Podcasts about nextgov

On this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Opening:• 27th Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow, 20 – 24 Sep, Dallas, TX• 02 Jun! WaterISAC H2OSecCon (Virtual Conference)Main Topics:Exploitation! and the KEV! • CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog - CVE-2026-9082 Drupal Core SQL Injection Vulnerability• Drupal security advisory (AV26-492) - Update 2 - Canadian Centre for Cyber Security • CISA orders feds to patch actively exploited Drupal vulnerability - BleepingComputer • CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog - CVE-2026-48172 LiteSpeed cPanel Plugin Privilege Escalation Vulnerability• CISA gives feds 4 days to patch actively exploited cPanel plugin flaw - BleepingComputer • CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog - CVE-2026-0257 Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Authentication Bypass Vulnerability• Palo Alto Networks Security Advisory AV26-462 — Canadian Centre for Cyber Security • ETR: Rapid7 Observed Exploitation of PAN-OS GlobalProtect Authentication Bypass Vulnerability CVE-2026-0257 — Rapid7 Ransomware & Data Breaches: • The Cyber Extortion Economy - Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 - 28 May 2026 “As recently noted by our Chief Security Intelligence Officer, Wendi Whitmore, it only took 39 seconds for threat actors to move from initial access to data exfiltration in one case.” • Stay Ahead of Ransomware: What 2026 Threat Reports Are Telling Us — SANS Institute — 01 Jun 2026• Charter Communications Data Breach Could Impact Nearly 5 Million • How St. Paul, Minn., Recovered From a Ransomware Attack • FBI FLASH - Silent Ransom Group Impersonating IT Personnel through Social Engineering - FBI IC3 & FBI warns of in-person data theft attacks from extortion gang • Charter confirms data breach after ShinyHunters extortion threat • The Gentlemen ransomware: Dissecting a self-propagating Go encryptor • The Gentlemen Ransomware Group Is Scaling Faster Than Any Other Group on Record • The Gentlemen (Ransomware) in Disguise: Defense Evasion and other TTPs World Cup:• FBI PSA - Threat Actors Spoofing FIFA Websites in Advance of the 2026 World Cup - FBI IC3 • FAA Establishes No Drone Zones for FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadiums, Fan Events and Base Camps — FAA • Column: Empower Emergency Managers for Major Events • Ebola concerns grow ahead of World Cup — The Hill Quick Hits:• The Future of AI Risk: Predictions for 2027 and Beyond - Gate 15 - 26 May 2026 • Top 10 Artificial Intelligence Security Actions Primer — Canadian Centre for Cyber Security • Mythos Exposes a Bigger Problem in Critical Infrastructure Cyber Defense - HSToday • NSA Launches Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines Resource Webpage — National Security Agency • Designing secure access with ZTNA - National Cyber Security Centre • The 2026 U.S. Midterms Have a Cyber Problem, But It's Not at the Ballot Box — Check Point & Hackers are already laying groundwork to disrupt 2026 midterms, research says — Nextgov • 'Holding our breath': Hurricane season is here, and FEMA is shorthanded — Politico

The federal government's lead agency for domestic cybersecurity and infrastructure protection matters has only completed its first week of being fully back up and running after not being funded for 11 weeks. David DiMolfetta, cyber reporter at NextGov/FCW, has covered how the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has operated through a period that followed losses of nearly one-third of its workforce under this Trump administration. David joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to lay out CISA's path forward with funding in place, plus what the agency's stakeholders in the private and public sectors should watch out for amid the catchup. David then breaks down NextGov/FCW's recent reporting on two major storylines on artificial intelligence policy coming out of the White House that has direct implications for industry. The second half of their conversation is all about a deep dive article David put together on where industry fits, or may not fit, into the government's offensive cyber approach. CISA resources ‘more limited than I would like' amid shutdown, top official says IBM security executive emerges as possible contender to lead CISA Plankey withdraws nomination to lead CISA Trump admin floats policy language limiting contractor say on agency uses of technology White House is drafting plans to permit federal Anthropic use Operational technology providers are feeling ‘annoyance' at exclusion from Anthropic's Mythos rollout, sources say Anthropic's Glasswing initiative raises questions for US cyber operations US push to counter hackers draws industry deeper into offensive cyber debate US lists offensive cyberattacks in counterterrorism strategy Trump admin will push for ‘long-term' reauthorization of key cyber data-sharing law

Once again, the U.S. government is accusing China of being among several foreign entities that are looking to steal proprietary information on artificial intelligence models from American companies. Edward Graham, managing editor and Veterans Affairs Department reporter at NextGov/FCW, discovered a memo the White House sent to federal agencies that warns of distillation campaigns seeking to help create knockoff versions of AI models. Ed joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to explain how those campaigns work and, more importantly, how they help illuminate the competition between the U.S. and China to lead the world in AI and robotics tech development. Ed also provides an update on where things stand with VA's rollout of a new electronic health record, which has had many fits and starts over the years to say the least. White House accuses China of ‘deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns' to steal US AI models US needs to flesh out strategy to counter China's robotics advances, lawmakers say AI capabilities are needed to counter drone threats, senator says House FY27 VA funding bill allocates $3.4B for EHR rollout VA resumes EHR rollouts at four Michigan medical sites

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

The Defense Department and Anthropic are on opposite ends of a nasty disagreement, with government-wide and industry-wide implications, over what the company's Claude large language model and other offerings can be used for. Alexandra Kelley, our Nextgov/FCW colleague who covers emerging tech, has extensively covered the fallout from that impasse as agencies are working to comply with President Trump's executive order to stop using Claude after the Pentagon essentially broke up with Anthropic. “Alexa,” as we and other GovExec colleagues call her, joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to explain how those phase-out processes are taking place and provide an initial look at the government's AI landscape without Anthropic in it. Claude is embedded in so many workflows across government that fully removing it is not a matter of simply deleting the app, as Alexa points out. Private sector, former military leaders urge Congress intervene in Pentagon-Anthropic dispute House amendment responding to Pentagon-Anthropic conflict fails committee vote Defense tech enters a new era: the case of Anthropic and the DOD Pentagon's war on Anthropic based on ‘dubious' legal thinking and ideology—not real risk, sources say Agencies begin to shed Anthropic contracts following Trump's directive Trump directs government to ‘immediately cease' using Anthropic technology It would take the Pentagon months to replace Anthropic's AI tools: sources Anthropic CEO defends support for AI regulations, alignment with Trump policies Anthropic CEO sees 3 areas where policymakers can help with AI GSA and Anthropic ink deal for Claude AI across all government branches AWS GovCloud gets high-level security approvals for Anthropic and Meta AI models Anthropic introduces new Claude Gov models with national security focus AI startup Anthropic to build out public sector team

