With a national debt of $31 trillion dollars, we need to start making choices about how to pay the debt down. In order to do that, we have to recognize that a great deal of government has to be modernized. It’s not just about the money, but about what the money buys, how it’s spent, how much waste there is, and to what degree the bureaucracies are inherently inefficient. Every government agency has a challenge of modernization. And the agency with the most complex challenge is the Department of Defense. Newt’s guest is Lisa Hershman. She is the former Chief Management Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2018 – 2021.

With a national debt of $31 trillion dollars, we need to start making choices about how to pay the debt down. In order to do that, we have to recognize that a great deal of government has to be modernized. It’s not just about the money, but about what the money buys, how it’s spent, how much waste there is, and to what degree the bureaucracies are inherently inefficient. Every government agency has a challenge of modernization. And the agency with the most complex challenge is the Department of Defense. Newt’s guest is Lisa Hershman. She is the former Chief Management Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2018 – 2021.

Join former House Speaker, professor, historian, and futurist Newt Gingrich as he shares his lifetime of knowledge and access to the world’s most interesting minds in a new series that covers all aspects of our society. From history to health, national security to science, Newt offers stories, conversations, and context to uncover new perspectives, knowledge and insight. This podcast isn’t about politics; it’s about exploring the past, present, and future to understand where we’ve been and where we’re going. Welcome to Newt’s World, a podcast for independent thinkers.

Newt's World

Episode 542: Modernizing the Pentagon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d3f197f0-d094-405e-9fb7-afda01347dc7/transcript

Newt talks with Bernard Cornwell about his latest book, “Sharpe’s Storm: Richard Sharpe and the Invasion of Southern France, 1813.” Cornwell shares the serendipitous start of his writing career, which began when he moved to the United States and decided to write a book due to difficulties in obtaining a work permit. His first novel, "Sharpe’s Eagle," set in 1808, marked the beginning of a series that follows the character Richard Sharpe through various historical battles. Cornwell explains his inspiration for writing about the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, filling a gap he perceived in historical literature. He also discusses the challenges and intricacies of writing two major series, one about Sharpe and the other about The Saxon Stories, which explore the creation of England. Their conversation touches on historical figures like Wellington, whose military strategies and personal characteristics are vividly brought to life in Cornwell's novels. Cornwell also reflects on his characters, expressing a closer connection to Sharpe due to the character's long-standing presence in his work. He hints at the possibility of future Sharpe novels, though he is currently focused on writing another book in The Saxon Series.

Newt talks with Bernard Cornwell about his latest book, &ldquo;Sharpe&rsquo;s Storm: Richard Sharpe and the Invasion of Southern France, 1813.&rdquo; Cornwell shares the serendipitous start of his writing career, which began when he moved to the United States and decided to write a book due to difficulties in obtaining a work permit. His first novel, "Sharpe&rsquo;s Eagle," set in 1808, marked the beginning of a series that follows the character Richard Sharpe through various historical battles. Cornwell explains his inspiration for writing about the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, filling a gap he perceived in historical literature. He also discusses the challenges and intricacies of writing two major series, one about Sharpe and the other about The Saxon Stories, which explore the creation of England. Their conversation touches on historical figures like Wellington, whose military strategies and personal characteristics are vividly brought to life in Cornwell's novels. Cornwell also reflects on his characters, expressing a closer connection to Sharpe due to the character's long-standing presence in his work. He hints at the possibility of future Sharpe novels, though he is currently focused on writing another book in The Saxon Series.

Episode 921: Bernard Cornwell on “Sharpe’s Storm”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/839d0d28-8344-4a61-870f-b3b3000ed142/transcript

Newt talks with Ryan Thorpe, investigative reporter for the City Journal about his article, co-authored with Christopher Rufo, “The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer.” Thorpe and Rufo report on a billion-dollar fraud scheme in Minnesota, primarily involving social service programs. The fraud was orchestrated by a nonprofit, Feeding Our Future, which falsely billed the state for feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the funds were misappropriated for luxury purchases and real estate. Additionally, the Housing Stabilization Services and autism therapy programs were exploited, with fraudulent claims and kickbacks, leading to a near billion-dollar theft. Thorpe highlights the concentration of fraud within the Somali community and the lack of media coverage and political will to address the issue. The fraud has national security implications, as some funds were allegedly funneled to Al-Shabaab through informal money transfer networks. Their discussion underscores the systemic issues in government oversight and the need for policy changes to prevent such fraud. They also discuss the political influence of the Somali community in Minnesota and the challenges faced by whistleblowers within the state government.

Newt talks with Ryan Thorpe, investigative reporter for the City Journal about his article, co-authored with Christopher Rufo, &ldquo;The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer.&rdquo; Thorpe and Rufo report on a billion-dollar fraud scheme in Minnesota, primarily involving social service programs. The fraud was orchestrated by a nonprofit, Feeding Our Future, which falsely billed the state for feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the funds were misappropriated for luxury purchases and real estate. Additionally, the Housing Stabilization Services and autism therapy programs were exploited, with fraudulent claims and kickbacks, leading to a near billion-dollar theft. Thorpe highlights the concentration of fraud within the Somali community and the lack of media coverage and political will to address the issue. The fraud has national security implications, as some funds were allegedly funneled to Al-Shabaab through informal money transfer networks. Their discussion underscores the systemic issues in government oversight and the need for policy changes to prevent such fraud. They also discuss the political influence of the Somali community in Minnesota and the challenges faced by whistleblowers within the state government.

Episode 920: Minnesota’s Billion-Dollar Fraud Scheme

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8c0835ab-18c9-4ed4-8d51-b3af014b21ea/transcript

Newt talks with George Beebe, Director of Grand Strategy at Quincy Institute about the Russia-Ukraine war. They discuss the Tuesday meeting between President Putin, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focusing on a potential compromise to end the war in Ukraine. George highlights the necessity for both Ukraine and Russia to make concessions, emphasizing Ukraine's need to secure its sovereignty and rebuild, while Russia seeks assurances against perceived threats from NATO and the United States. The ongoing negotiations aim to address both nations' security concerns, with discussions on military limitations and the status of the Donbas region. The potential for nuclear escalation remains a critical concern, with George asserting that Russia views the conflict as existential, which could lead to nuclear options if pushed into a corner. They conclude their conversation by emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and achieve a sustainable peace.

Newt talks with George Beebe, Director of Grand Strategy at Quincy Institute about the Russia-Ukraine war. They discuss the Tuesday meeting between President Putin, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focusing on a potential compromise to end the war in Ukraine. George highlights the necessity for both Ukraine and Russia to make concessions, emphasizing Ukraine's need to secure its sovereignty and rebuild, while Russia seeks assurances against perceived threats from NATO and the United States. The ongoing negotiations aim to address both nations' security concerns, with discussions on military limitations and the status of the Donbas region. The potential for nuclear escalation remains a critical concern, with George asserting that Russia views the conflict as existential, which could lead to nuclear options if pushed into a corner. They conclude their conversation by emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and achieve a sustainable peace.

Episode 918: Russia-Ukraine War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/708c513f-59e0-443d-a84c-b3ab003a5558/transcript

Episode 542: Modernizing the Pentagon

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