Podcast appearances and mentions of Jennifer Pahlka

How can lawmakers and public servants design policies which benefit from continuous learning?? How will government offices that learn and adopt agile practices be able to achieve better outcomes for the public?Jennifer Pahlka is a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, founder of Code For America, and the founder of the US Digital Services under the Obama administration. She is also the author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better.Greg and Jennifer discuss why the government struggles with adopting modern digital practices such as agile and waterfall methods. She explains the disconnect between policy-making and implementation, emphasizing the need for a more integrated and feedback-driven approach. They explore other topics such as the over-reliance on contractors, burdensome procurement rules, and the essential role of user research in creating effective digital services. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:How feedback loops can make government more agile06:07: Turns out that when you implement this policy in the way that you are telling me, we get a really perverse outcome. If there is no feedback loop to send that information back up to the decision makers, you get a lot of wasted money, you get a lot of perverse outcomes, you get a lot of angry people. But, you know, when the architects can say, or the builders can say, actually no, you can go into a discussion about that, then you have not just an agile development process, but you have a more agile government process.​​The system, not the people, is broken30:37: It is not that public servants are lazy or stupid. It is that the system that they are working in is just ill-fit, it is just ill-suited to the job we need it to do.Why government keeps building concrete boats30:58: So you are referring to the story I have in the book of this guy at the Veterans Administration (VA), which, by the way, has gotten so much better. He is kind of a leader now. But I am questioning him about this project that we are working on at the USDS, sort of what was pro-USDS before. It was one of the first engagements that were sort of testing out the thesis of the USDS. And I kept asking. This guy was a senior leader in technology in the VA. Like, why is it built this way? Why did you make this decision? And over and over, he says, that is not my call. You have to ask the procurement people, or the program people, or the compliance people. He just did not have answers. And I asked him why he was so deferring on all these. And he said, if they ask us to build a concrete boat, we will build a concrete boat. And I said, why? And he said, well, because that way when it does not work, it is not our fault. And that speaks to the incentives. Your incentive is to make sure that when it does not work, it is someone else's fault.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Department of Government EfficiencyCode for AmericaAgile software developmentWaterfall modelYadira SanchezGrace HopperBrooks ActPaperwork Reduction ActOffice of Information and Regulatory AffairsCharles WorthingtonEzra KleinGuest Profile:Niskanen Center ProfileWikipedia ProfileJenniferPahlka.comLinkedIn ProfileSocial Profile on XSocial Profile on InstagramGuest Work:Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do BetterSubstackMedium

Join us for an insightful episode of "Doing Tech Better in Government," where we sit down with Dave Raley, Digital Program Manager at MCCS. Dave shares his expertise on transforming Life Services for Marines and their families, inspired by Jennifer Pahlka's 'Recoding America'. We delve into his research with Marines, navigating from traditional to digital solutions, and the challenges of merging innovative ideas with established practices. Discover how 'Recoding America' principles are driving impactful outcomes in government tech and acquisition practices. Tune in to explore the future of public service technology and innovation!

In this episode of ATARC's “Doing Tech Better in Government” podcast, host Brian Fox is joined by Frank McNally and Derek Masaki to reflect on the early chapters of Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka. They explore the book's central theme: that the challenges facing government digital modernization are less about technology and more about outdated processes, entrenched bureaucracy, and misaligned policy implementation. Through personal insights and stories, they emphasize the importance of psychological safety, policy reform, and product ownership to drive sustainable change. They advocate for smaller, agile initiatives, insourcing talent, and closing the gap between lawmakers and implementers to improve government service delivery.Get connected with the club here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13274071/

Today on An Honorable Profession, we're revisiting co-host Debbie Cox Bultan's conversation with Jennifer Pahlka. Pahlka has decades of experience in civic technology. She was U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under former President Obama and recently authored  the book, Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Debbie and Jennifer talk about the factors that often make government slow or ineffective and what the Department of Government Efficiency is getting wrong about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. Jennifer shares her advice for elected officials from prioritizing civil service reform to investing in digital and data infrastructure and the importance of measuring results. Tune in to hear how Democrats can go on offense against DOGE by championing thoughtful and lawful systemic improvements.   IN THIS EPISODE:  • [01:05] Introducing An Honorable Profession's new series: How Government Can Get Shit Done. • [02:17] Welcome to Jennifer Pahlka who served as US Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama. • [04:53] How to not lose sight of the real problems that need evolving. • [09:40] Why efficiency is a byproduct of government rather than a goal. • [11:17] Differentiating between creating regulations and making government work. • [16:24] Four things government officials can do to facilitate interaction. • [18:12] How LLMs can support efficiency. • [21:56] What it might look like to care more about the outcome than the bill. • [25:41] How to know the true status of your bureaucracy. • [28:10] Understanding why bureaucracy is risk adverse. • [30:28] Jennifer's journey to public service. • [32:20] How tech can build a better world for those who most need it.  

