The Political Life
From campaigns to capitols and everywhere in between - a podcast about the people whose lives are immersed in the political world, and how they got there. Politicians, lobbyists, pollsters, and business people. If they're on the show, they're living the political life.
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Meet Jacque Robinson-Baisley, currently the Director of External Affairs for Cordoba Corp. in their Education and Facilities Sector.
02/21/2025
Meet Jacque Robinson-Baisley, currently the Director of External Affairs for Cordoba Corp. in their Education and Facilities Sector.
Meet Jacque Robinson-Baisley, currently the Director of External Affairs for Cordoba Corp. in their Education and Facilities Sector. Jacque also served as Vice Mayor and Councilmember for the City of Pasadena – that was recently devastated by the wildfires. Jacque is a tenured leader with over two decades of experience in stakeholder engagement and government relations in the greater Los Angeles region and statewide. Her prior experience includes managing and directing community, electoral, and advocacy campaigns with labor unions, nonprofits, school districts, and philanthropy. She has been recognized for her expertise in policy development, community engagement, government relations, strategic planning, and special event planning and execution. Jacque also served as Vice Mayor and Councilmember for the City of Pasadena from 2007-2015. Among her many accomplishments, she spearheaded the development and adoption of the Lincoln Avenue Specific Plan and served as a Commissioner for the Hollywood-Burbank Airport. She continues her personal commitment to public service as a current Board Member of Pathways LA, Pasadena Delta Foundation, and the National Women’s Political Caucus, Greater Pasadena Area. Here is the link to the Go Fund page:
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Meet Will Melofchik- the new CEO of National Conference of Insurance Legislators – NCOIL.
02/03/2025
Meet Will Melofchik- the new CEO of National Conference of Insurance Legislators – NCOIL.
For this week's episode, we are rebroadcasting a webinar hosted by and and features new National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), Will Melofchik. Will was installed as CEO on January 1. He was formerly NCOIL's General Counsel. Previously, Will was a Regulatory Officer in the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Unit at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and worked in private practice. Will is a member of the New Jersey and New York Bar, having graduated cum laude from Touro Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Moot Court Honors Board. Will graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Connecticut.
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This week We Sit Down with Speaker Brian Evans of Arkansas!!
01/27/2025
This week We Sit Down with Speaker Brian Evans of Arkansas!!
Rep. Brian S. Evans serves as Speaker of the House for the 95th General Assembly. He is serving his fourth term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 68 which includes the city of Cabot, as well as portions of Lonoke County. For the 94th General Assembly, he served as Chair of the House Education Committee. Speaker Evans is in logistics where he serves as President of L&L Freight Services, Inc. He is the former Chairman of the Board of the Transportation Intermediaries Association. Speaker Evans previously served 10 years on the Cabot School Board. He attended the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State University. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He lives in Cabot with his wife and two children.
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Meet the leader of GOPAC - David Avella.
01/13/2025
Meet the leader of GOPAC - David Avella.
David Avella is the Chairman of GOPAC, the Republican Party's premier organization dedicated to educating and electing Republican leaders. The GOPAC network invested nearly $33 million in the 2023-2024 election cycle. A seasoned communications professional and political leader, Avella has spent his career working to advance free enterprise, job creation and opportunity. He is a requested speaker on current national and state affairs, news headlines of the day and how to communicate effectively. Mr. Avella is a frequent guest on national television and radio, including Fox News, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and more. He is also a quoted source for national and local print, video, online and social media platforms. He delivered an address at the 2016 Republican National Convention reminding the Party that Aristotle was right when he said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
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Meet Mat Lapinski – the CEO of Crossroads Strategies
12/23/2024
Meet Mat Lapinski – the CEO of Crossroads Strategies
Mathew Lapinski is CEO of Crossroads Strategies, LLC. Mat represents a broad spectrum of clients across multiple practice areas. With two decades of advocacy experience, he is an expert in navigating Washington’s federal legislative and regulatory institutions. Beginning as a lobbyist for health care and insurance interests, Mat now covers a broad array of policy disciplines including financial services, energy, health care, trade, education, and technology. Called one of Washington’s most persistent lobbyists, Mat has spent his entire career dedicated solely to managing the legislative and regulatory process. He is adept at developing and implementing advocacy campaigns for corporate, association, and non-profit clients. He also provides risk management advisory services to clients seeking to better understand the impact of government action on business. He has led client representations related to the largest federal interventions of the last 20 years including the response to the 2008 financial crisis, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and the government’s response to COVID-19. Prior to joining Crossroads, Mat was a Principal of the public policy practice at Dentons and part of the lobbying team at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Mat is a 2002 graduate of Georgetown University.
