Podcasts about Government Accountability Office

In a sweeping announcement about a forthcoming executive order, President Donald Trump argued Monday that states are ultimately subservient to the White House when it comes to setting election policy. Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform that states are “merely an agent for the federal government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the federal government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.” Trump also claimed the executive order would end mail-in voting, falsely claiming that other countries stopped the practice due to fraud, as well as “very expensive and SERIOUSLY CONTROVERSIAL voting machines.” It's not clear which voting machines Trump was referencing. The president's allies and friendly media outlets like Fox News and NewsMax were successfully sued by Smartmatic and Dominion for billions of dollars after the 2020 election for falsely claiming that their voting machines were rigged to elect Democratic President Joe Biden. Either way, Trump has lost dozens of lawsuits attempting to prove fraud, and reportedly nearly signed an executive order at the end of his last term ordering the Department of Defense to seize voting machines, purportedly to examine them for fraud. A previous executive order from Trump this year, purporting to compel the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission to alter voter registration request forms to include a proof of citizenship section and deny forms to states or voters who don't provide the information, was struck down by a judge as unconstitutional in April. The judge in the ruling remarked that “no statutory delegation of authority to the Executive Branch permits the President to short-circuit Congress's deliberative process” on regulating elections via executive order. A federal watchdog is urging the Office of Management and Budget to prioritize the governmentwide adoption of a federal IT spending framework, or end the efforts, after finding the multi-year initiative has stalled. In a report made public Monday, the Government Accountability Office recommended that the OMB director direct the federal chief information officer to either terminate the agency's push for governmentwide adoption of the Technology Business Management framework or deem it an administration priority. Should it be made a priority, the GAO also suggested OMB quickly implement the watchdog's previous recommendations and take “immediate action” to integrate the framework across government fully. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

This week on The Marathon Running Podcast, we tackle the most misunderstood phase of marathon training: the taper. Host [Insert Host Name Here] compares this final stage to the difference between cramming and consolidating for a major exam, sharing a personal story about how his own failed taper taught him the hard way that less is truly more. For solo runners like Letty, mastering the taper is especially crucial, as it's the final step to ensure your body is primed for an independent race. We dive into the science of supercompensation, explaining how resting unlocks your full physiological potential by rebuilding muscle, replenishing glycogen, and boosting your immune system.Whether you're battling the "taper crazies" or feeling anxious about the reduced mileage, this episode is a deep dive into the practical blueprint and mental strategies you need to arrive at the starting line feeling strong, confident, and ready for your best race. Trust the process, because the taper isn't about losing fitness—it's about unlocking it for that final, glorious solo effort.Here are our research citations:

Fly By Jing is one of the most exciting brands in food today, and we were lucky to have the company's founder, Jing Gao, return to the studio for a great conversation. We talk about the company's incredible trajectory, and how growth (and expansion into new product lines) comes with its own challenges. We also tap into what it's like to make chili crisps in China, and how the yo-yoing tariff dynamic is keeping the company on its toes. I have so much respect for what Jing is building at Fly By Jing.Also on the show we have a great conversation with Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz, recorded live at The Bell House. We talk about softboy foods, beach sandwiches, and what the DMs are looking like.Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textIt starts with a strange letter in the mail. A car loan you never applied for. A credit card you don't own. A digital ghost is quietly living your life, and you have no idea how it got the keys. When you turn to one of the silent guardians of your financial identity for help, you find only chaos, confusion, and a company that seems to be a danger to itself.This week on Digital Fallout, we tell the true story of one of history's most catastrophic data breaches. It's a tale of staggering corporate negligence, a botched public response that became a dark comedy, and a 76-day silent heist where the identities of 147 million people were stolen.What happens when the keepers of our most valuable secrets simply forget to lock the door?Show Notes: SourcesThis story was pieced together from numerous public records, government reports, and in-depth investigative journalism. For those who want to learn more about the 2017 Equifax breach, these are the key sources we consulted:The official report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled "Data Protection: Actions Taken by Equifax and Federal Agencies in Response to the 2017 Breach," which provides a definitive timeline and analysis of the failures.Federal Trade Commission (FTC) public statements and court filings related to the landmark global settlement with Equifax.In-depth reporting from security journalist Brian Krebs (KrebsOnSecurity), who meticulously covered the botched response, including the fake phishing sites promoted by Equifax's own Twitter account.Technical explainers from outlets like WIRED magazine that broke down the Apache Struts vulnerability and how it was exploited.Ongoing coverage of the corporate and financial fallout from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal during September and October 2017.The public testimony of former Equifax CEO Richard Smith before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where many of the internal failures were brought to light. Support the show

This Day in Legal History: Social Security ActOn August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, establishing the foundation of the modern American welfare state. The legislation was a centerpiece of Roosevelt's New Deal and aimed to address the widespread economic insecurity caused by the Great Depression. For the first time, the federal government created a structured system of unemployment insurance and old-age pensions, funded by payroll taxes collected from workers and employers. The law also introduced Aid to Dependent Children, a program designed to support families headed by single mothers, later expanded into Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).The Act marked a major shift in federal involvement in individual economic welfare and signaled a broader acceptance of the idea that the government bears some responsibility for the financial well-being of its citizens. Though limited in scope at first—agricultural and domestic workers, for example, were excluded—the framework it established would evolve through amendments and court challenges over the following decades.The Social Security Act was challenged on constitutional grounds shortly after its passage, but the Supreme Court upheld its key provisions in Helvering v. Davis (1937), affirming Congress's power to spend for the general welfare. Over time, the Social Security program expanded to include disability insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. While the structure and funding of these programs remain a subject of political debate, the 1935 Act remains one of the most enduring and significant pieces of social legislation in U.S. history.A Texas state court has appointed a receiver to take control of Alex Jones' company, Free Speech Systems LLC, the parent of his Infowars show, in an effort to collect on $1.3 billion in defamation judgments related to his false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted the request from families of victims in the Connecticut case, authorizing receiver Gregory S. Milligan to manage and potentially liquidate the company's assets. Another hearing is scheduled for September 16 to determine whether the Texas-based judgments should also be placed under receivership.Jones, who has been in personal bankruptcy since 2022, has been shielded from immediate collection on many of these judgments, but his company's Chapter 11 case was dismissed in 2024, giving a separate bankruptcy trustee limited control over its assets. The receiver now has authority, subject to that trustee's approval, to pursue the sale of Infowars' media assets, access financial records, and initiate legal actions to recover property.Attorneys for the Sandy Hook families hailed the order as a major step toward accountability. Meanwhile, Jones' legal team plans to appeal, arguing the court was misled about prior bankruptcy rulings. Jones is also seeking U.S. Supreme Court review of the Connecticut judgment, with a filing deadline set for September 5.Alex Jones' Infowars Assets to Be Taken Over by Receiver (1)A federal judge in Philadelphia struck down Trump administration rules that allowed employers to deny birth control coverage based on religious or moral objections. U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled that the 2018 exemptions were not justified and found a disconnect between the sweeping scope of the rules and the limited number of employers likely to need them. The ruling came in a case brought by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which previously reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court upheld the rules on procedural grounds in 2020 but did not evaluate their substance.The Affordable Care Act mandates contraception coverage in employer health plans, with narrow exemptions for religious organizations. The Trump administration expanded this to a broader class of employers, arguing that even applying for exemptions could burden religious practice. Judge Beetlestone disagreed, saying the administration failed to show a rational link between the perceived issue and its response.The Biden administration had proposed reversing the Trump-era policy in 2023, but that effort stalled before Biden left office. The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic group involved in defending the rules, plans to appeal the new decision. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the ruling.US judge blocks Trump religious exemption to birth control coverage | ReutersPresident Trump revoked a 2021 executive order issued by then-President Joe Biden that aimed to promote competition across the U.S. economy. Biden's order targeted anti-competitive practices in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and labor, and was a key element of his economic agenda. It included efforts to reduce consumer costs by curbing monopolistic behavior and increasing oversight of mergers.Trump's administration criticized the Biden-era approach as overly restrictive and burdensome. The Justice Department, under Trump, endorsed the revocation, stating it would pursue an “America First Antitrust” strategy focused on market freedom and less regulatory interference. Officials also announced plans to streamline the Hart-Scott-Rodino merger review process and reinstate targeted consent decrees to address specific anti-competitive behavior.Critics argue the revocation will weaken protections for consumers and small businesses. A June 2025 report by advocacy groups estimated that dismantling consumer protection policies, including those from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has cost Americans at least $18 billion through higher fees and lost compensation. Trump has also taken steps to drastically reduce the CFPB's workforce.Former Biden competition policy director Hannah Garden-Monheit condemned the move, claiming it contradicts Trump's promise to support everyday Americans and instead benefits large corporations.Trump revokes Biden-era order on competition, White House says | ReutersA federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit filed by video-sharing platform Rumble, which had accused major advertisers—Diageo, WPP, and the World Federation of Advertisers—of conspiring to boycott the platform by withholding ad spending. U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle ruled that the Northern District of Texas was not the appropriate venue for the case, as the defendants are based in the UK and Belgium. Her decision did not address the substance of Rumble's antitrust claims.Rumble's lawsuit alleged that the advertisers participated in a “brand-safety” initiative through the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which it claims was used to pressure platforms like Rumble—known for minimal content moderation—into compliance or risk being excluded from ad budgets. The defendants countered that business decisions not to advertise on Rumble were based on brand protection and had nothing to do with collusion or a boycott.Judge Boyle noted it remains an "open question" whether the Texas court is the right venue for a similar lawsuit brought by Elon Musk's social media platform X, which is also pending. The advertisers argued Rumble's legal action was a misuse of antitrust laws intended to force companies to do business with it.US judge tosses Rumble lawsuit claiming advertising boycott | ReutersA federal appeals court ruled in favor of President Donald Trump, allowing him to halt billions in foreign aid payments that had been previously approved by Congress. In a 2-1 decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction issued by a lower court that had ordered the administration to resume nearly $2 billion in aid. The aid freeze was initiated on January 20, 2025—Trump's first day of his second term—through an executive order and followed by significant staffing and structural changes to USAID, the government's main foreign aid agency.The lawsuit challenging the freeze was brought by two nonprofit organizations that depend on federal funding: the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network. The appeals court, however, ruled that the groups lacked legal standing to challenge the freeze and that only the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog, had authority to do so.Judge Karen Henderson, writing for the majority, explicitly stated the court was not deciding whether Trump's actions violated the Constitution's separation of powers or Congress's control over federal spending. In a sharp dissent, Judge Florence Pan argued the decision undermined the Constitution's checks and balances and enabled unlawful executive overreach.A White House spokesperson praised the ruling, framing it as a victory against "radical left" interference and a step toward aligning foreign aid spending with Trump's "America First" agenda.US appeals court lets Trump cut billions in foreign aid | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Cybersecurity is a critical component of organizational health no matter the federal agency. Yet, federal leaders across government are struggling to change culture, improve workflows and promote good cyber hygiene to prepare for the threats of tomorrow. The Government Accountability Office's Information Technology and Cybersecurity division assists Congress with assessing and improving the government's critical IT investments and develops best practices that are used across the government to guide decision-making. The division's Director Jennifer Franks breaks down where agencies fall short in implementing cybersecurity recommendations and discusses ways that federal leaders can improve their cyber hygiene through better hiring processes, stronger cybersecurity requirements and promoting an inclusive and team-oriented culture.

