Listening to America

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As America’s cities grapple with post-pandemic challenges like rising crime, economic uncertainty, and strained public services, urban leaders are rethinking how to govern, collaborate, and rebuild. Governing’s Winter Issue explores these dynamics, highlighting how mayors, philanthropies, and city planners are reshaping the urban landscape through redevelopment projects, innovative partnerships, and efforts to reclaim public spaces —while confronting persistent policy hurdles like AI regulation and social media’s societal impact.

Governing* Editor Alan Greenblatt and Senior Writer Jared Brey join the podcast to discuss their reporting on the future of American cities.

Show Notes

Here are the top-five takeaways from this episode:

Urban Governance Under Scrutiny

Major U.S. cities, predominantly led by Democratic mayors, face governance challenges heightened by pandemic-driven issues like remote work, crime, and homelessness. Alan Greenblatt highlights how these crises have tested mayors’ abilities and strained city resources, fueling public dissatisfaction and political consequences. 2. Reclaiming the Built Environment

Jared Brey’s reporting on New Haven, Conn., illustrates efforts to reverse the damage caused by mid-20th century urban renewal projects. Mayor Justin Elicker’s administration focuses on making highways and surrounding areas safer and more accessible, aiming to reshape urban spaces for residents' well-being and community engagement. 3. Foundations as City Builders

Greenblatt’s piece on Pittsburgh reveals how philanthropic foundations are transforming from passive donors into active investors. By funding large-scale urban redevelopment projects like tech-driven manufacturing hubs, foundations play roles once reserved for municipal governments, reshaping economic futures. 4. Mayors as Conveners and Collaborators

While mayors have limited direct authority in complex urban ecosystems, they serve as critical connectors. By rallying business, university, and philanthropic leaders, mayors can drive urban development, leveraging their positions to coordinate diverse stakeholders for city-wide improvements. 5. Emerging Policy Challenges

Looking ahead, Governing’s “Issues to Watch” package explores pressing topics, including city budget constraints, crime, and new tech governance challenges like regulating AI and social media use. These evolving issues underscore the complexity of urban policymaking in the coming year.

The magazine features mentioned in this episode will post on governing.com on January 3, 2025.

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Governing and Government Technology are divisions of e.Republic LLC.*

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In 2024, state and local governments navigated a rapidly evolving technology landscape that placed artificial intelligence, cybersecurity resilience, digital equity, accessibility and user experience at the top of their agendas. These pressing issues fueled a surge in AI-focused legislation, prompted tighter security measures following high-profile disruptions, advanced broadband initiatives and inclusive design mandates, and inspired ever more user-centric digital services.

Government Technology staff writers Julia Edinger and Ashley Silver and Governing Senior Staff Writer Jule Pattison-Gordon join the podcast to talk through the magazine’s year-in-review issue.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

AI’s Growing Role and Regulation: State and local governments moved quickly to embrace artificial intelligence in 2024, going beyond pilot projects into everyday operations. Lawmakers introduced hundreds of AI-related bills, and agencies formed task forces, appointed executive-level AI leaders and joined coalitions to develop policies and governance. Yet, most jurisdictions still lack fully mature frameworks, leaving them to catch up as employees and constituents turn to AI tools.
Cybersecurity Threats and Responses: Cyber incidents underscored the critical need for stronger security measures. From faulty software updates at cybersecurity vendors to attacks on infrastructure players like health-care clearinghouses, governments grappled with complex challenges. The state and local cybersecurity grant program spurred greater adoption of .gov domains and fostered closer ties among jurisdictions, though concerns remain about long-term funding and political will.
Digital Equity and Broadband Expansion: With robust federal funding, states crafted digital equity plans, securing grants and advancing broadband projects to close connectivity gaps. The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program fueled progress, and states focused on making websites, services and tools more accessible, aiming for inclusivity to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards and serve diverse populations.
Accessibility and Inclusion: Government leaders turned their attention to ensuring digital content meets accessibility guidelines. States appointed chief accessibility officers, implemented training and adopted assistive technologies. The moves aim to serve people with disabilities more effectively while also providing intuitive interfaces that benefit all users.
Evolving Government Experience: Agencies increasingly put user experience at the forefront. AI chatbots, streamlined permitting systems and mobile-friendly platforms saved constituents time and reshaped public interaction with government. While high-tech solutions often prevailed, officials balanced convenience with oversight, data governance and a renewed focus on inclusivity and trust in digital services.

Related Link to stories referenced in the episode:

Year in Review 2024: AI Impacts All Areas of Gov Tech

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In this episode of The Future in Context, host Ashley Silver speaks with Cody Tyler, managing director at EXOS CYBER, about the critical cybersecurity challenges facing state and local governments. The discussion explores why government agencies are frequent targets for cyber criminals, the dual role of artificial intelligence in security, and the importance of workforce training to combat these evolving threats.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Government agencies are prime targets for cyber criminals.

Government agencies, Tyler explains, face increased cyber threats because of their critical role in maintaining essential services such as power and water, their access to sensitive data, and their reliance on outdated systems. These factors make them susceptible to ransomware, phishing and data theft, with artificial intelligence enabling more sophisticated attacks.

Multifactor authentication and user awareness training are essential.

The conversation emphasizes that multifactor authentication can prevent most phishing attacks when paired with regular employee awareness training, including simulated phishing exercises.

Collaboration with cybersecurity firms is vital.

Tyler reveals how partnerships between government agencies and cybersecurity firms strengthen defenses against evolving threats. These collaborations provide specialized expertise to assess vulnerabilities, implement safeguards such as multifactor authentication, and develop recovery plans to minimize damage.

Emerging technologies like AI offer opportunities and risks.

While advanced AI can enhance cybersecurity by analyzing data and detecting threats, it also introduces new challenges, such as fully automated attacks and sophisticated phishing schemes. Tyler stresss the need for proactive and adaptive strategies to address these vulnerabilities.

Workforce training is key to overcoming cybersecurity challenges.

Tyler underscores the importance of regular training and “defense in depth” strategies to address workforce gaps in cybersecurity. Initiatives such as workshops and phishing simulations, and layered security measures help employees adapt to emerging threats, particularly staff less familiar with modern technology.

Listen to this episode on the player below or subscribe for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.

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There are new questions about the future of U.S. transportation funding after the election. Experts are eyeing a shift in priorities, with local transit measures seeing success in unexpected places and tensions rising over partisan divides. While federal investments in infrastructure have sparked broad support, the future of transportation policy — at both the federal and local levels — remains uncertain, influenced by everything from climate goals to regional politics.

Senior Staff Writers Jared Brey (Governing) and Skip Descant (Government Technology) join the podcast for a special post-election episode of Your Mileage May Vary to discuss the prospects for transit during a time of political transition.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top-five takeaways from this episode:

Partisan Dynamics in Transit Policy: Transportation infrastructure shows mixed partisanship: Transit funding often aligns with urban, Democrat-led areas, while Republicans favor car-oriented infrastructure in rural and suburban districts. Local-level ballot measures, such as Nashville’s recent success funding multimodal transit, illustrate this divide.
Shift Toward Basics and Multimodal Solutions: Cities like Nashville and Seattle are prioritizing foundational infrastructure — such as sidewalks, busways and safer intersections — over costly, flashy projects like light rail. This approach aims to create transit systems that meet immediate needs and build public trust.
Federal Investment and Uncertainty: The Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law spurred transportation investments popular across party lines. However, the incoming Trump administration raises questions about priorities, particularly in electric vehicle policies and emissions standards.
Challenges in Transit Expansion: Efforts to expand transit into suburbs face repeated setbacks, as seen in Atlanta’s MARTA system and San Francisco’s ride-share tax failure. These examples highlight public resistance to funding transit despite growing urban-suburban connectivity needs.
Future Issues to Watch: Key upcoming debates include reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund in 2026, the ongoing decline of public transit ridership and funding, and the widening policy gaps between states pursuing climate-focused transportation initiatives and those resisting federal influence.

Related Link to stories referenced in the episode:

What the 2024 Election Could Mean for Transportation Policy
Calif. Strengthens Emissions, Clean Transportation Standards

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Governing and Government Technology are divisions of e.Republic LLC.*

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Governments can drive economic growth and mutual progress by collaborating with communities to co-create innovative projects. But how can they effectively spark this collaboration?

In the latest episode of The Future in Context, host Ashley Silver interviews author Fern Tiger about her new book, Creative Instigation. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic community engagement before launching technology or economic development projects, the challenges governments and organizations face, and the innovative strategies that can lead to meaningful solutions. Drawing on her extensive community work experience, Tiger emphasizes the need to understand local contexts and histories to foster effective public-private partnerships.

Show Notes Here are the five top takeaways from this week’s episode:

Challenges With Community Engagement: Tiger explains why traditional community engagement tools, like polls and surveys, often fall short. According to Tiger, these methods can fail to capture true community sentiments, as responses may vary based on factors as fleeting as a participant’s mood. Effective engagement should challenge communities to reflect on their feelings about issues, going beyond surface-level feedback.
Tailoring Engagement to Each Community’s Context: Governments can build trust and transparency by taking a hands-on approach, listening actively to residents and leaders, and staying responsive to evolving community dynamics. Genuine feedback can lead to policies and initiatives that more accurately address community needs.
Financial Constraints on Innovation: One major obstacle to government-community projects is budget limitations. Tiger discusses how funding challenges can stifle creativity and limit future initiatives, highlighting the need for innovative financing and partnerships that can unlock resources and drive change.
Case Study in Hawaii: Tiger shares a case study from Hawaii, where local officials, community advocates and residents collaborated to enhance innovation projects. This example illustrates the power of authentic dialog and the tangible benefits of understanding unique community needs.
Future Plans: The episode wraps up with a look at what’s next for Tiger following the release of Creative Instigation Oct. 22.

Related Link to the book referenced in the episode:

Fern Tiger, Creative Instigation: The Art & Strategy of Authentic Community Engagement, New York, NYU Press, October 2024.

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As Americans contemplate the implications of a consequential general election, this may be a good time to reflect on the state of the American dream. It is still a powerful idea. And it faces challenges — some are old and intractable, others are novel if not surprising.

Allan Golston, president of the U.S. Program for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, joined the podcast to explore the intersection of economic mobility and the American dream.

He emphasized the need for equitable access to education and jobs, streamlined government support systems, and the transformative potential of generative AI in addressing resource constraints across U.S. communities.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Influence of Personal History: Golston’s upbringing in a middle-class family, supported by education and hard work, deeply shaped his values. His mother’s resilience and dedication to his education influenced his career focus on supporting opportunities for others to achieve economic mobility.
Challenges to the American Dream: Golston highlighted declining economic mobility, citing a significant drop from 90 percent of 1940s-born children earning more than their parents to only 50 percent of 1980s-born children. This shift underscores the importance of equitable access to education and job opportunities to keep the American dream alive.
Education and Job Market Systems as Key to Mobility: At the Gates Foundation, Golston focuses on strengthening U.S. education and job markets. He advocates for streamlined public education systems, including high-quality early learning, literacy, and post-secondary opportunities. Additionally, simplifying access to safety net benefits is crucial for those encountering life’s unexpected setbacks.
Solutions-Based Innovations in Government Services: Golston shared examples, such as Michigan’s simplified benefits application, that reduce red tape, making essential support accessible. Similarly, initiatives like Results for America’s Economic Mobility Catalog promote evidence-based programs to help local governments implement proven solutions for issues like food insecurity and housing.
Generative AI’s Potential for Equitable Education: Golston sees generative AI as transformative for education, reducing teacher workload by automating grading and making timely feedback accessible. However, he emphasizes that AI resources must be equitable across communities, and biases must be addressed to maximize AI’s positive impact on economic mobility and educational equity.

Related Link to resources referenced in the episode:

Results for America’s Economic Mobility Catalog, developed with the support of the Gates Foundation.

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West Virginia state Sen. Patricia Rucker, a strong advocate for universal school choice, is transforming the state’s education system with a vision shaped by her experiences as an immigrant and former teacher. Known for championing vulnerable communities, Rucker has faced opposition from both parties and unions in her determined push for expanded educational options. Her efforts reflect her optimism for West Virginia’s potential as a center for opportunity and growth.

Rucker, part of the 2024 class of Public Officials of the Year — a special recognition by Governing magazine, the sister publication of Government Technology — has been a driving force in making school vouchers universally accessible in her state. Former Governing* staff writer Zina Hutton joins the podcast to discuss Rucker’s work in education reform.

SHOW NOTES: Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Commitment to Universal School Choice: Sen. Patricia Rucker is a leading advocate for comprehensive school choice legislation in West Virginia, aiming to serve students regardless of income or district. Her vision extends beyond limited voucher programs, supporting a range of options, including microschools, to meet diverse educational needs.
Influence of Personal Immigrant Experience: Rucker’s background as a Venezuelan immigrant who navigated language and cultural barriers fuels her passion for education. Her experiences as a student, teacher and homeschooling parent shape her approach to policy, fostering empathy for families with unique educational challenges.
Dedication to Vulnerable Populations: Rucker prioritizes underserved communities, focusing on those often overlooked by traditional legislation, such as rural families and vulnerable groups in need of more educational options. Her efforts seek to ensure equal opportunities for these populations.
Resilience Amid Pushback: Despite opposition from within her party and from unions, Rucker held firm on her stance for school reform. She engaged with dissenting lawmakers and remained resolute in the face of criticism, ultimately achieving significant legislative success.
Optimism for West Virginia’s Growth: Rucker believes educational reform can drive economic and social progress in West Virginia, attracting educators, entrepreneurs and families who see the state as a rising hub of opportunity and growth.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

· Public Officials of the Year: Overview
· The Woman Who Helped Kick Off a School Choice Revolution (Rucker POY profile)

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At a time when cities are grappling with multifaceted challenges, Rob Lloyd has taken on the complex challenges of transforming Seattle’s tech landscape. Recently appointed to the pivotal role of chief technology officer, Lloyd brings a holistic approach to public service, blending insights from his tenure in San Jose with innovative strategies for tackling pressing urban issues like homelessness and public safety. As he takes the reins in a city known for its technological prowess, Lloyd brings a commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and data-driven decision-making.