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Meet Bill Kramer – the Election Expert with MultiState
12/16/2024
Meet Bill Kramer – the Election Expert with MultiState
Bill Kramer has been with MultiState since 2011. Recognized for his wide breadth of state legislative and policy knowledge, Bill oversees the firm's research services, advises clients on strategic government affairs initiatives, develops and manages coalitions and associations, and pens the weekly Morning MultiState newsletter, among other problem-solving endeavors. At the onset of the 2020 pandemic, Bill was integral in quickly organizing internal resources to create MultiState's COVID-19 State and Local Policy Tracker, a resource library and data dashboard providing clients and the public with timely, accurate information on the state and local government responses to COVID-19. Subsequently, Bill has launched similar policy tracking projects focused on reproductive health care and artificial intelligence policy. He is an experienced lawyer and association executive who served as deputy executive director of the Council of State Chambers (COSC) — the association of state chambers of commerce — and built the COSC Policy Center from the ground up. Bill is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where he was a member of the Government Relations Section Council and chaired the State Relations Subcommittee from 2016 to 2019. Bill became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2018 and is a member of both the State Bar of California and the DC Bar. Bill has addressed and presented to dozens of trade and professional organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Public Affairs Council (PAC), State Government Affairs Council (SGAC), and The Council of State Government (CSG). Major publications have quoted Bill as a policy and industry expert, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Politico, Pluribus News, and Governing Magazine. His previous experience includes the U.S. Senate, California State Assembly, and Legislative Counsel's Office of California. Bill earned his bachelor's degree in history from Ohio University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the McGeorge Law Review. Bill considers himself a policy generalist but has a passion for technology and infrastructure issues. He also enjoys developing future leaders, and as such, initiated and coordinates MultiState's internship program.
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This Week Meet the Dynamic and Intelligent Leigh Walton.
12/09/2024
This Week Meet the Dynamic and Intelligent Leigh Walton.
Leigh Walton is Vice President of Global Government and Regulatory Affairs for Pitney Bowes. As Vice President of the Global Government and Regulatory Affairs team, Leigh leads the company’s work in influencing public policy to increase opportunities for its shipping, mailing, and financial services businesses as well as to mitigate risks to those businesses. Before joining Pitney Bowes, Leigh was a consultant to companies in the technology, education, and health care sectors. She also served in several state government and political roles, including as Legislative and Political Affairs director for Missouri Governor Bob Holden. Leigh serves on the boards of the Public Affairs Council, a national nonprofit that provides training and education to government affairs executives, and the New England Council, the voice for the region’s business community on Capitol Hill. She served for ten years, with two as Co-Chair, of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, a Connecticut nonprofit focused on mentoring the state’s young people. Leigh holds a B.S. in Political Science from Truman State University in Missouri. She lives in Boston with her family.
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What’s Going On in Missouri? Well, to find out we talk to Sarah Schlemeier Henke.
12/02/2024
What’s Going On in Missouri? Well, to find out we talk to Sarah Schlemeier Henke.
