Cozen Oconnor Public Strategies - The Beltway Briefing

The vilification of politics creates a perception that nothing gets done in Washington. While Congress often appears dysfunctional, it continues to govern, quietly advancing bipartisan, critical pieces of legislation. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Towner French.

As Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to oust Speaker Mike Johnson through a motion to vacate, Democrats calculated that the public's frustration with Washington dysfunction could harm their electoral prospects. Meanwhile, at the forefront of the campaign trial, the competition narrows between Biden, Trump, and the couch. From the hush-money trial to college campus Israel-Hamas protests to concerns about the economy and immigration, voters who harbor discontent toward both candidates, often termed 'double-haters,' face a pivotal choice. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer and Kyle Anderson.

Having once sat on a pedestal, big tech finds itself grappling with a maze of state and global privacy and data security regulations. Now, some major tech companies are asking Congress to force privacy standards. With the unveiling of a new bipartisan, comprehensive data privacy framework, the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), the question arises: will this be the year Congress finally acts on privacy legislation? Featuring Public Strategies’ Patrick Martin, Madison Smith, and Meagan Foster.

In recent years, the Philadelphia suburbs have emerged as a bellwether for presidential elections. With national voter enthusiasm at an all-time low, is the Commonwealth’s senate race overshadowing the presidential election? The fate of the nation hangs on the smallest shifts in historical voter demographics, encompassing critical issues such as the border crisis and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, the Hon. Rodney Davis, and Kyle Anderson.

As norms and institutions encounter scrutiny, the political pendulum remains in motion, illustrated by the foreign aid discussion on Capitol Hill, the contentious discourse surrounding the Middle East conflict on college campuses and in major urban centers, and the unfolding of Trump’s first criminal trial in New York City. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Towner French.

State supreme courts have become as political as courts get. Could the recent Arizona Supreme Court ruling on reproductive rights cost Republicans the November election? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Towner French.

The intricate interplay between economic perceptions and immigration places President Biden in a delicate balancing act with swing state voters. Given the outcomes of the past two elections hinged on this pivotal electorate, the prevailing political polarization and prominence of these issues could be enough to tip the scales. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and the Hon. Rodney Davis.

As 2024 shapes up to be a turnout election, both Democrats and Republicans are working to fine-tune their messaging to mobilize voters. Can President Biden reshape the economic narrative effectively? Will the "uncommitted" movement, fueled by progressive concerns over the Israel-Gaza conflict, influence the outcome? How are Republicans reframing their discourse on abortion? Featuring Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and the Hon. Rodney Davis.

Following Super Tuesday and President Biden’s State of the Union address, Public Strategies teams up with Cozen O’Connor’s state attorneys general (SAG) practice to discuss key races and issues ahead of November. From presidential to congressional to gubernatorial to state attorneys general races, they dissect the looming specter of aging presidential contenders, the economic pulse, immigration, discourse surrounding abortion rights, and Israel-Gaza conflict, among other pivotal issues. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer and the Hon. Rodney Davis and SAG’s the Hon. Jerry Kilgore and Stephen Cobb.

As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving leader of the Senate GOP, announces his planned resignation from leadership, all eyes turn to the “three Johns” – Barrasso, Cornyn, and Thune – each plotting to fill McConnell’s shoes. Coupling this leadership shake-up with the potential for a second Trump presidency, the Public Strategies team navigates turbulent political waters, exploring the normalization of impeachment and the events of the January 6th insurrection. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, the Hon. Rodney Davis, and Towner French.

Despite the influx of dollars into Nikki Haley’s campaign, the South Carolina primary could mark its end of the road. But, until the financial well runs dry, will Haley power through in the off-chance Trump’s court cases take a political toll? Looking to Washington, the Public Strategies team analyzes the ebb and flow of Capitol Hill over the last decade, including a loss of bipartisan socialization, a degradation of party unity, and a consolidation of executive power. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin.

As we enter President’s weekend, would the former leaders be disappointed we aren’t further along in our nation’s trajectory? Is the end of American exceptionalism closer than we know? Join Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Towner French as they look back at our country’s historical struggles, discuss whether Tom Suozzi’s win is a good omen for the Democrats in November, and ask whether the absence of a clear foreign enemy today is at the root of all this internal dysfunction.

The special counsel report on President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents reignites doubts about his age and mental fitness as he seeks reelection. With no clear Democratic alternative questions are swirling about Biden’s ability to finish out a second term. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, political greed derails the bipartisan border deal, cementing immigration as the new third rail. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and the Hon. Rodney Davis

Bipartisan legislating is turning heads in Congress as the House advanced this week a significant tax package and the Senate continues negotiations on a border and national security supplemental. Don’t blink, but will Congress actually get things done, or will election year politics threaten to derail both efforts? Featuring Public Strategies’ Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Kaitlyn Martin.

Following Iowa and New Hampshire, the path to the Republican nomination narrows for Nikki Haley, moving former president Donald Trump one step closer to securing the nomination. As the reality of a Biden-Trump rematch weighs heavy on the minds of voters, the Public Strategies team pulls back the curtain on a hypothetical second Trump term. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, Hon. Rodney Davis, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin.

As GOP candidates gear up for the New Hampshire Caucus, the shadow of Donald Trump looms large against his GOP challengers, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, who fail to effectively criticize the former president and appeal to his unwavering MAGA base. Come November, the 2024 presidential outcome will ultimately be shaped by the economic psyche of voters. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin.

With the Iowa Caucus on the horizon, the Public Strategies team analyzes past nomination paths and illustrates scenarios for a presumptive Biden-Trump 2024 rematch. While Nikki Haley may have a “Hail Mary” with Independents in New Hampshire, former president Donald Trump’s momentum among the GOP base appears to be inescapable. Featuring Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Hon. Rodney Davis.

From “Walking in a Biden Blunderland” to “Must be Santos,” the Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies team embraced the holiday season yet again with Christmas carol parodies, reflecting on 2023’s political and legislative challenges and sharing their hopes for the new year. Featuring CPS’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, Hon. Rodney Davis, Towner French, and Kaitlyn Martin.

The presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT refused this week to declare in congressional testimony that calling for the genocide of Jews constitutes harassment under their codes of conduct. Their failure to do so supports the GOP narrative about biased institutions. Meanwhile, the economy continues to chug along but companies still struggle to find workers. Featuring CPS’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Patrick Martin, and Towner French.

The US House of Representatives expels New York Congressman George Santos. Meanwhile on the campaign trail, support continues to coalesce around Nikki Haley. To be seen as a strong alternative to the former president, Haley must master a balancing act between the party's conservatives and moderates. Featuring CPS' Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Towner French and Kaitlyn Martin.