One on One Video Call W/George https://tidycal.com/georgepmonty/60-minute-meetingSupport the show:https://www.paypal.me/Truelifepodcast?locale.x=en_USRing Doorbells as Warrantless Surveillance Networks•  Amazon admitted to sharing Ring footage with police without user consent or warrants in 2022: Politico article •  Update on Ring requiring warrants for police access starting in 2024: The Guardian article Smart TVs (Samsung, LG) as Observation Posts with Audio Recording•  Texas lawsuit against LG, Samsung, and others for turning TVs into surveillance systems: TechRadar article •  How to turn off smart TV tracking features (Consumer Reports guide): Consumer Reports article •  NYT investigation into smart TVs spying and sharing data: New York Times article Alexa/Google Home and CIA Partnerships (AWS Contract)•  Details on Amazon's $600 million AWS cloud deal with the CIA: The Atlantic article •  Recent discussion on the AWS-Intelligence Community partnership: Nextgov article Fitness Trackers (Strava Heat Map Exposing Military Bases)•  Strava's 2018 heat map revealing secret military base locations: The Guardian article •  Wired analysis on Strava's privacy implications for military security: Wired article •  NYT report on how Strava data exposed sensitive sites: New York Times article Flock Safety License Plate Readers with Facial Recognition•  Flock's response to reports on their ALPR networks and data practices: Flock Safety blog •  EFF on Washington court ruling that Flock data is public record: EFF article •  ACLU on Flock sharing data even without police requests: ACLU article Cisco's Smart+Connected Communities Platform•  Official Cisco overview of Smart+Connected Communities infrastructure: Cisco page •  Cisco network designs for smart cities including surveillance elements: Cisco design guide Social Media Surveillance (Facebook as Largest Operation)•  Amnesty International on Facebook's surveillance posing threats to human rights: Amnesty article •  NYT op-ed on Facebook as a surveillance capitalism entity: New York Times article Workplace Monitoring (Gartner Study ~78%)•  Gartner insights on employee monitoring for insight vs. oversight: Gartner document •  Report on 78% of employers using digital surveillance on remote workers: NBC Montana article •  Computerworld on electronic monitoring reaching all-time highs (~80%): Computerworld article Vehicle Surveillance (Black Boxes Post-2020)•  Explanation of car black boxes recording data for accidents, insurance, and police: Michigan Auto Law blog •  How black box data is used in car accident cases: Kameb article Financial Surveillance (IRS $600 Reporting)•  IRS FAQs on the Form 1099-K threshold and reporting: IRS page •  IRS announcement delaying the $600 threshold for 2023: IRS newsroom Medical Surveillance (23andMe Data Sharing)•  23andMe's policy on responding to law enforcement requests: 23andMe support page •  23andMe privacy and data protection overview: 23andMe privacy page Palantir's Gotham Platform for Predictive Policing•  Official Palantir Gotham platform description:

Iran is known to be one of the world's major nation-state actors in cyberspace and that fact has returned to the forefront since its war with Israel started on June 13.David DiMolfetta, who covers cyber for our partner publication Nextgov/FCW, joins for this episode to break down how Iran typically operates in cyber and what U.S. government agencies are watching out for as the conflict continues.The defense industrial base is also on notice for potential intrusions on their systems, as David explains to our Ross Wilkers.David also provides an update on what we are learning about the breach into U.S. telecommunications networks, which was carried out by the Chinese hacking group known as Salt Typhoon but discovered two years after it started.Iran-backed hackers may target US defense companies tied to Israel, agencies warnDHS expects Iran's cyber forces will target US networks after strikes on nuclear sitesUS charges Iranian operatives with hacking Trump campaignTrump campaign allegedly hacked, blames Iran for stealing internal communicationsTreasury sanctions Iranian cyber officials tied to 2023 water system hacksUS agencies assessed Chinese telecom hackers likely hit data center and residential internet providersFBI awaits signal that Salt Typhoon is fully excised from telecom firms, official saysSalt Typhoon hacks ‘a wake up call' to secure telecom services, lawmakers saySalt Typhoon hackers possibly targeted telecom research at US universitiesUS sanctions Chinese firm behind sweeping Salt Typhoon telecom hacksAt least 8 US carriers hit in Chinese telecom hacks, senior official saysChinese telecom espionage began with ‘much broader' aims, officials sayHundreds of organizations were notified of potential Salt Typhoon compromiseNYPD officer database had security flaws that could have let hackers covertly modify officer data

The Veterans Affairs Department is coming under heightened scrutiny after it emerged that artificial intelligence likely played a role in VA's decisions on which contracts to cut as part of the Trump administration's purported efficiency push.Edward Graham, who covers VA for our partner publication Nextgov/FCW, joins for this episode to break down what is known so far about VA's use of AI in that process and efforts to get more transparency into what unfolded.ProPublica broke the story first on June 6 and published a follow-up June 10.VA is far from alone in making DOGE-related contract cuts since President Trump took office in January, but this storyline at that agency is drawing ire from some lawmakers and contractors who lost work there.Ed takes our Ross Wilkers through the many moving pieces inside VA, so buckle up to gain many insights into this much-sought after customer for many companies in the market.Lawmakers demand review of VA's AI-driven contract cutsDemocrats raise alarm over AI-driven contract cuts at VAFunding for further EHR deployments ‘vitally important,' VA secretary saysDraft proposal looks to put EHR reform measures back on the table

