August Uncertainty: Tariffs, Trade Turbulence & the Funding Fight
Release Date: 08/07/2025
August Uncertainty: Tariffs, Trade Turbulence & the Funding Fight
The Lobby Shop
This week on The Lobby Shop, the team dives into the storm brewing in Washington as Congress heads into August recess. Josh Zive and Paul Nathanson dissect President Trump’s latest tariff moves and their ripple effects on American manufacturers already navigating a volatile trade landscape. Meanwhile, Liam Donovan and Dylan Pasiuk forecast the high-stakes battle over government funding, with a shutdown threat looming large. From economic jitters to political brinkmanship, this episode delivers the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve—don’t miss it.
info_outline
An Inside Look at the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) with Brittany Kelm, NEDC Senior Policy Advisor
The Lobby Shop
In this special episode of The Lobby Shop podcast, guest hosts Scott Segal, partner and co-head at the Policy Resolution Group (PRG), and Kyle Spencer, principal at PRG, sit down with Brittany Kelm, Senior Policy Advisor for the White House on the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC). The three of them dive into the mission of the NEDC, the day-to-day role of the Council, and how the NEDC tackles regulatory challenges in advancing U.S. energy production. Brittany also highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement and NEDC’s coordination with other agencies. Don’t miss this...
info_outline
Fireworks on the Floor: The July 4th Signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill
The Lobby Shop
This week on The Lobby Shop, hosts Josh Zive, Caitlin Sickles, Liam Donovan, and Dylan Pasiuk unpack the July 4th signing of “The One Big Beautiful Bill,” a major political win for the GOP and President Trump. The team breaks down how the reconciliation bill made it through Congress, the differing strategies between House and Senate Republicans, and how Democrats may use key provisions like Medicaid changes and tax cuts as future campaign ammunition. With government funding set to expire on September 30th, they also look ahead to what’s next on Capitol Hill and how this bill...
info_outline
Inside Biden’s White House: A Conversation with NYT Bestselling Author Alex Thompson
The Lobby Shop
In this episode of The Lobby Shop, the team welcomes back Axios national political correspondent Alex Thompson, co-author (with CNN’s Jake Tapper) of the explosive New York Times bestseller Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Thompson shares the inside story of how he and Tapper uncovered internal divisions, strategic missteps, and high-stakes decision-making inside the Biden White House. Hear why Thompson believes this story goes beyond just one election—and why the questions it raises still demand attention. Whether you’re...
info_outline
Reconciliation Roadmap and Tariff Updates
The Lobby Shop
In this episode of The Lobby Shop, Liam Donovan provides an update on the budget reconciliation process in Congress, and the team dives into the proposed House cuts to energy programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, proposed Medicaid reductions, and the ongoing debate over SALT deductions—along with the challenges the legislation faces in the Senate and a tight legislative timeline. Josh and Paul also examine the current state of the Trump Administration’s tariffs, including the temporary easing of the U.S.–China trade war, multiple Section 232 investigations, and the complex...
info_outline
Reconciliation Reckoning
The Lobby Shop
The Lobby Shop team turns their focus on the ongoing budget reconciliation process in Congress that will shape the Trump administration’s economic agenda. Hosts Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, and Liam Donovan provide a quick update on the latest tariff developments before diving into the reconciliation process and the shifting legislative dynamics between the House and the Senate. Then, Liam does a deep dive on how economic pressures are reshaping political strategy, and what it all means for government funding timelines and the looming debt ceiling. Tune in for a Liam-style breakdown of the...
info_outline
CATO’s Scott Lincicome Returns to Talk Tariffs
The Lobby Shop
CATO’s Scott Lincicome—one of the most informed and outspoken voices on trade and tariffs—returns to The Lobby Shop to unpack the Trump Administration’s recent wave of tariff announcements. The group dives into the effectiveness of tariffs as a tool for reshoring manufacturing and addressing trade deficits, as well as the business community’s relatively muted response. Listen for an entertaining and insightful conversation with the always engaging Scott Lincicome!
info_outline
Post Liberation Day Blues
The Lobby Shop
In the aftermath of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements, the Lobby Shop team breaks down the philosophy behind President Trump's new tariffs and the real world ramifications for both domestic and foreign policy. The team also examines reactions from the private sector and Congress, including the potential impact on the timing for the Republicans' plan to move forward on a tax package. With a multitude of scenarios playing out at once, the Lobby Shop team discusses the one question on many Americans minds: where do we go from here?
info_outline
Riding the Tariff Rollercoaster
The Lobby Shop
The Lobby Shop team is back and talking tariffs! Caitlin Sickles, Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, Liam Donovan, and Dylan Pasiuk break down the latest developments in the ongoing tariff rollercoaster—separating the tariffs that have actually been imposed from those still being threatened, along with the retaliation from U.S. trading partners. They explore President Trump’s rationale for using tariffs and threats of tariffs, highlighting key differences between those imposed during his first term versus his second. The team also examines the impact of these trade policies on various sectors,...
info_outline
Awaiting Trump’s Second Inauguration: GOP Challenges, Party Divisions, and What Lies Ahead
The Lobby Shop
In the Lobby Shop’s first episode of 2025, co-hosts Liam Donovan, Caitlin Sickles, and Dylan Pasiuk convene to analyze the political environment ahead of President-elect Trump’s second inauguration. The group explores the challenges facing Speaker Johnson in a very narrowly divided Congress, the enduring influence of Trump on the Republican Party, and the Democrats' growing sense of resignation in legislative struggles. The discussion also highlights the ongoing confirmation hearings and the outsized role of figures like Elon Musk in shaping party dynamics. As they look ahead to the next...
info_outlineThis week on The Lobby Shop, the team dives into the storm brewing in Washington as Congress heads into August recess. Josh Zive and Paul Nathanson dissect President Trump’s latest tariff moves and their ripple effects on American manufacturers already navigating a volatile trade landscape. Meanwhile, Liam Donovan and Dylan Pasiuk forecast the high-stakes battle over government funding, with a shutdown threat looming large. From economic jitters to political brinkmanship, this episode delivers the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve—don’t miss it.