With help from Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — GOP STRATEGISTS SET UP SHOP: Three of the architects responsible for the GOP’s new Senate majority are launching a public affairs firm, S2R, to try and replicate that success for the private sector. — The name stands for “strategy to results,” said Jason Thielman, who served as executive director of the NRSC last cycle and is one of the firm’s founding partners. Tim Edson and Brock Lowrance, who served as the NRSC’s political director and IE director, respectively, last cycle, round out the firm’s leadership. — S2R will offer a mix of strategic counsel, advocacy, communications and advertising services to clients in both the business and political worlds, while putting in the “elbow grease” that Thielman said he and his partners have found lacking in the consulting community. — While there’s a role for more traditional public affairs tactics like ad buys, he argued, “what is more effective is when you can find real voices, you can activate audiences of people that policymakers … view as genuine indicators of where their voters are at.” — Thielman credited that approach with the NRSC’s success in avoiding messy primaries last cycle while at the same time recruiting aggressively to avoid the candidate quality issues that plagued the party in other recent cycles, and he said the same strategies can be adapted. — “That was a direct result of building out successful influence strategies with key voter constituencies, and those are the same people that whether or not you’re on the business side, or whether you’re hoping to get elected to the U.S. Senate, governor or Congress you need at your disposal,” he said. — Some of the firm’s initial clients are players in the tech, telecom, investment banking and crypto world (Thielman just helped launch a new pro-crypto super PAC and 501(c)4 group) and are looking for help on tax, trade and gaming out how the Trump administration will play out, Thielman said. Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. Send influence tips and gossip for me to run down: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko.
|
WHO HELPED WITH THE FOGEL RELEASE: After news broke that American prisoner Marc Fogel is coming home from Russia, Vicki Iseman, a longtime Washington operative who started FreeMarcFogel.net, told Daniel that the assistance provided by lobbyist Robert Stryk of Stryk Global Diplomacy was “invaluable in making this day happen.” — Stryk said in a statement to PI that “it was a privilege to fight behind the scenes” with Iseman to bring Fogel home. “This was a grave injustice, and without the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Marc would still be trapped in a Russian prison. President Trump made this happen — no one else.” NEW SINEMA VENTURE LOBBIES UP: The new business lobby started by former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) after leaving office last month is already jumping into the K Street game. Arizona Business Roundtable, membership for which costs $250,000, according to the Arizona Agenda, retained Sage Eastman of Mehlman Consulting on Jan. 15 to lobby on “general tax issues of importance to Arizona businesses,” according to a disclosure filing. — It’s not currently clear who’s involved in Sinema’s new venture, which doesn’t appear to have any online presence and was created the day she left office under an acronym for the former senator’s Getting Stuff Done leadership PAC. Sinema also joined the global advisory council of crypto giant Coinbase last month and was described in her bio for the announcement as the Arizona Business Roundtable’s president and CEO. HOPING TO DEBUNK DEBANKING: Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and other GOP members of the committee are set to huddle with bank executives at a closed-door roundtable on “preventing debanking” this week, as Wall Street works to counter accusations of political discrimination, our Jasper Goodman reports. — “It was not immediately clear which executives were scheduled to attend the gathering,” but “the issue has been a major early focus for Hill Republicans this year. Senate Banking’s first hearing of the new Congress last week focused on debanking. Several lawmakers, including Scott, pressed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about the issue at a hearing Tuesday.” — “The push from GOP members has primarily targeted banking regulators appointed by former President Joe Biden, but some members, including Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), have