by Dipka Hesse
We Are The Government is a collection of short stories from federal employees who are either still in the government, or who have left of their own volition, or otherwise. This is a capsule for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America so future generations can see who built the federal government we rely on daily.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/3/2025
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June 18, 2026
<p>Brian Levine spent years at the Justice Department prosecuting cybercrime, intellectual property theft, and complex international Internet-based extortion rings. </p><p>In this episode, Levine talks with <strong>We Are The Government</strong> Host Dipka Hesse about the increase in cybercrime, how the U.S. Justice Department investigates and prosecutes scammers who stole more than $20 billion from Americans last year, and how Americans can protect themselves.</p><p>The cases take years of intense collaborative investigation to resolve. Bringing criminals to justice and convincing a lay jury of their guilt on a subject matter esoteric to most people is Levine’s superpower.</p><p>Levine delves into the notorious Bayrob takedown of Romanian cybercriminals, which he recently discussed on <a href="https://darknetdiaries.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Darknet Diaries</a>. He explains how cybercriminals operate and how the Justice Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security rely on international cooperation to take them down. Levine reveals how unwitting accomplices are also subject to prosecution.</p><p>Today Levine is the founder of <a href="http://formergov.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FormerGov.com</a>, a platform designed to increase the visibility of former federal workers and help companies mine high-level former federal professionals with precision.</p><p>This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.</p><ul><li><p>Host: Dipka Hesse </p></li><li><p>X: @DBHesse</p></li><li><p>LinkedIn: linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani</p></li><li><p>YouTube: @theenergyodyssey </p></li></ul><p>Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible.</p><ul><li><p>Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)</p></li><li><p>Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)</p></li><li><p>Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)</p></li></ul><p>#FormerGov #PublicService #Government #CareerTransition #Cybercrime #Cybersecurity #JusticeDepartment #DOJ #FBI #DHS #FederalWorkforce #GovTech #PublicServants #WeAreTheGovernment #DarknetDiaries #hackers #breaches #EBAY #Bayrob</p><p><br /></p>
June 5, 2026
<p>In this episode of We Are The Government, Clarence H. Carter, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, discusses with host Dipka Hesse how America’s safety net of social welfare programs enables, does not empower, the country’s most vulnerable–the elderly and the impoverished. About half of the U.S. federal budget is dedicated to social welfare programs that do not address or help eliminate the root cause of the vulnerability. </p><p><br></p><p>Drawing on decades of experience in federal, state and local government, Carter explains why he believes the nation’s safety net should be redesigned around a clearer goal: helping vulnerable Americans build capacity, increase self-sufficiency and move beyond dependency whenever possible.</p><p><br></p><p>Carter provides a unique view of social program reform, and the impact of leaving millions of people dependent on government assistance for life without a path to their independence. </p><p><br></p><p>Carter describes how President Bill Clinton’s Welfare Reform Law became the scaffolding for the Bush and Trump administrations where he served in both as an expert in social program management, reform and policy. </p><p><br></p><p>Carter shares anecdotes from his bestselling book, Our Net Has Holes In It, which also addresses the flaws and opportunities in U.S. foreign aid policy. </p><p> </p><p>The conversation explores:</p><ul><li>Why the current safety net is made up of disconnected programs</li><li>How federal and state governments share responsibility for administering benefits</li><li>Lessons from welfare reform efforts in Virginia and Tennessee</li><li>The role of SNAP and other public assistance programs</li><li>Fraud prevention, oversight and accountability</li></ul><p><br></p><p>This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.</p><ul><li>Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse </li><li>X: @DBHesse</li><li>LinkedIn: linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani</li><li>YouTube: @theenergyodyssey </li></ul><p>Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible.</p><ul><li>Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)</li><li>Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)</li><li>Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)</li></ul><p>#SocialSafetyNet #WelfareReform #PublicPolicy #SNAP #HumanServices #GovernmentServices #PublicAdministration #FraudPrevention #EconomicMobility #FederalGovernment #StateGovernment #WeAreTheGovernment</p>
April 30, 2026
<p>In this episode of We Are the Government, Dipka Hesse speaks with Jonathan Fahey, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, about the flashpoint of immigration enforcement.</p><p>Fahey discusses the impact of the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding gap on federal workers, their families, and public safety. </p><p>He explores the evolution of the Democratic party, which had prioritized deportations and illegal immigration enforcement during the Clinton administration. </p><p>Fahey shares stories about public safety challenges, prosecuting the country’s most heinous crimes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the connection between progressive policies in the Commonwealth and the rise in violent crimes, and the vital role of lobbyists in a democracy.</p><p>Fahey is a partner at Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak in Washington, D.C. and a lobbyist for its partner firm, the Vogel Group. </p><p><strong>Hashtags:</strong></p><p>#ImmigrationPolicy #ICE #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity #DHS #JonathanFahey #HoltzmanVogel #TheVogelGroup #JusticeSystem #FederalService #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #Trump #WeAreTheGovernment</p><p>This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.</p><ul><li><p>Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse </p></li><li><p>X: @DBHesse</p></li><li><p>LinkedIn: linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani</p></li><li><p>YouTube: @theenergyodyssey </p></li></ul><p>Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible.</p><ul><li><p>Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)</p></li><li><p>Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)</p></li><li><p>Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)</p></li></ul><p><br></p>
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We Are The Government is a collection of short stories from federal employees who are either still in the government, or who have left of their own volition, or otherwise.
This is a capsule for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America so future generations can see who built the federal government we rely on daily.
This podcast updates daily.
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