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.

On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into Trump’s second inauguration and GOP politics.

In the Lobby Shop’s first episode of 2025, co-hosts Liam Donovan, Caitlin Sickles and Dylan Pasiuk convene to analyze the political environment ahead of President-elect Trump’s second inauguration. The group explores the challenges facing Speaker Johnson in a very narrowly divided Congress, the enduring influence of Trump on the Republican Party and the Democrats’ growing sense of resignation in legislative struggles. The discussion also highlights the ongoing confirmation hearings and the outsized role of figures like Elon Musk in shaping party dynamics. As they look ahead to the next administration, the hosts wonder what these developments mean for Republicans’ leadership and direction.

Listen to the full episode here.

I joined Tim Miller on The Bulwark podcast, alongside Rep. Brendan Boyle, to talk about tax cuts and reconciliation.

Trump talked a lot more about Hannibal Lecter during the campaign than one of his actual top priorities: extending his 2017 tax cuts. With those $4.5 trillion in cuts set to expire by the end of the year, that’s the first major item of business for congressional Republicans. But how they get paid for will affect people’s lives. Tim takes a deep dive into the reconciliation process that would allow Republicans to make deep cuts to programs without having to work with Democrats. Plus, the billionaire plutocrats staffing the new administration and the potential for corruption.
Rep. Brendan Boyle and Liam Donovan join Tim Miller.

Listen to the full episode here.

On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into permitting reform, IRA, NEPA, and House Republican opportunities.

In this episode of the Lobby Shop, hosts Liam Donovan and Josh Zive welcome Capitol Hill veteran Emily Domenech, Senior Vice President of Boundary Stone Partners and co-host of the Political Climate podcast. The crew delves into the intricacies of permitting reform, what the future of the Inflation Reduction Act looks like, and the new opportunities and challenges House Republicans face. Emily also emphasizes the pivotal role of NEPA reform in accelerating infrastructure development and the need for bipartisan cooperation to achieve meaningful reforms in the upcoming congress. Want to hear more from the lobby shop team and a veteran Capitol Hill expert? Then tune in!

Listen to the full episode here.

On this week’s Lobby Shop, we dug into Trump’s second-term agenda and Republican trifecta.

The Lobby Shop team comes back together to analyze the recent election results and discuss what Trump’s victory, along with a Republican trifecta, means for the future of the party. With Trump securing decisive wins in all the key swing states and the popular vote, hosts Josh Zive, Liam Donovan, and Dylan Pasiuk break down shifting voter demographics and explore what a potential legislative agenda could look like in the upcoming term. Curious about the challenges and opportunities the GOP may face in Congress over the next two years? The tune in!

Listen to the full episode here.