pressed to hear from the big banks on the issue. Kennedy hinted at the roundtable during the hearing with Powell on Tuesday, saying that Scott ‘has agreed to invite some of the CEOs of some of the banks that have been debanking people.’” LET US COUNT THE WAYS: “Days after Kash Patel fielded questions about his nomination as the director of the FBI, an ethics disclosure showed that he had earned at least $5,000 consulting for the government of Qatar,” The Intercept’s Matt Sledge writes. — But Patel isn’t even the first Trump appointee whose work for Qatari-linked entities has emerged during the confirmation process, revealing “the limits of a U.S. law meant to expose foreign influence campaigns: Some Trump administration appointees, including Patel, didn’t bother registering their work for foreign clients under the law.” — “Another Trump nominee, former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, disclosed his work for a venture capital firm founded by a Qatari royal, but only during the confirmation process to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.” — FARA already has its fair share of critics who argue the statute is riddled with loopholes that continue allowing foreign actors to conceal the full extent of their influence activities — and that was before new Attorney General Pam Bondi, a former registered agent for Qatar herself, moved to roll back DOJ’s enforcement priorities. — “‘You add all this up, and it just looks like an administration that is sending a flashing neon sign saying that “foreign influence is welcome here,”’ said Ben Freeman, director of the democratizing foreign policy program at the Quincy Institute.” CABLE HITS BACK: Cable trade group NCTA on Monday blasted a new coalition from wireless groups CTIA and 5G Americas as a “sham,” Morning Tech reports. The new campaign focused on promoting the cellular industry’s 5G home broadband technology as a direct competitor to existing cable companies elicited a clapback from NCTA calling it “nothing more than a smokescreen” from who NCTA said were “wireless robber barons.” — Spectrum for the Future, a coalition that supports spectrum sharing and has cable backing, also knocked the campaign. “CTIA’s latest campaign is just another tactic in their quest for another sweetheart deal on exclusively licensed spectrum that even their executives say they don’t need,” said spokesperson Tamara Smith. MUSK READ: “Elon Musk has long railed against the U.S. government, saying a crushing number of federal investigations and safety programs have stymied Tesla, his electric car company, and its efforts to create fleets of robotaxis and other self-driving automobiles. Now, Musk’s close relationship with President Donald Trump means many of those federal headaches could vanish within weeks or months,” The Associated Press’ Kimberly Kindy and Brian Slodysko report in a rundown of the various ways Musk’s business could benefit from the billionaire’s government incursion. SPOTTED at Tiber Creek Group’s offices this morning for a fundraiser benefitting the DCCC hosted by Tiber Creek’s John Michael Gonzalez, which raised roughly $300,000, per a tipster: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), New Democrats Chair Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), Dario Gomez of Boeing, Michael LaRosa of Ballard Partners, Tim Molino, Dan Zawitoski, Sean Richardson and Kristen Harper of Tiber Creek; Chris Hartmann of Cigna, Peter Brown of Deloitte, Jen Fox of Finseca, Dave Bond of Everytown for Gun Safety and Ashley McNeil of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. — And last night at Mastro’s for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s annual fundraising dinner for the NRCC, per a tipster: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), NRCC Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Mike Carey (R-Ohio), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), French Hill (R-Ark.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Brian Steil (R-Wis.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.); Will Moschella, Ed Royce, Marc Lampkin, Brandt Anderson, Rosemary Becchi, Geoff Burr, David Cohen, Leah Dempsey, Emily Felder, Lauren Flynn, Harold Hancock, Brady Howell, Charlie Iovino, Joe Jaso, Luke Johnson, Greta Joynes, Melissa Kuipers Blake, Elizabeth Maier, Doug Maguire, Brian McGuire, Tripp McKemey, Lauren Mish, Bart Reising, Preston Rutledge, Adam Steinmetz, Jon Towers, and Mark Warren of Brownstein, and other staff, clients and friends of the firm.
|
— Julie Edelstein is now a partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP. She most recently was principal deputy chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in DOJ’s national security division. — James Galkowski is now a professional staff member on House Appropriations on the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He most recently was a technical consultant at Bondi Partners and is an alum of the Defense Department and the Trump White House. — Ian Barlow is now of counsel at Wiley. He previously was deputy director of the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning. — Eric Ellman will be president of the National Consumer Reporting Association. He previously was senior vice president for public policy and legal affairs at the Consumer Data Industry Association. — Jeremy Ortiz is now director of media relations at the Edison Electric Institute. He previously was deputy press secretary at the Energy Department and is a former staffer on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.). — Mercy Beehler has joined the National Retail Federation to manage its state and federal policy agenda as vice president of government relations. Beehler was most recently head of policy communications at Alibaba Group. She’ll report to Jason Straczewski, who has been promoted to group vice president of government relations and political affairs. NRF has also promoted Meghan Cruz to vice president of advocacy and engagement. — John Hagner, Sam Nitz and Jane Rayburn have launched Workbench Strategy, a new national data strategy and public opinion research firm. Hagner, who’s managing partner, is a Clarity Campaign Labs, DCCC and DSCC alum. Nitz, who’s head of innovation and data strategy, has most recently led Asgard Strategies and is a DCCC and EMILY’s List alum. Rayburn, who’s head of polling and qualitative, previously was a partner at EMC Research. — Joanna Kuebler is joining America’s Voice as chief of programs. She previously was senior director of external communications at the Women’s Refugee Commission. — Sarah Bryner is joining Public Agenda as its newest director. She most recently was director of research and strategy at OpenSecrets, and consulted on the Brennan Center for Justice’s 2025 democracy agenda. — The Wessel Group is adding Carolina Ferrerosa Young and Evan Wessel as vice presidents, along with recent addition Daniel Wessel, who’s leading the media, profile management and crisis communications practice. Young most recently was chief economic adviser to vice president Kamala Harris. Evan Wessel most recently was deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Transportation. Daniel Wessel most recently was strategic communications adviser and spokesperson on the Harris campaign. — Greg Jackson is returning to Community Justice as executive adviser. He previously was deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. — Julie McClain Downey is now vice president of communications and public affairs at Global Strategy Group. She most recently was assistant secretary of Labor for public affairs. — Sarah Miller will be staff director for the House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee under panel Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.). She most recently was senior director of public policy for Rising Tide Associates, and is a Mast alum. — Andrew Peng is joining The Asian American Foundation as deputy director of communications. He most recently was communications director at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
|
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Crux Climate, Inc. American Capitol Group: Balance Of Nature American Capitol Group: Specialist Direct American Capitol Group: The Cormac Group, On Behalf Of Tendo Ascend Consulting: National Military Family Association Baker & Hostetler LLP: Dna Link Co., Ltd. Baker & Hostetler LLP: Gamechange Solar Baker & Hostetler LLP: Institute Of International Bankers Baker & Hostetler LLP: Stryker Corporation Bligen Advisory, LLC: Decentralization Research Center Carlough Solutions, LLC: Crs Institute Checkmate Government Relations: Town Of Pembroke Continental Strategy, LLC: Carribean Transmission Development Company (Ctdc) Continental Strategy, LLC: Charter Communications Operating, LLC Continental Strategy, LLC: Doma Technology, LLC Continental Strategy, LLC: Droneup Continental Strategy, LLC: Echostar Corporation/ Dba Dish Continental Strategy, LLC: Mgt Continental Strategy, LLC: The Plexos Group Continental Strategy, LLC: Vorex LLC Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Critical Metals Corp. Downs Government Affairs: Mt. San Jacinto College Lewis And Wilkins LLP: Wabash Valley Resources Lucas | Compton: National Association Of State Directors Of Developmental Disabilities Services Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Gotriangle Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Arizona Business Roundtable Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Invenergy, LLC Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Oneok, Inc. Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Risant Health Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: King Street Capital Management, L.P. Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Novelis, Inc. Metcalf Federal Relations: Calumet Heritage Partnership Nestpoint Associates LLC: Urgentflex Holding LLC Republic Consulting, LLC: Azak Republic Consulting, LLC: Certo Aerospace Ltd. Republic Consulting, LLC: Consol Innovations Republic Consulting, LLC: Robinson Helicopters Republic Consulting, LLC: Sphere Brake Defense Inc. S-3 Group: Ctia The Wireless Association S-3 Group: Pattern Energy Group Services Lp Scissortail Strategic Consulting Partners LLC: Cambridge Mobile Telematics Thegroup Dc, LLC: Sallie Mae Bank The Wessel Group Incorporated: Atalco Gramercy LLC Whitmer & Worrall, LLC: Data Machines
|