In the midst of the terrible Trump tax bill moving through Congress, Ralph invites Sarah Anderson who directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies to discuss the massive tax loopholes huge companies like Amazon get that allow them to pay far less in taxes than ordinary working people. Then, Greg LeRoy from Good Jobs First joins us to discuss how state taxpayers are footing the bill for these massive data centers companies like Google are building all over the country. Plus, Ralph has some choice words for passive unions and responds to listener feedback about our guest last week, Nadav Wieman.Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and is a co-editor of the IPS website Inequality.org. Her research covers a wide range of international and domestic economic issues, including inequality, CEO pay, taxes, labor, and Wall Street reform.They're (Congress is) planning to give huge new tax giveaways to large corporations like Amazon and wealthy people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. And partially paying for those tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing programs that mean so much to so many Americans like Medicaid and food assistance.”Sarah AndersonWe're not going to have a healthy, thriving society and economy as long as we have the extreme levels of inequality that we have today.Sarah AndersonDubbed “the leading national watchdog of state and local economic development subsidies,” “an encyclopedia of information regarding subsidies,” “God's witness to corporate welfare,” and “the OG of ensuring that state and local tax policy actually supports good jobs, sustainability, and equity,”* Greg founded Good Jobs First in 1998 upon winning the Public Interest Pioneer Award. He has trained and consulted for state and local governments, associations of public officials, labor-management committees, unions, community groups, tax and budget watchdogs, environmentalists, and smart growth advocates more than 30 years.Public education and public health are the two biggest losers in every state giving away money to data centers right now.Greg Le RoyWe know of no other form of state spending that is so out of control. Therefore, we recommend that states cancel their data center tax exemptions. Such subsidies are absolutely unnecessary for an extremely profitable industry dominated by some of the most valuable corporations on earth such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and Google.Good Jobs First report: “Cloudy With a Loss of Spending Control”They've (Congress has) known for years that the ordinary worker pays a higher tax rate than these loophole-ridden corporations.Ralph NaderIn my message to Trump, I ask him, "Why is he afraid of Netanyahu? And doesn't he want to come to the rescue of these innocent babies by saying, ‘Mr. Netanyahu, the taxpayers in this country are paying for thousands of trucks stalled at the border of Gaza full of medicine, food, water, electricity, fuel, and other critical necessities? We're going to put a little American flag on each one of these trucks, and don't you dare block them.'”…No answer.Ralph NaderNews 5/23/251. It seems as though the dam in Israeli politics against acknowledging the horrors in Gaza is beginning to break. In an interview with the BBC this week, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that what Israel "is currently doing in Gaza is very close to a war crime. Thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed.” He went on to say, “the war has no objective and has no chance of achieving anything that could save the lives of the hostages.” These quotes come from the Jerusalem Post. And on May 21st, Haaretz reported that opposition party leader Yair Golan warned that Israel could become a “pariah state, like South Africa once was,” based on its actions in Gaza. Speaking a truth that American politicians appear incapable of articulating, he added, a “sane state does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby, and does not set goals for itself like the expulsion of a population.”2. Confirming this prognosis, the Cradle reports “The Israeli military has admitted that more than 80 percent of the people killed in the attacks on Gaza since Israel breached the ceasefire two months ago are…civilians.” This fact was confirmed by the IDF in response to a request from Hebrew magazine Hamakom, wherein “the military's spokesperson stated that 500 of the 2,780 killed in the Gaza Strip as of Tuesday are ‘terrorists.'” Leaving the remaining 2,280 people killed classified as “not suspected terrorists.” The Cradle compares this ratio, approximately 4.5 civilians killed for every combatant, to the Russia-Ukraine war – a ratio of approximate 2.8 to one. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has “claimed that the ratio is just one civilian killed for each combatant killed.” At the same time, AP reports that while Israel has allowed a minimum of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, under immense international pressure, “none of that aid actually reached Palestinians,” according to the United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The renewed offensive coupled with the barring of humanitarian aid has raised the alarm about mass starvation in Gaza.3. Developments on the ground in Gaza have triggered a new wave of international outcry. On May 19th, leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada issued a joint statement, reading in part, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable… The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law…We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.” The Parliament of Spain meanwhile, “passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel,” per Anadolu Ajansı. This potential ban, supported by all parties except the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox, would “ban the exports of any material that could strengthen the Israeli military, including helmets, vests, and fuel with potential military use.” Left-wing parties in Spain are now pushing for an emergency session to impose a binding decree to this effect.4. The United States however seems to be moving backwards. Drop Site news reports Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff made a deal with Hamas ensuring that, “the Trump administration would compel Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory…[and] make a public call for an immediate ceasefire,” in exchange for the release of Edan Alexander. Of course, once Alexander was released Trump reneged completely. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told Drop Site, “He did nothing of this…They didn't violate the deal. They threw it in the trash.” Besides prolonging further the charnel house in Gaza, this duplicity undermines American credibility in the region, particularly with Iran at a time when Trump is seeking a new deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.5. Democrats in Congress are inching towards action as well. On May 13th, Senator Peter Welch introduced Senate Resolution 224, calling for “the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.” Along with Welch, 45 Democrats and Independents signed on to this resolution, that is the entire Democratic caucus except for John Fetterman. On May 14th, Rashida Tlaib introduced House Resolution 409, commemorating the Nakba and calling on Congress to “reinstate support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.” This was cosponsored by AOC and Reps. Carson, Lee, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez, Simon, and Coleman. And, on May 21st, a group of eight senators – Welch, Sanders, Kaine, Merkley, Murray, Van Hollen, Schatz, and Warnock – sent a letter urging Secretary of State Rubio to reopen the investigation into the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh, per Prem Thakker. The Biden administration ruled the death “unintentional,” but a new documentary by Zeteo News reveals a “Biden cover-up.”6. More action is occurring on college campuses as well, as students go into graduation season. At NYU, a student named Logan Rozos said in his graduation speech, “As I search my heart today in addressing you all…the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” per CNN. NYU announced that they are now withholding his diploma. At George Washington University, the Guardian reports student Cecilia Culver said in her graduation speech, “I am ashamed to know my tuition [fee] is being used to fund…genocide…I call upon the class of 2025 to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment.” GWU issued a statement declaring Culver “has been barred from all GW's campuses and sponsored events elsewhere.” The moral clarity of these students is remarkable, given the increasingly harsh measures these schools have taken to silence those who speak up.7. Moving on, several major stories about the failing DOGE initiative have surfaced in recent days. First, Social Security. Listeners may recall that a DOGE engineer said “40% of phone calls made to [the Social Security Administration] to change direct deposit information come from fraudsters.” Yet, a new report by NextGov.com found that since DOGE mandated the SSA install new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, “only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent,” or 0.0018%. What the policy has done however, is slow down payments. According to this piece, retirement claim processing is down 25%. Meanwhile, at the VA, DOGE engineer Sahil Lavingia, “found…a machine that largely functions, though it doesn't make decisions as fast as a startup might.” Lavingia added “honestly, it's kind of fine—because the government works. It's not as inefficient as I was expecting, to be honest. I was hoping for more easy wins.” This from Fast Company. Finally, CBS reports, “leaders of the United States Institute for Peace regained control of their offices Wednesday…after they were ejected from their positions by the Trump administration and [DOGE] in March.” This piece explains that On February 19th, President Trump issued Executive Order 14217 declaring USIP "unnecessary" and terminating its leadership, most of its 300 staff members, its entire board, installing a DOGE functionary at the top and transferring ownership of the building to the federal government. This set off a court battle that ended Monday, when U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the takeover was “unlawful” and therefore “null and void.” These DOGE setbacks might help explain Elon Musk's reported retreat from the political spotlight and political spending.8. On May 21st, Congressman Gerry Connolly passed away, following his battle with esophageal cancer. Connolly's death however is just the latest in a disturbing trend – Ken Klippenstein reports, “Connolly joins five other members of Congress who also died in office over the past 13 months…Rep. Raúl Grijalva…Rep. Sylvester Turner…Rep. Bill Pascrell…Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee…[and] Rep. Donald Payne Jr.” All of these representatives were Democrats and their deaths have chipped away at the close margin between Democrats and Republicans in the House – allowing the Republicans to pass Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” by a single vote. Connolly himself prevailed over AOC in a much-publicized intra-party battle for the Ranking Member seat on the House Oversight committee. It speaks volumes that Connolly was only able to hold onto that seat for a few short months before becoming too sick to stay on. This is of course part and parcel with the recent revelations about Biden's declining mental acuity during his presidency and the efforts to oust David Hogg from the DNC for backing primaries against what he calls “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats.9. Speaking of “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats, Bloomberg Government reports Senator John Fetterman “didn't attend a single committee hearing in 2025 until…May 8, about a week after an explosive New York Magazine story raised questions about his mental health and dedication to his job.” Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania on the Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security committees skipped the confirmation hearings for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Budget Director Russ Vought, some of the most high-profile and controversial Trump appointments. Fetterman still has yet to attend a single Agriculture committee hearing in 2025.10. Finally, in more Pennsylvania news, the state held its Democratic primaries this week, yielding mixed results. In Pittsburgh, progressives suffered a setback with the ouster of Mayor Ed Gainey – the first Black mayor of the city. Gainey lost to Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor, the son of former Mayor Bob O'Connor, the Hill reports. In Philadelphia however, voters approved three ballot measures – including expanding affordable housing and adding more oversight to the prison system – and reelected for a third term progressive reform District Attorney Larry Krasner, per AP. Krasner has long been a target of conservatives in both parties, but has adroitly maneuvered to maintain his position – and dramatically reduced homicide rates in Philly. The Wall Street Journal reports Philadelphia homicides declined by 34% between 2023 and 2024, part of substantial decline in urban homicides nationwide. Kudos to Krasner.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