Jennifer Pahlka believes America's bureaucratic dysfunction is deeply rooted in outdated processes and misaligned incentives. As the founder of Code for America and co-founder of the United States Digital Service, she has witnessed firsthand how government struggles to adapt to the digital age, often trapped in rigid procedures and disconnected from the real-world impact of its policies. Disruption is clearly needed, she says—but can it be done in a way that avoids the chaos of DOGE? Tyler and Jennifer discuss all this and more, including why Congress has become increasingly passive, how she'd go about reforming government programs, whether there should be less accountability in government, how AGI will change things, whether the US should have public-sector unions, what Singapore's effectiveness reveals about the trade-offs of technocratic governance, how AI might fundamentally transform national sovereignty, what her experience in the gaming industry taught her about reimagining systems, which American states are the best-governed, the best fictional depictions of bureaucracy, how she'd improve New York City's governance, her current work at the Niskanen Center, and more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded March 4th, 2025. Help keep the show ad free by donating today! The British remake of Ikiru referenced in today's podcast is: Living Other ways to connect Follow us on X and Instagram Follow Tyler on X Follow Jennifer on X Sign up for our newsletter Join our Discord Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here.

There is no sludgier place in America than Washington, D.C. But there are signs of a change. We'll hear about this progress — and ask where Elon Musk and DOGE fit in. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Benjamin Handel, professor of economics at UC Berkeley.Neale Mahoney, professor of economics at Stanford University.Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America.Richard Thaler, professor of economics at The University of Chicago. RESOURCES:"How Big Is the Subscription Cancellation Problem?" by Giacomo Fraccaroli, Neale Mahoney, and Zahra Thabet (Briefing Book, 2024).Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, by Jennifer Pahlka (2023).Nudge: The Final Edition, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (2021)."HealthCare.gov: Case Study of CMS Management of the Federal Marketplace," by Daniel Levinson (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). EXTRAS:"Sludge, Part 1: The World Is Drowning in It," by Freakonomics Radio (2025).

The so-called Department of Government Efficiency is great branding. Who could be against a more efficient government? But “efficiency” obfuscates what's really happening here.Efficiency to what end? Elon Musk, President Trump and DOGE's boosters have offered various objectives — cutting the deficit, eliminating fraud and abuse, creating a leaner and more responsive government. But DOGE's actions in the past two months don't seem to align with any of those goals.Santi Ruiz is a senior editor at the Institute for Progress and the author and host of the “Statecraft” podcast and newsletter. He's to my right politically and had higher hopes, at first, about DOGE's efforts, but he's now grappling with the reality of what it's actually doing.This episode contains strong language.Mentioned:“50 Thoughts on DOGE” by Santí Ruiz“How to Defend Presidential Authority” by Santí Ruiz“The Anti-D.E.I. Crusader Who Wants to Dismantle the Department of Education” by Ross DouthatBook Recommendations:Stalin's War by Sean McMeekinBack from the Brink by Peter MoskosPower And Responsibility by Romano GuardiniThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Isaac Jones, with Efim Shapiro and Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Elias Isquith, Kristin Lin and Jack McCordick. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Switch and Board Podcast Studio, Ryan Bourne, Rohan Grey, Don Moynihan, Quinn Slobodian and Jennifer Pahlka. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Faith in our government and elected officials has reached record lows in recent years. In 2023, trust in government institutions plummeted to 16%, marking one of the lowest points in history, and, in 2024, 49% of Americans – a plurality of respondents – asserted that the very foundation of our government, our democracy, was not working. This episode kicks off our limited series How Government Can Get Sh*t Done. In this series, hosts Debbie Cox Bultan and Ryan Coonerty will be joined by political scientists, policy experts, authors, and elected officials as they explore how to make government more effective and responsive, delivering tangible results that improve lives. For today's conversation, Debbie speaks with Jennifer Pahlka, who has decades of experience in civic technology. She was U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under former President Obama and recently authored  the book, Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Debbie and Jennifer talk about the factors that often make government slow or ineffective and what the Department of Government Efficiency is getting wrong about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. Jennifer shares her advice for elected officials from prioritizing civil service reform to investing in digital and data infrastructure and the importance of measuring results. Tune in to hear how Democrats can go on offense against DOGE by championing thoughtful and lawful systemic improvements.   IN THIS EPISODE:  • [01:05] Introducing An Honorable Profession's new series: How Government Can Get Sh*t Done. • [02:17] Welcome to Jennifer Pahlka who served as US Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama. • [04:53] How to not lose sight of the real problems that need evolving. • [09:40] Why efficiency is a byproduct of government rather than a goal. • [11:17] Differentiating between creating regulations and making government work. • [16:24] Four things government officials can do to facilitate interaction. • [18:12] How LLMs can support efficiency. • [21:56] What it might look like to care more about the outcome than the bill. • [25:41] How to know the true status of your bureaucracy. • [28:10] Understanding why bureaucracy is risk adverse. • [30:28] Jennifer's journey to public service. • [32:20] How tech can build a better world for those who most need it.

