Facts About PACs Podcast

NFIB's Sharon Sussin joins the Facts About PACs to discuss what the 2025 election results mean for corporate and trade association PACs heading into 2026. With Democratic wins in Virginia and New Jersey still fresh, Sharon delivers essential guidance on capitalizing on the brief post-election window of attention before the holidays hit. She addresses the looming redistricting uncertainty, off...

Shrinking. Misunderstood. Polarized. Regulated. Haunted. Employee-funded and business trade association PACs face their scariest challenges yet as influence wanes and misinformation spreads. Don't listen to Facts About PACs Halloween Spooktacular alone! 

Join hosts Micaela Isler, David Schild, and Adam Belmar as they broadcast live from the NABPAC Insight Conference

Join Micaela, David, and Adam as they recap NABPAC's September member luncheon featuring election law attorney Mark Renaud from Wiley . Discover the practical compliance insights PAC managers gained around due diligence, documentation requirements, and navigating complex fundraising scenarios. 

In this candid unplugged episode, hosts Micaela Isler, David Schild, and Adam Belmar address the challenging realities facing PAC professionals today. They explore growing donor safety concerns, discuss FEC Commissioner Lindenbaum's recent op-ed on disclosure requirements, and examine strategies for protecting contributor privacy in our digital age. The conversation also covers preparing for...

Are you going to the NABPAC Insight conference? Game-changing roundtables with real member insights, breakthrough strategies your colleagues are already using to drive results, resilience training for high-pressure environments, and proven marketing principles that actually boost participation rates. This isn't just another conference - it's your competitive edge for PAC success.

Get briefed on NABPAC's first legislative summit as the employee-funded and business trade association PAC industry mobilizes for Capitol Hill. Hosts Micaela Isler and Adam Belmar are joined by board members Joe Manion (American Waterways Operators) and Nicole Porter (US Travel Association) for a look at two key reforms: eliminating outdated prior approval requirements that force companies to...

As Congress returns from summer recess, employee-funded and business trade association PAC directors face a busy fall. Micaela, David, and Adam discuss NABPAC's upcoming Legislative Summit, the impact of redistricting battles in Texas and California, and why PAC managers must be proactive and flexible. Education precedes solicitation, and keeping donors informed about rapidly changing politic...

Political chaos erupts as Texas pursues five new GOP House seats mid-decade, triggering retaliatory redistricting threats from Democratic governors. GWU's Casey Burgat breaks down this unprecedented gerrymandering arms race , explaining how states could redraw maps before the 2026 midterms, potentially flipping House control. From jungle primaries to incumbent-versus-incumbent races, discover...

Join host Micaela Isler and the Facts About PACs podcast team for their annual summer intern special featuring Luke Rinker from The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) and AY Kuwornu from Ghana. From Capitol Hill briefings to cross-party collaboration, these interns reveal what surprised them most about Washington's political finance landscape and why transparency matters more than you might thi...

It's hard to believe we've reached 200 episodes! Join Micaela, Adam, and David as we take a nostalgic look back at how our podcast began during those uncertain early days of April 2020. Hear clips from the very first episode and discover how what started as crisis communication evolved into a comprehensive professional development platform reaching political engagement professionals acro...

In this milestone 199th episode, political technologist Eric Wilson reveals how AI is quietly transforming political engagement. With 11% of voters already using ChatGPT for election information—matching podcast usage from six years ago—we're witnessing a seismic shift in how Americans consume political content. Wilson, Campaigns & Elections' 2021 Technology Leader of the Year and ex...

It's America's 249th birthday, and we're celebrating with fireworks, fake presidential speeches, and some very real breaking news! Just when PAC directors thought they had their 2026 budgets figured out, Senator Tillis dropped a bombshell that turned seven Senate seats into open contests. Plus, hit play to hear why it is your political practitioner's patriotic duty to check out...

Join hosts Micaela Isler, David Schild, and Adam Belmar as they welcome back political prognosticator Jim Ellis for an essential mid-year political update that PAC professionals can't afford to miss. From redistricting battles to competitive races across six open Senate seats, find out why another razor-thin House majority is virtually guaranteed. Essential listening for PAC directors weighin...

Live from the hottest ticket in town!  Hit play to join the fun at NABPAC's summer 2025 kick-off event. 

NABPAC Board Chair Kipp Maloney joins Micaela Isler to discuss the organization's achievements in the first half of 2025. From legislative victories to record-breaking member engagement and growth, NABPAC is thriving. Kipp shares insights from the Blue Ribbon Panel, how NABPAC is changing the conversation about business PACs on Capitol Hill, and the strategic planning process that's posi...

NABPAC convened 16 industry thought leaders for a no-holds-barred discussion about the future of business political engagement. As the association approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, President and CEO Micaela Isler shares a first look at insights that could reshape how the business community engages politically for the next five decades. Episode Sponsor: PASS | Public Affairs Support Services...

Your Memorial Day weekend update on the latest developments in budget reconciliation has arrived. We break down what this "big and beautiful bill" means as it heads to the Senate with special guest Jennifer Belair, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Atlas Crossing .  Sponsored by Capital Bank - your partner in political banking solutions. https://capitalbankmd.com/

In this episode of Facts About PACs, hosts Micaela Isler, David Schild, and Adam Belmar welcome Mark Renaud from Wiley Law to discuss recent developments at the Federal Election Commission. Mark breaks down the current FEC membership crisis, with only three commissioners remaining and no quorum to issue advisory opinions or move on enforcement cases. Despite this deadlock, he emphasizes that PAC p...

In this episode of Facts About PACs, the gang recaps NABPAC's May luncheon featuring Kevin Schulman from DonorVoice . Learn how to move from persuasion to attraction in PAC communications, understand the psychology behind donor motivation, and discover practical strategies to improve your fundraising efforts through personality-based messaging. Plus, find out the surprising statistic about PA...

The Facts About PACs team returns with updates on NABPAC's exciting spring and summer lineup, including the upcoming May luncheon featuring innovative fundraising strategies, PAC giving in the states webinar, and the much-anticipated Summer Soiree on June 12th. Hit play and join the gang as NABPAC kicks into high gear! 

PAC managers: secure your seat at " Across the Aisle ," the must-attend Capitol Hill event where Problem Solvers Caucus members and corporate government relations leaders reveal how to drive real results in today's divided climate. Sarah Bonk from Business for America joins the podcast with details on this exclusive opportunity to network with lawmakers who make things happen beyond...

What's the secret to PAC donor recognition that actually works in 2025? In this essential episode of "The Facts About PAC" podcast, swag expert Lori Barber reveals the hottest trends in donor appreciation that are driving engagement right now. Discover why PACs are moving away from cheap trinkets toward premium branded items that donors actually use and display. From Apple AirTags t...

Facilitating Capitol Hill advocacy through successful legislative fly-ins involves managing expectations and preparing advocates to build lasting relationships with congressional staff. In this episode of Facts about PACs, hosts Micaela Isler, David Schild, and Adam Belmar sit down with Colleen Morton, owner and principal of Congressional Meetings LLC , to discuss the post-pandemic surge in in-per...

Political analyst Jim Ellis returns to the #1 PAC Podcast in America to dissect the evolving political landscape heading into the 2026 midterms. With a razor-thin Republican majority in the House and several high-profile Senate retirements, Ellis offers his expert analysis on what could be the most competitive Senate campaign cycle in decades. Episode sponsor:  Capital Bank https://capitalbankmd.c...