Sarah Schlemeier Henke attended the University of Missouri from 2010-2014, where she graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Health Sciences and minors in Psychology and Service Learning. After working in the nonprofit sector in grant-funded positions, Sarah was hired by a lobbying firm before transitioning to the Gamble & Schlemeier team. Seeing a need in advocacy, Sarah started her own company, Advocacy360. Advocacy360 helps with the development and building of coalitions and grassroots networks. She splits her time between the two companies, as Advocacy360 is housed in the same office as Gamble & Schlemeier. Advocacy360's clients include some of the largest trade associations in Missouri. Recently, Sarah completed a graduate program through the University of Missouri, obtaining her master's in Public Affairs from the Truman School of Public Affairs.
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Meet Kellie Rittershausen - Executive Director for the National Lieutenant Governors Association.
11/25/2024
Meet Kellie Rittershausen - Executive Director for the National Lieutenant Governors Association.
*Recorded on October 1, 2024.* This is a rebroadcast of a MultiState webinar 'Meet the Exec' with Kellie Rittershausen, new executive director of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). Kellie Rittershausen serves as the Executive Director of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), overseeing all functions and services of NLGA in serving the nation’s lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command. NLGA is the nonprofit, nonpartisan, professional association for the gubernatorial successors in state and territorial government. As Director, Kellie leads the association in member relations, development and fundraising, planning and executing NLGA’s three meetings per year, marketing and communications, NLGA programming, and the association’s STEM pillar of work. Prior to joining NLGA, Kellie had seven years of experience working for elected officials in a bipartisan environment. She served as Chief of Staff to the Hamilton County, Ohio, Commission, serving two different Commissioners during her tenure, in both the majority and minority. Kellie is a lifelong resident of Ohio, and a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She currently lives in Cincinnati with her husband and four dogs.
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Meet Ches McDowell – Managing the GR team at Checkmate Government Relations.
11/11/2024
Meet Ches McDowell – Managing the GR team at Checkmate Government Relations.
**This episode was recorded prior to the 2024 election** Ches McDowell leads the Checkmate Government Relations team and focuses primarily on the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. He has delivered victories for clients in health care, financial services, entertainment, technology, outdoor sports, aviation,municipal government, nonprofits, state-wide associations, elections, energy, pharmaceuticals, real estate development, gaming, and professional sports. He has been selected as one of the top 10 lobbyists in North Carolina by the North State Journal – every year they have done the poll – and has received honorable mentions for representing a diverse portfolio. Ches was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2023 and 2024 for Government Relations Practice. He was selected by Triad Business Journal as one of its “40 Leaders Under 40” in 2021. Ches was recognized as a “Young Gun” in 2019 by Business North Carolina magazine. Ches’ career began while he was earning an undergraduate degree at North Carolina State. He became one of the only college students to work full time at the legislature, where he managed various projects for State Senate Leader Phil Berger. Ches also remains committed to civic engagement and serves his community and state in multiple capacities, including as a Trustee at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a member of the Board of Visitors of Campbell Law School. In addition, he serves on the National Board of Directors for Cross Trail Outfitters, on the Host Committee for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s annual Wine, Wheels, and Wildlife fundraiser, and as Deputy Province Commander of the Kappa Alpha Order’s Smith Province.
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Simon Wlodarski has served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he is working for Bank of America. Tune in to hear his story.
11/04/2024
Simon Wlodarski has served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he is working for Bank of America. Tune in to hear his story.