The last two weeks have seen a number of controversies related to DOGE, the Department of Governmental Efficiency that Elon Musk heads in the new Trump administration. Jeremiah talks through what's going on, why DOGE seems to be breaking so many things, and what their real goals are. Also check out our conversation with Jennifer Pahlka:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-government-more-effective-ft-jennifer-pahlka/id1390384827?i=1000679061794 To get bonus episodes, support us at patreon.com/newliberalpodcast or https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member Got questions? Send us a note at mailbag@cnliberalism.org. Follow us at: https://twitter.com/CNLiberalism https://cnliberalism.org/   Join a local chapter at https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member/

The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has put state capacity back in the spotlight, reigniting debates over whether the federal government is fundamentally broken or just mismanaged. With Elon Musk at the helm, DOGE has already taken drastic actions, from shutting down USAID to slashing bureaucratic redundancies. Supporters argue this is the disruption Washington needs; critics warn it's a reckless power grab that could erode public accountability. But regardless of where you stand, one thing is clear: the ability of the U.S. government to execute policy is now under scrutiny like never before.That's exactly the question at the heart of this week's episode. From the Navy's struggles to build ships to the Department of Education's FAFSA disaster, our conversation lays out why the government seems incapable of delivering even on its own priorities. It's not just about money or political will—it's about outdated hiring rules, a culture of proceduralism over action, and a bureaucracy designed to say "no" instead of "go." These failures aren't accidental; they're baked into how the system currently operates. Jennifer Pahlka, former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and Senior Fellow at Niskanen Center and Andrew Greenway, co-founder of Public Digital, join.The solution? A fundamental shift in how government works—not just at the leadership level, but deep within agencies themselves. She advocates for cutting procedural bloat, giving civil servants the authority to make real decisions, and modernizing digital infrastructure to allow for rapid adaptation. Reform, she argues, isn't about breaking government down; it's about making it function like a system designed for the 21st century. Whether DOGE is a step in that direction or a warning sign of what happens when frustration meets executive power remains to be seen.

An old saying among military people is that amateurs talk about battle strategies and professionals about logistics. It gets to the heart of a bigger idea. Policy gets endlessly debated and no time more than after a change in administrations. But what about the government's capacity to do things properly? My next guest has called for a capacity agenda in 2025. The founder and CEO of Code For America, Jennifer Pahlka, joins me now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An old saying among military people is that amateurs talk about battle strategies and professionals about logistics. It gets to the heart of a bigger idea. Policy gets endlessly debated and no time more than after a change in administrations. But what about the government's capacity to do things properly? My next guest has called for a capacity agenda in 2025. The founder and CEO of Code For America, Jennifer Pahlka, joins me now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump is making big moves to shrink and reshape the federal workforce. He's offered buyouts, instituted a hiring freeze, and called for prioritizing job seekers who are "passionate about the ideals of our American Republic." While his actions have drawn criticism, some see an opportunity for the new administration to improve the federal hiring process. Today on the show, Jennifer Pahlka, Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center, tells us why, in her view, government hiring has been broken for a long time while sharing her thoughts on Trump's proposals to fix it. Related episodes:What happens when Social Security runs out of money? (Apple / Spotify)Why Trump's potential tariffs are making business owners anxious (Apple / Spotify)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Trump is remaking the federal government in his name, says Vox's Andrew Prokop. Efforts at a more efficient government may have a point, says Jennifer Pahlka, who co-founded the precursor to DOGE. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Travis Larchuk, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Amanda Lewellyn, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members An Elon Musk X post about DOGE displayed on a phone screen. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Government reform isn't an exclusively partisan issue, so why does it seem to fall under the purview of Republicans? The researcher Jennifer Pahlka says Democrats need to “get in the game” of government reform and consider working with, instead of against, the aims of DOGE.  Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You'll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The How We Need Now: A Capacity Agenda for 2025: The how we need now: a capacity agenda for 2025 - Niskanen CenterJennifer Pahlka Substack: Eating Policy | Jennifer Pahlka | SubstackREALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comJennifer Pahlka and Andrew Greenway, co-authors of the Niskanen Center's The How We Need Now: A Capacity Agenda for 2025, join The Realignment. Marshall, Jennifer, and Andrew discuss why state capacity is one of the most important ideas of 2025, the roots of America's inability to build U.S. navy ships on time, 17-year approval processes for "fast-tracked" power projects, and the lack of delivery of the Biden administration's legislative agenda in state capacity failure, and the reforms that left, right, and center should implements moving forward.

