Podcasts about Government Executive

Cuts to contract and grant spending, including outright cancellations, were a feature of the Department of Government Efficiency's activities during the first year of the Trump administration and some lawsuits followed from those impacted. Natalie Alms, senior correspondent at NextGov/FCW, worked with our colleague and fellow senior reporter Eric Katz at Government Executive to watch 23 hours of testimony in one of those cases that sheds light on DOGE's goals and the pressures to meet them. “Nat” joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to explain what she and Eric discovered in reporting out a story that is still working its way through the judicial system, but is showing enough of the atmosphere and environment surrounding DOGE. Nat also goes over her findings on how some technologists joining the government workforce can remain connected to their private sector employers and summarizes the White House budget office's ongoing review of federal contracts. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Natalie Alms can be securely contacted at nalms.41 on Signal. Inside DOGE's early days of pressure campaigns, rule breaking and ‘chaos' DOJ clears the way for government to hire technologists still connected to their private sector employers Contract reviews continue at OMB, official says Federal CIO tapped for dual-hatted role at GSA Agencies lost around 20,000 tech workers last year — and now the Trump admin is hiring Inside the federal CIO's culture-first approach Trump admin launches US Tech Force to recruit temporary workers after shedding thousands this year

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative powerhouses like the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto unveiled in April 2023, now thrusting into reality under President Trump's second term. According to the Heritage Foundation's “Mandate for Leadership,” it aims to “dismantle the administrative state”—those federal agencies seen as bloated and unaccountable—by consolidating power in the White House.The plan kicks off with a radical workforce overhaul. It revives Schedule F, reclassifying up to 500,000 career civil servants in policy roles as at-will employees, stripping job protections to install political loyalists on day one. The AFGE warns this could eliminate up to a million federal jobs through cuts, freezes, and privatization. Already, Trump's Executive Order has begun remaking the workforce, as noted in a White House fact sheet, while Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency—DOGE—has fired thousands, shuttering agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a Project 2025 target that returned $21 billion to scam victims, per Government Executive reporting.Agency by agency, the ambition unfolds. The Department of Homeland Security and TSA face elimination or privatization, risking post-9/11 security gains, says the AFGE. The Department of Education would vanish, shifting funds to states and gutting anti-discrimination rules on gender and sexual orientation. FEMA moves to Interior or Transportation, offloading disaster costs to locals. The ACLU highlights plans to abuse warrantless surveillance, dismantling DOJ and FBI independence under unitary executive theory.Proponents, like those in the Mandate, declare, “The unelected administrative state is antithetical to our constitutional system of divided powers.” Critics, including the Brennan Center, see threats to democracy, civil rights, and impartial justice. The Supreme Court's Loper Bright ruling, overturning Chevron deference, bolsters this by curbing agency rulemaking, aligning perfectly with the project's vision.These changes ripple through taxes—pushing a flat rate and corporate cuts—Medicare trims, and reversed Biden policies, illustrating a sweeping bid to shrink government and amplify presidential control.Looking ahead, court battles over DOGE firings loom, with judges reinstating some workers, and midterm elections could test this overhaul. As implementation accelerates, America watches a high-stakes experiment in governance.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative powerhouses like the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, a 900-plus-page manifesto unveiled in 2023 to consolidate presidential power and dismantle what its authors call the “unelected administrative state.” According to the Heritage Foundation's document, “The unelected administrative state is antithetical to our constitutional system of divided powers and checks and balances.”Fast forward to early 2026, and the Trump administration has embraced much of it. The Center for Progressive Reform's February 2026 update reveals that 53 percent of Project 2025's domestic policy agenda across 20 agencies has been initiated or completed. President Trump's February 2025 fact sheet boasts of an executive order “reforming the federal workforce to better serve Americans,” echoing the plan's core.Key proposals target federal agencies head-on. The Heritage Foundation blueprint calls for eliminating the Department of Education, shifting oversight to states, and gutting the Department of Homeland Security, privatizing the Transportation Security Administration—agencies born from 9/11 to safeguard the nation. FEMA faces dissolution, pushing disaster costs to local governments. The AFGE warns this could axe up to a million federal jobs through budget cuts, hiring freezes, and Schedule F—a reclassification stripping protections from over 500,000 policy-related civil servants, turning career experts into political pawns.Reforms extend to unions and equity: stripping rights from TSA, DOJ, and FEMA workers, banning DEI efforts at the VA and Labor Department, and ending data collection on racial disparities. The National Federation of Federal Employees describes it as a “radical blueprint for government political corruption,” with a 180-day playbook of executive orders ready for Day One.Experts see sweeping implications. The Brennan Center cautions it prioritizes political agendas over law enforcement independence, while Government Executive reports Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has fired tens of thousands, targeted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—which returned $21 billion to scam victims—and hit Voice of America, though courts have pushed back some moves.This ambition connects to unitary executive theory, centralizing control in the White House, curbing agencies like the FBI and FTC. The Supreme Court's Loper Bright ruling, overturning Chevron deference, aligns perfectly, shifting regulatory power to judges.As midterms loom, battles over Schedule F and agency fates will define governance. Will checks and balances hold, or yield to this vision? Tune in next week for more. Thanks for listening.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for reshaping America's government, drawn up by conservative powerhouses like the Heritage Foundation and now unfolding in real time. Project 2025, launched in April 2023 as a 900-plus-page manifesto, aimed to dismantle what its authors call the "administrative state" and consolidate power in the presidency. According to the Heritage Foundation's own documentation, it promises a "180-day playbook" of executive orders ready for "Day One" of a new Republican administration, starting January 20, 2025.Fast forward to today: President Donald Trump has embraced core elements, with his Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency accelerating cuts. Government Executive reports agencies like the IRS have gutted 75% of their civil rights offices through reductions in force, while the Agriculture Department shutters its D.C. headquarters and field offices. A White House fact sheet boasts Trump signed an executive order remaking the federal workforce, reinstating Schedule F to strip protections from up to 500,000 career employees, turning policy roles into at-will political posts.Key proposals target federal agencies head-on. The plan calls for abolishing the Department of Education, handing education oversight to states, and eliminating the Department of Homeland Security, privatizing the TSA—agencies born from 9/11's ashes, as AFGE warns, risking national security. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission face erasure, shrinking antitrust enforcement. The DOJ and FBI would fall under direct presidential control, rooted in unitary executive theory, which the Center for American Progress labels an "absolutist view" that shreds checks and balances.Proponents, like Heritage, argue this restores efficiency: "Maximize presidential control to implement conservative priorities," including corporate tax cuts, a flat income tax, and slashing Medicare and Medicaid. Critics, including the National Federation of Federal Employees, decry it as politicizing civil service for "personal and political gain," potentially firing a million workers and ending public unions.These changes ripple outward, from privatizing CDC labs—splitting data from policy, per Project 2025—to blocking DEI hiring and reinstating discriminatory tests. NAACP Legal Defense Fund tracks how executive actions curb civil rights.As agencies submit RIF plans by April deadlines, the real test looms: court battles and midterm elections. Will this ambition hold, or fracture under scrutiny? Tune in next week for updates. Thanks for listening.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative architects at the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, a 900-plus-page manifesto unveiled in April 2023, aimed at dismantling what its authors call the "administrative state" and placing the executive branch firmly under presidential control, according to the project's own documentation and Wikipedia's overview.At its core, the plan pushes unitary executive theory, seeking to end the independence of agencies like the DOJ, FBI, and Federal Trade Commission. "The federal government's entire executive branch [should be] under direct presidential control," it argues, challenging long-standing Supreme Court precedents like Humphrey's Executor, as detailed by the Center for American Progress.Key proposals target federal agencies with sweeping changes. The Department of Education and Homeland Security would be eliminated outright, with TSA privatized and education oversight shifted to states, per AFGE analysis. FEMA might move to the Interior Department, offloading disaster costs to locals. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau faces abolition, while the NIH realigns with conservative priorities, and economic bureaus merge under ideological oversight, Heritage Foundation outlines state.A 180-day playbook spells out "Day One" actions: reinstate Schedule F to reclassify up to 500,000 civil servants, stripping job protections for political loyalty. "This scheme allows... full control of the Executive Branch for personal and political gain," warns the National Federation of Federal Employees.By March 2026, echoes of these ideas have materialized. President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has fired tens of thousands, imposed hiring freezes, and prompted reductions in force at agencies like the IRS and Agriculture Department, Government Executive reports. The White House fact sheet touts "reforming the federal workforce to better serve Americans" via executive order.Experts highlight risks: politicized hiring could ease discrimination by reviving aptitude tests deemed biased and gutting DEI efforts, AFGE notes. Unions might be declared illegal, eroding worker rights.This ambitious scope connects tax cuts, like a flat income tax, to broader power consolidation, reversing Biden-era policies. As midterms loom, upcoming court challenges and congressional battles will test its staying power.Thanks for tuning in, listeners—come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative powerhouses like the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, a 900-plus-page manifesto unveiled in April 2023, aimed at dismantling what its authors call the “administrative state” and placing the executive branch firmly under presidential control.At its core, the plan pushes the unitary executive theory, seeking to end the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice and FBI, as detailed in the Heritage Foundation's policy document. “The federal government's executive branch must be under direct presidential control,” it argues, proposing to reinstate Schedule F—a Trump-era order to reclassify up to 50,000 civil servants, stripping job protections and enabling mass firings for political loyalty, according to the American Federation of Government Employees.Key proposals target federal agencies head-on. The Department of Education and Homeland Security would be eliminated, with TSA privatized and FEMA shifted elsewhere, per the project's chapters. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and parts of the CDC face abolition or drastic cuts, while HUD's housing aid devolves to states. Tax reforms eye corporate slashes and a flat income tax, alongside Medicare reductions.Fast-forward to 2025: With Donald Trump back in office since January 20, these ideas are leaping off the page. The White House's January executive order on “Restoring Accountability” echoes Schedule F, while Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency accelerates cuts. Government Executive reports agencies like the IRS slashing civil rights offices, Agriculture dismantling headquarters, and OPM mandating reductions in force for 70,000 jobs by April deadlines.Experts warn of peril. The Center for American Progress calls it an “imperial presidency” destroying checks and balances, potentially politicizing everything from antitrust enforcement to disaster response. The National Federation of Federal Employees fears a “scheme to hire unlimited political appointees,” eroding nonpartisan expertise.This ambition connects daily life to high-stakes power: Privatizing TSA could weaken post-9/11 security, while gutting unions strips worker rights. As implementation ramps up, upcoming milestones like agency RIF plans by mid-April and court challenges loom large, testing democracy's guardrails.Thanks for tuning in, listeners—come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to rebuild America's government from the ground up, placing the president's vision at its absolute center. That's Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's 900-plus-page Mandate for Leadership, unveiled in April 2023 to guide a conservative administration starting on Day One.According to the Heritage Foundation's documentation, the plan calls for dismantling the Department of Education entirely and shrinking the Department of Homeland Security, while merging economic agencies like the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau into one aligned with conservative principles. It pushes to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, which enforces antitrust laws, and reinstate Schedule F to strip protections from up to 50,000 civil servants, replacing them with loyalists. "The federal bureaucracy has been weaponized against conservatives," the document states, advocating White House oversight of the DOJ and FBI to root out what it deems a "radical liberal agenda."Fast forward to 2025: With Donald Trump back in office since January 20, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has surged ahead. Government Executive reports DOGE firing thousands in diversity roles, issuing reductions in force targeting 70,000 positions, and cutting 20,000 at Health and Human Services—25 percent of its workforce—via buyouts and attrition. The IRS gutted 75 percent of its civil rights office, and courts have temporarily reinstated staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Voice of America, both Project 2025 targets. Politico notes 37 Trump executive orders echoing the blueprint, despite his campaign disavowal.Experts warn of peril. The Center for American Progress argues this unitary executive theory destroys checks and balances, potentially weaponizing the DOJ against rivals and blocking rules like the FTC's noncompete ban, harming workers. The ACLU and AFGE highlight risks to civil rights and nonpartisan expertise, enabling corruption.This sweeping reform connects efficiency dreams to power consolidation, from tax cuts and Medicare trims to partisan control of justice. As agencies submit reorganization plans by April 14, legal battles loom, testing America's governance. Will courts halt the chaos, or will DOGE redefine the executive branch?Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative powerhouses like the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, unveiled in April 2023 as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. Its 900-plus-page Mandate for Leadership outlines a radical overhaul, aiming to dismantle what it calls the bloated administrative state and place the executive branch under direct presidential control.At its core, the plan pushes unitary executive theory, granting presidents sweeping authority over agencies long shielded from politics. According to the Heritage Foundation's document, it calls for replacing federal civil servants with loyalists via reinstating Schedule F, a Trump-era order that could strip protections from up to 50,000 policy-influencing workers. "The next conservative president" would fire skeptics and install ideologues on day one, as the blueprint urges.Concrete targets abound. It seeks to gut the Department of Education entirely, eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—which has returned $21 billion to scam victims—and shrink the FBI and DOJ into White House extensions. The FTC, enforcer of antitrust laws, faces abolition, while the Department of Homeland Security gets restructured. Tax cuts for corporations, a flat income tax, and slashes to Medicare and Medicaid round out economic goals, all while reversing Biden-era environmental rules.Fast-forward to 2026: With Donald Trump back in office since January 20, 2025, echoes of Project 2025 pulse through actions led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Government Executive reports agencies slashing jobs—HHS targeting 20,000 positions, a 25% cut via buyouts and firings. The IRS gutted 75% of its civil rights office, USDA dismantled D.C. headquarters, and attempts to axe the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau hit court blocks, reinstating staff. OPM mandated reductions-in-force plans by March, aiming to eliminate 70,000 non-statutory roles.Experts warn of peril. The Center for American Progress argues this destroys checks and balances, weaponizing DOJ against foes and politicizing watchdogs like the FCC, potentially silencing dissent or skewing media licenses. Yet proponents, per Heritage, see salvation in accountability: "A bloated bureaucracy infatuated with a radical liberal agenda," as their DOJ critique claims.This ambition connects daily life to power—your taxes, healthcare, consumer protections all in flux. As courts battle DOGE's blitz and agencies submit reorganization blueprints by April, upcoming milestones like Supreme Court rulings on Schedule F could cement or curb this imperial shift.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to remake the entire federal government in the image of one person's vision. That's Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto from the Heritage Foundation and former Trump officials, as detailed in its core document, Mandate for Leadership. According to the Heritage Foundation's plan, it seeks to restore "self-governance to the American people" by centralizing power in the presidency under the unitary executive theory, which grants the president near-total control over the bureaucracy.Fast forward to 2026, and its ideas are no longer hypothetical. President Trump's executive orders have brought them to life with startling speed. Take Schedule F: Project 2025 called for reinstating this Trump-era order to strip job protections from up to 50,000 civil servants, replacing experts with loyalists. The White House's January 2025 order, Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce, did just that, as reported by Government Executive. Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has fired tens of thousands, targeting diversity offices and agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—both Project 2025 priorities—though courts have reinstated some workers amid lawsuits from the ACLU and unions.Concrete examples abound. The plan urges eliminating the Department of Education, a goal Trump advanced via executive order, challenged by teachers' unions. It proposes weaponizing the DOJ against rivals, expanding political appointees there, and ending independence for agencies like the FCC and FTC by overruling Supreme Court precedents, per the Center for American Progress analysis. DOGE has slashed Health and Human Services by 20,000 jobs and gutted IRS civil rights offices, aiming to "traumatically affect" workers, as OMB Director Russell Vought stated.Experts warn of dire implications. The ACLU describes it as a "radical restructuring" threatening civil rights, while the American Federation of Government Employees fears up to a million job losses, crippling services for rural families and seniors. Proponents see efficiency; critics, an imperial presidency eroding checks and balances.As lawsuits pile up and agencies submit reorganization plans by April, the real test looms: Will Congress rein in these moves, or will DOGE hit its $1 trillion savings goal by July? The battle for America's governance rages on.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

The last year has been marked by record numbers of federal employees retiring from service. Making the decision to retire is never simple, and the considerations for federal employees are unique from any other group. Luckily, there are uniquely qualified advisors available, including our guest for this episode: Tammy Flanagan. She joins us to talk about changes to the retirement process and how she and her colleagues at Retire Federal can help assess retirement readiness.  Learn more about Tammy Flanagan's work: Retirement Planning column for Government Executive: https://www.govexec.com/topic/retirement-planning/Work on Federal News Network: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/tag/tammy-flanagan/Retire Federal: https://www.retirefederal.com/Join us for AFSPA's Annual Meeting: https://events.zoom.us/ev/ApdnelInxPpOrUWwrwRtWQHK6tRGvr-131W5CrN1-ZmfJrNFNBRT~AoT4rcYlVLw2IItcnh0s9MRHkhw0RCH8bwljb9hCwAKV7cePVcMYvKyCRgSubmit questions for AFSPA Live: https://forms.office.com/r/ePv8DKMtvdSee more upcoming AFSPA events: www.afspa.org/events 

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to rewrite the rules of American governance from the top down. That's Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's 900-page Mandate for Leadership, published in April 2023, which outlines a radical overhaul of the federal government to consolidate power in the presidency and advance conservative priorities, according to the project's own documentation.At its core, the plan calls for replacing thousands of civil service workers with loyalists via Schedule F, a Trump-era executive order it seeks to revive. "The next conservative president needs a government staffed with people who support the conservative agenda," states the Heritage Foundation's Mandate. This would politicize agencies like the Department of Justice and FBI, placing them under direct White House control, as Wikipedia details in its overview of the initiative.Key proposals target dismantling agencies: abolish the Department of Education, handing education to states and prioritizing school choice to combat what it labels "woke propaganda," per the Mandate. The Department of Homeland Security would morph into a leaner immigration enforcer merging Customs and Border Protection with ICE. Environmental rules would shrink, corporate taxes drop, and a flat income tax replace the current system, while Medicare and Medicaid face caps and work requirements.Fast forward to 2026, and under President Trump's administration, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has turbocharged these ideas. Government Executive reports DOGE firing tens of thousands, eliminating diversity roles, and targeting agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—both Project 2025 hits. Health and Human Services plans 20,000 cuts, the IRS has gutted civil rights offices, and over 212,000 civil servants have exited, per the Federal Harms Tracker from ourpublicservice.org. Courts have reinstated some workers, like at Voice of America, amid lawsuits from unions and the ACLU, which warns of "radical restructuring" eroding civil liberties.Experts see peril: the ACLU notes threats to reproductive rights and racial equity, while unions decry politicized services hurting rural families and seniors. Yet proponents argue it slims a bloated bureaucracy.As the Federal Government Reform Act advances in Congress, per congress.gov, upcoming court battles and midterm elections loom as pivotal decision points. Will this reshape America for efficiency or entrench one-party rule?Thanks for tuning in, listeners—come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative architects at the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, launched in April 2023 as the 900-page Mandate for Leadership, a detailed playbook to consolidate executive power and install loyalists across federal agencies, according to the project's own documentation.Fast forward to 2026: under President Trump's second term, echoes of this vision pulse through Washington. The Heritage Foundation's plan called for reinstating Schedule F to strip civil service protections from up to a million policy-influencing federal workers, paving the way for partisan replacements. Trump's Executive Order on Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions reinstated it immediately, as Politico reports, aligning with Project 2025's push for “motivated and aligned leadership.”Concrete changes abound. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has slashed tens of thousands of jobs, targeting “woke” initiatives. Health and Human Services plans to cut 20,000 positions—25 percent of its workforce—via buyouts and attrition, per Government Executive. USAID faced near-elimination, its staff fired then partially reinstated by courts, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which returned $21 billion to scam victims, teeters after similar assaults. The Agriculture Department is dismantling its D.C. headquarters, and IRS civil rights offices have been gutted by 75 percent.Policy ambitions run deep. Mandate for Leadership urges dismantling the Department of Education, placing the DOJ and FBI under direct White House control—“a bloated bureaucracy infatuated with a radical liberal agenda,” it declares—and merging economic bureaus into a conservative-aligned entity. Immigration reforms propose abolishing Homeland Security for a streamlined enforcement agency. Cuts target Medicaid via funding caps and work requirements, and Medicare faces reductions.Experts warn of peril. The ACLU describes it as a “radical restructuring” threatening rights, while unions like AFGE sue over union curbs, echoing Project 2025's disdain for public-sector bargaining. Proponents tout efficiency; critics see democratic erosion.As DOGE deadlines loom—agency RIF plans due April 14, USAID closure eyed by July—these moves test executive reach amid lawsuits. Will courts halt the frenzy, or will loyalty reshape governance for years?Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

FBI says it 'thwarted a potential' New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina and the suspect was 'directly inspired to act by ISIS'; President Donald Trump & top officials in Iran threaten each other as deadly street protests continue in Iranian cities; As Somalia's Ambassador to the United Nations takes over the rotating UN Security Council presidency, a reporter asked him about President Trump's criticisms of Somalia-Americans linked to alleged public program fraud in Minnesota; New York City's new Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) creates an Office of Mass Engagement and is asked about Israel saying Mamdani is antisemitic for revoking his predecessors' Executive Orders that barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel and adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism; Head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Gene Dodaro, has retired after a long career at the agency and in government. We will talk with Government Executive reporter Sean Michael Newhouse about Dodaro's accomplishments and efforts to be bipartisan and how Congress will choose his replacement (36); Full video of former Special Counsel Jack Smith's deposition before the House Judiciary Committee was made public on New Year's Eve. We will talk with Politico reporter Hailey Fuchs about what we learn about the Donald Trump election interference and classified documents cases that were ultimately dropped. (44) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine a blueprint for remaking America's government from the ground up, drawn by conservative architects at the Heritage Foundation. That's Project 2025, a 900-page manifesto called *Mandate for Leadership*, released in April 2023, aiming to consolidate power in the presidency and purge what its authors see as a bloated administrative state, according to the Heritage Foundation's own documentation.Fast forward to today: with Donald Trump back in the White House since January 20, 2025, elements of this vision are unfolding at breakneck speed. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk—known as DOGE—has fired tens of thousands of federal workers, targeting diversity offices and entire agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as reported by Government Executive. Courts have reinstated some employees, but the push rolls on, echoing Project 2025's call to reinstate Schedule F, stripping civil service protections to install loyalists, per the National Federation of Federal Employees.Key proposals cut deep. The plan urges dismantling the Department of Education, shifting programs like those for disabled students to Health and Human Services, and empowering states with school choice to combat “woke propaganda,” the document states. It seeks to abolish the Department of Homeland Security, merging immigration functions into a new agency, while slashing Medicaid through funding caps and work requirements. The DOJ and FBI would answer directly to the president under unitary executive theory, curbing their independence to fight what the blueprint calls a “radical liberal agenda.”Experts warn of risks. The ACLU describes it as a “radical restructuring” threatening rights, while unions like AFGE decry potential loss of up to a million jobs and weakened services for veterans and rural communities. Yet proponents, per Heritage, promise efficiency: merging economic bureaus and boosting nuclear innovation.This ambition connects the dots from tax cuts—a flat income tax and corporate reductions—to militarized borders, illustrating a total overhaul. As DOGE deadlines loom, like agency RIF plans due April 14, battles in courts and Congress will decide its fate.Looking ahead, upcoming Supreme Court rulings and midterms could cement or derail these changes. Thanks for tuning in, listeners—come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Imagine a blueprint so ambitious it aims to remake the entire U.S. government in 180 days, placing the executive branch firmly under presidential control. That's Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's 900-page Mandate for Leadership, published in April 2023, which outlines radical reforms for a conservative administration.At its core, the plan pushes the unitary executive theory, seeking to dismantle agency independence. According to the Heritage Foundation's document, it calls for replacing federal civil service workers with loyalists via Schedule F, a policy to strip protections from up to a million employees. The Department of Justice and FBI would answer directly to the White House, with the FBI director personally accountable to the president. Wikipedia details how it brands the DOJ a "bloated bureaucracy" pushing a "radical liberal agenda," proposing reforms to combat "anti-white racism" under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.Concrete examples abound. Project 2025 urges abolishing the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security—replacing it with a streamlined immigration agency—and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The National Labor Relations Board would shrink, making union organizing harder by eliminating card-check elections, as noted in the National Federation of Federal Employees' analysis. On health, it proposes Medicaid cuts like per-capita caps, stricter work requirements, and voucher options, while defunding NIH stem cell research. Tax reforms include corporate cuts and a flat individual income tax.Latest developments, as reported by Government Executive in April 2025, show execution accelerating under President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. Entire agencies like USAID face elimination, with tens of thousands fired—though courts have reinstated some, like Consumer Financial Protection Bureau staff. Health and Human Services plans 20,000 cuts, 25% of its workforce. Jenny Mattingley of the Partnership for Public Service warns this politicizes a traditionally nonpartisan civil service, undercutting services for rural areas and seniors.Experts like the ACLU highlight risks to reproductive, LGBTQ, and immigrant rights, while proponents argue it streamlines efficiency. The plan's scope—from fossil fuel favoritism to military aid in immigration enforcement—signals a governance overhaul.Looking ahead, key decision points loom: congressional battles over agency eliminations and Supreme Court challenges to workforce purges. As implementation unfolds, its full impact on American democracy remains a pivotal watchpoint.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

The government shutdown is now in week number four, which gives us a checkpoint to gauge the impacts so far and those to come for federal agency operations.Part one of this two-part episode sees Carten Cordell and Edward Graham, respectively managing editors at WT's partner publications Government Executive and NextgovFCW, join Nick and Ross to go over the shutdown from every angle.Carten and Ed detail what operations are still ongoing inside government, who is still working, the impacts of the shutdown and key checkpoints to watch out for ahead of the eventual reopening.Then in part two, Nick and Ross unpack the CEO transition at Science Applications International Corp. and put it into context against a market landscape that looks very different here in October versus what it was in January.Shutdown furloughs will permanently cost the economy at least $7 billion, CBO saysFederal employee groups want to reopen government. They disagree on howShutdown layoffs indefinitely blocked following new court injunctionRepublicans float paying some feds as Dems maintain shutdown approachHouse Dems demand furloughs end for nuclear security agencyTop cyber lawmaker wants answers on CISA workforce reductionsMultiple CISA divisions targeted in shutdown layoffs, people familiar sayInside Mission Daybreak: VA's effort to support innovative suicide preventionCyberCorps talent pipeline buckles under Trump hiring freezesSAIC parts ways with CEO Toni Townes-WhitleyLeonardo DRS CEO William Lynn to retire after 14-year run at the companyBooz Allen cuts more jobs, lowers outlook amid funding slowdownsFederal agencies may benefit from slower cloud adoption, Cloudera CEO saysDefense services companies face ‘structural issues' as tech disruptors surgeGSA lines up 118 more OASIS+ awardsTrump's ‘pincer maneuver' reshapes federal contracting landscape

The battle lines are drawn for Monday’s high-stakes Oval Office meeting between Trump and bipartisan congressional leaders, one day before the deadline to avert a government shutdown. Adding to the uncertainty are the Trump administration’s plans to use a shutdown to fire more federal workers. John Yang speaks with Eric Katz, who covers federal agencies for Government Executive, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The battle lines are drawn for Monday’s high-stakes Oval Office meeting between Trump and bipartisan congressional leaders, one day before the deadline to avert a government shutdown. Adding to the uncertainty are the Trump administration’s plans to use a shutdown to fire more federal workers. John Yang speaks with Eric Katz, who covers federal agencies for Government Executive, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Project 2025 is not just another policy blueprint; it is a sweeping, meticulously detailed playbook designed to overhaul how the federal government operates, reshape the civil service, and realign American governance along sharply conservative lines. Crafted by the Heritage Foundation with contributions from over 100 coalition partners and released in April 2023, the 927-page document, titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” outlines concrete steps a newly elected Republican president could take starting from day one in office.Proponents of Project 2025 describe it as a plan to “destroy the Administrative State,” targeting what they argue is an unaccountable bureaucracy captured by liberal interests. Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation put it bluntly: “All federal employees should answer to the president.” The vision centralizes control of the entire executive branch, grounding itself in an expansive interpretation of the unitary executive theory. According to the project's documentation, independence for agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, and others would be eliminated. Leadership at these institutions would be swept clean and staffed by presidential loyalists, many of whom could be installed in “acting” roles that bypass Senate confirmation.A key mechanism enabling this transformation is Schedule F, a controversial classification devised to move large numbers of nonpartisan civil servants into at-will positions. Without traditional civil service protections, these employees could be easily removed and replaced with political appointees. Heritage Foundation writers stress that this is essential to secure rapid, loyal implementation of the president's agenda. Critics, however, warn that the move exposes federal government positions to unchecked political influence and undermines the longstanding principle of impartial public service.Listeners may recognize some of these ambitions from earlier efforts under President Trump. This time, Project 2025 comes armed with a detailed 180-day playbook and ready-to-sign executive orders designed to implement change with unprecedented speed. As reported by Government Executive, the plan's first phase has already resulted in the abrupt dissolution of agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Board and USAID, accompanied by mass firings spanning across more than two dozen agencies. Challengers, including federal employee unions like the NTEU, have launched lawsuits, arguing these actions violate long-standing legal protections for government workers.Project 2025 reaches well beyond administrative restructuring. In criminal justice, for example, the document spells out proposals directing the Department of Justice to directly intervene in cases where local prosecutors are viewed as too lenient—potentially removing them from office. The Brennan Center points out that such measures could limit prosecutorial discretion and pressure local officials to abandon reform agendas, particularly in drug or low-level offenses.In the education sphere, the blueprint calls for significant expansion of voucher programs, the empowerment of charter schools, and even the closure of public schools deemed noncompliant with conservative values. Curriculum “censorship” is highlighted as a tool to ensure ideological conformity, and efforts to diminish the role of public education are explicitly connected to broader goals of limiting federal influence at the state and local levels.Reproductive rights are a prominent battleground as well. The project supports creating a national registry to track abortions and calls for nationwide restrictions that leverage statutes like the Comstock Act and reverse FDA approvals of abortion medication.Expert commentary ranges widely on the likely impacts of these reforms. Advocates assert Project 2025 will bring accountability and restore order, claiming decades of bureaucratic drift must be corrected by strong executive leadership. Detractors warn of an “authoritarian presidency,” as noted by the Brennan Center and the ACLU, pointing to risks for democratic norms, the separation of powers, and civil liberties.As the nation watches, key milestones approach. Should a Republican administration prevail in the next election, listeners can expect swift, far-reaching executive actions, many of which are already being tested on a smaller scale in various states. The months ahead promise critical court battles, legislative showdowns, and profound debates about the future of American government.Thank you for tuning in to today's narrative exploration of Project 2025. Join us again next week for more in-depth analysis and vital updates on the changing landscape of American policy and governance.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 is not just a policy blueprint—it's a movement aiming to remake American governance from the ground up. Growing out of the Heritage Foundation's nearly 1,000-page Mandate for Leadership, Project 2025 lays out detailed steps to reshape the federal government in ways that, in its authors' words, will “destroy the Administrative State.” Supporters see it as a plan to bring an unaccountable bureaucracy under control, while critics warn it risks undermining the checks and balances at the heart of American democracy.At the heart of Project 2025 is an ambitious assertion of presidential control over the federal government. The proposal rests on the controversial unitary executive theory—a vision that would give the president direct authority over agencies traditionally considered independent. According to Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, “All federal employees should answer to the president.” That's not an abstract idea; the plan explicitly calls for replacing civil service protections with the so-called Schedule F scheme, permitting mass firings and replacing thousands of current staffers with political loyalists who can be hired—and fired—at will. The stated aim is to ensure government personnel are “aligned with the president's vision,” a move that legal experts like those at the ACLU say could erode the rule of law and the traditional separation of church and state.One of the most consequential aspects of Project 2025 is its Day One playbook—hundreds of executive orders prepared for immediate signature by a new Republican president. These directives aren't vague. The plan recommends, for example, eliminating entire agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It also outlines how to dismiss all Department of State leadership before the next inauguration, replacing them with interim officials who are “ideologically vetted,” bypassing Senate confirmation. Kiron Skinner, who contributed to the State Department chapter, told journalist Peter Bergen this summer, “Most State Department employees are too left-wing and must be replaced by those loyal to the president,” though she could not name concrete examples of alleged obstruction.The intended changes go far beyond personnel shuffles. Project 2025 includes proposals for increasing executive control over policy on education, health, and the environment—often with the goal of terminating or rolling back regulations deemed “woke” or outside a conservative agenda. For example, its environmental proposals would gut major climate initiatives and environmental protections, while social policy sections support rolling back abortion rights and LGBTQ protections. Heritage Foundation materials state that these moves are needed to “put the people back in charge,” but organizations like the Center for Progressive Reform warn that such changes could devastate protections for workers, the public's health, and marginalized communities.Concrete steps are already underway. Since January, under the new Department of Government Efficiency, agencies have announced mass layoffs and office closures, with an eye toward shrinking government to its “essential functions.” According to data cited by Government Executive, more than 280,000 federal workers and contractors are facing layoffs or job uncertainty across 27 federal agencies. Office buildings are being consolidated, and a strict return-to-office mandate is being enforced to reduce federal infrastructure, often in a haphazard fashion.Project 2025's vision is not universally accepted even within conservative circles, but its scale and urgency have jolted both supporters and opponents. Critics, from policy experts to civil liberties advocates, argue that replacing career professionals with political operatives risks turning agencies into arms of the executive, threatening not just efficiency but the stability of American institutions. Yet, for its authors, this is precisely the point—a bold, sweeping course correction.Looking forward, the coming months will see critical decision points as Congress, the courts, and public opinion respond to the push to enact Project 2025. Both sides are mobilizing, as legal battles and heated public debates loom. As American governance stands on the cusp of profound change, Project 2025 offers both a rallying cry and a warning—one that demands attention from every corner of the nation.Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 has emerged as one of the most ambitious and controversial blueprints for American governance in recent memory. Initiated by the Heritage Foundation and backed by a coalition of over 100 conservative organizations, the project's stated mission is to radically restructure the federal government and centralize executive power, promising what supporters call a return to accountability and efficiency. Critics, meanwhile, warn of its sweeping threats to democratic norms, federal checks and balances, and the livelihoods of millions.Unveiled in the form of a 900-page manifesto titled “Mandate for Leadership,” Project 2025 provides granular directions, agency by agency, for an incoming administration determined to overhaul how Washington operates. According to the Heritage Foundation, the “heart of the project” is dismantling what they label as an unaccountable bureaucracy that has “drifted too far from the people's will.” Kevin Roberts, Heritage's president, bluntly declared, “All federal employees should answer to the president.” This vision is animated by an expansive concept known as the unitary executive theory, essentially arguing that the president should have direct control over all executive branch agencies, shedding their current independence.For listeners wondering about concrete changes, consider the plan for the Department of State. Project 2025 advocates for the wholesale removal of agency leadership officials before Inauguration Day, replacing them with individuals hand-picked for strict ideological alignment. Kiron Skinner, who penned the State Department chapter, envisioned a department led exclusively by loyalists, aiming to “remove those not aligned with the president's priorities.” This move is designed not just to hasten the implementation of foreign policy goals, but to prevent bureaucratic resistance—a key grievance among the plan's authors.Just as striking is Project 2025's approach to the federal workforce. Its architects call for the resurrection and expansion of “Schedule F,” a controversial employment status for federal employees. Schedule F would classify hundreds of thousands—if not more—career civil servants as political appointees, stripping them of longstanding job protections. The stated goal is a government “purged of entrenched opposition” so that “key decisions reflect the president's will on day one.” Critics like the National Federation of Federal Employees describe this as a “scheme to purge career professionals,” warning it would turn public administration into a partisan machine vulnerable to corruption.The plan doesn't stop at restructuring government jobs. Project 2025 lays out a 180-day playbook, which includes ready-to-sign executive orders to immediately strip environmental regulations, curb civil rights protections, and overhaul social welfare programs. According to the Center for Progressive Reform, executive actions under this strategy have already targeted the rollback of climate rules, weakened worker safety standards, and eliminated agencies altogether. The swift elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Board and US Agency for International Development, as documented by Government Executive, was meant to signal a new era of “government efficiency” but resulted in “widespread layoffs and institutional chaos.”Project 2025's policy ambitions also extend to social issues. In its blueprint, it calls for curtailing access to abortion, undoing LGBTQ protections, and limiting federal action on racial equity. The ACLU describes these proposals as “an unprecedented rollback of civil rights and liberties,” comparing their scope to a rewriting of American society's basic fabric.Proponents lay claim to a mandate from voters frustrated by government gridlock and what they see as bureaucratic overreach. Opponents counter that this is not reform but a consolidation of power. Legal experts from across the spectrum worry that such an agenda could collapse the traditional American barrier between politics and administration, risking both the appearance and the reality of authoritarian rule.Several milestones now lie ahead. With ongoing lawsuits from labor unions and scrutiny by watchdog groups, the coming months promise court battles and congressional hearings over Project 2025's legality and impact. Congressional Republicans and administration officials are preparing for rapid implementation, while a coalition of civil rights organizations and some lawmakers are vowing organized resistance.The stakes for American governance have rarely been higher. Whether Project 2025 becomes a historical footnote or a defining blueprint for the future will depend on political will, legal battles, and the choices made in the next critical year.Thanks for tuning in to this week's deep dive. Come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 is reshaping the conversation about the role and reach of the federal government in ways that feel both sweeping and personal. Born from the Heritage Foundation's “Mandate for Leadership,” this 900-plus-page policy blueprint divides nearly every federal agency and department into zones of targeted reform, all aimed at what its architects call “destroying the administrative state.” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts summed up the mood behind it simply, declaring that “every federal employee should answer to the president.” That principle, experts say, guides the project's plans to consolidate power at the top and move swiftly on a series of executive moves from day one.The scale of intended change is hard to overstate. Project 2025 outlines an operational playbook for the first 180 days of a new Republican administration. Its centerpiece is Schedule F—a government job classification that would allow the new president to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as at-will political appointees. That means federal workers, who traditionally hold their positions regardless of party, could be replaced without cause by loyalists. Kiron Skinner, who authored the State Department chapter, suggested clearing out senior career officials before January 20 and quickly installing appointees who share the president's views, bypassing regular Senate confirmation requirements. Skinner argues such moves are necessary to ensure ideological alignment, though when pressed by CNN's Peter Bergen, she couldn't cite a specific past obstruction by career diplomats.Concrete actions have followed rhetoric. When President Trump took office on January 20, he and Elon Musk's newly minted Department of Government Efficiency hit the ground running. According to Government Executive and other outlets, entire agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID were targeted for elimination through “legally questionable means,” with the stated goal of cutting $1 trillion in spending. Executive orders soon followed, including one mandating that federal agencies may only hire one worker for every four who leave, and requiring return-to-office mandates for a federal workforce that had grown accustomed to remote work during the pandemic.Faced with the threat of losing job protections, over a quarter-million federal workers and contractors were facing layoffs by spring 2025, with forty-seven years of collective bargaining law challenged as unions raced to court. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald put it bluntly, calling it “an attack on the law, and on public service.” Opposition isn't limited to labor groups. The ACLU has charged that Project 2025 is a “roadmap to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals,” warning that the proposals could undermine legal norms, civil rights, and protections for marginalized groups. Legal scholars from both political parties have raised flags about weakening the separation of powers, endangering environmental and public health safeguards, and risking consolidated, unchecked executive authority.Proponents are equally resolute. They argue that Project 2025 is a necessary corrective to what they view as a bloated, left-leaning bureaucracy unaccountable to the people. Heritage Foundation materials frame the federal government as too large, too costly, and resistant to the priorities of conservative Americans. They cite the sheer scale—over 2.4 million civilian federal employees—and the proliferation of agencies as drivers for dramatic consolidation and workforce reductions.Specific policy proposals go beyond personnel. The project seeks to reset environmental rules, roll back climate policies, and overhaul protections related to health, education, and civil rights. Critics, including groups like the Center for Progressive Reform, warn that these policies will lead to significant negative effects for ordinary Americans—from loss of workplace and environmental protections to sharp changes in immigration enforcement and reproductive rights.As the summer of 2025 progresses, listeners should watch several key milestones. Court cases brought by federal employee unions and advocacy groups could set vital precedents for the separation of powers. Agency heads are evaluating which departments could be merged or eliminated entirely in accordance with new directives. Congress, too, will play an uncertain but pivotal role as many Project 2025 reforms require new legislation or appropriations. Meanwhile, a country already polarized by election-year tensions is bracing for the long-term consequences of this radical experiment in federal power.Thank you for tuning in to this week's deep dive into Project 2025's ambitions and realities. Be sure to come back next week for more crucial stories shaping the nation.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 stands at the center of the most audacious effort to refashion the American federal government in a generation. Announced by the Heritage Foundation in April 2023, it's described by its architects as a “Mandate for Leadership,” a nearly 1,000-page policy blueprint orchestrated for the next conservative administration. Its goal is to radically re-engineer almost every corner of the federal bureaucracy, starting on day one after inauguration.The true scope of Project 2025 emerges in its detailed chapters—each targeting a federal agency, each brimming with concrete proposals and strict timelines. According to Heritage president Kevin Roberts, “We must tear apart the administrative state,” and his words echo through the policy pages. The plan's core principle is to place the executive branch firmly under direct presidential control. This means eliminating the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Federal Communications Commission. Kiron Skinner, the main author of the State Department section, put it bluntly: “Most State Department employees are too left-wing. They should be replaced by loyal conservatives appointed to acting roles with no Senate confirmation required.”Listeners should note the mechanism behind this overhaul: Schedule F. This little-known hiring classification, revived for this project, lets the president move career civil servants into politically appointed roles stripped of traditional protections. As the National Federation of Federal Employees explains, “Schedule F wipes out the guardrails against political overreach or abuse of power.” The vision is clear—on January 20, 2025, the new president would sign a prepared stack of executive orders, dismiss hundreds of agency leaders, and flood offices with handpicked loyalists.Elon Musk's stewardship of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has served as the shock troops for these changes, reports Government Executive. Entire agencies, like the Consumer Financial Protection Board and USAID, have already been eliminated. In tandem, tens of thousands of federal workers have been laid off, with over 280,000 jobs cut or slated for elimination across 27 agencies. This restructuring, according to statements from the American Federation of Government Employees, represents “an attack on the very foundation of public service.” Return-to-office mandates and the downsizing of federal office buildings, often with little coordination, have further upended daily life for civil servants.President Trump's executive order from February 2025 codified much of the Project's ethos. The Department of Government Efficiency must reduce federal hiring to only essential positions, and for every four employees departing, only one replacement is allowed—excluding national security, law enforcement, and immigration. Agencies must draw up plans for large-scale reductions in force. Trump asserts this will shrink the government “for a new era of prosperity and innovation.”But the ambition doesn't stop at workforce reshuffling. Project 2025 targets environmental regulations, civil rights enforcement, and social policies. The Center for Progressive Reform warns that rollbacks across 20 agencies will have “devastating consequences for workers, the environment, public health, and the rights of millions.” Civil rights organizations like the Leadership Conference highlight proposals to gut the enforcement of key laws, eliminate disparate impact as a metric for discrimination, shut down diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, and retool the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to prioritize “religious exemptions” and shield employers from DEIA mandates. The stated goal is to erase what the blueprint calls “managerialist left-wing race and gender ideology.”Supporters say these proposals will reclaim democratic accountability from an unelected bureaucracy and restore presidential power. “All federal employees should answer to the president,” says Kevin Roberts. Critics, however, see the project as authoritarian, calling it an unprecedented centralization of power and a threat to civil liberties, institutional independence, and separation of powers.As the country approaches key decision points in the months ahead, Project 2025 stands ready for rapid, high-impact implementation. It's not just a wishlist—it's a playbook, already in motion, with real consequences unfurling agency by agency and law by law. With court challenges underway and public debate intensifying, listeners can expect major milestones and consequences in the coming weeks.Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to join us next week for more insights and updates on America's changing governance.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 has emerged as one of the most ambitious and polarizing policy blueprints in recent American history. Developed under the guidance of the Heritage Foundation, with participation from more than 100 conservative organizations, Project 2025 represents a detailed roadmap for the executive branch—the so-called “Mandate for Leadership”—aimed at fundamentally reshaping the federal government should a conservative administration return to the White House.At its heart, Project 2025 proposes to dramatically increase presidential control over the federal bureaucracy. According to The Heritage Foundation's Kevin Roberts, “every federal employee should answer to the president,” and the blueprint recommends eliminating the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Federal Communications Commission. Supporters argue this would remedy what they see as an unaccountable, left-leaning bureaucracy, but critics warn that the plan would threaten the separation of powers and basic civil liberties by putting nearly all executive branch decision-making directly under the president.Specifics from the plan highlight its scope. The project calls for the replacement of all State Department leadership before Inauguration Day with appointees handpicked for ideological alignment, bypassing Senate confirmation requirements wherever possible. Kiron Skinner, who authored the State Department chapter, said that career officials had become “too left-wing” and should be replaced with loyal conservatives, despite admitting she could not name a time when these officials had obstructed Trump policies.The workforce reductions proposed are equally sweeping. Project 2025 recommends dismissing up to a million federal workers, either by abolishing entire agencies or through mass layoffs. According to reporting from Government Executive, the Trump administration, implementing elements of the playbook through the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, has already cut hundreds of thousands of jobs and eliminated agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID, moves claimed to save $1 trillion but mired in legal disputes with federal workers' unions. These layoffs coincide with aggressive return-to-office mandates and office consolidations, disrupting telework programs relied upon since the pandemic.Policy changes extend well beyond personnel. On public health, Project 2025 would fundamentally curtail the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's authority. The plan advises preventing the CDC from issuing prescriptive guidance on vaccines and masks, transferring these decisions to parents and providers, and splitting the CDC into two agencies to limit its agenda-setting power. The Food and Drug Administration's drug approval process would be reformed, and federal public health funding would be channeled directly to states, bypassing agencies like NIH.On social policy, the proposals are stark. Project 2025 outlines a strict anti-abortion agenda—cutting federal funds to states that don't require detailed abortion reporting, limiting access to medications like mifepristone, and instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to combat so-called “abortion tourism.” The blueprint also calls for a ban on transgender individuals in military service and would have the CDC stop collecting data on gender identity. Civil rights and liberty organizations like the ACLU argue these measures would “replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals,” further noting that Project 2025's reach would touch nearly every aspect of American life.While the Heritage Foundation frames its mission as restoring efficiency and democratic accountability, critics like the Center for Progressive Reform describe Project 2025 as the “authoritarian blueprint” of an administration racing to roll back worker and environmental protections, undo public health safeguards, and undermine democratic checks and balances nationwide.The next weeks and months will be crucial as lawmakers, federal employees, and advocacy groups react to the ongoing implementation of these policies and court challenges move forward. As Project 2025 continues to unfold—whether through executive action, litigation, or legislative attempts—Americans face a period of tremendous uncertainty about the future shape of their government.Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Panelists: Derek M. Tournear, Ph.D., Director, Space Development Agency; Bill Vass, CTO, Booz Allen; And Frank Konkel, Editor-in-Chief, Government Executive. View more of this year's Tech Summit discussions on YouTube here. 

