Listen Now

Next week, 80-Proof Politics takes a step back from Distilling the Art of Advocacy for a conversation I recently had with a well-known person in this town who served 30 years in Congress.

Cristina Antelo and Mark Williams didn't know each other until three years ago - in spite of being from the same town, having children the same age, and each heavily involved in Hispanic politic organizations - but found out they are basically the same person from different ends of the political spectrum. Now they run one of the hottest lobby firms in town, Ferox Strategies.

Two politicos from Dallas walk into a bar... A sneak peek of an informative and highly entertaining conversation with two people who share very similar backgrounds - tho' from opposite ends of the political spectrum - never met until three years ago and are now running one of the most successful lobby firms in town.

Tom Sullivan, VP Small Business Policy at the US Chamber, tells us how the smallest businesses in America get their voices heard and their interests protected by the world's largest organization representing businesses. And what it's like to go through a Senate Confirmation process.

First, another exciting announcement about 80-Proof Politics. Then, a sneak peek at our next episode.

Hear how two friends went from the security of salaried jobs to launching their own firm.

What does it take to branch out and start your own lobbying firm? These two did just that after decades of working for others.

The Executive Director of the National Association of Business Political Action Committees, Micaela Isler, breaks down what PACs are, how they represent the voices of hundreds - even thousands - of like-minded individuals in today's elections, and how the housing financial crisis saved her marriage.

Next week, 80-Proof Politics returns to its regular schedule with a fascinating conversation with Micaela Isler, Executive Director of the National Association of Business PACs. Here's a sneak peek into that episode. Thanks for listening.

Indigov Chief of Staff - and former House Admin Chief - Jen Daulby on making Congress work better and how you prepare the Capitol for an Inauguration 14 days after an insurrecrtion.

How will official Washington respond to the collapsed house of cards that once was FTX and SBF? What happens to the millions he and his colleagues contributed to political campaigns? Will crypto ever be sexy again inside the Beltway? Let's see...

It's not that FTX and Bankman-Fried created an entirely new approach to federal advocacy. They literally used every page in the playbook while spending over $200M inside the Beltway. What they did was run a massively accelerated 2-minute offense.

Imagine if you will that you decide to spend $200M in Washington to become a "player." You'd expect some sort of favorable outcome, wouldn't you? Bankman-Fried and FTX sure did. Episode 2 of 80-Proof Politics Behind the Curtain explores what exactly our crypto friend hoped to accomplish by becoming a political force.

We're kicking off a new partnership with Evergreen Podcasts with a special four-part mini series called: 80-Proof Politics Behind the Curtain. In episode 1 I ask the question, "What would you do if you had $3million to spend in Washington DC?" Turns out the answer is "a lot" if you compress the typical advocacy playbook into an 18-month accelerated charm offensive.

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.