GovExec Daily

2022 did not feature a presidential election or the start of a catastrophic global pandemic like 2020 did. It did not begin with an attack on the United States Capital as 2021 did. But, this year was hardly boring. COVID-19 has become a regular part of our lives, as has record inflation. Student debt was canceled and then it wasn't. Vaccine mandates came and went. Federal employees had to deal with it all while navigating a chaotic political climate.

Tom Shoop is editor at large and the former executive vice president and editor in chief at GovExec Media. He joined the podcast to discuss the past 12 months in our coverage and the biggest stories of the year.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

As 2022 winds down, we've reached the end of another year of public sector COVID-19 response. Funding is drying up, boosters have become a mainstay of public health messaging and the populace is learning to live with the pandemic as we head into another year of COVID-19's presence in our lives.

Courtney Bublé writes the Coronavirus Roundup on GovExec.com. She joined the podcast to talk about another pandemic year as 2022 comes to a close.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Despite making up approximately half the U.S. population, women are wildly underrepresented in the highest levels of American government. Women candidates face different and more difficult barriers than most men in American politics, though voters don't often reckon with those feelings.

Debbie Walsh is director of the Center for American Women and Politics, a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. She joined the podcast o discuss women in the political and government spheres.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

As the COVID-19 crisis heads into another year, the financial effects of the pandemic have been felt throughout the American economy. With fuel prices fluctuating during the holiday season, Americans are increasingly worried about the economy in the coming year.

Dr. Patrick Gourley, PhD, is an associate professor of economics at the University of New Haven. As part of our #MoneyMonday series, he joined the podcast to discuss the economic outlook for 2023.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

This week, Congressional negotiators reached a bipartisan framework agreement for a full-year funding plan for the remainder of fiscal 2023. But, a framework is not a bill and, simultaneously, Congress is working on a weeklong continuing resolution that would avert a government shutdown when funding runs out on Friday night.

GovExec Senior Correspondent Eric Katz has been covering the spending bill negotiations. He joined the show to discuss the state of things in Congress.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Whistleblowers are a fundamental part of transparency, but are often misunderstood. While high-profile whistleblowers because cause célèbres, there are thousands who face retaliation from higher ups. These include government contractors, grantees who work with and are adjacent to government, as is the case in United States, ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc., which recently came before the Supreme Court.

Richard Renner is a partner in the law firm of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch and Kate Krems is an associate at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch. They joined the podcast to talk about the case and whistleblowers.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Former President Donald Trump's Schedule F executive order is long-rescinded, but its supporters continue to bring up its ghost in the guise of accountability for bad federal employees. While the House-passed Preventing a Patronage System Act and a similar, though stalled, Senate plan both would work against similar policies, the threat of a patronage-style civil service system remains.

Joe Spielberger is policy counsel at the Project On Government Oversight and the author of an op-ed in the Hill headlined "Congress must protect the nation from a politicized civil service." He joined the podcast to discuss his op-ed and the future of Schedule F-style policy.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Student debt has been a point of conversation for years and President Joe Biden's plan to forgive $10,000 of student debt of non-Pell Grant recipients has brought the arguments surrounding forgiveness to the fore. After a federal court put a hold on the plan, the program is paused but so are student loan payments, leaving borrowers awaiting the news.

Dr. Cliff Robb is faculty director for the Consumer Finance and Personal Financial Planning programs at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He joined the podcast to discuss the federal student loan forgiveness plan and financial decision-making.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Cryptocurrency advocates have claimed that the technology could revolutionize monetary policy in the U.S. and worldwide, but the actual application of crypto has more closely resembled an investment asset since crypto became mainstream about five years ago. Regulation of cryptocurrency has been slow compared to its adoption and recent volatility in the cryptocurrency markets have brought more scrutiny to crypto exchanges and users.

Alexandra Kelley is a reporter for GovExec sibling site Nextgov. She joined the podcast to discuss cryptocurrency, regulations and the future of money.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

The ways that governments use technology is constantly changing, from the adaptation of technology and systems to the ways in which agencies secure their networks and data. As the year comes to an end, 2023 approaches with new technologies and strategies are coming forward for government to heed.

Scott Buchholz is the chief technology officer for Deloitte's Government and Public Service practice. He joined the podcast to discuss the 2023 Government Tech Trends forecast.

***

Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec