The Penta Podcast Channel

Picture this: you're standing at the intersection of U.S. and European politics, wondering about the complex political landscapes that lie ahead. Enter Kevin Madden, a Senior Partner at Penta in Washington DC, who joins host Ken Waters, a Managing Director at Penta based in Dublin, to discuss these systems. Kevin and Ken discuss some of the biggest factors currently impacting the political landscape, including omnipresent media and social media coverage and the power of big data in shaping political campaigns.Kevin and Ken also cover the upcoming U.S. election and the effects it will have on business strategies. From the 'America-first' sentiment shaping the U.S. foreign policy to the varied regulatory approaches of potential candidates, they highlight how businesses can leverage data and intelligence to navigate through uncertainties. 

On this Friday the 13th edition of the Macrocast, Ylan, John Fagan, and Brendan are joined by John Dick from Civic Sciences to talk about all things global finance, including its wide-ranging effects on the economy and consumer sentiment. The group delves into J.P. Morgan's recent earnings and CEO Jamie Dimon's warnings about the state of global affairs, the unexpected stock market rally in the face of stricter sanctions on Russian oil and energy, and the reasons behind declining consumer sentiment, with a focus on political dysfunction and inflation.They also cover retail sales like that of the iPhone 15, which is surprisingly resilient amidst rising prices and housing costs, and analyze the somewhat puzzling reactions in the Treasury market to higher-than-anticipated inflation figures. Lastly, the group addresses the global economic outlook, China's stimulus efforts, the impact of a strong U.S. dollar on global currencies, and where consumers might want to take their next vacation. Try your luck and tune into this episode. You won't want to miss it! Take a look at the latest Penta-CivicScience ESI findings here.

On this episode of What's At Stake, Penta Partner Andrea Christianson is joined by fellow partners—and House leadership experts—Stacy Kerr and Kevin Madden to talk about the race for the next U.S. House of Representatives speaker. Stacy was a longtime advisor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi while Kevin served in communications roles for former majority leaders Tom DeLay and John Boehner.In addition to discussing some inside-baseball House dynamics, the trio break down the broader implications of the ousting now former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, including its potential impact on the 2024 presidential election and America's role abroad. Things are moving fast, so at the time of this recording the Republican conference had yet to meet to vote on a new Speaker. The two frontrunners are Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Steve Scalise, with McCarthy yet to announce his withdrawal from consideration.

In this week's episode of the Macrocast episode, Ylan and Brendan dove into the latest jobs report, breaking down the unexpected addition of 336,000 jobs to the economy. They explored one of the standout features of this data: a massive 96,000 job boost in the leisure and hospitality sector. They also took a closer look at how this job growth is impacting wage data and the sudden rise in Treasury yields. Plus, Brendan and Ylan discussed potential disruptions tied to recent political events, like the narrowly averted government shutdown and the ongoing Hollywood labor strike. The pair also analyzed the Federal Reserve's new Instagram account and its informal approach to financial education.

On this week's episode, Penta Partner Meghan Pennington explored the impact of early childhood education on the future workforce with our guests from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Senior Vice President and Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy, Cheryl Oldham, and Vice President of Policy and Programs, Caitlin Codella Low. Drawing from their extensive experience in the education sector, Cheryl and Caitlin provided valuable insights into the importance of a robust childcare system in shaping the workforce pipeline and the necessity of investing in our youngest learners.The group examined the challenges employers face in providing quality childcare and the prevalence of child care deserts in many U.S. zip codes. The conversation also delved into the CHIPS Act and its potential to address childcare issues, as well as the complexities of using data to inform K-12 education policy, highlighting the disconnect between parents' perceptions of their child's performance and the data reality.The episode emphasized the need to understand these challenges to create effective, data-informed solutions that help families and build a stronger workforce. Tune in to learn more!

On today's Macrocast, Yale Law School research scholar, Martha Gimbel joined Ylan, John, and Brendan for a discussion on the likelihood and consequences of a potential government shutdown.  The  group breaks down potential economic fallout, the uphill battle for unemployment benefits, and even the possibility of air traffic controllers stepping in to force an end to the shutdown. Martha also offered her take on the Biden administration's economic policy, the influence of rising mortgage rates, and the domino effect of gas prices and supply chain issues on consumer sentiment. Buckle up and let's unpack the chaos together.

On this episode of What's At Stake, Penta Partner Andrea Christianson is joined by Penta Senior Director Scott Haber-Katris and Steven Overly, host of POLITICO Tech. The trio discussed AI's large-scale impact, including for the workforce, education, politics, and the law. Based on years of experience in the tech industry and politics, the group offered their predictions for how Congress will (and will not) regulate the emerging technology, and how industry is preparing to respond to these guardrails.

On this week's episode of the Macrocast, Ylan, Brendan, and John discuss the looming government shutdown and much more, including the Fed's competing signals on interest rates, and the international economic outlook. The trio unpacks the looming debt ceiling fight and the effects of far-right influences on Speaker McCarthy's negotiation power. The group also analyzes the Federal Reserve's recent decision against rate hikes, and speculates whether the decision will stick. Finally, our hosts discuss the Bank of England's unexpected pause on rate hikes and what's next for the Japanese Central Bank.

Amidst the excitement of Climate Week in New York, join Penta Partner Andy Whitehouse, along with Penta Managing Directors Cecilia Thorn and Alex Bluestone, as they discuss the latest in climate policy and the corporate race to meet ESG standards in the U.S. and in Europe. They share insights into how businesses are preparing for decarbonization and navigating the European Commission's ESG standards, set to take effect in 2024. The group also examines the evolving public attitudes toward renewable energy and the federal government's role in promoting it. They explain that data indicates a strong push for renewable energy development among American adults, but sentiment toward Climate Week and ESG overall is mixed.You'll also get to hear about the upcoming European sustainability and due diligence directive, and the role venture capital plays in shaping the global conversation on climate change. Tune in for an informative conversation on the challenges and opportunities in communicating climate action!For more on ESG from Penta, tune in to our upcoming webinar, "New ESG developments and standards - risks and opportunities for companies and investors" on Thursday, October 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET, moderated by Cecilia Thorn, Managing Director in our Brussels office. Register here and view the event on LinkedIn here!

This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, John Fagan, and Robert Dewey  are joined by John Dick, CEO and founder of Civic Science, to dive into the latest economic sentiment index (ESI). The group offers their insights on the subtle shifts in the labor market, the dilemma of return-to-office mandates, and the decline in job changes since the peak of the "Great Resignation." And after an active summer for labor, our experts grapple with the potential economic ripple effects of the United Auto Workers strike. You won't want to miss it!Read the latest ESI analysis here.