SIMON WLODARSKI, is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and is a member of the U.S. State and Local Government Relations Team, overseeing State/Local Government Relations for the company in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. In this regional role with the company, Simon works on public policy issues impacting the financial services industry. In his leadership role with the company, he engages with public officials and banking industry leaders across the country. Simon serves as the Bank’s liaison with the National Council of State Legislators, a national trade association of state legislators. He also serves as Vice Chair on the Executive Board of the Civic Federation, a non-profit organization advocating for responsible fiscal health of state and local government in Illinois. Prior to joining Bank of America, Simon served in the Administration of Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois. Simon began his public policy career supporting the Office of Management and Budget before serving as Chief of Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that capacity, Simon oversaw finance, human resources, operations and legislative affairs. Simon served in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting in 1995 as an infantry Marine. Transferring to the Reserves to attend college, Simon went on to pursue a commission in 2003, serving as an Infantry Officer during combat tours in Iraq. Simon transferred to the Illinois National Guard in 2011, serving in Afghanistan as an advisor, as well as an embedded officer in the Polish Task Force. Simon most recently served in Ukraine as an advisor, leading a multi-National NATO team working with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Amongst his awards, Simon is most proud to have earned the Army’s Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Marine Combat Action Ribbon, and retired in December 2022 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. Simon was born in Chicago, Illinois, and currently lived in Arlington Heights with his wife and two sons. He completed a BS in Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.
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Meet Tre Hargett – the Secretary of State from the Greatest State in the Union!
10/14/2024
Meet Tre Hargett – the Secretary of State from the Greatest State in the Union!
Tre Hargett was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2009 to serve as Tennessee’s 37th Secretary of State. He was reelected to four-year terms in 2013, 2017, and 2021. Secretary Hargett is the chief executive officer of the Department of State with oversight of approximately 300 employees. With his role on fifteen boards and commissions; oversight of nine functional divisions, including elections and the Tennessee State Library & Archives; and his responsibility for rules and regulations, the department interacts with all three branches of state government and impacts every agency in the state. Previously, Secretary Hargett served as chairman of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. Before joining the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, he was regional vice president for a publicly traded emergency services provider. Secretary Hargett served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for a decade representing District 97 (Bartlett and Memphis) and was twice elected Republican Leader by his colleagues. A native of Ripley, Secretary Hargett now lives in Hendersonville with his wife, Dawn, and their two sons. He is a Southern Baptist and worships at Indian Lake Peninsula Church.
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Rachael Eckles – Policy and Public Affairs Expert, lawyer, bioethicist and Author of Trading Secrets and its sequel, Risky Assets. Rachael is currently working on the third book in the series.
10/07/2024
Rachael Eckles – Policy and Public Affairs Expert, lawyer, bioethicist and Author of Trading Secrets and its sequel, Risky Assets. Rachael is currently working on the third book in the series.
Rachael Eckles has worked in the health care industry for over twenty years. A lawyer and bioethicist by training, she began her career in clinical research, ran a hospital medical ethics committee, and began a bioethics program at a pharmaceutical company. Her love of shaping the environment evolved into a career in policy and government affairs. During a brief stint away from health care, she worked in securities litigation. It was then that she began writing fiction, which has evolved into the award-winning Wall Street thriller series, Trading Secrets, with two books released and a third on the way. Rachael believes each of us has a responsibility to shape the best future possible, and she embodies this through her philanthropic commitments both locally and globally. She donates a portion of her proceeds to local and global programs that empower women and girls through her foundation, Aphrodite Gives. In her free time, Rachael practices yoga, meditation, and strength training. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and her dog.
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“You have to Learn to Lobby on behalf of Yourself”. Meet Suzanne Swink.
09/23/2024
“You have to Learn to Lobby on behalf of Yourself”. Meet Suzanne Swink.
Suzanne Swink is Vice President of Government Relations for KORE Power, the leading U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of battery cell technology for the clean energy industry. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s legislative and regulatory strategy for federal and state affairs, community engagement, and sustainability. Ms. Swink joined KORE Power from bp, where she spent the better part of 12 years as a government affairs and strategic communications leader. She has nearly 20 years of government, advocacy, and policy communications expertise. Prior to joining bp, Suzanne was Senior Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (D-CA) and served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor on a broad domestic portfolio, including energy, environment, infrastructure, trade, tax and judiciary issues. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University, where she also serves as adjunct faculty. Suzanne currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the Board of the Public Affairs Council, and is a past president of Women in Government Relations.
