Podcasts about political appointees

In this episode of Passing Judgment, we examine sweeping changes in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration. Reporter Sam Levine joins host Jessica Levinson to discuss how the division, long tasked with enforcing voting rights and other protections, has seen over 70% of its attorneys depart amid a shift in priorities toward the president's agenda. The episode explores what this means for civil rights enforcement, voter protections, and whether former DOJ lawyers can fill the gap by taking their expertise into private practice.Here are three key takeaways you don't want to miss:The Role and Function of the DOJ Civil Rights Division and Voting Section: The conversation starts with an explanation of what the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ) does. It is tasked with enforcing America's civil rights laws—including the Voting Rights Act—and consists of 11 sections dealing with various aspects of civil rights (voting, housing, education, anti-discrimination). Impact of Administrative Changes on DOJ Priorities: A significant theme is how changes in presidential administrations can redirect the focus and priorities of the DOJ and its sections—especially the Voting Section. While career attorneys (not political appointees) do most of the day-to-day work, political appointees set overarching priorities. Normally, shifts happen between administrations, but under the Trump administration, changes were described as “radical departures,” shifting focus to investigate noncitizen voting and prioritizing policies aligned with the president rather than traditional civil rights enforcement.Dismissal of Civil Servants and Dismantling of the Voting Section: The episode highlights the mass removal of senior civil servants in the Voting Section under Trump's administration, replacing experienced managers and ordering the dismissal of all active cases. This unprecedented action is portrayed as a clear signal of political influence overriding apolitical legal work—and is said to undermine the department's ability to fulfill its civil rights mandate.Follow Our Host and Guest: @LevinsonJessica@srl

“As you enlist, you get exciting opportunities, hopefully competitive pay, but afterwards, you get a series of benefits that can really help your life." -Paul R. Lawrence Welcome to another insightful episode of the Turmeric & Tequila Podcast, where your host Kristen Olson engages in gracefully disruptive conversations to question a better way. Today, we welcome the esteemed Dr. Paul R. Lawrence to the TNT mic. A longtime advocate and human of service, Dr. Paul R. Lawrence has dedicated his life to helping veterans navigate the often-complex systems of benefits and support. With his new book shedding light on the often-misunderstood benefits available to veterans, this episode dives deep into how we can better serve those who have served us. Kristen and Paul explore the intricacies of veteran benefits, the importance of lived experience in leading veteran-focused initiatives, and the powerful impact of stepping up to make a difference. Alongside this riveting conversation, we'll hear from our sponsor, Lux Neuro, about the transformative power of neurofeedback. Whether you're in the business sector, a veteran, or someone passionate about meaningful change, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of veteran affairs and beyond. Tune in and join the conversation. Time Stamps: 00:00 Passionate Advocacy from Experienced Voices 04:12 From Frustration to Involvement 10:06 Navigating Social Media Information Challenges 10:54 VA Support for Veterans' Mental Health 15:43 Authentic Leadership Through Experience 19:11 "Unexpected Demand for Government Guidance" 21:19 Outlining a Complex Book Structure 26:19 "Influencers as Inspirers" 27:55 Veteran Networking Support 30:54 Embracing Life's Unexpected Paths 33:26 Lux Neuro Sponsorship & Guest Info Paul R. Lawrence is a Public Sector Vice President with Kaiser Associates, a distinctive professional services firm that helps executives make more informed strategic and operational decisions by incorporating external insights and analysis. Paul helps government leaders address their challenges by developing and then implementing unique solutions. Mr. Lawrence has 30 years of experience working closely with government leaders. Prior to joining Kaiser Associates, Mr. Lawrence was a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President with Accenture, an Executive Director with the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM Business Consulting Services, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has researched and written extensively on management and government. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience; What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage; and Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government. He is the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He has testified before Congress and several state legislatures. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the Economic Program at the University of Massachusetts and has served on the Board of Advisors of the Thomas Jefferson Public Policy Program at The College of William and Mary. He was twice selected by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service business leaders. Mr. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Paul Lawrence served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from the Army's Airborne School and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. www.paulrlawrence.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/ BOOK: Veterans Benefits for You: Get What You Deserve ORDER HERE   Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH 

VLOG Feb 10 Judge Engelmayer restrains political appointees in Treasuryhttps://patreon.com/posts/treasury-tussle-121899904…Sean Combs move to dismiss 2d complaint, book:https://amazon.com/dp/B0DHP7YF19Rep Goldman 4 Myrie 4 NYC Mayor, City of Maybehttps://amazon.com/dp/B0DPCKZYSWUN bans Press: litmus test

Political appointees who are resigning on Inauguration Day later this month have some special rules to pay attention to. A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management details how pay, benefits and leave typically work for non-career federal employees resigning at the end of an administration. Impacted appointees will mostly be ending their workdays at noon on January 20th. Because of that, OPM is telling agencies they should only receive a half day of pay. OPM added that resigning appointees should also not accrue annual and sick leave for the pay period that starts next week. That's because they will leave their positions beforecompleting the full pay period. 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.