Lloyd is one of Governing’s 2024 Public Officials of the Year, a special recognition of people who make government work. Government Technology** Senior Staff Writer Thad Rueter joins the podcast to discuss his profile of Seattle’s CTO.

Show Notes:

Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Holistic Approach to Public Issues: Lloyd emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy in addressing urban challenges. His experience in San Jose shaped his view that collaboration across various sectors — public health, law enforcement and public works — is essential for effective problem-solving, especially in complex issues like homelessness.
Leadership and Humility: Lloyd works across conventional boundaries and disciplines without asserting himself as the sole authority. This balance fosters an environment where others feel valued and encouraged to contribute their insights and expertise.
Mentoring and Talent Retention: Lloyd’s approach to leadership focuses on understanding and nurturing talent within the public sector. He recognizes that younger employees are motivated by more than just financial incentives; they seek meaningful work and opportunities for growth, which he aims to provide.
Navigating Post-Pandemic Challenges: Lloyd’s views on the role of technology in a post-pandemic world reflect his belief in data-driven decision-making. He sees technology as a crucial tool for managing various urban challenges and plans to leverage it to improve city operations and services.
Future Challenges and Opportunities: As Seattle faces multiple issues such as cybersecurity, climate change and disaster preparedness, Lloyd is taking a proactive role in addressing these concerns. His past experiences in San Jose are anticipated to inform his strategies as he leads Seattle into a new phase of urban governance, aiming to attract innovative talent and ideas.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Public Officials of the Year: Overview
A National Leader in Public-Sector Tech Moves to a New City (Lloyd POY profile)

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Government Technology is a sister publication to Governing. Both are divisions of e.Republic.*

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After guiding the Texas county through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Philip Huang, its health director, pushed for collaboration and long-term strategies to prepare for future crises. Data modernization proved to be crucial.

Huang has spent his career navigating the complexities of public health with a mission to impact as many families as possible. From his early experiences in Nepal that shifted his focus from family medicine to public health, to leading Dallas County through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county health director has championed data modernization and transparency as key tools in building public trust. His unique perspective, shaped by work at local, state and federal levels, drives his vision for a more resilient, collaborative and depoliticized approach to public health in the future.

Huang is one of Governing’s 2024 Public Officials of the Year, a special recognition of people who make government work. Governing* Senior Staff Writer Carl Smith joins the podcast to discuss Huang’s work and review the key takeaways from his interview with Huang.

SHOW NOTES: Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Motivation for Pursuing Public Health: Huang, Dallas County's health director, shifted from family medicine to public health after a formative experience in Nepal. He realized he could impact more families by addressing broader public health issues rather than individual patient care.
Public Health Challenges During COVID-19: Huang was frustrated with political polarization surrounding public health during COVID-19. He stresses the need for long-term strategies and infrastructure to better prepare for future pandemics, highlighting the importance of depoliticizing health recommendations.
Data Modernization for Effective Public Health: There is a life-or-death need for robust data systems in public health. Early in the pandemic, Dallas County relied on outdated methods like fax and paper. The modernization of data infrastructure allowed for better decision-making and community trust during the pandemic.
Building and Sustaining Public Trust: Transparency and communication with the public played a key role in building trust. Huang’s efforts included establishing a public health portal and regularly sharing data and updates to keep the community informed.
Collaboration Across Public Health Levels: Huang’s experience working at local, state and federal levels gives him a unique perspective on how different agencies view public health. He uses this understanding to facilitate communication and cooperation across these sectors, ensuring a more cohesive approach to health challenges.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Public Officials of the Year: Overview
Bringing Data to Bear on Public Health Outcomes (Huang POY profile)

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G.T. Bynum is leaving the family business. The outgoing mayor of Tulsa, Okla., is the fourth member of his family to lead the city. The former city councilmember became mayor in 2016. During his tenure, he implemented a data-driven approach to real-time policing while focusing on redressing racial disparity and fostering economic vitality. That vision and his pragmatic approach to turning around a struggling city earned him recognition as a Public Official of the Year, a designation from Governing magazine.

In this episode, Governing Senior Writer Jared Brey joins the podcast to extract lessons from Bynum’s time in office and examine what’s next for the mayor and his city.

Show Notes Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Economic Revitalization and Growth: Bynum played a pivotal role in Tulsa’s economic development by attracting new employers like Amazon and encouraging remote workers to return to the city, contributing to its economic rejuvenation.
Acknowledging Racial History: Bynum openly recognized the Tulsa Race Massacre, which had long been overlooked, and led efforts to search for and identify victims. While it may not have resulted in full reconciliation, his actions brought greater attention to Tulsa’s historical racial violence.
Navigating Racial Inequality: Bynum faced challenges in addressing racial inequality and police reform, especially during the protests of 2020. His leadership during these times was scrutinized, and some criticized him for not taking stronger action on police reform.
Nonpartisan Leadership: As a Republican, Bynum prided himself on governing in a nonpartisan manner, seeking to unite different political groups and focusing on common goals rather than ideological divides. His reputation for nonpartisanship was a defining feature of his leadership.
Future Path and Legacy: Bynum will leave office to join the private sector, specifically Saint Francis Health System, though he has left the door open for potential future public service. He is credited with positioning Tulsa for future growth, fostering a vision where young people could see opportunities to build in the city.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Public Officials of the Year: Overview
How a Fourth-Generation Mayor Reshaped His Hometown (Bynum POY profile)

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Listen to this episode on the player below or subscribe for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.

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On this episode, we look at Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s innovative approach to tackling homelessness, budget challenges and systemic inequality. Crowley is among those recognized by Governing’s returning Public Officials of the Year award series.

Created three decades ago to spotlight solutions, not scandals, the Public Officials of the Year (POY) awards are back. Governing magazine, the sister publication of Government Technology*, is again recognizing a select group of people who make government work.

For its part, The Future In Context podcast is dedicating October to deep dives on POY’s Class of 2024. You’ll hear from public officials themselves and the writers who profiled them in the fall issue of Governing.

In this episode, we examine Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and his work to reduce homelessness, reshape public health, lead collaboratively and think strategically about the community’s next chapter. Governing Editor Alan Greenblatt joins the podcast to put Milwaukee’s future in context.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

The Revival of Public Officials of the Year: Greenblatt discusses the return of Governing magazine’s Public Officials of the Year awards after its print edition was discontinued in 2019. The awards celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to state and local government. The focus is on recognizing solutions rather than highlighting conflicts or scandals.
Collaborative Leadership in Milwaukee: David Crowley, Milwaukee County executive, and Mayor Cavalier Johnson are highlighted as prime examples of close political collaboration. Their longstanding relationship and cooperative work have led to legislative successes, like allowing Milwaukee County to raise local sales taxes, which has helped address long-standing budget issues. The two were together so often that they joked they should have carpooled.
Systemic and Long-Term Vision: Crowley is praised for taking a long-term, systems-based approach to governance. His focus on integrating various government initiatives (housing, health, etc.) under a strategic vision contrasts with the short-term crisis management that often dominates government action. His approach is aimed at improving health outcomes, housing and other critical public services in Milwaukee.
Success in Reducing Homelessness With Housing First: Milwaukee County’s successful implementation of the Housing First model has resulted in a 92 percent reduction in homelessness over a decade. Greenblatt emphasizes the collaborative efforts between the county, city and nonprofit organizations as key to this achievement.
Challenges and Future Aspirations for Milwaukee: Despite significant progress, Milwaukee still faces challenges, including opioid addiction, traffic fatalities and income disparities. Both Crowley and Johnson have ambitious goals to change the perception of Milwaukee, with hopes for future growth, although there is skepticism about whether it will achieve the rapid development seen in cities like Nashville or Austin.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

· Public Officials of the Year: A Special Note from Our Publisher

· After Decades, a County’s Budget Gets Back on Track (Crowley POY profile)

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As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, a longtime broadcast journalist and historian calls for addressing economic inequities, corporate monopolies, and restoring effective governance grow stronger.

The country’s 250th birthday comes on July 4, 2026. Technically, it is called the quarter millennium or semi-quin-centennial. The word is hard to say but once you get it out, the coming anniversary does provide a reminder that it is not too early to take stock of how the republic is doing, and what its prospects look like.

Alexander Heffner is a journalist, civic educator, and the host of The Open Mind on PBS, a role he has held since 2014. He also created "Breaking Bread with Alexander" on Bloomberg TV, where he engages in conversations with political figures over shared meals. Heffner is known for his in-depth discussions on democracy, media, technology, and ethics, continuing the legacy of the show, which was founded by his grandfather in 1956.

As a passionate advocate for civil discourse, he has written and spoken widely on the state of public media and the challenges facing American democracy in the digital age. Heffner's work spans contributions to major publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, as well as teaching and lecturing at universities across the U.S.

Show Notes

Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Legacy of The Open Mind: Heffner discusses his role as the host of The Open Mind, a program founded by his grandfather, Richard Heffner. He reflects on the show's mission of promoting thoughtful dialogue and deliberation, which stands in contrast to the divisive and superficial nature of much modern media.
Challenges of Effective Policy: Heffner shares his experience interviewing public officials and policymakers, noting the difficulty in enacting sound policies due to a dysfunctional political landscape. However, he highlights efforts by state leaders to innovate and compromise for effective governance.
Breaking Bread Initiative: Heffner talks about his show Breaking Bread, where he uses food as a common ground to have in-depth, non-adversarial conversations with politicians. The aim is to create a culture of peacebuilding and to foster genuine exchanges that can inspire effective policy-making.
Economic Inequality and Governance: Heffner points to the stark economic imbalances in the U.S., contrasting the economic landscape of today with that of 50 years ago. He discusses the negative impact of monopolistic corporate power on American governance and the challenges this presents to achieving equitable policies, especially in housing, healthcare, and education.
The Future of American Democracy: As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, Heffner expresses concern over the state of democracy, citing key national crises like the Great Recession, 9/11, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He advocates for a political culture that prioritizes fairness, happiness, and meaningful improvement in the public's quality of life through systemic change.

Related Links to resources referenced in the episode:

· Host, The Open Mind on PBS
· Creator, Breaking Bread with Alexander (now running on Bloomberg TV)
Coauthor, A Documentary History of the United States (Penguin Random House)

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As state CIOs prepare to gather in New Orleans for their association’s national conference next week, it is worth taking stock of the public-sector IT community — strategic and operational complexities, leadership, strategic planning, partnership-building and relentless change in technologies and citizen expectations.

National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Executive Director Doug Robinson is uniquely positioned to reflect on the status of state IT. Marking his 20th year at the head of the membership organization, his two-decade tenure is significantly longer than his peers. He joins the podcast to remember the lessons hard-learned over the years, and to look ahead at what lies around the next corner.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

The Continuing Evolution of the State CIO Role: The interview delves into the evolution of state CIOs from a back-office, technical role into a central leadership position that drives government transformation. The focus has shifted from managing “boxes and wires” to leadership in public service delivery and digital innovation.
1. Technology, Digital Services, and Future Challenges: The future of state IT focuses on improving the delivery of digital services to citizens. Robinson emphasizes the need for states to embrace new technology, human-centered design, and improved digital identity management, while also preparing for emerging trends like AI. He stresses that public-sector IT must modernize to meet citizen expectations, akin to the private sector.
1. From Nothing to Permanent Presence in Government Affairs: Robinson traces NASCIO’s evolving focus on government affairs, emphasizing the importance of engaging with federal partners and state legislators. He recounts how the association’s advocacy efforts have grown over the years, including the establishment of an office in Washington, D.C., to represent state IT interests more effectively.
1. Balancing Member Expectations and Equity: As a membership organization, NASCIO faces the challenge of balancing diverse and sometimes conflicting member needs. Robinson discusses how NASCIO ensures member equity by treating all states and corporate members fairly, regardless of size or influence.
1. Chief AI Officers and Emerging Leadership Roles: The conversation touches on the rise of new technology-related leadership roles in state governments, such as chief AI officers, chief privacy officers, and chief information security officers. Robinson notes that these roles may or may not report to the CIO and discusses how NASCIO has embraced these emerging leaders by creating communities of practice to foster collaboration among them.

Related Link to coverage of previous NASCIO conferences, including reporting by Government Technology from annual and midyear conferences.

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Fifteen years after putting the civic in civic tech, Code for America is pivoting to come alongside local governments to take on the challenges they face today — bringing collaborative expertise to the use of AI in the public sector and defending gains made through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in government.amanda.jpgThe organization made its name by helping government better use (and often liberate or democratize) the data it holds and developing citizen apps through early hackathons, and making a network of volunteer developers available to public agencies that could not marshal those resources by themselves.Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America, joins the podcast this episode to talk about the organization’s mission, track record and what comes next.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Diverse Collaboration and Problem Solving: Code for America remains focused on the collaborative efforts of individuals from various backgrounds, including government, technology and nonprofit sectors. Renteria emphasizes the importance of leveraging diverse talents to address societal challenges, and the positive correlation between the evolution of Code for America and effective governance.
Growth and Evolution of Civic Tech: The interview traces the rise of civic technology, from early hackathons to its integration into mainstream digital government initiatives. Code for America has been a catalyst in making government better, particularly during crises like COVID-19, and continues to shape its future through partnerships and innovation.
Measuring Impact and Systems Change: The organization initially measured success by volunteer participation and project outcomes but has since shifted toward evaluating systemic changes. For example, proactive government behavior, such as Louisiana’s response to disaster relief, is now a key indicator of success, showing a broader impact on governance. The interview highlights ongoing initiatives like Direct File for tax filing, integrated benefits systems in states like Minnesota and efforts to improve child-care services.
Ethics and AI in Government: The role of AI in government is a critical concern. Code for America prioritizes transparency, ethical use of data and addressing biases in AI systems. Its AI Studio aims to educate government officials on how to use AI responsibly, ensuring that it serves people fairly and equitably, while keeping ethical considerations at the forefront.
Pushing Back Against Bug Tech’s DEI Pullback: Renteria expresses disappointment about the decline of tech industry programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. She acknowledges that some large tech companies, like Google, Meta and Lyft, have backed away from their DEI efforts, which she finds disheartening. However, she also emphasizes a deeper sense of responsibility to continue working toward equity and inclusion, regardless of the political or industry climate. Amanda notes that while the term "equity" has become politically charged, she believes most people still want a government that works for everyone. She says Code for America remains committed to ensuring government services are inclusive, even if the term “equity” itself falls out of favor.

