POPULARITY
6 episodes with nrsc
6 episodes with nrsc
10 episodes with nrsc
2 episodes with nrsc
3 episodes with nrsc
6 episodes with nrsc
2 episodes with nrsc
2 episodes with nrsc
2 episodes with nrsc
The wait for NRSC v. FEC is over — and it landed with a bang. On June 30th, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down federal limits on party coordinated expenditures, overruling a 25-year-old precedent and clearing the way for national party committees to spend unlimited amounts coordinating directly with their own federal candidates' campaigns.Hosts Micaela Isler, Adam Belmar, and David Schild bring back NABPAC general counsel Mark Renaud of Wiley to break down what actually changed and what didn't. Mark walks through why this ruling only touches the six national party committees — NRSC, DSCC, NRCC, DCCC, RNC, and DNC, plus the federal accounts of state parties — and doesn't touch contribution limits, disclosure rules, or coordination bans anywhere else in the system. He also flags the specific dollar limits multi-candidate PACs now need on their radar for giving to national and state party committees, and draws a bright line on earmarking: covering a member's party dues is fine, directing money toward a specific race is not.The conversation also covers why state-level coordination limits in roughly two dozen states could be the next domino to fall, and what PACs with genuinely novel questions should do while the FEC still lacks a quorum to issue advisory opinions. A clip from LexPolitica's Steve Roberts rounds things out with practical budget advice for PAC directors weighing bigger party contributions this cycle.
Ally Mutnick breaks down how the Supreme Court handed Republicans a massive win Tuesday by striking down coordination limits in NRSC v. FEC. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
OA1275 - As June ends and another Supreme Court Season wraps, it is time to look back and survey the damage: significant blows to voting and trans rights, harder times for immigrants throughout the system, and a vast expansion of executive powers. But we also go beyond the headlines to see what has been going on with some of the Court's more routine business. What can we learn from their more mundane 9-0 decisions--and can we actually find some good news here among the wreckage? Matt does his best. Finally, in today's seasonal footnote: why the world believed for exactly five minutes that Samuel Alito had closed Supreme Court Season by announcing his retirement on Tuesday, and what we can learn from this weird mistake about how mainstream media covers the Supreme Court. Executive Power / Immigration Trump v. Barbara — 25-365 (June 30, 2026)(birthright citizenship) Learning Resources v. Trump — 24-1287 (Feb. 20, 2026) (IEEPA tariffs) Trump v. Cook — 25A312 (June 29, 2026) (Fed removal) Trump v. Slaughter — 25-332 (June 29, 2026) (FTC removal) Mullin v. Doe — 25-1083 (June 25, 2026) (TPS) Mullin v. Al Otro Lado — 25-5 (June 25, 2026) (asylum at the border) Blanche v. Lau — 25-429 (June 23, 2026)(LPRs at the border) Urias-Orellana v. Bondi — 24-777 (Mar. 4, 2026) (asylum standard of review) Criminal Law Barrett v. United States — 24-5774 (Jan. 14, 2026) (§924(c)/(j) stacking) Bowe v. United States — 24-5438 (Jan. 9, 2026) (successive §2255 petitions) Ellingburg v. United States — 24-482 (Jan. 20, 2026) (restitution / Ex Post Facto) Chatrie v. United States — 25-112 (June 29, 2026) (geofence / 4A) United States v. Hemani — 24-1234 (June 18, 2026) (cannabis & 2A rights) Hunter v. United States — 24-1063 (June 18, 2026) (appeal waivers) Pitchford v. Cain — 24-7351 (May 28, 2026) (Batson / AEDPA challenge) Olivier v. City of Brandon — 24-993 (Mar. 20, 2026) — (§1983 rights with prior conviction) Case v. Montana — 24-624 (Jan. 14, 2026) (emergency-aid / 4A) Villarreal v. Texas — 24-557 (Feb. 25, 2026) (counsel during recess) Clark v. Sweeney — 25-52 (Nov. 14, 2025) (habeas / new-trial reversal) Civil/Voting Rights Landor v. Louisiana DOC — 23-1197 (June 23, 2026) (RLUIPA damages) Louisiana v. Callais — 24-109 (Apr. 29, 2026) (Voting Rights Act §2) West Virginia v. B.P.J. — 24-43 (June 30, 2026) (trans student athletes) Wolford v. Lopez — 24-1046 (June 25, 2026) (2A concealed carry) Chiles v. Salazar — 24-539 (Mar. 31, 2026) (conversion therapy) NRSC v. FEC — 24-621 (June 30, 2026) (1A / campaign finance) Procedural Issues Enbridge Energy v. Nessel — 24-783 (Apr. 22, 2026) (removal deadline) Coney Island Auto Parts v. Burton — 24-808 (Jan. 20, 2026) (Rule 60(b)(4) finality) Other SCOTUSblog Stat Pack (2025-2026)[PDF] “NPR retracts story about Alito retirement,” Kelly McBride, NPR (June 30, 2026) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!
DOCKET ALERTS: House Speaker Mike Johnson sent everyone home for vacation rather than deal with a dissident faction in his own caucus that keeps demanding a vote on the vote-suppressing SAVE America Act Trump keeps braying for. A federal judge in New Hampshire became the tenth to dismiss a DOJ lawsuit seeking full, unredacted state voter rolls — or eleventh if you include the Sixth Circuit. In 2024, Florida sued to force DHS to bulk verify citizenship data so states could "audit" their voter rolls. In 2025, DHS entered into a "settlement" with Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana agreeing to do it, and handing power to a Trump-appointed judge in Florida to ensure compliance. But that database has now been enjoined by a judge in DC for violating the Privacy Act of 1974, so Florida is moving to enforce the settlement in Florida. And in DC, Judge Emmet Sullivan barred the Post Office from complying with Trump's executive order requiring the mailman to claw back ballots from any voter not on an approved list. This order violates a 2021 settlement the government made with the NAACP after Trump's last postmaster general tried to mess with mail-in ballots. A judge in Louisiana has dismissed a lawsuit against several academics associated with the now-shuttered Stanford Internet Observatory. The online wingnut plaintiffs alleged that they had been "censored" by scholars who pointed out that they were violating Facebook's TOS. Former CIA Director John Brennan is suing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in DC, seeking an injunction forcing prosecutors investigating him to retain all records. He hasn't been indicted yet, but, with Trump's minions planning a giant conspiracy indictment in Florida, he wants an order to preserve evidence for an eventual motion to dismiss for vindictive prosecution. Prosecutors trying to convict a former US Attorney in Florida for emailing herself a copy of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on the stolen documents case were forced to admit that they'd done the exact same thing, sending copies of it to defense counsel in discovery disclosures. MAIN SHOW: The Supreme Court issued its final opinions of the term. In Trump v. Barbara, a narrow majority upheld birthright citizenship, refusing to invent some kind of exception to the plain terms of the 14th Amendment. The conservative justices continued to tear down barriers to corruption in politics, invalidating the Federal Elections Campaign Act's bar on campaigns coordinating spending with outside committees in NRSC v. FEC. And in West Virginia v. BPJ/Little v. Hecox, the six conservatives allowed states to ban trans athletes from sports. Finally, we discuss a new class action lawsuit challenging labor practices at the online gaming platform Roblox for violating child labor laws. US v. New Hampshire Secretary of State [Voter rolls] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71453646/united-states-v-nh-secretary-of-state/ State of Florida v. DHS [SAVE voter verification database] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69271601/state-of-florida-v-department-of-homeland-security Hines v. Stamos [Stanford Internet Observatory] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67310145/hines-v-stamos NAACP v. US [Mail-in ballots] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17461792/national-association-for-the-advancement-of-colored-people-v-united-states Brennan v. Blanche https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73562893/brennan-v-blanche/ SCOTUS Trump v. Barbara (14th Amdt birthright citizenship) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365_4hdj.pdf NRSC v. FEC (PAC Coordination/campaign finance) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621_h315.pdf West Virginia v. BPJ/Little v. Hecox (trans athletes) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-43_2b35.pdf Doe B.D. v. Roblox Corp. [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73332976/doe-bd-v-roblox-corporation/ Eurogamer, Roblox Studio boss: children making money on the platform isn't exploitation, it's a gift [April 4, 2024] https://www.eurogamer.net/roblox-studio-boss-children-making-money-on-the-platform-isnt-exploitation-its-a-gift Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod
It's the last opinion day of the term, and the big one landed: Trump v. Barbara, the birthright-citizenship case. We read the majority as the rare easy case and spend most of the episode on why the four dissents each end up somewhere different — and trying to figure out exactly where they actually land. Along the way: a bogus Nina Totenberg story, a Landor GVR that might quietly unsettle a chunk of Spending Clause criminal law, and whether the professors who defended the order deserve the "legal scholarship police." Highlights[00:00:27] The bogus Nina Totenberg wire story that Justice Alito was retiring — "Fake news, Dan."[00:02:03] The Justice Alito / Justice Sotomayor bench-dissent dust-up from the immigration hand-downs[00:03:11] Last opinion day — 3 opinions, 4 cases; NRSC v. FEC and West Virginia v. B.P.J. / Little v. Hecox flagged for later[00:05:27] A significant new grant teed up on possession of semi-automatic rifles (AR-15s)[00:06:43] A GVR in light of Landor in a federal arson case, and the narrow-vs-broad theory of what a GVR means[00:09:34] Whether Landor's narrowing of Sabri could upend a swath of Spending Clause federal criminal law[00:10:58] Why RLUIPA reaches prisoners — Chuck Colson's post-Watergate lobbying (courtesy of a listener, Emma Kaufman)[00:12:55] Trump v. Barbara — Trump loses, but closer than predicted: "Trump beats the spread"[00:15:25] Should professors who defended the order be punished? — "we don't need legal scholarship police"[00:19:58] The majority's walk: common law → Dred Scott → the 14th Amendment → Wong Kim Ark[00:26:21] Wong Kim Ark as linchpin, and whether its "domiciled here" language was doing any work[00:36:48] Justice Kavanaugh concurs in the judgment on the statute, then dispatches the constitutional question breezily[00:42:05] New states, Hawaii, and Living Originalism — when may you add new exceptions? "Weird islands you can't drive to"[00:48:33] The 91-page Justice Thomas dissent, the facial-challenge pivot, and the reserved domicile question[00:56:40] Justice Alito's Civil Rights Act / "not subject to any foreign power" reading, and the statelessness caveat[01:00:11] Justice Gorsuch's 3-page solo dissent: if not domiciled here, then where? — a jab Thomas may not share[01:05:33] Justice Jackson's anti-subordination concurrence, and whether it lands against Thomas[01:10:24] "I feel proud to be an American, Dan" — hail to the Chief, and to Justice Barrett; sign-offRelevant linksCasesTrump v. Barbara — slip opinionLandor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections — slip opinionSabri v. United States (2004)United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)NRSC v. FEC — slip opinionWest Virginia v. B.P.J. / Little v. Hecox — slip opinionCommentary & articlesSCOTUSblog opinion recap: "Supreme Court strikes down Trump's order ending birthright citizenship"Ilan Wurman & Randy Barnett's NYT essay defending the order (Minnesota Law summary)