"What practical challenges arise in measuring physical activity among children?" In this final part of the episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Ying Gao discuss the real-world challenges faced when collecting physical activity data from children using devices like Fibion. Dr. Gao shares her experience with device placement, tape sensitivity, and device retention, revealing that around 15-20% of devices were lost in initial studies due to a lack of clear instructions for parents and children. By enhancing communication with parents and teachers and providing practical solutions like custom-made pockets in shorts, Dr. Gao's team significantly improved data retention and device return rates. Dr. Gao also highlights how varying humidity levels in different locations impact device attachment and shares strategies, such as using specific tapes and providing flexible study schedules, to make participation easier for children. This episode is essential for researchers looking to understand the logistical considerations in physical activity data collection among young participants. ____________________________ This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS --- Learn more about Fibion Flash - a versatile customizable tool with HRV and accelerometry capability.  --- SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy.  Learn more about Fibion Research. --- Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions. --- Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children. --- Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles. --- Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods. --- Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide. --- Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview. --- Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ". --- For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability. --- Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher  Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen  Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion  Check our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher       

Joining Audrey for this week's REELTalk -  Bestselling author of American Betrayal and Death of the Grown Up, DIANA WEST will be here! PLUS, legal analyst for GAO, and bestselling author of Red Hot Lies, CHRISTOPHER HORNER will be here! AND, brilliant farceur MIKE FINE will be here! In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." Come hang with us...   

Democrats face a growing generational rift as younger challengers line up to take on veteran incumbents in a series of high-stakes primaries. Anna Palmer and Max Cohen break down the battle lines — and what it says about the future of the party. Plus: Sen. Tom Cotton presses the Pentagon to block foreign nationals from accessing sensitive systems, and the GAO offers buyouts as House Republicans propose steep budget cuts. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we're investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Erica Korb from the University of Pennsylvania about her work on BRD4 and the histone variant H2BE, which influences synaptic genes and neuronal activity. Dr. Korb discusses the focus of her lab, which centers on epigenetic mechanisms impacting gene regulation in neurons. Her research primarily examines histone biology and its connection to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. Dr. Korb expounds on the collaborative environment at UPenn's Epigenetics Institute, emphasizing how the rich diversity of research topics fosters innovative ideas and projects within the community. Reflecting on her earlier work from her postdoctoral studies, Dr. Korb discusses her first significant findings regarding the protein BRD4. This work demonstrated BRD4's role in mediating transcriptional regulation crucial for learning and memory processes. She explains how disrupting this protein's function in neurons hindered critical gene activations required for memory formation in mice. This foundational understanding opened avenues for exploring the broader implications of chromatin regulation in various neurodevelopmental conditions. Transitioning into her current research endeavors, Dr. Korb reveals how she aims to expand her focus beyond Fragile X syndrome. With her lab now investigating multiple chromatin regulators implicated in various forms of autism spectrum disorders, she describes a recent project where RNA sequencing exposed substantial overlaps in gene expression changes associated with five distinct chromatin modifiers, each contributing uniquely to neuronal function while collectively demonstrating sensitivity to chromatin disruptions. A significant portion of the discussion centers around Dr. Korb's unexpected exploration into how COVID-19 intersects with chromatin biology through a phenomenon known as histone mimicry. Leveraging bioinformatic tools during the pandemic, her lab discovered that certain viral proteins mimic histone sequences, which may lead to altered transcriptional outputs in host cells. This coincidental finding illustrates both the creative adaptability needed in scientific research and the importance of collaborative efforts across disciplines to uncover new insights. The conversation also delves into Dr. Korb's recent work regarding the histone variant H2BE, initiated by one of her graduate students. She explains how prior research only recognized H2BE's expression in the olfactory system, yet her lab has demonstrated its significant role in regulating synaptic genes and memory formation throughout broader neuronal contexts. Notably, they identified a single amino acid change that influences H2BE's function in chromatin accessibility and gene transcription, emphasizing its potential evolutionary conservation across species. In terms of H2BE's role, Dr. Korb elucidates that its activity is integral in response to extracellular stimuli, particularly within the context of neuronal activation. Intriguingly, they found that H2BE expression decreases in reaction to long-term neuronal stimulation, suggesting a complex mechanism of homeostatic plasticity crucial for regulating neuronal activity levels. This research not only advances understanding of chromatin dynamics but also holds implications for neuronal health and disease mechanisms.   References Feierman, E. R., Louzon, S., Prescott, N. A., Biaco, T., Gao, Q., Qiu, Q., Choi, K., Palozola, K. C., Voss, A. J., Mehta, S. D., Quaye, C. N., Lynch, K. T., Fuccillo, M. V., Wu, H., David, Y., & Korb, E. (2024). Histone variant H2BE enhances chromatin accessibility in neurons to promote synaptic gene expression and long-term memory. Molecular cell, 84(15), 2822–2837.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.06.025 Korb, E., Herre, M., Zucker-Scharff, I., Gresack, J., Allis, C. D., & Darnell, R. B. (2017). Excess Translation of Epigenetic Regulators Contributes to Fragile X Syndrome and Is Alleviated by Brd4 Inhibition. Cell, 170(6), 1209–1223.e20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.033 Kee, J., Thudium, S., Renner, D. M., Glastad, K., Palozola, K., Zhang, Z., Li, Y., Lan, Y., Cesare, J., Poleshko, A., Kiseleva, A. A., Truitt, R., Cardenas-Diaz, F. L., Zhang, X., Xie, X., Kotton, D. N., Alysandratos, K. D., Epstein, J. A., Shi, P. Y., Yang, W., … Korb, E. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host epigenetic regulation via histone mimicry. Nature, 610(7931), 381–388. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05282-z Feierman, E. R., Paranjapye, A., Su, S., Qiu, Q., Wu, H., & Korb, E. (2024). Histone variant H2BE controls activity-dependent gene expression and homeostatic scaling. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2024.11.01.620920. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.01.620920   Related Episodes Neuroepigenetic Mechanisms and Primate Epigenome Evolution (Boyan Bonev) DNA Methylation Alterations in Neurodegenerative Diseases (Paula Desplats) The Role of Histone Dopaminylation and Serotinylation in Neuronal Plasticity (Ian Maze)   Contact Epigenetics Podcast on Mastodon Epigenetics Podcast on Bluesky Dr. Stefan Dillinger on LinkedIn Active Motif on LinkedIn Active Motif on Bluesky Email: podcast@activemotif.com

"How does physical activity differ between children with different body weights?" In this third part of the episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Ying Gao discuss her findings on physical activity patterns in children, focusing on differences between overweight and normal-weight groups. Dr. Gao explains how accelerometer and EMG data revealed that overweight children show higher muscle activity even when standing, which may contribute to their tendency for more sedentary behavior, as physical tasks can be more exhausting for them. Her research highlights the potential role of physical demands in shaping activity levels among children. Dr. Gao also shares insights from her 7-day measurement study of over 400 children, examining how physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep patterns impact body weight and overall health. The episode touches on future research directions and how these findings could inform interventions to promote healthy behaviors in school-aged children. ____________________________________ This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS --- Learn more about Fibion Flash - a versatile customizable tool with HRV and accelerometry capability.  --- SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy.  Learn more about Fibion Research. --- Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions. --- Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children. --- Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles. --- Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods. --- Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide. --- Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview. --- Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ". --- For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability. --- Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher  Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen  Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion  Check our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher       

Classroom Coverup: Teacher's Deadly Rampage - Ignored Warnings That Led to Murder! Prepare for a chilling true story that will make you question every school hiring process and background check! In this gripping episode, we dissect the case of Andrew McGann, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher who bounced between districts in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas amid alarming red flags of favoritism toward female students and inappropriate comments that parents found deeply unsettling. It all started in spring 2023 at Donald Elementary in Lewisville ISD, Texas, where parents complained about his poor classroom management, but more alarmingly, about lapses in professional judgment—specifically, showing favoritism toward young girls, making odd comments like telling them "If you were older, I would love to marry you," or keeping some inside during recess while letting boys out, sometimes inviting the girls to eat lunch alone in his classroom. One incident involved a little boy crying and reporting feeling uncomfortable with how McGann interacted with the girls, including tickling or giving extra treats. Parents like Sierra Marcum, whose son was in his class, described his behavior as "eerie" and said her son came home upset, sensing something was off. Multiple families reported these issues to the principal, but the district investigated, placed him on administrative leave, and ultimately found "no outright evidence of abuse." Instead of reporting to authorities or flagging his teaching credential under mandatory reporting laws, they let him resign in May 2023 with a neutral reference—no police involvement, no mark on his record—just a quiet exit that allowed him to continue teaching without any hurdles. From there, McGann moved to Spring Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow Public Schools, Oklahoma, for the 2023-2024 school year, teaching fifth grade after passing a background check that came up clean because nothing was documented from Texas. He left voluntarily at the end of the year, citing an out-of-state opportunity, with no issues recorded. Then came a brief stint at Plano ISD back in Texas in August 2024, where he quit after just four days before even interacting with students—the district won't disclose why, but whispers from parents and media suggest old complaints from Lewisville resurfaced, prompting him to leave preemptively.  Undeterred, he taught fifth grade at Northwoods Fine Arts Academy in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, from summer 2024 through May 2025, again without reported problems, though a former student and her mother later described him as "cool" at first but increasingly "off" toward the end. Finally, in early 2025, he relocated to Arkansas and was hired by Springdale Public Schools to start teaching on August 11—just days after his shocking arrest. But on July 26, 2025, McGann allegedly ambushed and stabbed Clinton and Cristen Brink to death on Arkansas' Yellow Rock Trail in Devil's Den State Park, in front of their two young daughters, in what authorities called a random, vicious attack with no clear motive. He confessed after being tracked via eyewitness tips and footage, charged with capital murder. His job-hopping screams "passing the trash"—each move relied on incomplete background checks that missed the "soft" complaints because nothing was officially reported. This fits classic grooming patterns: Building trust through favoritism, isolating kids, testing boundaries with comments and physical contact. Shocking stats show why it's so deadly—unreported suspicions let abusers escalate, per GAO reports finding repeat offenders average 73 victims if unchecked. This case ties directly to the series themes: Like Gary Gregor's multi-state abuses (Episode 5) or Kanyen Cole's recommendation despite flags (Episode 8). The fallout has been heartbreaking—the Brinks' GoFundMe raised over $100K for their orphaned girls, with tributes to the couple's kindness, while McGann's former schools face scrutiny and calls for investigations. On X, the outrage is palpable, with posts calling it "terrifying" and demanding interstate databases to prevent such tragedies. Watch to see how ignored warnings cost innocent lives and what we can do to stop it—hit subscribe for more hard-hitting revelations! (Word count: 612) Hashtags: #ClassroomCoverup #McGannMurder #IgnoredRedFlags #TeacherRampage #SchoolHiringFails #PredatorShuffle #ArkansasHorror #ProtectStudents #TrueCrimeTeacher #PassingTheTrashExposed Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Classroom Coverup: Teacher's Deadly Rampage - Ignored Warnings That Led to Murder! Prepare for a chilling true story that will make you question every school hiring process and background check! In this gripping episode, we dissect the case of Andrew McGann, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher who bounced between districts in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas amid alarming red flags of favoritism toward female students and inappropriate comments that parents found deeply unsettling. It all started in spring 2023 at Donald Elementary in Lewisville ISD, Texas, where parents complained about his poor classroom management, but more alarmingly, about lapses in professional judgment—specifically, showing favoritism toward young girls, making odd comments like telling them "If you were older, I would love to marry you," or keeping some inside during recess while letting boys out, sometimes inviting the girls to eat lunch alone in his classroom. One incident involved a little boy crying and reporting feeling uncomfortable with how McGann interacted with the girls, including tickling or giving extra treats. Parents like Sierra Marcum, whose son was in his class, described his behavior as "eerie" and said her son came home upset, sensing something was off. Multiple families reported these issues to the principal, but the district investigated, placed him on administrative leave, and ultimately found "no outright evidence of abuse." Instead of reporting to authorities or flagging his teaching credential under mandatory reporting laws, they let him resign in May 2023 with a neutral reference—no police involvement, no mark on his record—just a quiet exit that allowed him to continue teaching without any hurdles. From there, McGann moved to Spring Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow Public Schools, Oklahoma, for the 2023-2024 school year, teaching fifth grade after passing a background check that came up clean because nothing was documented from Texas. He left voluntarily at the end of the year, citing an out-of-state opportunity, with no issues recorded. Then came a brief stint at Plano ISD back in Texas in August 2024, where he quit after just four days before even interacting with students—the district won't disclose why, but whispers from parents and media suggest old complaints from Lewisville resurfaced, prompting him to leave preemptively.  Undeterred, he taught fifth grade at Northwoods Fine Arts Academy in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, from summer 2024 through May 2025, again without reported problems, though a former student and her mother later described him as "cool" at first but increasingly "off" toward the end. Finally, in early 2025, he relocated to Arkansas and was hired by Springdale Public Schools to start teaching on August 11—just days after his shocking arrest. But on July 26, 2025, McGann allegedly ambushed and stabbed Clinton and Cristen Brink to death on Arkansas' Yellow Rock Trail in Devil's Den State Park, in front of their two young daughters, in what authorities called a random, vicious attack with no clear motive. He confessed after being tracked via eyewitness tips and footage, charged with capital murder. His job-hopping screams "passing the trash"—each move relied on incomplete background checks that missed the "soft" complaints because nothing was officially reported. This fits classic grooming patterns: Building trust through favoritism, isolating kids, testing boundaries with comments and physical contact. Shocking stats show why it's so deadly—unreported suspicions let abusers escalate, per GAO reports finding repeat offenders average 73 victims if unchecked. This case ties directly to the series themes: Like Gary Gregor's multi-state abuses (Episode 5) or Kanyen Cole's recommendation despite flags (Episode 8). The fallout has been heartbreaking—the Brinks' GoFundMe raised over $100K for their orphaned girls, with tributes to the couple's kindness, while McGann's former schools face scrutiny and calls for investigations. On X, the outrage is palpable, with posts calling it "terrifying" and demanding interstate databases to prevent such tragedies. Watch to see how ignored warnings cost innocent lives and what we can do to stop it—hit subscribe for more hard-hitting revelations! (Word count: 612) Hashtags: #ClassroomCoverup #McGannMurder #IgnoredRedFlags #TeacherRampage #SchoolHiringFails #PredatorShuffle #ArkansasHorror #ProtectStudents #TrueCrimeTeacher #PassingTheTrashExposed Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

