Jennifer Pahlka, author of 'Recoding America' and former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, joins the discussion on governmental inefficiencies. They delve into the new Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, questioning if top-down changes can truly revamp bureaucratic systems. Pahlka advocates for focusing on real-world outcomes rather than superficial tweaks, emphasizing accountability and the need for innovative, adaptable policies to enhance government effectiveness and prevent unintended consequences.

Jennifer Pahlka, a former deputy CTO under Obama and founder of Code for America, teams up with Andrew Greenway, a co-founder of Public Digital, to discuss the intricacies of state capacity. They explore why this topic is gaining traction in the UK while addressing the U.S. government's shortcomings. The duo shares insights on transforming digital services, the impact of civil service reforms, and the pressing need for collaboration to effectively tackle unemployment insurance. Their expertise shines a light on innovative strategies for rebuilding public trust.

Trump Heads to Court (Again), Tesla's Autopilot Danger, and Guest Jennifer PahlkaKara and Scott talk about George Soros' succession plan, Twitter’s new “odd couple,” and Trump's latest legal battle over classified documents. Then Friend of Pivot Jennifer Pahlka stops by to talk about her critically-acclaimed new book, Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better.Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.You can follow Jennifer at @pahlkadot and Recoding America is available here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a lot of frustration about the government's ability to build things in the US. Subways. Bridges. High-speed rail. Electricity transmission. But there's another crucial area where the public sector often struggles, and that is software. We saw it with the infamous rollout of Obamacare. We see it in the UX of the Treasury Direct website. And we saw it in the way state unemployment insurance systems broke during the pandemic. So why is it so hard for the public sector to build and maintain software? On this episode we speak with Jennifer Pahlka, the founder and former executive director of Code for America and author of the new book Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, as well as Dave Guarino, who recently left the Department of Labor after working on upgrading the unemployment insurance system. Both have a long history of working on public sector software systems and they explain why the problem is so tricky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Pahlka discusses shifting to product management in government, prioritizing mission over process, embracing change for tech integration. Also, focusing on direct user feedback, simplifying policies, community engagement, and communication needs.

Jennifer Pahlka, founder of the Code for America and former Deputy CTO, discusses improving digital governmental capacity and recoding America. They explore the problems with technology in government and the impact of power dynamics. The struggles of Natalie developing a platform for doctors are highlighted. The accountability trap and its impact on veterans benefits are discussed. The chapter also focuses on bending regulations, restoring faith in government, and addressing crucial problems.

Author Jennifer Pahlka discusses the flaws in government services and how to improve them. Topics include challenges with accessing unemployment benefits, outdated systems in government, reshaping the system with examples from 'Recoding America,' and struggles in simplifying government policies.

Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, and Michael Kratsios, former CTO of the United States, discuss the challenges of bringing technologists into government, the role of technology in national security, and the consequences of lacking technical expertise in government projects. They explore pathways for joining the government and highlight the importance of developing knowledge in areas like AI, quantum information science, biosecurity, and climate crisis mitigation.

Jennifer Pahlka, a technology expert, discusses the failures of government technology, focusing on examples like healthcare.gov and unemployment benefits during the pandemic. She highlights the need for better utilization of technology in government, the challenges of implementation, and the importance of joining organizations like US Digital Service and Code for America. The podcast also covers the difficulties faced in integrating technology into government processes, comparing it with the private sector and acknowledging listener feedback on government inefficiencies.

Jennifer Pahlka, former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer and founder of Code for America, talks about the failures of the US government in the digital age and how to catch up. They discuss the impact of tech and design professionals in government, the lessons learned from the healthcare.gov rescue, the need for a user-centric approach to technology, and the urgency to recode America to address worsening problems.