Mika J. Cross, Public Sector Workforce Transformation Strategist and former Government Executive joins the show to explore the evolving dynamics of the modern government workforce and together we unpack the critical issues surrounding return-to-office mandates, skills-based hiring, generational shifts in workplace expectations. We also dive into what it truly means to build a resilient, future-ready government workforce PLUS the role of data literacy, the challenges of leadership development in the public sector, and how both public and private organizations must adapt to keep pace with the rapid evolution of work.

This is part two, of many, in a continuing effort to understand the terminology of politics and how it affects all of us. In other words we cut through the BS for you and you use your new knowledge to start to change a broken system.On part one I previewed "recess appointments" (starts at 26:35 right after the break) which is another threat to go around the Constitution and do what you want from the White House.Thanks for listening to LFMO and part 2 of KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT!NOTESI used to call it "There are no stupid questions" then - before I came to me senses and renamed it KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT!Let me know any of your thoughts on the show and if there's a topic you would like me to cover on KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT!And look for new episodes of LFMO every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts and at cochranshow.com.Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.Email the show with any questions, comments, or plugs for your favorite charity.

First, a closer look at the goals of the new "Department of Government Efficiency" with Jon Hart – CEO of the federal budget watchdog group "Open the Books. Then, Eric Katz -- correspondent at the news site Government Executive -- discusses how a second Trump Administration could impact the size and scope of the federal workforce. Plus, Wall Street Journal reporter Lara Seligman gives us a preview of potential changes to defense and national security policy under a second Trump Administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Martha Dorris talked with the 2024 Service to the Citizen Award's Government Executive of the Year (Ken Corbin) and the Industry Executive of the Year (Lee Becker).  Ken Corbin is the Commissioner of Taxpayer Services and formerly the Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Lee Becker, is a Senior Vice President for Public Sector and Healthcare for Medallia. Ken has many decades of experience at the IRS where he began as a student at the age of 16.  Lee Becker was formerly on active duty in the Navy, followed by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Now, Lee serves the government through his position at Medallia.This is an inspiring episode with two leaders who shared:Their journey through their careers and leadership lessons they learned along the wayHow focusing on the experience you provide to your customers improves trust in your organization and serviceThe challenges that they have faced throughout the years and recommendations on overcoming themHow to navigate changes in AdministrationsHow the public will interact with the government in 5 years from looking into their crystal ball.We will be celebrating their accomplishments at the 2024 Service to the Citizen Awards on September 13, 2024, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC. 

Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO President-Elect and State Health Officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, tells us about an education campaign about tick-borne diseases; Sean Newhouse, Staff Reporter for Government Executive, explains a study that says government employees are burned out; and a new resource from ASTHO emphasizes the role of public-private sector partnerships in advancing health equity. The Cullman Tribune OpEd: Protect yourself from tick bites – and what to do if you're bitten Route Fifty News Article: Burnout among government workers is decreasing but still high, according to new pulse survey data Eagle Hill Consulting Webpage: Understanding government employee burnout ASTHO Webpage: Best Practices to Leverage Partnerships to Support Health Equity: An Implementation Cheat Sheet  

Truth in Accounting talks about the Defense Department's finances with Mandy Smithberger from the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and former TIA director of research Bill Bergman; we also discuss the newly released Defense Department Audit Report Card 2021. Moderated by Courtney Bublé. _________________ In December 2020, the Defense Department (DoD) issued its latest annual Agency Financial Report. The financial statements in this report were a part of the third consecutive full-scope, department-wide audit. The COVID pandemic posed some special challenges and issues for the latest audit. The process took longer than in the previous year, but when all was said and done, the DoD received another disclaimer (failing) audit opinion on its financial statements. With this report, Truth in Accounting ranks DoD component entities based on their fiscal year (FY) 2020 audit performance. We issue this ranking to identify relative strengths and weaknesses in financial reporting, to track progress over time, and to identify agency leaders who serve as good examples for the department as a whole Read the full report at: https://www.truthinaccounting.org/news/detail/defense-department-audit-report-card-2021 _________________ Subscribe to Truth in Accounting here: https://bit.ly/2uygGER The official Truth in Accounting YouTube channel is your primary destination for informative and entertaining videos on government finances. For more about Truth in Accounting's work, visit: https://www.truthinaccounting.org Follow Truth in Accounting here: Facebook: https://facebook.com/truthinaccounting Twitter: https://twitter.com/truthinacct Instagram: https://instagram.com/truthinacct LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-in-accounting ------------ Mandy Smithberger is the director of the Center for Defense Information in December 2014. Previously she was a national security policy adviser to U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) There, she worked on passing key provisions of the Military Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act into law, which expands protections by increasing the level of Inspector General review for complaints, requiring timely action on findings of reprisal, and increasing the time whistleblowers have to report reprisals. Previously an investigator with POGO, she was part of a team that received the Society of Professional Journalists' Sunshine Award for contributions in the area of open government Bill Bergman serves as Truth in Accounting's Director of Research. He leads question formation, idea development and application of research initiatives. Bill delivers our daily "Morning Call" newsletter every morning to a growing and appreciative audience of influential subscribers. He leads and oversees the development of Truth in Accounting's databases. Bill also leads our federal projects. Bill has written more than 400 articles at "Bill's Blog." Bill teaches finance courses at Loyola University Chicago. He has more than 30 years of financial market experience, including thirteen years as an economist and policy analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Bill earned an M.B.A. and an M.A. in public policy from the University of Chicago in 1990. Courtney Buble is a staff correspondent who covers federal management. Before joining Government Executive, she worked for NBC News. Courtney graduated from The George Washington University in 2018.