Related Links to Code for America resources referenced in the episode:

Building a Practice of Responsible AI
A hands-on, human-centered approach to AI for government

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SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Rural Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Small and rural communities face significant cybersecurity challenges, particularly in protecting critical infrastructure like utilities, with limited resources making them more vulnerable to cyber threats.
Whole-of-State (WOS) Cybersecurity Programs: WOS initiatives, supported by federal grants, provide comprehensive cybersecurity support across state and local government levels, with various states adopting unique strategies to enhance their cybersecurity posture.
Sector-Specific Cyber Threats: Critical sectors such as water, energy, and space are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, with outdated systems and the integration of new technologies introducing additional vulnerabilities.
Sustainability of Cybersecurity Initiatives: There are ongoing concerns about the long-term sustainability of WOS programs, particularly the continuity of federal funding, which is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of these initiatives.
Collaborative Cybersecurity Strategies: Collaboration between federal, state, and international entities is essential in developing and implementing cybersecurity strategies, focusing on guidelines, technical assistance, and raising awareness of cyber risks.

CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction: Cybersecurity Awareness Month and the Challenges of Protecting Critical Infrastructure 01:06 - Threats to Water Sector: Ransomware and Nation-State Actors

08:39 - Vulnerabilities in the Power Grid: Legacy Systems and Fragility 11:15 - Cybersecurity in Space: Multiple Layers of Vulnerability 13:52 - Vulnerabilities in Legacy Systems and Networks 15:49 - Challenges Faced by Small and Rural Communities in Implementing Cybersecurity 18:01 - The Debate: Diversifying Providers vs. Relying on the Best in the Business 20:32 - Collaboration and Real-Time Alerts: Key Elements of Effective Cybersecurity

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Politico calls him California’s “chief gatekeeper” when it comes to AI rules and regulations. However, state Sen. Thomas Umberg isn’t all that interested in closing the door to progress on how we use and develop large language models (LLM). In fact, while the Santa Ana Democrat has concerns about the future of “AI” as we know it, he’s far more concerned with finding a way to balance regulation and innovation. With California having provided direction for decades in tech industry development and regulation, it only makes sense to Umberg that the state takes point in developing responsible but fair legislation this early in the technology’s lifespan.

Umberg joins TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver, and Governing Staff Writer Zina Hutton, to talk about his concerns with AI regulation, why states are leading the charge, dealing with tech execs, and what steps states would have to address when it comes to a cohesive response on regulating AI.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

State-Led AI Regulation Efforts: States, particularly California, are at the forefront of AI regulation, drafting hundreds of legislative proposals. State Sen. Tom Umberg emphasizes the need for clear definitions of key terms like “artificial intelligence,” “transparency,” “bias” and “privacy” to create effective regulations.
Challenges in Balancing Progress and Protection: Officials like Umberg struggle to balance the benefits of AI with the need to mitigate its risks. The complexity of AI requires extensive consultation with experts across various sectors to ensure regulations are well-informed and effective.
Federal vs. State Responsibilities: There’s a perceived vacuum at the federal level in addressing AI regulation, prompting states to take the initiative. California, home to many AI companies, feels a unique responsibility to set national and potentially international standards.
Risks and Opportunities of AI: AI’s integration into numerous aspects of life, including health care, law enforcement and employment, presents both significant benefits and potential catastrophic risks. Transparent and unbiased AI models could improve objectivity in areas like insurance and employment.
Ongoing Efforts and Collaboration: Continuous dialog with academics, AI enterprises and other stakeholders is crucial for developing robust regulations. Policymakers aim to find a “sweet spot,” where regulations foster AI's positive potential while minimizing its risks.

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The former Rust Belt state is betting its future on a sought-after natural resource — people — guided by one person in particular. Hilary Doe, the first state chief growth officer anywhere, discusses what’s next.

Michigan is putting its future in the hands of a single person — its first-in-the-nation chief growth officer. Hilary Doe, chief growth officer, expressed her excitement about the transformation of Michigan Central Station into a dynamic hub of innovation. This revitalized landmark in Detroit is not only fostering a thriving startup ecosystem, but also pioneering cutting-edge infrastructure projects like the first self-charging road. As a collaborative community for entrepreneurs and innovators, the station is positioning Detroit and Michigan as nationally recognized centers of opportunity and technological advancement.In this episode of The Future In Context, Doe speaks with Governing Senior Staff Writer Carl Smith about what’s new — and different — in her role, and the state’s approach to economic growth and competitiveness.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Revitalization of Michigan Central Station: The station is being transformed into a hub of innovation, serving as a key focal point for Detroit and the entire state of Michigan.
Startup Ecosystem Growth: The area around the station, particularly Newlab in the book depository, is fostering a burgeoning startup scene with 99 new startups already established.
Innovative Infrastructure: It’s ground zero for cutting-edge developments such as the first self-charging road, which exemplifies the forward-thinking projects attracting entrepreneurs and innovators.
Collaborative Community: The station and its surroundings are becoming vibrant ecosystems where entrepreneurs and innovators can connect, share ideas and collaboratively build future technologies.
National Recognition and Opportunity: The transformation of Michigan Central Station is positioning Detroit and Michigan as nationally recognized centers for innovation and opportunity, attracting talent and investment from across the country.

Related Link to an item referenced in the episode:

One State Is Putting a Single Person in Charge of Its Growth Strategy

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As ridership continues to lag amid a stubbornly slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, cities experiment with free rides and micromobility to prove public transit’s worth in worsening financial conditions.

When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spiked plans to implement congestion pricing in New York City, it took a much-anticipated annual injection of $1 billion out of the mix — just as public transit systems there and elsewhere were looking to the pricing scheme for some good news in an otherwise bleak fiscal landscape.In TFIC’s occasional series, Your Mileage May Vary, senior writers Skip Descant of Government Technology and Jared Brey of Governing discuss the ramifications of Hochul’s decision for transit systems across the country as concerns grow over a looming fiscal cliff from which they may not recover. At the same time, some regions are turning to new policy approaches, including fare-free rides and micromobility solutions, to reinforce the value they bring to their communities.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Congestion Pricing Pause in NYC: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul halted New York City’s congestion pricing plan. The plan was set to generate $1 billion annually for public transit, critical for addressing financial shortfalls.
Political and Financial Implications: Hochul’s decision may be influenced by upcoming elections, aiming to avoid voter backlash. The halt leaves New York City’s public transit without a vital funding source, exacerbating its financial crisis.
Post-Pandemic Public Transit Crisis: Ridership plummeted during COVID-19 and is recovering slowly. Transit systems face significant budget deficits as they struggle to regain fare revenue and maintain service levels.
Alternative Funding and Operations Strategies: Several regions are exploring fare-free rides and micromobility solutions to address budget shortfalls. These measures aim to cut costs and attract riders, but their long-term sustainability and effectiveness are uncertain.
State and Local Government Responses: Some state and local governments are stepping in to cover budget gaps. The level of support varies in places from New York to Minneapolis, and the financial viability of transit systems heavily depends on continued government subsidies and innovative funding solutions.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Transit Agencies Must Replace Thousands of Maintenance Workers
Why Some Cities Want to Combine Transit Agencies
Resisting the Campaign for Safer Streets
Eliminate Silos to Innovate Your Transportation System

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Former Compton, CA mayor Aja Brown grew up poor. Early on, she developed a sense of what could be for her community. Later, as an urban planner, she had what she calls a “heart to see Compton reach its full potential.” Once she sat in the mayor’s desk, armed with a 12-point vision plan that reflected community needs and a determination to revitalization her city, she used the levers available to her to nudge Compton toward a preferred future. During her tenure, Brown focused on sustainability, economic development, and youth empowerment, leveraging private investment to drive progress.

“There is no equity without data”

She also championed the Compton Pledge, America’s largest experiment with universal basic income program to help address systemic inequalities. That work has led her to the intersection public policy, philanthropy and technology where she believes data-driven solutions can be better delivered outside of government.

SHOW NOTES

Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:

Community-Centered Leadership: Brown's tenure as mayor was defined by her community-centered approach, rooted in a comprehensive 12-point vision plan that addressed the pressing needs of Compton residents. By focusing on sustainability, economic development, and youth empowerment, she aimed to revitalize the city and empower its citizens.

Innovative Policy Initiatives: Brown's implementation of innovative policy initiatives, such as the Compton Pledge guaranteed income program, showcased her commitment to addressing systemic inequalities. By directly delivering resources to residents during the pandemic, Brown demonstrated the power of combining philanthropy with policy-driven solutions to uplift communities.

Technology as a Tool for Equity: Brown emphasizes the importance of technology, exemplified by platforms like Forward, in streamlining government processes and ensuring equitable distribution of resources. By leveraging data-driven solutions, technology can empower underserved communities and improve the efficiency and transparency of governance.

Continued Advocacy for Change: Brown's work exemplifies a continued advocacy for change and equity in governance. Her dedication to empowering communities and driving transformative initiatives underscores the ongoing need for innovative approaches to address systemic challenges and uplift marginalized populations.

Related Links to items referenced in the episode:

What If Government Just Gave Everyone Cash, No Strings Attached? Several Los Angeles Cities in Dire Financial Straits
The FORWARD Platform

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Eric Goldman, associate dean of research at Santa Clara University School of Law, assesses concerns around the impending TikTok ban or buyout. It faces significant First Amendment challenges, he said.

The debate over the potential TikTok ban, or forced sale under recent federal legislation, hinges on significant legal and constitutional challenges. Eight TikTok influencers have already filed a lawsuit, arguing the ban infringes on their First Amendment rights. Santa Clara University School of Law Associate Dean of Research Eric Goldman joins our Government A to Z, panel, drawing attention to the difficulties the government faces in justifying the ban, noting the lack of publicly available evidence on national security risks and the broader implications for free speech. Goldman suggests that the ban could set a precedent for digital trade barriers, leading to potential international retaliation and exacerbating political distrust among younger Americans. The conversation underscores the complex intersection of technology, law and public policy.TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver along with two colleagues from Governing* — Staff Writer Zina Hutton and Digital Editor Zoe Manzanetti, react to Goldman's analysis in thinking about the future of TikTok in the lives of American users. They discuss the app's unique appeal, question whether its algorithm fosters deeper connections and consider the impact of a ban on users and the political landscape.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top five takeaways from this episode:1. Legislative Actions:

President Joe Biden signed a bill to ban TikTok if ByteDance, its Chinese owner, doesn't divest within a year.
ByteDance has nine months to sell, with a potential three-month extension if it can demonstrate progress.
Legal Challenges:
Eight TikTok influencers are suing the U.S. government, claiming the ban violates their First Amendment rights.
Prior bans by the federal government, states and universities have already restricted TikTok usage on government devices.
Constitutional Concerns:
Goldman argues the ban faces significant First Amendment challenges, as it affects users’ and the platform’s rights.
The lack of public evidence on national security risks weakens the government’s case.
Economic and Social Impact:
TikTok is a major platform for income and social interaction for millions, raising questions about the fairness of the ban.
The ban could set a precedent for future digital trade barriers, affecting international relations.
Public Opinion and Political Pressure:
Younger generations view the ban as a diversion from more pressing issues like housing and climate change.
There’s a concern that a ban could increase distrust in the government, particularly among Gen Z and Alpha.

Related Links to items referenced in the episode:

Questions Swirl Over Future of TikTok Ownership
What Would a TikTok Ban Mean?

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A new report card called ScanGov monitors and evaluates the fundamentals of government websites in all 50 states and the federal government. The report reveals that half of all states received a failing grade, indicating a need for improvement in transparency, domain credibility, accessibility, and crawlability. The creators of ScanGov, Elias and Luke Fretwell, emphasize that their goal is not to shame governments but to educate and inspire behavioral change. The project has received positive feedback and has already prompted some agencies to make improvements. However, there is still a need for states to prioritize the technical components of their websites and establish dedicated digital service teams. Keywordsgovernment websites, ScanGov, report card, failing grade, transparency, domain credibility, accessibility, crawlability, civic hacking, behavioral change, digital service teams Takeaways * Half of all states received a failing grade in the ScanGov report card, indicating a need for improvement in the fundamentals of government websites. * The creators of ScanGov aim to educate and inspire behavioral change rather than shame governments. * Positive feedback has been received, and some agencies have already made improvements based on the report card. * States need to prioritize the technical components of their websites and establish dedicated digital service teams to ensure better performance.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Problem with Government Websites 03:15 ScanGov: Evaluating Basic Web Practices 04:43 Inspiring Change through Civic Hacking 09:30 Positive Feedback and Improvements 14:11 ScanGov Report Card: Revealing Failing Grades Related Links to items referenced in the episode: * ScanGov: Government digital experience monitor * A Young Civic Hacker Could Be the Next Generation of Gov Tech

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From digital inclusion to AI innovation, we take a closer look at Government Technology’s honorees in the 23rd year of its annual awards. In conversation with editorial staff, we focus on the work of five particular leaders.

The editors of Government Technology recently released their annual Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for this year. The class of 2024 is noteworthy for continuing a multiyear trend toward gender equity among recipients, with women making up 44 percent of the group. The cross section of public leaders is recognized for their work on digital inclusion, government modernization, innovative application of generative AI, and a collective commitment to improving government services.The episode focuses on five recipients, emphasizing their dedication and humility and underscoring their role in driving positive change at the local, state and national levels. The hosts are joined by Government Technology Managing Editor Lauren Kinkade, Associate Editor Zack Quaintance, Senior Staff Writer Thad Rueter and Data Reporter Nikki Davidson.

