Policy and Governance Perspectives

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.

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.

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.

Welcome to the 15th episode of the show, the official show of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. We are talking about something that touches every Virginian. Whether you are sitting in traffic on I-66, working in a data center, or paying your utility bill, namely energy, how we produce it, how we use it, and whether our grid can keep up with explosive growth in data centers, AI, electrification, and population.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.