This week’s episode of What’s at Stake dives into the details of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and its impact on the national debt and deficits. Marc Goldwein, senior vice president and senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui to discuss the tax changes, budget gimmicks and long-term fiscal consequences. Their conversation covered: Whether this is really the largest tax cut in history Why spending cuts don’t offset the ...
Jul 24, 2025•25 min
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 Washingt...
Jul 16, 2025•26 min
Jun 25, 2025•29 min
On this week’s episode of What’s at Stake , former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, now a member of Penta's Global Advisory Board, shared his perspective on the evolution of political leadership and business strategy amid rising global uncertainty. His candid and wide-ranging conversation with hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui covered: What it was like to negotiate directly with President Trump and what he learned about the President's governing and communications playbook. How Europe is resp...
Jun 20, 2025•26 min
This week’s episode of What’s at Stake examines the future of farming and ranching through a burgeoning and innovative technology: virtual fencing. Penta Partner Andrea Christianson, Nofence Director of Global Market Development John Smout, and Monument Advocacy Principal John Weber discuss how virtual fencing—sitting at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and public policy—is changing herd and livestock management for American farmers through the use of GPS-powered collars. Their conve...
May 21, 2025•25 min
In this week’s episode of What’s at Stake, Business Roundtable president and COO Kristen Silverberg shares her insights on the opportunities and challenges facing American businesses as they navigate a rapidly shifting policy landscape, both at home and abroad. Ambassador Silverberg shared with Bryan and Ylan the importance of corporate executives maintaining a long-term vision for success that can withstand geopolitical turbulence. The conversation with Penta hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui ...
May 08, 2025•21 min
This week’s episode of What’s at Stake dives into the evolving world of new media and the rise of independent, online journalists. Penta Group Managing Directors Ylan Mui and Megan Whittemore talk to Mosheh Oinounou, an award-winning executive producer and founder of Mo News, about the impact of the creator economy on journalism, audience trust, and the way we consume information. Their conversation covered: Why authenticity, transparency, and engagement are the new currency of media How traditi...
Apr 24, 2025•32 min
This week’s episode of What’s at Stake tackles the mounting pressure on corporate America as President Donald Trump’s tariffs rattle the markets and stoke fears of a global economic slowdown. Penta CEO Matt McDonald joins hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui to discuss the response from the business community and frameworks for determining when and how to engage publicly. Their conversation covered: Whether tariffs are a tool for negotiation or an end result The importance of "signposting" to dete...
Apr 11, 2025•34 min
This week's episode of What's at Stake delves into the creation and consumption of media amid the rapid advancement of AI. Sally Shin, venture partner at Comcast Ventures, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Andrea Christianson, to discuss the impact of this convergence on journalism and our daily lives. Their conversation covered: Guardrails to protect intellectual property and the accuracy of AI-generated content Partnerships between publishers and AI companies Opportunities to leverage AI within n...
Mar 24, 2025•29 min
This week's episode of What's at Stake explores the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency as the industry gears up for a transformative 2025 amid strong support from both the Trump administration and Capitol Hill. Ron Hammond, senior director of government relations and institutional engagement at the Blockchain Association, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Bryan DeAngelis to discuss the vibeshift in Washington and the industry's policy priorities. Their conversation covered: Policymakers' evolving...
Feb 26, 2025•33 min
This week's episode of What's at Stake crosses the Atlantic to discuss the impact of President Trump's tariffs with Penta's experts in Europe. Rory O’Donnell, a partner in the Brussels office, and Stuart Harbinson, a senior adviser who has represented Hong Kong to the World Trade Organization, joined Penta managing director Ylan Mui to examine the motivations behind the tariffs and the implications of global retaliation. Their conversation covered: EU and Chinese perspective on trade tensions Po...
Feb 07, 2025•33 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Axios political reporter Hans Nichols sits down with Penta Washington office lead Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui to discuss President Trump's priorities and potential pitfalls during his first 100 days in office…for the second time. The trio discussed several topics, including: Trump’s unique media strategy and how it differs from President Biden’s The effectiveness of the blitz of executive orders The political chess game swirling aroun...
Jan 27, 2025•28 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui speak to two special guests from the Tax Foundation, one of Washington's most influential think tanks. President and CEO Daniel Bunn and president emeritus Scott Hodge examine the complexities of the anticipated tax reform battle in 2025, and its implications for Americans and businesses, as well as the potential international ramifications. Specific topics include: Examination of proposed tax cuts ...
