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Nathan Gonzales examines the lack of empathy at the heart of the partisan divide and why we need to stop thinking of rural America as the “real America.”
Legislative victories are hard to come by in such a polarized political environment. That’s why trade associations are one of the few places where the art of compromise is still operating. Read on to learn how some of the best in the business find consensus.
The value of belonging to an organization that can speak for your profession or industry lies in their ability to find common ground among a disparate membership. Learn how you can help them help you and your cause or issue.
The Foundation for Public Affairs Executive Director Amy Meli looks at how the SCOTUS ruling striking down affirmative action from the college admissions process could impact future leadership pipelines in business.
From working for three U.S. presidents to his current role as Global Head of Government Affairs for SAP, Peter Selfridge has tremendous depth of knowledge in politics and public affairs. Learn more about his career and how he’s in the thick of it with AI and its application in public affairs.
There are show horses and work horses in Congress, and guess what? Voters prefer the show horses. A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences delves into why grandstanding often rewards elected officials, as well as the one exception that’s connected to PAC contributions.
Public affairs professionals are on the move. With new roles at the American Society for Microbiology, PhRMA, Alaska Airlines and Princeton University, among others, see what your peers are up to and where they’re landing.
It’s harder and harder to figure out who is going to emerge from the DeSantis-Disney struggle looking better than before this quarrel started or how, if ever, it will end. The best that can be hoped for at this point is what we might learn from it. Our experts weigh in.
Republicans and Democrats seem determined to “gift” the presidential race to each other. From scrutiny about Biden’s faculties to Trump’s legal issues and poor track record with independents, Nathan Gonzales frames out what the field looks like with both sides poised to nominate the “weakest candidate possible.”
For some companies, having their political activity evaluated by the CPA-Zicklin Index can be intimidating; for others, it’s exhilarating. But as the number of companies being rated continues to expand, it’s important to know what to expect, how much weight to give the index, and what level of compliance makes sense.
PepsiCo’s director of government affairs and corporate citizenship discusses her career trajectory and why PepsiCo considers itself “a playground for curious people.” Plus, Lustig shares insights into her time studying in Cambodia and co-writing a book about public service with other young women she worked with in the Obama White House.
PAC contributions have a broader impact than you might think. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects of PAC donations and what members say on the floor of Congress. Learn how and why PACs are influencing speeches.
Public affairs professionals are on the move. With new roles at BP, Discover Financial Services, Metlife and American Property Casualty Insurance Association, to name a few, see what your peers are up to and where they’re landing.
Named for Mack Hogans, the Council’s first Black board chair, the Hogans Fellowship is designed to support emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds as they prepare for leadership tracks, with a strong focus on talent retention in public affairs.
From tackling polarization to figuring out how to leverage AI in smart ways to fostering a more diverse field, here’s what the 2023 Hogans Fellows have to say about the big challenges before the profession, as well as the paths they’re planning for the next five years.
Is ChatGPT an innovation you need to jump on immediately? A recipe for disaster? A tangle of future regulations? Or some combination of all these things? Read on for how it will change the way you work — because it will.
The media plays an important accountability role in our politics, but how do we restore the trust between the press and average citizens? Inside Elections’ Nathan Gonzales offers some observations on the voters’ role and the media’s role if we want to make progress.
The new vice president of government relations at KORE Power discusses the enthusiasm of people working in the clean energy industry, the satisfaction she gets from her moonlighting gig as an adjunct instructor, and pursuing the Council’s Certificate in Public Affairs Management.
In our new column on trends you can put to use in your own public affairs work, we look at why you shouldn’t be disappointed when a legislative member passes you off to their staff.
Public affairs professionals are taking new jobs at Uber, TikTok, the American Osteopathic Association, and Total Wine to name but a few. Get the scoop on who is on the move and where they’re landing.
There are a lot of unknowns looking ahead to the 2024 elections, but one thing we do know is where the key fights will take place. Read on for Nathan Gonzales’ analysis of how these unknowns seem likely to shake out and what to expect from battleground states in next year’s Presidential and Congressional elections.
As high-level opinion journalists move from established newspapers and magazines, it begs the question – where are we to go to find smart commentary? Discover why Substack, and its recently emerging competitors, is becoming the place to go.
As remote work continues, PAC professionals are facing a “new and challenging environment.” Dive into case studies where PAC practitioners share how they instill a sense of community whether they’re working in a hybrid or fully remote world.
Cox Communications’ market vice president discusses what she’s learned from her new position in internal communications and how it can help government affairs professionals. Chiazor also shares her takeaways from serving as a volunteer leader with the Council and her time at Harvard Business School.
Recent surveys from Gallup tell us that executives and employees don’t tend to view their organization’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts the same. Learn more about the divisions and how to combat the shortcomings.
Editors are inundated with opinion pieces and space considerations prevent them from publishing most submissions, even ones they like. Avoid the overstated and non-specific what-to-do’s found in most guidance on getting an op-ed published, and focus on what not to do.
Learn how the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association leveraged rebranding and restructuring to significantly increase its PAC contributions, and how The Home Depot’s “Aprons on the Hill” campaign increased awareness and promoted PAC membership and engagement.
Council Senior Director Amy Meli analyzes new findings on Fortune 500 company PAC contributions to House Republicans in the 2022 election cycle and how reps who voted to decertify the election results faired compared with non-objectors.
At the National PAC Conference, Nathan Gonzales answered pressing election questions from attendees. Watch for his insights on what’s coming in 2023 and beyond. And be sure to check out the outtakes!
Edison International’s director of public affairs shares advice for leaders in challenging times and how his team was able to achieve impressive PAC revenue growth. Plus, read his reflections from his time as an intern on Capitol Hill and in the White House.
In this case study of Diageo’s “Society 2030: Spirit of Progress” plan, learn how the company homed in on the social sustainability portion of the plan to build human and social capital within its employee base, suppliers, customers and communities.
The English – and American English – language is livelier than ever. New words, taken from the way we talk, are regularly coming into use. Read on for the benefits of embracing new language and even incorporating slang into your writing.
Learn more about the innovative campaigns from the winners of the Outstanding PAC Awards in the association and corporate categories.
This year’s Innovation Award winners put a “human face on the issues they are addressing … personalizing them in unforgettable ways.” Learn more about the winning campaigns from AAA – The Auto Club Group, Community Associations Institute and Feeding America.
Read about the exceptional campaigns of this year’s winners in the Lobbying, Grassroots and Communications categories.
Attendees of The Advocacy Conference in Fort Lauderdale had some burning questions for Nathan Gonzales about upcoming elections. Watch now to find out what they had to say.
João Sousa, managing director of the Council’s European Office, dives into why public affairs professionals are well placed to engage on social issues and play a stronger role in helping address global challenges. Read about his five ideas.
Companies thinking of scaling back on their DEI initiatives because of concerns about an economic downturn should think again. Read the reasons why now is the time to stick to and grow your commitments.
Did you know that standup comedians are among the best editors? They have to be stingy with their words if they want to hit comedy gold. Read how one of the best in the business has “squeezed every wasted word out of his act.”
Public affairs professionals are having a moment. Council Chair Mary Moore Hamrick looks back at a year when members made their mark in tumultuous business and political environments and looks ahead to the priorities and strategies to make 2023 even stronger.
If you thought we would get a break from election activity and news, think again. Nathan Gonzales explains why there will be plenty of action in 2023.
Government relations teams play an important role in their organization’s branding. State and local officials are making decisions that affect your organization, but are they aware of the contributions your company is making? Keep reading for expert insights when communicating your organization’s story.