We're back with part-two of our discussion with Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance where we pick the conversation up on privacy today and efforts by big tech and government to protect sensitive information. We also dive into the slippery slope of consumer apps and health information used for convenience and, for some, entertainment and the realization of how that information could be shared and used by third parties in the coming decades. (And the check boxes you might mindlessly click today could come back to haunt you.) Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance She has more than 20 years of experience editing and reporting on technology, business and policy. Prior to joining CRA, she worked at Sightline Media as editor of Defense News and executive editor of the Business-to-Government Group. She previously worked at Washington Business Journal and Nextgov, covering federal technology, contracting and policy, as well as CMP Media's VARBusiness and CRN and Penton Media's iSeries News. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e315

Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance joins the podcast this week for a hot topics discussion across recent developments in the ongoing cyber war involving Ukraine, Russia and a supporting cast of many public and private entities including NATO, Microsoft, Lithuania and others. We also dive into recent exploits by China with social media microtargeting campaigns against rare earth mining companies and where their ‘playing the long game' implications could lead. Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance She has more than 20 years of experience editing and reporting on technology, business and policy. Prior to joining CRA, she worked at Sightline Media as editor of Defense News and executive editor of the Business-to-Government Group. She previously worked at Washington Business Journal and Nextgov, covering federal technology, contracting and policy, as well as CMP Media's VARBusiness and CRN and Penton Media's iSeries News. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e314

Some jobs will require college degrees for as far as the eyes can see.But in this episode, NextgovFCW's tech workforce reporter Natalie Alms describes how what government and business leaders call “skills-based hiring” is becoming more of the norm for certain tech jobs.As Natalie tells our Ross Wilkers, some agencies and contractors are de-emphasizing educational requirements for those roles and replacing them with other means.Three big government contracts are now all about skills-based hiring. “Nat,” as some of us coworkers call her, gives some signposts to watch for how much further that approach could expand across public sector and more.We recorded this episode before Nat's next big story she teased toward the end landed on Nextgov/FCW. That article is link number one in the list below.Trump's first White House debated the role of USDS. What will Trump 2.0 do?Major federal IT contracts to remove ‘unnecessary' degree requirementsHarris touts skills-based hiring for feds on the campaign trailMace sponsors bill to ban educational requirements for government contractorsGoodbye degree requirements? Biden administration pushes skills-based hiring for tech talentWhite House looks to eliminate college degree requirements for cyber jobs with federal contractorsNever mind the degrees – here's skills-based hiringOPM issues guidance on implementing Trump-era hiring policy

Just about every conversation about technology across the federal landscape seems to begin and end with generative artificial intelligence, a tool that spurs fears and hopes all at the same time.Edward Graham has a front-row seat to many of those conversations in his role at our sibling publication Nextgov/FCW, where he reports on national security technologies and policies.For this episode, Edward tells our Ross Wilkers all about the current state of play for where the Defense and Homeland Security Departments are at on their generative AI journeys.Guardrails and pilots are more than just buzzwords for generative AI. As you will hear from Edward, they are the key words to hone in on for understanding where generative AI is today and the direction it is going in.DOD's generative AI task force will help set guardrails for broader useDHS generative AI pilot embraces hiccups of emerging techAI can enhance border security but won't close workforce gap, lawmakers sayDHS hires initial cohort of 10 to join its AI CorpsVA is already using AI to identify and assist veterans in crisis, officials say

The federal government has several large technology initiatives underway such as improving customer experience and leveraging artificial intelligence. Those issues are at the heart of what Natalie Alms writes about for NextGov/FCW, one of several sibling publications for Washington Technology.She dives into those topics and more in this conversation with WT Editor Nick Wakeman. From her perch, Natalie has a unique perspective on the challenges agencies face in trying to modernize how they provide services to citizens. She explains that while AI holds great promise to improve how the government operates, there are also many hurdles to clear.Related articles:IRS touts launch of Direct File pilotWhite House stalls on digital identity mandate, despite billions in fraudExperts warn that OMB's AI guidance could slow federal adoption of the emerging techOn the heels of Biden's executive order, agencies get White House directive on implementing AIThe CX executive order turns one

