NAPS Chat

Kevin Moss, senior editor of the Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Health Plans , joins Bob to discuss the upcoming 2026 PSHBP Open Season, the five-week period during which postal employees and retirees are able to shop for health coverage. The Open Season runs from November 9 though December 14. Kevin and Bob talk about what's new in 2027, premium changes and how to compare PSHBP plans.

Erin Covey, editor of the nationally acclaimed Cook Political Report , joins Bob for an insightful discussion about the upcoming 2026 congressional election. Erin and Bob explore the battle for the control of the House and Senate, political trends shaping the final couple of weeks of the campaign, and what recent polling illustrates about the political environment. They also talk about what impact, if any, recent attacks on vote-by-mail may have. In addition, to providing House of Representatives electoral coverage, Erin assesses Senate races. Erin offers political analysis to numerous televised, print and digital media outlets, including NBC, CBS, CNN, NY Times, the Wall St. Journal, and the Washington Post .

Dennis Shea, former executive director of the 2003 Presidential Commission on the U.S. Postal Service, joins Bob to revisit the recommendations of the panel established by former PresidentGeorge W. Bush and reminisce about the panel's deliberations. The commission's report, Embracing the Future: Making the Tough Choices to Preserve Universal Mail Service , is now about 23 years old. Dennis and Bob dust it off and discuss whether the commission's conclusions still resonate and whether it's time for another high-level panel to take a look at the Postal Service. Dennis Shea is currently Executive Vice President at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a prestigious Washington-based think tank that promotes bipartisan politics and policy. Dennis' views, as expressed on NAPS Chat, do not necessarily reflect those of the Center.

Newly elected NAPS Executive Vice President James (Jimmy) Warden joins Bob to discuss his legislative and political focus, including outspoken advocacy on behalf of EAS level postal employees, ensuring the sanctity of mailed election ballots, safeguarding the USPS' universal service obligation, and sustaining the Postal Service.

David Garcia of the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General (OIG) joins Bob to discuss the OIG's recently published White Paper , which outlines fifteen options to address the USPS' financial gap. David and Bob discuss the relative merits of the options, including their impact on the USPS' public service mission and sustainability.

With only weeks to go before the 2026 National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS) convention convenes, veteran event planner Sheri Davies joins Bob to discuss the multitude of preparatory and real time tasks essential to ensure convention success. Sheri and Bob also talk about what the approximately 1,300 attendees should expect in San Francisco, August 9-14. Sheri has been planning events with NAPS for 17 years and has established a close and constructive relationship with NAPS' officers and members.

U.S. Postal Service historians Steve Kochersperger and Junemarie Barndt join Bob to recount the rocky paths and surprising places that our emerging national postal service used to convey correspondence, news, and the Declaration of Independence itself among the original thirteen colonies, on and around July 4, 1776.

Former House Majority Leader and current ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee on Financial Services and General Government Steny Hoyer (D-MD), joins Bob to reflect of the current state of Congress, his work to ensure the Postal Service delivers high-quality universal mail service, and a possible path for the future. The House Appropriations subcommittee on which Rep. Hoyer serves has jurisdiction over postal affairs. Rep. Hoyer will be retiring from the House of Representatives at the end of the year. Throughout his legislative career, Rep. Hoyer has championed the interests of active and retired employees of the USPS and the federal government.

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), co-chair of the Congressional Postal Caucus, joins Bob to discuss the activities of the bipartisan panel and the importance of a universal, accessible, and affordable national postal system. The congressman and Bob also discuss postal accountability. Finally, in recognition of Memorial Day, Rep. Bergman, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General, reflects on how mail connects members of the armed forces deployed overseas with their family and friends back home.

Elena Patel, Co-Director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute, joins Bob to discuss the extraordinary economic impact the Postal Service has on rural and postal-reliant communities, as well as the importance of the agency's universal service obligation to the entire country. Elena and Bob also talk about the difficulty the Postal Service has in effectively meeting this obligation in light of its current financial pressures, and potential fixes. Dr. Patel has recently authored two scholarly papers on the Postal Service.

At the 2026 NAPS Legislative Conference, in Washington, NAPS bestowed it annual Gold Standard for Legislative Leadership Award to former New Jersey Legislative Chair George Barrett. George joins Bob to discuss his tactics and strategies to maximize his opportunities to promote the interests of EAS level postal employees and retirees. Also, George shares his "tricks of the trade" and reflects on memorable congressional engagements he had during his career. In addition, Bob summarizes recent actions taken by the Postal Board of Governors and the Postal Regulatory Commission relating to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian Renfroe joins Bob to discuss the postal outlook from the perspective of the nation's largest postal union. Brian and Bob talk about the the necessity for unity among postal stakeholders to confront the daunting challenges confronting the USPS, as well as the steadfast commitment the community must have to ensure the agency's public service obligations are not jettisoned. They also talk about the recent House postal hearings, postal finances and the recent nomination of 3 individuals to the Postal Board of Governors.

NAPS President Ivan Butts, joins Bob to discuss the late-breaking postal news that includes the USPS' hiring of a restructuring and "turnaround" consultant and the nomination of three new individuals to the Postal Board of Governors. In addition, Ivan and Bob talk about the upcoming NAPS legislative conference in Washington and the recent Congressional Postal Caucus round table, at which Ivan participated. Ivan also recounts his legacy as NAPS President, highlighting his success in securing a 20% increase in the median pay for EAS level postal employees and the soon-to-be operational NAPS Training Academy.

Snailworks President Dave Lewis, joins Bob to discuss postal performance, mail tracking and the effectiveness of direct mail. Snailworks is a Maryland-based company that assists corporations, charitable organizations and political entities monitor mail performance, calibrate mailing campaigns and plan direct marketing to effectively use the mail. Among the issues David and Bob discuss are the differences, if any, between the USPS' intelligent mail program and Snailworks' mail tracking, the effectiveness of direct mail, and the recently introduced committee-passed legislation to track vote by mail election ballots ( H.R.7265 ). Bob also talks about some issues discussed at the February 5, 2026, USPS Board of Governors meeting.

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director of Physical Infrastructure David Marroni, joins Bob to discuss key policy decisions that Congress must make if the U.S. Postal Service is to be sustainable and continue to provide the essential services to which Americans are entitled and expect. Director Marroni, a 22-year veteran of the GAO, lays out key choices that Congressneeds to make and reviews recent GAO evaluations of the USPS. Among the issues David and Bob discuss are the USPS' universal service obligation and postal finances. Bob also summarizes a few congressional, administrative, and judicial actions relating to the Postal Service.

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.