$7.5 BILLION for EV Chargers... but only 400 built?!A new GAO report exposes how the U.S. federal infrastructure program—aimed at building 500,000 public EV charging stations by 2030—has delivered just 384 operational chargers so far under the $7.5B plan. In this video, we break down:

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.  The Chinese Communist Party is preparing for the invasion of Taiwan and other violent acts in the Pacific, and possibly here. Incredibly, Wall Street continues enabling such behavior by underwriting the CCP military's unprecedented build-up. Simultaneously, our own defense industry and armed forces are insanely reliant on CCP's sources of rare earth minerals and components. A new Government Accountability Office analysis found that, “These suppliers may cut off U.S. access to critical materials or provide ‘back doors' in their technology that serve as intelligence pathways.”  It is unconscionable that such dependencies – and the associated, potentially catastrophic vulnerabilities – have been allowed in the first place. As with Wall Street's ongoing treachery, the policies and practices that have gotten us into this fix must be formally repudiated and abandoned, and those responsible held accountable. And corrective measures must be made urgent national priorities.  This is Frank Gaffney.

The Pentagon may not know who's making the parts that make the parts. A new GAO report warns that foreign suppliers—often buried deep in the defense supply chain—pose serious risks to national security, especially when their presence goes undetected. Here to break down how these blind spots could leave the U.S. exposed and what the Department of Defense needs to do to fix it is Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, at GAO, Bill Russell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

En este episodio lo último en salud y fitness edición de julio 2025, vamos a platicar de varios temas que sin duda son bastante interesantes.Veremos si la melatonina puede hacerte más rápido (sí, leíste bien), cómo el ejercicio actúa como un antioxidante natural en tu cuerpo, los beneficios del entrenamiento de fuerza para mujeres mayores con obesidad sarcopénica, qué pasa cuando combinas ayuno intermitente con superávit calórico, y hasta cómo la jardinería en realidad virtual puede mejorar la cognición en adultos mayores.Este mes nos enfocamos en estudios que no solo tienen buena base científica, sino que también puedes aplicar en tu día a día. Mi idea es que al terminar este episodio tengas información clara, basada en evidencia, pero que también puedas usar de inmediato. Sin tanta teoría complicada y con consejos que realmente funcionan.Referencias: 1.      Mahdi, N., Delleli, S., Jebabli, A. & Maaoui…, K. B. Melatonin Supplementation Enhances Next-Day High-Intensity Exercise Performance and Recovery in Trained Males: A Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Sports (2025).2.      Xie, Y., Gu, Y., Li, Z., Zhang, L. & Hei, Y. Effects of exercise on different antioxidant enzymes and related indicators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Scientific Reports (2025).3.      Guo, C., Dai, T., Zhang, H., Luo, M. & Gao…, J. Effect of resistance training on body composition and physical function in older females with sarcopenic obesity—a systematic review and meta-analysis of …. Frontiers in Aging … (2025).4.      Blake, D. T., Hamane, C. & Pacheco…, C. Hypercaloric 16: 8 time-restricted eating during 8 weeks of resistance exercise in well-trained men and women. Journal of the … (2025).5.      Chuang, I. C., Abdullahi, A., Chen, I. C. & Wu…, Y. R. Effects of immersive leisure-based virtual reality cognitive training on cognitive and physical function in community-based older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Digital … (2025).

On this special episode of the podcast, we sit down with GAO's Managing Director of Congressional Relations Nikki Clowers to discuss how GAO serves Congress.

"How do video and accelerometer data together improve activity tracking in children?" In this second part of the episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen and Dr. Ying Gao discuss her innovative study combining accelerometer and video observation data to improve activity classification in children. Dr. Gao explains how she adapted wearable cameras and accelerometers, including Fibion devices, to measure activity across various body locations such as the back, chest, and wrist. This setup allowed her team to validate physical activity and sedentary behavior in school-aged children, accurately differentiating between sitting, standing, and moving. Dr. Gao also describes the meticulous video coding process, which involved tracking leg movements without capturing faces to maintain privacy. Her research highlights the challenges and benefits of integrating video and accelerometry to obtain reliable data on children's movement, especially in free-living environments. This episode offers insights for researchers interested in advanced methods for studying physical activity and sedentary behavior in children. ___________ This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS --- Learn more about Fibion Flash - a versatile customizable tool with HRV and accelerometry capability.  --- SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy.  Learn more about Fibion Research. --- Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions. --- Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children. --- Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles. --- Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods. --- Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide. --- Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview. --- Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ". --- For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability. --- Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher  Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen  Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion  Check our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher       

Karen Lee, co-founder of FedsForward, joins the GovNavigators to talk about her journey through federal service, the challenges of transitioning in and out of government, and how her organization is building scalable tools to help civil servants navigate career change.Show NotesFedsFoward WebsiteThe Data FoundationFCC Rural Healthcare ProgramUpcoming EventsAugust 5, 2025Data Foundation's Evaluating for Efficiency: Lessons from GAO and IGs August 19, 2025Celonis' Public Sector Process Intelligence DayAugust 20, 2025Data Foundation's AI Virtual Forum: Data & Policy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence  

"Can we accurately measure children's physical activity with just one device?" In this insightful episode, Dr. Olli Tikkanen speaks with Dr. Ying Gao about her research on sedentary behavior and physical activity in children, combining accelerometer and EMG data to improve accuracy. Dr. Gao explains the challenges of using only accelerometers, as they capture movement but not muscle contractions, which are essential for understanding true physical activity. She describes her study on setting a reliable threshold to differentiate between sitting, light movement, and active play in children, aiming to create a standardized approach for assessing activity levels. Dr. Gao also discusses her findings on how combining EMG with accelerometer data provides a clearer picture of muscle activity, especially for distinguishing between sedentary and active behaviors in school-aged children. This episode sheds light on new methods in physical activity measurement that could improve research on children's health and activity habits. __________________ This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS --- Learn more about Fibion Flash - a versatile customizable tool with HRV and accelerometry capability.  --- SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy.  Learn more about Fibion Research. --- Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions. --- Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children. --- Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles. --- Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods. --- Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide. --- Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview. --- Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ". --- For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability. --- Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher  Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen  Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion  Check our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher     

