to allow the U.S. to conduct an inspection of its nuclear facilities. Enforcing antitrust laws on tech companies Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute, discusses antitrust enforcement on tech companies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What are the impacts of over-classification of government information? J. William Leonard, former director of the Information Security Oversight Office at the National Archives, discusses the classification process of government information. Should AI chatbot technology be regulated? David Hickton, founding director of the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security, discusses potential misuses of ChatGPT and if the technology should be regulated. US kills ISIS leader in Somalia Bill Roggio, senior fellow and editor of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the U.S.'s effort to keep Somalia from falling under jihadist rule. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting crypto crimes Eun Young Choi, director of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team at the Department of Justice, discusses international cryptocurrency crime. Sharing government technology for future innovationPaul Zielinski, executive director of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, discusses the role of the consortium in creating new technology. US and Israel military collaboration Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East Security Program at CNAS, discusses the joint military exercises between the US and Israel. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

High-risk, high-reward projects are changing the future of technology Catherine Marsh, director of Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, discusses new projects being worked on by the organization.Reforming US intelligence communityRon Marks, visiting professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government, discusses changes to the U.S. intelligence community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

International partners are key to Artemis projectKevin Fagedes, assistant director in the NASA Office of Inspector General, discusses NASA's partnerships for the Artemis program. Using fiction to improve defense readiness Peter Singer, managing partner at Useful Fiction, discusses how storytelling is an effective way to communicate real-world lessons. Congressional disagreements on spending could lead to shutdownBob Cusack, editor in chief of The Hill, discusses federal spending cuts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

‘We have to start wanting Ukraine to win more than we just hope Russia's going to lose,' says Hudson Institute fellowLuke Coffey, senior fellow for national security and defense at the Hudson Institute, discusses sending tanks to Ukraine and the U.S.'s latest aid package to the country. CDC fights against public distrustSteve Morrison, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), discusses the lack of trust Americans hold in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Working to protect sensitive cyber information Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight LLP, discusses the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification for contractors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teaming up: how the U.S. will help Japan with its new defense strategy Japan's ambassador to the U.S. Tomita Koji discuses Japan's new defense strategy, and how the U.S. can help support the country.The major role the US Army Corps of Engineers plays in protection and restoration of the countryLt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, 55th chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, discusses upcoming projects restoring waterways, and the negative effects of climate change and supply chain disruptions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

‘The Postal Service is destroying its brand,' says president of the Postal Police Officers AssociationFrank Albergo, president of the Postal Police Officers Association discusses the increase in mail theft and crimes against postal workers.What can you trust? Deepfake technology creates questions of what's real and what's fakeChris Meserole, fellow and director of research at The Brookings Institution, discusses the risks of deepfake technology.Is banning TikTok effective? Shira Ovide, writer for The Tech Friend Newsletter at the Washington Post, discusses the effects of potential TikTok bans. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keeping up with weapons stock in the US Mark Cancian, (Col., USMCR, ret.), senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), discusses the U.S.'s weapons stock in light of the Russian-Ukraine War. Natural disasters are costing people's lives and billions of dollars annuallyAdam Smith, applied climatologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), discusses the cost of the increase in number and severity of natural disasters in the U.S.‘We have a real crisis with the FAA,' aviation fellow saysWilliam J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, discusses the Federal Aviation Administration data outage and weak points of the agency. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Addressing fire safety Lori Moore-Merrell, United States Fire Administrator, discusses the increased risk of fires and how the administration can address these risks. ‘Chaos and disorder' in Russian military may lead to its defeat, says Council on Foreign Relations fellowLiana Fix, fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the current status of Russia in the Russia-Ukraine War. Why are government employees leaving? Gordon Abner, assistant professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses the reasons why employees leave jobs and how to get them to stay. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Funding innovation for clean energyWyatt Merrill, technology manager for the Building Technologies Office at the Department of Energy, discusses the American Made program's efforts to fund clean energy solutions.Revolutionizing American manufacturingPravina Raghavan, director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), discusses how the partnership is working with manufacturers to modernize and grow.Major changes at the US-Mexico borderDavid Bier, associate director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, discusses the Biden Administration's new border policy changes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modernizing technology to aid defenseDoug Cossa, CIO of the Defense Intelligence Agency, discusses modernizing technology and cybersecurity used for military technology. Water crisis in the Colorado River Basin Camille Calimlim Touton, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, discusses the effects of the dwindling water supply in the Colorado River Basin. Military service members struggle with food insecurityTom Trail, senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, discusses food insecurity among military service members. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reducing carbon emissions in the federal government Robin Carnahan, Administrator of the General Services Administration, discusses how the federal government plans to become carbon-neutral in the coming years. Empowering workers overseasThea Lee, deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the Department of Labor, discusses how the department plans to promote workers' rights abroad.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

