The United States faces a government shutdown – again. How should we take care of it and what must be done to prevent it from happening at all? David Ramadan talks all about it with guest co-host Dr. Jeremy Mayer, a professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, and guest Steve Ellis, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. Together, they discuss the causes and consequences of government shutdowns, particularly their economic impact and negative effect on public trust. They also explore why a continuing resolution is way better than shutting down the government, the importance of reasserting congressional control over the federal budget, and “making appropriators great again.”

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In an era of political division, two former Virginia governors prove that collaboration and integrity still have a place in leadership. Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Schar School's official podcast, "Policy and Governance Perspectives!" In this compelling discussion, we have the privilege of sitting down with two extraordinary public servants and former governors of Virginia, Robert McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe. Join us as they set aside partisan hats to share invaluable lessons learned from their time in office, offering strategic advice for future leaders, and tackling the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth. From budget complexities and legislative relationships to economic growth and the future of higher education, this conversation reveals the shared commitment to public service that transcends political divides and defines "the Virginia way."

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Reserves are an often overlooked pillar of American defense and public service. When you dig deeper, you will realize that they are more than just additional fighting forces during times of emergency. David Ramadan takes a closer look at the roles and responsibilities of the United States Army Reserve with his guest co-host Commander Dan Matthews and his guest Commander Sean Purdy. Together, they explore how Reserves continue to strengthen the connection between civilian life and national service because of their particular professional skills and career backgrounds. They also discuss how modern technology continues to transform the public service work of Reserves and the US military as a whole.

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Freedom of Speech stands at the heart of American democracy—and yet it faces new challenges in the age of polarization, executive overreach, and digital activism. In this episode, David Ramadan is joined by former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Walter Olson, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, for a powerful discussion on protecting free expression amid shifting political tides. They unpack the constitutional implications of recent executive actions, the danger of weaponizing nonprofit regulations, and how universities can preserve open discourse while maintaining inclusivity. From Capitol Hill to the classroom, the guests reveal what it takes to safeguard one of our nation’s most essential rights.

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Despite countless frictions and hurdles, the 2025 election results swung in favor of the Democratic Party. How did they manage to do this, and what could it mean for the country? David Ramadan answers these questions with Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman from Sabato’s Crystal Ball, one of the most respected election forecasting teams in the country. Together, they take a closer look at the winners (and losers) of the election, particularly in Virginia and New Jersey, to determine how this will shape the 2026 cycle. They also unpack the most surprising things about the 2025 elections, particularly the shifting political winds in key states, as well as how the government shutdown impacted voter turnout.

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Despite many losses, humanity was able to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. But if we are to experience yet another outbreak on a global scale, how good is our pandemic readiness? David Ramadan and his guest co-host Gregory Koblentz sit down with renowned epidemiologist Michael Osterholm to discuss how the world should prepare to ensure that the next pandemic will not catch us off guard. They pinpoint the shortcomings of the COVID-19 response, particularly with vaccine integrity and lockdown implementation. They also explore how to address the massive problem of “infodemic,” as well as how young people can make a stand against misinformation and disinformation.

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The war in Ukraine continues to rage, and with no end in sight, the people there continue to suffer. David Ramadan and guest co-host Prof. Ellen Laipson sit down with reporter and news producer Mary McAuliffe, who shares her experiences living in war-torn Ukraine. She explains what daily life looks like in the country while living under the threat of Russian invasion, the resilience of its people, and the high costs of people's displacement. Mary also talks about her interactions with US military troops deployed in Ukraine, as well as the impact of US policies on the state of the ongoing conflict.

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With the digital world and people’s attention rapidly evolving, the media landscape also adapts quickly to catch up and stay relevant. David Ramadan sits down with guest co-host Dr. David Rehr and journalist Mark Halperin to dissect the state of media today, particularly with how it covers the most divisive political stories right now. Mark explains the role of independent journalism, including his own platform 2WAY, in presenting unbiased commentaries to foster diverse conversations and community engagement. They also share insights about the worsening problem of redistricting and gerrymandering, as well as the things to expect as we get near the elections.

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National intelligence is perhaps the very last thing you would talk about during dinner. But despite being a boring subject, it is a critical thing that impacts every single citizen’s safety and security. To put Season 1 to a close, David Ramadan and guest co-host Larry Pfeiffer sit down with General Michael Hayden, former director of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, and Mark Zaid, one of the country's leading national security attorneys. Together, they take a deep dive into the current state of national intelligence: are we still safe, or should we be on red alert? They also discuss the potential dangers of politicizing government intelligence agencies, as well as how democratic societies can protect themselves without losing themselves.

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Women’s representation in the United States is under attack by the administration and the right-wing movement. They are prevented from joining the workforce, getting access to proper healthcare, and letting their voices be heard. David Ramadan and guest co-host Dr. Bonnie Stabile discuss the current state of the women’s movement with Katherine Spillar, Executive Editor of Ms. Magazine. Together, they emphasize the need to secure more women in decision-making positions of power to shape laws and policies centered on women's equality. Kathy also talks about her mission to put women’s stories and challenges into the spotlight, something which mainstream media greatly ignores.

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US intelligence is the key to maintaining national security, state welfare, and peace across the land. David Ramadan takes a deep dive into how decisions are made at the highest levels of government with Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director at FBI, and Gregory Crabb, former CISO at USPS. They explore how their neighborhood friendship and bike rides have given birth to groundbreaking ideas on securing the nation’s mail and elections. They also share insights into their biggest intelligence policy challenges and how they handled them, the current state of our election security, and what they would do if given the chance to become US cyber czar for a day.

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Fairfax County is one of the most important economic engines in the Commonwealth of Virginia. But due to economic pressures from federal cutbacks, the recent government shutdown, and the crippling housing market, this region is currently facing some serious issues. David Ramadan breaks down the county’s biggest problems with Hon. Jeff McKay, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and guest co-host Theo Stamatis. Together, they discuss what must be done to address the massive drop in available jobs, the alarming number of displaced federal employees, and the negative impact of DOGE cuts. Chairman McKay also explains how empowering small businesses and building more mixed-use buildings can help replenish Fairfax County’s wealth and solve its fiscal issues.

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The US Constitution clearly states that lobbying is legal. However, systemic corruption in Washington has turned it into a playground of billionaires and the powerful. David Ramadan delves into this shadowy world of political power with Brody Mullins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and guest co-host David Rehr, a former high-profile lobbyist. Together, they break down how lobbying tactics have evolved from smoke-filled rooms and relationship-based approaches to uncapped and undisclosed Super PACs. They also present possible solutions to fix this broken billion-dollar machine that currently shapes American policy and puts public participation in reforms into jeopardy.

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Virginia is currently facing a number of energy issues, particularly with the rising costs and an increasing inability to meet consumer and climate demands. David Ramadan and guest co-host Dr. Michael Webb unpack how to take care of these problems before it is too late with Hon. Glenn Davis, Director of the Virginia Department of Energy. Together, they discuss how energy is produced, regulated, and distributed, highlighting the role of PJM Interconnection in running the entire power grid. They also break down how bipartisan politics is affecting energy policies and why fusion reactors could be the next big thing for energy production.

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History has repeatedly shown that women are consistently involved in organizing and leading movements dedicated to social change, but their voices are often suppressed, set aside, or completely forgotten. The Persisterhood Project at George Mason aims to change that. Joining David Ramadan are two brilliant women behind it: Dr. Robbin Warner, Research Affiliate Faculty at the Schar School and Founder and Co-Director of the Persisterhood Project, and Abbi Tesreau, one of the project's Founding Student Researchers. They explore the initiative’s mission to archive inspiring stories of women activists from 2016 to the present, preserving their oral history for posterity’s sake. Robbin and Abbi also share why this project is needed now more than ever – when democracy and women’s voices are extremely at risk.

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The Virginia General Assembly is currently in session, and it is laser-focused on making big changes that will impact the lives of every citizen. Joining David Ramadan and co-host Commander Greg Brandon is the General Assembly’s chairman, Marcus Simon. Together, they discuss the state’s efforts to bolster public safety, from improving work relations with ICE to changing regulations about gun ownership. Marcus also explains their plans for redistricting, as well as why it is highly similar but still vastly different from gerrymandering. Find out what your elected officials are doing for everyone’s sake and what you can do as a citizen to let your voice be heard.

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Data centers are going beyond the cloud and into the vastness of space. David Ramadan and his co-host Hina Kazmi explore this off-world progress with his guest Dr. Shareef Al Romaithi, CEO of Madari Space. Together, they explore the business, policy, and governance of space-based data infrastructure, which could be essential in building secure orbital data centers in low Earth orbit. They also discuss the colossal technical hurdles of bringing data centers into space, from the huge launch costs to the ever-increasing space debris. Discover how we can work together to ensure such an innovation can benefit the entire human race.

The American Legion – you know the name. Everyone does. But they are more than just a group of old veterans at a bar. What are their duties, and how do they impact the next generation of our armed forces and society as a whole? David Ramadan sits down with two distinguished leaders: Captain Len Wales, a Commander of McLean American Legion Post 270, and Colonel Glenn Yarborough, who served 2017 years in the US Army in Armor and Cavalry units. Together, they discuss the activities and programs organized by the American Legion for the youth, families, and communities. They also explore what the largest veteran’s organization today is doing to address loneliness and food insecurity faced by aging soldiers.

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Municipal government may be the closest level of authority in every home, but it seems many people do not really understand how it runs. David Ramadan unpacks what it is like to run a municipality with the Hon. Catherine Read, the first woman mayor of Fairfax City and the first George Mason graduate to hold that office. Together, they discuss the responsibilities and powers of a municipal mayor, as well as the city manager and the municipal council. Mayor Read also presents the biggest issues in Fairfax City on top of her priority list, from improving the transformation system to navigating high-density housing.

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Virginia could be facing a once-in-a-generation energy crisis due to the explosive growth of data centers, AI demand, and electricity bills. If we fail to address its red flags as soon as possible, we are doomed. David Ramadan explores what must be done to stop this problem from worsening with Ambassador (ret) Richard Kauzlarich, Co-Director of the Center for Energy Science and Policy (CESP), and Paul Bubbosh, former Director of the Energy Security Division in the U.S. Department of Energy. They share how they worked on the Virginia Energy Report, which outlines practical solutions to the commonwealth’s current energy problems. They also discuss what it takes to create top-down policy tools and bottom-up local action and education to establish long-term energy infrastructures.

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If we give fusion energy and AI tools a chance instead of being anxious about them, the future of society could be equally exciting and promising. Joining David Ramadan to discuss these topics is a most unique guest: 75-year-old Congressman Don Beyer, who has recently returned to school at George Mason University to study computer science. Together, they discuss how fusion power plants can produce virtually limitless energy that could solve the climate crisis and alleviate poverty. They also shed light on how AI, no matter how complicated it becomes, can be used to improve and speed up work processes, particularly in the government. This conversation on the intersection of technology, energy, and democracy will open your eyes to the surprisingly hopeful tomorrow for America.

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Is the Chinese military gearing up for war against Taiwan? What does it mean for global security, deterrence, and the stability of the Indo-Pacific region? David Ramadan unpacks the truth behind the mission and motives of the People’s Liberation Army with Dr. Timothy Heath and Dr. John Gordon. They discuss the biggest misconceptions about the Chinese military, its strongest and weakest aspects, and its characteristics that make it a political army. They also talk about how the United States is preparing right now in case China wages war on Taiwan – and why the Chinese cannot stand a chance against US retaliation.

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