Jen Easterly, Director of CISA, discusses her crucial role in safeguarding America's infrastructure from cyber and physical threats. She emphasizes the need to make elections "boring" again to ensure security amidst rising political tensions. Jen explores the challenges of misinformation and the importance of nonpartisan collaboration among officials. Additionally, she highlights evolving threats from cyber attacks and the responsibility of tech companies in enhancing resilience. The conversation balances the urgency of cybersecurity with a dash of humor.
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Krebs' Firing
Jen Easterly's predecessor, Chris Krebs, was fired by Donald Trump.
This happened after Krebs called the 2020 elections secure via tweet.
insights INSIGHT
Election Infrastructure
State and local election officials are primarily responsible for election security.
CISA offers free cybersecurity services and training to these officials.
insights INSIGHT
Physical Security Threats
Easterly expresses concern about physical security threats to elections, referencing a fictional fire incident in "Succession".
Foreign adversaries might exploit such incidents to create uncertainty and sow discord.
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The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile
Ralph Nader
Published in 1965, 'Unsafe at Any Speed' by Ralph Nader exposed the potential dangers of American cars and the automotive industry's resistance to improving safety. The book focused on various design flaws, such as the Chevrolet Corvair's steering system, and criticized the industry for prioritizing style and cost over consumer safety. It led to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966 and the establishment of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The book's impact extended beyond legislation, influencing public perception of vehicle safety and driving consumer advocacy efforts[2][3][4].
This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends
The Cyberweapons Arms Race
Nicole Perlroth
This book, written by Nicole Perlroth, delves into the secretive world of cyberweapons, exploring the origins of state-sponsored cyberattacks, the evolution of cyberweaponry, and the potential catastrophic consequences of the ongoing cyber arms race. It includes stories of high-profile cyberattacks like Stuxnet and WannaCry, and discusses the roles of private companies, criminal groups, and individual hackers in this market. The book is based on years of reporting and hundreds of interviews with current and former government officials, cybersecurity experts, and hackers, and is praised for its engaging and terrifying portrayal of modern global warfare[1][3][5].
Donald Trump signed the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency into existence in 2018 with the mandate to protect America’s infrastructure from threats digital and physical. Trump also made CISA a household name when he fired the department’s head in 2020 for noting that, no, the election was not stolen. Today, we hear from Jen Easterly, the woman who now runs CISA and has the job of preventing another SolarWinds or Colonial Pipeline attack as well as preventing foreign and domesticattacks in an election environment that has become highly politicized.Her goal? Make elections boring again.
BTW, do you have any burning questions on career, love or life where you’d like Kara or Nayeema’s advice? Call 1-888-KARA-PLZ and leave us a voicemail.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram. We’re @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza.
On with Kara Swisher 
