The Beltway & Beyond

With Election Day approaching, the polls tell a story of a frustrated public. Our team discusses the voter sentiment, turnout, and candidate dynamics, and what the results could mean for Congress and the road to 2028. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Mark Alderman (DC), and Patrick Martin (DC).

Health care is increasingly at the center of America’s affordability crisis. As families face rising premiums, prescription drug costs, and out-of-pocket expenses, the conversation explores how the cost of care, uneven access, and declining trust in institutions are shaping the political landscape ahead of the midterms. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), along with new managing d...

With three weeks until Election Day, the battle for control of Congress is entering its final stretch. Our team examines the closely contested Senate races, competing interpretations of the polls, and why narrow margins could extend uncertainty beyond election night. They also explore what a shift in power could mean for congressional oversight and a crowded lame-duck agenda. Featuring Public Stra...

Government investigations are no longer just a Washington story. From city councils to state attorneys general to Congress, oversight is becoming more interconnected, and organizations need to understand how local developments can quickly become national issues and vice versa. Featuring Public Strategies’ Rose Christ (NY), Sean Clerget (DC), and Katie Schwab (NY).

With early voting approaching, the 2026 midterms are emerging as a consequential test for both parties. Our team examines the closely watched Senate races, the voter sentiment shaping the cycle, and what the results could mean for control of Congress and the road to 2028. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Mark Alderman (DC), and Patrick Martin (DC).

Budget season offers a window into state priorities, policy choices, and the challenges lawmakers are working to address. As state negotiations wrap up in Illinois, New York, and Virginia, we explore the tradeoffs, areas of agreement, and key decisions that shaped this year's legislative sessions. What do these budgets reveal about governing today, and what do they signal for the road to the Novem...

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we step back from the daily headlines to examine the state of the American experiment. From the 2026 midterm outlook to global conflicts, AI, and the search for political leadership, the conversation explores the forces shaping the nation's next chapter—and whether shared experiences can help bridge the nation's deepest divides. Featuring Publ...

Judd Kessler—author of Lucky by Design, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, and a leading voice in behavioral economics—joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on the “hidden markets” and incentives shaping modern life. Drawing on his research at the intersection of behavioral economics and real-world decision-making,...

As New York and Philadelphia prepare to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, local leaders are treating the tournament as more than a sporting event. From transit coordination and public safety planning to tourism strategy and economic development, cities are using the World Cup to test how they manage infrastructure, mobility, and global attention at scale. Featuring Public Strategies’ Ro...

Rising utility costs and affordability concerns are reshaping the political conversation in New Jersey. As residents grapple with higher energy bills, housing costs, and property taxes, Governor Mikie Sherrill’s administration is pursuing an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy aimed at balancing affordability, reliability, and long-term planning. As political pressure grows around energy policy and...

What does it actually take to lead at the highest stakes moments in history — and what can that teach us about leadership today? Susan Eisenhower, founder of The Eisenhower Group and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation that goes behind the history books and into the real story of h...

With 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs, the 2026 elections will shape policy outcomes and political momentum heading into 2028. Key battlegrounds like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Kansas highlight how issues such as affordability, energy costs, and economic conditions are likely to drive voter behavior. National dynamics—from presidential politics to tensions in the Middle East—add another...

Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh—the first Druze woman elected to the Israeli Knesset and the first non-Jewish anchorwoman to broadcast Israel’s main evening news in Hebrew and Arabic—joins Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on cross-cultural leadership and shared humanity in a divided world. Drawing on her experience across government and global platforms like the Wo...

With Tax Day approaching, Sean Clerget, former chief tax counsel to the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee and a recent addition to DC Public Strategies, breaks down Washington’s tax agenda. They discuss the Trump administration’s policy priorities, key provisions businesses should watch, and the tax debates likely to shape the rest of 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC) and S...

Security and risk expert and author Michael Gips joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on risk assessment, decision-making, and leadership when certainty is not an option. While most leaders are focused on the immediate pressures of the moment, security and risk professionals are scanning the horizon, identifying fractures in the f...

America is facing an affordable housing reckoning. With home prices and rents still elevated nationwide, states and cities like New York and Philadelphia are pursuing new construction, preservation, and policy reforms to close widening affordability gaps. But “affordable” means different things to different communities — from those experiencing homelessness to middle-income families struggling to...

Executive coach, image consultant, and author Kathryn Lowell joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on leading with presence and trust in moments of uncertainty. Kathryn explores how trust is built by “going first,” what it means to project presence without proximity, and why human skills like listening and intuition matter more tha...

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to hold the office, is just weeks into her first term and already facing a high-velocity legislative session under unified Democratic control. As lawmakers move quickly on long-standing priorities, can the self-described moderate governor hold Virginia’s political “purple” center, or will progressives pull the state left? As the 2026 midterms a...

30 days into the Mamdani administration, New York City finds itself blanketed in snow and ice as early signals from City Hall begin to take shape. The New York Public Strategies team examines key appointments, executive actions, and evolving relationships with Washington, while previewing the state and federal races to watch ahead of 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman (DC), Jamie Ans...

Technology and health care futurist Jamie Metzl joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a wide-ranging conversation on the amazing technological revolutions defining our era. As artificial intelligence, genetics, and biotechnology converge at unprecedented speed, the time between transformative revolutions—from fire and agriculture to industrializa...

In this holiday special, our hosts look back on the 2025 federal landscape the only way that feels appropriate, through seasonal song parodies paired with real-world anecdotes spanning the White House and Capitol Hill. From unpacking the first year of Trump 2.0 to navigating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, our politicos blend humor, harmony, and political and policy truths as we l...

Bestselling author, decision strategist, and former professional poker player Annie Duke joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on how leaders can improve the quality of their decisions to increase the probability of achieving better outcomes against the backdrop of a world on “tilt.” Together, they unpack common cognitive errors, l...

From Chicago to Portland to Charlotte, President Trump’s deployment of immigration agents to Democratic-led cities has sparked a nationwide debate over the limits of federal authority and local control. Chicago’s showdown with the White House exemplifies the growing tension between Washington and America’s urban centers—and the legal battles that could redefine the balance of power. Featuring Publ...

Steve Kornacki, chief data analyst of NBC News, joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation about how data shapes America’s understanding of politics—and even sports. From the Democratic sweep in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York to long-term voter realignment, Kornacki breaks down what the numbers reveal about turnout, trust, and the f...

From Virginia and New Jersey to New York City and beyond, the 2025 off-year elections offered a glimpse into the political landscape heading toward 2026. What voter dynamics stood out most, and what trends could define the next midterms? Featuring Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman, Michael Acevedo, Julia Hammond, and Katie Schwab.