Ideas

Americans Think They Know a Lot About Politics—and It’s Bad for Democracy That They’re so Often Wrong in Their Confidence

Many Americans think they know much more about politics than they really do. That overconfidence can thwart democratic politics.

Defense

Nvidia, AMD caught in the middle of U.S.-China tech battle

The federal government added a new license requirement barring selling artificial intelligence chips to China and Russia to address potential national security concerns.

Acquisition

NASA unveils draft solicitation for $1.3B IT contract

The space agency is bundling 10 incumbent contracts into this new procurement.

Podcasts

Critical Update: How NASA Might One Day Send Humans Into Outer Space

NASA futurist Michael LaPointe joins the podcast to talk about what it will take—in technology, time and treasure—to get a human out of our solar system.

Cybersecurity

Election Officials Have Been Largely Successful in Deterring Cyber Threats, CISA Official Says

The head of CISA’s National Risk Management Center pointed to public-private partnerships and enhanced resource sharing activities as key to defending against outside threats to voting systems.

People

The Biden administration moves to make unions more accessible to federal contractors

This carries out a recommendation from the White House task force on worker organizing. 

Digital Government

Nvidia, AMD Caught in the Middle of US-China Tech Battle

The federal government added a new license requirement barring selling artificial intelligence chips to China and Russia to address potential national security concerns.

Cybersecurity

CFPB warns firms on poor cyber hygiene

The agency says that bad password and data management and other practices can expose companies to legal consequences.

Digital Government

Lawmakers Ask for Info on Meta’s Data Privacy Policies

Concern on Capitol Hill continues to rise about reproductive data and big tech following Roe v. Wade’s overturn.

Digital Government

New Transportation Dashboard Informs Travelers of Services Offered During Flight Disruptions

The airline customer service dashboard shows passengers the compensatory amenities offered by major U.S. airlines when flights are delayed or canceled.

Emerging Tech

U.S. Semiconductor Production Will Rely on Improved Measurement Science, NIST Reports

Metrology—the science of measurement and its applications—will influence the quality and reliability of electronics as they get smaller and smaller.

Cybersecurity

NIST to Launch New Guidance on Security Risks of Telehealth and Smart Home Integration

The agency notes that “user experience” improvements may come with less control over privacy and security.

Defense

The Army wants smarter sensors to ease soldiers’ ‘cognitive burden’

New intelligence and electronic-warfare tools aim to help commanders get data faster.

Cybersecurity

Housing agency didn't complete cyber orders from DHS, report says

The agency said that some of its websites failed to comply with binding operational directives from the Department of Homeland Security.

Cybersecurity

NSA, CISA and ODNI release new software supply chain guidelines for developers

An interagency, public-private working group “strongly encouraged” software developers to begin implementing a suite of best practices aimed at further securing the software development lifecycle.

Modernization

Louisiana Becomes First State to Receive Internet for All Grants

The Department of Commerce is focusing on bridging digital divides across all rural communities in the U.S.

Digital Government

NASA Awards SpaceX $1.4B for Five More Missions

The addition brings SpaceX’s total contract value to more than $4.9 billion.

Acquisition

Amazon-Microsoft rivalry now turns to $1B NGA contract

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency went down the sole-source route, which of course led to a protest.

Modernization

Over $105 Million Going to Better Internet for Native American Communities

The Department of Commerce announced a series of new grants through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.