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S-3 Group co-founder John Scofield spent nearly a decade shaping strategy and messaging for the House Appropriations Committee. He explains why decoding complexity is still one of the best things he brings to clients, and why his formula for 15 years of growth is surprisingly simple.  Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe   This episode sponsored by:

Anne Bradbury is president and CEO of the American Exploration and Production Council, the trade group for the independent producers responsible for about 80% of the oil and 90% of the natural gas produced in the United States. A former floor director for the Speaker of the House, she argues America isn’t resource constrained but infrastructure constrained, and that policy which expires with each administration isn’t tenable for companies investing on a 20-year horizon.  Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at www.deciders.show/subscribe  This episode sponsored by:

Will Dunham, President and CEO of the American Investment Council, spent over a decade on Capitol Hill working on major bipartisan legislation where understanding both sides was critical. He now applies that same skill to a very different challenge: leading the trade association for an industry worth trillions of dollars that remains widely misunderstood in Washington.  Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at www.deciders.show/subscribe  This episode sponsored by:

Mike Catanzaro is CEO and co-founder of CGCN Group, one of Washington's leading all-Republican lobbying and public affairs firms. He argues the working-class voters who flipped 63 of the 100 poorest congressional districts to Republicans now define the party's base — and that corporate America can't lobby around them. He also makes the case for why CGCN turns away private equity, refuses to go bipartisan, and believes trust is the one asset that survives every political cycle. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: American Investment Council American Consumer & Investor Institute Defend Forgotten America Action

Jim VandeHei is co-founder and CEO of Axios, and before that he co-founded Politico — twice building some of the most influential media companies in Washington. In this episode, he argues AI backlash is quietly building into a real political fault line and walks through the simplification framework behind his new book, Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: American Petroleum Institute American Investment CouncilAmerican Chemistry CouncilEdison Electric InstitutePhRMAConsumer Brands Association

Noah Theran runs communications for the Managed Funds Association, representing hedge funds and alternative asset managers in Washington. He says the traditional communications playbook has stopped working—and reveals what's replaced it and how leading organizations are adapting. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: Narrative: Solving today’s most demanding reputational and public affairs challenges at the convergence of business, media, and politics.​535.news: Streaming live from Capitol Hill every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Doug Thornell has spent his career helping candidates and corporations find their authentic story. The SKDK CEO argues that today, urgency is just as important — politicians and brands must move fast or get left behind. He details the campaign that took Wes Moore from 2% to the Governor’s mansion — and the blueprint it sets for Democrats who want to win. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by:USA Facts: Turning public data into public knowledge.Consumer Brands Association: Makers of the products you choose and the brands you trust.

A Republican and a Democrat who served at the highest levels of Congress built one of Washington’s only independent bipartisan firms — and turned down the buyers. Ron Bonjean and Rodell Mollineau of ROKK Solutions on what bipartisan means in 2026, why they stayed independent, and how the rules of corporate advocacy are changing. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at www.deciders.show/subscribe  This episode sponsored by:  Consumer Brands Association  American Property Owners Alliance

Rhonda Bentz is Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Consumer Brands Association, the trade group representing the leading food, beverage, home, and personal care companies in America. In this episode, Rhonda explains how the MAHA movement is reshaping the regulatory landscape, why a patchwork of 50 state ingredient laws could create chaos for companies and consumers alike, and how the only way to win in Trump's Washington is to stop making policy arguments and start making deals. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe  This episode sponsored by:Narrative StrategiesAmerican Council of Life Insurers  535.news

Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie oversees more American industries than any other committee in Congress. He explains how he moved the biggest entitlement reform since welfare, why the AI race depends on permitting reform, and what Mitch McConnell taught him about politics. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: American Petroleum InstitutePhRMAAmerican Chemistry CouncilEdison Electric InstituteAffordable Health Care InitiativeHealthcare Distribution Alliance

Arkansas Congressman French Hill chairs the House Financial Services Committee. In this episode, Hill lays out his playbook for getting bipartisan bills passed and walks through the housing bill President Trump declined to sign, the unfinished crypto market-structure fight, and why he views today's political turmoil as just another chapter in a long American story. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: American Bankers Association American Investment Council Consumer Bankers Association

PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl has led one of Washington’s most influential trade associations for eleven years. In this episode, he makes the case for why America’s leadership in biopharmaceutical innovation is not guaranteed — and what it costs if Washington gets the policy environment wrong. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by:Consumer Brands Association Edison Electric Institute Financial Services Forum

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) chairs the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — and represents one of the poorest districts in America. In this episode he discusses the opioid crisis that devastated Southwest Virginia, the legislation he authored to stop it, and why he thinks many are getting AI, energy, and rural economics all wrong.  Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by:PhRMA: The voice of America's leading biopharmaceutical research companies, advocating for policies that support innovation and patient access.Affordable Healthcare Initiative: Working to lower the cost of healthcare for American families and small businesses.Defend Forgotten America: Fighting for the communities and constituencies that Washington too often overlooks.

David Chavern runs the American Council of Life Insurers, the trade group for an $8.5 trillion industry that predates the Civil War. In a Washington that operates by the minute, that's both a strength and a challenge. Chavern discusses the tangible cost of being misunderstood, and why conventional wisdom can be deadly. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it's public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by:Consumer Brands Association: The makers of the products you choose and the brands you trust.Rational360: Delivering results that move audiences, change hearts and minds, and move the bottom line. The National Association of Realtors: Making housing more affordable, available, and accessible.

Colin Allen is the Executive Director of the American Property Owners Alliance, the first organization built specifically to advocate for America’s 86 million homeowners. In this episode, Colin discusses the tax fights they’ve fought and won, the rise of populism in our elections, and the affordability crisis that’s freezing millions out of the American Dream. Become an insider: sign up for early access to every new episode of The Deciders before it’s public at www.deciders.show/subscribe This episode sponsored by: The Financial Services Forum The American Council of Life Insurers