People
Officials see gaps in election communications as AI makes foreign influence easier
Sources describe weakening cooperation between the federal government and state and industry partners ahead of the midterms, as AI gives foreign operatives cheaper ways to produce and spread deceptive messages.
Fears about kids’ online safety unite Democrats and Republicans
Amid a decline in youth mental health, momentum builds for a federal crackdown on social media companies over protections for kids.
California takes major step to regulate AI in the workplace
The state recently passed the ‘No Robo Bosses’ Act, making it the first in the nation to restrict employers from relying on artificial intelligence for hiring or disciplinary actions.
Florida region’s ‘digital ecosystem’ looks to help it compete in economic development
Tallahassee has struggled in recent times to tell its story, the head of its chamber of commerce said, and various online portals will help it seize control of the narrative.
Former state official reflects on tech’s role in uplifting residents
Ivy Teng Lei, California’s first chief digital strategy officer, implemented personal data controls and easier vital records requests during her time in the role. She said her background helped prepare her for what lay ahead.
The priorities facing mayors change. The need for data doesn’t
COMMENTARY | Cities across the nation are facing numerous challenges, and data-informed leadership is crucial in working to try to solve them.
‘We're all just trying to help,’ local Service to the Citizen winner says
Crystal Sprague, the director of innovation and performance in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said her Service to the Citizen honor comes amid massive upheaval and change.
Counties are where government has to show its work
COMMENTARY | Counties build and run the machinery of public life under a budget that cannot hide the tradeoffs — and that is what equips them for government’s hardest choices.
‘I don’t trust you’: Tensions reach boiling point on election security call for state leaders hosted by Trump administration
Democratic election officials criticized Homeland Security leaders for lackluster support as the midterm election looms.
Serving military-connected students is a strategic imperative for higher education
COMMENTARY | The relationship between service members and academic institutions has not kept pace with today’s realities and must place more emphasis on key support systems.
Featured eBooks
Voting machine researchers say federal work abruptly ended after Trump ally pushed back on their findings
Mojave Research executives said at DEF CON that the government had been preparing to expand the company’s election security work, and linked Trump adviser Kurt Olsen to pressure they faced after finding election system vulnerabilities but no evidence votes were altered.
Tribes join pushback against prediction markets
Amid the explosive growth of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, Tribal leaders said they undermine sovereignty and represent a major threat to gaming in Indian Country.
Former county CIO reflects on lessons learned from decades in government
Steve Monaghan, the former CIO of Nevada County, California, said workers should be focused on building their organizational health, not just fixing the issues of the day.
Inside the World Cup security operation
A massive effort years in the planning at the federal, state and local level helped keep the tournament safe, even as it faced enormous threats of many kinds that all needed mitigating.
The biggest barrier to building America isn’t politics. It’s paperwork
COMMENTARY | Too many projects are trapped in overlapping permit reviews, with no accountability for delay. If the nation is to lead on emerging tech, this has to change.
How Maryland embraced government efficiency
The state has looked to improve its service delivery both for its residents and the employees who administer those programs, including in major initiatives like benefits.
Governors ban state employees from insider trading on prediction markets
More state leaders are either banning or severely curtailing workers from using nonpublic information to profit on the platforms amid worries of wagering on government actions.
Beeck Center leader reflects on ‘bipartisan opportunity’ for government efficiency
Efforts at the federal level generated a lot of headlines, but at the state level, where the goal is delivery, a lot more progress can be made, said the head of the Georgetown University-based center.
Trump empties out election commission leadership just months before midterms
The shake-up raises questions about voting system certification, federal election security coordination, and the commission’s ability to approve key policy decisions.
Libraries lament ‘cascading effects’ of E-Rate’s potential demise
Advocates warned the FCC’s vote to review the program could blow massive holes in their budgets and force service reductions or even closures if new funding sources aren’t found.
