The Deciders

Rohit Chopra is a former FTC commissioner and former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he forced President Trump to fire him rather than resigning. He describes how federal agencies have become toothless, why the fight for consumer protection is shifting to state attorneys general, and why the real power may still reside with the American public. This episode sponsored by...

Jeff Miller runs one of DC’s top lobbying firms by revenue — with just 12 people. He explains how he built it by refusing to represent clients he doesn’t agree with, turning down revenue rather than changing his firm’s culture, and mastering the art of the ask. Miller also opens up about his appointment to the U.S. Holocaust Museum Board and why fighting antisemitism has become, in his words, the...

Suzanne Clark’s first five years leading the nation’s largest business lobby included navigating a pandemic, historic inflation, and a Biden administration she sued 21 times. In this episode, she explains why it’s a mistake to try filling a legend’s shoes, what she discussed with the Venezuelan opposition leader, and how companies and constituents both have a role in addressing political extremism...

Mike Sommers has spent nearly a decade bolstering the American Petroleum Institute’s influence in Washington — regardless of who’s in power. A protégé of Speaker John Boehner, he reveals how principle-based advocacy outlasts political volatility, why API bet millions on Landman before anyone knew it would be a hit, and what he did the Saturday morning the U.S. moved on Venezuela.

Brian Ballard, one of Washington's most successful lobbyists, reveals how his firm navigates the Trump administration by building deep relationships, staying persistent through political volatility, and maintaining credibility above all else.