Today, we talk to Jennifer Pahlka and Andrew Greenway about their new paper on state capacity. It's called “The How We Need Now: A Capacity Agenda for 2025 and Beyond.”We discuss:What is “state capacity?”Why is there fresh interest in the topic in the UK?How did the model of a “government digital service” spread to the US?How do you fix unemployment insurance? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will be leading a new organization called DOGE, the Department of Governmental Efficiency. Can they actually make the government more effective? Jennifer Pahlka is the author of Recoding America and she joins the podcast to talk about why the government is so ineffective in so many ways, whether or not Elon and Vivek have the right ideas, and what needs to be done to build a better state capacity. To get bonus episodes, support us at patreon.com/newliberalpodcast or https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member Got questions? Send us a note at mailbag@cnliberalism.org. Follow us at: https://twitter.com/CNLiberalism https://cnliberalism.org/   Join a local chapter at https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member/

The core conflict in our politics right now is over institutions. Democrats defend them, while Republicans distrust them, and seek, in some cases, to eliminate them.This is really bad. It's bad for institutions when Republicans are elected, because of the damage they might inflict. And it's bad for institutions when Democrats are elected, because when you're so committed to protecting something, it's hard to be clear-eyed or honest about all the ways it's failing. And when Democrats won't admit to the problems that so many Americans can see and feel, that creates a huge opening for the right. So, what are Democrats missing?Steven Teles is a political scientist and director of the Center for Economy and Society at Johns Hopkins, and a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center. Jennifer Pahlka is the founder of Code for America and the author of one of my favorite books on why government doesn't deliver, “Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better.” She's also a senior fellow at Niskanen.In this conversation, we discuss how and why the country has become polarized over institutions; the ways this was supercharged during the pandemic; the reasons government agencies are so focused on process, often at the expense of outcomes; how a second Trump administration will probably distract from some much needed institutional reforms; and more.This episode contains strong language.Recommendations:“Voice and Inequality: The Transformation of American Civic Democracy” by Theda Skocpol“Infrastructure Costs” by Leah Brooks and Zachary D. LiscowWhy Nothing Works by Marc DunkelmanThe Unaccountability Machine by Dan DaviesThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Isaac Jones and Aman Sahota. Our supervising editor is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith, and Kristin Lin. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The latest episode of Mathematica's On the Evidence podcast features Jeffery Marino, the director of California's Office of Data and Innovation (ODI). For the podcast, Mathematica's President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Decker spoke with Marino about ODI's CalAcademy for training state employees in areas such as plain language and human-centered design, California Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order on generative artificial intelligence, facilitating interagency data sharing agreements, and data-driven storytelling about government's impact in people's lives. They also discussed Marino's career trajectory: he majored in English literature in college, became a data journalist, and now leads ODI, a department within California's Government Operations Agency encouraging collaboration across state agencies to improve digital services for all Californians. Find the full transcript of the interview: https://www.mathematica.org/blogs/embedding-data-and-innovation-across-california-state-government Learn more about ODI's CalAcademy: https://innovation.ca.gov/who-we-are/calacademy/ Read California Governor Newsom's executive order on generative AI: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AI-EO-No.12-_-GGN-Signed.pdf Listen to an On the Evidence interview with Jennifer Pahlka, author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, which is referenced in the discussion between Decker and Marino: https://mathematica.org/blogs/jennifer-pahlka-on-government-in-the-digital-age Explore a playlist of interviews between Mathematica's Paul Decker and fellow leaders of evidence-driven organizations: https://soundcloud.com/ontheevidence/sets/evidence-leadership?si=ea534d2c041c44e99c289a8d4dffa664&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The 2024 election is over.  Navigating the results has just begun.  Our advice?  Ski the gaps.   To learn more about some of the ideas mentioned in this episode, check out Jennifer Pahlka on Substack, and Ezra Klein in the New York Times.