Dr. Vinod Rao (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston) join AJP Audio to discuss predicting the relative risk of patients with an ADHD diagnosis developing a later stimulant or substance use disorder based on the method of prescription, in person or via telehealth. Afterwards, AJP Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ned Kalin discusses the rest of the August issue of the Journal. 00:07   Rao interview 01:53   Stimulant use disorder versus substance use disorder 02:59   Cohort size and incidence of SUDs 04:28   Length of clinician engagement in non-profit versus for profit hospital systems 05:18   Patient cohort 06:20   Potential difference in mechanism between prescribing practices 07:35   Continued use of telehealth 08:43   Limitations 10:03   Further research 11:17   Kalin interview 11:24   Rao et al. 15:41   Mahjani et al. 19:59   Zhang et al. 25:11   Sha et al. 29:33   Gao and Olfson Transcript Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. How authors may submit their work. Follow the journals of APA Publishing on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The team behind the on-line passport renewal application earns a medal GAO responds to Congress on suggested changes to the bid protest function How AI could change front-line military jobsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act's section 885 raised eyebrows for its suggestions about how to improve the bid protest function. Congress gave GAO 180 days to research and respond to three specific recommendations. GAO's recent response has reengaged the conversation. Here to help us understand the particulars of GAO's response and what it might mean for future bid protests is partner at Hunton, Andrews, and Kurth, Eric Crusius. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The digital footprint left by DOGE in agency computer systems and IT networks would be thoroughly examined under legislation introduced Wednesday by a trio of Senate Democrats. The Pick Up After Your DOGE Act from Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts would require the administrator of the Elon Musk-created tech collective to provide a full accounting to the U.S. comptroller general of all the agencies and IT systems that DOGE accessed. Those systems would then be subject to comprehensive performance and security audits. “The DOGE-boys have weaseled their way into Americans' most sensitive data systems, claiming to hunt ‘waste, fraud, and abuse,' while actually creating waste, fraud, and abuse. They're destroying Americans' trust in once-reliable government systems and could be hawking your stolen data to their friends in Big Tech and AI,” Whitehouse said in a press release. He added that the Pick Up After Your DOGE Act protects seniors and all Americans by fixing any bugs or backdoors that DOGE may have purposefully or negligently created in Social Security, Medicare, and other highly sensitive government data systems. The audit would be conducted by the Government Accountability Office, which has been bombarded with congressional requests to probe DOGE's agency IT dives since the beginning of the Trump administration. The United States Military Academy abruptly ended the appointment of Jen Easterly to a high-profile academic position in West Point's Department of Social Sciences, according to a memorandum issued Wednesday by the Secretary of the Army. On Tuesday, the academy announced that Easterly was named as the next Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair, a department position created in 1943 to bring a leading scholar, practitioner, or expert in the fields of social sciences — such as economics, political science, or international relations — to West Point. In a since-deleted LinkedIn post, the academy welcomed the former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director and academy alumnus after “an extraordinary career of service in the public and private sectors,” adding that her “unique perspective — combining military experience, advanced academic training, private sector innovation, and senior government service — makes her ideally suited to guide discussions on the critical issues facing our nation and the world.” After the announcement, far-right activist Laura Loomer suggested on X that Easterly should not be named to the position, due to her work under the Biden administration, allegedly with Nina Jankowicz, who served as the executive director of the Disinformation Governance Board of the United States. (Jankowicz later Wednesday posted on BlueSky that she had never worked with Easterly.) On Wednesday, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll announced in a post on X that the position would be rescinded, and a full review of the academy's hiring practices would be conducted. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

There's a new position in the U.S. government: Federal chief artificial intelligence officer. Gregory Barbaccia has begun to refer to himself as the Federal CAIO, in addition to his current role as the federal government's chief information officer. A recent interview with CNBC referred to him this way and a federal official focused on AI confirmed to FedScoop that Barbaccia had used that title in a recent meeting. In a social media post last week, Barbaccia also used both titles. The new title comes amid the Trump administration's continued focus on federal adoption of artificial intelligence. It follows the White House AI Action Plan, which was released last week and endorsed “transformative use of AI [that] can help deliver the highly responsive government the American people expect and deserve.” Still, the AI Action Plan makes no mention of a new position of CAIO for the whole federal government. Neither does the executive order that established the council or subsequent Office of Management and Budget actions. There was no federal CAIO in the Biden administration, and it's not clear any formal action has been taken to establish the position. Federal agencies are increasingly turning to generative artificial intelligence to further their missions, according to a new watchdog report that found use cases of the emerging technology jumping by ninefold in a selection of nearly a dozen agencies last year. In a report published Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office said generative AI use cases across a group of 11 federal agencies increased from 32 to 282 cases from 2023 to 2024, per an analysis of those agencies' inventories. The GAO laid out several ways these agencies harnessed generative AI last year, stating the technology can “improve written communications, information access efficiency, and program status tracking.” Examples included the Department of Veterans Affairs using automation for medical imaging processing in veterans' diagnostic services, along with the Department of Health and Human Services' initiative to extract information from publications regarding the containment of the poliovirus. HHS reported the largest jump out of the 11 agencies, going from seven generative AI use cases in 2023 to 116 in 2024, according to the report. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

All-out disaster relief and rescue operations are underway in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province as torrential rainfall wreaked havoc in northern China since the beginning of the week, damaging roads, disrupting power and water supplies, and prompting mass evacuation.自本周初以来，中国北方地区遭遇了持续的强降雨，造成了严重的破坏，导致道路损毁、电力和供水系统中断，并引发了大规模的疏散行动。目前，北京、天津和河北省正在全力开展救灾和救援工作。As of Tuesday evening, the death toll from severe downpours in Beijing was 30, with 28 deaths reported in the city's mountainous Miyun district and two in Yanqing district, while eight more people died in Hebei, where a landslide struck Luanping county, according to local authorities.截至周二晚间，北京因强降雨造成的死亡人数已达30人，其中位于山区的密云区有28人死亡，延庆区有2人死亡，而河北省也有8人丧生，该省的滦平县发生山体滑坡事故。此数据由当地有关部门提供。The rainstorm alert in Beijing, where 80,332 people were moved to safety, was canceled on Tuesday as the rain bands weakened and shifted eastward. The city, however, remains on its highest level of flood-control emergency response.北京的暴雨警报已于周二解除，当时有80332人已被转移至安全地带。由于雨带减弱并向东移动，该警报得以取消。不过，该市仍处于最高级别的防洪应急响应状态。Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, who has been entrusted by President Xi Jinping to oversee relief and rescue efforts in Beijing, led relevant department officials on Monday night to Miyun, where they met and consoled affected residents and guided flood prevention and disaster relief work.周一晚上，国务院副总理被习总书记委以重任，率领相关部门官员前往密云，与受灾居民会面并给予他们安慰，同时指导了防洪和救灾工作。Zhang emphasized that during the crucial period for flood control, special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups including the elderly, the ailing, and people with disabilities, ensuring their safe relocation. It is important to scientifically manage the flow and discharge of floodwaters and make every effort to minimize disaster losses, he added.张强调，在防汛的关键时期，应特别关注老年人、患病者和残疾人群体，确保他们能够安全转移。他还指出，要科学管理洪水的流动和排放，尽一切努力减少灾害损失。The maximum rainfall across entire Beijing was registered in two Miyun towns at 543 millimeters, with nearly 17,000 residents relocated in Miyun district as of Tuesday morning, according to the Beijing municipal government.据北京市政府消息，北京全市的最大降雨量出现在密云的两个镇，达543毫米。截至周二上午，密云区已有近17000名居民被转移安置。Along a stretch of the Chaohe River in Miyun, fast-moving, muddy floodwaters submerged lower tree branches, although heavy rain had eased to a drizzle by Tuesday noon.在密云县的潮河一段河段，湍急浑浊的洪水淹没了较低处的树枝，尽管周二中午时分雨势已减弱为小雨。Gao Jianhua, a grassroots leader at the Armed Police Force Beijing Corps, was among nearly 1,000 soldiers deployed to build flood barriers near the district's Ningcunxin bridge.高建华是武警北京总队的一名基层干部，他与近1000名士兵一起被派往该地区附近的宁村新桥附近修建防洪堤。"When we started work around 8 pm on Monday, it was pouring. We could tell with our own eyes that the water level was quickly rising. The situation felt critical and urgent," Gao said, adding that they worked nonstop for 12 hours to complete the basic structure of a 1.6-kilometer-long embankment.“周一晚上8点我们开始施工时，雨势正猛。我们亲眼看到水位在迅速上涨。那种情况显得十分危急且紧迫。”高说道，并补充说他们连续工作了12个小时，才完成了1.6公里长的堤坝的基本结构。"A total of 100,000 sandbags were used, meaning that each soldier had loaded and transported about 100 sandbags throughout the process," he said, adding that reinforcement of the sandbag barrier was underway.“总共使用了10万个沙袋，这意味着每位士兵在整个过程中平均搬运和运输了约100个沙袋。”他说道，并补充说沙袋屏障的加固工作正在进行中。Meanwhile, in Tianjin, local resident Cui Chuanying carefully stepped on scattered stones across a waterlogged road, a large suitcase in one hand while with the other he guided his 10-year-old son, as they prepared to leave their village battered by heavy rains with the help of rescuers.与此同时，在天津，当地居民崔传英小心翼翼地踩着路上散落的石块，他一手提着一个大行李箱，另一只手则牵着10岁的儿子，他们正借助救援人员的帮助，准备离开被暴雨冲毁的村庄。"We arrived at a speed skating training center in the city's Jizhou district on Friday. Heavy rainfall began on Sunday evening, washing away bridges and cutting off electricity, communication and water supplies," Cui said.崔先生说：“我们于周五抵达了该市吉州区的一个速滑训练中心。周日晚上开始下起了大雨，冲毁了桥梁，还导致电力、通讯和供水中断。”About 20 children, along with their coaches and parents, were trapped at the training facility, he said. "We felt hopeless in the beginning, as all we could do was wait. When we heard this (Tuesday) morning that People's Liberation Army rescuers were coming, we were overjoyed," he said. "Now we know we are safe in their hands."他说，大约20名儿童以及他们的教练和家长被困在训练设施内。“一开始我们感到很绝望，因为我们所能做的只有等待。当周二早上听说人民解放军的救援人员要前来时，我们欣喜若狂。”他说，“现在我们知道我们的生命已交到了他们的手中，我们是安全的了。”Cui and his son were among the more than 10,500 residents evacuated from Jizhou.崔先生和他的儿子是从吉州撤离的超过10500名居民中的一员。Lu Chenyang, a PLA soldier and a member of the rescue team sent to the district, said their main tasks were evacuating residents from flooded villages and clearing roads.陆晨阳是一名解放军战士，也是被派往该地区的救援队伍成员。他表示，他们的主要任务是将洪水淹没的村庄中的居民疏散出来，并清理道路。"The biggest challenge is the severe road damage. Some sections are completely destroyed, forcing us to rely on small paths, rural trails and temporary routes we cleared ourselves (to evacuate people)," Lu said.“最大的难题在于道路遭到严重损毁。有些路段已经完全坍塌，这迫使我们只能依靠小径、乡村小道以及我们自己开辟的临时通道（用于疏散人员）。”卢说道。"Since 8 am on Tuesday, our team of 100 soldiers has relocated nearly 600 stranded residents, and we will continue restoring village access," he added.“从周二早上8点开始，我们由100名士兵组成的救援队伍已经成功转移了近600名被困居民，并且我们还将继续修复村庄的通行道路。”他补充道。As the skies cleared around Tuesday afternoon, some residents of Putaoyuan village in Beijing's Miyun district returned home to start cleaning efforts.周二下午，天空逐渐放晴，北京密云区普桃园村的一些居民纷纷返回家中，开始进行清理工作。Zhang Changqin, a 65-year-old seafood vendor, put on his rain boots and navigated piles of debris to reach his damaged truck that was overturned by floodwaters. He said he planned to repair the vehicle himself instead of filing an insurance claim, so that he could resume business as soon as possible.65岁的海鲜商张昌琴穿上雨靴，穿过堆积如山的杂物，终于找到了被洪水冲翻的受损卡车。他说自己打算自己修理车辆，而不是申请保险赔偿，这样就能尽快恢复营业了。"I have experienced earthquakes and floods in the past, but never one this severe," Zhang said. "Nevertheless, I choose to keep a positive mind. Things may look bleak now, but once we rebuild our village, I believe it would become even more beautiful than before."“我过去经历过地震和洪水，但从未遇到过如此严重的灾害。”张说道，“不过，我还是选择保持乐观的心态。眼下情况或许很糟糕，但一旦我们重建了村庄，我相信它会比以前更加美丽。”disaster relief and rescue operationsn.救灾和救援行动/dɪˈzɑːstə(r) rɪˈliːf əndˈreskjuː ˌɒpəˈreɪʃnz/mass evacuationn.大规模疏散/mæs ɪˌvækjuˈeɪʃn/