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Reflecting on 9/11 with Garrett Graff the author of "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11.
09/11/2024
Reflecting on 9/11 with Garrett Graff the author of "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11.
Today we are joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff who has spent two decades covering politics, technology, and national security, and is now recognized as one of the nation’s most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians. His award-winning work—including nine books on topics ranging from presidential campaigns, Watergate, 9/11, and cybersecurity, to D-Day and the U.S. government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, as well as dozens of magazine articles, essays, podcasts, and documentaries—uses history to explain the story of today, illuminating where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed as a world. Today, he’s a columnist for the Washington Post, where he writes on leadership, serves as the director of cyber initiatives at the Aspen Institute, and hosts the history podcast, "Long Shadow," which this year received a 2024 Edward R. Murrow Award. The former editor of POLITICO Magazine and a longtime contributor to WIRED and CNN, he’s written for publications like Esquire, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Foreign Affairs, and authored nine books—including the #1 national bestseller "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11," and the New York Times bestseller "Watergate: A New History," which was a finalist in 2023 for the Pulitzer Prize in History. His most recent books include "UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There" and "When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day." Graff is a regular voice and analyst on NPR, PBS NewsHour, the History Channel, speaker at high-profile venues like corporate conferences, presidential libraries, and the Aspen Ideas Festival, and taught journalism and social media at Georgetown University for nearly a decade. Among other multimedia, TV, and film projects, he was executive producer of “While the Rest of Us Die,” a two-season VICE TV series based on his book "Raven Rock," and a consulting producer on the blockbuster Netflix documentary “Turning Point,” about the Cold War.
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How do you get a job on Capitol Hill? Take a sabbatical and move to Washington, DC - meet Amy Efantis who did just that and has never looked back.
09/02/2024
How do you get a job on Capitol Hill? Take a sabbatical and move to Washington, DC - meet Amy Efantis who did just that and has never looked back.
Amy is currently SVP of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations at Ascension. Amy is an experienced leader who has guided successful teams in the U.S. and abroad & believes strongly in servant-leadership; over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C. leading organizations, managing budgets, imaging strategy and developing people; 10+ years of lobbying & health care policy success in the bio-pharmaceutical space; keen appreciation for our dynamic, changing environment & the necessity to be at once strong and nimble.
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This week we sit down with Steve Yeager, Speaker of the Nevada Assembly, one of the key political leaders in a battleground state.
08/26/2024
This week we sit down with Steve Yeager, Speaker of the Nevada Assembly, one of the key political leaders in a battleground state.
Description: Steve Yeager has been serving as the speaker of the Nevada Assembly since 2022. Yeager graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001 and then attended Cornell Law School, graduating in 2004. After law school, Yeager practiced law and later worked as a chief deputy public defender of Clark County until his election to the Nevada Assembly in 2016. Yeager first ran for the Nevada Assembly in 2014, winning the Democratic primary but losing the general election. He ran for Assembly again in 2016, defeating Gardner with 55% of the vote. He has been re-elected three times since and is now serving his fourth term in the Assembly. Yeager attended and graduated from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizens' Police Academy in 2018 during his first term in the Nevada Assembly. Yeager chaired the Assembly Judiciary Committee from 2017 to 2023 and was elected Assembly speaker pro tempore in 2019. When then-Speaker Jason Frierson resigned to became U.S. Attorney in 2022, Yeager became acting speaker. He was elected Assembly speaker in 2023. Yeager lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Bita, who is an elected judge for the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County. They met in the Clark County public defender's office and married in 2013. Yeager is an avid runner, hiker, and biker. He has a running blog called Battle Born Running
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More interviews from NCSL
08/19/2024
More interviews from NCSL
In this week’s episode, you will continue to join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville.
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TPL Travels to Kentucky for NCSL
08/12/2024
TPL Travels to Kentucky for NCSL
In this week’s episode, you will join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville. We’ll take you into the policy sessions, along the rows of the exhibit hall, and the various social events that pepper the week.