Why are the Chinese words for the USA directly translated as “beautiful country?” Find out in this intriguing episode as founder and executive director of Code For America Jennifer Pahlka shares her vision for a government in the USA that works for everyone and harnesses the amazing new technologies in our world. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

Today's Chinese word is “chicken.” ShaoLan quizzes Jennifer Pahlka about what it takes to rear her own free-range chickens and also teaches the bonus word for eggs, an extremely useful word to know if you're in China as so many dishes are cooked with eggs! ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

In this episode, Author of Recoding America, Jennifer Pahlka, talks with the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about government's current challenges regarding technology implementation and utilization. This is the first episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine. Thank you so much to our generous sponsor for this episode, the Wall Street Journal. Activate your free school-sponsored subscription today at: WSJ.com/UCRiverside About Jennifer Pahlka: Jennifer Pahlka is a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center and the Federation of American Scientists and a senior advisor to the Abundance Network. She founded Code for America in 2010 and led the organization for ten years. In 2013, she took a leave of absence to serve as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and helped found the U.S. Digital Service. She served on the Defense Innovation Board, started by the late Ash Carter, under Presidents Obama and Trump. At the start of the pandemic, she also co-founded U.S. Digital Response, which helps government meet the needs of the public with volunteer tech support. She has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years. She serves on the boards of US Digital Response, America's Frontier Fund, and the Volcker Alliance. Learn more about Jennifer Pahlka via https://www.jenniferpahlka.com/ Interviewers: Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow) Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean's Chief Ambassador) LINK YOUTUBE-ANCHORMusic by: Vir SinhaCommercial Links:https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp  This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu/  Subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast. 

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by economist and fraud researcher Professor Jetson Luis-Leder to examine the systemic issues underlying government program fraud. Jetson and Patrick discuss healthcare fraud cases, including hospice eligibility manipulation and ambulance transport schemes, and other fraud practices against unemployment and the PPP program. The discussion reveals how institutional constraints, technological limitations, and policy design choices create opportunities for both beneficial and harmful rule violations. They also analyze the ROI of fraud prevention measures, the effectiveness of whistleblower incentives, and how bureaucratic systems can be redesigned to prevent abuse.–Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/defrauding-government-jetson-leder-luis–Sponsors: Check | WorkOSCheck is the leading payroll infrastructure provider and pioneer of embedded payroll. Check makes it easy for any SaaS platform to build a payroll business, and already powers 60+ popular platforms. Head to checkhq.com/complex and tell them patio11 sent you.Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-Turpentine-Network–Links:Jetson's website: https://sites.bu.edu/jetson/ Paper: Ambulance Taxis by Jetson Leder-Luis Ambulance Taxis: The Impact of Regulation and Litigation on Health Care Fraud Paper: Did FinTech Lenders Facilitate PPP Fraud by John M Griffin, Samuel Kruger, Prateek Mahajan https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3906395Paper: Is Fraud Contagious by John M Griffin https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4599654Paper: Unemployment Insurance Fraud in the Debit Card Market by Jetson Leder-Luis with Umang Khetan, Yunrong Zhou and Jialan Wang  https://www.nber.org/papers/w32527 Book: Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka https://www.amazon.com/Recoding-America-Government-Failing-Digital-ebook/dp/B0B8644ZGYPodcast: Jennifer Pahlka on Ezra Kleinhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2VPErCIG1pbcnYFBojrKcG Podcast: Dave Guarino on Odd Lots https://open.spotify.com/episode/43HI3NuxZGsl13U365xZxa Bits About Money https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/Related Complex Systems episodes: Dan Davies and Dave Guarino's episodes–Twitter:@patio11@jetson_econ–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:04) Overview of Medicare/Medicaid(02:41) Estimated $50-100B fraud losses(03:31) Taxonomy of healthcare fraud(08:04) Hospice fraud; potentially saved money(16:33) A $10 billion asterisk: ambulances for dialysis patients(21:30) Sponsors: Work OS | Check(24:45) Complexities of fraud detection and prevention(39:02) Pandemic fraud (41:34) Findings on PPP loans fraud(48:19) Supply chain of fraud(52:06) Policy and enforcement challenges(01:08:32) Whistleblower programs (01:14:54) Final thoughts–Complex Systems is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Turpentine also has a social network for top founders and execs: https://www.turpentinenetwork.com/

This week on the Ameritocracy show, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Author, Jennifer Pahlka, a leading voice in transforming government for the digital age. They discuss Jen's New York Times-acclaimed book, "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better." Jen also helped establish the United States Digital Service while serving as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer. She is currently the co-founder of U.S. Digital Response, a non-profit organization assisting governments, nonprofits, and public entities in responding quickly to critical public needs. She is a Senior Fellow at both the Niskanen Center and Federation of American Scientists, think tanks in Washington, D.C.   Follow Jen on Substack at Eating Policy, where she talks about the problems of state capacity (government's ability to achieve its policy goals) and how to fix them.    Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Founder and executive director of Code For America, Jennifer Pahlka joins this podcast to learn the word for “code” or “coding” in Chinese. Her amazing initiative aims to harness the incredible advances in technology in the 21st Century and enable them to make the government work for a fairer society. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

In this episode of Book Overflow, Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups discuss "Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better" by Jennifer Pahlka. This book was personally recommended by Brian Kernighan and is about what processes and cultures make government technology so woefully inadequate. Join Carter and Nathan as they discuss agile vs. waterfall, the importance of a good business culture, and possible infringements on civil liberties!