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. Thomas shares some of his experiences at the IRS, where he won the 2021 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction, and how he moved from the IRS to join the FRTIB. Tom covers how he successfully integrated strategy and ERM at the FRTIB. He tells how the FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, with improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. Tom shares how the FRTIB  works with a managed services model in a way that's scalable and sustainable. Tom relates his views on risk culture and the portfolio view that a mature ERM program supports.   Listen to learn how to nominate your organization's ERM Program for the RIMS ERM  Award of Distinction.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:14] RIMScast is a proud nominee of the 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We are nominated in the category of Government and Organizations, and we would appreciate your support. [:26] Help us win that award by visiting PodcastAwards.com and the link in this episode's notes.  [:36] About this episode of RIMScast. We will be joined by Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. [1:05] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [1:17] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be held on November 11th and 12th, and led by Joseph Mayo. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:34] RIMS Virtual Workshops! On August 5th, we have a day-long course about “Emerging Risks.” [1:42] RIMS has launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” This is a two-day course. The first two-day course will be held on August 12th and 13th and will be led by former RIMS President, Chris Mandel. [1:56] The course will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [2:05] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [2:17] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is jam-packed with educational sessions that will resonate with risk practitioners at all stages of their careers. [2:38] See the full agenda at RIMS.org/ERM2025. Nominations are open for the RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025. The nomination deadline is Saturday, August 16th. The award is presented annually at the RIMS ERM Conference. There is a link in this episode's show notes. [3:05] If your organization's ERM program or one you know of deserves this recognition, we want to hear about it. Remember to send in that nomination form by August 16th. [3:16] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [3:31] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:44] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to join us. Visit RIMS.org/membership and build your risk network with us here at RIMS. [3:58] On with the show! Our guest today is one of the winners of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. He is also the Chief Risk Officer for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). [4:15] Tom Brandt is here to discuss ERM and how it has been a guiding light throughout his risk career, which includes several years at the IRS. He recently participated in the RIMS ERM Q&A Series, and we're going to extend the dialogue beyond those digital pages, so let's get to it. [4:35] Interview! Tom Brandt, welcome to RIMScast! [4:42] At long last, Tom Brandt is here on RIMScast! Tom is one of the members of the Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Council and one of the recipients of the 2024 ERM Award of Distinction. There's so much to discuss when it comes to ERM! Tom loves ERM. [5:18] Tom was also a 2021 ERM Award of Distinction recipient for his work at the IRS, where he worked for about 27 years, for the last eight of which, he was their Chief Risk Officer. There, he got into the whole ERM space. [5:38] Then, in late 2021, an opportunity opened at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), and Tom took on the role of Chief Risk Officer. He enjoys the opportunity to work in a small organization with a different focus. [5:55] The FRTIB is sort of the 401(k) for federal employees and uniformed services. They have a singular mission around that plan. [6:13] Tom was brought into the FRTIB to integrate strategy and ERM. He stresses the importance of linking risk and strategy. When Tom started, the offices of Enterprise Planning and Enterprise Risk had just been brought together. [6:51] They were looking for the first Director of Planning and Risk/CRO. Tom applied and was selected for the role. Even though it's a small agency of 250, those functions had been siloed. [7:07] Tom's first area of focus was getting the staff to know each other and learn more about what each process entailed, and then working with the team to look at how to bring these processes together. [7:23] Tom says, when we're identifying risks and needing to mitigate risks, the next question is, where do we get the resources? When the process is not integrated into your planning and budgeting process, that becomes very challenging. [7:36] As we go through our annual planning process, we work with our business offices, and if they're risk owners, we talk about what risks they are managing or mitigating, and if there are related initiatives or resources needed. [7:51] That information gets captured in the annual plan and becomes an input to the budget process. We're not only raising the risks and talking about them, but also identifying initiatives and getting funding, support, and resources to manage and mitigate those risks. [8:16] Tom's risk group has seven or eight people. They also do internal controls, policies, and procedures. They are the agency's anti-fraud group. They do brand monitoring and run the third-party risk monitoring program. They do work beyond the enterprise risk component. [8:51] The FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, which improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. FISMA is an annual cybersecurity audit of federal organizations. [9:27] Years ago, the FRTIB was scoring in the 1s and 2s on most domains in this audit, out of a possible score of 5. That coincided with cybersecurity being one of the FRTIB's high risks. They needed to put in place better governance and protections. [9:53] Because cybersecurity had been one of the FRTIB's high risks, they require any of their enterprise risks that are medium high or higher to have a risk treatment plan. They work with their CISO and the cyber team to develop risk treatment plans each year. [10:08] The risk treatment plans identify resource needs and specific areas of focus. They use the FISMA domains, questions, and assessment criteria to keep in mind where they need to shore things up. [10:20] Justin clarifies that FISMA, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, is a U.S. Federal law that requires federal agencies to develop a document and implement information security programs to protect government information. [10:36] Tom remarks that as a result of great work done by the CISO and the cyber team, the FRTIB scored a 5 in each domain on their 2024 FISMA audit. That moved the cybersecurity risk score down. It's still at a medium level because the threat landscape continues to evolve. [10:56] Threat actors are always out there, trying to stay one step ahead of you, so you have to stay on your game to get ahead of them. [11:15] The cyber threat is so significant that collectively, we all need to be working as hard as we can to maintain our defenses. Tom says the CISO community is working together to integrate the latest technology and developments and understand where the threat is. [11:49] The CISO community is staying on top of what's happening in the AI space to be able to share good practices across agencies and ensure that our posture government-wide is as strong as possible in detecting and preventing the cyber threat. [12:06] One of the strategic goals for FRTIB is the managed services model. Tom speaks about assessing and monitoring third-party and vendor risks in a way that's scalable and sustainable. [12:18] When Tom moved into his position, in December 2021, the agency was about six months away from implementing that managed services model for their record-keeping service. Record keeping is a huge part of the FRTIB's work. They have almost 7.5 million participants. [12:36] Managing participant transactions and keeping their information is a core responsibility for the agency. They were moving to a managed service model. [12:48] When you shift to that type of model, you don't give up accountability and responsibility for the program. You work with a provider. The Agency needed to look at what its mechanism for oversight was, to manage and understand third-party risk. [13:06] The Agency had some capabilities in place for vendor monitoring and supply chain risk management. Tom's area of focus was to build up the third-party risk management program. [13:18] Tom did a maturity assessment to compare what they were doing to good practices and look for opportunities to enhance their capabilities. He brought in some services from external providers to help with access to data about the performance of third-party services. [13:42] Quarterly, Tom reports to the FRTIB board on their top vendors, their overall operations, whether there are any risks he has concerns about, and if so, what is being done to address those risks. That has helped to put in place a strong third-party risk management program. [14:03] When Tom joined the FRTIB, his predecessor had already built a strong, mature ERM program. There was a repeatable process in place with a risk register and a risk profile. [14:22] The opportunity was in integrating risk with planning and looking at how to enhance the program and bring it to the next level of maturity and build out that third-party risk management monitoring capability.  [14:42] RIMS Events! The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through August 6th in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Public registration is open. The full conference agenda is live, so you can start planning. [15:00] Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep course available on-site. This event is open to any RIMS chapter member. [15:10] If you are local to the area, you might consider becoming a RIMS member today so you can get all the benefits and begin networking with your new RIMS Texas peers. Visit RIMS.org/TexasRegional. [15:22] Just a month later, we will be up North for the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, which will be held from September 14th through the 17th in Calgary. Registration is open. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca and lock in those favorable rates. We look forward to seeing you! [15:41] On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [15:52] Also on September 18th, the Spencer Educational Foundation will host the 2025 Funding Their Future Gala at the Cipriani 42nd Street. Visit SpencerEd.org. [16:03] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today! [16:20] Let's Return to My Interview with RIMS 2024 ERM Award of Distinction Winner, Tom Brandt! [16:37] Shortly after Tom won the 2021 ERM Award of Distinction, along with Melissa Reynard, for his work with the IRS, he left to go to the FRTIB. Tom talks about the switch. [16:57] Tom had a great career with the IRS. He had a range of different roles and responsibilities. For his last eight years with the IRS, he was the CRO. [17:23] Tom was ready to make a change. He learned about the opportunity at FRTIB to help them bring risk and strategy programs into one department. He was happy to be selected and see the value of having risk and strategy come together. [18:12] Tom was the second CRO at the IRS. In 2013, the IRS had a crisis, so they brought in a CRO from the GAO for about a year. Tom had been doing risk work in one of the business units of the IRS. He was chosen for the CRO position in 2014. [18:50] The IRS crisis in 2013 related to concerns about how the agency had been handling applications for tax-exempt status. It led to Congressional hearings and IRS leadership changes. [19:04] Before going to the FRTIB, Tom was contacted by a recruiter. Someone in the risk community knew of the position and suggested Tom for it. He's thankful he was contacted because it has turned out to be an excellent opportunity. [19:35] Through RIMS, Tom connects with public and private sector colleagues. He sees a lot of similarities. The public sector has been practicing ERM for just under a decade. [20:16] The most essential ingredient in ERM is leadership support. Tom has support at FRTIB from leadership and the Board. Without leadership support, ERM is a compliance exercise. If ERM is truly leveraged, it can add a lot of value. [20.42] Tom thinks we're seeing too many instances where organizations have not had robust risk programs and have had risk events that could have been prevented or had the impact lessened, had they had a risk program.  [21:02] Tom thinks the challenge in the public sector is that there isn't much room for government error. Anything that doesn't go according to plan tends to get attention. [21:22] That oversight creates an environment that tends to be more risk-averse. That's not the way we want to run our risk program, because we want to take advantage of the opportunity that risk prevents, but it's a factor of the environment we operate in. [21:44] Part of what led to the establishment of the IRS ERM program was the 2013 crisis and an after-event assessment of what went wrong. Bad news didn't make it to the top quickly enough. Information that leadership should have been made aware of didn't get there in time. [22:05] As a result, issues and problems were allowed to fester and go out of control. In the IRS, people took a lot of pride in fixing and solving their problems. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to fix an issue before it goes sideways. [22:41] A real benefit from sharing information is that often you can find other parts of the organization that can help because they've experienced a similar type of issue. They might have additional resources. Ignoring or hiding the problem doesn't make it go away. [23:01] The key value of ERM is creating a culture where people are willing to speak up, information gets escalated quickly, and you're able to bring the right people and resources together to work collectively to manage and mitigate those risks. [23:15] At FRTIB, Tom focuses on creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking about risk, where it's part of the regular way they operate. [23:32] Since starting in risk many years ago and working with his teams, Tom's approach has been doing risk with offices and not doing risk to offices. He wanted to meet them where they were, understand where they needed help, and nudge them, rather than drag them, along. [24:00] Tom says take time to understand the organization, the unique needs of each office, and work with them to help manage and mitigate a risk, versus trying to force something on them. [24:18] A Quick Plug! If you tuned in to the recent episode featuring James Lam, you will know he is hosting a new six-module workshop for us, the “RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management”. [24:33] The inaugural summer course is completely sold out! We are filled to the virtual capacity! Don't worry, in the Fall, the bi-weekly course will begin on October 9th. Registration closes on October 2nd. A link is in this episode's notes. Check it out and register today! [24:52] If you're getting inspired by Tom Brandt and his ERM Award of Distinction win, remember that nominations are now open for the ERM Award of Distinction 2025. Be sure to listen closely for the tips that he offers about what makes a strong nomination! [25:10] The link to the nomination form is in this episode's show notes. Good luck! [25:13] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Tom Brandt! [25:18] Before becoming the CRO at the IRS, Tom was the Director of Planning and Research for the Large Business and International Division with responsibility for case selection, determining risk on corporate and international tax returns, and which ones should be selected for audit. [25:52] This was a compliance risk experience. That provided the stepping stone to take on a more strategic, operational view of risk within the division. When the broader CRO opportunity became available at the IRS, he was considered and ultimately selected for that position. [26:14] Tom's view of risk has evolved. Within a business unit, he focused on the day-to-day operational and compliance risk. He didn't take a view of the whole organization or what choices he made for his unit ight create risk for another part of the organization. [26:51] It's a real value for ERM to have a portfolio view of the most critical risks across the organization, and understanding how actions to address risks in one area could create or exacerbate a risk somewhere else. [27:08] Tom tells of reputational risk. Sometimes decisions don't factor in how they will be perceived. Tom helped people at the IRS understand reputational risk and the stakeholders they may need to engage to help them understand why particular decisions are made. [28:22] Tom shares advice for nominating an ERM Program for the ERM Award of Distinction. What are the results? What are the outcomes that the program accomplished that you can talk about? How did ERM help the organization? What value did it bring? [29:07] Take an example of something you can share, and explain how ERM was able to surface the risk and bring the right people together to help with that risk and help the organization. [29:24] It's critical to have letters of recommendation. At the IRS, Tom had two Deputy Commissioners write letters about what they saw as the value that ERM brought to the agency. [29:42] At FRTIB, Tom had letters from the Executive Director and a member of its Board, who had served for over a decade and had historical knowledge of how ERM had helped the Agency. [30:04] Tom notes that the process of going through the application is a great learning opportunity to reflect on accomplishments as well as areas of remaining opportunity. [30:17] If you are fortunate enough to be selected to receive recognition, it's a great way to recognize the team. Tom used the Awards to recognize his teams at the IRS and at FRTIB, who are the ones who make all of this possible. The recognition turns out to be great kudos for them. [30:41] You can learn more about Tom's achievements through the links on this episode's show notes, which feature his recent ERM Q&A from 2025. I've also included one with his former coworker from the IRS, Melissa Reynard, from 2022. [30:58] This should give you a great sense of not just the great work that Tom has done but also, what it takes to have your nomination seen and heard and get the recognition that you deserve. [31:13] Tom, it's been great getting to know you these past few years, and I look forward to seeing you in Seattle. Thank you for joining us here on RIMScast! [31:32] Special thanks again to Tom Brandt for joining us here on RIMScast. Be sure to check out the links in this episode's show notes for recent ERM Q&A interviews about his work with the FRTIB. [31:46] Tom is a recipient of the RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. The Call for Nominations is open through August 16th. Check this episode's show notes for the link and details. [32:00] The Awards will be presented at the RIMS ERM Conference 2025, November 17th and 18th in Seattle. A link to that event is also on this page. [32:08] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [32:36] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [32:54] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [33:12] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [33:29] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [33:43] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [33:50] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards! Vote for RIMScast (Gov't & Organizations) To vote for RIMScast, please sign up with your email, then select RIMScast on the pulldown under Government and Organizations. Thank you! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov. 17‒18 | RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025 Nominations Open Through Aug. 16 “Embedding ERM Into One of the World's Largest Retirement Programs.” — RIMS Interview with Tom Brandt (2025) RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Registration open. RIMS-CRMP In-Person Workshop in Texas Aug. 6 & 7 RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025, in NYC! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov 17‒18 in Seattle! [Save the Date!] RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Summer course sold out! | Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — November 11‒12 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Emerging Risks” | Aug 5 | Instructor: Joe Mayo “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Aug. 12‒13 | Instructor: Chris Mandel “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Risk and Clarity with Huw Edwards, RIMS Texas Keynote” “James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO” “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Bigger Risks with the Texas State Office of Risk Management” | Sponsored By Hillwood “ERMotivation with Carrie Frandsen, RIMS-CRMP” “Live from the ERM Conference 2024 in Boston!” “Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