The Court's last day of the term, and they emptied the clip. Birthright citizenship survives. Campaign finance gets gutted. Trans girls get banned from girls' sports. One win, one robbery, and one where I break from my own side and tell you why.I read every page so you don't have to. Real case for and against all three, then a Reality Check on what these rulings actually do to this country. Spoiler: the one nobody's talking about is the one that's going to cost you the most.Cases: Trump v. Barbara. NRSC v. FEC. The Idaho and West Virginia sports cases. Thomas cited Dred Scott thirty-one times. In 2026. We get into it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-unfiltered-political-analysis--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilRobin's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/robin_wstdTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.TikTok: tiktok.com/@wesawthedevilpolitics
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The one bit of good news - in two days of mostly bad news from SCOTUS - was the denying of Donald Trump his wish to end birthright citizenship: https://progresstexas.org/blog/statement-american-birthright-protected-trump-denied-tyranny...Texas Republicans, as you might imagine, are beside themselves: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/birthright-citizenship-scotus-texas-22327186.php...And the bad news: in NRSC v. FEC, SCOTUS has relaxed limits on big money in politics even further, giving billionaires and corporations even more advantages over grassroots-funded candidates: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-nrsc-fec_n_69e13160e4b0555d213a5c96...In upholding bans on transgender girls playing women's sports, SCOTUS provides a lane for a broader weaponization of laws against LGBTQ people in general: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/01/us-supreme-court-trans-athletes-ruling...And in perhaps the worst news from SCOTUS this week, Monday's ruling in Trump v. Slaughter gives the President largely unlimited power to fire federal regulators: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/29/supreme-court-trump-agency-firings-slaughter-ftcNational Democrats aren't bothering to counter Donald Trump's announced midterm GOP convention in Dallas this September: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/30/trump-republican-convention-midterms-dallasCheck out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexasProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 2, 2026U.S. Supreme Court's Conservative Majority Unleashes Political Party Coordinated Campaign Money – And Likely More Big Donor InfluenceIn the tradition of Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority decided National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, allowing political parties to spend unlimited funds on behalf of a federal candidate. It could unleash even more campaign money and more big donor influence.Some podcasting platforms strip out our links. To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:U.S. Supreme Court - Opinion in Republican Senate Campaign Committee v. FEC Federal Election Commission - Supreme Court issues opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. FEC, et al. SCOTUSblog - Justices strike down campaign finance lawCovington & Burling Law Firm - Supreme Court Decision in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission Empowers Political Parties, Calls Other Restrictions into Question End Citizens United - ECU Blasts SCOTUS for Siding With Billionaires and Special Interests Over Voters in NRSC v. FECRelated ADM Reports:American Democracy Minute - (2025) U.S. Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Coordinated Campaign Finance Limits for Political Parties. It Could Unleash Another Torrent of Election Cash.Groups Taking Action:Issue One, Public Citizen, Campaign Legal Center/League of Women Voters/Common CauseFind all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.#Democracy #DemocracyNews #BigMoney #MoneyinPolitics #USSupremeCourt #SCOTUS #DNC #RNC
The Supreme Court didn't issue any opinions on major democracy cases this week — but the decisions that will shape our country's future are coming. Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias breaks down the three biggest cases on the docket: RNC v. Watson, which could ban states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day; NRSC v. FEC, a campaign finance case Marc personally argued before the court; and Trump v. Barbara, the birthright citizenship case, which has sweeping implications for voter ID.
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Congressman Chip Roy is the effective conservative who represents the 21st congressional district in the great state of Texas. He serves on the House Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees and is the Policy Chair of the House Freedom Caucus. He's running in the may run-off election for the GOP nomination to the next Texas AG.
Senator Tim Scott, Junior Senator serving the great state of South Carolina and chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss this year's primaries in the Senate. Sen. Scott discussed the NRSC's strategies and the dynamics in the important Senate contests in Montana, Texas, and others. Benson and Sen. Scott also discussed the ongoing military campaign in Iran, this week's disappointing economic numbers, and MORE! Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Michael Quinn Sullivan, publisher of the Texas Scorecard,
It’s the morning after President Trump’s State of the Union — and The Scott Jennings Show is LIVE from the NRSC with the highlights, the viral moments, and the “here’s what comes next” agenda: economy, public safety, energy, and keeping the GOP majorities in November. https://balanceofnature.com/ https://www.ifcj.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Bitcoin Boomers Ep. 04: "There Needs to be a Revolution" Ex-Reagan Library Director Speaks Out on Bitcoin | John Heubusch, Lawrence Lepard, Bob Burnett, Gary LelandJohn Heubusch (former Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Reagan insider, and bestselling author) joins Lawrence Lepard, Bob Burnett, and Gary Leland for an explosive Bitcoin Boomers episode exposing fiat's collapse under America's $38.6 trillion national debt and Bitcoin's revolutionary escape. As Bitcoin hovers around $89K in January 2026 after dipping from 2025's $126K highs, John declares: "There needs to be a revolution... maybe that's when Bitcoin has its moments," linking Reagan's "government is the problem" ethos to sound money's revival. The crew dismantles Nixon's 1971 gold shock as fiat's "beginning of the end," fueling inequality, endless printing, and ethical rot in politics—why Reagan would HODL Bitcoin for its tech disruption like Star Wars defense. Amid hyperinflation fears and US overexpansion mirroring the Soviets' fall, they orange-pill boomers: scarcity (21M BTC cap vs. infinite fiat), network effects outpacing Visa/Mastercard, and AI needing Bitcoin as its frictionless currency. John shares jaw-dropping tales—dating Lady Di, rescuing Reagan's blood vial from eBay, running the Library with Air Force One inside—and his cancer survival blending faith/immunotherapy. Larry slams advisors ignoring Bitcoin's 16-year dominance, Bob ties PC revolution to BTC adoption, Gary urges top 1% ownership (just 0.25 BTC). This is the boomer blueprint: escape fiat's cliff before calamity forces change. Stack sats now—Bitcoin's your hedge against debasement.Chapters:00:00:00 Cold Open – Revolution & Bitcoin's Moment00:00:44 Welcome John Heubusch & Career Overview00:02:37 Date with Lady Di Story00:07:01 Politics to Business Shift00:09:01 Washington's Lack of Acumen00:10:36 Term Limits & Power Concentration00:12:06 Reagan Connections & Insights00:15:38 Reagan Blood Vial Recovery00:17:36 Reagan Library & Air Force One00:20:00 Broken Monetary System Exposed00:22:57 Debt Deficits from Reagan Era00:27:27 Nixon Gold Shock Chaos00:30:08 Reagan Hypothetical on Debt00:34:24 Would Reagan Be a Bitcoiner?00:37:13 US Overexpansion Parallels00:41:00 Bitcoin Media & Peer Perceptions00:47:01 Not Too Late for Boomers00:53:01 Bitcoin Network Effects00:55:15 Money Supply & Regulation Warnings00:57:55 Hyperinflation & Collapse Risks01:03:20 AI Needing Bitcoin Currency01:08:28 Endowments Considering BTC01:11:08 Shroud Conspiracy Thrillers01:18:16 Cancer Survival & Faith01:20:38 Closing Thanks & Book SwapAbout JohnJohn Heubusch is an American political and private-sector executive, author, and former Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (2009-2023). With a career spanning the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, U.S. Department of Labor (Chief of Staff to Elizabeth Dole), American Red Cross, NRSC, Gateway Inc. (CAO), and Avalon Capital, he's a bestselling author of thrillers The Shroud Conspiracy and The Second Coming.• Website: https://johnheubusch.com/• Twitter: @JHeubuschSupported By:Blockstream Jade: Easy, open-source Bitcoin-only cold storage. Get 10% off with code BOOMERS at blockstream.com.Unchained Signature: Premium custody for serious holders. 10% off first year with code BOOMERS10 at unchained.com/btcboomersAbundant Mines: Fully managed Bitcoin mining. Learn more at abundantmines.comBITCOIN WELL is the best place to buy Bitcoin in Canada and the USA.Visit BITCOINWELL.COM/BTCSESSIONSBook Private Sessions: Master Bitcoin with experts at btcmentor.io. Check Out the Previous Episode w Gary Cardone: https://youtu.be/0U8R6BzjDSE#bitcoin #bitcoinboomers #reagan #nationaldebt #fiatcollapse #soundmoney #bitcoinrevolution #debtcrisis #hyperinflation #reaganlibrary #johnheubusch #larrylepard #bobburnett #garyleland #btc #bitcoinadoption #aibitcoin #boomerbitcoin #fiatratrace #qe2026
Follow Dan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/cotterdanFollow Pat on LinkedIn athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-patrick-eckler-610290824/ Predictions Sure To Go Wrong: Slaughter: Reverse NationalRepublican Senatorial Committee: Reverse First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc: ReverseSlaughter:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-332 NRSC:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-621Family Resource:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-781
In National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) the Court is set to consider “whether the limits on coordinated party expenditures in 52 U.S.C. § 30116 violate the First Amendment, either on their face or as applied to party spending in connection with "party coordinated communications" as defined in 11 C.F.R. § 109.37.”.The case kicked off in 2022 when two Republican party committees brought suit against the FEC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. They contended the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) imposed unconstitutional restrictions on their capacity to coordinate campaign advertising with candidates, and that FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (2001) which had upheld the restrictions as constitutional, had been made unsound by developments in law, facts, and precedent in the intervening time.As required by FECA for constitutional challenges, the district court certified the legal question to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sitting en banc which upheld FECA. The Supreme Court granted cert. and Oral Argument is set to be heard on December 9, 2025.Join us for an expert breakdown of oral arguments.Featuring:Brett Nolan, Senior Attorney, Institute for Free Speech