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Government Executive columnist and founder of "Retire Federal" Tammy Flanagan joins Bob to talk about the growing number of USPS retirees who seek post-retirement employment. Tammy and Bob talk about issues that such retirees ought to consider when embarking on an "encore career."  Bob also shares news relating to the September 7 Senate confirmation hearing of PRC Commissioner Robert Taub, and regulatory updates relating to the Delivering for America plan

Adam White and Jace Lington talk with James-Christian Blockwood about his recent Government Executive article on civil service reform. They discuss current proposals to make more civil servants removable at will as well as ways to build a nonpartisan, professional federal workforce that protects the interests of the American people. Show Notes: Let’s Rethink the […]

Adam White and Jace Lington talk with James-Christian Blockwood about his recent Government Executive article on civil service reform. They discuss current proposals to make more civil servants removable at will as well as ways to build a nonpartisan, professional federal workforce that protects the interests of the American people.Show Notes: Let's Rethink the Management of our Civil Service, GovExec, April 28, 2023Partnership for Public Service, Website"You Report to Me” Gray Matters Podcast with David Bernhardt, May 10, 2023“Do Public Sector Unions Make Government Unaccountable?” Gray Matters Podcast with Philip K. Howard, January 24, 2023From Merit to Expertise and Back: The Evolution of the U.S. Civil Service System, Joseph Postell, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Restoring Accountability to the Executive Branch, Philip K. Howard, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Quick Actions to Improve Recruitment, Hiring, and Accountability in the Federal Workforce, Jeffrey Salmon, Gray Center Policy Brief, March 2021Civil Service: Pulling In or Pushing Away, Sally Katzen, Gray Center Policy Brief, August 2020Jimmy Carter and Civil Service Reform, Stuart E. Eizenstat, Gray Center Working Paper, May 22, 2019This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5816490/advertisement

Despite the negative talk of the swamp or the deep state, the last few years have shown the import of government in the lives of Americans. From the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines to disaster recovery to the other services that government and stakeholders bring forward, public servants play a huge part in our society.  At GovExec's Evening of Honors Gala on April 20, Government Executive and FCW will honor industry stakeholders, current and former government officials who have made historic achievements and advances across government. Tom Shoop is editor at large and the former executive vice president and editor in chief at GovExec Media. He joined the podcast to discuss the Government Hall of Fame and GovExec's Evening of Honors.

In this weekend episode, three segments from this week's C-SPAN's Washington Journal program. First – Hannah Wesolowski of the National Alliance on Mental Illness discusses gun violence, mental health, and the role of red flag laws. Then, with tax day approaching - Government Executive senior correspondent Eric Katz discusses how the IRS is planning to spend the additional $80 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Plus, Cook Political Report House editor David Wasserman discusses his research into the sharp decline in so-called "swing seats" in the House of Representatives.        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At this week's Round Table, Madeline, Maya, and Skyla spoke with Kevin Rogers, a Senior Associate at Government Executive, a media company which owns and operates multiple publications including City and State NY, where he is responsible for executing programs for entities interested in procuring contracts with the Federal Government. Kevin's passion for public service and state government stems back to his student days, when among other things, he served as Chief of Staff for the SUNY Student Assembly, the overarching student government organization for SUNY's 64 campuses and 1.2 million students. His interest in electoral politics was initially sparked through an internship in college that placed people in different government agencies and helped them learn about implementation of on-the-ground state policy plus provided him with a feel for how local government collaborates with  state government. Since graduating, he's worked on a number of local and state campaigns on Long Island and New York City, including as Field Director for the historic campaign of Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright during her independent run for re-election in 2020 and then as her Legislative Director where he helped pass major pieces of legislation such as the NYS Equal Rights Amendment.  Through his work, he's learned a lot about local, state, and federal law and how it affects everyday New Yorkers, and has gotten very good at synthesizing complex ideas for easy consumption. He also learned how much of this work happens through relationships– a LOT of negotiating goes on after hours, over dinner, karaoke, bocci ball…–and that strong community and relationships are forged by colleagues with a shared mission of making people's lives better and getting things done. Ultimately, Kevin counseled us that we have to be bridge builders and relationship builders and that if we are, we'll carry those relationships for life. Thank you for listening!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nextgenpolitics/message

Links from the show:* First Among Men: George Washington and the Myth of American Masculinity* Jefferson's Body: A Corporeal Biography* Do we need political parties?* Dude food is not patriotic – vegetables and moderation are more deeply rooted in the nation's early historyAbout my guest:Maurizio Valsania is professor of American history at the University of Turin, Italy. An expert on the Early American Republic, he analyzes the founders within their social, intellectual, and material context, especially through the lens of the 18th-century body. He is the author of The Limits of Optimism: Thomas Jefferson's Dualistic Enlightenment (University of Virginia Press, 2011), Nature's Man: Thomas Jefferson's Philosophical Anthropology (University of Virginia Press, 2013), Jefferson's Body: A Corporeal Biography (University of Virginia Press, 2017), and First Among Men: George Washington and the Myth of American Masculinity (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022, a book represented by literary agent Scott Mendel of the Mendel Media Group). Valsania is the recipient of several fellowships from leading academic institutions, including the American Antiquarian Society, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Library Company, the John D. Rockefeller Library, the DAAD (Germany), the International Center for Jefferson Studies, and the George Washington's Mount Vernon. He has written for the Oxford University Press's Academic Insights for the Thinking World, for the Oxford Bibliographies Online, and has collaborated with the BBC World Service. He has also written several Op-Eds and articles that have appeared in major media outlets, such as the Chicago Tribune, the Mississippi Free Press, Salon, the Wisconsin State Journal, Government Executive, Defense One, and the Conversation. He lives in Chapel Hill, NC. Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

Acquisition and procurement issues lead the agenda for this latest in WT 360's series of Info Session episodes that bring together reporters from across the GovExec media team with our own Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers.Courtney Buble of Government Executive and Chris Riotta of FCW join to share their initial reactions to President Biden's mention of "Buy American" supply chain initiatives during his State of the Union address, and new regulations and legislation regarding climate reporting and cybersecurity compliance.The panel also goes over the Defense Department's move to go its own way with respect to the use of best-in-class contracts that all federal agencies feel some pressure to lean on, plus the shared workforce problem across the entire public sector ecosystem highlighted by a key vacancy at the government's most senior level.

Episode number one for 2023 means the covers are off regarding a new name for our podcast, but with the same kinds of conversations as they have always been.What is now WT 360 remains all about the business of government contracting and all about the technologies involved in it, from the perspectives of leaders across the public sector ecosystem and others who observe the happenings.This premiere episode also introduces a new regular feature called the Info Session that brings together our reporters and others across our GovExec partner publications Defense One, FCW, Government Executive and Nextgov.WT's own Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers, Frank Konkel of Nextgov and Carten Cordell of FCW go over the storylines they are watching in 2023 and reflect on the Defense Department (finally) awarding its big-ticket commercial cloud contract back in December.For more on the mission of WT 360, click here to read Nick's article that introduces the new name and the kinds of conversations we look to steer through our podcast.(NOTE: When we recorded this episode, no one had received enough votes to be the next Speaker of the House. Who knows when anyone will get the votes, we sure don't.)