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Meet Jack Quinn, One of the Best
08/05/2024
Meet Jack Quinn, One of the Best
Jack Quinn: Head, State Government Affairs for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Jack Quinn leads Regeneron Pharmaceutical’s state policy, advocacy, regulatory, and political activity across all 50 states. Born-and-raised in Buffalo, NY, Jack attended Siena College and SUNY Buffalo Law School. After being admitted to the New York Bar, Quinn served as a prosecutor for the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2004. Jack served six years (2005-2010) in the legislature representing the 146th Assembly District (Erie County). A member of the Republican Party, Quinn served on the Assembly Judiciary, Higher Education, Banks, Transportation and Ethics Committees. Following his six-year tenure in the Assembly, Jack has spent the last 14 years lobbying across 35+ states for several pharmaceutical manufacturers (Allergan, Vertex, and Sanofi) as well as ExxonMobil. In his two prior roles, Quinn led State Government Relations teams for Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Regence BlueCross BlueShield. In addition to his role with Regeneron, Jack has also spent the last six years serving as a Northeast Charter School Network (NESCN) board member. NESCN is a non-profit organization that advocates for pro-charter school legislative policies on behalf of over 150 school across New York and Connecticut. Jack and his family live in Manhattan.
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Jerry Cornfield got his start as a crime reporter in San Francisco- today he breaks down elections in the state of Washington - not that the two are related!
07/29/2024
Jerry Cornfield got his start as a crime reporter in San Francisco- today he breaks down elections in the state of Washington - not that the two are related!
Jerry Cornfield started as a crime reporter in San Francisco and spent the better part of the last four decades covering politics and government in California and Washington. He worked in media for 12 years in Santa Barbara, reporting for daily and weekly newspapers, serving as editor-at-large for Santa Barbara magazine, producing and hosting a daily radio talk show, and appearing regularly as a political commentator on network TV. In 2004, he joined The Daily Herald of Everett where he worked 20 years as the statehouse reporter before helping launch the Washington State Standard in May 2023.
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How do you oversee a 50 state Government Affairs operation with over 500 members and be ranked one of the most effective year after year? Meet Bobby Patrick, VI from AdvaMed - who helps make it all happen.
07/22/2024
How do you oversee a 50 state Government Affairs operation with over 500 members and be ranked one of the most effective year after year? Meet Bobby Patrick, VI from AdvaMed - who helps make it all happen.
Bobby Patrick, VI is the Vice President of State Affairs, Regional Government, and Alliance Development at AdvaMed, the MedTech Association. He oversees AdvaMed’s state affairs work and partnerships with external stakeholders, including patient advocacy organizations and physician groups. Previously, Patrick served as the vice president of strategic growth and policy at the Medical Alley Association where he led the state and federal advocacy efforts. He also oversaw the membership work at the Association, where they experienced growth in membership revenue, engagement, and retention under his leadership. Prior to that, Patrick served as a staff member in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He holds a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.
