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NAPS Chat is a weekly podcast intended to inform NAPS members and others interested in the U.S. Postal Service about the latest legislative and political goings-on within our nation’s capital. Hosted by NAPS Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Bob Levi.
188 Episodes
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NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore, joins Bob to discuss preparations underway for the 2026 NAPS legislative conference in our nation's capital (March 15 - 18) and the anticipated agenda. In addition, Chuck and Bob talk about recent changes relating to the meaning of the USPS "postmark" and the growing vacancies on the USPS Board of Governors.
Former postal employee Steve Grant, author of the best-selling book, Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, joins Bob to discuss his book and share his views about the U.S. Postal Service. The book, published during this past summer by Simon & Schuster, recounts Steve’s personal experiences and reflections on working for the Postal Service and the customers he served. Steve and Bob also talk about the extraordinary outpouring of interest in the publication and how Steve’s narrative should inform America’s views about the Postal Service.
Angelo Cueto, Office of Personnel Management Program Manager of Operations and Program Services, joins Bob to discuss the Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) Open Season (November 10- December 8). Angelo and Bob talk about navigating the complexity of the open season and how participants should make the best use of the open season resources.
Kevin Moss, editor of the Consumers' Checkbook Guide to PSHBP Plans, joins Bob to discuss strategies to choosing a health insurance plan during the Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season (November 10 - December 8). Kevin and Bob talk about how to maximize health coverage, premium increases and benefit changes. In addition, they explore how Medicare participants may exercise their health plan options. Also, Bob talks about 2026 Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) cost-of-living-adjustments.
Joy Sanzone and David Neu of the US Postal Service Office Of Inspector General (OIG) join Bob to discuss their new "White Paper" that explores the evolution of the USPS' retail network and how the network is adapting, or not adapting, to the the dynamic postal environment. Joy, David and Bob talk about how the Postal Service's "universal service obligation" informs the postal retail footprint, whether the obligation needs to be more clearly defined and if there is something to learn from the experience of foreign postal authorities. In addition, Bob references the upcoming Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season and the departure of Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda from the agency.
NAPS Secretary-Treasurer James (Jimmy) Warden joins Bob to discuss a variety of issues that impact supervisory and managerial level postal employees, as well as matters of interest to the broad USPS community. In part, Jim and Bob talk about NAPS' aggressive lobbying to ensure a smooth 2025 Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season, and NAPS' continued congressional outreach to protect employee benefits and promote USPS success. In addition, Jim provides a brief update on postal supervisor, manager and postmaster "pay talks" and outlines how NAPS helps protect the due process rights of EAS-level postal employees.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) joins Bob to discuss the newly established bipartisan Congressional Postal Caucus. Reps. Budzinski and Jack Bergman (R-MI) co-chair the caucus. The congresswoman and Bob talk about why members of Congress felt it necessary to create the caucus. In addition, Rep. Budzinski and Bob explore the coalition's important mission, its advocacy on behalf of the Postal Service, universal service and postal stakeholders.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump threatened to sign an Executive Order to abolish vote-by-mail. We are re-posting the NAPS Chat episode on which National Postal Museum Curator Carrie Villar discusses the history of vote by mail in the United States and its importance to the country. In addition, Bob summarizes NAPS efforts to ensure a smooth 2025 Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season.
Former Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson joins Bob to discuss his reflections on reporting about the federal and postal workforce, and governmental operations. Joe David authored the Federal Insider column and previously wrote for the Wall Street Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Moreover, Joe has been a trusted and respected reporter on issues that now dominate the operations of the federal government.
NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss NAPS' successful efforts to defeat USPS employee cuts in the FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act. Chuck and Bob also talk about a July 2 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Inspector General report, which warned of impending danger to the 2025 Postal Service Health Benefits Program open season. Chuck and Bob review NAPS' activities on Capitol Hill to ensure that OPM has the necessary resources to conduct the open season effectively. Finally, Chuck and Bob chat about potential EAS re-classifications due to plant changes, a July 24 Senate hearing on two nominees to the USPS Board of Governors, and the 2025 "Cure for the Summertime Blues" SPAC Raffle.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyan (D-VA) joins Bob to discuss congressional activities having a direct impact on postal and federal employees, and his impressions of his first six months in the House of Representatives. Congressman Subramanyan serves on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service and the federal workforce. In addition, Bob provides a summary of the June 24 House postal hearing and recent "budget reconciliation" actions that could affect postal and federal employee pay and benefits.
Bob reflects on the legacy of late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and provide an update on NAPS' fight to protect postal benefits from congressional attacks on them. In addition, Bob provides an update on USPS governance changes.
National Association of Active and Retired Employees (NARFE) Vice President for Policy and Programs Vice President John Hatton joins Bob to discuss the recent budget attacks on the postal and federal employee community, and effective strategies to protect the benefits. John and Bob talk about the "budget reconciliation process" and legislation the House Oversight and Accountability Committee approved at its April 30 meeting, which advances $50.1 billion in federal benefit cuts. In addition, Bob references the imminent announcement of a new Postmaster General.
Recorded live at the 2025 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar, in Washington, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Legislative Representative Dr. Keith Abouchar joins Bob to discuss the importance of building and sustaining effective advocacy coalitions in the the legislative process. In addition, Keith and Bob talk about the current attacks against postal and federal employee benefits and what to expect.
National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss the upcoming 2025 NAPS Legislative Training Seminar (LTS) and its associated Legislative Rally, to be held on April 8, on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Chuck explains how this year's visit to Washington is unlike any visit in recent memory and what NAPS has planned to meet these consequential times.
American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow Dr. Kevin Kosar joins Bob to discuss press reports that President Trump plans to takeover the U.S. Postal Service by firing its Board of Governors, and folding its governance and operations into the Department of Commerce. Newly confirmed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has expressed interest in "privatizing" the USPS. Kevin is the AEI's resident expert on Congress, the administrative state, American politics and the Postal Service.
Rep. George Latimer (D-NY) joins Bob to discuss the beginning of the 119th Congress, freshman orientation, his transition from elected local office to federal office, his expectations for the year, and his views relating to the U.S. Postal Service. In addition, Bob shares news relating to imminent attacks on postal health and retirement benefits though the congressional budget process.
In the holiday spirit, NAPS Branch 32 (Mid-Tennessee) President Robert Wakefield joins Bob to discuss the history of holiday greeting cards and postage stamps. In addition, Robert and Bob commiserate about correspondence that was sent during the time of the first Christmas and before. In addition, Bob provides an end-of-year accounting of successful legislation to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provision; changes on the two congressional committees with jurisdiction over the USPS; the emerging threat of postal privatization; and the failure of the Senate to confirm four nominees to the USPS Board of Governors.
Recorded at the National Press Club, Federal News Network
Reporter Jory Heckman and Bob Levi review the Postmaster General's recent interaction with the House and Senate at recent congressional hearings, as well as the Postal Regulatory Commission's ongoing assessment of the Delivering for America plan. Jory and Bob also discuss how Trump Administration and changes in Congress may impact the Postal Service. In addition, they talk about the just-uncovered unmet contract goals for the deployment of electric USPS delivery vehicles.
Last month on NAPS Chat, USPS' Karla Kirby talked about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) and what to expect. Karla referenced the USPS' partnership with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in implementing the new health program. On this episode, OPM Manager of Outreach and Program Services Jay Fritz joins Bob to discuss the just commenced PSHBP open season, program changes, premiums, benefits and the available tools to make health plan decisions.
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