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| 30 Jan 2026 | |
| Press Releases and Statements |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 30, 2026 Today the Data Foundation is launching a new podcast, Data for the People! The show will feature conversations with leaders in the public and private sectors about the invisible data infrastructure that belongs to the American people and powers daily life, driving billions in economic activity and supporting everything from our morning commutes to breakthrough scientific discoveries. Each episode will explore what makes national datasets so valuable, and the changes in Washington that could enable—or limit—their potential use.
Data for the People! builds on the People’s Data 100, an initiative of the Data Foundation to identify the national datasets that bring the greatest value to Americans. Anyone can nominate a dataset. Nominators can also include additional information about why a dataset is important and what would be lost if it was no longer available. Another initiative by the Data Foundation, #MyDataStory, collects personal stories about how Americans use government data.
“We know that government data inform decisions that millions of Americans make every day, but the role of data in those decisions can often go unseen,” said Nick Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Data Foundation. “Through our new podcast, the Data Foundation will explore the strategic insights made possible through federal data and paths forward for strengthening this essential piece of American infrastructure.”
Data for the People! is hosted by Data Foundation Director of Communications J.B. Wogan, a former journalist who previously hosted a podcast about data and public policy from Mathematica, a member of the Data Coalition community.
The first episode of Data for the People! features Bill Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he directs and manages fiscal, health, and economic policy analyses. During his 33 years in federal government service, Hoagland served as director of the Senate Budget Committee, director of budget and appropriations in the office of then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and administrator of the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
In the interview, Hoagland reflects on the federal government’s progress at using data and evidence in decision-making and how to rebuild public trust in government the data it produces. In light of the People’s Data 100 initiative, he shares a few of his favorite federal data sources, their value, and his pitch for why all Americans should care about federal data.
Don’t miss the first episode of Data for the People! Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and learn more at datafoundation.org.
About the Data Foundation
The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)