Political appointees who are resigning on Inauguration Day later this month have some special rules to pay attention to. A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management details how pay, benefits and leave typically work for non-career federal employees resigning at the end of an administration. Impacted appointees will mostly be ending their workdays at noon on January 20th. Because of that, OPM is telling agencies they should only receive a half day of pay. OPM added that resigning appointees should also not accrue annual and sick leave for the pay period that starts next week. That's because they will leave their positions before completing the full pay period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A change in presidential administrations doesn't just mean new policies and priorities in government – it also means new political appointees coming in and others moving out. Grant Haver, a former political appointee in the Department of Homeland Security, knows first-hand the experience of transitioning out of federal government, and the sprint of service political appointees take on. He created a resume bank for presidential employees who served with Team 46. He joins the show to talk about what it's like to serve as a political appointee, why they bring unique skills that can be advantageous across the private sector, and why employers should look to former political appointees for job openings.Like federal employees or service members transitioning, political appointees face specific rules about what jobs they can pursue. Political appointees should heed any advice provided in out-briefings, but take full advantage of career resources like ClearanceJobs.com to help them connect with employers and find government and contract opportunities that match their skillsets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Special Counsel winds down the DC criminal case and the Florida appeal, veteran prosecutors Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann analyze the strategy behind getting a dismissal without prejudice before Donald Trump takes office, while dispelling the notion that Jack Smith “folded” in any way. Then, they head to New York to break down the nuance of Judge Merchan's decision to postpone Trump's sentencing, as he accepts briefing on a motion to dismiss the case that both parties agreed to. And before wrapping up, Mary and Andrew review some of the presumptive nominees Trump has named for top Justice Department posts, and the contrast of working on behalf of a client versus working on behalf of the Constitution.A note to listeners: Since we recorded, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also granted Special Counsel Jack Smith's request to dismiss that appeal without prejudice.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. As a subscriber you'll also be able to get occasional bonus content from this and other shows. 

Even after the New York DA's position with respect to a dismissal of Donald Trump's New York case was filed, there are lingering questions about what happens next with his other criminal cases as he begins his transition back to power and unveils his cabinet nominees. MSNBC legal analysts Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann give an insider's perspective on what a final report in the DC case might look like from Special Counsel Jack Smith, as is a requirement within the special counsel rules. What will it encapsulate? And will it be made public? Next up: a few cases involving J6 rioters have been denied a stay, while others have had their trials postponed, but an overarching theme is that Trump's immunity should not extend to these defendants. And finally, Mary and Andrew ‘nerd out' on the Constitutional process of how a recess appointment works, why the early framers thought it necessary, and how the president-elect is angling to use it to avoid the Senate's long held role of advice and consent when it comes to political appointees.  Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. As a subscriber you'll also be able to get occasional bonus content from this and other shows. This week, you can get a premium-only bonus episode of Chris Hayes' podcast “Why Is This Happening?”. In it, Chris sits down with Rachel Maddow to reflect on lessons learned from this election cycle and what to expect in the new administration, including the recess appointments Andrew and Mary spoke about in this episode. 

Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop examine the role that ideology and interest groups will have on Trump's administration and on his political appointees. Register for Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in Tampa, Florida, on February 22, 2025: Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/AnatomyGet free copies of What Has Government Done to Our Money? at https://Mises.org/RothPodFREEBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop examine the role that ideology and interest groups will have on Trump's administration and on his political appointees. Register for Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in Tampa, Florida, on February 22, 2025: Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/AnatomyGet free copies of What Has Government Done to Our Money? at https://Mises.org/RothPodFREEBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

The Madani Government has made 95 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies so far, a relatively lower number than previous administrations. How can the appointment process be made more transparent? Doris Liew, Assistant Research Manager of the Public Finance Unit at IDEAS Malaysia, unpacks the think tank's latest report.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

In this episode of The Annie Frey Show, Annie and Brad are joined by Hans Von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, to analyze the Merrick Garland-led Department of Justice. They explore allegations of political bias in high-profile cases involving Donald Trump and Joe Biden, examine the DOJ's handling of election integrity issues, and discuss the role of political appointees in shaping the department's actions. Strategies for restoring public trust in the DOJ are also discussed.

Project 2025 is a covert initiative that provides guidelines for potential future political appointees on how to conceal their strategies and avoid leaving incriminating paper trails. Recently unearthed videos have shed light on the methods recommended by Project 2025, revealing a meticulous approach to creating secret plans.The primary advice dispensed by Project 2025 revolves around the importance of hiding their true agendas. This entails crafting a public narrative that masks the underlying objectives of their actions. By presenting a sanitized version of their intentions, appointees can more easily gain public trust and circumvent potential backlash. It's a form of strategic communication aimed at deflecting scrutiny and maintaining a beneficial facade.Additionally, Project 2025 emphasizes the need to avoid paper trails. This involves conducting meetings and communications in ways that do not generate physical or digital records that could later be used as evidence. By minimizing documentation, the risk of exposure through leaks or investigations is significantly reduced. This might include using encrypted communication tools, conducting face-to-face conversations, and relying on informal networks rather than official channels.Moreover, Project 2025 encourages the creation of secret plans, detailing how appointees can develop strategies out of the public eye. These secret plans are purportedly designed to be implemented only when the appointees are in a position to influence policy or decision-making processes effectively. The clandestine nature of these plans ensures that they can be rolled out with minimal resistance or opposition, as they are not subject to preemptive critique or counteraction.In summary, Project 2025 is dedicated to providing a sophisticated roadmap for future political appointees to hide their agendas, avoid paper trails, and create secret plans. These strategies help secure the appointees' positions and facilitate the implementation of their true plans while maintaining a veneer of transparency and ethical conduct.

ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis recently wrote about Paul Dans, the former director of Project 2025 which was created to help build the next Republican administration. Dans has Baltimore roots as the son of a Johns Hopkins professor. According to MacGillis, by the time Dans stepped down from his role with Project 2025, much of the work was in place to develop a large database of Trump loyal appointees to put in federal jobs. MacGillis joins Midday to discuss more about Paul Dans and the details of Project 2025.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Outside of Legislative Hall, Delaware Democrats in Health Care Professions are warning that forcing hospitals' budgets to be controlled by political appointees is dangerous for Delawareans. State House Democrats pushed it through, anyway! House Minority Leader Mike Ramone tells the story to Rick Jensen.