State and federal government is so focused on policymaking that it often fails to provide the services its laws intend. In her new book “Recoding America,” author Jennifer Pahlka outlines why the government doesn't work and how to fix it.

This week, Bonnie is joined by special guest Jennifer Pahlka, author of "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better”, to talk through some of the most pressing issues facing public servants today. Jennifer dives into the need to shift from project management to product management, the power of human-centered policy, and how embracing change can accelerate the integration of emerging technologies. Tune in for an important conversation on reshaping the public sector to better serve its citizens. TIMESTAMPS: (5:13) The power of bottom-up policy (6:39) Closing the gap between policy and delivery (12:41) Why public servants should prioritize mission over process (16:33) Discovering your “why” (19:16) Focusing on direct user feedback rather than requirements (23:28) Adding vs. simplifying policies (26:09) Putting a stop to maximalist approach to policy (27:14) Shifting from project to product management in government (31:17) How to seek community & communicate needs LINKS: Follow Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpahlka/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

According to a Pew Research poll, over 40% of adults in the United States are considered to be digitally illiterate, and while America's crumbling transportation infrastructure often makes headlines, its digital infrastructure is equally as out of date. Organizations from the IRS, to the healthcare system are still relying on technology from the 80s or earlier. This is what today's guest is out to remedy. Jennifer Pahlka is the former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer under the Obama Administration and helped found the US Digital Service. She was also the Executive Director of the International Games Developers Association, and founded the non-profit Code for America, which aims to improve the digital systems within government. Jennifer's most recent book “Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the DIgital Age and How We can Do Better” pulls from her experience in the tech sector and government and the importance of government bodies understanding how technology affects the people they're meant to serve. In an age where mobile apps, A.I., and metaverses are all the rage, the conversation we had with Jennifer is an important one that all leaders need to consider.  This is another episode you're not going to want to miss, so with that…let's bring it in!

The Volker Alliance, a premier good-government group, has added a prominent federal technologist to its board. She was the deputy U.S. chief technology officer and founded Code For America, a non-profit that helps government at all levels with digital challenges. For an update, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Jennifer Pahlka. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Volker Alliance, a premier good-government group, has added a prominent federal technologist to its board. She was the deputy U.S. chief technology officer and founded Code For America, a non-profit that helps government at all levels with digital challenges. For an update, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Jennifer Pahlka. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Pahlka is the founder of Code for America and the author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. She has served as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and on the Defense Innovation Board under Presidents Obama and Trump. She also co-founded United States Digital Response, which helps government meet the needs of the public with volunteer tech support. Jennifer received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years, and her 2012 TED Talk, “Coding a Better Government,” has over 1 million views. Jennifer is a graduate of Yale University. In this episode we discuss the following: After backpacking in Asia for a year, and then returning to the states, Jennifer realized that our culture and infrastructure could be different because she had seen different. People think of government as an “other” and unchangeable. But it's up to us to make government more aligned to our values.  Lots of people talk about public service as giving back. But Jennifer got more out of public service than she gave, and hopes that we would all spend time in public service. We need to hold our politicians accountable for not only planting new seeds, but also nurturing the seeds that have already been planted. David Graeber: “The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something we make and could just as easily make differently.”   Follow Jennifer: Twitter: https://twitter.com/pahlkadot LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpahlka/ Follow Me: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/

Jennifer Pahlka, founder of the Code for America and former Deputy CTO, talks with me about improving digital governmental capacity, working from her new book, Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Era and How We Can Do Better.

Earlier this month Marshall moderated a conversation Jennifer Pahlka and Michael Kratsios on their experiences moving from tech to government and back again.  Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, served as the Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the United States under President Obama, and as a member of the Defense Innovation Board under Presidents Obama and Trump. This year, she published Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Michael Kratsios, former Principal and Chief of Staff at Thiel Capital, served as Chief Technology Officer of the United States and Under Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon during the Trump administration. Today, he is Managing Director at Scale AI, where he leads corporate strategy and helps accelerate AI applications across industries. They discuss how tech can contribute to the national interest, opportunities for a tech "tour of duty" in government, and the sclerotic political environment in DC. 