'Homelessness is a life and death public health crisis,' USICH executive director saysJeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, discusses how the agency addresses homelessness in the U.S. and its plan to decrease homelessness in the future. Who holds the government accountable?Gene Dodaro, head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, discusses some of the office's findings from 2022, and what it will be following in 2023. Japan makes historic changes to defense strategyYuki Tatsumi, senior fellow and director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center, discusses Japan's updated defense strategy and increased military spending. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Take a look back at some of the highlights from Government Matters from the last year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Starting Jan. 1, the VA will start processing claims under the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

B-21 Raider demonstrates modernization in the militaryMaj. Gen. Douglas Raaberg (USAF Ret.), executive vice president of the Air and Space Forces Association, discusses the new B-21 Raider.Could nuclear fusion be the energy source of the future?Brian Spears, deputy model lead for inertial confinement fusion at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, discusses the lab's recent success with creating a nuclear fusion reaction.Nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula Soo Kim, policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, discusses North Korea's nuclear weapons, and the potential for South Korea to become a nuclear country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

‘They surprised everybody,' John Kirby says of Ukrainians John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications for the White House National Security Council, discusses national security events of 2022 including Brittney Griner's release from Russian custody, the Russia-Ukraine War and US relations with China. A look back at 2022's top tech and cyber stories. Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance, and Ross Wilkers, senior staff reporter for Washington Technology, discuss this year's top stories in tech and cyber news. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Helping survivors of sexual assault in the Air ForceGina Ortiz Jones, under secretary of the U.S. Air Force discusses the Air Force's pilot program to address sexual assault, defense budget delays and boosting recruitment and retention ratesUSDA helps promote tribal relationsHeather Dawn Thompson, director of the Office of Tribal Relations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discusses the role of the USDA in tribal relationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Health benefits for veterans Dr. Shereef Elnahal, undersecretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, discusses the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act and the VA's hiring efforts Top federal workforce stories of 2022Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor of Government Executive, and Jason Miller, executive editor of Federal News Network, take a look at the top stories in 2022 for the federal workforce Fighting food insecurityDaniel Whitley, administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, discusses the agency's role in fighting food insecurity See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A look back at top defense stories of 2022Aaron Mehta, editor in chief of Breaking Defense, Marcus Weisgerber Global Business editor for Defense One and Leo Shane III, deputy editor for Military Times give their thoughts on the year's top defense events. ‘Outlook for Russian oil industry is pretty bleak,' CSIS fellow saysBen Cahill, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the price cap on Russian oil.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Simplifying the vetting process of travelers to the USMonte Hawkins, director of the National Vetting Center, discusses the current role of the center and how it looks to expand in the future. The future of US-Pakistan relationsHusain Haqqani, director of South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, discusses the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan.FCC bans Chinese telecom equipmentJack Corrigan, research analyst at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology discusses the Federal Communications Commission's ban of Chinese telecom and video surveillance equipment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the US ‘overhyping' Chinese threat?Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow and director of research at the Brookings Institution, discusses the Pentagon's report on Chinese military powerMauna Loa continues to eruptAndria Ellis, United States Geological Survey (USGS) geophysicist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, discusses Mauna Loa and other U.S. volcanosProtecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats Rick Driggers, critical infrastructure cyber lead at Accenture Federal Services and former assistant director for the integrated operations division at CISA, discusses how to better protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

‘Russia has grossly miscalculated and mismanaged this war,' Ambassador Kristjan Prikk saysEstonia's Ambassador to the U.S. Kristjan Prikk discuses giving aid to Ukraine and security against RussiaCreating a better customer experience in the federal government Loren DeJonge Schulman, vice president of research, evaluation and modernizing government at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses how to improve the customer experience for citizens. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Protecting the US from terror attacksChristine Abizaid, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, discusses combatting terrorist threats to the U.S.Bringing new technology to the DHSMelissa Oh, managing director of the Silicon Valley Innovation Program at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses partnering with start-ups to bring new technology to the DHSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who's vulnerable to human trafficking? Kari Johnstone, acting director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of State, discusses how the government is working on combatting human trafficking in the U.S. and globally. Protecting the environment keeps Americans safe Chris Frey, assistant administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discusses how the agency is working to protect humans and the environment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

