Reputation, Regulation and Relationships: What’s driving policymaker priorities in 2025

On this week’s episode of What’s at Stake, Penta Policy Brand Research leaders Rebecca Cunningham and Victoria Nolte join hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui to unpack findings from the 2025 Washington Insights Review, an annual Penta report based on a survey of hundreds of senior Washington policymakers

Their conversation covered:

• Which issues are shaping U.S. policymaker priorities across parties, from the economy and immigration to AI, fintech, and China.
• How corporate reputation in Washington has shifted post-COVID, and what’s driving both the rise of emerging sectors and the reputational slip of legacy industries.
• Why companies must tailor their advocacy to resonate authentically with policymakers, and how social commitments are being evaluated differently across political parties.
• The rising importance of data-backed, bipartisan engagement strategies that reflect political durability in a shifting landscape.