Researchers are shedding light on the influence of corporate PAC dollars. Learn why they say there’s zero evidence that corporate PACs lead to corruption.
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Did you know laughter can help you retain political information? Or that facts might not help you win a moral argument? Check it out and much more in our monthly…
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Stop piling on the jargon; it doesn’t make you sound smart. And strip this stale expression from your vocabulary.
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This month we're covering cutting PACs some slack, managing risk, Innovation Award winners and more.
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Americans have wrestled with how to fund elections for most of our country’s history. But a world without corporate PACs could lead to more dishonesty and more extreme candidates. Council…
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A batch of House special elections are just around the corner. Nathan Gonzales walks us through what to watch and what to expect.
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Working in public affairs means learning to live with uncertainty. Council President Doug Pinkham outlines the major risks and how to manage them.
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What do bobbleheads, videos and gamified fly-ins have in common? They were the creative difference in this year’s top advocacy campaigns.
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In the world of business, offering a genuine apology can seem like “an act of courage.” Here are some tips on finding the courage.
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Changing corporate behavior, closing the revolving door, conscious consumers and more. We’ve compiled the research and news that are worth the read.
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Don’t awkwardize or uglyize your writing. Read this month’s tip before turning nouns into verbs in your next piece.
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Will the new administration mean changes in the process of policymaking? We interviewed some of the sharpest minds in public affairs for their take on what’s ahead. Read on for…
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Derision and division won’t stop with the beginning of a new presidency. Nathan Gonzales explores how we might get to a more unified and respectful Congress – and America.
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What do you consider revolutionary? Helping to oust the incumbent president of your own party? We spoke with one of the Lincoln Project’s founders Mike Madrid about the tactics behind…
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Broussard Williams has a passion for inspiring others to be change makers. Both in her role as senior manager of public policy for Amazon and in her book Find Your Fire,…
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What do companies like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s have in common? They’re part of a growing movement of companies with a mission that goes beyond making a profit for…
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With a new administration come new ethics rules and discussions of campaign finance reform. While the “No PAC Pledge” has gained popularity with some candidates, polling data show Americans view…
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Governing and campaigning are not mutually exclusive. Nathan Gonzales dives into how legislating has become a part of campaign tactics and how some of the 2022 races have already started.
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Major companies have helped push change on racial justice issues. Case in point, the Washington Football Team wouldn’t have changed its name without pressure from the business community. But how…
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Newly elected to the California State Assembly, Calderon discusses the unlikely roots of her interest in public affairs and the importance of negotiation and compromise. She also shares why being…
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From the office to your news feed – the pandemic has led to an even greater reliance on social media. MIT professor and author Sinan Aral explains the neuroscience behind…
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While we might not be gathering in person this year, researchers are finding encouraging news about battling ideologies at your holiday dinner table. Find out why the Culture War might…
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Scrambling for synonyms? Here’s a writing tip that makes it easier. When you’re quoting an expert, this simple word is almost always best.
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Get to know Council Chair Peter Wilkinson and Nathan Gonzales explores the Divided States of America.
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An active Council member since the ’90s, Board Chair Peter Wilkinson is setting a plan of action for the year ahead. He’s also taking the helm as both the first…
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After each presidential election we ask the winning candidate to bring the country together. Nathan Gonzales explores why unifying the nation is going to be no easy task.
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From working on multimillion-dollar campaigns to communicating complex issues, Toyota’s public policy communications director discusses the art of messaging, what he learned as a reporter, and the importance of open…
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New research indicates that campaign finance reform efforts may be having the opposite effect.
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Don’t believe everything you read until you consider your mood. We take a look at a study on how emotion plays into believing falsehoods – and the implications for voting…
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What kind of expert are you? A subject matter expert? A leading expert? Our Impact editor dives into the inflation and ever-expanding variations of the term.
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No one knows for certain what will happen on Election Day, but Nathan Gonzales explains why our collective shock from 2016 shouldn’t drive us away from the data this time.
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In a year marked by COVID-19 and questions of election integrity, the public is putting more trust in business and less in government. Read on for insights from the 2020…
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As the boundaries between corporations and nonprofits blur, Walter Powell of Stanford University provides a fresh understanding of charitable organizations.
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As head of state government affairs at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Quinn offers his thoughts on how the lobbying world is shifting now that in-person contact has paused. He also shares what…
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Americans often say they want elected officials with corporate experience. But when it comes time to head to the polls, voters often choose candidates with this particular experience.
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Research shows that contributing to the public good improves the perception of a company in the eyes of consumers. But there’s a catch. Read on to find out what shoppers…
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Just because this word has been around for 200 years doesn’t mean it will be effective in your writing. Let’s kill this zombie once and for all.
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This is a time for open conversations about race, diversity and equity. It’s also a time to move beyond lip service to real action. Companies share the meaningful investments and…
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Like major crises before it, COVID-19 will have lasting effects on society. Council President Doug Pinkham breaks down both the trade-offs and the opportunities before the public affairs profession as…
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Candidates need to win bigly this fall to avoid skepticism of the voting process. Nathan Gonzales explains why a peaceful transition of power may be at risk this year.
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From outcomes to data to new programs, nonprofits are often caught in cycles that don’t produce the best results. If you’ve ever worked in the philanthropic world, you may relate…
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Traditional expressions of faith are eroding, so what’s filling the void? Founder and Director of Mockingbird Ministries David Zahl explores how we put more fervor and meaning into politics than…
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Research on partisanship has a bright spot. You’ll want to check out these findings before you draft your next political communication.
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Opinionated news articles may stem from our own expectations of the media. Find out more about the source of this skepticism, and the positive side effect of following local news…
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