‘Meeting people where they are' is the key to increasing innovation, director of the USPTO saysKathi Vidal, the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), discusses increasing women entrepreneurship and the importance of protecting intellectual property. Vets must ‘create their own career path' in the federal governmentLloyd Calderon, chair of the Interagency Veterans Advisory Council, discusses the status of veterans in the federal workforceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA's Artemis program is inspiring the next generationNASA deputy administrator Pam Melroy discusses the goals of the Artemis 1 mission, future NASA projects and inspiring the next generation of scientistsAddressing security risks with smart devicesBrandon Pugh, resident senior fellow at the R Street Institute, discusses security and privacy risks with consumer smart devices and how to better inform consumers of these risks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modernization, innovation and retention – US Marine Corps is making changesU.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy Black discusses upcoming changes in the Marine Corps such as modernizing personnel systems, new training techniques, retention goals and the Marine Innovation Unit Developing direct air capture technologyPamela Chu, researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, describes NIST's efforts to improve direct air capture technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Rochelle Walensky discusses the future of the CDC, RSV and flu season and racism as a health threatSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Secretary of the VA on PACT Act, improving VA services Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough discusses the implementation of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act and other improvements to VA health services.What's new with federal benefits in 2023Kevin Moss, director of marketing at Checkbook Health, discusses the upcoming changes to federal employees' benefitsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adding regulations to cryptocurrency Josephine Wolff, associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, discusses what regulating cryptocurrency in the U.S. could look like   Opposition efforts from the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan against the Taliban Ali Nazary, head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, explains how the organization is fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan   Congress reauthorizes the SBIR program for three more years Michael Crosby, CEO of Leadership Connect, discusses funding for the Small Business Innovation Research programSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US Fish and Wildlife Service conservation projects Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, discusses the agency's current projects for conservation efforts   National Guard to stay at US-Mexico border Theresa Cardinal Brown, managing director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, explains the roles of National Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexico border   Ukraine to be topic at Halifax International Security Forum Peter Van Praagh, president of the Halifax Security Forum, speaks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other topics of discussion at this year's Halifax International Security Forum.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Barriers to receiving federal aid after natural disasters Maddie Sloan, director of the Disaster Recovery and Fair Housing project at Texas Appleseed, explores the barriers survivors of natural disasters face when trying to receive federal aid   Global progress on climate change Harry Stevens, graphics reporter at the Washington Post, discusses global climate change initiatives   Federal government facing leadership challenges Max Stier, president and CEO of Partnership for Public Service, discusses recruiting and retaining federal employees  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Anthony Fauci reflects on his 54 years of public service Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reflects on his 54 years of service, including his work on the HIV/AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic   China named as biggest threat to US in latest National Defense Strategy Jim Mitre, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Program at the RAND Corporation, discusses the threats of China and Russia in the 2022 National Defense StrategySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

