Advertise on podcast: The Beltway & Beyond

Government investigations are no longer just a Washington story. From city councils to state attorneys general to Congress, oversight is becoming more interconnected, and organizations need to understand how local developments can quickly become national issues and vice versa. Featuring Public Strategies’ Rose Christ (NY), Sean Clerget (DC), and Katie Schwab (NY).

With early voting approaching, the 2026 midterms are emerging as a consequential test for both parties. Our team examines the closely watched Senate races, the voter sentiment shaping the cycle, and what the results could mean for control of Congress and the road to 2028. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Mark Alderman (DC), and Patrick Martin (DC).

Budget season offers a window into state priorities, policy choices, and the challenges lawmakers are working to address. As state negotiations wrap up in Illinois, New York, and Virginia, we explore the tradeoffs, areas of agreement, and key decisions that shaped this year's legislative sessions. What do these budgets reveal about governing today, and what do they signal for the road to the November midterms? Featuring Public Strategies' Julia Hammond (VA), Sydney Holman (IL), and Katrell Lewis (NY).

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we step back from the daily headlines to examine the state of the American experiment. From the 2026 midterm outlook to global conflicts, AI, and the search for political leadership, the conversation explores the forces shaping the nation's next chapter—and whether shared experiences can help bridge the nation's deepest divides. Featuring Public Strategies' Howard Schweitzer (DC), Mark Alderman (PA), and Cozen O'Connor alum Jim Schultz (PA).

Judd Kessler—author of Lucky by Design, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, and a leading voice in behavioral economics—joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on the “hidden markets” and incentives shaping modern life. Drawing on his research at the intersection of behavioral economics and real-world decision-making, they explore how “hidden markets” influence opportunity, power, leadership, and institutional outcomes across business, government, and society.

As New York and Philadelphia prepare to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, local leaders are treating the tournament as more than a sporting event. From transit coordination and public safety planning to tourism strategy and economic development, cities are using the World Cup to test how they manage infrastructure, mobility, and global attention at scale. Featuring Public Strategies’ Rose Christ (NY), Jamie Ansorge (NY), and Max Weisman (PA).

Rising utility costs and affordability concerns are reshaping the political conversation in New Jersey. As residents grapple with higher energy bills, housing costs, and property taxes, Governor Mikie Sherrill’s administration is pursuing an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy aimed at balancing affordability, reliability, and long-term planning. As political pressure grows around energy policy and cost-of-living concerns, New Jersey may be emerging as an early test case for how candidates navigate economic pressures ahead of the 2026 midterms. Featuring Public Strategies’ Jamie Ansorge (NY), Braxton Plummer (NJ), along with Lyndsay Ruotolo (NJ), member of Cozen O’Connor’s state attorneys general practice.

What does it actually take to lead at the highest stakes moments in history — and what can that teach us about leadership today? Susan Eisenhower, founder of The Eisenhower Group and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation that goes behind the history books and into the real story of how Ike led. From his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom while at West Point to commanding the Allied Forces on D-Day to the presidency, Howard and Susan explore what made Ike’s leadership both extraordinary and deeply human — his authenticity, his humility, his willingness to accept failure, and his belief that democracy itself must be actively defended. Drawing on personal family insights that no historian could access, the discussion illuminates a model of principled leadership that feels not just relevant but urgently necessary.

With 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs, the 2026 elections will shape policy outcomes and political momentum heading into 2028. Key battlegrounds like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Kansas highlight how issues such as affordability, energy costs, and economic conditions are likely to drive voter behavior. National dynamics—from presidential politics to tensions in the Middle East—add another layer of influence, underscoring the growing importance of governors in voters’ everyday lives. Public Strategies’ Pat Carey (IL), John Dunn (IL), and Julia Hammond (VA).

Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh—the first Druze woman elected to the Israeli Knesset and the first non-Jewish anchorwoman to broadcast Israel’s main evening news in Hebrew and Arabic—joins Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on cross-cultural leadership and shared humanity in a divided world. Drawing on her experience across government and global platforms like the World Economic Forum and Munich Security Conference, she reflects on what it means to lead across cultural, political, and societal divides. Together, they explore geopolitics, the current conflict in the Middle East, rising global polarization, and the leadership traits required to build trust, foster dialogue, and drive progress across communities.

With Tax Day approaching, Sean Clerget, former chief tax counsel to the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee and a recent addition to DC Public Strategies, breaks down Washington’s tax agenda. They discuss the Trump administration’s policy priorities, key provisions businesses should watch, and the tax debates likely to shape the rest of 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC) and Sean Clerget (DC).

Security and risk expert and author Michael Gips joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on risk assessment, decision-making, and leadership when certainty is not an option. While most leaders are focused on the immediate pressures of the moment, security and risk professionals are scanning the horizon, identifying fractures in the foundation of institutions before they become crises. From AI-driven disruption to politically fueled threats, they operate where ambiguity is constant and the stakes are high. Together, they explore how these professionals stay grounded and persuade leaders to prepare for risks they cannot yet see, and why that mindset is increasingly essential across every sector.

America is facing an affordable housing reckoning. With home prices and rents still elevated nationwide, states and cities like New York and Philadelphia are pursuing new construction, preservation, and policy reforms to close widening affordability gaps. But “affordable” means different things to different communities — from those experiencing homelessness to middle-income families struggling to stay put. Featuring Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman (DC), Katrell Lewis (NY), and Brianna Westbrooks (PA).

Executive coach, image consultant, and author Kathryn Lowell joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on leading with presence and trust in moments of uncertainty. Kathryn explores how trust is built by “going first,” what it means to project presence without proximity, and why human skills like listening and intuition matter more than ever in today’s workplace. Together, they examine how leaders can serve as a steadying force for their teams, balancing authenticity and authority in a world shaped by simultaneous technological, economic, and political disruption.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to hold the office, is just weeks into her first term and already facing a high-velocity legislative session under unified Democratic control. As lawmakers move quickly on long-standing priorities, can the self-described moderate governor hold Virginia’s political “purple” center, or will progressives pull the state left? As the 2026 midterms approach, could Virginia offer an early preview of how governing realities collide with electoral politics? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Julia Hammond (VA), and Heidi Hertz (VA).