Hacktivism and nation-state involvement in the cyber phases of war in the Middle East, and the use of Telegram. Russian groups squabble online. Healthcare cybersecurity and its implications for patient care. The Looting of FTX on the day of its bankruptcy. Joe Carrigan shares research from the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute. Our guest is Mike Walters from Action1, marking the 20th anniversary of Patch Tuesday. And CISA releases two new resources against ransomware. For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news briefing: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/12/196 Selected reading. Israeli Cyber Companies Rally as Digital, Physical Assaults Continue (Wall Street Journal) Israel Sees Cyber Incursions Across Digital Systems (Wall Street Journal)  Hackers infiltrated Israeli smart billboards to post pro-Hamas messages, reports say (Business Insider)  THE HAMAS ISRAEL : CONFLICT EXPLAINER - CYFIRMA (CYFIRMA) The First 72 Hours of the Israel-Hamas War: Hamas and PIJ Activity on Telegram (Flashpoint)  Cyber Aggression Rises Following the October 2023 Israel-Hamas Conflict (Radware)  EU opens probe into X over Israel-Hamas war misinformation (Financial Times)  EU opens formal investigation into illegal content on X (Computing)  X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts since attack, CEO says (Reuters)  US cyber agencies in 'very close contact' with Israel after unprecedented Hamas attacks (Nextgov.com)  Five threats security pros everywhere need to focus on as the Middle East war escalates (SC Media)  Cyber Insecurity in Healthcare: The Cost and Impact on Patient Safety and Care 2023 (Proofpoint)  New Clues Suggest Stolen FTX Funds Went to Russia-Linked Money Launderers (WIRED)  CISA Releases New Resources Identifying Known Exploited Vulnerabilities and Misconfigurations Linked to Ransomware | CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Budworm APT's bespoke tools. Johnson Controls sustains a cyberattack. The US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board reports on Section 702. The looming government shutdown and cyber risk. Cybersecurity in the US industrial base. X cuts back content moderation capabilities. In our Industry Voices segment, Nicholas Kathmann from LogicGate describes the struggle when facing low cost attacks. Sam Crowther from Kasada shares his team's findings on Stolen Auto Accounts. And Ukrainian hacktivists target Russian airline check-in systems. For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news briefing: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/12/186 Selected reading. Budworm: APT Group Uses Updated Custom Tool in Attacks on Government and Telecoms Org (Symantec Enterprise Blogs) Johnson Controls reports data breach after severe ransomware attack (BeyondMachines)  Report on the Surveillance Program Operated Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board)  Split privacy board urges big changes to Section 702 surveillance law (Washington Post) Democrats fear cyberattacks as government shutdown looms (Nextgov.com)  Aprio Releases U.S. National Manufacturing Survey, Highlighting the Need for Improved Operational Excellence, Digitization and Cybersecurity Practices (Aprio)  Musk's X disabled feature for reporting electoral misinformation - researcher (Reuters)  Musk's X Cuts Half of Election Integrity Team After Promising to Expand It (The Information) Aeroflot, other airlines' flights delayed over DDoS attack (Cybernews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pair of big-ticket programs focused on health care for veterans, soldiers and their families is the focus of this newest WT 360 Info Session series of episodes that bring together reporters from across the GovExec media team.FCW's executive editor Adam Mazmanian and NextGov reporter Edward Graham join our Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers to update the current situation regarding the ongoing electronic health record integration programs at the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.On the surface, both programs appear to be going on very different tracks. But nothing in the world of government technology at this scale we're talking about is simple.Mazmanian and Graham explain where both departments are looking to go with their EHR programs, how they got there and the roles of the companies involved in each. The common thread between them is in how both adopting variants of Oracle Cerner's electronic health record.Leidos is the lead contractor for DOD's EHR program with Oracle Cerner, Accenture, Henry Schein One and 35 other supporting businesses as teammates. Oracle Cerner is the prime for the VA EHR program with Leidos and Accenture included as teammates.

Earlier this year, the White House announced a series of projects that agencies are undertaking as part of an effort to reshape how government delivers services by focusing on citizens' experiences like retirement and other life events. With the Biden management agenda's focus on customer experience, that will mean getting service to as many people as possible… in whatever ways are available.  Aaron Boyd is a Senior Editor at GovExec sibling site Nextgov. He's also the author of a post on Nextgov headlined “The Low-Tech Side of Biden's Push to Improve the ‘Life Experiences' with Government.” which is part of a series exploring the Biden administration's push to improve citizens' interactions with government. He joined the podcast to talk about his series and CX in the Biden administration. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive  

The US Marshals Service sustains a data breach. Blind Eagle is a phish hawk. Dish continues to work toward recovery. OneNote attachments are used to distribute Qakbot. Ben Yelin has analysis on the Supreme Court's hearing on a section 230 case. Mr Security Answer Person John Pescatore has thoughts on Chat GPT. And CISA Director Easterly urges vendors to make software secure-by-design. For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news briefing: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/12/39 Selected reading. U.S. Marshals Service investigating ransomware attack, data theft (BleepingComputer) US Marshals says prisoners' personal information taken in data breach (TechCrunch) Blind Eagle Deploys Fake UUE Files and Fsociety to Target Colombia's Judiciary, Financial, Public, and Law Enforcement Entities (BlackBerry) Dish hit by multiday outage after reported cyberattack (TechCrunch) DISH says ‘system issue' affecting internal servers, phone systems (The Record from Recorded Future News)  Take Note: Armorblox Stops OneNote Malware Campaign (Armorblox)  Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year on – with Shane Harris (SpyCast) U.S. cyber official praises Apple security and suggests Microsoft, Twitter need to step it up (CNBC) U.S. cyber chief warns tech companies to curb unsafe practices (CBS News) Tech manufacturers are leaving the door open for Chinese hacking, Easterly warns (The Record from Recorded Future News) CISA Director Calls Out Industry Using Consumers as Cyber 'Crash Test Dummies' (Nextgov.com) The Designed-in Dangers of Technology and What We Can Do About It (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)

In the latest episode of #IMM, Christine speaks with Alexandra KelleyTech, Reporter at Nextgov.

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.)

Cryptocurrency advocates have claimed that the technology could revolutionize monetary policy in the U.S. and worldwide, but the actual application of crypto has more closely resembled an investment asset since crypto became mainstream about five years ago. Regulation of cryptocurrency has been slow compared to its adoption and recent volatility in the cryptocurrency markets have brought more scrutiny to crypto exchanges and users. Alexandra Kelley is a reporter for GovExec sibling site Nextgov. She joined the podcast to discuss cryptocurrency, regulations and the future of money.   *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec  

You may not know it, but artificial intelligence applications are all around us. From search algorithms to speech recognition, we are surrounded by AI and machine learning. The federal government uses AI, of course, in its initiatives in various agencies. Dr. Lynne Parker serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee. Previously, she filled various roles in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, including as founding director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative office. As part of Defense One's and Nextgov's Genius Machines event series recently, Nextgov editor Aaron Boyd spoke to Parker about AI policy and her roles in government. In this episode, you'll hear part of their conversation about machine learning and artificial intelligence.