The boys discuss the South Carolina primary, Trump's RNC takeover, a hate crime in Oklahoma, updates on Israel's genocide, and the “sudden death” of a Russian political figure. If you enjoy the show, make sure to support us on Patreon and social media! HITO MERCH: https://headintheoffice.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headintheofficepod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4iJ-UcnRxYnaYsX_SNjFJQ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headintheoffice?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headintheoffice/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/headintheoffice Discord: https://discord.gg/hito  HITO Extras: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UoTN328OA7fK2dzicP-ZA  Collab inquiries: headintheofficepod@gmail.com

(2/12/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Congressional Research Service is hiring a new director. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services completed 10 million cases last year, to boast a 15% backlog reduction. And a decade of no pay raises continues for the Vice President and senior political appointees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(2/12/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Congressional Research Service is hiring a new director. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services completed 10 million cases last year, to boast a 15% backlog reduction. And a decade of no pay raises continues for the Vice President and senior political appointees. 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.

One of the best things a politically appointed agency head can do, but too often he or she does not, is what this guest will address. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bob Tobias, professor of good government and long-time labor-management observer. 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.

One of the best things a politically appointed agency head can do, but too often he or she does not, is what this guest will address. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bob Tobias, professor of good government and long-time labor-management observer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I were to tell you that you could work for an employer where your chances of being fired were essentially zero. A place where you were rewarded not for performance or excellence, or even results, but simply for showing up. When you feel like it. An employer of more than 2 million people—so benevolent that it fires only 4,000 employees in an average year. That's a rate of 2 people per 1,000 individuals or 0.2 percent—20 times lower than the recent, and historically low, rate of 4 percent for American companies. Now consider the ramifications on employee behavior, and the types of employees that policy attracts. How hard would you work if no matter how poorly you performed you had virtually no chance of being fired? Of course, we're talking about our nation's largest employer—the federal government. A government typified by its complete inability to fire employees for poor performance or outright incompetence. ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

It's been announced that all political appointees will be let go, with immediate effect. We discuss whether all political appointments are made in bad faith, how crucial these terminations are in the overall quest for insitutional reform and whether this move poses a political risk for Prime Minister Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.Image source: 123rf.com

The peaceful transfer of power from one presidential administration to another, or from a first to second term, is the cornerstone of American democracy. In this episode of “Profiles in Public Service,” Rachel Klein-Kircher and Loren DeJonge Schulman are joined by three practitioners and experts on presidential transitions who discuss the major challenges the Biden-Harris team had to overcome during the toughest transition in modern U.S. history, how a new administration identifies, recruits and nominates the right people to fill the nearly 4,000 presidential appointee positions who serve across government, and lessons that can be learned by examining the complex process that is fundamental to our democracy. Our expert guests include: Gautam Raghavan, the current director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel for the Biden Administration and a former presidential team lead for Biden-Harris transition. David Marchick, author of, “The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of Presidential Transitions,” a joint project between The University of Virginia Press, UVA's Miller Center, and the Partnership for Public Service, released in October 2022. Valerie Smith Boyd, current director of the Partnership's Center for Presidential Transition. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Additional resources: Purchase “The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of Presidential Transitions.” Read Valerie Smith Boyd's blog post about the importance of chronicling presidential transitions. Learn more about the Center for Presidential Transition. Listen to Transition Lab, a podcast from the Partnership for Public Service. Learn more about the White House Personnel Office. Submit your resume to serve as a political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration. Explore internship opportunities at The Executive Office of the President. Apply to be a White House Fellow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode: Late last year, a small group of people appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed utility giant Florida Power & Light to raise electricity rates by roughly $5 billion over the next four years. But this record-setting rate hike is even more generous than you think. Today, we're talking about equity ratios, ROEs and RSAMs — and how you're paying more for power because of them. (Transcript)Further Reading:Miami Herald: Residential customers to bear brunt of $1.5 billion FPL rate hikeFloridians Against Increased Rates: Initial brief before the Florida Supreme CourtFlorida Power & Light: Answer brief before the Florida Supreme CourtSeeking Rents: Florida Power & Light pocketed $1 billion in tax cuts for itself. But now it can pass tax increases on to its customersContact: Garcia.JasonR@gmail.comFollow: Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show: Apple | Spotify Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

Cybersecurity abides as a top concern for federal agencies. And at a growing number of agencies, you find political appointees in charge of cybersecurity. That's not a great idea according to my next guest. Bob Tobias is a professor in the key executive leadership program at American University.

There are more questions than answers over the controversial Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, as the president of Nigeria is already asking executive council members who are vying for political positions in 2023 to resign.Who will be spared and why?In this episode of Nigeria Daily we discuss the development.

On this episode of the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to be joined by former Under Secretary for Benefits in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Paul R. Lawrence. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Lawrence generously shares details of his background and upbringing, his military career and transition, and his post-military career in the private sector before giving us a behind the scenes look at his time as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Lawrence talks about the priorities that he focused on as Under Secretary, including getting veterans the benefits they earned in a manner that honors their service, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration -- working more with veterans' stakeholders like VSOs, nonprofits, and others who wanted to help. A businessman, author, and passionate veteran advocate with 35 years of experience solving management problems in large, complex organizations, Lawrence also shares what he continues to do to advocate for veterans today. As a private sector executive, Lawrence was a consulting Partner at two Big-Four accounting firms and a Vice President in two Fortune 500 companies. He is a government management thought leader, having written several books on the subject. For almost three years, Lawrence served as Under Secretary of Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 26, 2018. As Under Secretary, he was in charge of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leading a team of 25,000 people with an operating budget of $4 billion, administering $120 billion in benefits annually. He implemented proven business practices, streamlined the bureaucracy, and created a public presence rebranding VBA as an organization successfully supporting Veterans. Prior to becoming a political appointee, Lawrence was a Vice President at Kaiser Associates, a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President at Accenture, a Senior Director at the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has written extensively on management, government, and technology. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience, What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage, Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government and the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He serves on the Board of Directors of Vets2Industry, a non-profit organization helping Veterans pursue a career in the private sector. He is also a Senior Advisor to Search & Acquire, a non-profit focused on helping Veterans become CEOs via Entrepreneurship through Acquisition. He was selected three times by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service leaders. In 2019 he was recognized as Government Executive of the Year by Service to the Citizen. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He is an Army Veteran. He completed his ROTC requirement as an Airborne-qualified Captain. Find Paul Lawrence on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/. Lawrence's book, “Transforming Service to Veterans: How I Pursued Performance Excellence at the Veterans Benefits Administration in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Service-Veterans-Performance-Administration/dp/B09DMQZN4N/   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

In this episode of The Big Issue, we would discuss what is happening in Kano, where the state government said all contestants for the executive offices of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state congress scheduled for October 16 would be subjected to mandatory drug tests. Disclosing this on Monday, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muhammad Garba, said all contestants are to visit the state office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) starting from today to the closing of the screening exercise for the test.

In today's Federal Newscast, one agency is testing the idea of not having cars at their executives' beckon call.

Working with Political Appointees

During the pandemic, high unemployment, and hundreds of businesses closed MLG doles out substantial raises to staff. BV unravels the possible political ramifications of this on News Radio KKOB

On the final episode of Transition Lab, David Marchick is joined by guest host Yamiche Alcindor, the White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a political contributor for NBC News and MSNBC. As one of America’s leading journalists, Alcindor covered a transition like no other, one marked by a global pandemic and an economic recession, a racial reckoning, a president’s attempts to overturn a fair election, and an attack on the Capitol. In this episode, Alcindor interviews Transition Lab’s regular host, David Marchick, about this historic period. Marchick, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition, describes how the Trump and Biden teams approached this transition cycle, how the delay in ascertainment and Capitol insurrection impacted the transition, and how this transition stacks up against previous ones.

Chris Liddell is the Trump administration’s leading transition expert. A deputy chief of staff, he previously served as executive director of the Romney transition team and helped author The Romney Readiness Project, a comprehensive presidential transition guide. In this episode of Transition Lab, Liddell joins host David Marchick to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the 2020 transition. Liddell talks about managing a delayed post-election transition, his experiences working with the Biden team and how he reacted to the recent attack on the Capitol.

This week’s episode of Transition Lab features Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden-Harris transition. He previously worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and held several positions in the Obama White House, including senior advisor to the National Economic Council and deputy assistant to the president for the Office of Public Engagement and International Affairs. Later, he helped direct Obama’s 2012 campaign and served as chief operating officer for the newly established Obama Foundation.

The Federal Aviation Administration late Thursday said that five non-career staff members at the agency will resign effective Monday in the wake of the assault on the U.S. Capitol, including the acting No. 2 official.The email from FAA chief of staff Angela Stubblefield said all our non-career staff members here at FAA that had been appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump were resigning.

This week’s episode of Transition Lab focuses on the Senate confirmation process with Phil Schiliro and Candi Wolff.Wolff, the head of global government affairs at Citi, served as the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs under President George W. Bush. She was the first woman to hold that position. Schiliro worked on Capitol Hill for nearly three decades before serving as congressional liaison for the 2008 Obama transition and director of legislative affairs for the Obama White House. He helped pass numerous laws during his long career, including the 1990 Clean Air Act and the Affordable Care Act. In this episode, host David Marchick speaks with Schiliro and Wolff about how legislative affairs teams help move presidential nominees through the Senate, the slow Senate confirmation process and how President-elect Biden might manage his relationship with the Senate in 2021.

Ted Kaufman and President-elect Joe Biden go way back. Kaufman helped organize Biden's first Senate office in 1972 and served as his chief of staff for nearly two decades. Kaufman left the Senate in 1994, but later returned to fill his old boss’s seat after Biden became Barack Obama’s vice president in 2009. More recently, Kaufman helped pass two laws, one in 2010 and another in 2016, that improved the presidential transition process. He currently co-chairs the Biden-Harris transition team. In this episode of Transition Lab—the first to focus on the Biden transition to power—host David Marchick asks Kaufman to discuss Biden’s transition planning process. Marchick also discusses with Kaufman how he became a leading transition expert, why the Biden-Harris transition will serve as a model for future transition teams and how he has approached the unique challenges of the 2020 transition cycle.

Sam hosts ProPublica reporter Lydia DePillis (@lydiadepillis) to discuss her recent story on burrowing efforts by the Trump campaign, "How Dozens of Trump’s Political Appointees Will Stay in Government After Biden Takes Over." On today's show: Bernie shares frustration that Washington always has money for Pentagon and Wall St. but never hungry kids. Sam hosts ProPublica reporter Lydia DePillis (@lydiadepillis) to discuss her recent story on burrowing efforts by the Trump campaign, "How Dozens of Trump’s Political Appointees Will Stay in Government After Biden Takes Over." In this piece, she explains how political appointees become permanent civil servants and how Trump's appointees, in particular, could stick around doing damage. Also: What Joe Biden could do to get rid of them. On the fun half: Kayleigh campaign secretary says lawsuit shows chances Biden would win after initial vote reporting was infintesimally small. Trump upset he got so many votes and lost, wants GOP electors to have courage to do the right thing, tells general "good luck" on distribution. Asked about WH holiday parties, Trump corrects journalist, "they're Christmas parties" and they've reduced numbers. Rudy Giuliani tells Don Imus he's "doing fine" with Covid. Texas AG explains he's suing on behalf of other states (GA, WI, AZ, NV) because it's a national election. Matt Walsh says woke Santa is anti-male and feminizes boys, says male tendency towards violence is good. DailyWire Christmas ornaments. Katie Porter Twitter thread says Mitch McConnell is the one holding up bipartisan Covid relief. Protestors force police to leave eviction site in Portland. Plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com Check out the Brand New Majority Report Merch Shop https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ (Merch issues and concerns can be addressed here: majorityreportstore@mirrorimage.com) The AM Quickie is now on YouTube Subscribe to the AM Quickie at https://fans.fm/amquickie Make the AMQ part of your Alexa Flash Briefing too! You can now watch the livestream on Twitch Check out today's sponsors: Literati is the subscription book club that makes it easy to find unique and interesting books for your kids by delivering great stories straight to your doorstep. For a limited time, go to literati.com/majority for 25% off your first two orders. GiveWell: For over ten years GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. New GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org/MAJORITY and select PODCAST and Majority Report at checkout. Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Subscribe to AM Quickie writer Corey Pein’s podcast News from Nowhere, at https://www.patreon.com/newsfromnowhere Check out The Nomiki Show live at 3 pm ET on YouTube at patreon.com/thenomikishow Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes. Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or at twitch.tv/theantifada Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @JamieElizabeth @MattLech @BF1nn

Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) is the chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, a bipartisan panel that has produced nearly 100 recommendations focused on improving the way Congress works. During this episode of Transition Lab, Kilmer joined host David Marchick to discuss the panel’s recommendations for increasing civility, bipartisanship and trust among members of Congress, helping new members transition from campaigning to governing and better preparing the institution for emergencies such as the ongoing pandemic.

Host David Marchick, along with award winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, former George W. Bush chief of staff Josh Bolten, and historian Eric Rauchway, reflects on the current state of the transition, the costs of delay, and how this moment will be remembered.

Sam and Emma break down the stories of the week, including Trump's efforts to install conservative ideologues in career government positions. Sam and Emma discuss the potential of meaningful economic stimulus from the Biden administration in the form of student loan forgiveness, the ramifications of Trump blocking the Biden transition team, and why Democrats are always carrying water for GOP Senators. And in the Fun Half: Nomi breaks down how Dems need to target down-ballot races, voter-targeting software monopolies, Sherrod Brown calls out maskless GOP senator Dan Sullivan, Greg Gutfeld can't acknowledge human suffering, revisiting Ted Cruz's Covid prediction in July was dead wrong, Fox News is now concerned about family separations because Thanksgiving is in jeopardy, taking the troops out of the Middle East is actually more dangerous according to CNN, plus your IMs! Check out the Brand New Majority Report Merch Shop https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ (Merch issues and concerns can be addressed here: majorityreportstore@mirrorimage.com) The AM Quickie is now on YouTube Subscribe to the AM Quickie at https://fans.fm/amquickie Make the AMQ part of your Alexa Flash Briefing too! You can now watch the livestream on Twitch Check out today's sponsors: Hunt a Killer reinvents the way we interact with murder mysteries. Right now, just for our listeners, you can go to huntakiller.com/majority and use promo code MAJORITY at check out for 20% off your first box. Feetures Elite Sock keeps feet cool, dry, and blister-free while providing a custom-like fit that won’t bunch or slip. They’ve engineered a sock with targeted compression, anatomical design and moisture-wicking material for unsurpassed performance. Feetures socks will change how you feel about socks forever. And you can get ten dollars off your first pair of Feetures when you use code MAJORITY at feetures.com. SteadyMD: Now more than ever, we’re all thinking about our health – but it can be hard to even imagine going to a doctor’s office right now. Thankfully, there’s a practical and affordable way to take control of your health and get personalized care from the comfort of your home. can help you get and stay healthy, manage chronic conditions and concerns, reduce stress, boost your immunity, and much more. Go to SteadyMD.com/majority to take the FREE quiz and see which doctor is a perfect fit for you. Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.substack.com/ Subscribe to AM Quickie writer Corey Pein’s newsletter at theend.substack.com Check out The Nomiki Show at patreon.com/thenomikishow Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes. Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or at twitch.tv/theantifada Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @jamie_elizabeth @BF1nn

Melody Barnes has had a distinguished political career. She has worked in various roles on Capitol Hill, held senior positions with the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign and transition teams, and led the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2009-2012. Currently, she is the co-director for policy and public affairs at the University of Virginia’s Democracy Initiative. In this episode of Transition Lab, Barnes joined host David Marchick to discuss post-election transition planning, how new administrations plan and implement policy and why we need a smooth transfer of power today.

On this week’s episode of Transition Lab, host David Marchick unpacks the contested 2000 election with David J. Barram, who served as GSA administrator from 1996-2000. Barram discusses the process of ascertainment, his work during the 2000 election and how that contest differed from the 2020 race. Find out more at the Center for Presidential Transition.

The debate over the Trump administration's order to create a new civil service Schedule F - most of it has focused on the effects on career employees. But what about the public? My next guest says it will erode trust in government. Bob Tobias, professor in the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more insight.

John Podesta served as President Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff from 1998 to 2001, founded the Center for American Progress, was the co-chair of Barack Obama’s presidential transition in 2008-2009 and chaired Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016 while overseeing her pre-election transition activities. Podesta talked to Transition Lab Host David Marchick about his transition experiences during victorious and unsuccessful elections, offered advice on political and judicial appointments, suggested climate change will be high on Joe Biden’s agenda if he wins and discussed the challenges Biden may face with the Trump White House if he becomes the president-elect.

