The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester - 191: The One with the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index (DGI)

Amita Prabhu, Amber Lao, and Kaila Cage from Adobe’s Public Sector Digital Strategy Group join the show unpack the inspiration, methodology, and key findings of the report, which benchmarks digital maturity across U.S. state governments. Together we discuss the origins of the DGI and how it evolved from a side project into a strategic benchmarking tool and why the three pillars of digital maturity – customer experience, site performance, and digital self-service – are so vital to digital government maturity. We also discuss why citizen expectations are outpacing government digital improvements—and what states can do about it and the growing influence of AI and ML in service delivery—from chatbots to fraud detection.

array(3) { [0]=> string(69) "https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fw4acgm25252zhi2/DGI_Podcastbk34n.m4a" [1]=> string(0) "" [2]=> string(8) "33772830" }

Amarica's Constitution - Skrmetti Skirmish

We continue our discussion of the deep issues raised in the case of US v. Skrmetti.  Last time we observed the Court wrestling with questions of whether the Tennessee law banning gender dysphoria treatments in minors was a form of sex discrimination.  Later in the argument the Court addressed the question of whether transgender individuals, or some related group, constituted a so-called “suspect classification” and therefore laws purporting to affect that group would be subject to close examination (“Scrutiny”) by the Court.  In this episode we listen, and react to, those arguments as the Court itself did.  Professor Vik Amar returns to join Akhil in this task, and rightly so, since the “brothers in law” have written several recent posts on the deep questions raised by this and other recent cases.  This has resulted in a new unifying theory which they begin to articulate in this episode. CLE credit is available for lawyers and judges from podcast.njsba.com.

It Could Happen Here - Mapping Border Deaths

James is joined by Bryce from No More Deaths to discuss the release of a map of border deaths that shows systemic undercounting of the lethal consequences of the USA’s deterrence policy.

https://nomoredeaths.org/migrant-death-mapping/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/image.jpg?t=1751824393&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }

The Source - An attack on democracy: Undermining the 2026 midterms

Polling shows that many of President Donald Trump’s policies are not popular, and the Republican party would likely lose control of Congress after mid-terms. But according to The Brennan Center, Trump is taking steps to avoid that outcome — by undermining the midterm election in a number of ways.array(3) { [0]=> string(20) "https://www.tpr.org/" [1]=> string(0) "" [2]=> string(1) "0" }

Global News Podcast - Former US President Bill Clinton ordered to testify about Jeffrey Epstein

The former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary are among high-profile figures to be sent legal summonses from a congressional committee investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also: a US report says the Titan submersible disaster in 2023 could have been prevented, and the race to build a nuclear reactor on the moon.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

1A - What Beards Tell Us About Power, Politics And How We See Each Other

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to sport a beard. For the next 50 years, whiskers were commonplace in the White House. But then, they went out of style.

Now, Vice President JD Vance is the first executive branch leader in more than a century with a furry face.

And others are following suit. From the Senate to the campaign trail, more and more men in politics are letting their facial hair grow free. But what does that tell us about masculinity, power, and how we see each other?

We discuss why politicians remained bare faced for so long, and what the reemergence of whiskers in the White House represents.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

CBS News Roundup - 08/05/2025 | World News Roundup Late Edition

Texas Democratic lawmakers continue to break quorum over redistricting attempt. Federal data show a significant drop in violent crime. Smoky skies from Canada wildfires. U.S. Coast Guard report finds Titan submersible implosion could have been prevented. CBS News Correspondent Jennifer Keiper with tonight's World News Roundup.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PBS News Hour - World - Israeli hostage shown in Hamas video is starved, tortured and ‘a broken man,’ cousin says

This weekend, Hamas released a haunting video of 24-year-old Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage abducted from the Nova Music Festival during the Oct. 7 attacks. In the video, David appears so emaciated and pale that his father said he didn’t recognize him. David's family is pleading for urgent international intervention. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matan Eshet, a cousin of Evyatar David. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders