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Ars Frontiers, the first Ars Technica conference, comes to DC

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Ars Frontiers, the first Ars Technica conference, comes to DC


Aurich Lawson

Ars Technica is happy to announce its inaugural single-day Frontiers convention, to be held this Might 12 in Washington, DC. The convention will discover the interconnectedness of innovation in right this moment’s most urgent issues. As we achieve this, we might be exploring one key query: Can we nonetheless drive explosive progress in these fields whereas prioritizing moral know-how and sustainability?

We’re making an attempt one thing a bit of totally different right here, however with the Ars ethos in thoughts: Dialog emboldens innovation. Readers who cease by the entrance web page every single day already know that Ars Technica is the online’s premier vacation spot for sensible discuss in regards to the intersection of science, know-how, coverage, local weather, and tradition. We’re excited to convey this strategy to you in a venue and format that may each entertain and elucidate. At Ars Frontiers, our editors will work together with real-world consultants who span a number of interconnected subjects and supply real-life networking alternatives. Whereas this might be an invite-only occasion, a number of of the classes might be livestreamed on Twitter. Extra particulars on how one can request an invitation to hitch us in individual may be discovered on the finish of this announcement.

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Let’s discuss who’s coming and what they’re going to speak about.

The street to Ars Frontiers

The week of the occasion, we’ll be kicking issues off with a sequence of digital streaming chats that happen from Might 9 by Might 11. These streams might be free for anybody to look at on-line, and we’ll be sure you promote them right here and on social media as they strategy. Keep tuned!

The principle occasion

Our in-person convention will happen in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Might 12, and can characteristic a sequence of panel discussions moderated by Ars Technica editors. Every panel will convey collectively a set of acknowledged business consultants to debate a subject in a hearth chat or panel-style format, and viewers participation might be inspired.

Cryptography and privateness

We’ll have two totally different infosec-focused panels, each moderated by Ars safety editor emeritus Sean Gallagher. The primary might be on cryptography and privateness and how one can cope with the primary whereas being aware of the second. This panel will characteristic safety researcher Runa Sandvik, with extra names quickly to be introduced, and can talk about the methods wherein know-how retains our info protected—and the way it additionally makes us susceptible.

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Safety and cyberwarfare

Our second infosec panel, additionally moderated by Gallagher, will flip the viewpoint round from private safety and privateness and take a look at the large-scale doings of nation-states—and the way these nation-states would possibly assault one another in future wars. We’ve already gotten a style of future cyberwarfare in the previous couple of years, and issues are solely going to get extra bushy from right here. This panel of business consultants will embrace Wendy Nather, Vineetha Paruchuri, and Liz Wharton.

Local weather

Ars Senior Author Jennifer Ouellette will chair our local weather panel. Set in opposition to a considerably precarious backdrop, Ouellette will chat with climatologist Michael Mann and Ars Senior Science Editor Dr. John Timmer in regards to the world that we’re making for ourselves, and what state we’re going to go away it in for the subsequent technology. We all know the tough outlines of how one can deal with local weather change: decrease emissions and enhance effectivity—and our panel will talk about a few of the troublesome particulars of that transition.

One of many largest challenges would be the pace with which we have to act to keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change. However that pace will should be balanced in opposition to our capability to make sure that environment friendly and renewable tech is constructed sustainably and that its advantages unfold to the underprivileged and people in growing economies.

Industrial area and orbital particles

Ars Senior Area Editor Eric Berger will sit down with former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver to debate NASA’s position in not simply exploring area, but in addition defending Earth. In public surveys, finding out our altering planet persistently ranks amongst Individuals’ high priorities for NASA, and the company spends greater than $2 billion yearly on Earth science. This scientific enterprise seeks to pinpoint adjustments to the planet’s local weather and floor to raised inform policymakers. Lately, the rise of economic area corporations has significantly augmented the distant sensing work completed by NASA.

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Throughout a panel dialogue with consultants, Berger will talk about defending low Earth orbit from area particles. This drawback has develop into more and more acute with the mixture of ever-increasing numbers of satellites and up to date anti-satellite demonstration exams. At present, there may be extra particles and extra satellites than ever in search of to keep away from it, within the treasured area above the Earth’s ambiance. This panel will talk about the issue of particles, the options that the US authorities can take, and the way there may be an pressing must work internationally to protect this area commons.

Hope to see you there

It’ll be a programming-packed afternoon, and attendance area is proscribed. In mild of COVID, in-person attendance might be restricted to 150 individuals, which affords us a reasonably intimate affair. (COVID restrictions might be in impact.) For those who’re thinking about attending and wish to request an invite, please fill out the shape under. We’ll attain out to as many people on the record as doable with invitations.

Itemizing picture by Aurich Lawson





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Washington, D.C

Trump Impact: DC mayor would ‘absolutely’ share ideas with Musk’s government efficiency task force – WTOP News

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Trump Impact: DC mayor would ‘absolutely’ share ideas with Musk’s government efficiency task force – WTOP News


There seems to be some common ground between D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Elon Musk, who will head a task force that will make recommendations to President-elect Donald Trump on how to reshape the federal workforce.

This story is part of WTOP’s ongoing series, Trump Impact, which looks at how the new administration could change the D.C. region.

Mayor Muriel Bowser answers questions about DOGE at a news conference on Nov. 21, 2024. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

The D.C. region will be hearing more and more about the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, in the coming months as he leads a task force that will make recommendations to President-elect Donald Trump on how to reshape the federal workforce.

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At least in some areas, Musk and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser seem to agree.

Musk will lead a task force called the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. The group posted a statement on social media late Wednesday saying federal agencies are using, on average, just 12% of the space in their D.C. headquarters.

“Why are American taxpayer dollars being spent to maintain empty buildings?” the statement asked.


More Trump Impact


When asked whether Bowser had any advice for the group related to that topic, the D.C. mayor said, “We think the federal government needs a centralized remote work policy.”

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“Our message about that is the same as it’s been for the last almost four years,” Bowser said. “We think that government workers should be in their offices more than they’re on telework.”

When asked whether Bowser would be willing to work with the task force if it reached out to her, she responded by saying, “I absolutely will share my ideas.”

Plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus.

The group put out a call for “small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”

Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns.

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In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy said that they want to “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.”

Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” the pair wrote.

Others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending the pandemic-era flexibility that remote work provides.

The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Musk and Ramaswamy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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DC police program trains upcoming leaders from around the country – WTOP News

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DC police program trains upcoming leaders from around the country – WTOP News


Dozens of law enforcement officials from across the country gathered Wednesday at the Australian Embassy in Northwest D.C. to discuss strategies for strengthening partnerships with international police agencies.

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith leads a discussion as part of the department’s leadership academy.(Courtesy D.C. Police)

Dozens of law enforcement officials from across the country gathered Wednesday at the Australian Embassy in Northwest D.C. to discuss strategies for strengthening partnerships with international police agencies.

It was part of the D.C. Police Leadership Academy, a program designed to develop law enforcement leaders.

“This program targets … mid-level ranks, which is typically lieutenant or captain,” said Jessica Bress, the director of the D.C. Police Department’s strategic projects office.

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The department first started the program in early 2023.

It’s about three weeks long and includes seminars from law enforcement experts.

The latest class, which is set to graduate on Friday, has more than 70 people in it, including 19 from the D.C. police force. All the others are from various departments nationwide.

Bress said people generally join the program to “learn leadership skills, network and meet a group of like-minded colleagues from across the country.”

“The problems that we’re dealing with in policing and law enforcement in America are sometimes the same everywhere,” said Bress. “There are also some differences, and there’s always benefits from learning and getting exposure to agencies outside of our own.”

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John Fitzgerald, a lieutenant detective with the Boston Police Department in Massachusetts, is among those graduating this week.

“I’m learning a lot from working with people from state, local, federal and international law enforcement,” said Fitzgerald. “What I’m getting from it is perspective on how other places do it.”

Fitzgerald said the program has focused on technology, evidence-based policing and teaching people how to lead by example.

“It’s leaders wanting to lead,” Fitzgerald said. “Everybody who’s here has asked to be here or … worked really hard to get a slot here, and that means a lot.”

According to Bress, Wednesday’s visit to the Australian Embassy demonstrated the importance of building relationships with international law enforcement agencies.

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“In D.C., we have more exposure to it, but these are participants from across the country,” said Bress. “A lot of them probably aren’t even aware of these international liaison networks.”

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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Washington, D.C

Leaders in DC, Maryland, Virginia prepare for Trump transition

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Leaders in DC, Maryland, Virginia prepare for Trump transition


Leaders in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are gearing up to welcome the Trump administration back into Washington. 

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While Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin hopes to benefit, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is facing questions about a move to hire an outside contractor to deal with the president-elect. It comes as the state faces a budget crisis.

That contract pays the consulting company Accenture $190,000 to provide the Moore administration with “risk management and scenario planning,” which may mean possible legal challenges to the Trump White House.

In an email to FOX 5, a spokesperson for Gov. Moore’s office defended the move, saying hiring outside consultant help is a standard part of any organization and that the state needs to prepare for any challenges it may face. 

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But Maryland’s House Republican leader tells FOX 5 that with the state facing a possible billion-dollar budget gap, there are better uses for taxpayer dollars.

“I think we’d be better off to sort of have a bipartisan approach. Stop the partisanship, stop the constant 24/7 politics and work for things that make Maryland better,” said House GOP leader Rep. Jason Buckel.

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DMV Democrats have been warning the incoming Trump administration could have a big impact on issues like the number of federal jobs in this area, from  immigration enforcement to healthcare and policing.  

“Locally, we must prepare to address the potential impacts of the new administration. The president-elect has recommitted to his goal of “dismantling government bureaucracy,” said Fairfax Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, a Democrat.

Tuesday night, the Democratic Board of Supervisors Chair warned that the Trump administration poses a “risk” but Gov. Youngkin, a long-time supporter of Trump, says the new administration will benefit Virginia. 

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“We’ll now have someone in the White House who believes in all of that so I look forward to having the wind at our backs as opposed to in our faces about everything that we’re doing because we’ve gone the bottom of job growth to near the top of the country,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also requested a meeting with President-elect Trump. 

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Bowser previously met with Trump during his first term. A spokesman for the mayor tells FOX 5 they’ve been in touch with the Trump team and don’t have a timeline on when or where that meeting will happen.



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