The news about that new Schedule F executive order will not stop. The National Treasury Employees Union is suing the Trump administration over the order. And three prominent House Democrats introduced new legislation to try to block it. This all comes a day after the chairman of an influential if little-known advisory council resigned in protest over the Schedule F executive order. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to explain what all is going on.

This week’s episode of Transition Lab features three leaders from the Partnership for Public Service. One is special guest host Loren DeJonge Schulman, a national security expert who spent 10 years at the Defense Department and National Security Council, most recently as the senior advisor to National Security Advisor Susan Rice during the Obama administration. Currently, she serves as the vice president of Research and Evaluation at the Partnership. Joining Schulman is Max Stier, the Partnership’s president and CEO, and David Marchick, director of the Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition, who previously held several positions in the Clinton administration and worked as an executive at the Carlyle Group. In this episode, Stier and Marchick discuss the center’s work, their concerns about the 2020 transition cycle and why transitions have improved in recent years.

On October 2, the Center for Presidential Transition, the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, and several presidential foundations and libraries hosted a virtual conference called “Talking Transitions: Perspectives for First-term and Second-term Administrations.” The event included former government officials, journalists and scholars to discuss managing presidential transitions during national crises.You can view the full event here. This week’s episode of Transition Lab features one panel discussion from this conference. Participants included a who’s who of former federal leaders and transition experts: Stephen Hadley, a longtime foreign policy specialist who served as George W. Bush’s national security advisor; Lisa Monaco, President Obama’s second-term homeland security advisor; Barbara Perry, a renowned historian and the director of presidential studies at the Miller Center; and John Podesta, a chief of staff for President Clinton who later chaired the 2008 Obama transition. Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2009 to 2012, moderated the discussion. Conversation topics included how administrations address national security threats, share intelligence and enunciate long-term policy goals during presidential transitions. They also discussed the role of Congress in facilitating smooth transfers of power and how COVID-19 will affect the 2020 transition.

Stephen Hadley held key national security positions in three Republican administrations before working on the George W. Bush transition in 2000-2001 and serving as Bush’s national security advisor. Kurt Campbell is an expert on East Asian affairs who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, and co-authored, “Difficult Transitions: Foreign Policy Troubles at the Outset of Presidential Power.” In this episode of Transition Lab, Hadley and Campbell join host David Marchick to discuss their experiences during presidential transitions and their concerns about the potential fallout from 2020 election. They also offer advice to Joe Biden’s transition team and those planning for a second term for President Trump.

Michael Froman has had an extraordinary career. After serving in the Department of the Treasury under President Clinton, he became the head of personnel for the 2008 Obama-Biden transition team and later served as a White House deputy national security advisor and as the U.S. Trade Representative. In this episode of Transition Lab, host David Marchick asks Froman for an inside look at the world of vetting, selecting and appointing key presidential personnel. They discuss how Froman got involved in transition planning, the lessons his experience holds for future administrations and President Obama’s personnel strategy.

John Dickerson has covered Washington politics for more than two decades as a reporter for Time, Slate Magazine and CBS News. He previously hosted Face the Nation, currently works as a correspondent for 60 Minutes and is the recent author of “The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency,” which examines the complex challenges faced by our nation’s chief executives throughout history. In this episode of Transition Lab, host David Marchick spoke with Dickerson about his experience covering presidents, why presidents often struggle with their transition to the White House, how we should view the presidency and how Joe Biden and Donald Trump would govern if elected in November.

Agency review – the process of informing new administrations about the work of the federal government’s various departments – is a critical aspect of presidential transition planning. In this episode of Transition Lab, host David Marchick speaks to Lisa Brown, co-chair of agency review for the 2008 Obama-Biden transition team. Marchick and Brown discuss how this process works, why it is so important and the critical role played by career staff.

Since launching in January 2020, Transition Lab has offered a close look at the world of presidential transition planning, featuring in-depth interviews with those who have organized, led and written about some of the most notable transfers of power in U.S. history. In this episode, host David Marchick shares the most important takeaways, poignant stories and surprising moments from these interviews. Utilizing episode highlights, presidential recordings and historical news clips, Marchick takes us back in time – from the 1930s to the present – to illustrate how transitions work, why they are important and the lessons they hold for both today and tomorrow. Topics discussed include the importance of good staffing; why transition teams and campaign teams don’t always get along; how successful transitions breed successful presidencies; why bipartisanship during a transition matters; and how administrations try to learn from the missteps of previous transitions. Transition Lab is the official podcast of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that strives to make our federal government more effective, innovative and responsive to the people it serves.

Ed Meier and Richard Bagger ran the presidential transitions teams for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, respectively, during the run up to the 2016 election. In this Transition Lab episode, host David Marchick, spoke with Meier and Bagger about preparing to lead presidential transitions teams, navigating strategic differences with campaign staff, shaping the public's perception of transition planning and the results of the 2016 election.

Nancy Cook and Andrew Restuccia know all about presidential transitions. They currently write about transition planning and presidential politics for Politico and the Wall Street Journal, respectively, and previously collaborated on several transition stories during the 2016 election. In this Transition Lab episode, host David Marchick asked Cook and Restuccia about their experiences covering presidential transitions, the 2020 candidates’ current plans, the big transition storylines to expect in the coming months and the ways in which a sound transition strategy can make governing easier.

Josh Bolten and Denis McDonough are well-versed in presidential transitions. As former White House chiefs of staff for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, respectively, they helped usher new administrations into office and prepare presidents for their second terms. In this Transition Lab episode, host David Marchick spoke with Bolten and McDonough about how they helped orchestrate successful transfers of power, fostered bipartisanship during those difficult times and helped set the standard for successful transitions today.

