Stay ConnectedWelcome, everyone, to the The GovNavigators Show – a government focused show that won’t make you seasick.
We hope to enlighten and enliven your week with news and insightful, entertaining guests all on the topic of government management.
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Copyright: © 2026 The GovNavigators Show
The oracle is back, and he's not holding back. This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome the return of Charles Cooper, Founder and Managing Partner at Brumidi Group, for a deep dive into the state of play on Capitol Hill with just weeks to go before the midterms. Will there be a government shutdown? What does a lame duck Congress actually get done? And is divided government secretly good? Charles breaks it all down with the kind of context only a seasoned congressional insider can provide, from redistricting math to the seats nobody's watching... yet.
Thank you to Allocore for sponsoring this episode.
Show Notes:
Source: GSA, HHS Uncover $1.2 Billion in Suspected COVID-Related Contract Fraud
Source: Trump Administration to Remove 760,000 ACA Enrollees Over Fraud Claims
Source: OPM Gives Agencies Authority to Give Bonuses Up to $25,000
Source: Public Trust in Government Falls to 27% — Partnership for Public Service
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar:
September 27th – 30th: NASCIO 2026 Annual Conference, San Diego
October 8th: MeriTalk Tech Tonic
October 19th: FAR Revolutionary Overhaul Public Comment Deadline
Who knew Jaws could come up in a conversation on data? This week, Robert and Adam sit down with Nick Hart, President and CEO of the Data Foundation to debrief their GovDATAx conference and discuss the many factors at play in the national data ecosystem. Learn what progress Nick believes has been made in the federal data sphere and hear what he thinks is still left to be done. Plus, insights on the challenges of balancing representation and data privacy, and how data is the key to fighting fraud.
Thank you Allocore for sponsoring!
Show Notes
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
September 21st – 25th
September 22nd
September 22nd and 23rd
September 25th
September 30th
From inside the House, it’s Christian Hoehner!
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome their good friend Christian Hoehner, Policy Director for the Majority staff at the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Christian walks us through the committee’s expansive work, including their new legislation addressing the “dire problem” of fraud and improper payments. Plus, an inside look at the Prepayment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act, and the payoff of bipartisan cooperation.
Special thanks to our friends at Allocore for sponsoring this episode!
Show Notes
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
September 14th
September 15th
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) Lunch for John Bernard, America’s Pulse
Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan’s Roundtable on Executive-Legislative Relations
Happy Labor Day!
On this pop-up episode, Robert and Adam wish a happy holiday to all, with a special shoutout to our federal workforce. Plus, some quick updates from Congress and upcoming events to tie you over through the long weekend.
Show Notes:
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
September 9th
September 15th
Christina Ho knows some people would describe audit as “painful,” so what if there was a way to make it “faster, better, and cheaper?”
In this episode, Robert and Adam sit down with Christina Ho, former PCAOB Board Member and Chief Assurance Officer at Oath to discuss her new project using AI to improve the auditing process by testing 100% of transactions. Plus, learn about her vision for a “whole new category” of independent verification, and how the current view of audit as a compliance exercise is not producing the value it is intended to.
Thanks to our sponsors at Allocore!
Show Notes:
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
August 31st
September 9th
September 14th
September 15th
Congress passed a major bipartisan housing bill, and Robert has three daughters renting apartments, so this one is personal. This week, Robert and Adam are joined by Nicole Upano, AVP of Housing Policy and Regulatory Affairs, and George Ratiu, VP of Research, both at the National Apartment Association, to unpack what the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does for Americans everywhere, and what comes next. From single-stairway buildings and inspection parity to opportunity zone updates, manufactured housing reform, and the role of private capital, they walk through a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation, and what implementation looks like across Treasury, HUD, FHFA, USDA, and beyond. They also flag what didn't make it in, and why the real work is just beginning.
Thank you to Allocore for sponsoring this episode.
