Trust and National Security: What Being American Means at Home and Abroad, with Ambassador Joe Westphal and former FBI Executive Lauren Anderson

Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood

Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood
Trust and National Security: What Being American Means at Home and Abroad, with Ambassador Joe Westphal and former FBI Executive Lauren Anderson
Jul 27, 2026 Season 2 Episode 44
National Academy of Public Administration

Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews Ambassador Joe Westphal and former senior FBI executive Lauren Anderson about how national security has evolved from the Cold War through 9/11 to today’s interconnected threats, including terrorism, geopolitical shifts, and emerging technologies. Both warn that global changes, partner uncertainty, polarization, and reduced information sharing can make the U.S. less safe, alongside a loss of government expertise and strained diplomacy. 

01:55 How Security Has Changed
03:17 Collaboration And Trust
05:11 Today’s Threat Landscape
09:11 Eroding Trust And Expertise
15:09 Rebuilding Trust
18:49 Listening And Self Correction
21:39 Serving Above Politics
23:02 Advice For Next Generation
26:16 Checks And Balances

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton. 

Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190
Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Follow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT
Episode Artwork Trust and National Security: What Being American Means at Home and Abroad, with Ambassador Joe Westphal and former FBI Executive Lauren Anderson 27:39 Episode Artwork CROSSOVER: Management Matters x Governance Matters with Raphael Sonenshein: Changes, Charters and the Constitution 31:10 Episode Artwork "The Future of Public Service" at Celebrating the American Public Servant with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Inspector General Michael Horowitz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass 25:35 Episode Artwork Merit- and Skills-Based Hiring and What's Next For Government Workforce Management with Fellow Steve Krauss and Gabe Menchaca of the Niskanen Center 29:42 Episode Artwork Leading With Courage with Acquisition Experts Soraya Correa and Greg Giddens 17:37 Episode Artwork Big Changes Mean Big Challenges for Shared Services and Government HR with Academy Fellow Brodi Fontenot and OPM's Rebecca Ayers 25:29 Episode Artwork Executive Power and Civil Service Reform with Adam White and Clark Kelso 34:48 Episode Artwork Budgeting is Policy, or How Government is like 'The Matrix' with Teri Gullo and Karl Maschino 28:15 Episode Artwork The GAO High Risk List with Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown and Kimberly Walton 22:51 Episode Artwork Challenges and Innovations in Public Sector Data with Kari D'Elia of USA Facts and Diana Maurer of US GAO 28:39 Episode Artwork Oversight and the Congress, with Fellow Tim Persons of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Dan Lips of The Foundation for American Innovation 21:45 Episode Artwork Why Public Administrators Need to Be Great Storytellers 26:03 Episode Artwork Reforming, Rebuilding, Reimagining: Our American Future with Donna Shalala and Norm Ornstein 32:58 Episode Artwork BONUS: The Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service Ceremony featuring Sec. Janet Yellen and Gov. Gary Locke 40:13 Episode Artwork Efficiency, Oversight, and the Future of the US Government Accountability Office 27:33 Episode Artwork How Much Can Public Service Education Change in a Year? With David Wilson and Jodi Sandfort 26:20 Episode Artwork How Are Federal Workers and Agencies planning for AI? With Alexis Bonnell of OpenAI and Karen Lee of FedsForward 31:06 Episode Artwork Stories of Service: Reflections on Purpose, Progress, and the Path Ahead 27:55 Episode Artwork Bridging the Gap – State and Local Capacity in a Shifting Federal Landscape: 2025 National Conference 25:29 Episode Artwork Reimagining Government at the National Conference: Norm Ornstein with Loren DeJonge Schulman, Mindy Romero, Soren Dayton and Cecili Wake 39:04 Episode Artwork The Longest Government Shutdown in US History with Romina Boccia of Cato Institute and Rob Shriver of Democracy Forward 24:27 Episode Artwork The State of Public Administration, Part 2, Q&A with Frank Fukuyama, Vanessa Williamson and Philip Howard: National Conference 2025 18:24 Episode Artwork The State of Public Administration, Part 1 with Frank Fukuyama, Vanessa Williamson and Philip Howard: National Conference 2025 25:31 Episode Artwork Redefining Public Service for a Modern Workforce with US Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor - Highlights from the National Conference 29:18 Episode Artwork Government Data and How to Handle It with Nick Hart of Data Foundation and Richard Coffin of USAFacts 30:02