SHOW NOTES * Amy Huffman, policy director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), stands as a crucial adviser to localities in vying for slices of the federal government’s historic investment of $65 billion in broadband and $2.75 billion in digital equity. The funds are now trickling down to states, where the monumental task of allocation lies. Huffman is helping to guide states in effectively utilizing the funds, facilitating coordination through NDIA’s toolkit and state cohorts. * Rob Mancini leads Prince William County, Va.’s IT department, which topped the 2023 Digital Counties Survey, following strong placements in previous years. He helmed the county’s modernization efforts and fostered an inclusive work environment. Mancini's focus is now on enhancing government services, including the implementation of a new AI-powered 311 platform, as part of ongoing efforts to transform the county’s IT infrastructure. * Sam Orth, chief technology officer and director of technology in Columbus, Ohio, owes his career trajectory to an early interest in personal computers and a stint at a local computer store in the 1980s. His private-sector sales background informs his current role, emphasizing customer-centricity and the understanding that technology drives change and business outcomes. Orth’s approach, rooted in intrinsic motivation and a focus on trust and authentic communication, shapes initiatives like deploying body cameras for police and establishing the city’s data analytics program, highlighting the importance of people alongside technological tools in building successful IT programs. * Kenyatta Powers-Rucker, Maryland Department of Human Services CIO, highlights the absence of mentorship as a significant hurdle in her tech journey — emphasizing the importance of support, particularly for underrepresented groups. With more than 12 years in leadership, Powers-Rucker’s commitment lies in facilitating access to tech resources for those in need while advocating for greater diversity in the industry through speaking engagements, networking and mentorship initiatives. * Katy Ruckle, Washington’s chief privacy officer, has spearheaded the state’s privacy initiatives, establishing foundational principles and training programs while leveraging grants for workforce upskilling. In her role since January 2020, Ruckle aims to navigate the evolving landscape of technology, particularly AI, by fostering responsible data usage through collaborative partnerships and community engagement — ensuring Washington remains at the forefront of privacy standards.

Related Links to items referenced in the episode:

GovTech’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers 2024
Video Overview of the GT Top 25

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State government coverage faces a decline amidst journalism's broader struggles, with Pew Research Center revealing a rise in statehouse reporters, yet a decrease in full-time coverage. The University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communication combats this trend, sponsoring the $25,000 Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, awarded this year to a collaboration between Texas Tribune, ProPublica, and "Frontline" for their Uvalde school shooting investigation. Hub Brown, the college's dean, notes the endangered state of state government journalism due to dwindling resources, advocating for journalism that empowers citizens. Brown highlights the Collier Prize's role in showcasing impactful accountability journalism, fostering a national dialogue on its significance and ultimately promoting greater focus on journalistic excellence and societal accountability.

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With a crowd of more than 900 people, the NASCIO Midyear Conference buzzed with energy about generative artificial intelligence, along with concern that humans remain in charge.

Generative AI can fill a room. The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Midyear Conference attracted some 938 registered attendees. And that’s for a membership organization that represents 50 appointed tech officials. Not surprisingly, AI dominated the agenda — but not to the exclusion of longstanding NASCIO priorities of cybersecurity, workforce development, business transformation and data literacy.Government Technology was on the ground for the event in National Harbor, Md., led by Executive Editor Noelle Knell, Managing Editor Lauren Kinkade and Senior Staff Writer Thad Rueter. The trio joined the podcast to recap the full scope of the conference.

Show Notes

AI’s Accelerating Role: The rapid rise of generative AI to production-level implementation is surprising state tech leaders, prompting important policy and practice discussions about how best to integrate the technology in ethical decision-making and service delivery.
Data Literacy Imperative: Minnesota and Texas have pioneered innovative approaches to data literacy, which they see as fundamental to the future of state IT programs.
Cybersecurity Challenges: AI compounds cybersecurity challenges for states, while giving the public-sector IT community powerful new tools in combatting bad actors. Long a priority for NASCIO, state-level defenses against cyber threats have been aided by federal support and collaboration.
Future of Trusted Collaboration: NASCIO’s newly updated strategic plan emphasizes “trusted collaboration” as pivotal in navigating complex partnerships among public-, private- and civic- sector players.
AI and Workforce Development: The intersection of AI and workforce development puts a premium on attracting younger tech professionals to government by showcasing AI’s potential impact in public service and the opportunities for skill development.
Privacy and AI Ethics: State officials highlight the importance of addressing privacy concerns and ethical considerations in AI implementation, emphasizing compliance with record series laws and the imperative of building trust among citizens regarding AI use cases.

Links to stories related to this episode:

Is Your State Data Literate? We Asked CIOs
The Answer to Ransomware? ‘Doubling Down on the Fundamentals’
NASCIO Speakers Pepper Their AI Optimism With Warnings
Nevada Harnesses GenAI for Employment Claims Evaluation
SLCGP Money Goes to Training, Assessments, Policy Development

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The rise of generative artificial intelligence is a stress test for data governance and management. And an opportunity for data stewards to shine.

When Neil Cooke became the Chief Data Officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources in 2022, generative artificial intelligence (GenA) was not on the horizon. The role was focused on data governance and collaborating with state agencies in overseeing the shared open data portal. It is tempting — and a little clickbaity — to say GenAI changed all that. But that would be factually incorrect. In fact, all the behind-the-scenes work on data management and governance has gone a long way toward preparing the state to meet the challenges — and take advantage of the opportunities — of AI.Cooke talked about data disciplines as a precursor to the effective use of artificial intelligence on our occasional series, Government A to Z, with TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver along with two colleagues from Governing — Staff Writer Zina Hutton and Digital Editor Zoe Manzanetti.

Show NotesHere are the top 3 takeaways from this episode:

An Evolving Strategic Role:

Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and data management officers play pivotal roles in navigating government challenges by overseeing data governance practices and promoting collaboration across agencies.
Their responsibilities include breaking down data silos, ensuring data quality, and fostering a culture where data is valued and managed effectively.

AI’s Transformative Potential:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative tool in addressing governmental challenges, offering opportunities for automation, enhanced decision-making, and predictive analytics.
However, the effectiveness of AI models heavily relies on the quality and security of the data they’re trained on, emphasizing the importance of robust data governance frameworks.

Collaborative Approach:

Collaboration between government entities, AI advisory councils, and technology experts is essential for responsible AI development and effective data governance.
Initiatives such as data literacy programs and AI user groups facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices dissemination, fostering a collaborative environment for addressing governmental challenges.

Related Links to stories related to this episode:

Texas DIR Appoints Neil Cooke to Lead State Data Initiatives
Agency's New State Chief Data Officer to Oversee Open-Data Portal

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Reducing traffic deaths is a compelling proposition, but it gets complicated when trying to make it so.

Reduced enforcement of traffic laws, increased rates of driver impairment, cellphone distractions and street designs that prioritize speed have helped reverse long-standing traffic safety gains in American cities.Programs like Vision Zero, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths, face challenges in implementation and efficacy, though success stories like Hoboken, N.J., offer hope. Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All provide substantial funding opportunities for cities to enhance street safety. However, administrative barriers may hinder smaller municipalities from accessing these resources.In TFIC’s occasional series, Your Mileage May Vary, and Senior Writer Jared Brey (Governing) and Senior Writer Skip Descant (Government Technology*) explore how controversies around street design interventions — so-called traffic calming — like bike lanes and curb extensions highlight the challenges of balancing various transportation needs and navigating public perceptions. Technology plays a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements, from speed monitoring to data-driven safety assessments. In the aftermath of the Baltimore bridge collapse, the daunting task of rebuilding underscores the importance of robust infrastructure planning and response mechanisms.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Traffic Safety Trends: Despite long-term declines in traffic fatalities, American cities have experienced a concerning uptick in traffic-related deaths and collisions, particularly during the pandemic, attributed to factors like reduced enforcement and increased impairment.
Challenges of Vision Zero: While programs like Vision Zero aim to eliminate traffic deaths, implementation faces hurdles, with mixed success in cities like San Francisco. Strategies include redesigning streets for safety and setting ambitious goals, but efficacy varies across contexts.
Federal Funding Opportunities: Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All offer substantial funding to enhance street safety, but smaller municipalities may face administrative challenges in accessing these resources, highlighting the need for capacity-building support.
Controversies in Street Design: Controversies around street interventions like bike lanes and curb extensions underscore the challenges of balancing diverse transportation needs and navigating public perceptions, with technology playing a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements.
Lessons from Infrastructure Failures: Infrastructure failures like the Baltimore bridge collapse highlight the importance of robust planning and response mechanisms, underscoring the daunting task of rebuilding and its potential impacts on regional and global trade.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

How Hoboken Has Gone Years Without a Traffic Death
Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Record High

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A 50-state investigation in data journalism suggests the answer is, not yet. The AI agent was insightful on a number of fronts; but, while not descending into hallucinations, its mind strayed from instructions as the experiment went on.

Government Technology Data Reporter Nikki Davidson tasked Google’s AI tool Gemini (formerly Bard) to explore AI’s perspective on government technology use. Davidson’s innovative approach involved treating AI as a collaborative partner to generate insights on AI’s potential applications in government.

Despite Gemini’s occasional inaccuracies and deviations from instructions, Davidson’s project yielded diverse and unexpected use cases across different areas, such as mental health, opioid use and climate change.Gemini’s recommendations extended to climate challenges and infrastructure needs, reflecting a surprisingly deep understanding of regional concerns. Gemini itself suggested it would be five to 10 years before AI is fully integrated in government operations, emphasizing that it is inevitable for government.

Believing turnabout is fair play, Davidson asked Gemini for feedback on her work. It gave the article a strong numerical grade on a scale of 1 to 10 but did have suggestions on how to make it better. Human reviewers, including Benjamin Palacio, a senior IT analyst with Placer County, Calif., highlighted both the promise and challenges of AI applications, particularly in sensitive areas like mental health support. Davidson views AI as a valuable tool but underscores the necessity of human oversight and awareness of its limitations.

SHOW NOTES Takeaways:

AI can be used as a tool to explore the best uses of technology in government.
Surprising use cases of AI in government include mental health and opioid abuse awareness.
Ethical concerns arise when AI suggests analyzing sensitive data like social media and medical records.
Human intervention is necessary to ensure the accuracy of AI.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Setting Up the Story

00:39 Using AI to Explore Government Use Cases

04:10 The Maps and the Impact of the Story

05:12 Surprising Use Cases of AI in Government

07:18 Ethical Concerns and Gray Areas

09:05 AI’s Role in Infrastructure and Climate

10:26 Realistic Timelines for AI Implementation

11:22 The Relationship With AI and Hallucinations

13:17 AI’s Opinion on the Worth and Accuracy of the Work

14:19 Responses from Human Reviewers

15:30 AI as a Tool With Limitations

16:23 Conclusion and Future Possibilities

Related Links to items referenced in the episode:

How Does AI Predict Governments Will Use AI? It Depends Where You Live
Center for Public Sector AI, a division of e.Republic, the parent company of Government Technology and Governing.

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The reinvention of a Virginia city built by railway robber barons as a biotech hub defies default strategies of trying to attract new players to do what was done by the companies that left or closed. The story of Roanoke shares the cover of the rebooted print edition of Governing magazine with a feature on what states are doing to increase the availability and affordability of housing.Governing* Editor Alan Greenblatt discusses the magazine’s return to print after five years of being web-only. Greenblatt emphasizes the value of a physical magazine for high-level government officials, providing in-depth analysis and innovative ideas on pressing issues. The magazine aims to offer a thoughtful and lasting resource that readers can reference on their desks, offering a break from the overwhelming flood of web-based information.The cover stories feature Roanoke’s successful transition to biotech and the growing concern of housing shortages addressed by state policymakers.Here are the takeaways from this episode:

SHOW NOTES Solving the Economic Development Puzzle: Roanoke, Va., faced economic hardship when two Fortune 500 companies closed their headquarters. It was situation familiar to many communities that have lost major employers, leading to prolonged efforts to rebuild. However, Roanoke chose a different path. The city went all in on biotech, leveraging existing resources like Carilion Clinic and a new medical school from Virginia Tech. The shift resulted in a thriving biotech research institute that grew from one to over 500 employees.Shift in State Involvement in Housing: States are increasingly recognizing the widespread need for affordable and quality housing, leading them to take a more active role previously reserved for local governments.Zoning Policy Reform: States are reconsidering zoning policies, traditionally a local concern, as a factor contributing to housing cost increases and supply constraints. They are exploring changes to zoning laws to encourage more diverse housing options:

West Coast: States like Oregon, Washington and California are permitting multifamily buildings in single-family areas to increase housing density.
East Coast: Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs policy offers grants to homeowners for essential repairs, aiming to preserve existing housing stock. Meanwhile, Rhode Island explores a public developer model, inspired by Montgomery County, Md., to build mixed-income housing.
Mountain West: Colorado purposefully introduced multiple housing reform bills with overlapping coalitions to build a broad base of support for legislative change. It has also taken administrative action to reduce turnaround for permitting and eliminate mandatory parking. Colorado took a page from what worked in Montana, which pursued policies that require cities to allow duplexes and accessory dwelling units in single-family areas to address housing affordability and supply issues.

While zoning policy reform may address higher housing costs associated with restrictive zoning, it doesn't necessarily lead to immediate cost reduction.

Importance of Transit Proximity: Progressive lawmakers recognize the benefits of building dense housing near transit hubs to reduce car dependency and improve efficiency in moving people.The issue also covers the turnover among school superintendents, citizenship for American Indians, city lobbying and the impact of clean energy credits.

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Lawmakers, industry players and parents are making moves to keep kids safe online, but their approaches vary widely. A bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate is intended to shield children by requiring social media platforms to turn off addictive product features, and require companies to minimize mental health risks. New York state proposed restricting what it called “unhealthy social media usage” by prohibiting minors from accessing addictive feeds without parental consent. In the name of parental rights, Florida legislators considered sometimes competing bills to either ban those younger than 16 from social media altogether or require platforms to perform age verification of their users.

