80-Proof Politics: Recent Episodes
Bill Shute
On any given day in Washington, DC, policy proposals are created, debated, and decimated by tens of thousands of people and organizations working behind the scenes. Each week one of these advocates and I will visit a DC watering hole and distill the art of advocacy by pulling back the curtain a bit and taking a look at how they play their part in this sausage factory we call our federal government. So, if you’re at all interested in how the sausage is made, pull up a chair, grab a drink, and join us for the next 20 minutes or so.After all, what goes better with sausage than a tall cold one?
Protecting your online identity with Amy Shuart, Head of North American Government Affairs and Policy with Onfido.
There’s exciting news about the future of 80-Proof Politics (cue “The Jeffersons” theme song…). Stay tuned for the big announcement, but in the meantime here’s a taste of the upcoming season.
Welcome back! After nearly eighteen months on the social distancing lam, 80-Proof Politics is back with episode 1 of season 3. Longtime distilled spirits lobbyist, Mike Bertman tells us about why he is now betting on himself for once, and making sure he has at least one great idea each day in order to make himself better tomorrow than he is today.
Fresh from the campaign trail in his home state of Arizona - and having his beer delivered to his doorstep during this time of shelter-in-place - Shay Stautz talks about his years as a higher education lobbyist, how he translated that experience into running for Congress, and plowing through colleagues in the office to get his first real policy position on Capitol Hill.
In this special edition of 80-Proof Politics, we touch base virtually with a few of our previous Guestperts to see how they are adjusting a profession built on personal relationships and interpersonal communications to an era of self isolation and social distancing.
From telling federal agency personnel why they can't to now showing them why they should, Matthew Cornelius - three months into his role as Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation - joins 80-Proof at Lost & Found for a pre-coronavirus talk about how being a Duke fan while attending UNC prepared him for working at Treasury, GSA, OMB, and running an association of companies helping to shape innovation in government.
Arnie Fege and I sit down for a pre-quarantine conversation and drink at The Hamilton to discuss his rich experience in Washington, and how his formative policy years with one of the true leaders of the '60s led him to create and run one of the premier education advocacy organizations in DC.
Mark Bayer, President of Bayer Strategic Consulting, host of "When Science Speaks," and self-proclaimed persuasion nerd explains why it's important to connect before you communicate. He joins us at Siné Irish Pub in Arlington, VA.
We open Season 2 of 80-Proof segment by introducing a new feature we call NextGen Advocates with Josh Martin, VP Government Affairs - American Defense International. And what better place to share his story of nearly twenty years on the Hill than at Tortilla Coast.
We put the wraps on Season 1 with Ed Gillespie, Chairman, SVC Public Affairs. From Senate parking lot attendant to WH Counselor to the President with a few political and advocacy stops along the way, Ed has lobbied and been lobbied. He shares his public affairs insights with us at Landini Brothers.
In the second of our final three-part series on applying strategic communications, Stuart Roy, President - Strategic Action Public Affairs, adds the unique perspective of creating support for clients who face regulatory actions, helping clients restructure internal communications, and how to dodge farm implements traveling 60 mph on the Wilson Bridge.
In episode 14 of 80-Proof Politics, we're joined by John Feehery, Partner with EFB Advocacy, at The Boxcar Tavern. John talks about how his rich history of working for the Speaker of the House, other politic leaders, and even the Motion Picture Association of America taught him not to fear the media -- or the Cubs.
From a state association to the White House, Brenda Becker of Boston Scientific tells us why she always wanted to be a lobbyist and why social media is the toilet bowl of the internet.
Matt Miller started as a 16-yr old page on Capitol Hill and worked his way through several state and federal campaigns before becoming the spokesman for A.G. Eric Holder the Obama Department of Justice. He joins me at Founding Farmersto discuss how decades as a political communications director helps his clients respond to crises.
Our Guestpert for episode 11 is Jennifer Poulakidas, Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations with UCLA. Jenn recently moved to L.A. after a long successful advocacy career in DC, and tells us about lobbying the federal government from three time zones away.
Counter to the 80-Proof adage that DC thrives on very diverse resumes, we revisit an old haunt, Cactus Cantina, with Kent Wells who talks about his 34 years with AT&T, how technology may change but certain lobbying techniques don't, and how pointy elbows can jump start a career.
In episode 9 of 80-Proof Politics, I’m joined by Shane Tews - President of Logan Circle Strategies at one of the consistently top-rated restaurants in DC, Equinox. Shane shares her experiences in campaign work, representing the distilled spirits trade association, and her two decades as “The Queen of Internet Policy.”
In episode 8 of 80-Proof Politics, Jim Smith - President of Potomac Policy Group - joins me at the heart of Irish hospitality, The Dubliner. He talks about the enormity and depth of the healthcare policy world in Washington, working in political campaigns, being a Congressional Chief of Staff, and how alligator wrestling got him his first DC job.
Tom Sheridan, CEO and Founder of The Sheridan Group, discusses his new book, "Helping the Good Do Better," in which he distills the art of social advocacy, explains how to build a coalition of social cause groups and keep them from undermining their own efforts, and how to teach U2's Bono who is the Elvis in DC. Recorded at the wonderful Georgian restaurant, Supra at 11th and M, NW.
Distilling the Art of Agency Advocacy, mixed with a bit of Capitol Hill lobbying. Sean Todd talks with us about catching the green bug in L.A., the value of putting yourself in position to raise your hand and say, "I can do that", having the risk appetite to strike out on your own, and being the oldest married Congressional intern on record.
Nadeam Elshami, Policy Director - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schrek, and one of Politico's "30 Most Powerful People in Trump's DC," talks about lessons learned during his lengthy career serving top Democrats in both the House and the Senate and how those lessons help him serve clients trying to find their way around Washington.
Ron Hutcheson, Managing Director - H+K Strategies, talks about the importance of the policy value proposition, representing the International Olympic Committee and Princess Haya of Jordan, and why creating a surround sound for a lobbying campaign is key to global public affairs.
Sarah Spreitzer, Director of Government and Public Affairs for the American Council on Education, talks about representing the presidents of 1,700+ colleges and universities with a staff of six, and why a graduate degree in Medieval Architecture is the perfect training for becoming a lobbyist.
Our Guestpert on this week's 80-Proof Politics is Glenn Lemunyon, Founder and President of The LeMunyon Group, LLC. Glenn talks to us about representing clients, lobbying budget issues and appropriations, and how not to order beer at the Tune Inn.
The inaugural episode of 80-Proof Politics features Craig Purser, CEO and President of the National Beer Wholesalers Association who shares with us how one of the top trade associations in DC translates the operations of 1700+ beer wholesalers into federal policy and why the beer industry is interested in marijuana.