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Meet Sen. Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader in Connecticut
07/15/2024
Meet Sen. Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader in Connecticut
Senator Bob Duff is a state senator from Connecticut and has been the Majority Leader since 2015. Bob’s Norwalk family ties go back five generations. His passion for public service began at the age of eight. That’s when Bob voiced his concerns for the future of Duffy Field to then-mayor William Collins. Today, we still have Duffy Field — now renamed Veterans Park. Since joining the legislature, Bob has been a tireless advocate for job creation in Connecticut. Bob has also earned a reputation as a consumer watchdog. As Chair of the legislature’s Housing Committee, he created the state’s first Housing Trust Fund to build more affordable housing in Connecticut. As Chair of the Banking Committee, Bob worked to safeguard Connecticut homeowners from the ravages of predatory lending by creating a package of first-in-the-nation reforms to reduce the number of home foreclosures in the state. Included was the foreclosure mediation program, Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (the first iteration to the federally recognized and nationally acclaimed Platform to Employment program) to help those unemployed or underemployed avoid foreclosure and a law that provides tools to municipalities ensuring lenders maintain their vacant properties. Bob’s consumer advocacy continued as he went on to Chair the Energy and Technology Committee. As Chair, Bob championed two major pieces of energy legislation which taken together implement a new comprehensive energy strategy for Connecticut: restructuring support for renewable sources of electricity to provide for cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy for consumers and businesses. Bob also supported the nation’s first cybersecurity report by a state government relating to safeguarding our electric grid and water utilities. In addition, the Senate Democratic caucus with Bob has achieved numerous legislative victories. Most recently, the caucus passed legislation standing up for DREAMers, the National Popular Vote, net neutrality, data privacy, health care access, Time’s Up, gun safety, LGBTQ rights, equal pay for equal work, raising the minimum wage and Paid Family Medical Leave. Bob has also been involved with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) serving on both the Foundation Board and Nominating Committee and active in their leadership programs. Throughout his legislative career, Bob has been honored by The Workplace Inc., AARP of Connecticut, the Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, the Save Cranbury Association, Side-by-Side Charter School, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, Greater Stamford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Development Council, the Maritime Aquarium, the Norwalk NAACP, the Norwalk Marching Bears, Inc., Action for Bridgeport Community Development and the Norwalk Public Schools Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee. After graduating Norwalk Public Schools, Bob earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Lynchburg College in Virginia. There, Bob honed his political skills as a student senator, campus leader and intern for then-U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Bob, his wife, Tracey, and their two children live on Toilsome Avenue in Norwalk with their rescue dog, Molly.
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What do Murthy and the other recent Supreme Court decisions mean for Free Speech? For Trump? The Presidency? Carl Szabo from NetChoice breaks it all down for us.
07/08/2024
What do Murthy and the other recent Supreme Court decisions mean for Free Speech? For Trump? The Presidency? Carl Szabo from NetChoice breaks it all down for us.
As Vice President and General Counsel, Carl analyzes, advocates, and testifies on tech-related legislative and regulatory initiatives relevant to online companies. Carl is also an adjunct professor of internet law at the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. Before joining NetChoice, Carl was an intellectual property attorney at the lawfirm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon where he advised clients on privacy, Internet, e-commerce, and contractual matters. He also worked at the lawfirms of Venable and Arnold & Porter. Before law school, Carl worked at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the staff of Commissioner Orson Swindle, where he helped create and implement the FTC’s Consumer Information Security Outreach Plan and assisted the White House in establishing the National Strategy for Cyber Security. Carl obtained his J.D. and Communications Law Certificate from the Catholic University of America, magna cum laude, and Carl obtained his B.A. in Economics, Managerial Studies, and Policy Studies from Rice University. Carl is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and has been recognized as a “Tech Titan” by the Washingtonian.
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What Can A Career Focused on Public Service Look Like? Meet Jordan See.
07/01/2024
What Can A Career Focused on Public Service Look Like? Meet Jordan See.
Jordan See is Head of Government Relations at Qualtrics. He is responsible for directing all government activities for Qualtrics' North American business operations. Jordan has over 14 years of experience working with the United States Congress, state legislatures, executive agencies, healthcare, and technology industries. Prior to joining Qualtrics, Jordan served as the Director of State and Federal Government Relations with Teladoc Health, where he managed a portfolio of issues ranging from telehealth, health technology, state Medicaid, and federal Medicare and Veteran Health issues. Jordan also served as Director of Government Affairs with Leidos, where he was responsible for directing government activities for Leidos’ $4.0 billion health technology business. Prior to joining Leidos, See served as the Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), where he managed the Congressman’s legislative staff and congressional activities on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From 2010-2016, See served in roles of increasing responsibility for U.S Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-03), ultimately serving as Senior Legislative Assistant and Communications Director, where he served as the primary advisor to the Congressman on Healthcare issues related to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as Social Security, Financial Services, Small Business, Housing, Technology, and Veterans Health and Benefits issues. See serves as a commissioned Military Intelligence Officer (Major) in the United States Army Reserve, and is currently assigned as an Inspector General with the Military Intelligence Readiness Command at Ft. Belvoir, VA. From 2010-2019, See previously served as and enlisted Infantryman and a Military Intelligence Officer with the Mississippi Army National Guard. See holds a J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Florida in Anthropology/Geography. Go Gators!