Election Law: Do limits on coordinated party expenditures violate the First Amendment in connection with party coordinated communications? - Argued: Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:48:55 EDT
NRSC v. FEC | 12/09/25 | Docket #: 24-621 24-621 NRSC V. FEC DECISION BELOW: 117 F.4th 389 Order of July 1, 2025: ROMAN MARTINEZ, ESQUIRE, OF WASHINGTON, D. C., IS INVITED TO BRIEF AND ARGUE THIS CASE, AS AMICUS CURIAE , IN SUPPORT OF THE JUDGMENT BELOW. Order of December 5 , 2025 : THE MOTION OF COURT-APPOINTED AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF THE JUDGMENT BELOW FOR LEAVE TO FILE A SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF IS GRANTED. CERT. GRANTED 6/30/2025 QUESTION PRESENTED: A political party exists to get its candidates elected. Yet Congress has severely restricted how much parties can spend on their own campaign advertising if done in cooperation with those very candidates. 52 U.S.C. § 30116(d). In an opinion by Chief Judge Sutton, a 10-judge majority of the en banc Sixth Circuit agreed that these so-called "coordinated party expenditure limits" stand in serious tension with recent First Amendment doctrine. App.10a-15a. It nevertheless upheld them as constitutional, both on their face and as applied to coordinated political advertising ("party coordinated communications"), believing the case to be controlled by FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee , 533 U.S. 431 (2001) ( Colorado II ). In doing so, the majority acknowledged that in the 23 years since Colorado II , this Court "has tightened the free-speech restrictions on campaign finance regulation," that "tension has emerged between the reasoning of Colorado II and the reasoning of later decisions of the Court," and that relevant facts have "changed, most notably with 2014 amendments" to the limits and "the rise of unlimited spending by political action committees." App.3a-4a, 11a. But it thought "any new assessment of the validity of the limits" remained this Court's "province, not ours." App.14a-15a. The question presented is: Whether the limits on coordinated party expenditures in 52 U.S.C. § 30116 violate the First Amendment, either on their face or as applied to party spending in connection with "party coordinated communications" as defined in 11 C.F.R. § 109.37. LOWER COURT CASE NUMBER: 24-3051
On December 9th, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, a case challenging federal limits on coordinated party expenditures. Legal expert Steve Roberts of Lex Politica breaks down why this First Amendment case could make hard dollars more relevant than they've been in a generation—and what it means for PAC directors' fundraising strategies.
The Institute for Free Speech's Bradley Smith and Brett Nolan join the show to discuss two upcoming Supreme Court arguments involving donor disclosure (First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin) and political party contributions to candidates (National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC). The conversation also explores the broader landscape for political speech and campaign regulation, what legal battles may be next for the Supreme Court, and how both guests found their way into First Amendment advocacy. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:32 What is the Institute for Free Speech? 02:39 Personal paths into free speech work 05:10 First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin 32:08 NRSC v. FEC 51:50 What's next for campaign finance at SCOTUS? 54:58 Outro Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org.
Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown knows that the Republican establishment -- including the NRSC -- is backing his opponent, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu, in the 2026 GOP Senate primary -- but he says he doesn't care. He's ready for that fight and he believes he'll win the grassroots of the New Hampshire Republican Party.Brown, a military veteran who spent decades in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, also has some thoughts about Rep. Maggie Goodlander's controversial video that appears to be urging members of the military to ignore orders from the Commander In Chief.Plus, host Michael Graham concludes the podcast with the question: Are NH Democrats being dumb on purpose? And perhaps more important: If the economy doesn't change, will it matter?Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Kyle Sinclair is the GOP Vice-Chair Former Bexar County. He served in the U.S. Army, is an Unapologetic America First guy and Is running for the U.S. House in District 21, the seat being vacated by Congressman Chip Roy.
Chuck Todd begins with a rant about his beloved Washington Nationals before pivoting to Trump strong-arming congressman Zach Nunn into running for reelection and Texas into holding a mid decade restricting process to try and maintain control of the house. He weighs in on California governor Gavin Newsom's threat to gerrymander his state in response to Texas and why that plan may not work. He also surveys the state of several 2026 races. Then, Chuck is joined by renowned CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Scott MacFarlane who delivers an unflinching analysis of American politics in the post-January 6th era and recounts his harrowing experience of being in attendance during the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. MacFarlane, drawing from his extensive experience covering the insurrection trials and congressional proceedings, explores how the events of January 6th continue to reshape the political landscape, from Trump's recent blanket pardons to the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party. He provides insider perspectives on the Secret Service's challenges during campaign season, the diverse backgrounds of January 6th defendants, and the broader implications of political violence in American democracy.The conversation spans critical topics including the decline of local journalism, the judiciary's politicization, and the increasingly siloed information ecosystem that defines modern American politics. MacFarlane offers candid insights into the DOJ's handling of January 6th prosecutions under Merrick Garland, the death threats faced by trial witnesses, and how Trump's survival of the Butler assassination attempt reinforced his supporters' belief in divine intervention. The discussion also touches on contemporary challenges facing journalists, from the pressure to develop personal brands to declining morale in newsrooms, while examining ongoing political realignments and the future of democratic institutions in America.Finally, Chuck answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about Trump trying to rescind some of Biden's late-term pardons, Gavin Newsom's political evolution and why Dan Osborne is running for senate rather than governor in Nebraska.Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction00:45 James Wood didn't have competent pitching in HR derby02:00 Lack of summer sports programming04:45 Trump has unprecedented control over the Republican party07:30 Zach Nunn flirting with run with Iowa governor or switching seats09:30 Trump forced Nunn into seeking reelection 10:30 Trump strong arming Texas into mid decade redistricting11:45 Additional gerrymandering is risky for Texas Republicans13:30 Gavin Newsom threatens to gerrymander CA in response to Texas15:15 Newsom's rhetoric may not match the political reality16:30 Republicans are trying to rig their house majority17:30 Donald Trump is dictating all of these actions18:15 Trump is trying to destroy Thomas Massie for no vote on BBB19:15 Republicans risk candidates being tied to an unpopular president21:15 Democrats are grappling with whether to fight fire with fire23:15 Gerrymandering fights are popping up around the country24:30 The White House is obsessed with holding the house26:00 Trumpworld will stoke fear of impeachment to juice turnout27:00 NRSC has gone all-in on stopping Ken Paxton in Texas28:15 John Cornyn could walk away and back Wesley Hunt30:30 Susan Collins is raising money as if she's seeking reelection31:30 Jonathan Bush may run for governor in Maine32:45 Mary Peltola may run for governor or senate in Alaska35:15 The PGA Tour announcing a new tournament at Trump Doral38:00 Scott MacFarlane joins the Chuck ToddCast! 38:30 Scott's origin story 40:30 Local news has been decimated in recent years 42:30 People have the closest connection with local news outlets 44:30 Local news should be targeting millennial parents 46:30 Why was the response to the Butler assassination attempt so muted? 48:30 Secret service is stretched thin during campaign season 49:30 Was the secret service underresourced? 51:00 Scott felt the vibe was "off" at the event 53:00 If Trump hadn't survived, the crowd would have attacked media 54:15 Trump surviving created a divine intervention belief in his supporters 57:00 Many J6ers admitted "they don't know what got into them" 58:30 The J6ers are an incredibly diverse group of people 59:45 Only two J6ers were acquitted 1:01:00 The electorate sees almost everything through a red/blue lens 1:02:30 The senate broke the judiciary 1:03:30 There's only ONE apologetic January 6th defendant 1:05:00 Republicans now in congress wouldn't condemn J6 1:07:15 The blanket pardon was Trump condoning political violence 1:08:45 Have all the DOJ prosecutors who worked on J6 cases been fired? 1:10:00 People who testified at J6 trials have received death threats 1:12:30 Merrick Garland slow rolled DOJ's J6 prosecutions 1:14:30 It's surprising how quickly Republicans came back to Trump after J6 1:15:30 If the senate voted to convict, we'd have a president Ron DeSantis 1:18:00 Mitch McConnell's surrender handed the keys over to the MAGA wing 1:19:30 The information ecosystem is incredibly siloed 1:21:15 The public dismisses Trump's corruption as "they all do it" 1:23:00 January 6th is still ongoing, it's just taken different forms 1:24:30 What to make of the ongoing Epstein files saga? 1:26:15 Trump's people fanned the flames of Epstein conspiracies 1:28:00 You can't release names of Epstein associates without proof of a crime 1:30:00 America's political realignment is fascinating and potentially disastrous 1:31:15 Is Pam Bondi's job safe? 1:32:30 Trump flexing his power over the city of Washington D.C. 1:34:00 Muriel Bowser has handled Trump well 1:35:00 Morale for journalists is low and unsettled 1:36:00 Journalists are now required to have a personal brand 1:37:30 Every journalist wants to be Woodward and Bernstein 1:39:30 The state of D.C. professional sports1:40:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Scott MacFarlane 1:40:30 Ask Chuck 1:40:35 What to make of Trump trying to undo Biden's late term pardons? 1:45:45 Will Gavin Newsom's "pivot to the middle" work in middle America? 1:49:30 What is the advantage of Dan Osborne running for senate over governor?
As the 2026 election cycle takes shape, three stories signal how the political terrain is shifting: the return of Iowa to early-state relevance, the emergence of an independent challenge in Nebraska, and the Republican Party's willingness to get aggressive — fast.Iowa Democrats are pushing to reclaim their first-in-the-nation status — and they're doing it with or without national party approval. Senator Ruben Gallego is already promoting visits, and the message is clear: Iowa is back. For Democrats, this matters. The state has long served as a proving ground for insurgent campaigns, offering low costs, civic-minded voters, and a tight-knit media ecosystem. Barack Obama's 2008 breakthrough began in Iowa for a reason. It rewards organization, retail politics, and real ground games.The party's 2024 decision to downgrade Iowa was framed as a gesture to Black voters in states like South Carolina and Georgia. In reality, it was a strategic retreat by Joe Biden to avoid a poor showing. That backfired when Dean Phillips forced an awkward New Hampshire campaign and Biden had to rely on a write-in effort. Now, Iowa's utility is being rediscovered — not because it changed, but because the party's strategy failed. For candidates who want to win on message and mechanics, Iowa remains unmatched.In Nebraska, Dan Osborne is trying to chart a different kind of path — not as a Democrat, but as an independent with populist instincts. Running against Senator Pete Ricketts, Osborne is leaning into a class-focused campaign. His ads channel a blue-collar ethos: punching walls, working with his hands, and taking on the rich. He doesn't have to answer for Biden. He doesn't have to pick sides in old partisan fights. He just has to be relatable and viable.That independence could be Osborne's biggest asset — or his biggest liability. His support for Bernie Sanders invites the question: is he a true outsider, or a Democrat in disguise? Sanders has always caucused with Democrats and run on their ticket. Osborne will have to prove he can remain politically distinct while tapping into a coalition broad enough to win in a deeply red state. Nebraska voters might give him a chance, but they'll need a reason to believe he's not just another version of what they already know.And then there's the tone of the campaign itself. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is already running attack ads that border on X-rated. A recent spot reads aloud hashtags from a sexually explicit tweet in a bid to link opponents with cultural extremes. The strategy is clear: bypass policy, bypass biography — go straight for discomfort. Make voters associate the opposition with something taboo. Make the election feel like a moral emergency.These tactics aren't about persuasion. They're about turnout. They aim to harden the base, suppress moderates, and flood the discourse with outrage. The fact that it's happening this early suggests Republicans see 2026 as a high-stakes cycle where no race can be taken for granted. And if this is how they're starting, the tone by next summer could be even more toxic.All of this — Iowa's return, Osborne's challenge, the NRSC's messaging — points to a midterm cycle already in motion. The personalities are distinct. The tactics are evolving. But the stakes, as ever, are the same: power, perception, and the battle to define the political future before anyone casts a vote.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:01:56 - Midterm Ads00:15:18 - Interview with Dave Levinthal00:37:31 - Update00:38:11 - Ken Paxton and the Texas Senate Race00:43:02 - Congressional Districts00:47:31 - Fed Chair00:52:42 - Interview with Dave Levinthal (con't)01:11:22 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe
Mike Hahn is the President of Digital Strategy & Operations at Frontline Strategies. In the 2022 cycle he was the Deputy Digital Director at the NRSC and is an alum of the Trump 2016 and 2020 campaigns where he served as the Director of Social Media. In total, he has raised well over $100 million online for various groups.In this episode we're digging into the initial learnings about digital fundraising in 2024 and what the future looks like for the grassroots fundraising space.
Welcome back! Says President Joe Biden to President Donald Trump. Biden promised Trump an accommodating and smooth transition of power on January 20th. Meanwhile, President Trump has been dropping cabinet members as hot as the fire in the background at the White House. President Trump names Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new division called the Department of Government Efficiency. Matt Gaetz will serve as Attorney General of the United States and Tulsi Gabbard will serve as Director of National Intelligence. Jason Thielman, the executive director at NRSC is with me today to discuss the critical Senate races that brought a 53 GOP Senate majority. A few races that looked very promising came up a bit short and Jason shares his thoughts on Wisconsin and Michigan. Then Dan Turrentine joins me to discuss a battered and bruised Democratic party, how they collect their bearing and where to go from here. Turns out Kamala Harris paid for all of her endorsements. What an embarrassment, $1M to Oprah, $500K to Al Sharpton's organization, $10M to Beyonce, $5M to Meghan The Stallion and $1.8M to Eminem. She even paid for her awful appearance on Call Her Daddy. Dan is convinced that Kamala and Tim Walz careers are essentially over and will disappear from the national spotlight very soon. Featuring: Jason Thielman Executive Director | NRSC https://www.nrsc.org/ Dan Turrentine Democratic Political Strategist Co-Host | the Morning Meeting -- Available Now! Watch my documentary Front Row Joes or gift it to a friend at the links below. Front Row Joes https://frontrowjoes.movie/ Watch episode one of Front Row Joes now: https://watch.salemnow.com/series/zffpDnKocxu3-trumps-front-row-joes -- Sponsors: Wired 2 Fish Do you want to drink coffee from the finest coffee beans in the world? Wired 2 Fish sources directly from Mexico and Guatemala to bring you the freshest arabica coffee beans in the world. Wired 2 Fish cares so much about the earth that they give back 25% of their net profits to faith-based organizations and clean water initiatives. If you're a coffee lover and want to support a great company doing great work head to https://www.wired2fishcoffee.com/ use code: WECARE for 15% off your first order. Gravity Defyer Your feet deserve a treat! Experience the comfort and relief yourself with Gravity Defyer shoes. Visit https://www.gravitydefyer.com/ today and use code “SPICER30” for $30 off when you spend $150 or more! 4Patriots Get a FREE solar panel when you purchase the Patriot Power Generator 2000X. Just goto https://4patriots.com/SPICER -- Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ #politics #news #theseanspicershow #seanspicer #conservativemedia #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The GOP battles on who should be Senate Majority Leader. Dana explains why none of the three choices for GOP Leadership are acceptable. Dana explains how Sen. Rick Scott would be a bad choice for Senate Majority Leader over his failures as head of NRSC in the 2022 Midterms and his past comments on red flag laws. Sen. Eric Schmitt joins us to react to Chuck Schumer withholding Dave McCormick's invitation to Senate orientation over Bob Casey's push for a recount and shares his thoughts on the fight for Senate Majority Leader. Could J.D. Vance serve as Majority Leader AND Vice President? George Clooney says he's stepping away from politics after being used as a “scapegoat” for Kamala's loss. Dana explains the bad strategies that resulted in a loss for Kari Lake. Florida State Director for Gun Owners of America, Luis Valdes, joins us to discuss who would be the best possible choice for Senate Majority Leader to protect the Second Amendment.Please visit our great sponsors:Black Rifle Coffeehttps://blackriflecoffee.com/danaUse code DANA to save 20% on your next order. Byrnahttps://byrna.com/danaVisit today for 10% off and get the protection you need. Hillsdalehttps://danaforhillsdale.comTake some time to learn more about what makes Hillsdale College unique.KelTechttps://KelTecWeapons.comInnovation. Performance. Keltec. Learn more at KelTecWeapons.com today.Patriot Mobilehttps://patriotmobile.com/danaGet a free smart phone with promo code FRIDAY. Limited-time offer, or while supplies last. PreBornhttps://preborn.com/danaHelp a woman meet her baby for the first time by donating to PreBorn! To donate securely dial #250 and say keyword BABY or visit Preborn.com/DANA. ReadyWise https://readywise.comUse promo code Dana20 to save 20% on any regularly priced item.Relief Factorhttps://relieffactor.comDon't mask pain, fight it naturally with Relief Factor. Visit online or call 1-800-4-RELIEF today!Tax Network USAhttps://TNUSA.com/DANADon't let the IRS control your life—empower yourself with Tax Network USA. Visit TNUSA.com/DANA
Dana explains how Sen. Rick Scott would be a bad choice for Senate Majority Leader over his failures as head of NRSC in the 2022 Midterms and his past comments on red flag laws. Meanwhile, George Clooney says he's stepping away from politics after being used as a “scapegoat” for Kamala's loss.Please visit our great sponsors:Black Rifle Coffeehttps://blackriflecoffee.com/danaUse code DANA to save 20% on your next order. Byrnahttps://byrna.com/danaVisit today for 10% off and get the protection you need. Hillsdalehttps://danaforhillsdale.comTake some time to learn more about what makes Hillsdale College unique.KelTechttps://KelTecWeapons.comInnovation. Performance. Keltec. Learn more at KelTecWeapons.com today.Patriot Mobilehttps://patriotmobile.com/danaGet a free smart phone with promo code FRIDAY. Limited-time offer, or while supplies last. PreBornhttps://preborn.com/danaHelp a woman meet her baby for the first time by donating to PreBorn! To donate securely dial #250 and say keyword BABY or visit Preborn.com/DANA. ReadyWise https://readywise.comUse promo code Dana20 to save 20% on any regularly priced item.Relief Factorhttps://relieffactor.comDon't mask pain, fight it naturally with Relief Factor. Visit online or call 1-800-4-RELIEF today!Tax Network USAhttps://TNUSA.com/DANADon't let the IRS control your life—empower yourself with Tax Network USA. Visit TNUSA.com/DANA
With just hours until polling places open for the November 5th presidential election, this week's guest is analyst Amy Walter to provide her insights and instincts heading into Election Day. The editor and publisher of The Cook Report with Amy Walter, Amy has been a constant presence writing and thinking about US elections for nearly three decades. In this conversation, she goes deep on her thoughts on the presidential race, her take on both the Senate and House, and narratives she expects to emerge post-election. This is a smart and expansive preview from a top analyst on the eve of an incredibly competitive and consequential election. IN THIS EPISODEAmy starts with her initial table-setter on expectations in the presidential race...What is Donald Trump's ceiling of support? Rationales for both a Harris win and a Trump win...Is this the closest presidential race 3-4 days out that Amy has covered?Amy's theory that, for many voters, the presidential election boils down to "controlling risk"...Why are we in an era of consistently 50-50 races?Which candidate is more likely to over-perform the polls?The one Rust Belt and one Sun Belt state Amy feels will be the most predictive of the overall result?Why early vote analysis is like shaking gift boxes before Christmas?What is different in Trump's 2024 campaign compared to '16 and '20?Amy's take on the truncated Harris campaign and its closing message?How both Democrats and Republicans would respond to a presidential loss?Amy's range of expectations for the Senate and the race that would be most predictive of which side is having a good night...How the NRSC has tried to avoid mistakes from the '22 cycle...How the issue of abortion could be a stumbling block for a good Republican night in the Senate?Amy's take on late-breaking Senate races in Texas and Nebraska...Amy returns to her roots as a "House homer" to gauge the state of play in the House...Amy's prediction of when the news desks will call the race and declare a President-Election...& more!
The Heartland Institute's Donald Kendal, Jim Lakely, Justin Haskins, and Chris Talgo present episode 458 of the In The Tank Podcast. Another wild news cycle has seen President Joe Biden bow out of the 2024 election. With an endorsement from Biden, it appears as though the candidacy is Vice President Kamala Harris's for the taking. The In The Tank crew talks about the latest news before breaking down the things you need to know about candidate Kamala Harris.PRIMARY TOPIC - CANDIDATE KAMALA HARRIS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The Federalist - Top 30 Reasons Kamala Harris Would Be A Terrible Presidenthttps://thefederalist.com/2024/07/23/top-30-reasons-kamala-harris-would-be-a-terrible-president/ Front Page - Who is Kamala Harris?https://www.frontpagemag.com/who-is-kamala-harris/ The Spectator - Will the Real Kamala Harris Please Stand Up?https://thespectator.info/2020/10/07/will-the-real-kamala-harris-please-stand-up/(video) Kamala Harris CNN Climate Townhall on Dietary Guidelineshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY0Ph-Z4QPI(video) Universal Health Care for illegalshttps://x.com/NRSC/status/1815808480709599308(video) Tulsi Gabbard ends Kamala Harris's primary campaignhttps://x.com/DefiantLs/status/1815155219623227888
Daria Grastara is CEO of Direct Persuasion, a performance marketing and persuasion advertising agency serving Republican campaigns and issue advocacy organizations. During the 2022 election cycle Daria was Digital Director at the NRSC and she's also worked on the Trump campaign and at the NRCC.In our conversation, we discuss the transition in ownership of the firm, that challenges she's faced as an entrepreneur, and the lessons learned along the way.
National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. Federal Election Commission, et al. argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sitting en banc on June 12, 2024. Argued by Noel J. Francisco on behalf of the NRSC and Jason Hamilton on behalf of the FEC. The Question of Constitutionality Certified by the District Court: Do the limits on coordinated party expenditures in § 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, 52 U.S.C. § 30116, violate the First Amendment, either on their face or as applied to party spending in connection with “party coordinated communications” as defined in 11 C.F.R. § 109.37? Resources: FEC case page docket for NRSC, et al. v. FEC, et al. Institute for Free Speech amicus brief The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment. If you're enjoying the Free Speech Arguments podcast, please subscribe and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform. To support the Institute's mission or inquire about legal assistance, please visit our website: www.ifs.org
Senator Steve Daines, a Republican Senator of Montana, member on the Finance & Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committees, & Chairman of the NRSC, joined the Guy Benson Show today to discuss the latest on antisemitism on college campuses around the country. Guy also talks to Sen. Daines, who serves as the Chairman of the NRSC, about the future of the upcoming down ballot races across the country in 2024. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our guest is Jason Thielman, Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, where he is tasked with leading the GOP's efforts to elect more senators in 2024. Jason served as Chief of Staff to Senator Steve Daines prior to his election as NRSC Chairman for the cycle. Jason has a background in both business and politics. In our conversation today, Jason shares with us the strategy decisions driving the NRSC in 2024, what he thinks about the state of campaigning, and a behind the scenes look at recruiting someone to run for U.S. Senate.How The NRSC Helps Senate Candidates – Kevin McLaughlin (Common Sense Leadership Fund)Chapters00:00 Introduction00:58 The Lay of the Land for Senate Campaigns in 202404:07 The Importance of Early Phase and Candidate Recruitment05:26 The Challenges of Online Fundraising07:06 Factors Contributing to the Downturn in Online Fundraising09:54 Challenges and Priorities as Executive Director of the NRSC12:33 Pros and Cons of Candidate Recruitment16:04 Convincing Candidates to Run for Senate22:45 Balancing Work and Personal Life25:18 Delegating and Focusing on Strategic Efforts26:26 Conclusion
As the presidential race picks up momentum, The Current Podcast explores what a political campaigner and a CPG brand marketer can learn from each other. Kyle Yadon-Smith, (the head of digital for the National Republican Senatorial Committee), and Vinny Rinaldi, (the head of media and analytics for The Hershey Company), get candid about marketing politics and chocolate. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler: (00:01)I'm Damian Fowler. Welcome to this edition of the current podcast.Damian Fowler: (00:10)This week we are queuing up a great conversation between two advertisers who may not on first glance seem to have that much in common. We're joined by Vinnie Ranaldi, the head of media and analytics at the Hershey Company, and Kyle Yadon-Smith, the head of digital for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. That said, we thought it would be fascinating to hear what a big CPG brand like Hershey can learn from a major political advertiser like the NRSC. And since this is an election year, what better time to host this conversation. It's been said that every great political campaign rewrites the rules at the same time, CPG brands can now supercharge campaigns with retail data. With all that in mind, let's get to it. Both of you, of course, are focused on reaching those respective audiences, whether you call 'em consumers or voters. I'd love to hear from both of you, you know, on what you think you may have in common.Kyle Smith: (01:09)I was gonna joke, the uh, the biggest thing is, uh, we're both targeting, so we're women I think is our key marketplace. the cycle . Um, obviously that's not the only, uh, demographic that's gonna be key on the political landscape, but, uh, we're gonna be running ads in October and so we're gonna screw up your Halloween marketing. Thankfully you guys do not have a, uh, Georgia runoff this year, so it should be okay by Christmas. And uh, yeah, I think we're gonna be targeting a lot of the same consumers slash uh, voter demographics. So it's kind of, it's, it's interesting how that kind of plays out. Yeah,Vinny Rinaldi: (01:36)I would agree. I think there's more correlation. I think, you know, we're looking at the same content areas to show up in as a brand to sell chocolate as you guys are, to show up and influence somebody to devote one way or the other in those big environments. You know, a lot of how we look to show up is how do we drive seasonality in local markets at a certain store? So you're right in October, believe me, it's probably hot topic number one of like the lead up to our Super Bowl October 31st. There's a serious presidential election happening a week later. Yeah. So how much will that play a role when we're buying, you know, market-based ads? So it is an area, I wouldn't say of concern, but an area that we're certainly focused on of like how do we make sure we're showing up in the right markets during our most precious time of year, but being cognizant of some of the headwinds we might face based on what's happening in real time.Damian Fowler: (02:28)It's interesting, you know, you're sort of talking in a way about competition between say chocolate and political campaigns, but on the other hand there's a sort,Kyle Smith: (02:35)I think we would lose that one if you had to vote on one or the other. .Damian Fowler: (02:39)I mean, of course there's an alignment too. I mean maybe you guys can, you know, get together and cross-reference here.Vinny Rinaldi: (02:45)I mean, I joke as we look at all of the debates leading up to it and one of our products is popcorn. How do we show up and say, get your popcorn ready for all these new events that are happening. So can you bridge that gap and kind of work together? There's a lot of areas of, ofKyle Smith: (02:58)Interest. Politics is pop culture now, right? Yeah. Like I'll never forget, one of the funniest ads I saw was, I think it was Advil, they bought the promoted tweet on the first day of the debate in 2016 and it said, do you have a headache from this debate, you know, by Advil? And I thought that was kind of a fun way to play into it.Damian Fowler: (03:12)What's interesting to me is, you know, in looking at say any given political campaign, how the importance of being reactive in the moment kind of real time is so crucial, you know, for getting those swing voters out to either vote or just to nudge the needle a little bit. And I'm wondering, you know, if that idea of the sped up data-driven campaign is obviously influencing the way CPG brands like Hershey think about campaigns,Vinny Rinaldi: (03:38)I think we certainly use data-driven tactics in a very similar way. And you think back to the last, I guess it's 16 years since the 2008 election, which is crazy during that election when, when President Obama won, you know, it goes a little unnoticed of how he won the tactics he used, which were way ahead of his time in a lot of this, using the data, focusing on different demographic urban environments, getting those people to the polling centers, like we're trying to do the same thing during, whether it's a big season or to dry everyday occurrences, like how do you find those pockets of incremental opportunities to grow from the beast that's already there is very correlated to from when President Obama did it to President Trump doing it in 2016 and really becoming a more data-driven tactic on how you show up in those moments.Kyle Smith: (04:26)I mean, it's kind of funny, both Obama in 2012 and uh, president Trump in uh, 2016 both had a actually almost similar data strategy. They're both very digital heavy in from a percentage perspective for their time. And then of course nowadays we actually can't use that data on quite a few platforms. So data's extremely important in the political space. Obviously there's, uh, 60% of Americans over the age of 18 are gonna vote this cycle and a lot of those folks are gonna vote for the same party they've always voted for. And identifying people that, you know, swing back and forth is the key to winning, obviously. And that coalition changes every cycle. For us, it's leveraging the data to inform what that audience looks like so that we can make tactical data-driven decisions, even on platforms that don't let us use it directly of which, you know, is the bulk of the ecosystem at this point. It'sVinny Rinaldi: (05:08)An interesting point. Like we as a big massive consumer packaged goods brand that sells chocolate, has no first party data. We have to talk to everybody. Literally 98% of the um, US population eats candy mint or gum. So for us it's like how do you balance, you want scalability no matter what, but what are the right insights and data points that you utilize when you go to activation? Because if you're trying to find one-to-one in any second and or third party data partnerships in some platforms, not all, you're losing the findability due to some of the privacy regulations that are coming up. So if you don't own the data asset itself in a first party ecosystem, it's a lot harder to deliver that experience. And it's also a lot harder to collect first party data when you're a brand that everyone else sells your product. You're just driving demand through advertising and awareness and driving people to the store. But from a D two C perspective where a lot of that collection can happen, it's a little bit more of a challenge on our end to be able to sell chocolate and collect a data 0.0 for those people.Damian Fowler: (06:08)What's interesting to me about this is according to a study by the Trade Desk with Morning Consult during the 2022 midterms, 75% of all Americans surveyed who say they might vote in the midterms, say they know who they're gonna vote for. So I don't know from a political standpoint, do you market to those people or is marketing always at the margins? You know, are you always trying to reach out to that undecided voter? And I wonder if that carries over into CPG thinking as well.Kyle Smith: (06:33)I actually think this may be a space where things are more similar than they are different. You know, if you've bought Hershey Kisses every year for Christmas and you, your family's always done that and you always, you know, put that in the stalking, you're probably gonna continue to do it until something shifts or something changes. There's pretty high retention, right? In terms of Republicans from 2016 are very likely to be Republicans again, 2024. But things do change, you know, the people will always tell you, they say they know who they're gonna vote for today, but then there could be a new story that drops at some point next year that scrambles everything. You know, it changes people's opinions on issues, it changes how people think about things and we have to react very, very quickly to that and make sure that, you know, if the story's good for us, that everyone knows about it or if the story's bad for us, that we have our point of view out there to, to kind of counter what the information is. It's kind of hard to expect who those people are gonna be or what's gonna trigger that. So I think that kind of leads to the importance of talking to everyone and making sure that you kind of have a broad message out there. But we also know our folks that are, you know, Republican donors donate or vote in every single election that are probably on our team. So it's kind of just, uh, doing a little bit of both.Vinny Rinaldi: (07:30)Yeah, you look at Reese's Peanut butter cups, they have a 64% household penetration. I'm not sure there's any single brand out there that comes as close. So if you think about it, you, you're almost everywhere. So you're constantly speaking to everybody and hoping, you know, in those moments you're getting that incremental gain for a new household conversion and or, or repeat purchaser. So you do want to talk to both. You're also looking at probably one of the more impulsive categories in the world. Chocolate is a grab and go. You're at the counters, you're just grabbing, you don't plan it. So you always have to be, broadly speaking, making everyone aware of subtly nudging that reminder message to almost everybody.Damian Fowler: (08:08)Given that then, you know, does that mean a lot of your campaigns tend to be about, you know, just brand awareness kind of up there at the top of the funnel? And then how do you use channels to nudge the consumer? How, how does that work? ,Vinny Rinaldi: (08:22)In very basic theory, yes, we are a very big awareness brand messaging strategy to have fun. You know, we lean heavily on the voice of Will Arnett, which is the voice behind the Reese's commercials. So like, it is that probably where, but then you have, whether it's a limited edition or a seasonal environment or some other area where you wanna be a little bit more focused, where you would lean into some sort of targeting capability, whether it's a retail based target, third party, purchase based target. How do you use all those levers to take some of the spend and be focused while the majority of your base spend is reaching that broad awareness of the entire population?Kyle Smith: (09:00)Yeah, I think that's where, you know, I'm a little bit jealous of Hershey's and you have all this institutional brand ID and I'm, we're jealous of the starting point, especially, you know, I'm working on the, I'm working on senate campaigns this cycle. The NRC, we only have really two incumbents, meaning like people that are already senators running for reelection, again, Ted Cruz and uh, Rick Scott in Florida, they kind of have a really strong starting point they can focus on more, just reminding folks that kinda like you, I feel like you guys do every site or every year we're Hershey's, we're Reese's also. I'm jealous you get will learn that, but we're we're, we're Reese's what we are, et cetera. But then on our side we have a separate project of a lot of new candidates that no one's ever heard of that frankly haven't held elected office. And you have a year and you know, three or four months to make their name Id as close to a hundred percent with the voter base as you can. If uh, Trump were president it was 2020 and everyone kind of knows who these guys are. It is kind of more similar I think to the annual, uh, yeah, candy marketing. But this, this year it's uh, we have to start from scratch. It's like you guys introducing a new brand, I feel like, or a new skew of, uh, of, you know, Hershey's, Reese's, et cetera.Vinny Rinaldi: (10:00)We just launched uh, Reese's Caramel Cups and it is like launching a completely new thing even though it's part of the Reese's family. Yes, you're gonna have those loyalists try your new product, but can you attract new consumers into an already built brand because of a new introduction of caramel into a peanut butter cup? You have to find those new pockets of opportunity to not lose your base or not have them switch completely and keep that cycle growing with new consumers.Damian Fowler: (10:26)One of the things that's happened, uh, in the last couple of years, we talked about, you know, what happened in the last four years is the kind of rise of, there's much more inventory out there for streaming platforms, connected television, and that connecting the dots up with, you know, other channels. I wonder if you could both sort of talk me through a little bit of how that, the maturing as it were of CTV has changed the way you go to market and think about connecting up big awareness plays on CTV to, you know, lower down the funnel to more performance driven tactics.Vinny Rinaldi: (10:56)You know, as I go back to what I said earlier, the proliferation of content everywhere has certainly opened up the purview of how to show up, how to be everywhere. You know, for me, when I think about the connected TV landscape, what I love about it is the ability to buy prime time at any time. When you sit down at eight o'clock or nine o'clock or 12 o'clock or 3:00 PM it doesn't matter. You're accessing whatever content you wanna watch in that moment. So in my opinion, when you buy this way, you've got primetime moments at all times. That person is decided they're gonna sit down, they're gonna, you know, watch whatever it is that they wanna watch at that given moment.Vinny Rinaldi: (11:47)And that's your moment as a brand to show up and that's how we look at it. And then when you take that holistic approach to those primetime moments, how do you then use the controllability of technology to control, reach and frequency? So if I know that I'm talking to this person in 12 different platforms, well I don't want my frequency to be a 40 on one of 'em. I want to control that and keep extending reach. If I get enough reach, my household penetration should go up. If that goes up, my sales are going up, we're winning share, we're reaching more consumers, like that's our end goal. So being in as many homes as possible is actually impossible if you're buying on 40 different IOs or platforms. So then when you think about consolidation and the value of bringing somebody from an awareness building tactic and streaming or on the big screen all the way through a funnel and having that control allows me to unlock more business outcomes than any media measurement can give me.Damian Fowler: (12:42)I'm wondering if what the equivalent of business outcomes are in the political ad marketplace.Kyle Smith: (12:48)Um, well if we win.Damian Fowler: (12:51)I thought you were gonna say that. Kyle Smith: (12:52)Yeah, I, I , I think, uh, I actually think this is where also uh, you know, the candy and CPG world in general is, it's pretty similar to political land is um, our outcomes also a little bit impulsive. I remember standing in line, you know, to vote for the DC City Council with a few of my coworkers before and we were all talking like, who are these people? , you know, it's like we don't know who anyone we're voting for. It's kind of funny. And then you kind of re look at 'em real quick. You remember like stuff you've heard or mailers you've gotten and you make a decision that you have one day to do that or one month to do that. And that's our moment. That's when you get your conversion. That's kind of how I'd compare the two there. I think from a high level perspective, we have the exact same problem in politics, especially with linear, where we have very high frequencies against some audiences sometimes.Kyle Smith: (13:28)And when you're talking to one group of people 70 times, you're, you have less money then to talk to the rest of the folks who may not be very heavy media consumers. So having an ever-present point of view across not just linear but also digital, I think that's something that our party especially is gonna try to get a lot better at this cycle. It, it's interesting to me that 20 12, 20 16, I think, and Vinny told me if this is wrong, I think the corporate world almost looked at politics and was like, wow, they're doing some really cool stuff. We have to figure out what they're doing. I think that's kind of taken a step back a little bit now that we've gotten into the, you know, we have to target older Americans 'cause older Americans are more likely to vote. And I think now as older Americans, habits have changed quite a bit from 2020 to 2024, it's forced both political parties to kind of adapt a little bit after frankly the corporate world has uh, to what the new landscape looks like.Damian Fowler: (14:11)You know, speaking of different audiences, are there different channels for different audiences? Kyle, when you said, you know, reaching older Americans or all older voters, I'm wondering if that's still like a linear play now or if that's completely, am I just stereotyping a whole demographic?Kyle Smith: (14:26)Yeah, well I watch Wheel of Fortune every other night, so I, I maybe I, maybe I'm breaking the demographic there. . Yeah, I, I think linear is still the utmost effective mass reach, uh, mechanism for folks 55 plus, especially broadcast. It's pretty easy to get over 75% reach across that audience, uh, with a couple of weeks of linear buys. What I will say though is even older users are starting to shift pretty substantially. Especially, you know, in the last couple of years when I used to do my YouTube pitches, I always told, told the story of my father-in-Law who is a huge Elon Musk fan and watches a lot of documentaries about him on YouTube. And I would walk down one day and he's like an hour or two of this documentary that some college kid put together about, about how he's making rockets or whatever. They do a penetration across all the different age groups. And I do think that we're gonna continue to see a shift away, especially from cable time spent on cable and towards the streaming services, whether it's YouTube or or more of the down funnel servicesVinny Rinaldi: (15:15)As I stated earlier. You know, we reach everybody with a mouth. So every demographic needs to play a role in our media, both strategy spend, investment strategy, that's everything. Kyle, you kinda hit the nail on the head. It's what's happening between those environments is what's the shift what we're seeing. And I think the industry's seeing more and more, if you remove live news and sports from linear consumption, you're gonna see a drastic drop off in actual consumption habits. But you know, when you think about the purchase power right now, it shifted a little bit into the millennial group who are the bigger purchases, which is 71 million US people. We talk about Gen Z a lot. It's like, oh, they're the up and comers, they're people we have to talk to, but they're, you know, the people we don't have to spend that much time on, they're 68 million of them. So they're almost equivalent to a millennial generation. So we're gonna just wait for them to become purchasers. And I think that's a miss. So you've gotta show up in the moments or platforms that those consumption habits are happening by demo and then show up authentically to that audience so it's not, forget about one versus the other. It's how do you repeat the holistic picture across every platform and then deliver a communication strategy that resonates with those different audience groups. That's how we're working towards showing up across every platform.Kyle Smith: (16:34)And that's what's, that's so interesting to me. It's like the purchasing power in our world is a little bit different. You know, like in terms of voter people that actually vote, well one kids under the age of 18 cannot vote. So there's zero purchasing power. And I, I know that, I mean at least when I was in marketing school they, they taught us about how kids do have purchasing power, uh, when it comes to telling their parentsVinny Rinaldi: (16:51)They have influencing purchasing powerKyle Smith: (16:54)But in our world, you know, the, if you look at the millennial generation, you have a much higher voting percentage than it was 10 years ago. But it's still not anything close to 55 plus glad that we have the purchasing power in the millennial generation now though.Vinny Rinaldi: (17:06)I think it's that 13 to 18 group that's so key for us. As I said, the influencing power, everything, especially in our category, has become on demand. So I have the ability at 13 to use mom and dad's credit card tied to a DoorDash account and I'm gonna gain for the next five hours and I'm gonna order a bunch of things from seven 11 as we move into the future, five to 10 years from now, most of that generation will become now the voters but they don't wanna leave their house or they don't wanna go outta their way to go do something 'cause everything has come so easy to them by using a phone. How does the voter landscape change from either written ballots or in person to a truly secure ability to vote and get more buy-in into voting for a generation that is very used to just opening something up and hitting a buttonDamian Fowler: (17:59)We're throwing to the future here. Yeah, I mean Kyle, I dunno, what do you think, uh, do you think we're gonna get to that point?Kyle Smith: (18:04)I think Covid kind of changed the voting rules in a lot of states that make it easier to vote. I don't know if we'll ever get to the instant gratification level until, you know, maybe 50, a hundred years from now when we're voting on a blockchain and you get a vote coin and you spend it somewhere or something like that. So the convenience factor matters a lot and then it changes by state and almost by locality, right? If you live in a rural area and it's hard for you to get to the polling place 'cause it's a 10 mile drive versus it being half a mile down the street when you're dropping off your kids to school, that could make a difference as well. So it really just depends.Vinny Rinaldi: (18:35)I think that's really interesting because each state is adopting their own voter rules sounds very similar to each state adopting their own data privacy rules instead of thinking of a national basis and actually simplifying the ease for everyday people to utilize something. It's fascinating that we all continue to live by state, by state governed rules that are drastically different than just a national governing body to allow us to have a centralized ruling system to use, whether it's data privacy or voter rights. It's just, it's funny to watch that correlation between our two worlds.Kyle Smith: (19:09)Even sugar taxes, you know, some of the cities, I don't think it's gone after candy quite yet. True. But the uh, you know the Bloomberg rules around like the taxing soda and stuff and I think Philadelphia did it and then the sales increased outside of the Philadelphia like urban area like substantially for all those stores because you're able to get cheaper stuff. But that's interesting.Damian Fowler: (19:26)Kyle, you mentioned harder to reach audiences and I want to ask both of you, you know about that and how the programmatic marketplace makes it possible to reach those harder to reach audiences. I know at the top we joked about suburban housewives but you know, how granular can you get,Kyle Smith: (19:43)What is it 95% of people watch video whether it's linear or digital. So that does get you to a pretty high threshold the way I approach it. Like we have to deliver messages very quickly, right? So that's why I think you see political really lean into linear a lot 'cause you could get that mass reach in a day if you're buying the football games. Like if you're buying, you know, primetime on across all the all four networks and you have a presence there, you're gonna get to 50% reach pretty quickly. I think the hard part is honestly the other 50% on CTV and making sure that you're distributing that message to the person the one day a week they happen to be watching ad supported Hulu and they're not watching Netflix for example. That's where it gets more difficult. Having the centralized approach, making sure that you're maxing out the non-linear household reach if you're already buying a lot of linear is, is the hardest and most important thing that we have to do. We'll have maybe eight to 10 messages per candidate that we run and we want all eight to 10 of those messages to be seen by as many people as possible and we don't have as much time. I wish I had, you know, one or two month long campaigns that I could run behind these things to get that reach number, the incremental reach as high as we possibly can. But in reality it's, it's seven to 10 days. We just have to maximize thatVinny Rinaldi: (20:46)For Reeces. Again, reach everybody, everybody with a mouth, everybody wants to buy a Reeces, great. But then I go again down the portfolio, you've got variety brands in York peppermint patties, almond Joy, mounds. And so like how do you take those with much less spending power and find those pockets of opportunity? You know, for your, give you an example for York, one of the really cool unlocks we found was the snowbird effect sales actually increased 'cause York leans very heavily 55 plus really 65 plus and you see Northeast sales in the summer skew higher and then southeast sales skew higher in the winter and you're seeing the people as they move the consumer habits follow with them. So how do you heavy up in those markets during the seasons? So when you don't have a large bucket of money to go spend as a brand, you use data and insights in that way to be like really targeted hyper-focused on winning those key occasions for that consumer. Because again, at the end of the day you can only stretch a budget so far if you want to grow a business.Damian Fowler: (21:51)Fascinating that. So just to wrap it up, I guess I wanna ask each of you one question, you know the same question Kyle, what do you wish you could take from CPG land and Vinny, what do you wish you could take from political?Kyle Smith: (22:03)For me it'd be like two things. Like I think the permanence of the institutions. You know, you have the same kind of folks that'll work in marketing, the same agencies that run things for years, if not decades. Sometimes that makes it so that you have a lot of like earned experience and a lot of, you've gone through all this several times, you know what works, what, what doesn't. And I think kind of an informed approach every time politics is, you know, you have to start from the bottom and you build something up and then election day happens and that institution basically doesn't exist anymore and you have to start all over again for the next two years. So that'd be the first thing. And I think with that comes the advantages of being able to have more predictability. We don't have a ton of predictability in politics.Kyle Smith: (22:37)It's tough to know what my budget's gonna be. It's really tough for me to know what the news cycles are gonna look like next year without kind of that knowledge going in without knowing how much money you have, it makes it harder to do long-term planning. That's where I'm a little bit jealous of CPG land kind of wish, you know, knowing what your budget is a year and a half out I think would be awesome in our world if we were able to say that with certainty. But you know, it makes us scrappy and it makes it so that sometimes it's better than you expect and you get to have fun with it and sometimes it's a little bit worse and you just have to be smarter than the other guy.Vinny Rinaldi: (23:02)I would say almost the opposite in a way because I feel the marriage of branding and performance is so important to not separate the two, but to bring them together and the agility that the political landscape moves with is actually a blessing in disguise. Pricing aside the hyper target ability, the ability to show value really quickly is something that we lack because we don't own the end game. So like there, there's a part of that that's like, okay, well if you can be that hyper-focused and get a really quick outcome, how do you build that into a small percentage of your spending in the overall portfolio to be super agile, super hyper targeted, really focused on market analysis and then correlated to sales or in your case outcomes from an election. That to me is super exciting. It's something that we sometimes strive to do. You know, we used to have this motto that we're still trying to build out, but like, act like a CPG, think like a D to C, we don't own the end game, but how do you think really agile but come with the power of being a CPG. So I think what you bring to the table from a political landscape gives us just a little bit there to think about of like being super fast, nimble, and agile in a marketplace that changes so fast.Damian Fowler: (24:17)And that's it for this edition of the current podcast. We'll be back next week. The current podcast is produced by Wonder Media Network. Our theme is by loving caliber. The current podcast team includes Chris Brooklier and Kat Vesce. And remember,Kyle Smith: (24:30)If you're talking to one group of people 70 times, you have less money than to talk to the rest of the folks who may not be very heavy media consumers.Vinny Rinaldi: (24:37)Act like a CPG, think like a D to C.Damian Fowler: (24:40)And if you like what you hear, subscribe and leave a review. Also tune into our other podcast, the current report as we round up the week's biggest marketing headlines from across the open internet. I'm Damian and we'll see you next time.
In today's episode:The offer to keep Kari Lake out of politics may have come from Mitch McConnell via the NRSCDoes the offer constitute bribery?A DC intern reveals the depths of corruption and depravity in Congress to James O'KeefeMitch McConnell is losing clout as he is unable to get momentum behind his border compromiseA SCOTUS ruling creates major constitutional issues for Texas and the USGreg Abbott calls out the illegitimate Biden admin and GOP governors declare their allegianceA "trucker convoy" op materializesTrump may have called another bluff.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableDiversify your assets: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorbtc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Merch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's episode:The offer to keep Kari Lake out of politics may have come from Mitch McConnell via the NRSCDoes the offer constitute bribery?A DC intern reveals the depths of corruption and depravity in Congress to James O'KeefeMitch McConnell is losing clout as he is unable to get momentum behind his border compromiseA SCOTUS ruling creates major constitutional issues for Texas and the USGreg Abbott calls out the illegitimate Biden admin and GOP governors declare their allegianceA "trucker convoy" op materializesTrump may have called another bluff.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableDiversify your assets: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorbtc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Merch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chad Ellis is the CEO of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT), which is one of the nation's leading ag-focused conservation organizations. TALT's mission is “to conserve the Texas heritage of agricultural lands, wildlife habitats, and natural resources,” but at its core, TALT's work is built on the foundation of long-term, trusting, mutually respectful relationships. - Given the small proportion of public lands in Texas compared to other western states, much of the responsibility for landscape-scale ecological health falls on the shoulders of private landowners. And since 2007, TALT has helped these landowners find ways to not only protect their family legacies, but to improve the overall quality of grasslands, water, air, and wildlife for all Texans. - Chad was raised in rural Texas, and from a very early age, he felt a deep connection to land, agriculture, and wildlife. While his entire career has been devoted to thoughtfully and effectively stewarding natural resources, you'll quickly realize that at his core, Chad is a relationship builder. During his tenures at the NRSC, the Noble Research Institute, and now as the leader of TALT, Chad has implemented many cutting-edge conservation solutions– but, as you'll hear him explain, none of these projects would be successful without solid, trusting relationships between all stakeholders. - Longtime listeners will recognize Chad from an earlier appearance on Mountain & Prairie– back in 2023, he was one of the panelists in an episode called “Landscape-Scale Management in a Private Land State,” which was recorded live at the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society's annual meeting. In this episode, we dig more into Chad's personal and professional journey in conservation– why he has devoted his career to such a challenging-yet-critical cause, and how he approaches his work from both practical and philosophical perspectives. We discuss his love of entrepreneurial approaches, his leadership style, mentors, the storied legacy of TALT's founder Blair Fitzsimons, supporting the next generation of conservationists, his favorite books, and much more. - If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to check out TALT's website and follow its work on social media– TALT is a constant source of inspiration for me and all of the Western conservation community. Thanks for listening! --- Texas Agricultural Land Trust Chad on LinkedIn Chad's first M&P appearance: Landscape-Scale Management in a Private Land State TALT on Instagram Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/chad-ellis/ Ed's upcoming Rogue River Trip --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Where Chad grew up 7:45 - Chad's work with PERC 10:15 - Where Chad's entrepreneurial background came from 16:15 - How Chad moved up in the NRCS ranks 18:45 - Chad's time with Mobil Foundation 21:45 - Chad's personal vision 24:30 - Chad's motivation to strengthen people's connection to the land, instead of just supporting the land itself 27:15 - How Chad hires for a passionate team 29:15 - Chad's work securing federal funding 32:45 - How Chad thinks about failure 34:45 - How Chad presented his vision for TALT to an already accomplished director, Blair Fitzsimons 40:30 - Chad's goal to support the next generation of conservationists 44:30 - How Chad interprets the threats facing conservation in Texas 51:30 - How Chad prioritizes his allocation of resources 58:45 - Exploring Chad's level of patience, as well as the various ways that people learn and work 1:03:30 - The importance of relationships 1:07:45 - Chad's book recommendations 1:09:15 - Chad's parting words of advice --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
A state wildlife biologist or local NRSC agent assists landowners daily. They work to improve habitat and dish out cost-share dollars that improved habitat, but they have boundaries and restrictions in how they can assist. In comparison, private consultants work directly for and on behalf of the landowners goals without restrictions based on specs that have been written within the EQIP program. Our consultants also work to address the entire farm and its operation and huntability. We intentionally address the habitat to directly improve the huntability of a farm, not max out habitat and hope it hunts well. We hope this podcast is revealing and helpful to the landowners listening. There are two separate roles and ways to work. Make sure you understand where you are at and how you can maximize your time and future.
* Hunter Biden: I am responsible for my mistakes. * House GOP Starts Contempt Proceedings Against Hunter Biden - Forbes. * December White House Survey, Paid for by the NRSC, Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee - NRSC.org * Who should be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024? * How important is it for a Republican Presidential nominee to advocate for a SECURE southern border? * How important is it for a Republican Presidential nominee to be TOUGH on crime? * How Important is it for a Republican Presidential nominee to UPHOLD conservative values? * Foreign investors are expected to pull $65B in capital out of China in 2024 as rising tensions and worry over the country's economy plague future outlooks - The Institute of International Finance (IIF). * Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen gave a speech on Thursday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the US -China Business Council, emphasizing that the two countries should not economically "decouple," - Politico.
During a slow Thanksgiving week on the Hill, attention is largely focused on the new year, when Democratic incumbents in the Senate will go full speed into campaign mode in an attempt to hang on to their seats. Few seats are more important to Senate Democrats next year than those occupied by Montana's Jon Tester and Ohio's Sherrod Brown, who have proven they can emerge victorious even as their states go red. Republicans are also dipping their toes in the water; the NRSC is launching a new digital ad targeting Arizonans with the goal of driving them back to independent incumbent Kyrsten Sinema's camp instead of Democratic challenger Ruben Gallego's. But could it backfire? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks us through. All of this, plus President Biden pardons a turkey on the South Lawn today.
From the latest political controversies to civil rights discussions, Sheriff Clarke brings his no-nonsense approach to the microphone. In this episode, he takes a closer look at the gun charges against Hunter Biden and how it fits into the larger landscape of the political arena. Sheriff Clarke then offers his unique perspective on the Governor of New Mexico's decision that violated civil rights without any consequence. Plus what the real problem is with the RNC and their inability to win elections. Tune in and remember to rate and write a review!Amazon: https://a.co/d/2jPJXV0Sponsor Links:BLUE LINE ROASTING COhttps://bluelineroasting.com/ (https://bluelineroasting.com/)MY PILLOW:Shop Now Get Up To 66% Off at https://www.mypillow.com/clarke (https://www.mypillow.com/clarke)BULLDOG_TV https://www.facebook.com/Bulldog_TV-101765392483089 (https://www.facebook.com/Bulldog_TV-101765392483089)SUBSCRIBE SO YOU NEVER MISS AN EPISODE:
In this gripping episode of Patriot Games, we sit down with Catherine Engelbrecht, the visionary founder of True the Vote, and sharp-eyed investigative journalist Heather Mullins. Together, we unpack a treasure trove of insights from the 2020 election cycle. Although a snippet of our conversation was featured in "2000 Mules," we dig much deeper here. Don't miss the riveting testimony of a whistleblower, brought to the forefront by the NRSC, who sheds light on the mysterious happenings at ballot dropboxes in Columbus, GA. This is an episode you won't want to miss.Support the show
The NRSC's new business model. Trump booked in Georgia. A key Democrats' view on the supplemental. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Greg is back! Join Jim and Greg as they discuss National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines publicly endorsing his preferred candidates in Montana and Nevada in an effort to avoid missed opportunities like the GOP suffered in 2022. They also roll their eyes as Wired magazine denounces Ring doorbell cameras as being too easy to use to help police solve crimes. Finally, they raise their eyebrows as Politico rolls out fawning coverage of California Gov. Gavin Newsom - including stories on his inner circle and his leadership style. Not exactly the kind of stories we usually see from people who are not running for office soon.Please visit our great sponsors:4Patriothttps://4Patriots.comUse code MARTINI to get 10% off your purchase.
Greg is back! Join Jim and Greg as they discuss National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines publicly endorsing his preferred candidates in Montana and Nevada in an effort to avoid missed opportunities like the GOP suffered in 2022. They also roll their eyes as Wired magazine denounces Ring doorbell cameras as being too easy […]
Katie Harbath joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about running Public Policy at Facebook after joining them from the NRSC, starting Anchor Change and how she's working to solve the problems in the intersection of technology and democracy.
Fred Davis only ended up in politics due to a family tragedy and then a family connection, and yet has become one of the most creative and controversial ad makers in America. His clients include a who's who of Republican elected officials...from Bush to Dole to McCain to Schwarzenegger among dozens of others. And despite electing Presidents and numerous Republicans up and down the ballot, he's most famous for his unique perspective on advertising that has led to some of the most memorable and controversials spots of the last few decades...the McCain '08 ad comparing Senator Barack Obama to Paris Hilton, introducing soon-to-be Michigan Governor Rick Synder as "one tough nerd", "Demon Sheep" in California, and introducing the phrase "I'm Not a Witch" into popular culture. Fred is a natural story teller with a great story of an accidental path and unconventional approach to politics.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODEHow family tragedy propels Fred into the PR at 19 years old & ultimately the ad business…The Senate race that put Fred on the national political map…Fred's connection the rise of Napa Valley wines…The stories behind some of Fred's most famous ads…- The “celebrity” ad against Barack Obama in 2008…- A colorful device for Governor Schwarznegger's 2006 re-election…- Branding Michigan Governor Rick Synder as “One Tough Nerd”…- The story behind the infamous Demon Sheep spot for Carly Fiorina's 2010 Senate race…- Fred's concept behind the Christine O'Donnell “I'm Not a Witch” ad from the 2010 Delaware Senate race…- The Jon Huntsman “motorcycle” announcement video…- Fred talks one of his favorite current clients, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy…- The story behind Fred's first viral video for Sonny Perdue against Georgia Governor Roy Barnes…How a high-profile conservative ad-maker is received living in liberal Hollywood…AND Jason Alexander, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, bell bottoms, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bon Van Inc, David Boren, Bottle Rocket, Barbara Boxer, Tom Campbell, Chateau Montelena, cheese boards, Bill Clinton, Robert Davi, Gray Davis, Dan Duckhorn, family disagreements, the Freitas Brothers, Gateway computers, good luck charms, gotcha ads, Kelsey Grammer, half-way houses, Mark Halperin, Jim Inhofe, large-format cameras, Rush Limbaugh, Lippincott, Mitch McConnell, Dave McCurdy, Dan McLagan, mirrored pedestals, Robert Mondavi, Sam Nunn, the NRSC, Ogilvy & Mather, Sarah Palin, pink tutus, Steve Schmidt, selling fishing bait, K. Wortham Smith, Steven Spielberg, J. Walter Thompson, Chuck Todd, Trinity University, True Lies, weathermen, the West End Grill, Meg Whitman, Wine Spectator & more!Links to ads cited in this episode: Prison dancing (Inhofe '94)Big Spender (Inhofe '94)Bug Zapper (Inhofe '98)Celebrity (McCain '08)Schwarzenegger Re-election ('06)One Tough Nerd (Rick Synder '10)Demon Sheep (Fiorina '10)I'm Not a Witch (Christine O'Donnell '10)Huntsman Motorcycle Presidential Announcement ('12)King Roy (Sonny Perdue '02)
On this important episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, with 62 to go until the November Midterms, Senator Rick Scott—one of the good guys—joins the show walk through the GOP's hopes and the state of the Red Wave as of this month. He also offers a rebuttal to Mitch McConnell's pessimism surrounding “candidate quality” and shares his thoughts on how each candidate is doing, from his vantage point as Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and what he and the NRSC will do to help them across the finish line. Next, Mike Davis from The Article III Project joins to unpack the breaking news that a federal judge will grant President Trump's request to have a “Special Master” oversee—or in Charlie's words: babysit the DOJ as they continue their legal attack on the former president. Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
