Democracy Matters - Episode 59: Can transparency, oversight, ethics and accountability save American democracy?

Can transparency, oversight, ethics and accountability save American democracy? What can Congress do to create lasting ethics reforms? How would the For the People Act change ethics rules for the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the U.S. government and are the changes enough? How can the Office of Government Ethics and Office of the Inspector General contribute to democratic accountability? How can Congress get a toe hold into reigning in presidential power?

In this episode we talk with Walter Shaub, who leads the Ethics and Accountability Initiative at the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), about what elected and other government officials and the public can do to create and implement long-lasting reforms to shore up the barricades against authoritarianism. 

Mr. Shaub served as the director of the United States Office of Government Ethics from 2013 to 2017. He earned his B.A. in History from James Madison University and his J.D. from American University.

Links in this episode:

• “Biden promised massive ethics reform. Why hasn’t he started yet?”
• Project on Government Oversight Inspector General Vacancy Tracker
• Department of Justice, Whether the Food and Drug Administration Has Jurisdiction over Articles Intended for Use in Lawful Executions
• What is the Hatch Act and What Does Violating It Mean?  
• House, Justice Department report deal on McGahn testimony
• How Do We Fix It?