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Want to Write a book? Want to Speak at TEDx? Want to Head up a Government Affairs Office? Tune in and listen to Terri Broussard William's Journey.
06/24/2024
Want to Write a book? Want to Speak at TEDx? Want to Head up a Government Affairs Office? Tune in and listen to Terri Broussard William's Journey.
Terri Broussard Williams has built her career on a solid reputation as an authentic, courageous, and impactful change agent. Throughout her journey as an award-winning corporate lobbyist, non-profit executive, and public speaker, Terri has transformed public and community service into a professional art form, positively impacting the lives of millions of people.
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Who will Replace Sen. McConnell as Leader of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate? CNN Contributor Scott Jennings Gives us His Thoughts and Much More.
06/17/2024
Who will Replace Sen. McConnell as Leader of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate? CNN Contributor Scott Jennings Gives us His Thoughts and Much More.
In this week’s episode, Jim O’Brien and Maggie Mick host , an American conservative writer and commentator. A former political director to United State Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), we dive into McConnell’s legacy as the longest serving Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate and leadership lessons passed on to mentees like Jennings. About Scott is an on-air CNN Contributor, writes columns for the Courier-Journal, the LA Times, USA Today, and CNN.com, and is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is a founding partner of and a veteran of numerous political campaigns, including four presidential efforts. A former journalist and political operative, Scott uses his 20 plus years of experience to offer clients cutting-edge strategy and analysis, and helps craft winning messages in the most difficult communications environments. He also hosts the podcast
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Meet Derek Brown, Candidate for Utah Attorney General
06/10/2024
Meet Derek Brown, Candidate for Utah Attorney General
In this week's episode, Jim O'Brien and Maggie Mick interview , Republican candidate for Attorney General in Utah. In addition to diving into the issues facing Utahans, we learn about his career in Washington, D.C., time as a state legislator in Utah, and stints in the private sector.
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Colorado passes the first AI bill in the country! Sarah Mercer breaks it down for us.
06/03/2024
Colorado passes the first AI bill in the country! Sarah Mercer breaks it down for us.
This week Maggie and Jim speak with Sarah Mercer a lawyer/lobbyist who works in Colorado and who spent a lot of her session working on the recently passed (and signed!) Artificial Intelligence (AI) bill. Sarah gives us the full breakdown. About Sarah: Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She’s a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders. Sarah works for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP a lobbying and law firm with 13 offices across the western U.S. and in Washington, D.C.
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Reid Wilson: "The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time"
05/27/2024
Reid Wilson: "The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time"
Deemed “The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time” by Comedy Central, Wilson cuts through the spin and tells the truth about politics at the state-level. Reid Wilson is the founder, chief executive, and editor in chief of Pluribus News, , the nation’s only independent news outlet covering state-level politics and policy. He is an expert in spotting political trends as they develop and forecasting election results long before the ballots are counted. Known for staying ahead of the news through his access to top newsmakers, Wilson is a trusted staple of the political scene. Wilson previously covered politics for The Hill and the Washington Post, and he’s the former editor-in-chief of National Journal’s The Hotline. His work has appeared in outlets like The New York Times, RealClearPolitics, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, and other major news networks, and his expertise is frequently also sought-after by MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, and radio shows across the nation. He is also the Amazon best-selling author of Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak.
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