Unlocked: How Government Works

Unlocked: How Government Works
Podcast Description
From Nancy Gibbs and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Unlocked is a new series to help journalists and those taking on the task of explaining the news today better understand how the U.S. Government actually works, what it does, and the people, policies, and programs that drive it. In collaboration with The Journalist's Resource, "Unlocked" is also a series of print explainers on related topics. Visit ShorensteinCenter.org/Unlocked to learn more.
Intro music by https://pixabay.com/users/nikitakondrashev-42823964/
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on key topics related to government efficiency, public policy, and civic understanding, with episodes discussing barriers to effective governance, the impact of digital services on federal operations, and insights into the hiring processes within government agencies.

From Nancy Gibbs and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Unlocked is a new series to help journalists and those taking on the task of explaining the news today better understand how the U.S. Government actually works, what it does, and the people, policies, and programs that drive it. In collaboration with The Journalist’s Resource, “Unlocked” is also a series of print explainers on related topics. Visit ShorensteinCenter.org/Unlocked to learn more.
Intro music by https://pixabay.com/users/nikitakondrashev-42823964/

What do Inspectors General actually do, and why has their role become a battleground in recent years? On this episode of Unlocked, Michael Missal—former Inspector General of the US Department of Veterans Affairs—joins host Nancy Gibbs to break down the vital work of IGs in safeguarding federal agencies from waste, fraud, and abuse. Together, they explore the unique independence of IGs, the importance of transparency, and what happens when oversight is threatened by political interference.
Missal shares firsthand stories from his tenure serving under multiple presidential administrations—detailing how investigations are handled, and explaining the legal requirements for the removal of IGs. With a recent wave of firings and mounting pressure on independent oversight bodies like the Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, this episode examines the essential work of these government watchdogs.
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