For their part, platform companies have worked to pre-empt government regulation by introducing safeguards in their software to limit what kids can do online, and with whom.The question of who should regulate access to social media — government, industry or parents — is the focus of the debut of another occasional series, this one called Government A to Z, a generational take on the intersection of society, technology and government. It features TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver along with two colleagues from Governing — Staff Writer Zina Hutton and Digital Editor Zoe Manzanetti.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Government Regulation: There are common themes in state-level legislation aimed at protecting the mental health of underage social media users. Measures address safeguards against concerns over bullying, harassment, sexual exploitation, anorexia, self-harm and predatory marketing. The 2024 legislative sessions in Florida, Arkansas and Utah all sought to regulate social media access for minors.
Industry Self-Regulation: Meta's introduction of nighttime nudges is the latest industry attempt to provide teens with automated tools to manage social media time. The panel discusses its potential effectiveness and compares it to similar tools on YouTube and TikTok.
Parental Supervision: The introduction of parental supervision tools highlights the importance of privacy, autonomy and collaboration between parents and tech companies but also raises the specter of permanent infantilization.
Nothing Resolved: The rapidity of change in the tech industry and changing societal norms and expectations require continuing refinement of legislation and regulations concerning social media access for minors. It is reasonable to expect further legal battles, as lawmakers, parents and tech companies contend for the ability to shape the online experience of minors.
Literacy: The panel emphasized the need for education, media literacy and ongoing dialog to address the complex challenges posed by teen social media usage.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

States Eye Social Media Bans Despite Legal Roadblocks
DeSantis Favors Toned-Down Social Media Restrictions
Will Legislation Actually Keep Teens Off Social Media?

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The freedom of the open road would become a little less free if congestion pricing became widespread in America. The strategy aims to reduce traffic congestion by charging variable fees for driving at certain times in certain areas. Planners and policymakers see the potential revenue to offset declining gas tax receipts as vehicles become more fuel efficient.

Decades after dynamic pricing was implemented by some international cities, only a relative handful of American cities — New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C. — have adopted plans for at least partial implementations of the pricing model.

In the debut of an occasional series called Your Mileage May Vary, Senior Writers Skip Descant (Government Technology) and Jared Brey (Governing) join The Future In Context to explore the efforts to bring the model to America and whether resistance is waning. The story of congestion pricing underscores the complexity of transportation and infrastructure management; and highlights the importance of strategic planning, community engagement and adaptive policies to address evolving challenges effectively.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

Congestion Pricing: The concept of congestion pricing, though controversial, is gaining traction as a means to manage traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fund transportation infrastructure. It involves charging drivers for road usage, especially in congested areas, to incentivize alternative modes of transportation.
Funding Challenges and Alternative Revenue Sources: Traditional funding sources like the gas tax are becoming insufficient due to factors such as increased fuel efficiency and the rise of electric vehicles. Policymakers are exploring alternative revenue sources like vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees to sustainably fund transportation infrastructure projects.
Public Engagement and Policy Design: Effective policy design requires thorough public engagement to understand community needs and concerns. Policymakers should align their goals, whether reducing congestion, cutting emissions or improving driving experiences, with the preferences of the public to garner support and ensure successful implementation.
Economic, Social and Environmental Importance: Transportation and infrastructure are vital for economic growth, social well-being and environmental sustainability. They affect various aspects of life and are crucial for governments to manage effectively.
Long-Term Perspective and Political Will: Implementing significant changes in transportation and infrastructure requires a long-term perspective and political will. Policymakers must navigate complex challenges, including public resistance, competing interests and the need for sustainable solutions that address both current and future needs.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

To Sell Congestion Pricing Plans, Don’t Mention Climate Change
Washington’s $15 Tolls Hope to Reduce Traffic, Increase Revenue
After NYC, Will Los Angeles Be Next to Consider Congestion Pricing?
Hope for Car-Haters

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Work is well underway in jurisdictions across the country to prepare for the next generation of doing the public’s business.

Governments have the unenviable task of coming to terms with the promise and pitfalls of generative AI through the strictures of public policy. On this cover story episode of the podcast, the writers and editors from our sister publication, Government Technology, take us into the three-story package on a policy-driven approach to AI describe a growing body of work that points the path to the future.

Show Notes Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:

AI Guardrails: Policymakers start from the position that it is a necessity to establish guardrails for the safe and ethical use of AI in government policies.
Safety and Privacy: The cover story emphasizes the importance of ensuring AI systems are used safely, protecting individual privacy rights and minimizing biases in decision-making processes.
Jurisdictional Innovations: The three-story package on AI in the issue highlights a number of jurisdictions, including New Jersey, Utah and Santa Cruz County, Calif., for their innovative approaches to AI governance.
Federal Regulations: The guests discuss the executive order from President Biden and state-level frameworks as part of the evolving framework of AI regulations in government.
Human-Centered Policies: The package points to the significance of developing human-centered policies that prioritize the well-being and rights of individuals affected by AI technologies.
Data Governance: Each of the three stories helps to unpack the crucial role of data governance in ensuring the quality, accuracy and ethical use of data powering AI systems.
Vendor Selection: Government cannot do AI alone but it needs to have internal competence to select AI vendors as essential components of responsible AI adoption in government.
Policymaker Collaboration: Getting AI right requires policymakers, data experts and other constituents to work together to shape responsible AI policies and regulations.
Technology Education: MIT’s efforts to introduce AI education stand as an early exemplar of curriculum development in preparing the next-generation workforce.
Digital Transformation: Columns in the issue address broader themes such as transparency in AI systems, and the persistent need for human copilots in digital transformation of government services.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Adam Stone, How Should Government Guide the Use of Generative AI?
Julia Edinger, Where to Start With AI? Cities and States Offer Use Cases
Nikki Davidson, A Good AI Program Must Start With Good Data
Ben Miller, Making AI Work for Government: It All Comes Down to Trust
Noelle Knell, MIT Program Fosters Early AI Education for Future Workforce
Paul W. Taylor, Online Government Services Need a 'Human Copilot'

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The co-author of a new book suggests that when technology, data and collective effort converge, government, the tech industry and higher education can tackle major challenges while bringing a new generation into the workforce.

Arun Gupta — a venture capitalist, academic and author — champions a union of government, academia and entrepreneurship to solve societal problems, stressing tech and data’s key roles in innovation and restoring trust. In an interview with Governing’s Carl Smith, Gupta sees government data as vital for improving services and tackling climate change and geopolitical strife, urging a move to fact-based debates for a sustainable future.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top takeaways from this episode:

Gupta wrote the book to address the growing desire among students for mission-oriented work and the need to harness optimism and innovation to solve societal issues through government collaboration.
The book emphasizes the importance of technology in all organizations, including government, citing statistics about the age distribution of tech workers and the role of data in driving innovation and rebuilding trust between citizens and government.
Gupta advocates for modernizing infrastructure to attract top talent to government, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary opportunities in academia and partnerships between the public and private sectors at the state level.
He discusses the significance of utilizing government data to enhance services and user experiences, stressing the potential for data-driven approaches to address major societal challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts.
Gupta encourages a shift in the culture of debate toward facts and data, emphasizing the role of collective effort in creating a better, safer and more sustainable society in the face of existential threats.

Related link to the book referenced in the episode:

Arun Gupta, Gerard George and Thomas J. Fewer, Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society, Stanford Business Books, 2024.

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Mental health, climate and workforce are at the core of a complex cluster of issues confronting lawmakers in this year.

Legislators are under growing public pressure to address mental health challenges, implement climate policies and stabilize public pensions, while also dealing with workforce shortages. And those are just the top of the list of issues vying for attention. Even with a relatively healthy budget situation this year, it will still be a delicate balance.On this episode of the podcast, Alan Greenblatt, Jared Brey, Zina Hutton and Carl Smith return to complete the discussion of Governing’s Issues to Watch.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top takeaways from this episode:Mental Health Legislation and Funding

Increased cases of mental illness, especially among youth, have prompted legislation in several states to regulate social media use and increase mental health education in schools.
Efforts aim to move away from solely relying on policing for mental health crises, emphasizing instead earlier identification and support for mental health challenges before they escalate.
The surge in mental health issues increases demand for more funding, but states are struggling to find novel and sustainable sources to meet the need.

Public Health

To counterbalance high post-pandemic attrition rates, public health agencies are employing community health workers, providing family members with incentives to provide in-home care and seeking expanded Medicare coverage. Unwinding pandemic-expanded coverage remains a priority.
States are focusing on controlling health-care costs and curbing excesses in prescription drug pricing.
Despite funding reductions, states continue to enhance state-level data systems and push for a potential national data system for better coordination during crises.

Climate and Energy Policies

States are now potential drivers for climate progress (despite federal challenges) after disappointing COP28 results that refused to phase out fossil fuels.
The implementation of climate-related provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act has been slow even though they come with significant funding, especially that focused on hydrogen hubs, contingent on emissions and clean energy usage.
On renewable energy, there is a growing recognition of the need for increased transmission capacity to utilize existing renewable energy resources effectively.

International Affairs and State-Level China Policies

There is growing hostility toward China reflected in state-level bans on Chinese-owned apps like TikTok and restrictions on Chinese land ownership.
Local governments feel pressure to engage in international issues despite their limited jurisdiction, reflecting a broader trend to nationalize politics.

Public-Sector Workforce and Pension Reforms

Efforts to diversify the public-sector workforce continue by targeting Gen Z, adjusting job requirements for skill-based hiring and providing internships to bridge skill gaps.
Some states grapple with underfunded pensions, leading to potential cuts impacting education and health care, while others explore riskier investment ventures to improve funding.
States are focused on maintaining stability by stress-testing public pensions for potential financial risks and preparing for future uncertainties in pension funding.

Related link to the stories referenced in the episode:

Governing’s Biggest Issues to Watch in 2024
Columbia Law Center & Climate School, Inflation Reduction Act Tracker

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As legislatures in 37 states are back in session this month, with another 9 set to open before April, law makers face a daunting set of challenges. Budget prospects have improved modestly but tax tensions remain as law makers deal with complex demands to deal with crises in housing and drug overdoses. Their hoppers are also filled with bills to address criminal justice reforms, transportation funding, child tax credits, post-pandemic workforce dynamics and renewed calls for school choice and parental rights.Governing editor Alan Greenblatt and writers Jared Brey, Zina Hutton and Carl Smith join the podcast to discuss these issues and more.SHOW NOTESHere are the top takeaways from this episode:AI Policy Evolution and Concerns

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence outstrip the ability to competently regulate. Concerns about misinformation, the embedding of implicit biases and workforce displacement are catalysts for legislation at the state and federal levels, focusing on usage boundaries and deepfake controls.
Anticipated regulation aims at managing deepfake generation, especially around election content, with a focus on data literacy to combat misinformation.
Challenges persist in addressing AI-generated hallucinations due to insufficient frameworks and fact-checking protocols.
California leads in privacy and bias regulations, impacting AI application in healthcare and job sectors.

Budgets and Taxation

States see modest budget increases, drawing on pandemic surpluses for tax cuts and infrastructure investments, but with an eye to long-term fiscal sustainability.
Tensions between revenue growth for programs and tax reductions pose challenges as states grapple with budget surpluses.

Transportation Funding Challenges

Funding public transit faces hurdles as commuting patterns change in post-pandemic workplaces, prompting some jurisdictions to consider taxing high earners to support public services.

Child Tax Credits and Labor Force Impact

States extend child tax credits to mitigate federal program expirations, aiming to alleviate poverty but it has raised concerns about workforce participation.

Education & School Choice Dynamics

Parental dissatisfaction is driving school choice initiatives, affecting public education funding and stirring parental rights discussions.
Media literacy legislation addresses gaps in students' abilities to navigate and critically assess online information sources, which are seen as vital for future academic and professional success.

Drug Overdose Crisis and Criminal Justice

Illicit fentanyl is driving the recent increase in US drug overdose deaths, prompting debates between punitive approaches and medical treatment for substance abuse disorder.
Polarized viewpoints in criminal justice reform lean towards tougher enforcement, influenced by political rhetoric and public sentiment.

Governing’s editors and writers round out the discussion of the remaining issues to watch – including healthcare, mental health, climate and energy policies and the nationalization of politics during a presidential election year – on the next episode of the podcast, which drops on January 31st.

Related link to the stories referenced in the episode:

Governing’s Biggest Issues to Watch in 2024

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GovTech100 companies are likely to have an outsized role in making government better. Many now come with deep pockets thanks to investments from private equity.

Government Technology's ninth annual list of gov tech companies that are changing the way government works comes with an added twist — the injection of large sums of capital through the private equity market. Agencies are attracted to the promise of increased capacity and agility but are not always prepared for the disruptions that come from these increasingly well-funded players.Private equity's bullish embrace of gov tech hinges on its recession-resistant allure and pivotal role in digitizing the way governments work, seeing opportunities in closing the innovation gap between the private and public sectors in delivering services and optimizing operations. This year’s GovTech100 features companies with the majority of their revenue coming from sales to government and reflects a diverse mix of established names and newcomers, like CivicEye and Versaterm. This episode features Government Technology Associate Editor Ben Miller, who helped curate this year’s list, and Thad Reuter, who wrote the cover story on the impact of private equity on the gov tech market.SHOW NOTESHere are the top takeaways from this episode:Gov Tech's Appeal to Private Equity:

Resilience: Gov tech's perceived recession-proof nature and essential role in providing digital services for governments contribute to its attractiveness to private equity.
Digital Transformation: Increased cloud adoption and the shift from analog to digital processes in government services make gov tech an appealing investment.

Factors Driving Gov Tech's Fertility:

Software-as-a-Service Growth: The expansion of SaaS and cloud-based services contributes to gov tech's appeal for private equity investors.
'Amazon Effect': Consumer expectations for quick, efficient services influence gov tech companies to emulate Amazon's one-click model.
Modernization Needs: The push to bring governments into the 21st century creates ample opportunities for growth and investment in gov tech.

Challenges in Emulating Amazon's Efficiency:

Customer vs. Constituent Service: Varied expectations and differing service models pose challenges in replicating Amazon's efficiency in a government context.
Limitations of Consumer-Based Models: The unique role of government in serving all constituents, regardless of choice, presents limitations in mirroring corporate models.

Private Equity's Focus on End-to-End Platforms:

Investment in Growth: Private equity's interest in developing end-to-end platforms drives investments in companies like Accela and Granicus.
Potential for Similar Growth: Notable growth in certain companies indicates potential for similar patterns in the gov tech sector.