In the latest episode of #IMM, Christine speaks with Jessie Bur, Managing Editor at Nextgov

On this episode of the IoT: The Internet of Threats podcast, Mariam Baksh, Staff Reporter at Nextgov, joins podcast host Eric Greenwald to explore the evolution of cybersecurity regulation, from the Biden Administration's 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity to September's OMB Memorandum on software supply chain security.   Mariam and Eric discuss the cybersecurity goals of the administration, the merits of first-party versus third-party attestation, and the fine line that NIST walks between effecting change in cybersecurity versus overwhelming the resources of security practitioners and compliance personnel.     Interview with Mariam Baksh    Mariam Baksh is a staff reporter for Nextgov, a Washington, DC-based publication that reports on federal IT and tech policy through journalism, podcasts, and more. In her role at Nextgov, Mariam reports on the development of federal cybersecurity policy. Mariam has been covering technology governance since 2014 and earned her master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University.    In this episode, Eric and Mariam discuss: Why the Biden administration issued last year's EO NIST's balancing act between improving cybersecurity and avoiding the imposition of costly requirements on companies The challenges involved in measuring cybersecurity performance The implications of a first-party vs. third-party attestation model The value of an SBOM and its growing role in cybersecurity regulation Whether the EO or the OMB memo will deliver any enforcement on the requirements they impose    Find Mariam on LinkedIn: Mariam Baksh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-baksh-99b1b428/   Learn more about Nextgov: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Nextgov/   Thank you for listening to this episode of the IoT: The Internet of Threats podcast, powered by Finite State — the leading supply chain cyber-security solution provider for connected devices and embedded systems.   If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe to stay connected and leave a review to get the word out about the podcast.   To learn more about building a robust product security program, protecting your connected devices, and complying with emerging regulations and technical standards, visit https://finitestate.io/. Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

According to new research from Eagle Hill Consulting, more than a third of government employees say they haven't taken a vacation in the last 12 months. Expenses topped the reasons given for eschewing vacation time, with self-imposed pressure coming next.  Frank Konkel is the Executive Editor of Govexec sibling site Nextgov. He has a story about the survey headlined “More Than 1 in 3 Government Employees Haven't Taken a Vacation in Last Year, Survey Says.” He joined the podcast to talk about government workforce issues like delaying or eschewing vacation. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec  

The United States federal courts are in the midst of more cyber-security breaches: A judicial branch computer system was compromised by intruders for three days earlier this month, an official confirmed to Nextgov on Friday. This follows a hack last year that exposed sensitive information on hundreds of thousands of U.S. judges and magistrates and led the court system to institute two-factor authentication to keep hackers out of its IT systems in the future.

We're back with part-two of our discussion with Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance where we pick the conversation up on privacy today and efforts by big tech and government to protect sensitive information. We also dive into the slippery slope of consumer apps and health information used for convenience and, for some, entertainment and the realization of how that information could be shared and used by third parties in the coming decades. (And the check boxes you might mindlessly click today could come back to haunt you.) Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance She has more than 20 years of experience editing and reporting on technology, business and policy. Prior to joining CRA, she worked at Sightline Media as editor of Defense News and executive editor of the Business-to-Government Group. She previously worked at Washington Business Journal and Nextgov, covering federal technology, contracting and policy, as well as CMP Media's VARBusiness and CRN and Penton Media's iSeries News. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e190

Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance joins the podcast this week for a hot topics discussion across recent developments in the ongoing cyber war involving Ukraine, Russia and a supporting cast of many public and private entities including NATO, Microsoft, Lithuania and others. We also dive into recent exploits by China with social media microtargeting campaigns against rare earth mining companies and where their ‘playing the long game' implications could lead. Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance She has more than 20 years of experience editing and reporting on technology, business and policy. Prior to joining CRA, she worked at Sightline Media as editor of Defense News and executive editor of the Business-to-Government Group. She previously worked at Washington Business Journal and Nextgov, covering federal technology, contracting and policy, as well as CMP Media's VARBusiness and CRN and Penton Media's iSeries News. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e189

  Three weeks after it began, the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board to counter misinformation is in trouble after its top official announced that she is resigning. The board has been paused pending a review and assessment through the bipartisan Homeland Security Advisory Council.   Frank Konkel is the Executive Editor of GovExec sibling site Nextgov. He joined the podcast to discuss the board and its future. *** Join GovExec Daily on Clubhouse! https://www.clubhouse.com/club/govexec-daily-group

Nextgov looks at the use of cooperative research and development agreements by some major industry players to highlight how the meaning of the phrase, and implementation of its associated authorities, has shifted over the years.

Every American has to deal with the IRS in some way. From COVID-19 stimulus payments to tax credits to the annual filing date, Americans deal with the agency on a regular basis. As the Biden administration emphasizes customer service, the tax agency has to balance these responsibilities constantly. But, in the middle of record staffing shortages and a lack of funding, the agency has been operating in survival mode. As part of Government Executive, Route Fifty and Nextgov's Customer Experience summit event recently, GovExec reporter and frequent GovExec Daily guest Courtney Bublé spoke to former IRS chief John Koskinen and National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins. In this episode for our #moneymonday series, they discuss how the IRS is serving citizens during an exceptionally difficult tax season. *** Join GovExec Daily on Clubhouse! https://www.clubhouse.com/club/govexec-daily-group?utm_medium=ch_club&utm_campaign=vlrzJwsaX-VcmRCrWGPctA-103059

Customer service is a topic that has become more important in recent years and especially in recent months with executive action, and legislative priorities. The IRS, in particular, often finds itself in the center of these conversations, especially now, during tax season. As part of Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, Nextgov Executive Editor Frank Konkkel spoke to Annette Jones, assistant to the chief taxpayer Experience Officer at the Internal Revenue Service. In this episode, Jones discusses the ways that the IRS customer experience is evolving.   *** Join GovExec Daily on Clubhouse! https://www.clubhouse.com/club/govexec-daily-group?utm_medium=ch_club&utm_campaign=vlrzJwsaX-VcmRCrWGPctA-103059

The two years of the pandemic's shift to telework have changed the way public servants do their jobs. As agencies transition more to a hybrid environment, feds and managers will have to learn to adjust to a new work environment and new ways to communicate with one another. As part of Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, GovExec Executive Editor Tanya Ballard Brown spoke to Rob Shriver, who is Associate Director for Employee Services at the Office of Personnel Management. In this episode, Tanya interviews Shriver about the ways that agencies are moving hybrid work environments at agencies.

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour speaks with Joseph Marks, Washington Post reporter for The Cybersecurity 202. From his Washington Post bio, “Joe Marks writes The Cybersecurity 202 newsletter focused on the policy and politics of cybersecurity. Before joining The Washington Post, Marks covered cybersecurity for Politico and Nextgov, a news site focused on government technology and security. He also covered patent and copyright trends for Bloomberg BNA and federal litigation for Law360. Marks began his career at Midwestern newspapers covering city and county governments, crime, fires and features. He spent two years at the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota and is originally from Iowa City. Joe on Twitter, @Joseph_Marks_. Joe on LinkedIn. Subscribe to The Cybersecurity 202. In the discussion we address: Joe's background and the work he's doing today at the Washington Post Joe's perspective on “insider the beltway” cybersecurity The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity and geopolitical threats Joe plays three questions and more! A few references mentioned in or relevant to our discussion include: Subscribe to The Cybersecurity 202 https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/the-cybersecurity-202/ The Cybersecurity 202: The cyber fight in Ukraine is getting more serious, 16 Feb https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/16/cyber-fight-ukraine-is-getting-more-serious/ The Cybersecurity 202: Cyber's role in the Ukraine-Russia crisis remains unclear, 15 Feb https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/15/cybers-role-ukraine-russia-crisis-remains-unclear/ Jen Easterly's Keynote at the Munich Cybersecurity Conference - Just one word: Culture! On YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgr4h8ufxVU Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco Delivers Remarks at Annual Munich Cyber Security Conference https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-lisa-o-monaco-delivers-remarks-annual-munich-cyber-security An interesting thread on Twitter from Doug Madory (@DougMadory), Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik (@kentikinc), on the assertion that Russia had cut a subsea cable when it annexed Crimea, mentioned without detail in the podcast. https://twitter.com/dougmadory/status/1488608548099612674?s=21 Our recent Gate 15 Risk Roundtable where Dave, Jen and I talk Ukraine and Jen shares some thoughts on preparedness: The Risk Roundtable EP 26: Making the Quantum Leap! CISA: Shields Up https://www.cisa.gov/shields-up CISA: Russian State-Sponsored Actors Target Cleared Defense Contractor Networks, 16 Feb https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/current-activity/2022/02/16/russian-state-sponsored-actors-target-cleared-defense-contractor CISA: Alert (AA22-047A) - Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Target Cleared Defense Contractor Networks to Obtain Sensitive U.S. Defense Information and Technology, 16 Feb https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa22-047a CISA: Russia Cyber Threat Overview and Advisories https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/russia

Nextgov digs into the Veterans Affairs Department's strategic efforts to deploy future-facing technologies to modernize the care it provides. Department officials are experimenting with augmented and virtual reality—and also figuring out how tiny devices like sensors could improve the canes used by the visually impaired or help prevent falls in facilities.

We previewed cyber security policy under President Biden at the beginning of 2021. But a lot of big things have happened in cybersecurity since then, making now seem a pretty good time to check in on where things stand. So we brought in an expert to help: NextGov's Mariam Baksh. Mariam tells us about the latest developments from the White House relating to cyber policy, including what may really make a difference versus what actions could just be for show. She also discusses why the NIST framework is getting a revisit, the involvement of private industry in the latest policy directions, and more. Read more from Mariam: https://www.nextgov.com/voices/mariam-baksh/15380/. And find her on the Critical Update podcast: https://www.nextgov.com/podcasts/. In headlines, we follow up with more from the T-Mobile data breach, talk about Apple and its privacy compromise, and discuss another ransomware cell calling it quits.  Here are the stories: Updating the T-Mobile Data Breach Storyhttps://www.zdnet.com/article/t-mobile-ceo-apologizes-for-massive-hack-announces-cybersecurity-deal-with-mandiant/Apple Just Traded Your Privacy for $15 Billionhttps://www.inc.com/jason-aten/apple-just-traded-your-privacy-for-15-billion.htmlDiabolical Ransomware Gang Calls It Quitshttps://www.thedailybeast.com/ragnarok-diabolical-ransomware-gang-calls-it-quitsGet info on all things network security through our blog, https://firewalls.com/blog.And please do reach out, as we want to hear from you. Suggest an episode topic, ask a question, or just say hi in a review, or by emailing podcast@firewalls.com. New episodes are normally released every other Wednesday, so subscribe/follow to ensure you get the latest first - and again, please rate and review.Thanks for listening!

In recent years, the Pentagon has confirmed the authenticity of videos depicting military pilots seeing unidentified flying objects. In fact, last year, the Office of Naval Intelligence ​​launched the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force to standardize data collection on the issue. But the Pentagon's role in this is not that new. In 2007, the unclassified but largely unknown Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was appropriated for five years, largely because of the efforts of former Senator Harry Reid. As part of Nextgov's Emerging Tech summit event recently, Nextgov reporter and frequent GovExec Daily guest Brandi Vincent spoke to Reid. In this episode, they discuss how the government and technology come together to monitor unidentified aerial phenomena in the pursuit of security.

  The novel coronavirus pandemic has moved most public employees to remote work situations. But the pandemic has not stopped the need for workforce development and government has had to adjust to a new world of online training and learning. Agencies have had to pivot to virtual workforce development over the past two years.   As part of Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, GovExec reporter and frequent GovExec Daily guest Eric Katz spoke to Clo Taylor, Chief Learning and Engagement Officer, Department of Homeland Security. In this episode, Taylor discusses the role of training and learning in a hybrid federal environment.

President Joe Biden has made diversity, equity and inclusion cornerstones of his administration. Identifying the ways headway can be made into DEI issues will be paramount to these efforts, including using the best available information.  As part of Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, GovExec reporter and frequent GovExec Daily guest Courtney Bublé spoke to diversity officers from four different agencies. In this episode, officials from the FBI, the State Department, the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence discuss the future of diversity, inclusion and equity in the federal workforce and the ways agencies are working towards a more inclusive federal government. 

Late last week, the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance for agencies to begin to implement their reentry and post-reentry places for feds. Remote work and hybrid work will be a part of the post-reentry future for agencies, but one agency has been a telework model since before the pandemic. The Patent and Trademark Office embraced telework long before the pandemic, starting in 1997 with 18 attorneys working remotely. In 2019 before the pandemic, the agency had 11,000 employees regularly working remotely at least one day a week. As such, the agency had the experience to move seamlessly to maximum telework in March 2020. As part of a panel during Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, I spoke to Danette Campbell, Director of the Telework Program Office at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Campbell discussed managing a hybrid workforce, the pandemic's effect on telework and how her agency manages the complications of remote work.

The pandemic has reoriented the way most of us work and the federal civil service is no different. Since maximum telework was instituted in the spring of 2020, the federal government has had to make a series of adjustments to its operations, including remote work and hiring practices. It remains to be seen if the pandemic changes will all stick, but administration personnel officials have signaled that the post-pandemic world will be different than the pre-pandemic world. As part of Government Executive and Nextgov's Future of Work event recently, GovExec Deputy Editor and frequent govexec daily guest Katherine McIntire Peters interviewed Rob Shriver, who is Associate Director for Employee Services at the Office of Personnel Management. Shriver discussed the future of telework, hiring and government work itself in this stage of the pandemic and beyond.