Michael Morell is a leading intelligence analyst with over 30 years of experience at the CIA, including running the agency. Before retiring from the CIA in 2013, Morell worked for six different presidents and served as former President George W. Bush’s daily intelligence briefer, including on 9/11. In this Transition Lab episode, host David Marchick joined Morell for a wide-ranging discussion about intelligence-sharing during presidential elections and transitions, foreign interference during presidential elections, and how the 2020 candidates can build strong relationships with the intelligence community.

Mary Gibert has one of the most important jobs in Washington today, preparing the federal government for a possible presidential transition. As the federal transition coordinator at the General Services Administration, Gibert and her team are working closely with the White House, the campaign of Democrat Joseph Biden and the federal agencies. In this Transition Lab episode, host David Marchick speaks to Gibert about GSA’s responsibilities in the transition process, the support it will provide to the incumbent president and the challenger, and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected transition planning.

Presidential nominating conventions are major moments for any campaign. Reverend Leah Daughtry and Maria Cino served as the CEO's of Democratic and Republican conventions, respectively. They join host David Marchick on Transition Lab to discuss the role of conventions in political campaigns, whether they give a boost to the candidates, and how the COVID-19 pandemic will change conventions this year and in the future.

Women are vastly underrepresented in leadership roles within the federal government and in national security fields. In this Transition Lab episode, Jamie Jones Miller, a former principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs, and Nina Hachigian, a former U.S. ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, talk with host David Marchick about their own careers in government, how they handled uncomfortable situations and the importance of bringing more women into leadership positions. Both women are members of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security, an organization dedicated to improving gender diversity in the national security field.

Donald Trump‘s 2016-17 presidential transition was famously bumpy in part because the president-elect made a change in transition leadership only days after the election. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was chairman of the Trump transition team from May 2016 until shortly after Election Day and he had done extensive preparation to help the new president be ready to govern. On this episode of Transition Lab, Gov. Christie tells host David Marchick how he planned the transition and where it went wrong. Gov. Christie also offers some advice for 2020 and ponders his own future.

The Office of Presidential Personnel faces the herculean task of helping a president select about 4,000-political appointees at the beginning of a new administration and throughout a president’s four-year term. Jonathan McBride and Liza Wright, former directors of the PPO under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, respectively, join host David Marchick on Transition Lab to share their advice on how to land a political appointment and some of the challenges they faced managing the personnel operation.

George W. Bush had the shortest official transition in history at just 39 days, but secured more political appointees during his first year in office than any other modern president. Clay Johnson, who served as the executive director of Bush’s transition and later as director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, tells host Dave Marchick how Bush brought many of his personnel practices as Texas governor to Washington, how he started his transition early, solicited advice from seasoned Washington veterans and maintained a focus on planning for the new administration even the results of the 2000 election were in dispute.

James Baker worked on five transitions and served in four presidential administrations, including as White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and as Secretary of State for President George H.W. Bush. Baker joins host David Marchick on Transition Lab to discuss his long and distinguished career on the national stage.

The vetting process for individuals seeking a political appointment can be long and difficult; the more senior the position, the more scrutiny appointees receive. Powerhouse attorneys Leslie Kiernan and Robert Rizzi have helped countless political appointees navigate the vetting process. They share their expertise with host David Marchick, describing the appointment process, what might disqualify an individual, and how the rules change with each administration.

Abraham Lincoln faced the worst circumstances during a presidential transition in U.S. history, with seven Southern states having seceded from the Union before he took the oath of office on March 4, 1861. Historian Ted Widmer tells host David Marchick about Lincoln's two-week train ride from Illinois to Washington, D.C. in February 1861 that helped him find his voice, build public support, and set the tone for his presidency. He also describes how Lincoln navigated around a plot to assassinate him in Baltimore.

President Herbert Hoover and President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt failed to cooperate in any matter during the four-month transition that occurred in the midst of the Great Depression. Eric Rauchway, an expert on the New Deal and the Progressive Era, shared his expertise on how Roosevelt utilized his time between the election and the inauguration to set in motion one of the most successful presidencies in American history despite Hoover’s unwillingness to ease the way.

Mack McLarty, former White House chief of staff, shared insights on the Clinton transition as well as President Clinton’s first year in office, as well as the privilege of serving alongside the president, a friend from childhood.

Filmmaker Ken Burns and historian Geoffrey Ward have captured American history by collaborating on documentaries like “The Civil War” and “The Roosevelts.” The two shared stories with Transition Lab about the biggest crises in our nation’s history – from the Civil War to the Great Depression to Vietnam – and how our past informs the present.

Professor Michael Nelson, an expert on the American presidency, joins Transition Lab to discuss the political dynamics that define a president’s first and second term. Nelson explains how new presidents can maximize their impact during their first year in office and outlines the challenges two-term presidents face during their fifth year.

Director of the White House Transition Project, Martha Kumar discusses the history of presidential transitions. Kumar outlines how the Presidential Transition Act changed transition planning, the importance of White House design for a successful first year in office and talks about the best—and worst—presidential transitions.

Andrew Card, chief of staff to President George W. Bush and deputy chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush, shares his perspective on the surprisingly challenging “friendly” transition from President Reagan to President George H. W. Bush. Card shares insights from his distinguished career in the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush Administrations.

Four-star Admiral James Stavridis and former General Motors CEO Dan Akerson distinguished themselves as exceptional leaders during times of crisis. Join us on Transition Lab to learn how effective leaders operate during times of uncertainty. Stavridis and Akerson discuss how public and private sector leaders can navigate the challenges posed by the coronavirus.

