SoftBank hires Miller, Ballard lands ’28 Olympics organizers

Feb 04, 2025

Presented by

With Josh Gerstein, Dana Nickel, Daniel Lippman

NEW BUSINESS: Miller Strategies has registered nine new clients including SoftBank, the Japanese tech and media conglomerate whose splashy AI infrastructure investment announcement last month drew the ire of Elon Musk.

— GOP fundraiser Jeff Miller and Tyler Grimm, a former Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) aide, began lobbying for SoftBank on AI, technology and energy policy issues beginning on Jan. 1, according to a disclosure filing. That was weeks ahead of a Jan. 21 White House event rolling out the $500 billion investment from SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle.

— Miller’s firm also registered to lobby for the American Hotel & Lodging Association, investment management company Capital Group, the National Fisheries Institute, Finseca, NextNav, crypto exchange FalconX, education technology company Risepoint and high-speed trading firm DRW Holdings.

— Meanwhile, Ballard Partners registered yet another new batch of clients, including the organization in charge of planning the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics. Brian Ballard, Dan McFaul, Patrick Kilcur and Michael LaRosa will work to foster “intergovernmental agency coordination” on behalf of the organizing committee, according to a disclosure filing.

— A spokesperson for the planning committee who flagged the hire to PI declined to comment on the specifics of Ballard’s work for the organization beyond that it would include federal lobbying. But the contract also comes after committee President Casey Wasserman paid a trip to Mar-a-Lago last month to secure President Donald Trump’s support for helping the city recover from the recent devastating wildfires in time for the games. Trump pledged to help make 2028 the “greatest games.”

— The committee also retains Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and the Nickles Group, while the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee retains Monument Advocacy. The committee board includes major names like LA Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, legendary swimmer Katie Ledecky, actor Jessica Alba, former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Hollywood producer (and former Joe Biden finance chair) Jeffrey Katzenberg.

FIRST IN PI — PROGRESSIVE THINK TANK STAFFS UP: Left-leaning economic policy think tank Groundwork Collaborative has added a pair of former Biden administration staffers as progressives gear up to try and extract policy wins in this year’s tax fight.

— Alex Jacquez, who most recently served as the special assistant to the president for economic development and industrial strategy at the National Economic Council, is joining Groundwork as chief of policy and advocacy, and former Labor Department public engagement chief Taylor Barnes Lord will be chief of staff.

— Liz Pancotti, who most recently served as director of special initiatives at the Roosevelt Institute and is a former Bernie Sanders adviser, is joining as managing director of policy and advocacy, while tech and labor policy expert Katie Wells will be director of research in addition to her role as a senior fellow.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. Send tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko.

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

Across the country, children and teens rely on children's hospitals to deliver life-saving care, regardless of insurance status or payer. Providing everything from comprehensive, routine care to advanced treatment for the most complex conditions, children's hospitals ensure that more children get to experience the moments that matter most. Learn more.

MUELLER’S TENTACLES: George Nader — a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump and a large donor to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign — has been ordered to give an unusual deposition in a criminal case just days before Nader is to be released from jail and leave the country, Josh Gerstein reports.

— However, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss issued the order only after delivering a withering rebuke Tuesday to one of the defense lawyers seeking the deposition on behalf of Andy Khawaja, a Lebanese American businessperson and prolific political donor facing two criminal prosecutions in the U.S.

— “I don’t think I’ve ever received such an outrageous request in my time as a judge,” Moss told attorney Kenneth Julian in response to Khawaja’s request that Nader be blocked from leaving the U.S. until he can testify at a trial that hasn’t been set because Khawaja is a fugitive. “Your request that I should detain Mr. Nader is the greatest non-starter I’ve ever heard,” said Moss, an appointee of President Barack Obama. “I would be embarrassed. … It is mind-boggling.”

— Nader is set to be released on Thursday from a halfway house in Baltimore after serving back-to-back prison sentences on child-sex-related charges and a charge related to the foreign-donations scheme where Khawaja remains under indictment. Despite Moss’ evident umbrage, the judge ultimately agreed to require Nader to give a deposition that can be used at a trial for Khawaja, if that ever happens.

— According to prosecutors, Khawaja and Nader concocted a scheme to funnel millions of dollars from abroad to the U.S. in political donations aimed at currying favor with Clinton on behalf of officials in the United Arab Emirates.

— The men shifted their donations to Republican causes after Clinton’s defeat in the 2016 election, exceeding donation limits and using straw donors to transfer the gifts, prosecutors charged. The alleged link to the UAE caught the attention of Mueller’s investigators as they probed foreign influence on Trump’s orbit during his 2016 presidential bid and transition.

— Khawaja’s gifts appear to have helped him gain an Oval Office meeting with Trump during his first term in office. Prosecutors said neither the Democratic nor Republican organizations involved were aware of the foreign-donations scheme.

NONPROFITS TAKE THEIR CASE TO BESSENT: A coalition of trade associations and other tax-exempt groups looking to stave off any new tax hikes to help pay for Republicans’ tax bill is pleading its case with newly sworn-in Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, calling in a letter on Monday for Bessent to “protect and support policies that safeguard and strengthen the nonprofit sector.”

— As our friends over at Morning Tax have noted, nonprofits attribute the 2017 tax law with a decline in contributions, and fear Republicans could ding the sector further by taxing part of nonprofits’ earnings at the corporate rate.

— “Increased financial pressures coupled with potential legislative and regulatory changes could threaten nonprofits’ ability to serve Americans,” Steve Caldeira, head of the Household & Commercial Products Association and co-chair of the Community Impact Coalition wrote to Bessent. “Nonprofits could be forced to cut programs, turn people away, or shut their doors entirely,” he added. “That is a cost America cannot afford.”

EXCLUSIVE CLIMATE FOCUS: A Democratic policy communications firm is rebranding to exclusively focus on clean energy and climate change, reports Timothy Cama for POLITICO's E&E News.

— Moyer Strategies, launched five years ago by Chris Moyer, has now rebranded into Echo Communications and will completely focus on strategic communications and campaigns for renewable energy, clean technology and climate change clients. Moyer said the firm has previously worked in those spaces.

— “The shift comes as President Donald Trump comes to office with Republican congressional majorities and plans to tear down the climate and clean energy policies that former President Joe Biden and Democrats built up.”

— Moyer said the move is a “natural evolution for our firm. Over the past five years, we’ve grown from a one-person consultancy into a dynamic team delivering exceptional results for a growing roster of climate- and renewable energy-focused clients.”

WAXMAN ESTABLISHES NEW TECH PRACTICE: Waxman Strategies is bringing on Commerce Department alumna Sarah Morris as managing director. Morris will develop and lead Waxman’s technology practice.

— “We are excited to welcome Sarah Morris to Waxman Strategies,” CEO Michael Waxman said in a statement. “Sarah’s deep expertise and proven leadership in technology policy will be instrumental as we launch this new practice. Her track record of advocating for broadband access, digital privacy, and consumer protections aligns perfectly with our mission to create and sustain change in the public interest.”

— Morris previously served in the Commerce Department as principal deputy assistant secretary at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

— The technology practice will focus on connecting communities and ensuring technology access by advocating for high-speed and affordable internet services, strengthening data privacy connections and promoting competition in tech and telecommunications sectors.

MUM’S THE WORD: Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick “won't say whether he'll recuse himself from the administration’s cryptocurrency working group despite acknowledging he maintains ties to the controversial crypto firm, Tether,” per our Ben Leonard.

— “I will follow applicable government ethics laws and regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department of Commerce,” Lutnick said in written responses to a series of questions from Senate Commerce Committee members — including one from the panel’s ranking member, Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), about Trump’s “Working Group on Digital Asset Markets,” which was created to form the first regulatory framework for the crypto industry.

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Jobs report

— Kevin Dowling has been promoted to head of U.S. government affairs for 3M. He was previously director of the federal lobbying team and head of 3M’s D.C. office. He is a Venn Strategies and Lee Zeldin alum.

— Libby Derrick is joining Impression Strategy as vice president. She previously worked for four years for Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), including as legislative director.

— Alex Attebery is now director of external affairs at Shift5. He previously was communications director for the House Appropriations Committee.

— Katarina Flicker is now national press secretary at House Majority PAC. She previously was deputy director of strategic communications on the Harris campaign and is a DSCC and Raphael Warnock alum.

— Heidi King is launching Heidi King Consulting. She previously was vice president of legislative affairs and foresight for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

— Focal Point Strategy Group is adding Rodericka Applewhaite as a vice president and Leah Hurwitz and Esperanza Peral as senior associates. Applewhaite previously was director of Black media at the White House. Hurwitz previously was a press assistant for the Harris campaign and the Democratic National Convention Committee. Peral previously was deputy press secretary for the North Carolina coordinated campaign.

— Former Army acquisition chief Doug Bush has started a consulting firm, DRB Strategies. Bush will advise clients on pursuing contracts with the executive branch and navigating Capitol Hill, with a focus on defense.

— Rachel Lipsey is joining American Defense International as vice president for government affairs. She most recently led congressional engagement for AeroVironment and defense acquisition for Boeing.

— The Computer and Communications Industry Association is adding Karina Perez as director of the new Space and Spectrum Policy Center, Megan Stokes as state director and Aneysha Bhat as federal affair, per Morning Tech. Perez was previously with the Aerospace Industries Association, Stokes was previously with ACE-AFSCME Local 2250 and Bhat was previously at the Small Business Administration.

— Karl Rishe has joined the Children’s Hospital Association as chief learning and member experience officer. Rishe most recently served as director of client relations and senior consultant at the Telos Institute.

— Doug Bailey has joined Green Thumb Industries as vice president of government affairs. He was most recently the chief lobbyist for GoBrands Inc., and previously led the Washington office for Anheuser-Busch.

— Meredith Allen Dellinger is joining Winning For Women as executive director. She most recently was IE director and issue advocacy director at the Congressional Leadership Fund and its sister nonprofit, American Action Network. Danielle Barrow has also been elevated to president and will focus on organizational growth and leadership.

— Marcus Childress is now special counsel for investigations and senior adviser for the House Judiciary Democrats. He most recently was a partner at Jenner & Block, and is a House Jan. 6 committee alum.

— Former acting Labor Secretary Julie Su is joining The Century Foundation as a senior fellow.

— Paul Rosen will be a partner in Latham & Watkins’ CFIUS & U.S. national security practice. He most recently was assistant Treasury secretary for investment security, overseeing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

— Karly Hahn is joining Alamo Intelligence as director of accounts. She previously was deputy digital director at Congressional Leadership Fund for the last two cycles.

— Perry Spiegel is now manager for trade at McLarty Associates. He previously was a policy adviser for the National Security Council.

— Former Missouri State Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder has joined AxAdvocacy to lead its government affairs work in Missouri.

— DTB AgriTrade has added Gina Tumbarello as a partner. She’s executive director of the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance.

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New Joint Fundraisers

JFW Fund (Reps. Adam Gray, Josh Riley, Laura Gillen, Janelle Bynum, George Whitesides, Derek Tran)

New PACs

None.

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

A10 Associates, LLC: Black Buffalo 3D Corporation

A10 Associates, LLC: Momentum Charter Solutions Inc.

A10 Associates, LLC: Verum Ingredients Inc.

Alston & Bird LLP: Boston Scientific Corporation

Alston & Bird LLP: The Capital Group Companies, Inc., And Its Affiliates

Ballard Partners: Los Angeles Organizing Committee For The Olympic And Paralympic Games 2028

Ballard Partners: Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ballard Partners: Servicenow, Inc.

Brian Glackin & Associates LLC: General Atomics

Brian Glackin & Associates LLC: Terra Pixel, Inc.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: American Credit Union Mortgage Association (Acuma)

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: American Pops Orchestra

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Beacon Ai, Inc.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Learned Hand

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Norton Rose Fullbright Obo Ateliere Creative Technologies

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Reinsurance Association Of America

Capitol Counsel LLC: Saracen Development LLC

Capitol Counsel LLC: Stronghold Sof Solutions

Capitol Strategies US, LLC: Rocket Propulsion Systems, LLC

Cfm Strategic Communications (Conkling Fiskum & Mccormick): Tillamook County Creamery Association

Chartwell Strategy Group LLC: Ow North America LLC

Chartwell Strategy Group LLC: Twelve Benefit Corp

Emc Strategy Group, LLC: City Of Pecos

Emc Strategy Group, LLC: Pecos Economic Development Corporation

Emc Strategy Group, LLC: Reeves County

Exodus Movement, Inc.: Exodus Movement, Inc.

Federal Science Partners LLC: Acacia Center For Justice

Franklin Creek Consulting: Jamul Indian Village

Franklin Creek Consulting: Parkwest Bicycle Casino

Franklin Creek Consulting: Reef Capital Partners

Grace Bay Strategies, LLC: Sandy Bay Partners, LLC

Harbinger Strategies, LLC: Merck & Co., Inc.

Indigo Hill Strategies: Center For Health & Social Care Integration

Kamins Consulting: Colorado Nonprofit Development Center

Klein/Johnson Group: Dandelion Energy

K&L Gates, LLP: USalco

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Firstenergy Service Company

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

Miller Strategies, LLC: American Hotel & Lodging Association

Miller Strategies, LLC: Capital Group

Miller Strategies, LLC: Drw Holdings, LLC

Miller Strategies, LLC: Falconx Inc.

Miller Strategies, LLC: National Fisheries Institute

Nossaman LLP: Porterville Irrigation District

Nossaman LLP: Saucelito Irrigation District

Nossaman LLP: Terra Bella Irrigation District

Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson, LLC: Pseg

Phronesisdc, LLC: American Bankers Association

Phronesisdc, LLC: Elliott Investment Management

Phronesisdc, LLC: Enterprise Mobility

Phronesisdc, LLC: Major League Baseball

Phronesisdc, LLC: National Football League

Phronesisdc, LLC: Paradigm Operations Lp

Schoening Strategies: Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Smith Garson Fka Smith Dawson & Andrews: Iridia, Inc

Smith Garson Fka Smith Dawson & Andrews: Toldeo Metro Area Council Of Governments Obo Toledo Regional Alliance

Sterling Green LLC: Roger Ver

The Duberstein Group Inc.: Metropolitan Opera Association, Inc.

Todd Strategy Group: National Education Association

Tonio Burgos & Associates, Inc.: Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation

Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Radiance Technologies, Inc.

New Lobbying Terminations

Capitol Advocacy & Government Affairs, LLC: B. Glackin & Associates, LLC (On Behalf Of Covisus, Inc.)

Efrus Federal Advisors LLC: Auterion Government Solutions

Emc Strategy Group, LLC: Castroville Municipal Airport

Emc Strategy Group, LLC: Wilson County

Forza 151 Strategies: Gogig Inc.

Government Relations Advisors: United State Cannabis Council

Great State Strategies: Missouri Hemp Trade Association

Jon Thomas Consulting: Gps Education Partners Inc.

Lgl Advisors LLC: Bytedance Inc.

Mr. Joseph Huang-Racalto: Humanity United Action

National Council For Languages And International Studies: National Council For Languages And International Studies

Summit Health Care Consulting: Debbies Dream Foundation Curing Stomach Cancer

The Brookmont Group LLC: Boundary Stone Partners On Behalf Of Negative Emissions Materials

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

Children's hospitals play a pivotal role in advancing the health of all children and teens—from prevention to critical care. Of the 6,000 hospitals across the country, less than 5% are children's hospitals, yet they are the primary places of specialized hospital care for children.

At children's hospitals, expert clinicians and care teams provide everything from complex pediatric treatment to routine, comprehensive care in environments designed just for children and teens.

Because of the advanced and comprehensive care children's hospitals provide, key moments are made possible in children's lives. From first steps and first words to birthdays and graduations, children's hospitals help make moments – big and small – possible. Learn more.