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The Changing Role of State Government with Professor Carol Weissert and Rhode Island Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer

In this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, Carol Weissert, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Florida State University, and Jonathan Womer, Director of the Department of Administration for Rhode Island, discuss the changing role of state governments and implications for policy, budgeting, and public service delivery. The conversation delves into issues of partisanship, federal-state relations, legislative shifts, and the use of data and AI in government opera...

October 20, 2025 Season 2 · Ep 20 24:03 Listen Now

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About This Episode

In this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, Carol Weissert, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Florida State University, and Jonathan Womer, Director of the Department of Administration for Rhode Island, discuss the changing role of state governments and implications for policy, budgeting, and public service delivery. The conversation delves into issues of partisanship, federal-state relations, legislative shifts, and the use of data and AI in government operations. It examines the impact of decreasing federal support, the rise of state initiatives, and the increasing public demand for effective governance.

01:25 Exploring Shifts in State Government Roles

02:35 Challenges in Federal-State Relations

05:12 Impact on Healthcare and Social Services

06:53 Innovations in State Management

08:33 Intergovernmental Relations and Expertise

10:37 Public Trust and Government Effectiveness

16:11 Fiscal Strategies and Budgeting

19:08 Advice for State Leaders

21:50 Concluding Thoughts on State Governance

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

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Episode Details

Published
Monday, October 20, 2025
Season
2
Episode
20
Duration
24:03
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