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing a comprehensive reimagining of how the federal government encourages diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility among the federal workforce. The phrase “diversity, equity, inclusion and inclusion” is often misunderstood, but the Biden order brings forward policy and establishes pathways for DEIA goals to be achieved at agencies.  As part of Government Executive's State of the Federal Workforce event recently,I spoke to Dr. Janice Underwood,  Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at the Office of Personnel Management. In this episode, you'll hear a conversation about the ways that the federal government is implementing the Biden EO on diversity, equity and inclusion.   *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Managing people is often an exercise in constant learning. Especially during a time of upheaval across government, constant development in leadership is a key component of managing people, especially in the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management is one of the places for such development via its Center for Leadership Development, which provides development and education programs for all career levels based on the Executive Core Qualifications. As part of Government Executive's State of the Federal Workforce event recently, GovExec reporter and frequent GovExec Daily guest Eric Katz spoke to Bahar Niakan, the Deputy Associate Director at the Center for Leadership Development at OPM. In this episode, they discuss the role of workforce development and modernization in the federal workforce. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

We see the evidence of the climate crisis in many ways, from flooding in Pakistan to the droughts and wildfires in the American west. Congress and the Biden administration have promised to enact and administer policy to combat it, but the need for action is great. As part of Government Executive's Climate Summit event recently, GovExec Daily host Ross Gianfortune spoke to Samantha Medlock, Senior Counsel with the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. In this episode, you'll hear their conversation about recent government action on climate change, how it will be administered and the future of climate policy. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

On today's program, a fast-growing church planting network called simply The Network, is facing criticism by a group of former staff and lay leadership.  We also have the results of an investigation done by Saddleback Church into its new pastor.  The new study finds no evidence of wrongdoing.  We begin today with news that an employee of disgraced Wall Street financier Bill Hwang is suing his former employer.  The employee says he was forced to donate to a Christian Charitable Fund. A few housekeeping items before we go. First, I wanted to mention that I would be in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, that's July 19.  If you live in Iowa and you're on our daily email list, you should have already received an invitation, but if not, please shoot me an email and we'll make sure you get one.  My email is wsmith@155.138.219.249 Secondly, MinistryWatch has been featured recently on NBC's Nightly News, in Rolling Stone Magazine, at the investigative news site Pro Publica, and in the magazine Government Executive.  All that within the past three weeks.  If you get our daily emails, you can find links to those stories there. Thirdly, next week we'll be taking some time off from the podcast.  Just one week, so don't fret, and feel free to get caught up on any episodes you haven't listened to yet.  But we'll be back on the 29th.  The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Anne Stych, Bob Smietana, Paul Glader, Paul Clolery, Emily Miller, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith. Special thanks to Religion UnPlugged and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, a fast-growing church planting network called simply The Network, is facing criticism by a group of former staff and lay leadership.  We also have the results of an investigation done by Saddleback Church into its new pastor.  The new study finds no evidence of wrongdoing.  We begin today with news that an employee of disgraced Wall Street financier Bill Hwang is suing his former employer.  The employee says he was forced to donate to a Christian Charitable Fund. A few housekeeping items before we go. First, I wanted to mention that I would be in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, that's July 19.  If you live in Iowa and you're on our daily email list, you should have already received an invitation, but if not, please shoot me an email and we'll make sure you get one.  My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com Secondly, MinistryWatch has been featured recently on NBC's Nightly News, in Rolling Stone Magazine, at the investigative news site Pro Publica, and in the magazine Government Executive.  All that within the past three weeks.  If you get our daily emails, you can find links to those stories there. Thirdly, next week we'll be taking some time off from the podcast.  Just one week, so don't fret, and feel free to get caught up on any episodes you haven't listened to yet.  But we'll be back on the 29th.  The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Anne Stych, Bob Smietana, Paul Glader, Paul Clolery, Emily Miller, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith. Special thanks to Religion UnPlugged and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

This week, U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York introduced a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies. Then, they went on TV pumping up bitcoin. We’ll explain why that’s not cool, starting with the fact that, according to her financial disclosures, Lummis is a big-time crypto investor. Consult your own financial advisers, and think twice before investing in crypto via your retirement account. Plus, tonight’s Jan. 6 committee hearings are this generation’s Watergate moment. Will you be watching? And, are UFOs real? NASA wants to find out. Here’s everything we talked about today: Sens. Lummis and Gillibrand pumping up bitcoin on Twitter “First Open Testimony Before January 6 Committee” from C-SPAN Fourth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress “Supreme Court Makes Federal Officials ‘Absolutely Immunized’ From Personal Lawsuits” from Government Executive “The Supreme Court gives lawsuit immunity to Border Patrol agents who violate the Constitution” from Vox “NASA Starts a Scientific Study to Find Out if UFOs Exist” from Bloomberg Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Operational Plan for COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Under 5 | The White House We’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you think about today’s show or anything else that’s on your mind. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org and (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.

This week, U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York introduced a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies. Then, they went on TV pumping up bitcoin. We’ll explain why that’s not cool, starting with the fact that, according to her financial disclosures, Lummis is a big-time crypto investor. Consult your own financial advisers, and think twice before investing in crypto via your retirement account. Plus, tonight’s Jan. 6 committee hearings are this generation’s Watergate moment. Will you be watching? And, are UFOs real? NASA wants to find out. Here’s everything we talked about today: Sens. Lummis and Gillibrand pumping up bitcoin on Twitter “First Open Testimony Before January 6 Committee” from C-SPAN Fourth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress “Supreme Court Makes Federal Officials ‘Absolutely Immunized’ From Personal Lawsuits” from Government Executive “The Supreme Court gives lawsuit immunity to Border Patrol agents who violate the Constitution” from Vox “NASA Starts a Scientific Study to Find Out if UFOs Exist” from Bloomberg Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Operational Plan for COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Under 5 | The White House We’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you think about today’s show or anything else that’s on your mind. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org and (508) 827-6278 or (508) U-B-SMART.

Maria and Julio are joined by Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor at Government Executive, and Vann Newkirk II, senior editor at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Floodlines. They reflect on 30 years since the police officers who brutally beat Rodney King were acquitted and the uprisings in Los Angeles that followed. They also get into the Biden administration's potential plans for student loan forgiveness, and the latest on voting rights in the lead-up to the midterms.  ITT Staff Picks: “The 1992 riots were in many ways a product of segregation. The sense of disorder they caused only accelerated white flight,” writes Héctor Tobar in The New York Times Magazine. In this thread on Twitter, journalist Michael Harriot expands on the pay, wealth and education disparities between Black and white Americans, and its connection to student loans.  For The Atlantic, Van Newkirk II interviewed Crystal Mason, a Black woman who was convicted to five years in prison for attempting to vote in 2016 and unknowingly violated a Texas voting law. Photo credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Corporate consolidation has been getting a lot of attention lately. But it isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been on the rise since the ’80s, and it’s led to just a handful of companies controlling entire industries and fewer companies out there to deliver goods and services. “One really good example would be health care — this is a pretty concentrated sector in the U.S. economy,” said Kate Bahn, director of labor market policy and chief economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “[Consolidation] is when there’s hospital mergers … maybe one big management company overarching a whole sort of sector in one location.” But it means a lot more than companies just getting bigger. Corporate consolidation has a big impact on the way our economy is shaped. On today’s show: How corporate consolidation influences wages and consumer prices — and why it calls into question the success of capitalism. In the News Fix, we’ll discuss how a spike in global food prices could trigger unrest around the world and the fate of Sarah Bloom Raskin’s nomination to the Federal Reserve board. (We taped today’s episode before she withdrew her nomination.) Also, listeners celebrate Kimberly’s official spot in the host chair and a debate over who is more introverted! Here’s everything we talked about today: “America’s Monopolies Are Holding Back the Economy” from The Atlantic Kate Bahn’s testimony on corporate power “Ukraine War Could Put Food Security on Pentagon’s Plate” from Government Executive “Manchin Won’t Support Raskin for the Federal Reserve” from The New York Times “Big container ship goes aground in Chesapeake, recalling Suez ordeal” from The Washington Post Keep independent journalism going strong. Give today to support Make Me Smart. 

Corporate consolidation has been getting a lot of attention lately. But it isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been on the rise since the ’80s, and it’s led to just a handful of companies controlling entire industries and fewer companies out there to deliver goods and services. “One really good example would be health care — this is a pretty concentrated sector in the U.S. economy,” said Kate Bahn, director of labor market policy and chief economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “[Consolidation] is when there’s hospital mergers … maybe one big management company overarching a whole sort of sector in one location.” But it means a lot more than companies just getting bigger. Corporate consolidation has a big impact on the way our economy is shaped. On today’s show: How corporate consolidation influences wages and consumer prices — and why it calls into question the success of capitalism. In the News Fix, we’ll discuss how a spike in global food prices could trigger unrest around the world and the fate of Sarah Bloom Raskin’s nomination to the Federal Reserve board. (We taped today’s episode before she withdrew her nomination.) Also, listeners celebrate Kimberly’s official spot in the host chair and a debate over who is more introverted! Here’s everything we talked about today: “America’s Monopolies Are Holding Back the Economy” from The Atlantic Kate Bahn’s testimony on corporate power “Ukraine War Could Put Food Security on Pentagon’s Plate” from Government Executive “Manchin Won’t Support Raskin for the Federal Reserve” from The New York Times “Big container ship goes aground in Chesapeake, recalling Suez ordeal” from The Washington Post Keep independent journalism going strong. Give today to support Make Me Smart.