Kate Michael

WASHINGTON — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was the special guest this week at the Meridian International Center, a non-partisan center for diplomacy and global leadership. While sharing his perspective on the upcoming election and U.S. leadership in 2021, Hutchinson also devoted some time to how COVID... Read More

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and diplomat Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, spoke at a virtual discussion convened by the think tank in the week before the U.S. presidential election about the election’s foreign policy implications and suggested... Read More

WASHINGTON — Americans rely on public infrastructure like buildings, roads, bridges, and power supply lines every day. Some of the groundworks needed to operate society are handled by the federal government, some maintained by states, and a large portion owned and operated by the nation’s 3,141... Read More

WASHINGTON — Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, made an appearance at the National Association of Counties’ Virtual Policy Summit to explain her current prioritization of developing a critical understanding of virus spread on a community level.  “It always struck... Read More

WASHINGTON — Likely everyone has a personal opinion on the outcome of the upcoming election, but not many are as in-tune with the ins and outs of the current — and historic — political climate as the analysts brought together by David Rubenstein to discuss the... Read More

WASHINGTON — The term 5G is all over telecommunications these days. It comes with the promise of data speeds up to 100 times faster than current connections and the ability to support devices that will perform functions not yet imaginable. But it also comes with controversy... Read More

WASHINGTON —The pandemic and its accompanying economic downturn have led to unprecedented challenges including unanticipated job loss and difficulty accessing affordable and nutritious foods. In fact, more Americans than ever have needed to make use of food banks and assistance programs. As negotiations on a ‘Phase... Read More

WASHINGTON — Machine learning and artificial intelligence technology are fast-moving, complex technologies businesses and government agencies are increasingly putting to use to develop efficiencies of people and processes. Federal IT practitioners, in particular, are seeing the benefits of this technology today. The Federal News Network convened... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an independent non-profit organization, released its anticipated report on the estimated costs of both Trump’s and Biden’s campaign plans last week. Not surprisingly, they are very expensive plans.  Both candidates have ambitious proposals and policy priorities if... Read More

WASHINGTON — With just weeks until Election Day, the Bipartisan Policy Center wanted to be sure that Americans had access to all the facts about voting in the 2020 election. The think tank recognized misinformation perpetuating — specifically surrounding the vote by mail process — and... Read More

WASHINGTON — The issue of immigration can be polarizing, but the Bipartisan Policy Center has decided to tackle the topic with a series of discussions on immigration policies around the world. The think tank’s latest dialogue coincides with the launch of its new report examining how... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Budget Office recently released two new outlook reports. These projections are an update of the U.S. deficit, debt, spending, and revenue over the next decade and beyond, given current laws in place. The pair of reports highlight the nation’s unsustainable budget trajectory. ... Read More

WASHINGTON — Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has garnered more attention than ever as a result of the city’s ongoing COVID crisis response and reopening efforts as well as widespread demonstrations against police violence in 2020.  To be sure, as mayor of the city which is... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Along with the rapid creation of data comes the complications of capitalizing on new capabilities for storing, computing, analyzing and visualizing the information. The Federal News Network convened a panel of top government data officials to discuss how agencies are addressing the challenges and... Read More

WASHINGTON — Emergency expansions to Unemployment Insurance provided critical support to workers across the country during the early months of the pandemic. But the major component of these expansions, an additional $600 in weekly benefits, expired at the end of July. With lawmakers continuing to be... Read More

WASHINGTON -- A panel of experts, recently convened by The Concord Coalition, a bipartisan political advocacy group, contend that near-term economic and fiscal damage caused by the current health crisis will make living standards more important than ever. They contend that nothing is likely to do... Read More

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland officials voted on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in favor of the nation’s first-ever ban on private entities using facial recognition technology in its city public spaces. In a second ordinance approved on the same day, the City Council voted to ban local... Read More

WASHINGTON — According to the American Conservation Society, conservatives are using the First Amendment to challenge progressive legislation. They assert that the Free Speech Clause is being used by corporate and right-wing interests to undermine progressive efforts in areas such as campaign finance reform, reproductive rights,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Terrorism hasn’t disappeared just because a pandemic is happening. In fact, calamitous world conditions embolden those who want to do others harm, and police budget cuts, virus-related conspiracy theories, and other vulnerabilities are exacerbated during the COVID-19 crisis. To better understand the impact of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Even as the White House was bedecked in gold and purple to commemorate the Centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, activists and scholars continued to contemplate the ongoing fight for women’s equality. On August 26, designated National Women’s Equality Day, the 50th... Read More

WASHINGTON — News website Axios convened a panel of local and national policymakers to discuss the future of transportation in the wake of COVID-19 including how decision-makers are retooling public transit to be safe and sustainable. “When I think about the top five issues the country... Read More

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of a bizarre earthquake and the above average number of named storms this season, officials are examining how natural disaster response should continue while overlapping with the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus. State and federal officials have seen federal... Read More

WASHINGTON — As American students head back to school, parents, teachers, and administrators are securing resources to offer safe school environments or transition to online classrooms while maintaining rigorous curriculums. Everyone is striving to keep students’ minds sharp and bodies safe while capturing their attention and... Read More

WASHINGTON - While the Constitution does not expressly grant lifetime appointment for Supreme Court justices, it has, since the nation’s founding, been inferred from Article III, Section I, that “The Judges… shall hold their Offices during good Behavior” has meant career tenure. Today, due to advances... Read More

WASHINGTON - Canada is not usually at the center of debate on U.S. immigration, but policy changes due to COVID-19 have atypically limited travel to Canada and affected the United States’ and Canada’s control of the movement of people and goods across their shared border in... Read More

WASHINGTON - Even as students across the United States are beginning to head back to class, the reopening of schools remains a topic of intense debate. While no one can predict what is ahead for the Fall of 2020, there can be no doubt that COVID-19... Read More

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Well before the pandemic, migrants at the northern Mexican border were vulnerable to poor health outcomes. Mexican and U.S. policies put in place before COVID-19 affected migrants' quality of life, and policies added during the health crisis may have put asylum seekers and... Read More

WASHINGTON - While many businesses across the country have shuttered doors and furloughed employees, some essential businesses, like those that provide health care, food, utilities, and other critical services, have continued to operate throughout the pandemic. They are now joined by a variety of new businesses... Read More

WASHINGTON - Among other factors, COVID-19 has emphasized how nutrition research and development affects Americans in terms of disease susceptibility, food system challenges, and nutritional disparities. The pandemic’s health and economic setbacks have highlighted America’s need to invest in better nutrition both to fight food insecurity... Read More

WASHINGTON - Whether due to office closures, fear of seeking medical assistance during the pandemic, or simply for convenience, the nation has seen a rise in telemedicine over the last four months. While telemedicine isn’t new, barriers to adoption, such as security concerns or a lack... Read More

WASHINGTON - A summer series partnership between the District of Columbia’s Heurich House Museum and the Bipartisan Policy Center is exploring the immigrant experience in America.  Last week’s discussion, the second in the series, focused specifically on immigrants’ arrivals and included details on how the process,... Read More

WASHINGTON - In a few days, the U.S. Justice Department is set to resume federal executions after what has essentially been a 17-year moratorium. The men scheduled to die by lethal injection starting next week at a prison in Terre Haute, Ind., will be part of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Little gestures can mean a lot, according to Capricia Marshall, ambassador-in-residence at the nonpartisan Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C..  The one-time presidential social secretary and chief of protocol of the United States shared her views on the role of protocol and diplomacy in light... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Latino voter may well determine the outcome of ballot races across the country this year, however, it’s a mistake to consider this population a single-issue constituency election strategists said at a recent virtual forum hosted by Third Way, the Washington, D.C. think tank.... Read More

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court heard a number of cases this term that could have major implications for reproductive rights. While each case heard by the Supreme Court is significant, the collective decisions on multiple health care-related cases could be much more consequential.  The non-profit... Read More

WASHINGTON - The year 2020 will no doubt be remembered as the year when crisis and turmoil took center stage not just in the U.S., but around the world. From a global pandemic, to upheavals in the economy to social unrest in the wake of the... Read More

Novel technologies are being used around the globe to combat COVID-19. Practical applications of new technologies are poised to make a significant impact in the fight against the virus. Among those is a batch of innovations coming out of Israel, which is now seeing a low... Read More

WASHINGTON - Long-term care is a topic that hits close to home for many. Nursing homes and facilities providing care for people 65 and older are often crowded and understaffed, and care for seniors is even more complicated in the COVID-19 era. More than a third... Read More

WASHINGTON - The economy is in crisis, but not everyone is feeling it the same way. One of the hardest-hit sectors is America’s small businesses. Over 99% of the nation’s 28.7 million firms are small and medium-sized businesses which contribute to local economies by bringing job... Read More

WASHINGTON - At a time when experts instruct at-risk persons to avoid large crowds and to social distance to protect their health, the United States’ electoral process is getting more attention than ever.  Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Representative Jason Crow, D-Colo.,... Read More

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 approved a new, independent Space Force within the Department of the Air Force. As this new military branch takes shape, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond shared updates and details... Read More

On the same day that the Center for American Progress and the League of Conservation Voters released an issue brief detailing how states have stepped up where the federal government has neglected to lead on climate change, CAP convened representatives from a growing wave of state... Read More

WASHINGTON‌ ‌–‌ ‌Ron‌ ‌Klain,‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌Ebola‌ ‌response‌ ‌coordinator‌ ‌from‌ ‌2014‌ ‌to‌ ‌2015,‌ ‌recently spoke‌ ‌to‌ ‌diplomats‌ ‌convened‌ ‌virtually‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌Meridian‌ ‌International‌ ‌Center‌ ‌to‌ ‌share‌ ‌his‌ ‌lessons learned‌ ‌about‌ ‌pandemic‌ ‌management‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌ongoing‌ ‌Ebola‌ ‌crisis.‌ ‌ Klain,‌ ‌informally‌ ‌dubbed‌ ‌the‌ ‌‘Ebola‌ ‌czar’‌ ‌in‌ ‌early‌ ‌2014,‌... Read More

WASHINGTON - While COVID-19 is amplifying conundrums in many policy areas, perhaps nowhere has this been more manifest than in the area of immigrants and the U.S. immigration system.  President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had signed an executive order “temporarily suspending immigration into the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Despite continued uncertainty over how the Coronavirus pandemic will end, its economic impact will surely cast a shadow over the November election, according to a pair of former governors. Govs. John Kasich, a Republican of Ohio, and Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat of Virginia, spoke... Read More

Coronavirus is testing election systems like never before. Voting has traditionally been a private, yet social affair, with citizens turning out to public polling places to make their voices heard and show the receipt of their civic duty with the coveted ‘I voted’ sticker. But coronavirus... Read More

WASHINGTON - H.E. Emily Haber, Ambassador of Germany to the U.S. claimed the German response to confronting the coronavirus epidemic on the health front was not that different from other European Union countries, but that Germany was able to better prepare because they were not the... Read More

Billionaire Investor Mark Cuban headlined a virtual discussion hosted by Axios Friday afternoon focused on leading in a crisis, sharing his thoughts on specifically how to lead and work together for social good in the midst of a global pandemic.  “When you deal with imperfect information,... Read More

Schools and activities are closed, parents are trying to work from home, and everyone feels cooped up and a little crazy. Parenting during a pandemic puts additional stress on a family, but there are strategies that can help you to get through it and even experience... Read More

WASHINGTON - Fear. Anxiety. Grief. Helplessness. Depression. There are many ways Americans are feeling about the health and economic crisis that surrounds us as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the nation.  Many are turning to friends and family for comfort. Others are seeking the advice of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Ambassadors from two of the European countries hardest hit by COVID-19 gave details on the rapidly unfolding situation in a virtual briefing Thursday morning hosted by the Meridian International Center. H.E. Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of Italy, and H.E. Santiago Cabanas, Ambassador of Spain, shared... Read More

WASHINGTON - The United States’ former chief technology officer and a top regulatory policy official from Johnson & Johnson spoke at a Bipartisan Policy Center virtual briefing Tuesday morning about how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to predict or mitigate pandemics.  Given proper guidelines, panelists... Read More

WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commissioners spoke about the nation’s race to 5G at a New America Open Technology Institute discussion held virtually on Tuesday afternoon. Panelists offered thoughts on heading off a 5G digital divide with affordable connectivity for all. “5G wireless networks are coming,” said... Read More

WASHINGTON - William McGee, an aviation consultant had a simple, overarching message for the members of the House Aviation subcommittee on Tuesday. “If you’re not in premium class or an Elite Frequent Flier, watch out,” he said. McGee was one of three witnesses to appear before... Read More

WASHINGTON – A new report released by D.C.-based think tank Bipartisan Policy Center hopes to strengthen transparency at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by suggesting options for growing a culture of data and evidence.  On the cusp of the EPA’s 50th anniversary, BPC has published the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Environmental activist Greta Thunberg was a recurring topic of conversation at Axios’ first Washington, D.C. event of the year, held this week. The event consisted of a series of conversations dedicated to the future of science education and digital learning.   Educators and other industry... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Earth Day Network and Yale Program on Climate Change Communication released a new research report last week on “Climate Change and the American Diet.” The report claims that Americans are more open than ever to plant-based foods. In advance of this year’s 50th... Read More

WASHINGTON — News around Capitol Hill last week was that actor Patrick Dempsey would be starring in a new political drama.   The CBS pilot plot, originally named “The Whip” has since had a title change to “Ways & Means,” but is believed to have little to... Read More

WASHINGTON - National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien told a gathering of world ambassadors this week that China has engaged in a "massive theft" of Intellectual property from the U.S., complicating diplomatic relations and making events like the recent trade dispute between the two countries more difficult... Read More

WASHINGTON — Americans are working more and longer than ever, yet age discrimination worries often give older workers a lack of confidence in being able to keep their jobs or find new ones.  That’s why the House threw its bipartisan support behind H.R. 1230, the Protecting... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., believes veteran firefighters should receive fair retirement and health care benefits that better accord to their service to their country. Toward that end, she’s introduced H.R. 5637, the Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act. The bill is named for Michael... Read More

WASHINGTON - A new report released by D.C.-based think tank,  Bipartisan Policy Center, hopes to create a “bipartisan blueprint” for higher education reform.  Attaining a post-secondary degree is believed to be vital for success in today’s workforce, lauded for long-term financial gain, job stability, career satisfaction,... Read More

WASHINGTON — A House bill generally supported by congressional Republicans and manufacturers to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) nevertheless raised a few red flags when it came up before a House subcommittee last week. HFCs are a class of chemicals primarily used as refrigerants that gained widespread... Read More

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to attend a hearing on Tuesday to examine the Administration’s policy on Iran, including its recent decision to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Pompeo had been invited to attend the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, “From Sanctions to... Read More

WASHINGTON - A Facebook official told a House panel on Wednesday that the social media giant is “working proactively to remove harmful content,” but critics maintained the company has a “trust problem” that warrants greater government scrutiny. The showdown between advocates of freedom of speech and... Read More