Part 2 of our two-part series with Mariam Baksh, Cybersecurity Policy Reporter at NextGov. As a reporter on the front lines of security policy as it happens Mariam shares perspective on how cyber picked her, rhetorical catchphrases shaping global perception and cyber responses, gaining clarity on if or where cyber policy and partisan lines are drawn, drawing the line on sanctions, hybrid attacks, Cyber Diplomacy Act, the roles of standards bodies, auditing and incident response teams, and potential impact of a low price technically acceptable approach. You won’t want to miss this insightful two-part discussion! For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e132

This week we kick off a two-part series with Mariam Baksh, Cybersecurity Policy Reporter at NextGov. As a reporter on the front lines of security policy as it happens Mariam shares perspective on how cyber picked her, rhetorical catchphrases shaping global perception and cyber responses, gaining clarity on if or where cyber policy and partisan lines are drawn, drawing the line on sanctions, hybrid attacks, Cyber Diplomacy Act, the roles of standards bodies, auditing and incident response teams, and potential impact of a low price technically acceptable approach. You won’t want to miss this insightful two-part discussion! For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e131

DevSecOps is enabling incredible accomplishments at the Defense Department—like updating code on a U-2 jet during a live flight. With software factories popping up across the department, Nextgov sought out the story of one program in particular to understand how DevSecOps works at DOD. That program is called Platform One, and though it's been around for less than two years, it already supports major programs across the military services and DOD components. 

In the latest episode of #IMM, Christine speaks with Heather Kuldell, Managing Editor of Nextgov, an all-day information resource for federal technology decision makers.

Christina received the US Treasury Secretarial Meritorious Service Award in recognition of her superior achievement in leading the government-wide implementation of the DATA Act in 2017.  She also received multiple awards from industry for her innovative work and leadership in technology, open data, and GRC (governance, risk and compliance). She is a frequent blogger and public speaker and has been featured in publications including AICPA Issue Brief, IBM Center for the Business of Government Magazine, AGA Journal, Nextgov, NACUBO Business Officer Magazine, Federal News Radio, and Government Matters TV. Key Takeaways:0:00 Intro2:21 Christina shares her background and story on what led her to the topic of saying no today5:06 Christina explains why it is so hard for people to hear the word no, and what to do to get used to it more often 8:57 Christina talks about why people should view no as a necessary step to the yes and to the success and as an important perspective and mindset that helps us think about no differently13:32 Christina talks about saying no and shares her thoughts, experience and advice around being able to say no strategically16:40 Christina advice people to have an accountability partner to help us as we continue to grow and practice, either being able to say no or yes, depending on the situation18:12 Christina talks about how she personally is not afraid of getting a no answer now as compared to the past and how she has developed that ability 21:26 Christina talks about practical steps to help people who are practicing to say no and overcoming fear of not being perceived as a team player when you say no24:15 Christina also talks about how as a leader you can help others to really embrace the power of the no25:28 Christina also shares some tips on what makes her feel strong and grounded to do what she does Shows Mentioned: Kids Baking Championship: Under Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli's guidance, young bakers under the age of 12 compete against each other in a series of challenges to win the grand prize.Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu Limited, commonly referred to as Deloitte, is a British multinational professional services network. Deloitte is one of the Big Four accounting organizations and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals, with headquarters in London, England.Elder Research: They hand-craft innovative data analytics solutions that inform decisions, deliver value, and transform businesses.Quotes Mentioned:“A lot of time we self eliminate ourselves before other people do because we are so afraid of that rejection”“We should be able to say yes to ourselves.”“No is a necessary step to yes.”“Hurry up and get to the failure so you could pivot and then get to the success ultimately.”“If you take the no as a starting point where you can pivot and understand the no, and then that will get you to the ultimate yes.”“If we let that initial no to stop us or even try, we would not even get to the yes at all.”“It's better to get to that no and then you can move on to get one step closer to the yes.”“Practice makes perfect.”“Auditors always have to go to places where people are not welcoming.”“The key no and yes is do you have a vision for yourself to be the best you can be and reach your fullest potential.”“Start with something small that you don't have as much at stake.”“It always takes someone who knows you to see your potential.”Guests Social Media Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-ho-859b751/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/policy_insights Website: http://www.policyinsights.us/ Website: https://www.elderresearch.com/people/christina-ho/ 

I interview Duncan Hollis, another Steptoe alumnus patrolling the intersection of international law and cybersecurity. With Matt Waxman, Duncan has written an essay on why the U.S. should make the Proliferation Security Initiative a model for international rulemaking for cybersecurity. Since “coalition of the willing” was already taken, we settle on “potluck policy” as shorthand for the proposal. To no one's surprise, Duncan and I disagree about the value of international law in the field, but we agree on the value of informal, agile, and “potluck” actions on the world stage. In support, I introduce Baker's Law of International Institutions: “The secretariat always sees the United States as its natural enemy.”  At the end, Duncan mentions in passing his work with Microsoft on international rulemaking, and I throw down on “Brad Smith's godforsaken proposal.” Brad, if you are willing to come on the podcast to defend that proposal, I've promised Duncan a highly coveted Cyberlaw Podcast mug.  California has a new privacy law, Laura Hillsman explains—though what it will look like when it finally takes effect in 2020 remains to be seen. (Laura is a Steptoe Summer Associate.) Chris Conte reports that the SEC has charged a second Equifax manager with insider trading. I ask whether he shouldn't have been charged with lousy site design too.  The White House draws a line in the sand over ZTE in a letter to the Hill—but Maury and I suspect the real message is in the lack of a veto threat. Maury thinks President Trump's “go big, then go deal” negotiating strategy is also at work in his decision only to beat up Chinese investments once rather than twice over trade tensions.  NSA's metadata program was restructured to rely on telecom companies rather than NSA's own programmers. The ideologues who insisted on the formalism of leaving the metadata with the companies rather than in NSA's computers predictably produced a private-sector meltdown. Which they'll probably blame on NSA as well. Jamil Jaffer and I discuss.  What do you know? Reality does win in the end, and Reality Winner finally got the hint (as well as a pretty good plea deal).  Nextgov reveals an unimpressive showing for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act's (CISA) information-sharing provisions, at least as far as sharing with the Department of Homeland Security goes. Jamil and I agree, though, that private-sector information sharing may be a better measure of CISA's value. In other news, the Intercept continues to pioneer relevance-free journalism. And trust in social media is collapsing, especially among Republicans, who (remarkably) also think tech companies need more regulation.  Finally, in an experiment we may abandon at any moment, I'm going to start tweeting and posting some of this week's stories that look like candidates for the News Roundup. Please reply to or retweet those you think we should cover. Relevant feeds: @stewartbaker on Twitter, Stewart Baker on LinkedIn, and stewart.a.baker on Facebook. Download the 224th Episode (mp3). You can subscribe to The Cyberlaw Podcast using iTunes, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or our RSS feed! As always, The Cyberlaw Podcast is open to feedback. Send your questions, comments, and suggestions for topics or interviewees to CyberlawPodcast@steptoe.com or leave a message at +1 202 862 5785. Remember: If your suggested interviewee appears on the show, we will send you a highly coveted Cyberlaw Podcast mug! The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not reflect the opinions of the firm.  

Journalist Camille Tuutti describes advances in artificial intelligence, and how they will forge ahead at high speed because although it might not be sexy, it is absolutely necessary.