Show Notes:
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Special thanks to Allocore for supporting this episode.
Ensuring politicians remain accountable to those who vote for them is no easy feat, but our guest this episode may have the solution. On this episode of the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam try not to have too much fun talking with John Bernard, Founder, President, and CEO of America’s Pulse, as he takes us through his project to measure state performance and connect citizens’ priorities directly to their elected officials. Plus, learn how America’s Pulse is building a direct-input democracy that extends beyond elections, and how you can use it to make your voice heard.
Show Notes
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
August 20th
August 24th
August 26th-27th
August 27th
August 27th
Thank you to Allocore for supporting this week's episode of the GovNavigators Show.
Are we all clear on opsec? This week, Robert and Adam are getting (almost) all the details on how the latest technologies are rewriting the rules of national security. Shelby Pierson, retired national security official and the newest member of the GovNavigators Network, talks us through her longtime career spanning across the CIA, NRO, NGA, and ODNI, and unpacks the real work behind the romantic Hollywood version of the Intelligence Community. Now, as a consultant, she is bringing her unique expertise and skill set to organizations looking to revolutionize the important work done in supporting of our warfighter.
Show Notes:
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Lauren Lombardo, Policy Director for Recoding America, to discuss her work driving collaborative and coordinated government management policy reform. Lauren walks us through how working on campaigns at 13 years old sparked an early interest in public service, and describes her professional path working as a data scientist in the private sector before pivoting to use her technology background as a staffer in Congress. She dives into her work with the Recoding America fund, building connections with think tanks and individuals passionate about government management reform, developing the narrative surrounding these issues, and administering grants to organizations doing policy development and advocacy work in the government management sphere. Plus, learn why Lauren believes problems attributed to technology in government often stem much deeper, and why bipartisanism is necessary for real policy change.
Show Notes
Allocore: allocore.com
New York Times: Accept Your Fate. Don’t Wear Shorts to the Office.
Congress.gov: House C.R.
The Hill: House passes reconciliation framework for Pentagon boost, voting restrictions
House Armed Services Committee: FY27 NDAA Resources
FedScoop: VA won’t require existing FedRAMP certification for cloud contracts
VA: FedRAMP memo
Nextgov/FCW: After Hugging Face breach, FedRAMP chief tells slow-to-patch vendors to stay out of government
Recoding America Fund: recodingamerica.org
HSGAC: Testimony of Anthony Fauci
C-SPAN: Dr. Anthony Fauci Testifies on Origins of COVID-19 Pandemic
The Washington Post: Rand Paul threatens to hold Fauci in contempt after he declines to answer questions
What’s on the GovNavigators’ Radar?
August 4th
August 5th
August 5th-6th
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome back Howard Mortman, Director of Communications at C-SPAN. Howard reveals what’s new with the network, the trends he’s been seeing, and how public affairs broadcasting has been changing. The episode dives into the role C-SPAN footage plays in spurring political conversation on social media, and the network’s new show aiming to bring tough policy questions and civil discourse that feeds solutions on air. Robert, Adam, and Howard also discuss C-SPAN programming, including America 250 festivities and a special initiative to send reporters to the field to augment 2026 campaign coverage. Plus, new developments on Howard’s podcast, Extreme Mortman, including an exciting name change, behind the scenes information on process, and the episodes he’s looking forward to the most.
Show Notes
House Appropriations: Continuing Resolution Press Release
Time Magazine: House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Spending Bill
House Armed Services Committee: FY27 NDAA Resources
HHS: Press Release on Deferring California and Minnesota Medicaid Payments
Reuters: US pauses $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California, Minnesota
C-SPAN: C-SPAN Website
C-SPAN: America 250
C-SPAN: Campaign 2026
The Hill: C-SPAN inks deal with YouTube TV, Hulu
C-SPAN: Ceasefire
C-SPAN: Extreme Mortman
What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar?
July 28th:
July 30th:
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