Latest news with #KatherineLong
Politico
11 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Vogel Group plants a flag in Canada
With help from Katherine Long and Daniel Lippman ANOTHER CROSS-BORDER ALLIANCE: As the G7 summit kicked off in Alberta today following a tense few months between the U.S. and Canada, the Vogel Group became the latest firm on K Street to team up with one of its Canadian counterparts. Vogel Group has struck up a strategic partnership with Bolero Strategies, a government relations and PR firm based in Montreal. — The alliance 'provides us greater access and visibility to clients in the Canadian marketplace and vice versa,' Vogel Group CEO Alex Vogel told PI in an email. He said the partnership is a response to increased demand for cross-border insight as a result of the 'the pace of current policy changes/developments' on trade issues and beyond. In addition to Vogel Group's home base of D.C., the firm also has offices in state capitals across the country. — In March, amid President Donald Trump's repeated threats to make Canada the 51st state and his tariff warnings, Ballard Partners partnered with Quebec-based communications and public affairs firm TACT. And just before Trump took office, Capitol Counsel announced its own partnership with the Canadian firm Rubicon Strategy Inc. to provide 'a seamless solution' to cross-border advocacy issues. McKINSEY FORMS A PAC: Consulting giant McKinsey has formed a corporate PAC, allowing the company to engage in direct spending to support candidates for the first time. Marianne Casserly, McKinsey's director of government and securities compliance, and Emily Mellencamp Smith, a former top Democratic fundraiser, who now works in McKinsey's public affairs operation, will steer the PAC, according to an FEC filing. — 'Since McKinsey's founding in Chicago nearly 100 years ago, our work has been rooted in the American values of free enterprise, innovation, and economic growth and mobility,' Neil Grace, a McKinsey spokesperson, told PI. 'Establishing a PAC will help us continue to advance these values as we engage with elected officials on both sides of the aisle.' — McKinsey isn't the only top consulting firm with a federal PAC. Deloitte has run a corporate PAC since the 1980s, and raised $3.6 million from employees during the 2024 cycle. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. How'd your priorities (or your clients') fare in the Senate reconciliation bill? Drop me a line: You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. QUAADMAN TO ICI: U.S. Chamber of Commerce veteran Tom Quaadman is joining the Investment Company Institute to lead government affairs. — Quaadman joins ICI after 17 years at the Chamber, where he served as senior vice president of economic policy and oversaw the Chamber's Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, which was founded in 2007 to promote financial regulatory policies. — 'I'm thrilled to welcome Tom to ICI to lead our government affairs efforts, bringing to bear his extensive experience in financial services policy,' ICI President and CEO Eric J. Pan said in a statement. 'He will markedly strengthen ICI's advocacy in matters of financial regulation, retirement policy, and tax to promote the use of asset management by individual investors saving for the long-term.' BEING PRO-TRUMP PAYS: New financial disclosures released by the White House Friday reveal that it pays to be in Trump's orbit, Kenneth P. Vogel writes for The New York Times. The mandatory filings — which were not announced upon their release — include financial statements for dozens of officials who received financial backing from Trump-affiliated companies and groups before joining the administration. — 'Top Trump advisers like Dan Scavino, a deputy chief of staff, and Sergio Gor, the director of the presidential personnel office, reported making more than $1 million each from media-related ventures linked to Mr. Trump.' — Pro-Trump think tanks and advocacy groups paid top Trump administration officials including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and policy adviser Stephen Miller, and a number of officials received payments from Trump's campaign as consultants before being appointed to positions in the administration. VIRGIN ISLANDS LOBBIES ON TAX BILL: 'The tax bill before Congress would partially exempt the U.S. Virgin Islands from a law meant to crack down on tax havens, after a lobbying campaign by the territory's government and a large private credit firm that stands to benefit from the measure,' per Jeff Stein and Clara Ence Morse at The Washington Post. — 'Over the past three years, an affiliate of the credit giant Golub Capital paid a Washington firm more than $500,000 to urge Congress to relax a global minimum tax approved as part of the 2017 GOP tax law, lobbying disclosures show.' — The exemption, which has received scant attention, has received criticism from certain tax policy experts who argue it 'appears designed to benefit a small number of U.S. firms, rather than to promote economic growth or some other public policy goal.' A NEW ETHICAL DEBATE: 'Saturday's military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to President Trump, raising questions about whether the event benefited his allies and supporters,' Minho Kim writes for The New York Times. — 'Palantir, the data analysis and technology firm whose contracts with the federal government are expanding, and Coinbase, a cryptocurrency firm that donated to the president's inauguration, also sponsored the event. Oracle, a database company whose co-founder is a close friend of Mr. Trump's, received a shout-out on Saturday as a sponsor.' — UFC was also mentioned during the event and on the event's website, but a spokesperson for the company told The New York Times that it was not an official corporate sponsor. — 'Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for the private gain of officeholders or their friends, relatives or nongovernmental affiliates, said Richard W. Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House Counsel's Office under President George W. Bush.' — 'The parade is being used for advertising by these entities with close business ties to the president,' Painter told The New York Times. 'You're in a situation where the U.S. government has been used to endorse a product.' BETTER THAN REVENGE: 'Business lobbyists are working to kill a tax measure embraced by Republican lawmakers that would punish companies based in countries that try to collect new taxes from American firms,' The Times' Alan Rappeport and Colby Smith report. — 'On Monday, Senate Republicans unveiled their domestic policy bill, which included a so-called revenge tax on foreign companies. That tax would punish companies based in countries that either adhere to the terms of a 2021 global minimum tax agreement or that impose digital services taxes on American technology companies,' but the Senate's version of the bill would punt enforcement of the tax until 2027. — The latest version 'also has a lower maximum tax rate, making it somewhat less onerous. However, the fact that the tax remained intact indicates that its inclusion in the final bill that heads to the president's desk for his signature remains likely.' LOCKHEED ADDS TRUMP ALUM: Former Trump spokesperson Jalen Drummond has joined Lockheed Martin as vice president of corporate affairs and international communications. Drummond most recently oversaw public affairs and corporate communications at the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe. Before that, he worked in media relations for Leidos and was an assistant White House press secretary during Trump's first term. — Drummond joined GoFundMe at a tricky time for the crowdfunding site, which had been facing Republican accusations it was censoring conservative viewpoints. By last summer, that anger appeared to have dissipated, with Trump's campaign launching a fundraiser on GoFundMe for the victims of the assassination attempt at his Butler, Pennsylvania, rally. — Lockheed faced the ire of the MAGA crowd earlier this year, when Breitbart highlighted social media posts from Lockheed's then-head of government affairs expressing left-leaning political views like support for allowing transgender people to serve in the military and diverse hiring practices, and references to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol as an insurrection. Shelly Stoneman, an Obama administration alum, resigned shortly after. — The hire comes at a high stakes moment for the defense contractor, with violence breaking out across the Middle East and the top Pentagon officials simultaneously declaring war on the military industrial complex amid a push to cut wasteful spending. Jobs report — Maddie Heyman is joining Monument Advocacy as a vice president of public affairs in Monument's Seattle office. She spent the past decade with Microsoft, most recently as group manager of external relations for Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. — Jennifer Abril will be the next president and CEO of the American Cleaning Institute beginning in August. She currently leads the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates. — Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has added Matt Grinney as a policy director, and Michele Blackwell as a shareholder in the state government relations and state attorneys general practices. Grinney most recently served as managing director at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and Blackwell most recently served as senior public policy manager for Uber. — Cole Randle has been promoted to chief of staff and head of corporate affairs at Heart Aerospace. He was previously head of strategic engagement. — John Barsa is joining Continental Strategy as a partner. He previously was acting USAID administrator in Trump's first term. — Alex Floyd is joining the new anti-Trump war room Defend America Action as rapid response director. He previously was rapid response director at the DNC, and is an Andy Beshear alum. — Lauren Oppenheimer is joining Brunswick Group as a director. She most recently was chief of staff and senior deputy comptroller for public affairs at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. — Graeme Crews will be senior director of media and public relations at Brady United. He previously was communications director for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. — Valeria Ojeda-Avitia will be chief