Doug Thornell has spent his career helping candidates and corporations find their authentic story. The SKDK CEO argues that today, urgency is just as important — politicians and brands must move fast or get left behind. He details the campaign that took Wes Moore from 2% to the governor’s mansion — and the blueprint it sets for Democrats who want to win.

Doug Thornell has spent his career helping candidates and corporations find their authentic story. The SKDK CEO argues that today, urgency is just as important — politicians and brands must move fast or get left behind. He details the campaign that took Wes Moore from 2% to the governor’s mansion — and the blueprint it sets for Democrats who want to win.

A Republican and a Democrat who served at the highest levels of Congress built one of Washington’s only independent bipartisan firms — and turned down the buyers. Ron Bonjean and Rodell Mollineau of ROKK Solutions on what bipartisan means in 2026, why they stayed independent, and how the rules of corporate advocacy are changing.

Rhonda Bentz is Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Consumer Brands Association, the trade group representing the food, beverage, home, and personal care companies in America. In this episode, Rhonda explains how the MAHA movement is reshaping the regulatory landscape, why a patchwork of 50 state ingredient laws is creating chaos for companies and consumers alike, and how the only way to win in Trump's Washington is to stop making policy arguments and start making deals.

Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie oversees more American industries than any other committee in Congress. He explains how he moved the biggest entitlement reform since welfare, why the AI race depends on permitting reform, and what Mitch McConnell taught him about politics.

Chairman French Hill explains his strategy for moving bipartisan legislation through a divided Congress, discusses the unique circumstances of the housing and crypto bills, and makes the case that citizen-legislators and cross-aisle relationships still make Washington work.

PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl on America’s leadership role in developing the treatments and cures that transform lives — and on defending it against China’s challenge abroad and polarized politics at home.

VA Congressman Morgan Griffith on regulating opioids, embracing AI, and protecting the American Dream.

David Chavern on representing the $8.5 trillion life insurance industry that thinks in decades in a Washington that changes by the minute.

Colin Allen of the American Property Owners Alliance on representing 86 million homeowners, the populism reshaping American elections, and the affordability crisis freezing millions out of the American Dream.

Assistant Secretary Chris Pilkerton explains how CFIUS reviews foreign investment in U.S. companies, what a national security risk actually looks like from a case officer's perspective, and why his new outbound program represents the next frontier in investment security.

Amanda Eversole of the Financial Services Forum on leading America's largest banks through a new era of advocacy.

Ken Spain of Narrative Strategies on the new era of political risk facing corporations in 2026.

Drew Maloney of EEI on data centers, deregulation, and who’s really paying to power America’s grid.

Linda Moore of TechNet on navigating changing attitudes toward the tech sector and tracking 1,000+ bills across 50 states.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on coaching a new kind of Republican conference, where the crypto and housing bills stand, and why the midterms are far from decided.

Patrick Dorton of Rational360, on how crisis sharpens you, how technology is changing advocacy, and why knowing your value and your audience is a strategy that lasts.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on overhauling U.S. crypto regulation — and why failure is always an option.

Rohit Chopra, former FTC commissioner, on federal agencies as weapons and states as the new battlegrounds.

Jeff Miller of Miller Strategies on refusing to take no for an answer — and refusing to chase revenue if it means compromising the culture he’s built.