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 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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Columbine is 25. A conversation with Monisha Henley of Everytown for Gun Safety.
05/20/2024
Columbine is 25. A conversation with Monisha Henley of Everytown for Gun Safety.
April 20th marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, which at the time was deemed the worst in America's history. In this episode, Maggie hosts Monisha Henley, senior vice president of government affairs for . Everytown was formed in 2014 following Columbine, the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and others. In this conversation, we learn more about the motivators for Monisha's work, Everytown's policy priorities and bipartisan policy successes in the past 10 years, and what's next for Everytown in its second decade. Monisha Henley is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Everytown. Before joining Everytown, she honed her expertise at the American Nurses Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She began her career in the United States Senate. Monisha is originally from Wilmington, DE and now resides in New York City.
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Celebrating Mother’s Day with Governor Laura Kelly and Kathleen Kelly Daughety
05/13/2024
Celebrating Mother’s Day with Governor Laura Kelly and Kathleen Kelly Daughety
In a special Mother’s Day episode, Maggie Mick interviewsand her eldest daughter The conversation focuses on both of their careers, the governor raising her daughters in Topeka - the state capital, and insights for working moms in policy and politics. Governor Laura Kelly is the 48th governor of Kansas. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 18th district in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019. Kelly was elected governor in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Kathleen Kelly Daughety is the Vice President of Campaigns and Civic Engagement at . Kathleen began her career in Kansas politics, campaigning to elect Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius twice. She continued her career with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), Governor Jay Nixon (MO), U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO), Priorities USA and has held private sector posts with Liberty Media and Uber.
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Jim and Maggie interview 2 state political experts; Steve Palmer and Paul Dioguardi
05/06/2024
Jim and Maggie interview 2 state political experts; Steve Palmer and Paul Dioguardi
In their maiden episode as co-hosts, Jim O’Brien and Maggie Mick interview friend of the show, , and first-time guest . Two Partners at In addition to learning about Paul’s impressive career including time with the Democratic Governors Association as well as the Obama Administration and his work on the Affordable Care Act, we dove into a discussion on upcoming primaries and a forecast for the 2024 gubernatorial races, current characteristics of gubernatorial candidates, and the debate on the viability of state trifectas in the coming years and election cycles. Links to Steven’s past TPL appearances:
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TPL Podcast is back with a new season!! With a new Co-Host!
04/29/2024
TPL Podcast is back with a new season!! With a new Co-Host!
Maggie Mick has joined The Political Life podcast as co-host. Maggie is in the leadership group of the state and local government relations consultancy, MultiState - a PPHC firm, located in the Washington, D.C. area. The first episode of the new season will be next week with Reid Wilson from Pluribus News!!
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Bradley Tusk returns to discuss his new book Obvious in Hindsight, investing in tech start-ups and Election Predictions
12/21/2023
Bradley Tusk returns to discuss his new book Obvious in Hindsight, investing in tech start-ups and Election Predictions
This week Jim welcomes Bradley Tusk back to the show to discuss his new book "Obvious in Hindsight". Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist and writer. Bradley is the Founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures. Tusk Ventures is the world’s first venture capital fund to work with and invest solely in high growth startups facing political and regulatory challenges. Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg, as Deputy Governor of Illinois and as Communications Director for Senator Charles Schumer. Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies, Bradley’s family foundation, funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment. They are also working to create mobile voting so people can vote in elections on their phones. Bradley writes a regular column for Fast Company. Bradley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his BA and has a JD from the University of Chicago Law School.
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Looking for a Job in Government Relations? Matthew Guilbault has Some Very Good Advice to Share
09/25/2023
Looking for a Job in Government Relations? Matthew Guilbault has Some Very Good Advice to Share
Matthew Guilbault is Director of Government Affairs at Corebridge Financial – a new position for Matthew since he was last on the podcast. Matthew walks us through his job hunting experience – I think you will find it very helpful if you are looking for a job or thinking about looking for a new job. Some interesting facts about Matthew: Matt studied to be a pilot before deciding to focus on pre-law studies at the College of St. Rose. He got his first job in politics for a State Senator after networking at the restaurant he worked at in Albany. After almost seven years working at the New York General Assembly, Matt transitioned to an in-house lobbying position. After 10 years working in-house, he worked as a contract lobbyist. Matt owns many motorcycles, and used to race them professionally.
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Maggie Mick from MultiState kicks off the Fall Season with Jack Waldorf from the Western Governors' Association
09/18/2023
Maggie Mick from MultiState kicks off the Fall Season with Jack Waldorf from the Western Governors' Association
In today’s episode Maggie Mick of MultiState sits down with Jack Waldorf - the sixth Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA). Jack oversees WGA’s efforts to support and advance bipartisan priorities on behalf of the Governors from the 22 westernmost states and territories. Prior to joining WGA, Waldorf led the federal advocacy activities for the University of Colorado (CU) System which is comprised of four campuses across Colorado’s Front Range. Before joining the CU System, Waldorf served in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives where he focused on policies related to education, health care, and transportation, among other issues. Waldorf holds a master’s degree in public administration from CU Denver and a bachelor’s degree in political science from CU Boulder. Waldorf currently resides in Erie, Colorado with his wife, Monica, and their three sons.
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Meet the Member: Mike Gipson (Hosted by Maggie Mick of MultiState)
06/27/2023
Meet the Member: Mike Gipson (Hosted by Maggie Mick of MultiState)
This episode is a rebroadcast of a webinar conversation Maggie Mick, assistant Vice Preistent of Multi State, had with California Assembly-member, Mike Gipson about California lawmaking!Topics covered in this episode include: An introduction to who Mike Gipson is. The moment that Mike Gipson decided to run for office. Mike's police partner being killed while in the line of duty. How it impacted Gipson's path towards office. An overview of what the CSG West Chair organization is. An overview of the CSG West Annual meeting this summer at Universal Studios in California and topics that will be discussed there. Ai Infrastructure Water Healthcare Public safety How the CSG organization is formed and how it is run. Why did Mike Gipson run for office. Some pieces of legislation that have come out of Gipson's lived experiences. The sucesses that Gipson and Speaker Rendon have had New possible changes coming from the new speaker coming June 30th. Does California have a budget issue and Gipson's take on the current budget. Mike Gipson is a California Assemblymember. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2014, Gipson has served as Democratic Caucus Chair since 2016. A former cop, and non-profit leader in Los Angeles, he serves on Buisness and Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation Committees. He serves as 2023 Chair of CSG West, the western region of The Council of State Governments. Maggie Mick serves as Assistant Vice President at MultiState where she leads the firm’s Stakeholder Engagement Practice. She also works with clients on campaigns, issue management, lobbying and compliance. Before joining MultiState’s leadership team in 2022, she spent nearly 12 years at The Council of State Governments (CSG) nationally headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Her final role was Chief Advancement Officer, leading strategic partnerships and external relations for major stakeholders including legislative leadership and the private sector. Prior to her tenure at CSG, she was an aide in the United States Congress. In addition, she has held public office as a member of the Lancaster City Council for two terms. Maggie serves on the board of directors and executive committee for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), was 2022 president of the Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) and a graduate of the Public Affairs Council's Institute. She has received local and statewide recognition including "Top Women in Business" in Kentucky by the Lane Report and the Kentucky Commission on Women Bluegrass Alliance for Women Impact Award. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Kansas where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. She is the proud wife of Nathan Mick and mother to Birdie and Hank.
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