communications officer for BOLD PAC. She previously was deputy chief of staff, senior adviser and comms director for Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.). New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs Civic Roots Fund (Super PAC) (Super PAC) Helpful Housing, Safe Streets PAC (Super PAC) McKinsey & Company, Inc. United States Political Action Committee (McKinsey PAC) (PAC) Tucson Families Fed Up PAC (Super PAC) WSB LLC PAC (WSB PAC) (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Ballard Partners: Publix Super Markets, Inc. Ballard Partners: Taurus Holdings Inc. Boundary Stone Partners: The Pew Charitable Trusts Branstad Churchill Group, LLC: Bitmain Delaware Holding Company Inc Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Axa Xl Global Services, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Christian Brothers Academy Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Coinstar Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Corex Holding B.V. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Daniels Fund Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Figure Markets, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Glytec, LLC Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Independent Sector Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Junior Achievement USa Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: National Organization To Save Flathead Lake Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Timios, Inc. Carmen Group Incorporated: Pediatrix Medical Group Inc Kelley Drye & Warren LLP: Mrcool LLC Maven Advocacy Partners LLC: Sagint Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Inc. Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: USantibiotics New Lobbying Terminations None.
Politico
06-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
The New York Times lobbies up
With Katherine Long, Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — NYT HIRES BROWNSTEIN: The New York Times has registered to lobby for the first time in more than a decade. The news giant has retained K Street heavyweight Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to represent it on a range of issues affecting the industry, from encroachments on press freedoms to the threats posed by artificial intelligence. — The Times' parent company first hired Brownstein last year, but the firm's work didn't trigger lobbying registration requirements until April, according to a spokesperson for the company and a draft disclosure filing shared with PI. More than half a dozen lobbyists are listed as working on the account for Brownstein: Republicans Marc Lampkin, Will Moschella and Greta Joynes and Democrats Al Mottur, Alice Lugo, Rob Robillard and John Menges. — One issue drawing the paper off the lobbying sidelines is the increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence and the thorny issues it poses for news organizations. The Times, for example, introduced a suite of AI tools for internal use earlier this year. And many news outlets (including the Times, POLITICO and parent company Axel Springer) have partnered with AI companies on licensing deals and consumer-facing products. — But NYT is also one of several publishers facing off in court against ChatGPT creator OpenAI or other AI companies accused of copyright infringement for using outlets' content to train its models without permission or compensation. — In a congressional hearing on the issue last year, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned that AI was 'literally eating away at the lifeblood of our democracy' and contributing to an 'existential crisis' among local publishers in particular. The last Congress also mulled legislation that would require online platforms like Google and Meta to negotiate with and pay news publishers in exchange for hosting their content. — At the same time, Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger has been repeatedly sounding the alarm about threats to press freedom both around the world and from leaders in the U.S. — In a speech last month that was republished as an essay in the Times, Sulzberger took note of President Donald Trump's escalating pressure campaign against news outlets already in his second term — from curtailing access to certain mainstream outlets in favor of friendlier partisan ones to suing, seeking to defund or opening federal probes of others and calling for the jailing of reporters. — 'It takes significant time, effort, and resources to produce The New York Times's fact-based original journalism and other content. Because of that, we have for years taken steps to protect and defend our intellectual property rights and uphold its value,' a Times spokesperson told PI in a statement. — 'In line with these efforts, we have engaged a Washington, DC-based government affairs firm to ensure our rights and legal protections are clearly and accurately represented among policymakers and regulators focused on publishing, media, copyright law and press freedoms,' it added. — The Times hasn't lobbied at the federal level since 2014, when the company paid Keightley & Ashner $30,000 for three quarters of work related to a pension issue. TGIF and welcome to PI. This newsletter runs on tips, so let's hear 'em. You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. ALL ABOUT AVA: A coalition of budget airlines this week launched the Association of Value Airlines, a new industry group aimed at boosting low-budget carriers in policy debates often dominated by the trade association representing major carriers, Airlines for America. AVA's founding members include Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier, Spirit and Sun Country. — Chris Brown currently serves as the group's interim executive director. He previously was vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs at larger industry trade association Airlines for America, and lobbied for low-fare airlines at the National Air Carrier Association. — In an interview with PI, Brown said the goal of AVA is to amplify the priorities of budget airlines, as larger organizations encompassing a range of air carriers often lead to competing priorities. Those priorities, Brown said, include a focus on rising costs due to the pilot shortage and the implementation of simulator training programs within the current 1,500-hour training requirement for pilots. — While the budget airlines business model thrived during the pandemic, they're now at an inflection point, Brown said. Brown attributes these airlines' success to ancillary fees, a model that other high-budget airlines have started to mirror. Southwest Airlines, for example, announced in March plans to do away with its free checked bag policy. — 'It's a critical time for our carriers, because of where they are financially and wanting to take advantage of what should be a more favorable regulatory environment with the Trump administration,' Brown said. PAUL WEISS LOSES ANOTHER BIG NAME: Another prominent lawyer has left Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison after the law firm struck a deal with the Trump administration to avoid being punished by an executive order. — Damian Williams, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, left the firm after just five months to join Jenner & Block as the co-chair of its litigation department and investigations, compliance and defense practice. — Williams served as one of the nation's top federal prosecutors during the Biden administration, securing several high-profile convictions including those of former crypto kingmaker Sam Bankman-Fried and former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). — Williams is the latest in a string of notable departures from Paul Weiss in the aftermath of its deal with the White House. Top Democratic attorney Karen Dunn and former top DOJ official Jeannie Rhee left the firm along with two other partners last month. — But Williams' landing spot is almost more notable: Jenner & Block became one of the first white shoe law firms targeted by Trump to take the president to court over his executive orders — and so far, they've been winning. OFF TARGET: 'A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders,' POLITICO's Holly Otterbein and Daniel report. — 'At a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, the Association of State Democratic Committees — an umbrella group for state parties — voted to recommend state races use one liberal firm, TargetSmart, for a major portion of digital ad buys, which could be worth millions.' — 'TargetSmart announced on May 7 that Liz Walters, outgoing chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is taking over as CEO this summer. Walters, who made her departure public in a post on X, said she would leave the state party role by June 30. And until the week before the group's meeting, she was part of the ASDC's leadership team as treasurer.' — Though Walters recused herself from the TargetSmart vote, the incident is prompting fears among the party of even the appearance of a conflict of interest as Democrats struggle to find their footing. BLAST RADIUS: 'The spectacular breakup between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump threatens to leave Tesla with few political friends,' POLITICO's David Ferris reports. 'Musk has spent the past few months alienating the electric automaker's base of climate-minded car buyers by moonlighting as Trump's government-slasher-in-chief. Now, the billionaire's fixation on the GOP megabill has opened a dangerous rift with the president, who threatened Thursday to end all subsidies to Musk's companies.' — Musk's competitors in the space industry, meanwhile, are already moving to take advantage of the split, according to our Sam Skove. The SpaceX founder has long been an avid proponent of next bringing humans to Mars, rather than the moon. — But in some of the first significant pushback against Musk and SpaceX, 'a number of major space companies … are launching an ad campaign going big on the moon, according to two industry officials granted anonymity to discuss the effort.' — 'A separate letter addressed to the Senate Commerce Committee, and obtained by POLITICO, backs investments in the moon, and is signed by a lengthy slate of prominent space companies — but not SpaceX.' RELATED READ: 'What do Musk and Tesla want from the Republican megabill?' by E&E News' Kelsey Brugger. SHE MEANS BUSINESS: Casey Means, Trump's new nominee to be U.S. surgeon general, 'has repeatedly said the nation's medical, health and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health,' The Associated Press' Michelle R. Smith and Ali Swenson write. — But as Means 'has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of health and wellness products — including specialty basil seed supplements, a blood testing service and a prepared meal delivery service — in ways that put money in her own pocket.' — 'In her newsletter, on her social media accounts, on her website, in her book and during podcast appearances, the entrepreneur and influencer has at times failed to disclose that she could profit or benefit in other ways from sales of products she recommends. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found.' AI GROUP STAFFS UP: AI advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation is adding four new staffers to its policy team, Morning Tech reports. Brandie Nonnecke, previously an associate research professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, is now a senior policy director, while Rachel Hovde is joining as director of policy. She previously served as a senior advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security. — Sarah Kessel, who worked under former Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), is now ARI's manager of government affairs, and Evan Sarnor has joined as a legislative analyst from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. CORRECTION: Thursday's edition of this newsletter gave the incorrect state for former Gov. Jim Gilmore and misidentified the division at Seven Letter that has promoted three staffers. PI regrets the error. Jobs report — Chip Kahn will step down as president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals at the end of 2025, after 24 years with the group. — Shelly O'Neill Stoneman has launched StonePoint Strategies, a strategic consulting firm. She previously was senior vice president of government affairs at Lockheed Martin. — Chelsea Blink is now legislative director for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). She previously was director of farm animal legislation at the ASPCA. — Gustavo Torres is retiring as executive director of CASA, after more than three decades in the role. — Jerzy Piatkowski is now counsel at Fenwick. He most recently was vice president of contracts and associate general counsel at General Dynamics Mission Systems. — Kevin Orellana will be a legislative assistant for Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.), handling his financial services portfolio. He previously was a legislative aide for Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.). New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs Earnin PAC Activehours Inc. Fund (Earnin PAC) (PAC) Our Virginia PAC (Super PAC) RIGHT TECH PAC (Hybrid PAC) Taproot Collective Fund (PAC) Vets Against Trump PAC (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Bkv Corporation Arrow Group Consulting, LLC: Pelican Reef Of St. Augustine LLC Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Chicanos Por La Causa Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: City Of St. Pete Beach, Fl Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: National Iamerican Indian Housing Coalition Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Significance, Inc. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Tampa Port Authority Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Treatment Alternatives For Safe Communities, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Ameresco, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Exelon Business Services Company LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Galaxy Digital Holdings Lp Bgr Government Affairs: Millennium Management LLC Bgr Government Affairs: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Bgr Government Affairs: Phantom Bgr Government Affairs: St Energy Bgr Government Affairs: Welbehealth Boundary Stone Partners: Carbonbuilt Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Pc: Bright Path Labs Capital City Consulting, LLC.: Miller Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Merchants For America, Inc. Continental Strategy, LLC: Stubhub Inc. Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Archkey Solutions Hb Strategies: Viamericas Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Estar Partners Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Mark Foods LLC Red Carr LLC: Team Hallahan (On Behalf Of City Of Cleveland) Riley Executive Government Solutions: Okeefe Industries Squire Patton Boggs: Bitcoin Policy Institute The Jackson Group, LLC: 47G The Jackson Group, LLC: Pelion Venture Partners The Nuclear Company: The Nuclear Company Todd Strategy Group: Glaxosmithkline LLC Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Dupont Law Firm New Lobbying Terminations Bgr Government Affairs: Grail, LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Sandvine Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Deckard Technologies Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Leading Builders Of America Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Lowe Syndrome Association Walker Strategies: Alliance Of Health Care Sharing Ministries