This week, the GovNavigators sit down with Brian Friel, Co-Founder of BD-Squared, for a discussion on how federal procurement looks in the age of consolidation. An expert in procurement data, Friel offers great insight into how past efficiency efforts have led us to this administration's push to rid the federal government of duplicative and unnecessary contracts. Show Notes:Leadership shakeup at GSA M-25-31 (OMB memo on procurement consolidation)America's AI Action PlanThree AI-related EOs releasedEvents on the GovNavigators' RadarJuly 28-29th: AGA's Professional Development Training July 30th: Rare HSGAC markup scheduledAugust 5th: Data Foundation's Evaluating for Efficiency: Lessons from GAO and IGs August 19th: Celonis' Public Sector Process Intelligence Day August 20th: Data Foundation's AI Virtual Forum: Data & Policy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In today's episode, we cover Fireworks at the Fed President Trump confronts Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over a $2.5 billion HQ renovation and accuses him of intentionally keeping interest rates high to hurt the economy. New analysis from Bloomberg suggests the Fed's economic rationale may be flawed. Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ Meeting For the first time, Maxwell sits down with federal prosecutors to discuss Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking network. The DOJ is probing whether she'll name names or offer new evidence on high-profile abusers. Chinese Hack Hits U.S. Nuclear Systems China-linked hackers exploit a Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability to breach federal agencies, including the National Nuclear Security Administration. The fallout raises alarm over Microsoft's security practices and Pentagon contractor policies. EV Charging Boondoggle A $7.5 billion Biden-era program has produced just 68 upgraded gas stations with EV chargers. The GAO blasts the rollout as lacking accountability, and Trump halts another $6 billion, though legal battles may force his hand. U.S. Lags in Drone Warfare The U.S. military hypes a grenade-dropping drone already used by terrorists a decade ago. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia churn out cheap drones at scale, leaving America struggling to catch up in the evolving drone battlefield. China's Humanoid Robots Work Nonstop A Chinese company unveils a self-charging humanoid robot capable of continuous labor. While impressive, it signals a coming clash between automation and the global workforce, especially in manufacturing and logistics. Trump Visits Scotland for Trade Talks The president travels to his ancestral homeland for meetings with the UK Prime Minister. Trade is on the table as markets seek clarity about Trump's call to "refine" the current deal. Australia Lifts U.S. Beef Ban After decades of restrictions tied to Mad Cow concerns, Canberra agrees to ease limits on U.S. beef imports. While modest, it marks another Trump win in loosening global ag trade barriers. South Korea's Birth Rate Rebound Thanks to aggressive tax incentives, parental leave, and cultural pride, South Korea sees a record baby boom, the highest since 1981, suggesting a national strategy beyond immigration to solve demographic decline. China Illegally Acquires U.S. AI Chips Despite tightened export controls, Beijing obtains banned Nvidia chips through black market resales. U.S. firms deny direct involvement, but the trade underscores China's relentless push for AI dominance. Europe Still Buys Russian Energy Despite claims of cutting ties, EU nations continue importing $26 billion in Russian oil and gas annually, mainly through pipelines, propping up Moscow's economy even amid war. Undersea Resource Race Heats Up The U.S. and China compete for deep-sea mining rights in the Pacific. Trump plans to bypass a UN agency to accelerate extraction, while environmentalists and China push back on Texas- and California-based ventures. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

Can AI run the government?     In this episode of The Data Chronicles, Scott Loughlin talks with Taka Ariga, former Chief AI Officer at OPM and Chief Data Scientist at GAO, about how the US federal government is approaching its use of AI.  With a focus on the benefits and risks created by AI in the public sector, Scott and Taka explore the impact of AI on the public workforce, public services, national security, and policy making, while discussing agile governance, transparency, and the evolving leadership role of Chief AI Officers.     Two things become clear. First, the government is experiencing the same AI legal concerns as the private sector. And, second, companies and government have much to learn from one another on how they can each harness AI's promise and manage its risks.

Beijing and Washington are set to hold the third round of trade talks in Sweden, a positive development that analysts said will not only help the world's two largest economies steady their ties, but also inject much-needed certainty into the global economy.北京和华盛顿将于在瑞典举行第三轮贸易谈判，这一进展受到了分析人士的肯定。他们认为，此次谈判不仅有助于世界上最大的两个经济体稳固彼此关系，还将为全球经济注入急需的确定性。Vice-Premier He Lifeng will be in Sweden from Sunday to Tuesday to hold economic and trade talks with United States officials, as agreed upon by both sides, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.北京和华盛顿将于在瑞典举行第三轮贸易谈判，这一进展受到了分析人士的肯定。他们认为，此次谈判不仅有助于世界上最大的两个经济体稳固彼此关系，还将为全球经济注入急需的确定性。The two sides will fully leverage their economic and trade consultation mechanism and continue consultations on issues of mutual concern in the spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, the ministry added.该部门补充道：“双方将充分利用其经济与贸易磋商机制，并本着相互尊重、和平共处以及互利共赢的精神，继续就彼此关心的问题进行磋商。”Ahead of the ministry's announcement, China's top market regulator said on Tuesday that it has suspended a probe into DuPont China Holding Co — a subsidiary of the US firm DuPont — over the company's suspected violation of the nation's anti-monopoly law.在该部门宣布相关决定之前，中国最高市场监管部门于周二表示，已暂停对杜邦中国控股有限公司（美国杜邦公司的子公司）的调查。此次调查是因该公司涉嫌违反中国反垄断法而展开的。Since mid-May, top negotiators from Beijing and Washington have already engaged in two rounds of trade talks, in Geneva and London.自五月中旬以来，北京和华盛顿的高级谈判代表已在日内瓦和伦敦进行了两轮贸易谈判。The two countries agreed to a 90-day pause in their triple-digit tariffs. Additionally, Beijing has approved applications for the eligible export of rare earth elements to the US, while Washington has, in turn, slashed its restrictive measures against China.两国同意暂时暂停征收高达三位数的关税，为期90天。此外，北京已批准符合条件的稀土元素向美国的出口申请，而华盛顿方面也相应地降低了对中国的限制措施。Outbound shipments of rare earth magnets from China to the US surged to 353 metric tons in June, a 660 percent increase from the previous month's level, according to data released on Sunday by the General Administration of Customs.据海关总署周日发布的数据，6月份中国向美国出口的稀土磁体数量猛增至353吨，较上月增长了660%。Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said: "The interests of China and the US are deeply intertwined. Both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation."中国社会科学院北京分院的研究员高凌云表示：“中美两国的利益紧密相连。双方都从合作中获益，而在对抗中则会受损。”It's in the best interests of both countries to enhance mutual understanding and manage their differences through equal dialogue, Gao said, adding that a sound and steady China-US relationship will also contribute to the recovery of the world economy.高表示，两国增进相互理解、通过平等对话来管控分歧，这符合两国的共同利益。他还指出，稳固且持续的中美关系也将有助于全球经济的复苏。trade talksn.贸易谈判/treɪd tɔːks/rare earth elementsn.稀土元素/reə(r) ɜːθ ˈelɪmənts/