Stephanie Cutter, spokesperson for the Obama-Biden transition in 2008 and nationally recognized communications strategist, shares her perspective on managing the Obama-Biden transition during the global financial crisis. She explains how the communications team positioned then president-elect Barack Obama in the public eye, how the team approached the economic crisis and how they managed the period from the election to Inauguration Day.

Author Michael Lewis shares insights on the coronavirus pandemic and stories from “The Fifth Risk.” Lewis discusses the critical role federal employees play in managing the crisis, and his advice for presidential transition teams. Lewis also outlines the importance of effective government management, both in times of crisis and times of normalcy, and why we need to rethink what we’re told about the career officials running our federal government.

Admiral Thad Allen, talks about his experience leading the U.S. response to some of the most challenging modern crises. Named the “Master of Disaster” by TIME Magazine, Allen discusses the coronavirus pandemic and how to find calm in times of panic.

Former U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen led the U.S. response to some of the most challenging modern crises including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Allen discusses how he kept morale high when communicating with disaster recovery teams, media and the country during times of panic.

Former governor of Utah and Romney Transition chairman, Mike Leavitt, shares how he planned the 2012 presidential transition had Mitt Romney won the election. Leavitt describes his experience leading the first transition to operate under the Presidential Transition Act of 2010, how the new guidelines changed the narrative around transition planning and how his team planned to follow the “gold standard” president Bush and Obama set in the 2008 transition.

Anita McBride, Laura Bush’s chief of staff, shares insights on the evolution of the first lady’s role throughout history, challenges they face transitioning to the White House and how the role could change after this year’s election. McBride also explores the unique challenges first ladies have faced, the timeless pressures associated with the role and her personal experience working with first lady Laura Bush.

Stuart Eizenstat and David Rubenstein discuss their experience working on the Carter campaign, the transition and their own work in the Carter administration. The two explain that while Carter had an enormously consequential one-term presidency, the flawed transition had a lasting, negative impact on Carter’s presidency.

Head of Barack Obama’s 2008 transition, Chris Lu explains how the Obama team planned for effective governance on day one. In this conversation, Lu shares his role in the 2008 transition and the challenges he faced coordinating the biggest hand off of power in the world. He gives insights from his own experience and lays out the key elements for success in presidential transitions.

Former Undersecretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy shares insights from her experience running the Agency Review team for the Obama transition and serving as Undersecretary of Defense. Flournoy also discusses the challenges associated with transitioning during an ongoing conflict, and the underrepresentation of women in national security.

Few have served with more distinction than Josh Bolten and Denis McDonough, Chiefs of Staff for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In this conversation, they talk about three types of transitions - into government, to a second term, and the handoff to the next Administration.

The Clinton and Trump transition leaders share what happened during the 2016 election. In this conversation, Rich Bagger (Trump) and Ed Meier (Clinton) discuss how they became involved with presidential transition, the challenges they faced while preparing for a presidential transition and what ended up happening after election day 2016.

Transition Lab is the new podcast from the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition. Hosted by the Center's Director, David Marchick, this podcast series provides the most definitive discussion of all issues related to Presidential transitions. This premier episode introduces you former presidential chiefs of staff, transition leaders and other presidential transition experts who have who helped manage transitions into government, into a second term, and out of government.

Federal employees are used to seeing political appointees come and go, and they're used to responding to changing priorities. But it helps if those priorities are clearly communicated. That didn't happen during the leadership changeover at the top of the State Department, and the Government Accountability Office said it's one big reason State has made relatively little progress on its agency reform plans. Out of 17 management reforms the department outlined to Congress last February, only one has been accomplished. Jason Bair is acting director for International Affairs and Trade Issues at GAO. He talked with Jared Serbu about what State can do to speed things along on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

The Office of Special Counsel surprised the federal community with last week's recommendation that White House aide Kellyanne Conway get canned. OSC found her to be a serial breaker of the Hatch Act, a venerable law that prohibits politics on the job, whether by appointees or career employees. Attorney Joanna Friedman, a partner at the Federal Practice Group, offered a short refresher on the Hatch Act for Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Try and look up all of the political appointees now working in the federal government. You can't, at least not without considerable effort. For why this is the case and what can be done to fix it, Kris Nguyen, acting director for strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

President Donald Trump said he would consider asking his cabinet members to reject a pay raise that political appointees were supposed to get in early January. But he might not even have to ask. The Office of Personnel Management now is encouraging agencies to hold off on processing those raises. Let's face it, the optics aren't good considering 800,000 federal employees are going with zero pay during the government shutdown. The entire situation is yet another consequence of government's collective failure to pass appropriations bills or provide stop-gap funding for agencies ahead of time. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for the latest.

In today's Federal Newscast, a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee bill would create stronger laws to prevent political appointees from becoming career federal employees.

Four Democratic senators have introduce a bill that would crack down on wasteful spending by political appointees.

The Defense Department's personnel and readiness office has five vacant leadership spots. That could be detrimental to a military with ambition recruitment and retention goals. The Air Force reserve is as telling some airmen they've got to stay in for six more months. Federal News Radio's Scott Maucione joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to provide more context.

In today's Federal Newscast, unless Congress makes a change in any upcoming spending bills, the pay freeze placed on the Vice President and other senior political appointees will stay in place for this year.

The 248th edition of America's Debate Radio with Mike and Jaime. During the first hour, we discussed the agenda of the incoming Congress, and the attempts to repeal the healthcare law. During the second hour, we spoke with 3 callers and discussed winter weather, reappointment based on the 2010 census, unemployment, political appointees, and economic stability. During the final hour, we discussed odd and unusual news. Submit your own stories at AllegedlyNews.com. We welcome your feedback! Have your email read on the air-- click here to use the email form. Or, call 888.DEBATE.5 now and leave a message-- we'll play it on the next show. Thanks for listening!