New America

New America experts around the web: 1️⃣ Sydney Saubestre for Ms. Magazine | The Data We Don’t Collect Is Killing Women https://bit.ly/3GxvJqb 2️⃣ Anne-Marie Slaughter featured on KQED Forum | Alison Gopnik and Anne-Marie Slaughter on Why We’re Not Paying Enough Attention to Caregiving https://bit.ly/4k5cRNZ 3️⃣ Vicki Shabo featured in Bloomberg | Trump Says a $5,000 Baby Bonus Is a ‘Good Idea’ But Will It Work? https://bloom.bg/4iP0OTU

What are the most surprising tech policy developments from the first 100 days of the latest Trump administration? What should civil society be doing at this moment? Experts from New America, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Enterprise Institute, and Abundance Institute answer these questions as part of the Open Technology Institute’s series on the administration’s tech governance. Featured: 🗣️ Lilian P. Coral , head of OTI and VP of New America’s Technology and Democracy programs 🗣️ Neil Chilson, head of AI policy at the Abundance Institute 🗣️ Shane Tews, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute 🗣️ Cody Venzke, a senior policy counsel at ACLU 📹 Check out the insightful conversation: https://lnkd.in/ek5C32ve

Upcoming at New America 📅 4/29 Not Working for Workers: The First 100 Days of the Trump Administration ➡️➡️ Join New America and the Good Jobs Collaborative us for a conversation with Senator Chris Murphy, exploring the Trump administration's actions toward workers and how Democrats can regain their trust. 📅 4/29 The First 100 Days: Can Civil Society Defend Democracy? ➡️➡️ Leaders from the higher education, legal, media, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors will discuss how civil society can collectively meet the moment and mobilize against authoritarianism. 📅 4/30 Youth Apprenticeship Showcase ➡️➡️ Join PAYA for a showcase of three different intermediaries that have each developed programs to connect students to in-demand careers. 📅 #NewAmericaEvents https://lnkd.in/eQ7ybcpz

I had the chance to speak with David Ruiz on Malwarebytes’ Lock & Code podcast to unpack the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) sweeping—and opaque—access to some of the most sensitive #data the U.S. government holds: tax filings, student‑loan records, medical information, and more. Key takeaways we covered: 🔑 Your data is given, not found We hand over tax returns, FAFSA forms, and medical details—because the law requires it and services depend on it. Government’s job is to protect that data, not repurpose it or expose it to undue risk. 🚨 “Nothing to hide” is a fragile defense Peaceful protest, reproductive care, even writing an op‑ed are already under scrutiny. Centralized data lets shifting rules turn yesterday’s rights into today’s risks—and none of us should be comfortable with our personal data fueling that shift. ⚖️ Efficiency ≠ efficacy Efficiency asks “Was it fast and cheap?” Efficacy asks “Did it solve the problem in a net positive way?” DOGE touts speed and scale but offers zero audited proof it cuts fraud. Fast misuse is still misuse. 📉 Data‑driven isn’t automatically accountable When data says no and the system still says yes, the numbers are serving a script, not the truth. Transparency and a critical understanding of data are what make data trustworthy. 🛡️ Data minimization = good governance Collect only what’s necessary, use it for its stated purpose, and audit the results. Linked data should answer a clear question—anything else hands unearned power to whoever controls the files. If you care about digital rights, civil liberties, or simply want government tech that works and respects the public, give the episode a listen. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/d2-kZQJK #Privacy #DataGovernance #PublicInterestTech #DigitalRights #HandsOff

New America’s Future of Land and Housing program has launched The Rooftop, a home for innovative ideas to address the housing and land rights crises in the United States and globally. In its inaugural publication, Diana Lind considers accessory dwelling units as a tool to address the housing shortage. 🏠 Explore the growing collection of articles, Q&As, and more: https://lnkd.in/eRCHTvbR

My friend and colleague at New America Sydney Saubestre just got published in Ms. Magazine!!! Good op-eds leave me with strong feelings. GREAT op-eds make me want to shout. They make me want to go out and do something. This is one of the greats. Just a snippet: "Creating a comprehensive system to track deaths related to reproductive health access is no small task, but it is an essential one. The lives lost to preventable causes demand more than our mourning. By turning data into action, we honor those lives and affirm that reproductive healthcare is not a privilege—it is a right."

As data collection and sharing expand, so do privacy and security risks. Sydney Saubestre of New America's Open Technology Institute provides a guide for policymakers, technologists, and data professionals seeking to implement privacy-preserving solutions in government data systems. 🔍 https://lnkd.in/etDitb7F

Delighted to have joined the opening panel of “Advancing a Just Energy Transition Through Multilateral Action”, hosted by New America alongside Dr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations, and moderated by Heela Rasool-Ayub.   At a time of rising tariffs, deepening debt burdens, and widening divides in global finance, we face a series of fundamental questions: who defines the energy transition, who benefits from it, and how do we deliver justice at scale?   Here are three key messages discussed: 1️⃣ A just energy transition is not a choice, it is a human right: Energy powers health, education, and livelihoods. Nearly 60% of healthcare facilities in 46 low- and middle-income countries face unreliable power. Access to energy is access to life-saving services.   2️⃣ Access is no longer just about electricity, it’s about security: Only 2% of global clean energy investment reaches Africa. We need systems that deliver fit-for-purpose finance, debt reform, and de-risking mechanisms that allow countries to drive transitions that advance social protection, gender equality, and local development.   3️⃣ Digital and energy systems must be inclusive: AI, data infrastructure, and clean tech depend on critical minerals from the Global South. Yet the value often flows elsewhere. We must build shared digital infrastructure, ensure technology transfer, and promote governance that keeps value local and communities strengthened.   At UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub Energy Hub, we are committed to partnering with countries to deliver transitions that are inclusive, intelligent, and rooted in development priorities. From COP30 to the G20 to FfD4, the path forward must be country-led, digitally enabled, and development-aligned.   #EnergyForDevelopment #JustTransntion #AccessForAll

“People think of cyber as highly technical. And it is. But the importance of story is to find the human side of it… It keeps coming back to the people. So there is story in cyber.” — Peter W. Singer In the new episode of the Cyber Focus podcast, author Peter W. Singer from New America makes the case for storytelling as a strategic tool. He explains how narrative helps organizations make sense of complex threats and actually act on them. From decision-making to organizational change, Singer connects the dots between useful fiction, national security, and cybersecurity. Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eivZjJQM