This GWIC episode features a “Great Gentleman in Compliance,” Jonathan Aronie, a leading expert in government investigations and organizational integrity at Sheppard Mullin. Jonathan joins GWIC co-host Hemma Lomax to discuss his career journey, the innovative compliance tool known as the compliance pre-mortem, and the importance of proactive measures in compliance and governance. He also emphasizes the significance of active bystander intervention programs, derived from law enforcement, as highly effective tools for preventing misconduct in organizations. Additionally, Jonathan offers insights into the challenges and benefits of compliance programs, highlighting the need for continuous improvement and strategic empathy in these efforts. The Psychology of Preventative Compliance The ROI of Compliance and Integrity The Concept of Pre-Mortem in Compliance Common Risks and Blind Spots in Compliance Active Bystander Programs vs. Compliance Hotlines Lessons in Compliance and Culture from Policing Building Continuous Improvement Frameworks Jonathan Aronie is a partner in and the former leader of the firm's Governmental Practice, resident in Washington, DC. Jonathan is also a founding member and current leader of the firm's Organizational Integrity Group, a cross-disciplinary team of litigators, regulatory specialists, federal monitors, and ex-prosecutors with extensive experience helping organizations prevent and defend against challenges to their organizational integrity.  Areas of Practice Jonathan counsels and represents large and small businesses in some of the country's most prominent classified and unclassified government contracts matters, including bid protests, claims, self-disclosures, internal investigations, Department of Justice investigations, and False Claims Act investigations. As the leader of the firm's Organizational Integrity Group, Jonathan also spends significant time working with clients to identify and mitigate known and unknown risks before those risks become problems. Jonathan's experience includes litigating under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, conducting early risk-based “legal pre-mortems,” developing and implementing corporate compliance programs, conducting internal investigations (proactive and defensive), and providing advice on the FAR Mandatory Disclosure Rule as well as a variety of federal regulatory and statutory matters. He frequently represents clients before the DOJ, the Government Accountability Office, the General Services Administration, and other defense and civilian agencies. Additionally, Jonathan is cleared at the highest levels and counsels and defends clients in classified matters. Jonathan has authored more than 100 articles and co-authored what is regarded by many as the leading treatise on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Program, published by Thomson Reuters. He is a regular speaker at national and international forums and CLE programs, including Government-sponsored symposia. He is a regular presenter at Coalition for Government Contracting programs and served on the ABA Task Force that drafted guidance regarding the FAR Mandatory Disclosure Rule. Biography https://www.sheppardmullin.com/jaronie Resources Sheppard Mullin's Organizational Integrity Group Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement Everyone Benefits When An Ethics & Compliance Program Is Integrated Throughout An Organization  Jonathan Aronie on LinkedIn

In this episode of ClearedCast, ClearanceJobs legal correspondent Sean Bigley and VP Lindy Kyzer discuss one of the federal government's most persistent personnel security challenges: security clearance reciprocity.Despite years of reform and policy promises, clearance holders continue to face delays and disruptions when moving between agencies—even when they already hold an active clearance. Sean and Lindy break down the latest GAO report, which sheds light on why reciprocity still lags and where implementation gaps persist.In this episode:What the GAO uncovered about reciprocity in practice versus policyWhy cleared professionals often get stuck in re-vetting purgatoryHow cultural, technical, and bureaucratic obstacles continue to derail seamless transfersWhat can be done—from Congress to hiring managers—to fix the systemIf you're a security-cleared professional, HR lead, or anyone navigating the federal hiring ecosystem, this conversation offers a critical reality check on one of Trusted Workforce 2.0's core promises—and why it's yet to be delivered.

The Government Accountability Office processed more than 5,700 allegations through its fraud hotline last year. That's according to the latest annual report on GAO's FraudNet program. FraudNet referred more than 2,100 allegations to federal agencies or other entities for further investigation, roughly the same number of referrals as in 2023. FraudNet analysts also supported more than 50 requests from GAO teams conducting audits and investigations. That includes helping GAO identify healthcare providers who were ineligible to work for the Defense Department's TRICARE Network. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

一邊受人追捧，一邊手頭拮据， 年少就成名的達文西為何總被錢追到跳腳？ 有錢的老闆他不要，懂他的老闆找不到， 用筆震撼歐洲的達文西， 為何煩透了作畫，寧可再三烙跑？ 茹素又溫和的他，竟將真心獻給暴力狂； 廣受人崇敬的他，卻被自家人倒打一耙； 細心又求真的他，竟畫錯了耶穌的法像？ 他到底還有多少才華，多少祕密？ 跟我一起最後解開真正的達文西密碼。 【J.GAO全能修護UV防曬棒】～8/29

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne discuss the U.S. legislative gridlock around crypto regulation during “Crypto Week” and the Senate's bipartisan recognition of the need for a crypto market structure. The conversation also highlights the Basel Institute's 2024 report, a GAO study on organized fraud in federal programs, and troubling staffing cuts at the State Department's anti-trafficking and counterterrorism offices. They also examine enforcement actions against Wise and other issues affecting the financial crime prevention community.

Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT systems and cyber-related investments. About 80% of this funding goes to operating and maintaining existing IT, including old systems known as legacy IT. GAO identified several…

Join us on the latest episode, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!Our Guests:  Dr. Michael Gao and Dr. Joshua Geleris, Founders at SmarterDx.What you'll get out of this episode:SmarterDx helps hospitals fully capture patient journeys and maximize reimbursement through advanced AI technology.The founders, Dr. Michael Gao and Dr. Joshua Geleris, leveraged their backgrounds in medicine and data science to address inefficiencies in hospital revenue cycles.A critical pivot from concurrent to pre-bill review allowed SmarterDx to prove measurable value to hospitals and align incentives.The formation of Smarter Technologies, combining SmarterDx, Thoughtful AI, and Access Healthcare, creates a platform approach to solve broader revenue cycle challenges.A customer-centric mindset and deep healthcare expertise are central to SmarterDx's and Smarter Technologies' approach.To learn more about SmarterDx:Website https://smarterdx.com/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/smarterdx/Our sponsors for this episode are:Sage Growth Partners https://www.sage-growth.com/Quantum Health https://www.quantum-health.com/Show and Host's Socials:Slice of HealthcareLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sliceofhealthcare/Jared S TaylorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredstaylor/WHAT IS SLICE OF HEALTHCARE?The go-to site for digital health executive/provider interviews, technology updates, and industry news. Listed to in 65+ countries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs' acting chief information officer doubled down on the agency's reshaping of its IT workforce, telling lawmakers in a Monday hearing that change is “challenging” but “necessary.” Eddie Pool told members of the House VA's subcommittee on technology modernization that the agency's Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is pushing forward with workforce reductions as the division increasingly turns to automation and other technology modernization efforts. “This reorganization, reallocation of positions, is designed to cut bureaucratic overhead, accelerate decision making and focus every OIT position on delivering secure, reliable and modern IT solutions to improve veterans' lives,” Pool said in opening remarks at the hearing. Subcommittee Chair Tom Barrett, R-Mich., lauded the VA OIT's “smarter, not bigger” strategy in its fiscal 2026 budget request, asking Pool if technology improvements can alleviate the need for manual, human processes. “Absolutely,” Pool responded. “It is about automating what we can automate.” In its fiscal 2026 budget, the VA OIT requested funding to support approximately 7,000 full-time equivalent employees, marking an 11.7% decrease from its fiscal 2025 budget request, according to Carol Harris, the director of information technology and cybersecurity for the Government Accountability Office. Former White House national security adviser Mike Waltz brushed aside criticisms Tuesday that he put sensitive military operations at risk by holding discussions about military strikes in a Signal group chat, claiming the app's use was authorized by the federal government's top civilian cyber agency. In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Waltz — who has been nominated to represent the U.S. at the United Nations — was pressed about his short tenure as President Donald Trump's top national security official. In particular, he was grilled by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., for his use of the end-to-end encrypted messaging application Signal to coordinate with other officials over airstrikes on Houthi rebels.While much of the initial attention was focused on Waltz adding journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, national security experts were also aghast by government officials at the highest levels coordinating highly sensitive military operations using a free application. The incident is widely viewed as contributing to Waltz's departure just months after leaving Congress to take the role, and his subsequent shuffling to a new nomination at the U.N. “The use of Signal is not only … authorized; it was recommended in the Biden-era CISA guidance,” he said. Waltz was referencing a piece of 2024 guidance put out by CISA on mobile security. He later read from a portion of the guidance, which recommended using “only end-to-end encrypted communication” and to “adopt a free messaging application to secure communications that guarantees end to end encryption, particularly if you are a highly targeted individual, such as Signal or other apps.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department have over 100 sharing agreements to help deliver health care services. These agreements provide greater access to health care for veterans while also saving money for the federal government. But the agencies don't evaluate their effectiveness or track opportunities to expand them for more federal news networks. Anastasia Obis spoke to the Government Accountability Office's Alyssa Hundrup,See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Charge ahead, patriots—@intheMatrixxx and @shadygrooove, the fearless truth dynamos of The MG Show, blaze into Season 7 Episode 131 "Trump Stops the Epstein Nonsense & Exposes FAKE MAGA; Victory Lap," amplifying President Trump's Truth Social rebuke against baseless attacks on Pam Bondi and Kash Patel over non-existent Epstein files, declaring the saga a dead-end hoax engineered to eclipse the administration's monumental economic achievements like soaring job creation, eased inflation, and reclaimed border security. As the engaged audience rallies with overwhelming positivity—cheering Trump's fulfillment of Agenda 47 promises through bold tariffs, deregulation, and manufacturing revivals—Jeff and Shannon, alongside a Promethean Action insider, dismantle the Epstein media psyop as a deliberate diversion from surging American economic freedom and strength, backed by GAO reports on foreknowledge patterns and reviews of exposure levels in defeated threats from a year ago. With the community showcasing sharp independence through fact-based scrutiny of primary sources and rejection of manipulative influencers, expect live breakdowns highlighting unity in victories, from debt reduction to housing equity, all underscoring the resilient spirit of self-reliant patriots standing firm against distractions. The truth is learned, never told, and the constitution is your weapon—tune in at noon-0-five Eastern LIVE to stand with Trump! Trump, Epstein psyop, fake MAGA, victory lap, economic achievements, Agenda 47, America First, Promethean Action, GAO reports, patriot community, economic freedom, @intheMatrixxx, @shadygrooove, MG Show, media distractions mgshow_s7e131_trump_stops_epstein_nonsense_exposes_fake_maga_victory_lap Tune in weekdays at 12pm ET / 9am PST, hosted by @InTheMatrixxx and @Shadygrooove. Catch up on-demand on https://rumble.com/mgshow or via your favorite podcast platform. Where to Watch & Listen Live on https://rumble.com/mgshow https://mgshow.link/redstate X: https://x.com/inthematrixxx Backup: https://kick.com/mgshow PODCASTS: Available on PodBean, Apple, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Search for "MG Show" to listen. Engage with Us Join the conversation on https://t.me/mgshowchannel and participate in live voice chats at https://t.me/MGShow. Social & Support Follow us on X: @intheMatrixxx https://x.com/inthematrixxx @ShadyGrooove https://x.com/shadygrooove Support the show: Fundraiser: https://givesendgo.com/helpmgshow Donate: https://mg.show/support Merch: https://merch.mg.show MyPillow Special: Use code MGSHOW at https://mypillow.com/mgshow for savings! Wanna send crypto? Bitcoin: bc1qtl2mftxzv8cxnzenmpav6t72a95yudtkq9dsuf Ethereum: 0xA11f0d2A68193cC57FAF9787F6Db1d3c98cf0b4D ADA: addr1q9z3urhje7jp2g85m3d4avfegrxapdhp726qpcf7czekeuayrlwx4lrzcfxzvupnlqqjjfl0rw08z0fmgzdk7z4zzgnqujqzsf XLM: GAWJ55N3QFYPFA2IC6HBEQ3OTGJGDG6OMY6RHP4ZIDFJLQPEUS5RAMO7 LTC: ltc1qapwe55ljayyav8hgg2f9dx2y0dxy73u0tya0pu All Links Find everything on https://linktr.ee/mgshow