State Department's plan to decrease illegal weapons diversion in Ukraine  Elias Yousif, research analyst for the Conventional Defense Program at the Stimson Center, discusses the State Department's new plan to prevent illegal weapons diversion   What Xi Jinping's third term means for the US Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses President Xi's third term, possible strategic shifts, the threat of Chinese space activity and potential conflict with Taiwan   New President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Crosby Kemper, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, explains the importance of the arts and humanities to democracy in the U.S. and discusses a recent executive order reestablishing a committee on this topicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Identifying and recovering missing service member remains Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, discusses his agency's work of finding and recovering American service members who were taken as prisoners of war or were missing in action in past conflicts   The Pentagon's counter-drone strategy Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, discusses Russian nuclear exercises, Iranian drones in Ukraine, air defense and the Pentagon's strategySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA changes trajectory of asteroid Lindley Johnson, lead program executive for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, discusses NASA's successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) and initial findings   TSA releases new Innovation Doctrine Meg King, executive director for strategy, policy coordination and innovation at TSA, describes the agency's new Innovation Doctrine to empower its workforce and stay ahead of emerging security threats   Transforming government technology Raylene Yung, Technology Modernization Fund executive director at GSA, discusses major new investments to support tech modernization at agenciesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army Christine Wormuth, secretary of the U.S. Army, discusses recruitment and retention, inflation, military housing improvements, mental health, diversity and inclusion, the war in Ukraine, weapons development, international collaboration, modernization and the future of the ArmySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army Military logistics in the Indo-Pacific region Brig. Gen. Jered P. Helwig, commanding general of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command in the U.S. Army, discusses the Army's role in the Indo-Pacific, supply and logistics strategy and international collaboration   Optimizing Army acquisition and investing in technology Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, discusses the supply of weapons to Ukraine, acquisition and supply chain efficiency, JADC2 and digital transformationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army Interview with the chief of the Norwegian Army Maj. Gen. Lars Lervik, chief of the Norwegian Army, discusses integration with the U.S. military, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, defense spending increases, NATO and the Arctic   Interview with the commanders of the Swedish and Finnish Armies Maj. Gen. Karl Engelbrektson, commander of the Swedish Army, and Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, discuss the impact their countries' accession to NATO would have, collaboration with the U.S., Baltic Sea security and the Russia-Ukraine warSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Closing the digital divide Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the digital divide and funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for high-speed broadband   US munitions stockpiles Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army, ret.), senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the war in Ukraine and the impact of U.S. assistance on American munition stockpiles   Iran supplies Russia with drones Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, discusses Iran's supply of drones to Russia and potential sanctions from the U.S. and EUSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ensuring election systems security Thomas Hicks, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, discusses what his organization is doing to ensure the security of election systems and the safety of election officials as midterms approach   Preventing international child abductions and supporting adoptions Michelle Bernier-Toth, special advisor for children's issues at the Office of Children's Issues, explains how her office prevents international child abductions, supports international adoptions and works with other countries on these efforts   US sending $625 million in weapons to Ukraine Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the details of new weapons shipments to Ukraine, other requests from Ukraine and attacks on the Nord Stream undersea pipeline

USPS sorting and delivery consolidation plan Ivan Butts, president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, discusses how the U.S. Postal Service's plans to consolidate mail processing operations across the country could impact postal workers and supervisors   Accelerating US biotechnology Theresa Good, division director for NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences, discusses a new executive order for advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing and the National Science Foundation's efforts in this area   Writing the Space Force's service song Jamie Teachenor, songwriter of Space Force's ‘Semper Supra,' discusses his process of composing the Space Force's new, official service song that was unveiled Sept. 20

Initiatives of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd Robinson, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the State Department, discusses the mission of his bureau and its efforts to combat the international drug trade, support Ukraine and train law enforcement officials   Copyright Claims Board launched in July Suzy Wilson, general counsel and associate register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright Office, discusses the new claims board to improve accessibility of the copyright system to everyone in the U.S.

Negative impacts of continuing resolutions Elaine McCusker, former deputy under secretary of defense (comptroller) and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains how operating the government under a continuing resolution negatively impacts the country   Transforming foodborne illness prevention Steven Musser, deputy center director for scientific operations at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the FDA, discusses the use of whole genome sequencing to greatly improve the way foodborne illnesses are investigated and prevented   Development of brain-controlled technology Karen Howard, director of science, technology assessment and analytics at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the applications for brain-computer interfaces along with ethical and security concerns

US lifts sanctions to increase internet access in Iran Jennifer Brody, U.S. Policy and Advocacy Manager at Access Now, discusses protests in Iran and internet blackouts amid historic unrest as well as U.S. government assistance   Revitalizing US Foreign Service Michael Polt, Ambassador-in-Residence at Arizona State University, details a new set of blueprints that he helped develop for revitalizing and modernizing the U.S. diplomatic service   US-Pacific Island Country Summit Michael Walsh, affiliate at the Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, discusses the summit in Washington with leaders from Pacific Island nations and the strategic importance of the region

Advancing artificial intelligence at NIH Grace Peng, director at NIH's National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, discusses the new Bridge to Artificial Intelligence (Bridge2AI) program to transform the use of data and improve patient outcomes   Risks of ending SBIR program Charles Wessner, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains the benefits of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the risks of ending it and China's involvement   US assistance to Pakistan after historic floods Sarah Charles, assistant to the administrator of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, describes the impact of historic flooding in Pakistan, the food shortage it has led to and U.S. assistance