In this incredibly unique episode, we embark on a journey into the rare insight and initiatives of the Eglin AFB Strategic Off-site. This episode serves as a beacon, illuminating the path to Excellence and providing a platform for like-minds dedicated to transformative leadership with a focus on our unique roles toward building a better world for all. We kick these powerful discussions off with the 96th Test Wing Commander, Brigadier General Jeffrey Geraghty (3:25) then into a talk with Jennifer Pahlka (26:54), author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Finally we wrap things up with a powerful insight by Dr Hal Brands (39:05) co-author of Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China. General Geraghty, through personal stories, unveils the human side of leadership, showcasing vulnerability's profound influence. The narrative extends beyond professional realms, highlighting the transformative impact of supportive leadership on individuals' lives. We navigate the terrain of Leadership, Personal Growth, and Air Force Culture. A compelling narrative emerges, illustrating a leader's pivotal role in aiding a subordinate to overcome addiction—a testament to the Air Force's commitment to personal growth. The Strategic Off-site Event surfaces as a catalyst for organizational success, unveiling its pivotal role in realizing team goals for 2024. The goal of the Strategic Off-Site is explained in-depth and a sense of urgency permeates the discussion as the looming threat posed by near peer adversaries demands immediate attention and strategic action. General Geraghty reflects on the essence of "informed, connected, and empowered" leadership. The discussion underscores the critical importance of connection and empowerment in effective leadership. Stressing the collaborative ethos, the spotlight shines on empowering Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and expressing gratitude to airmen. Our expedition continues with Jennifer Pahlka, emphasizing the support for public good initiatives and national security. The exploration extends into empowering Civil Servants in the Policymaking Process, where tech-driven transformations in child welfare underscore the transformative role of technology. Advocacy for Changing Oversight and Rewarding Risk-Taking guides our next steps as we navigate the landscape of empowering Public Servants. Cultural shifts are explored, emphasizing the crucial role of supporting colleagues in making riskier decisions. The episode culminates in a gaze toward China's Geopolitical Ambitions and Their Implications. The emphasis on collective action echoes the need for international collaboration. Concerns about China's dominance in supply chains are coupled with support for measures like the CHIPS and Science Act—a concrete call to action. As we shift our focus to PRC's Global Influence and US Military Preparedness, concerns about TikTok's Data Collection raise awareness. Acknowledgment of the vital work of US military personnel underlines the need for vigilance. In this comprehensive exploration, we traverse the diverse landscapes of leadership, personal narratives, strategic planning, and geopolitical challenges. The narrative woven is one of resilience, innovation, and collective responsibility—a testament to the dynamic world of empowered leadership and the types of powerful discussions that occur at a Wing's Strategic Off-Site. (HeroFront is privately owned. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense or USAF visual information does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement.)

During the height of the pandemic, the agency that handles California's unemployment benefits had an epic meltdown. Not only could its computers not handle the thousands of additional claims, officials couldn't even say for sure how big the backlog was. Jennifer Pahlka was one of the technology experts brought in to help, an experience she writes about in her new book Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing In the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. The former United States chief deputy technology officer and founder of Code for America, Pahlka reveals why systems are too often developed to meet the needs of bureaucrats instead of the public. She joins Forum as part of our “Doing Democracy” series. Guests: Jennifer Pahlka, author, "Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing In the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better." Pahlka is the founder of Code America and has served as the chief deputy technology officer for the United States Government. She lives in Oakland.

Why are the Chinese words for the USA directly translated as “beautiful country?” Find out in this intriguing episode as founder and executive director of Code For America Jennifer Pahlka shares her vision for a government in the USA that works for everyone and harnesses the amazing new technologies in our world.

Today's Chinese word is “chicken.” ShaoLan quizzes Jennifer Pahlka about what it takes to rear her own free-range chickens and also teaches the bonus word for eggs, an extremely useful word to know if you're in China as so many dishes are cooked with eggs!

Jennifer Pahlka served as the U.S. deputy chief technology officer under President Barack Obama and founded Code for America, a nonprofit that works to improve government digital services. In her new book, "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better," Pahlka takes us beyond the basics to explore why policy implementation goes wrong and what we can do to improve delivery of government services and create better outcomes for the American public. On this episode of On the Evidence, Pahlka and Mathematica's Mike Burns discuss "Recoding America," the nexus of evidence-based policy and delivery-driven policy, and how we can close the gap between policy intentions and real-world outcomes. A full transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.mathematica.org/blogs/jennifer-pahlka-on-government-in-the-digital-age Learn more about Pahlka's book, "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better": https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250266774/recodingamerica Read Pahlka's June 2023 op-ed in The Washington Post, “Better government tech starts with people. New Jersey shows how.”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/13/new-jersey-digital-unemployment-insurance/ Read Pahlka's bio: https://www.recodingamerica.us/

Founder and executive director of Code For America, Jennifer Pahlka joins this podcast to learn the word for “code” or “coding” in Chinese. Her amazing initiative aims to harness the incredible advances in technology in the 21st Century and enable them to make the government work for a fairer society.

