Topic: Megan Smith

Kara Swisher mentions her ex-wife's role in Google's acquisition of CIA-funded satellite software that became Google Earth. The hosts pivot to a discussion about the current leadership at the CIA, noting a trend of women in top positions. They speculate on the political and social affiliations of the agency's new "cabal" of directors.

The White House hired Jason Goldman, a former Google and Twitter executive, as the engagement director to manage digital outreach. This unit reportedly sends pre-programmed tweets to celebrities regarding issues like gun violence to influence public opinion. The preamble to the State of the Union address involved significant coordination between the administration and major media networks.

Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman appeared on the Today Show to announce a partnership with Facebook for a live experiment during the State of the Union. The interaction was characterized by Goldman's perceived condescending tone toward veteran broadcaster Matt Lauer and the production crew. This segment highlights the cultural friction between Silicon Valley tech executives and traditional media figures.

President Obama describes the creation of the U.S. Digital Service, a team of tech experts from Google and Facebook who "volunteer" to fix government IT systems. The hosts criticize the administration for relying on volunteers in t-shirts to fix critical infrastructure while spending billions on defense contractors. They question why the government doesn't simply hire and pay competent staff.

The discussion links the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach with the Ashley Madison hack. The hosts suggest that tech volunteers and government officials are now vulnerable to blackmail if their information appears in both databases. They play a promotional clip featuring US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith discussing the "tour of duty" for technologists in DC.

U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith delivered a speech promoting the "Innovation Nation" and "Datapalooza" initiatives. Smith used various industry buzzwords such as "scrubbing in" and "scaling" while discussing the release of government data to spur innovation. The speech included an anecdote about her childhood solar energy projects in Buffalo, New York, which was criticized for its lack of practical applicability in that climate.

The hosts review a recruitment video for the United States Digital Service (USDS) featuring US CTO Megan Smith. They mock the "hipster" tone of the video and Smith's use of jargon like "scrubbed in together" and "fabulous cross-functional teams," while noting her somewhat derogatory use of the term "coders."

YouTube star Hank Green interviewed President Obama, a move the hosts attribute to Google's Megan Smith, now the U.S. CTO. Green admitted to being "scared" and needing to be "debriefed" after the meeting. John C. Dvorak shares a story from his time at Tech TV involving audio feedback issues during a live broadcast of "Silicon Spin."

President Barack Obama's 2015 State of the Union address received its lowest television ratings to date, though the White House highlighted over one million online views. The shift toward digital engagement is attributed to Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, formerly of Google. The hosts critique the speech for being a political platform rather than a report on the nation's status.