
The Lobby Shop
The Lobby Shop lets listeners tune in to conversations between Washington insiders who are directly involved in the biggest political and policy issues of our day. Hosted by Josh Zive, Liam Donovan, Paul Nathanson, Caitlin Sickles, and Dylan Pasiuk of Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group in Washington DC, this weekly podcast dives into the most recent news from Capitol Hill and beyond with input from foremost experts in their respective fields.
Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Send your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions to thelobbyshop@policyres.com.
Latest episodes

Aug 29, 2022 • 20min
IRA Aftermath with Pavan Venkatakrishnan
This week, the Lobby Shop team is joined by policy analyst Pavan Venkatakrishnan to discuss the newly passed Inflation Reduction Act, what’s next for Congress, and what it’s like to cut your teeth lobbying on a once-a-generation climate package. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Aug 4, 2022 • 26min
The Congressional Launch of the Mamas’ Caucus with PRG’s Yasmin Nelson
On this episode, the Lobby Shop team is joined by very special guest, PRG Senior Principal Yasmin Nelson! Tune in to hear about Yasmin’s transition from working in the Senate, where she met with advocates who wanted to bring awareness to their issues, to her work now at Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, where she is on the other side advocating policy issues by connecting with staffers, members of Congress, and members of the administration. Yasmin also shares details about some of the important work that she is currently doing with Mothering Justice, including the historic launch of the Mamas’ Caucus. The newly formed congressional caucus advocates for mothers of color and their families and empowers them to be engaged and hold those in charge accountable to make the changes they want to see. This is an episode that you won’t want to miss! Visit https://www.motheringjustice.org/ to learn more about Mothering Justice.

Aug 1, 2022 • 17min
Resurrection of Reconciliation: Strategic or Last-Ditch?
This week, the Lobby Shop team breaks down the reconciliation bill that surprised Washington insiders. Tune in to learn more about the climate provisions that many thought were off the table, what to expect with the Byrd Rule and Vote-a-Rama, and how Republicans may still have the opportunity to leverage their power.

Jul 11, 2022 • 36min
Defending Democracy with Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
This week, the Lobby Shop team is joined by Michael Gottlieb, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP focusing on crisis management, media, and freedom of speech. He shares his experience representing election workers who testified before the January 6 committee, analyzes how the Supreme Court has changed since the days when he clerked there, and explains how skills that he learned during his high school debate days are still relevant in his current work.

Jun 23, 2022 • 39min
The Cultural and Political Shift of Same-sex Marriage with “The Engagement” author Sasha Issenberg
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional, making same-sex marriage legal across the United States. Sasha Issenberg, author of “The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-sex Marriage”, joined the Lobby Shop team to discuss the political road that led to the decision. Tune in to hear Sasha’s analysis of what caused the cultural and political shift in opinion and Sasha’s insights on civil unions, incrementalism as a political strategy, and same-sex marriage campaigns in general.

May 27, 2022 • 39min
The Political Crystal Ball with Sean Trende
This week, The Lobby Shop team is joined by returning guest Sean Trende, a Senior Elections Analyst for RealClearPolitics, to talk about the 2022 midterm elections. Tune in as the group offers keen insight into what factors, such as the leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court and Biden’s falling approval ratings, will impact the results.

May 19, 2022 • 48min
Title 42: Navigating Immigration Complexities with Ahilan Arulanantham
This week, The Lobby Shop team is joined by the highly acclaimed Ahilan Arulanatham, who is a Professor from Practice and Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law. This episode’s discussion covers everything from competitive debate and populism to the ongoing debate surrounding Title 42, a health order which has significant immigration implications. Tune in to gain in-depth insight into the complex world of immigration.

Apr 14, 2022 • 39min
Democrats, Republicans, and Biden… Oh my! With Jim Lucier of Capital Alpha Partners
This week, we are joined by returning guest Jim Lucier, who serves as the Managing Director for Capital Alpha Partners where he leads the energy, environmental, and tax practices. In this episode, Jim gives the team an insightful analysis on his predictions for the upcoming midterms, how Congress will look in the next couple of years, and what’s on the radar after Biden’s first term.

Mar 15, 2022 • 1h 4min
The Breakdown vs. The Bottom Line: Nelson and Donovan Faceoff
On March 11, 2022, Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group hosted a fierce, but friendly faceoff between Senior Principal and Former Senior Policy Advisor to then-Senator Kamala Harris Yasmin Nelson and PRG Principal, pundit and former Republican strategist Liam Donovan! The one-hour conversation, moderated by PRG Co-Head Scott Segal, provided a political temperature check on some of the hottest political issues, including an analysis of the Biden administration’s first year in office and predictions for the 2022 Midterm elections.

Mar 9, 2022 • 23min
Views from Across the Pond with Olivia Caddy
The Lobby Shop team is joined by Bracewell Partner, Londoner, and returning guest Olivia Caddy to discuss the latest news out of the UK. Tune in for a discussion that includes the European viewpoint on the war between Russia and Ukraine— including its impact on the economy, what Covid restrictions look like in the UK, and details about Olivia’s recent work involving the energy sector in Africa. Also, Olivia last joined The Lobby Shop in April 2019—pre-Brexit, she gives listeners an update of what it’s like living in the post-Brexit UK as a French national in London.