GovTech 100 — Mix of Established and New Entrants:

Shift in Focus: This GovTech100 list emphasizes emerging startups and serial entrepreneurs committed to public service innovation.
Notable Newcomers: Public safety entities like CivicEye, Fieldware and Versaterm, alongside niche-focused companies, join the GovTech100.

Engaging with Gov Tech Startups:

Disruptive Solutions: Startups bring innovative solutions and responsiveness to pressing government needs.
Potential for Uncovering New Approaches: Engaging with startups might reveal new perspectives and methods to address long-standing issues.

Anticipating Evolution in Gov Tech Companies:

Flexibility and Adaptability: Agencies engaging with startups should anticipate shifts in focus, offerings and potential expansions as these companies evolve through investment cycles.
Evolution in Offerings: Growth might lead to changes in services and expansions, offering both challenges and opportunities for agencies.

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There was nothing easy about it, nor was it a return to normal after the disruptive years of the pandemic, but state and local governments found ways to hold their own against persistent threats and challenges in cybersecurity and workforce issues in 2023. They also continued campaigns to refresh old IT systems and even found ways forward for urban mobility and public transit. Government Technology editors and writers — Lauren Kinkade, Zack Quaintance, Skip Descant and Jule Pattison-Gordon — joined the podcast hosts to make sense of the year that was.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:

California is leading electrification with a notable rise in electric vehicle adoption;
Transit systems in large cities across the country continue to struggle with commuter pattern shifts as new work patterns evolve after COVID-19;
The face of micromobility changed in 2023 with a shift from city-sanctioned e-scooter programs while e-bikes gain traction due to safety and technology advancements;
Cities are focusing on digital strategies for curb management to make best use of civic infrastructure as private-sector demand for access increases to support the rise of delivery tech, including drone delivery services and tailored vehicle choices;
The nature of government security challenges is evolving from traditional ransomware to double extortion threats even as internal debates continue about handling demands for extortion payments;
Legacy system modernization and broadband expansion are getting fresh looks in order to enhance government service delivery to residents and businesses that cannot be done without unlocking the unique capacity of aging big iron;
Government faces persistent workforce challenges, particularly in tech roles, as it works to meet challenges of increasing service demands and technology advancements, all of which puts a premium on potential expansion of successful re-skilling models to other states;
Digital equity is having a moment but there are concerns over the sustainability of these equity initiatives once initial momentum wanes;
Speaking of having a moment, the panel noted the rapid rise of generative AI beginning in the second quarter of the year to dominate discussions about the future of government and education; and,
Looking forward, the writers and editors identified a number of sleeper stories that will likely demand more attention in the year ahead, including the shifts in cyber crime demographics, training for local police on handling digital evidence and the real-world impacts of long-promised major infrastructure projects due to roll out in 2024.

Related links to the stories referenced in the episode:

On the Rebound: Micromobility Ridership Continues to Climb
Cities Experiment With Pedal-Powered Delivery Policies
Seattle Partners on Curb Data Specification Project
As the Cybersecurity Workforce Grows, So Does Need
Federal Government Offers 4 Steps to Thwart Cyber Attackers
Social Media Changes Are Impacting Government Messaging
What’s New in Digital Equity: FCC Closer to Restoring Net Neutrality
When You Change Social Platforms, Who Controls Your Data?

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This time next year, Americans will be casting votes in the 2024 general election. State and local races (and issues) will take place in the long shadow of a carefully watched presidential rematch.

The 2024 general election follows in a tradition of modern elections dating back to 1964 that are declared (or decried) as the most important of our time. In this episode that comes one year before ballots are counted, longtime political observer and Governing senior writer Alan Greenblatt joins TFIC for a wide-ranging discussion of what to expect, and who to watch, in the 365-day countdown.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:

“Most Important Election of Our Time”: Variations of the phrase have become common claims in recent presidential cycles. The 2024 election may well have a legitimate claim on the title. Its origins date back to the 1964 contest between Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater, the first election in modern times to be called the most important of our time.
Red, Blue and a Side of Purple: The Biden-Trump rematch at the top of the ticket in 2024 would emphasize the extreme polarization between Republicans and Democrats in a high-stakes election cycle. Abortion rights and crime remain strong rallying points for voters.
Downstream Effects: The 2024 presidential election will influence state and local races, for good or for ill.
Prospect of Violence: Having been denied a completely peaceful transfer of power in 2021, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack casts a long shadow over the 2024 cycle.
Exodus of Election Officials and Polling Place Workers: In some states, up to a third of election workers have quit — some to retirement, others to avoid threats and harassment. Despite concerns of violence or intimidation at polling places, even recent history suggests a general resilience of the electoral system.
Poll Watchers Increasingly Common: As the number of polling place workers decline, recent cycles have seen a rise in the number of third-party poll watchers.
Vote-by-Mail or Vote-from-Home: Now a standard in a number of Democratic states, vote-by-mail overcame suspicion during the 2020 cycle, Republicans now show openness toward voting by mail as it caters to voters' preferences.
State and Local Races: 2024 comes with pivotal governor races in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont and Indiana. Legislative majorities are likely to remain stable, because of low competition levels, and the prediction that the year ending in four will be relatively stable due to effects of redistricting.
The Rise of Uncontested Races: Approximating 40 percent of races are going uncontested in recent cycles, which can be read alternatively as a decline in voter choice (and, by extension, democracy) or the pragmatic matter strategic resource management by the parties.
Third-Party Prospects: The existing political system favors the incumbent parties and resists third-party entrance, never mind success. Voters may not like the dominant parties but avoid third parties, mostly driven by fears of a spoiler effect, but that is unlikely to stop independent presidential bids (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornell West) and the No Labels Unity ticket in 2024.

Bonus Takeaway: The No. 4: Alan tells us, "In particular in 2024, this is a little bit wonky, but the year ending in four tends to be the most stable because you've had redistricting. So your first elections mainly were in the year ending in two. You had a lot of turnover because you had incumbents drawn into new districts and the like."Related Links to the stories referenced in the episode:

Progressives Increasingly Challenged in Local Politics
A Rare Successful Red State Democrat
Is America Really Ready for a Third Party?
Less Politics Is Local: States Get Increasingly Aggressive About Pre-Emption
Taking the Temperature of American Democracy

Subscribe to Governing's biweekly newsletter, Inside Politics: State & Local with Alan Greenblatt with one easy click.

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From inhaler watches to redesigned crutches: How a unique summer program in Birmingham is pushing boundaries in STEM education.

This episode of TFIC explores the MedTech Device Experience program in Birmingham, Ala., and previews an upcoming documentary on how the unique summer program is pushing boundaries in STEM education for high school students from diverse backgrounds. The program’s director, Mark Conner, discusses how the program introduces students to design methodology for developing medical devices that solve real problems.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:

Deep Dive into Prototyping: The MedTech Design Experience brings together students from varied backgrounds who are paired with expert instructors for hands-on training in prototyping advanced medical devices during a two-week summer program in Birmingham.
Applied Innovation: Students are challenged to innovate medical prototypes that address real-world problems.
Academic Inspiration: Collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) inspired the program; students are taught to visualize ideas and apply new information effectively.
Imagining the Future, and Then Building It: Graduates came away with a better sense of the transformative nature of MedTech and their potential role in it, widening their future aspirations.
Real-World Solutions: The program produced innovative designs like an inhaler watch. Another group redesigned crutch prototypes for better stair navigation, showcasing problem-solving using technology.
Engaging Professionals: The program director stresses the importance of industry professional involvement and real-world application in the program’s success.
Getting the Right Mix: It and similar programs require buy-in from leadership and professionals, as well as opportunities for hands-on experience.
Place Matters: The program was hosted in Hardware Park — a hub for engineering, innovation, product development, and manufacturing in downtown Birmingham — that carries forward an industrial vibe and a blue collar attitude for getting things done.
Moving Forward: Future plans involve expanding the program from its base — collaborating with more schools, and partnering with Birmingham’s tech hubs.
The MedTech Experience Documentary: Cameras were rolling as the students learned during the two-week program. The documentary’s premiere and watch party is scheduled for Nov. 7 at Hardware Park.

Related Link to the story referenced in the episode:

MedTech Program Ignites Passion for Innovation in High School Students

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Significant changes at X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, are forcing public agencies to adapt, revert to communications channels they control, or contemplate leaving it all together. The changes have caused public agencies to rethink what they need to do to effectively disseminate emergency and critical information while safeguarding their own credibility as even the validation seal program on the platform gets turned on its head.

SHOW NOTES Here are the top 10 takeaways from this episode:

Overview: The episode discusses significant changes on Twitter (rebranded as “X”) affecting public agencies.
Unexpected Alterations: X temporarily removed public post viewing without an account, impacting dissemination of emergency information in a crisis.
Community Engagement: Agencies, like the Washington and Arizona departments of transportation, used Twitter for over a decade for effective community connection.
Increased Negative Feedback: Rising negativity on X is causing state and local government users to consider leaving the platform.
Verification Process Concerns: Modifications to the verification process, including the paid feature, X Premium, has caused confusion and concerns about credibility among government agencies.
Preferred Verification: Government entities prefer the gray checkmark, denoting verified status, to enhance credibility.
Anticipated Future Changes: Additional changes on X include the potential removal of the block feature and altered news article display.
Potential Future Monetization: Discussions indicate that X may not remain free, leading to uncertainty among current users.
No Immediate Alternatives: With nontransferable follower bases, agencies find it challenging to transition to alternative platforms, despite X’s changes.
Conclusion: Public agencies are cautiously navigating X’s continuous changes, weighing their platform options while considering credibility, public service and platform utility concerns.

Related Links to stories referenced in the episode:

Social Media Changes Are Impacting Government Messaging
Government Begins to Ask: When Do We Leave Twitter?

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Tara Dawson McGuinness, founder of the New Practice Lab at the New America Foundation and co-author of the newly re-released book, Power to the Public: The Promise of Public Interest Technology, joined Paul Taylor, Noelle Knell and new permanent co-host Ashley Silver for a discussion of the state of our digital union.The discussion centers on the evolution of digital government, not merely as a technological shift but as a nuanced change in systems and problem-solving methodologies that prioritize citizens.

Show Notes

The episode provides eight essential takeaways:

Tara Dawson McGuiness discusses the future of digital government, emphasizing it should be citizen-centered, rather than purely technological.
McGuiness has experience in the Obama White House and founded the New Practice Lab to foster cross-sector collaborations.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of implementation in government services, such as the vaccine rollout, making citizen experience a key focus.
McGuiness identifies a "renaissance" in local and state governments enabled by federal funding but notes challenges such as underinvestment and workforce retention.
Local governments are often more in touch with human-centered design due to their closeness to the communities they serve.
Technology alone is not a solution for complex social problems; it should be part of a broader, problem-solving approach.
Visibility is critical; a working policy or system is irrelevant if it's not easily accessible and experienced by citizens.
McGuiness's New Practice Lab provides "sprint teams" to government bodies to help them rapidly implement solutions, with the aim to inform and improve future policies.

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The Center for Digital Education's Aaron Gifford and Andrew Westrope unpack the special education issue of Government Technology magazine with particular emphasis on the rise of Generative AI (artificial intelligence) in the classroom.

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Additional audio from ITSE and YouTube.

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Historian and humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson offers some final thoughts on putting the First Amendment, national security and America’s most (in)famous leakers -- Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning – in context.

Clay's efforts to put things in a historical context resulted in 150 essays since March 27, 2021, 93 of which had companion podcast episodes.

He moves on to a new adventure at Listening to America with our thanks.

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A 14-year-old self-taught coder is doing for government what it did not do for itself. His dad helped but he learned how to hack alongside friends at a venerable but sometimes overlooked public institution – the library.

Civic hacking is generational. It still carries some of the old school hackathon vibe but people coming of age today expect to be able to get data, use it for their purposes, add some value and give it back for benefit of the wider community. That generational shift offers some interesting possibilities for redefining government digital services – and who makes them so. It could also radically change our understanding of volunteering when outsiders do more than just run fundraisers.

On this episode - the 100th for TFIC - meet Elias Fretwell and his dad, Luke, who together are out to use public data to improve things for people who use government services. You can see and use some of the apps they built online - including their National Survey Marker map and their take on CDC Disease Surveillance.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson remembers Daniel Ellesberg, the war planner turned whistleblower after Vietnam.

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Additional audio courtesy from the CBS Archives and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson laments a country divided, again.

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Additional audio courtesy from YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson has been a little perplexed by the growing number of people throwing their hat in the ring for the 2024 Republication nomination for president. Stripped to the underlying essential question, Clay asks, who would actually want that job? History tells us the journey is fraught, and once elected, the term in office, is ofen worse.

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Additional audio courtesy from YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson returns to our occasional series on some of the less well-known presidents of the United States. Perhaps best remembered for the dam and institute named for him, the 31st president was known as a great humanitarian but had a low view of the role of government in improving peoples’ lives.

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Additional audio courtesy of PublicDomainFootage and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds us that the hands of the Doomsday Clock now stand at 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to global nuclear catastrophe it has ever been. Against that backdrop, the United States still struggles with its own nuclear history.

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Additional audio courtesy of Network 18, BBC and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson takes us back to the origins of the sixth president’s pathetic quest for greatness and his sacrifice of happiness during a lifetime of service.

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Additional audio courtesy of Movieclips and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson laments that the public expects better from the highest court in the land and has lost trust in the judicial branch as much as the others. Echoing an ancient Roman poent, Clay asks, who will save us from our guardians?

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Additional audio courtesy of PBS Frontline, C-SPAN, CBS News, ABC Nightline, AP and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson tells the story of America’s intervention in the Russo-Japanese war a century ago that cast Theodore Roosevelt as an unlikely but ultimately successful diplomat. Teddy would be surprised to see who is leading the diplomatic offensive this time.

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Additional audio courtesy of CNN and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds us that the fifth president is best known for the doctrine named for him that helped keep European powers from further meddling in the New World. And given the political environment today, you would be excused for being envious of his Era of Good Feeling.