John Broeske is back! The Government Accountability Office’s 2025 report on the Butler, PA assassination attempt found that the U.S. Secret Service failed to share classified threat intelligence received 10 days prior. Lapses in communication, planning, and training contributed to the attack, prompting eight reform recommendations to improve internal coordination and risk-based resource allocation. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest on Off the Shelf is Jason Workmaster from Miller & Chevalier. Workmaster discusses the potential legal implications of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), and analyzes the key features of the RFO and the implications for contractors and contracting officers. He highlights the potential ramifications for the bid protest process and the roles of GAO and the Court of Claims. Turning to GSA's Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program, Workmaster gives his thoughts on the expansion of Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) across the program and what contractors need to focus on during the expansion. Finally, he outlines the Department of Justice's enforcement priorities for government contractors under the new Trump administration. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The New Quantum Era, your host, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Yvonne Gao, a leading experimental physicist specializing in superconducting devices and quantum cavities. Recorded at the American Physical Society's Global Summit, the conversation explores the intersection of curiosity-driven research and technological advancement in quantum physics.Key Topics Discussed1. Research Focus: Quantum Cavities and SuperpositionDr. Gao shares her team's work on using cavities (harmonic oscillators) coupled with a single qubit to probe fundamental quantum effects.The experiments focus on quantum superposition and entanglement using minimal hardware—just one qubit and one cavity—eschewing the race for more qubits in favor of deeper scientific insights.Discussion of "cat states" as iconic demonstrations of quantum superposition, and how their properties can be engineered for robustness and sensitivity without specialized hardware.2. Experimental InnovationThe team investigates loss mechanisms in cavity-based quantum states and explores ways to make these states more resilient through state engineering rather than hardware changes.Dr. Gao describes using standard, "vanilla" qubits and cavities, making their techniques accessible to other labs.3. Fundamental Questions and Quantum PlaygroundDr. Gao emphasizes the value of the circuit QED platform as a "playground" for exploring quantum phenomena, particularly entanglement and its quantification in real hardware.The challenge of visualizing and intuitively understanding quantum phenomena is highlighted, with experiments designed to make abstract concepts more tangible.4. Device Fabrication and AdvancementsDr. Gao's lab at NUS has developed in-house fabrication capabilities, gradually building up expertise and infrastructure.The field is witnessing rapid improvements in device performance, driven by advances in materials science and process integration.5. Multipartite Entanglement and Future DirectionsPlans for multi-cavity devices: Moving from single and two-cavity systems to three, enabling the study of tripartite entanglement and richer quantum dynamics.The potential for these systems to serve as both research tools and pedagogical aids, demonstrating quantum strangeness in a hands-on way.6. Synergy Between Science and TechnologyThe conversation explores the unique moment in quantum research where fundamental science and technological objectives are closely aligned.Knowledge flows both ways: curiosity-driven experiments inform processor design, while industrial advances in fabrication and control benefit academic labs.7. The "Perfect Quantum Lab" Thought ExperimentDr. Gao shares her wish list for a hypothetical, fault-tolerant quantum computer: to directly observe textbook quantum phenomena and simulate complex quantum behaviors in a tangible way.Memorable Quotes"We're very proud that we only use one qubit and one cavity... We tried to build in creative features and techniques from control and measurement perspectives to tease out interesting dynamics and features on the harmonic oscillator.""A lot of what we do is trying to find the most intuitive picture to capture what these abstract physical phenomena actually look like in the lab.""There's this nice synergy between the drive to make practical quantum processors and the more academic, curiosity-driven research focusing on the fundamental."Find this and other episodes at New Quantum Era's website or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe and share with your quantum-curious friends!

Send us a textThe Ones Ready crew is back with a blistering Daily Drop that reads like a classified briefing laced with caffeine and outrage. Jared goes scorched-earth on the U.S. finally banning Chinese farmland buys (spoiler: it's 2025 and somehow this wasn't already illegal). Meanwhile, the Army wants to quadruple Patriot missiles—because what's deterrence without volume? The Air Force still can't decide if the F-15EX should have a roommate. Space Force gets a budget bump, but bureaucratic gatekeepers still cling to outdated classification nonsense like it's a Cold War cosplay. And don't worry, the KC-46 is still a flying contradiction—does it even have SATCOM?Oh, and if you're still here: Nashville. October. OTS. Let's go.

Grammy nominated ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate and his 8 piece band Ngoni Ba wowed the crowd at Lincoln Center in 2011. Ngoni Ba re-wired the ancient ngoni to create a dense, 21st century sound. We'll hear the concert and talk with Bassekou about hunters, his precocious son, and his future plans. We hear a very different take on the ngoni from Sidi Touré who made his U.S. debut at BAM in Brooklyn. Sidi Touré is from the legendary city of Gao in northern Mali, the seat the ancient Songhai empire. Then we go to Egypt to hear how artists from Port Said are making music for instruments that go back to the time of the Pharoahs. [Produced by Sean Barlow. Originally aired 11-09-2011] APWW #626

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [DS]/[CB] manipulated the people into believing we were in a climate crisis, they changed the graphics to convince you it was hotter than the past, big fail. Elon is focusing in on the [CB] system and bringing attention to it. Michael Horowitz has been named IG of the Fed. Pieces are put into place. BBB passed Senate, this is just the beginning. The [DS] was distracted with the BBB, they went after the section that Trump setup to draw them away from what he wants. Trump calls for the arrest of Mayorkas. The [DS] had Elon and used his technology. They gave the tech to Iran and NK to build rockets to be used for WWIII. It seems that Trump is setting Elon free from all that by cutting all subsidies to the the green new scam. Optics are important. All roads lead to Obama and the [CB].   Economy https://twitter.com/cruadin/status/1940008358347489779   https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1939930016306942088   the mandates would be going, and he's said repeatedly in the past that the EV subsidy should end: “If you eliminated all EV incentives tomorrow, Tesla's competitive position would improve significantly. I'll say that again. If you eliminated all EV tax credits, Tesla's position would improve immediately.” S  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1939910877563490753   https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1939915436943872198 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1940001236108918819 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1939909939037901204 The U.S. debt ceiling has been raised, extended, or revised 78 times since 1960, according to multiple sources, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Council on Foreign Relations. This includes 49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents. Some sources, like USA Today, suggest it has been raised at least 100 times since 1940, but the most commonly cited figure for the modern era (post-1960) is 78. Over the years, the debt ceiling has not been an effective mechanism for stopping waste and fraud in government spending. The debt ceiling is a legislative cap on the total amount of debt the U.S. government can incur, requiring Congressional approval to raise or extend it to allow continued borrowing for existing obligations, such as funding authorized programs, servicing debt, and meeting other financial commitments. Its primary function is to limit the government's borrowing capacity, not to regulate the quality, efficiency, or integrity of spending.Why the Debt Ceiling Doesn't Stop Waste and Fraud:  The debt ceiling addresses the aggregate level of federal debt, not specific budget items or program management. It does not inherently scrutinize or eliminate wasteful or fraudulent expenditures, which occur within the budgeting and execution of individual programs.   Debt ceiling debates often serve as political leverage for broader fiscal or policy negotiations (e.g., spending cuts or tax reforms). While these discussions may occasionally highlight waste or fraud rhetorically, the ceiling itself does not directly target or address such issues. For example, during debt ceiling negotiations in 2011 or 2023, the focus was on overall spending reductions or policy concessions, not specific anti-fraud measures.  Waste and fraud are typically addressed through other processes, such as: Audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or Inspectors General (IGs) within federal agencies.

Andrew, Kevin and Jessica Gao discuss the ICE raids and protests in LA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025Today, the 9th Circuit heard arguments over Trump's National Guard deployment to California; a federal judge has blocked Trump's passport policy targeting transgender people; Trump has left the G7 early to return to Washington as he tells everyone to evacuate Tehran; a counter protester arrested at Nashville's No Kings march has been hit with gun charges; Senator Mike Lee has taken down his tweets about the Minnesota assassin after being confronted by Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar; New York mayoral candidate Brad Lander has been arrested by ICE on trumped up charges of assaulting an agent; a federal judge has held the Florida Attorney General in civil contempt; for the second time the Government Accountability Office has found the Trump administration illegally impounded funds; the NAACP is refusing to invite the president to their annual convention for the first time in its 116 year history; Trump reverses course on arresting migrants at farms and hotel; Mike Lindell has to pay $2.3M for defaming the Dominion Voting CEO; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. MSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueAllison Gill Live With Adam Klasfeld | muellershewrote.comCheck out Dana's social media campaign highlighting LGBTQ+ heroes every day during Pride Month -  Dana Goldberg (@dgcomedy.bsky.social)Guest: Phil Williams@philinvestigates.com - BlueSky, @PhilNvestigates - Twitter , News Channel 5PhilInvestigates.com Guest: Sara JacobsU.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs | CA 51st District@RepSaraJacobs • Blue Sky, @repsarajacobs • Instagram, @RepSaraJacobs • Twitter StoriesUS judge blocks Trump passport policy targeting transgender people | ReutersBrad Lander, NYC Mayoral Candidate, Arrested by ICE Agents at Immigration Courthouse | The New York TimesTrump calls for Iran's 'unconditional surrender' as Israel-Iran air war rages on | ReutersTrump officials reverse guidance exempting farms, hotels from immigration raids | The Washington PostWatchdog Finds Trump Administration Broke Law by Withholding Library Funds | The New York TimesDonald Trump is the first president in 116 years to not be invited to the NAACP convention | PBS NewsJudge finds Florida attorney general in contempt of court for flouting immigration order | Miami HeraldGood Trouble: We have another snitch line! This one aims to “save the military from woke culture.” So please, from an anonymous proton mail account, reach out to tips@restorethemilitary.com and let them know how you feel about having a makeup studio for Pete Hegseth inside the Pentagon and how woke that is. Or you can tell them about the outstanding service of transgender troops in the military.Proton Mail: Get a free email account with privacy and encryptionFind Upcoming Demonstrations And Actions50501 MovementNoKings.orgIndivisible.orgFederal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. From The Good NewsDana Goldberg (@dgcomedy.bsky.social)‘No Kings' Protest in State College Draws Hundreds | StateCollege.com'No Kings' protest in Oshkosh draws 1,500 as rallies also planned in Manitowoc, Sheboygan | the northwestern.com Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Federal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.Share your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good Trouble Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewrote , Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote,Dana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts