On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into budget reconciliation and debt ceiling.

The Lobby Shop team turns their focus on the ongoing budget reconciliation process in Congress that will shape the Trump administration’s economic agenda. Hosts Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, and Liam Donovan provide a quick update on the latest tariff developments before diving into the reconciliation process and the shifting legislative dynamics between the House and the Senate. Then, Liam does a deep dive on how economic pressures are reshaping political strategy, and what it all means for government funding timelines and the looming debt ceiling. Tune in for a Liam-style breakdown of the often confusing reconciliation process in the next couple of weeks.

Listen to the full episode here.

On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into Trump tariffs and tax-package timing.

In the aftermath of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements, the Lobby Shop team breaks down the philosophy behind President Trump’s new tariffs and the real world ramifications for both domestic and foreign policy. The team also examines reactions from the private sector and Congress, including the potential impact on the timing for the Republicans’ plan to move forward on a tax package. With a multitude of scenarios playing out at once, the Lobby Shop team discusses the one question on many Americans minds: where do we go from here?

Listen to the full episode here.

I joined Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller on Control to talk about budget reconciliation and the CR vote.

The House and Senate return following the passage of a CR, and the next thing on the table is a return to budget reconciliation negotiations. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Liam Donovan, senior political strategist at Bracewell, to talk about where discussions stand, what obstacles remain, and how long this thing may take. Plus what happened with the Democrats on the CR vote, the firestorm its created, and how they try to move forward.

Listen to the full episode here.

On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into Trump tariffs and trade policy.

The Lobby Shop team is back and talking tariffs! Caitlin Sickles, Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, Liam Donovan, and Dylan Pasiuk break down the latest developments in the ongoing tariff rollercoaster—separating the tariffs that have actually been imposed from those still being threatened, along with the retaliation from U.S. trading partners. They explore President Trump’s rationale for using tariffs and threats of tariffs, highlighting key differences between those imposed during his first term versus his second. The team also examines the impact of these trade policies on various sectors, including potential conflicts between the Administration’s tariff strategy and its energy agenda, as well as the challenges companies face with sudden cost increases disrupting their supply chains.

Listen to the full episode here.

I joined Ron Steslow and Marc Caputo on Politicology’s weekly roundup to talk about the January 6 and preemptive pardons and the limits of executive power.

This week, we discuss Donald Trump’s broad pardons for January 6th and Joe Biden’s preemptive pardons for Trump critics and his own family members.
Then, we talk about Trump’s Executive Orders and whether there’s a growing appetite for something resembling a more monarchical presidency
Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we discuss Donald and Melania Trump launching memecoins (don’t worry, we’ll explain) and the serious ethical questions they raise
Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel:
Liam Donovan (Principal at Bracewell LLP)
Marc Caputo (Senior Politics Reporter at Axios)

Listen to the full episode here.