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Additional audio courtesy of PragerU and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds us that, in 1954, the Atomic Energy Commission revoked Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer's security clearance. And thst in restoring it posthumously 68 years later, the federal government attempts to atone for its own black mark by removing the black mark on Oppenheimer's record.

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Additional audio courtesy of PlenilunePictures. Universal Pictures and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson puts the detention of an American detained in Putin’s Russia in context. Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal has been incarcerated in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. He is accused of spying. It is practice that dates back to the American Civil War.

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Additional audio courtesy of NBC News, cassiopeia and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reflects on the Pope's repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery and what it might mean for the Indigenous in North America.

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Additional audio courtesy of the Maskwacis First Nation and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson puts the Florida flap over Michelangelo's David. A statue long considered a Renaissance masterpiece in Florence (and the world over) has now been deemed pornographic in the Sunshine state. Such a stark contrast in points of view — here or there — has a long history.

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Additional audio courtesy of 20th Century Fox and YouTube.

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In another in an occasional series of articles Governing is publishing about some of the less well-known presidents of the United States, our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson takes a fresh look at the mixed legacy of President Benjamin Harrison - the country's 23rd - who paved the way for Teddy Roosevelt.

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Additional audio courtesy of Biographics and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson laments that we thought we were immune to the human condition. We were wrong.

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Additional audio courtesy of the CNN, D&D, FNC, AFP, ICC, C-SPAN, US European Command and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds us that the idea of secession did not originate with Marjorie Taylor Greene. It has been tried before. The question we need to ask is whether we are really ready to see what a Red and Blue America would look and act like.

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Additional audio courtesy of the CNN, FNC and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's Malaise speech. Seared in America’s collective memory, even pilloried in popular culture, the speech was delivered 44 years ago. It was both earnest and tone deaf. The then president made the deliberate choice to tell the American people the truth, rather than the time-honored tradition of singing the Song of America.

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Additional audio courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, C-SPAN2 and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson considers the enduring legacy of Jimmy Carter's presidency following word from the Carter Center that he had decided to enter hospice care and spend his remaining days with his wife, Rosalynn. History may well be kinder to Carter than his contemporaries during his time in the White House.

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Additional audio courtesy of the Carter Center, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, ABC, CBS, NBC and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson sees a clear connection between the recent flap over spy balloons and the cold war stunt called Sputnik. As the American people decide whether to panic, assign blame or shrug at the violation of American airspace by a handful of strange objects, one of them certainly a Chinese spy balloon, it may be useful to look back to a previous moment of national space panic.

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Additional audio courtesy of CNN, Sunrise Recordings, Mark Fellow Productions, Max's Models and British Pathe.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson says the 2023 State of the Union address was in keeping with a tradition dating back to the republic’s founding, including an increasing element of ‘bread and circuses,’ a mix of political policies and entertainment, ceremony and spectacle, in service of endless campaigning by both parties.

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Additional audio courtesy of C-SPAN, Lindrebox, Neural Network and Deep Learning, the National Archives and the Presidential Libraries of Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson set out to do something they used to teach in school — make sense of the American presidency. Each president campaigned and governed to suit their respective times with a mix of shared and unique traits.

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Additional audio courtesy of C-SPAN, The United States Army Band, Warner Bros., ABC, CBC, CBS, Smithsonian Folkway Recordings, Gerald R. Ford Library, electionsongs.com and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson considers the future of second generation elites in context. He thinks Prince Harry erred in writing his autobiography Spare and would have done well to emulate American Princess Alice - that is, Alice Roosevelt.

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Additional audio courtesy of The Daily Mail, TLDR News, Entertainment Tonight, Harpo Productions,carlanthonyonline, Epidemic and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson suggests that the poem best known for its placement at the base of the Statue of Liberty may have created a case of false advertising to migrants around the world. America’s incoherent immigration policy is caught between the competing instincts of “give me … your huddled masses” and “build that wall.”

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Additional audio courtesy of PBS Newsletter, Vice News, Washington Post, Beyond Measure Media and YouTube.

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Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson puts the chaotic events in the U.S. House of Representatives in historical context, which were a sad reminder of how fraught and flummoxed our national politics are, and almost certainly a harbinger of the reign of craziness we can expect in the Republican Party for at least the next two years.

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Too Much Stuff: Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson on Americans and their storage units. The excesses of the American Dream fill 50,000 storage units across the country. This material overflow results from crisis, indecision, laziness and selective forgetfulness.

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With his unprecedented call for the termination of the U.S. Constitution, former presdent Donald Trump seems to ignore the lesson of Andrew Jackson, another aggrieved presidential aspirant who lived to fight – and win – another election. It got our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson thinking.

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Former presidents have managed to talk their way out of trouble, even if by the skin of their teeth. There may be a lesson in that for us today.

Listen to the end of the episode for information about an important programming change.

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President and first lady Biden attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. More than 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries from all over the planet made their way to London to attend the funeral. It was part of a long tradition of world leaders paying respects at the death of a monarch. But the last one, early in the American century, was different. Yet there are contemporary lessons to be learned from the way Theodore Roosevelt, then the most popular man in the world, navigated a royal funeral 112 years ago.

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In 1990, a quirky campaign run by the then upstart music channel MTV encouraged its viewers to Rock the Vote. Now, three decades later, we need a similarly audacious bid to have Americans trust the validity of the vote.

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The passing of the United Kingdom’s longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, sparks reflections on English history and former British kings named Charles. By George, the House of Windsor may have missed the mark on this one.

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The last half century has been a period of great disillusionment. A recent NBC News poll indicated that 74 percent of the American people believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. According to Gallup, the American people’s general confidence in their national institutions is at an all-time low, averaging 27 percent, down from just under 50 percent in 1979. Our resident humanities scholar asks, what happens when the glue that holds our society together stops sticking?

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Thomas Jefferson thought that each generation should rewrite its own founding document. A constitutional scholar talks about the changes that could have happened if Americans had taken Jefferson up on his challenge.

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The 33-year ordeal of Salmon Rushdie came to head with a knife attack at a venerable cultural venue in upstate New York. That the onstage stabbing took place in America is a grim reminder of the need for eternal vigilance in defending the First Amendment.

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This large and largely unpopulated western state with a rich history is pioneering a new future by setting aside several million acres of public and private land to serve as natural habitat for returning bison and other displaced animals.

Our resident humanities scholar in resident Clay Jenkinson spent a big chunk of his summer in Montana.

The state left a mark on him, as it does on the farmers and ranchers who live a strenuous life in Big Sky Country – echoing the harrowing journey made by Lewis and Clark.

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Our resident humanities scholar is spending July leading tour groups that retrace the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is an annual summer ritual, and one that has him questioning where the trail actually begins.

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Assessing a terribly broken system, Alex Nowrasteh of the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute details the conflicting dynamics and possible solutions to America's illegal immigration dilemma. To him, solving the problem of illegal immigration hinges on increasing legal immigration.

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Taking a page from other countries, the United States is moving toward establishing a Native American Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the hope that reconciliation begins when the survivors are heard.

It looks as if the United States is going to begin to come to terms with the dark legacy of the Indian Boarding Schools. On May 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of Interior released volume one of an investigative report on the history and legacy of these schools, which existed to force Native American children to break with their Native communities and traditions and assimilate into the dominant white culture as quickly as possible and as forcibly as necessary. The 102-page report makes for grim and chilling reading: violence, malnutrition, beatings, sexual abuse, solitary confinement, untreated diseases, unreported deaths, and disappearances.

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The congressional House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol held its first prime-time televised hearing on Thursday evening. Dismissed by critics as show trials, these hearings may test the medium’s ability to capture the nation’s attention.

20 million US households tuned in.

The question is whether the six televised hearings will make much of a difference in public perceptions of the Trump presidency and its aftermath.

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And so here we are again. Another school shooting. The American slaughter of innocents. Shattered lives, shattered communities. The massacres pile up — Columbine, Blacksburg, Roseburg, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, and literally hundreds more. Aurora, Las Vegas, Orlando, El Paso, Fort Hood, San Bernardino, Sutherland Springs, Boulder.

And so we ask: When’s it going to stop? What can we do? Is this who we are?

Competing political narratives about gun violence have not satisfied the yearning for justice after the Uvalde tragedy. Our resident humanities scholar offers four propositions to help us think through a uniquely American and polarizing problem.

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It’s Primary season in America, with all the chaos, expense, and bombast that phenomenon has come to represent in our national political life. The major media now give more attention to off-year primary elections in half a dozen battleground states than they gave to the quadrennial general national election a generation ago. As if they were interpreting the Tarot or reading tea leaves or deconstructing a Papal Encyclical, the myriad pundits hover near the cameras and microphones to pontificate about slight distinctions between in-person day of the election voting, in-person prior to the election voting, mail-in ballots, overseas ballots, military ballots, counts, recounts, automatic recounts, audits, hand recounts, and all the attendant election lawsuits.

With primary season underway, our resident historian examines the origins and role of primary elections in American politics and the intensification of American partisanship.

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During his presidency, Roosevelt did more to conserve America’s natural resources and its places of special beauty than any other president. He convened state executives to aid in the cause, which led him to create the National Governors Association.

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Public institutions suffer reputational damage when partisan drama Is televised, streamed or leaked. What the public sees is: ill-considered legislation has to be cleaned up by the courts, confirmation processes turn dirty and selective leaking is used in an effort to flip narrow majorities.

Legal scholar, historian and author John Vile points to televised (or streamed) hearings and the failure of Congress to act decisively on difficult issues as contributing to our current state of affairs but insists that partisan drama is not new in our judicial history.

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Systematic attacks on the truth, supercharged through social media, trolling and cancel culture, have Americans angry, frustrated and unsure as to where to turn for knowledge. It’s a crisis of historic proportions, but author Jonathan Rauch argues we already have in place a structure from which to repel these assaults of disinformation. He locates it within the global network of professionals, experts and institutions that has transformed the human species into the sort of knowledge machine that can, for example, decode the genome of a new virus and design a vaccine on a global scale in a matter of days.

In his latest book,The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, Rauch challenges readers to understand and defend this system’s potential for harnessing disagreement and disinformation.

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We are approaching the 50th anniversary of Watergate, the effects of which are still with us today.

We have the movie All The President’s Men as a popularized summary of the first draft of that history but historian and journalist Garrett Graff tells Clay that that capsule misses a lot - a weirder, zanier, bigger and different story about how Americans lost faith in the presidency, government and institutions.

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Weeks after the U.S. and the G7 countries weaponized the global financial system to impose their harshest-ever sanctions on Russia, fissures are becoming apparent. Countries impose but often backpedal on sanctions against bad actors for a simple reason — a reluctance to go to war.

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This is a bonus installment in a Governing series on the history of the Supreme Court, following the Senate’s historic confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson on April 7.

The elevation of Judge Jackson to the nation’s highest court will not only make history but help shape America’s future, one case at a time.

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“All modern American literature,” Ernest Hemingway once proclaimed, “comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.” Despite such accolades, this masterwork from Twain — the pen name used by Samuel Clemens — has been slowly disappearing from American classrooms, a development primarily driven by the novel’s repeated use — 219 times in all — of that uniquely offensive term that we uneasily refer to as the N-word.

Defending an "unteachable" classic of American literature has become the life’s work of a Twain scholar, costing him professionally and personally.

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This is the fourth and final installment in a Governing series in a historical look at the Supreme Court to coincide with nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation process, which continues this week before the Senate Judiciary Committee. After a stormy confirmation process characterized by partisan recriminations in the U.S. Senate, Ketanji Brown Jackson appears to be set to take her seat on the Supreme Court. More than three dozen others have been denied over the last 235 years.

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This is the third in a Governing series on a historical look at the Supreme Court to coincide with nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation process, which continued this week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Just 51 years old, nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, if confirmed, would join a growing list of relatively young justices who are likely to serve for much longer than was anticipated when lifetime appointments were first codified.

With hearings underway to fill an opening on the Supreme Court, it may be useful to look back on the history of court appointments. “Appointments,” Thomas Jefferson said, “and disappointments.”

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This is second in an a Governing series in a historical look at the Supreme Court to coincide with nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation process, which continues this week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Three dangerous trends appear to be jeopardizing the independence and credibility of the third branch of the federal government. Court decisions are increasingly falling out along what appear to be purely partisan lines. The watershed moment for this trend was Bush v. Gore in 2000, when the court voted 5:4 to abort the Florida vote recount and declare George W. Bush president. All five justices who voted to end the recount were appointed by Republican presidents. The four who dissented had all been appointed by Democrats.

Congress’ “advice and consent” to the president on appointments to the judiciary has become sharply partisan — and the numbers prove it.

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This is the first in an occasional Governing series on the Supreme Court in preparation for nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation process, which enters its next phase on March 21 when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to publicly make her case for why she should win approval to sit on the nation's highest court. Our resident historian Clay Jenkinson explores three things – court packing, judicial review and meeting the expectations of the appointing presidents – that are not what you thought they were.

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The radicalization of a congressional clerk in the 1800s and the introduction of the telegraph set a young country on a new trajectory. The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol stands as a prevailing symbol of the country’s present-day polarization. But while the brutality of that day sits in the minds of many Americans as unprecedented, Yale historian Joanne Freeman reminds us that violence within the Capitol has a long history.

In The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War, Joanne Freeman details the congressional brawls, threats, beatings, stabbings and gun play that emerged from the unsavory cocktail of slavery, regional and party politics, and dysfunctional codes of personal honor that permeated Washington in the decades leading up to the Civil War. The book, released four years ago, provides context to the congressional investigation of the attack and a fresh debate about the country’s civic health

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A Centuries-Old Travel Guide Unlocks Clues to Our Future. In 1788, Thomas Jefferson hastily wrote an account of his travels in Europe for two friends. That obscure guide sent a Virginia attorney on a journey that connects past and present in unexpected ways.

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Concrete, steel and turbines play an outsize role in the past and future of water in western states. The evolution of the sprawling cities of the American West is inextricably bound to America’s 20th-century fascination with dam-building. But that decades-long story, rife with dammed and diverted rivers as well as political intrigue, is being reshaped by climate change, drought and overuse into a tale of ecologic and economic misadventure. Despite the problematic history of the big dam projects, however, historian Char Miller insists that objective assessment requires acknowledgment of both the benefits these structures have provided and the good intentions involved in their creation.