Before we get to the show notes, we invite you to take our listener survey for a chance to win a Democracy Works coffee mug!COVID-19 brought the problems with government technology into sharp focus. The systems responsible for delivering unemployment benefits and healthcare were not prepared to mange the influx of requests they received, and the government employees who run those systems were often hobbled by a culture that focuses on regulation and oversight, not innovation and acting quickly.Beyond the day-to-day impacts of these systems not working, the long-term consequences include the erosion of trust in the institutions that comprise our democracy. So, what can we do? Jennifer Pahlka has a few ideas and she joins us this week to talk about them.Pahlka is the author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. She is the former deputy chief technology officer of the United States and the founder of Code for America, a nonprofit that believes government can work for people in the digital age.Recoding America websiteMore information on Schedule F/Project 2025

Why is the US government failing in the digital age, and how we can do better? In this episode, Andrew sits down with Jennifer Pahlka, former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer and founder of Code for America, to talk about how the government fell so behind on technology and how we can catch up. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ikPc0P2jDns Recoding America - https://amzn.to/3YTfd8Z Follow Jennifer Pahlka: https://twitter.com/pahlkadot | https://recodingamerica.us | https://codeforamerica.org Follow Andrew Yang: https://twitter.com/andrewyang | https://forwardparty.com Get 3 extra months off at ExpressVPN.com/Yang Get 25% off w/ code HELIXPARTNER25: HelixSleep.com/Yang To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The cracks are clear in Moscow in the wake of the failed Wagner mercenary army coup last month. The Russian journalist Mikahil Zygar, who was forced to flee his country when the invasion began, talks about the intrigue unfolding in Moscow, and his new book “War and Punishment” which charts the painful history between his country and Ukraine.  Also on today's show: author Rachel Eliza Griffiths; author Jennifer Pahlka; "Bad Sisters" creator Sharon Horgan To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

State and federal government is so focused on policymaking that it often fails to provide the services its laws intend. In her new book “Recoding America,” author Jennifer Pahlka outlines why the government doesn't work and how to fix it.  

Trump Heads to Court (Again), Tesla's Autopilot Danger, and Guest Jennifer Pahlka Kara and Scott talk about George Soros' succession plan, Twitter's new “odd couple,” and Trump's latest legal battle over classified documents. Then Friend of Pivot Jennifer Pahlka stops by to talk about her critically-acclaimed new book, Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot. You can follow Jennifer at @pahlkadot and Recoding America is available here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe to The Realignment to access our exclusive Q&A episodes and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/.REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comFoundation for American Innovation: https://www.thefai.org/posts/lincoln-becomes-faiJennifer Pahlka, author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better and former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, joins The Realignment. Jennifer and Marshall discuss industrial-era culture limits government's ability to handle the challenges of the 2020s, the gap between the promise of the digital age and actual results, why the answer isn't more money or more technology, and the lessons from her time addressing governmental failure at the local, state, and federal levels.

There's a lot of frustration about the government's ability to build things in the US. Subways. Bridges. High-speed rail. Electricity transmission. But there's another crucial area where the public sector often struggles, and that is software. We saw it with the infamous rollout of Obamacare. We see it in the UX of the Treasury Direct website. And we saw it in the way state unemployment insurance systems broke during the pandemic. So why is it so hard for the public sector to build and maintain software? On this episode we speak with Jennifer Pahlka, the founder and former executive director of Code for America and author of the new book Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, as well as Dave Guarino, who recently left the Department of Labor after working on upgrading the unemployment insurance system. Both have a long history of working on public sector software systems and they explain why the problem is so tricky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My pitch for this episode is simple: Jennifer Pahlka has written one of the best policy books I've ever read.Pahlka served as deputy chief technology officer in the Obama White House, and she's the founder and a former executive director of Code for America, a nonprofit that works to enhance government digital services. Over the course of her career, Pahlka has become obsessed with an area of policy that is too often ignored by policymakers: implementation. She was part of the effort to rescue HealthCare.gov in 2013 and was tapped by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020 to help fix California's unemployment insurance system as it buckled under the weight of the Covid response.It has become a common refrain that the U.S. government is often terrible at delivering even basic services. But Pahlka's new book — “Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better” — puts forward a deeper theory of why government services are so awful, how policy implementation so often goes awry and what it would take to fix those systems so that government could better live up to its promises. It's an argument that anyone who cares about government in the 21st century needs to take seriously.Book Recommendations:Implementation by Jeffrey L. Pressman and Aaron WildavskyRadical Help by Hilary Cottam“Mandate for Leadership” (chapter 3), edited by Paul Dans and Steven GrovesListen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioappThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Emefa Agawu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Jeff Geld. Our production team is Annie Galvin, Jeff Geld, Roge Karma and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. And special thanks to Isaac Jones and Kristina Samulewski.