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We lose a lot in our understanding of the Founding Fathers, says John Ragosta, an historian at the Robert H. Smith Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, when we see them only as marble statues. They were real people who made mistakes and who got mad at one another. Patrick Henry so angered fellow Virginian Thomas Jefferson in 1781, Ragosta maintains, that his reputation never recovered from the impact of Jefferson’s wrath. Ragosta hopes to shed new light on Henry’s life and contributions in an upcoming book, and he recently discussed his research with Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson.

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Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson and the struggle for a more perfect union.

America's consciousness is indelibly shaped by the competing legacies of three distinct personalities: a fast-talking New Yorker, a quintessential Yankee, and a Virginia Squire. In his book, Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson: The Politics of Enlightenment and the American Founding, historian Darren Staloff explores the social, intellectual, and personal dynamics that shaped these men and helped define the Nation.

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As a six-year-old, Jason Miyares helped his mother to learn the Pledge of Allegiance for her upcoming naturalization ceremony, an event that deeply affected both of their lives. More than a half century later, on January 15 of this year, he become the first Hispanic-American to hold statewide office in the Commonwealth of Virginia when he was sworn in as Attorney General. Since his swearing in, which his mother witnessed in person, Miyares has signalled an activist stance as the state's self described "new sheriff" – firing 30 attorneys in his first week, including the entire staff of the civil rights division; urging the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade, writing that the decision should be made by the states; and, seeking the dismissal of a school mask mandate in the Commonwealth. It has been a busy start.

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Three years ago, Beth Hoffman left her career as a college professor and journalist in San Francisco for the life of farming. She and her husband, John Hogeland, headed to Iowa with $19,000 of savings and a vague and ambiguous plan to take over as the fifth generation on his family’s 530-acre farm. The simple life, however, turned out to be not so simple. “Instead of a romantic life of growing tomatoes and raising happy cows,” she writes, “farm life is actually a job full of spreadsheets, receipts, and file folders.” The public, she eventually realized, is similarly confused and uninformed about the realities of farming. Moreover, our existing agrarian myths serve mostly to pit farmers against each other while trapping them in endless cycles of debt and self-exploitation.

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With rare exceptions, Indigenous history remains largely marginalized and its lessons go unlearned. Our resident humanities scholar and his adult daughter took a road trip recently to mark the 131st anniversary of a tragedy on the great plains that remains indelibly stamped on a community’s memory.

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A liberal arts education is about more than preparing students with skills in demand in the marketplace. Author Roosevelt Montás explains how four authors and their works change lives and matter more than ever.

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The Tricky Politics of America's War for Independence. Historian H.W. Brands new book draws out the complexities of the country’s original great struggle and what it can tell us about where we are today. Working to shine light on overlooked complexities, Brands’ probes the intersections of individual lives and narratives - what he calls “little history” - with the overarching accounts of “big history” - in his latest book, Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution, was published by Doubleday in November.

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Author and historian Jay Cost says this is not the time to get rid of parties but have them rise to the challenge and help make a more perfect union.

In a wide-ranging interview with Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson, Cost shared his ideas on parties, primaries, the American presidency, and how the country has lost touch with some of the things - wisdom, virtue, competence - that make self-government work.

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Author and federal judge Jeffrey S. Sutton argues the legislative branch of states should take a larger role in constitutional experimentation, and we should ask less of the judicial branch.

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Can The White American Church Find Its Way From Its Segregationist Past To A Diverse Future? Author Robert P. Jones says systemic racism is in the DNA of American Christianity and the community it helped shape but holds out hope for redemption. The opportunity lies in telling a truer story about the founding of the church. He discusses his most recent book, White Too Long, with Clay Jenkinson.

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As world leaders gather for the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow next week, a group of scientists who are also mothers are fighting to preserve the climate for their children here at home. Our resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson spoke with Professor Joellen Russell is a Science Mom – an oceanographer at the University of Arizona, chair of the NOAA Science Advisory Board Climate Working Group – and mother of two.

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The former heavyweight boxing champion and philanthropist floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee, danced at the edge of death and spoke truth to power. A new Ken and Sarah Burns documentary compels us to take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror of the "great one."

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Governing’s humanities scholar in residence, Clay Jenkinson, lays out four coping strategies for dealing with the troubled state of America. One of them demands something of us for the common good.

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A new report from the federal government brings urgency to a veteran geologist’s longtime warnings about the crippling of the Colorado River.

Geochemist James Powell is a longtime observer of the complex interworking of Lake Powell, Lake Mead and the Upper Basin of the Colorado River. He has written 14 books on the subject – including, aptly enough, Dead Pool.

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The country is long on problems but short on levers that might help lift it out of a quagmire of its own making.

Clay was recently invited to attend a retreat in the badlands to talk about the future. The organizer called to talk logistics yesterday. As the call was winding down, he said that he and the other organizers are really worried about “the situation.”

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In the 1930s, the United States became adept at building world-leading infrastructure to support its national economic needs, competitive instincts and social aspirations. Almost a century later, the advantage has slipped in favor of China and other global players. It remains to be seen whether America can build back better.

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Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and witnessed the removal a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, VA. The events reflect on the country’s changing national identity, symbols and myths - and the cost that comes with them.

Our Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson finds insight in the national epic of Rome, Virgil’s Aeneid. He asks, can the classics help us forge a new national narrative?

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The world changed on August 6. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, triggering a hasty and desperate withdrawal of American nationals and others. After twenty years, it also changed the world’s perception of the United States and caused Americans to question the state of the national soul.

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Thomas Jefferson’s meaning has been up for grabs since he penned the phrase in 1776. The country has proven to be all too comfortable with the ambiguity. Depending how we answer the question, it could help redeem the reputation of the third president or leave us with a lesser Jefferson.

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Palestine and Israel, each now with their own strong and vocal supporters in the United States, are at the center of competing narratives about people groups seeking sovereignty over their own destinies. Is there room for both in the heads and hearts of Americans? Rashid Khalidi is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, an endowed chair named for Said, a professor, public intellectual, and a founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies. Khalidi has written a number of books on the history of Palestine and the Middle East. With his latest effort - The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance: 1917-2017 - Khalidi heeded the advice of his son and sought a more personal approach in his work. The result is an approachable account of a Palestinian people that has long been defined in the American consciousness, the author contends, by a narrative it didn’t write. Inserting himself into the story, Khalidi uses archival accounts of generations of family members from the region – mayors, judges, diplomats and journalists, to insert a Palestinian perspective into his chronicle of the last century of conflict. Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson recently spoke with Khalidi about the book and the need, the possibilities, and the probabilities for a new Palestinian narrative. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Are the postmodernists and critical race theorists correct when they say America and some of its founders should appear with an asterisk behind their names from now on? The legacy of the Enlightenment and the American Experiment is in the balance.

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A new book makes a multi-generational examination of the origin stories of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin to understand how they were shaped and by whom – their mothers.

Anna Malaika Tubbs excavated the lives of these extraordinary women – Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin – who, in raising and nourishing and shaping their sons, pushed them to greatness. Tubbs’s account, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation is a fascinating and nuanced celebration not only of these women and their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, but to the Black mothers throughout American history who resiliently pushed back against abhorrent efforts at dehumanization that went so far as to legally declare their children as someone else’s property.

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In The Cycles of Constitutional Time, Jack Balkin takes an overarching look at the dynamics of constitutional government over the history of the United States. To understand what is happening today, he argues, “we have to think in terms of political cycles that interact with each other and create remarkable — and dark — times.” Single-term presidents, Balkin notes, often coincide with the ends of these cycles, moments where an existing approach to political life has run its course. Since Reagan’s ascendency in 1980, Balkin contends, the dominating approach has been characterized by a lack of trust in politicians and big government. But, he suggests, the single-term presidency of Donald Trump could be another iteration in the pattern, and we may be moving towards a more progressive era. Balkin is the founder and director of Yale's Information Society Project, an interdisciplinary center that studies law and new information technologies. He recently spoke with Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson.

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In an earlier episode, Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson described America’s three constitutions: The capital-c Constitution drafted in 1787; and the small-c constitution of norms and traditions not specified in the written Constitution and the ways the American people actually constitute themselves. In this third in a series, Jenkinson suggests that even — or especially — in our norm-busting times, a president’s bully pulpit has grown bigger, stuffed as it is with extra constitutional executive actions.

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Long before Admiral Sandy Stosz retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2018, she knew that she wanted to write a book on leadership. With nearly 40 years of experience to draw on, from her early days as an ensign on polar icebreakers to her final assignment as the first female to serve as deputy commandant for Mission Support, Stosz had gained a wealth of experience worth sharing. Though her career abounded in firsts for her gender — she was, for example, the first woman to lead a U.S. armed forces service academy — Stosz wanted to focus her literary lens not on the trailblazing aspects of her career, but rather on the extensive and varied leadership lessons gleaned from her experiences. The result is Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters, published this month by Koehler Books. She recently spoke with Governing.com Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson

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The author of a new book on the pioneers of the civil rights movement says, as different as the two were from each other, they were also each other’s alter egos in the struggle against racism.

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X rose from markedly different backgrounds to assume leading roles in the civil rights movement, and though each died violently while playing his respective part, neither man fully exited the stage. Both remain to this day celebrated figures in the fight for racial and economic justice.

Their much-publicized differences, most notably violence versus nonviolence, have rendered portraits of the two men as opposing figures, but Dr. Peniel Joseph, in his dual biography The Sword and Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., argues that these contrasts have been taken out of context. The two men eventually grew into alter egos of one another, he asserts, and each transformed the other in important ways as their visions converged. Dr. Joseph recently spoke with Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson about these two iconic African American leaders.

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The author of a dictionary-like book spent two years recovering the lost language that Americans need in order to talk with each other about things that matter.

Distressed at the dearth of civic understanding in the United States, Ed Hagenstein worked for over two decades to create The Language of Liberty: A Citizen’s Vocabulary. Its purpose is simple: the constitution demands consensus and our form of government requires discourse, which depends in turn on a precise and nuanced vocabulary of its own. Hagenstein has set out to recover 101 words that are essential to the American experiment, many largely lost to disuse or misuse.

Show notes:

Mary Page Wilson-Lyons | TEDxBirminghamSalon

The Language of Liberty: A Citizen's Vocabulary

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To borrow a starting point from Alexis de Tocqueville and the founding fathers, let’s pause to consider America’s enduring habits of the heart and how they can help us constitute a more perfect union

Our resident humanities scholar and Editor-at-Large, Clay Jenkinson contends that the country is the combination of three constitutions – Written, Mediated, and Lived – and your experience with them may vary.

Audio courtesy of The Bush Library, The Clinton Library, YouTube, CupsofChamomile, Miller Center, CNN, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, NBC News, PBS, CBS, CBC, Tuts+.

Incidental music licensed from HookSounds.

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The Constitution is silent on the number of justices on the Supreme Court. The independence of the judiciary is put in jeopardy when partisans settle political scores by rebalancing the courts.

Clay has been thinking about the promise and pitfalls of court packing.

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On April 13 President Biden announced his plan to withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Currently there are approximately 3,500 American troops in Afghanistan.

With no consensus at home on the decision to withdraw US troops, Afghanistan remains a Grave of Empires. True to Thomas Jefferson's formulation that most wars end with the restoration of the status quo ante bellum (things go right back to the way things were before all the loss of blood and treasure).

You can listen and subscribe to the full series of The Future in Context at Governing.com/podcast

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A prolific and outspoken author contends the term "populism" has been turned on its head, and not since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has the White House been occupied by a man of the people.

Thomas Frank is an unapologetic liberal and populist. Those characteristics shape his writing and worldview. He finds promise in the country’s original populists, who adopted the term in 1891, and who were protesting “unbearable debt, monopoly and corruption … forcing the country to acknowledge that ordinary Americans who were just as worthy as bankers or railroad barons were being ruined by an economic system that in fact answered to no moral laws.” Frank sees distinct parallels between conditions then and American capitalism as it exists today, complete with the stains of racism, sexism, economic inequality, and contempt for ordinary Americans.

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A decade ago, Williston, N.D., became a magnet for desperate men, thanks to oil in the Bakken Formation. In an interview, author Michael Smith talks about life in an oil patch and the human cost of fueling the nation.

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An important new book, Apollo’s Arrow, precisely targets what America got right in its COVID-19 response, and where it must do better next time. And there will be a next time.

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In this companion audio version of a Clay Jenkinson essay, we explore two efforts - separated by four centuries and an ocean - to decapitate governments.

The preparations for President Biden’s as-yet-unscheduled State of the Union address are haunted by a 400-year-old conspiracy to decapitate the British government. What can we learn from the Gunpowder Plot?

Audio samples sourced through the US House of Representatives, CSPAN, ABC, Bartje Bartmans, RTSD, NatGeo,Travel Sounds Project, and Hooksounds.

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When a president leaves the White House, he enters one of the most elite clubs. A book by two of America’s leading journalists looks at what binds these individuals together, given their personalities and politics.

Governing’s Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson spoke with the authors ofThe President’s Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity.

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This is the audio companion to Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson's essay about communication revolutions, including the one we are living through right now.

The printing press and social media democratized communication in their respective times. They both turned the order of things on its head – for good, for ill, and forever.

You can find past episodes on governing.com.

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With incoming President Joe Biden pledging to unify the country, author David French talks with Governing Editor-at-Large Clay Jenkinson about the nation’s current divide, whether the country is in decline and the prospects for a lasting union.

You can find more from the occasional series, including other podcast episodes and Clay's essays, at www.governing.com.

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The republic for which it stands.

Just what does the republic stand for?

And will the republic stand during a season of tumult?

Before America, the Roman republic stood. And then fell.

Is Rome our destiny? Is its experience a useful lens for understanding America at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century?

Governing’s Editor at Large and resident humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson probed these questions with author and historian Ed Watts as part of our continuing effort to put the future in context.

You can find more about Clay's work and The Future in Context at governing.com.

Listening to America: Recent Episodes

Paul Taylor