Dec 19, 2024•33 min
Long waits at the DMV or when buying a car seem like a fact of life—but do they have to be? This week on What's at Stake, Penta senior partner Kevin Madden sits down with Shane Bigelow, CEO of CHAMP Titles, to discuss the company's mission to modernize DMVs and bring digital titling technology to the nation. Shane shares CHAMP's founding story and explains how their technology streamlines title transfers, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and helping DMVs better serve constituents in an age ...
Nov 13, 2024•26 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Senior Partner Andy Whitehouse speaks with Marie Donnelly, Chair of Climate Change Advisory Council Ireland and Senior Advisor to Penta, and Director Liza McIntosh about what to expect from COP29—the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference—which begins today in Baku. Together, they discuss the critical agenda items facing world leaders and organizations as they gather to tackle climate change. From ambitious climate finance targets to bold resilie...
Nov 11, 2024•23 min
Former President Trump is back, and Republicans are on the cusp of a sweep after winning control of the Senate and possibly the House. Join co-hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui, along with Penta senior partners Stacy Kerr and Kevin Madden, as they explore the reshaping of U.S. politics. They discuss the economic concerns driving voters, Trump’s stance on trade, tariffs, and immigration, and the challenges experienced by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. This election could be just the beg...
Nov 08, 2024•35 min
This week on What's at Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui talk to Chris Wheat, President of the JPMorganChase Institute, about how the pandemic has transformed America's economy. Chris breaks down recent Institute research on how a wave of new investors—particularly younger and lower-income individuals—are taking bigger risks through behaviors like dip-buying and returns-chasing. At the same time, while many households saw their savings increase during the pandemic, those cash reserves ar...
Oct 24, 2024•27 min
In this episode of What's At Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Kevin Madden analyze the magnetism of live music. They unpack how touring has emerged as the dominant revenue stream for musicians, exemplified by the prominence of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and the nostalgia of an upcoming Oasis tour. Since live shows returned post-COVID, the rush for tickets has been frantic, with social media amplifying both the excitement and frustration of fans. They dive into the huge demand for ticket access and...
Oct 09, 2024•27 min
In this episode of What’s at Stake , host Ylan Mui is joined by Ryan Panchadsaram and Anjali Grover from Speed & Scale to reflect on Climate Week 2024. Ryan and Anjali discuss the pressing need for stronger corporate net-zero commitments and the crucial role of venture capital in accelerating breakthrough technologies. The two also offer insights into the connection between national security and climate change, highlighting the need for increased investments to drive meaningful progress and ...
Oct 02, 2024•30 min
The Federal Reserve is shifting its focus from inflation to a slowing job market, signaling the start of a new economic era. This week on What's at Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui talk to Neil Irwin, chief economic correspondent at Axios, about the impact that the Fed's first rate cut in four years will have across the economy—and perhaps even on the November elections.
Sep 23, 2024•26 min
In this episode of What's At Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui analyze the first – and maybe only – presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris with Alex Sternhell, Principal at Sternhell Group and Democratic strategist. They discuss the heated exchanges on immigration as well as the candidates' stances on tariffs, taxes, and corporate America. The election could hinge on whether the candidates' debate performance sways voters in crucial swing states. Tun...
Sep 11, 2024•35 min
What does financial literacy look like in the digital age? This week on What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis hosts author and content creator Kyla Scanlon for a live discussion of her new book, “In This Economy” with the Penta team in our Washington, D.C. office. Kyla is known for making complex economic concepts accessible – she uses her unique platform to bridge the knowledge gap from the academic world to the real world. In this episode, Kyla sheds light on the significant disconnect between posi...
Sep 09, 2024•30 min
How could a Harris administration revolutionize the tech policy landscape in America? This week on What's at Stake, partner and head of Penta's D.C. office, Bryan DeAngelis, and Penta managing director Elliott Owensby are joined by Katie Mitchell, the founder of New World Advisors, to discuss the election and the future of tech. Together, they discuss Katie's recent piece, " A Vibe Check for Tech " and explore how a Harris-led White House might reshape the conversation between technology firms a...
Aug 30, 2024•44 min
As the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium approaches, Penta Managing Director Ylan Mui sits down with friends of the pod John Fagan and Brendan Walsh from Markets Policy Partners to discuss the Federal Reserve's efforts to manage inflation and maintain labor market stability. They discuss recent labor market data, the state of the U.S. consumer post-COVID, and of course, expectations for a rate cut in September – and missed opportunities this summer. The episode also delves into the implications of...
Aug 21, 2024•34 min
In this week's episode of What's at Stake, host and Managing Director Ylan Mui delves into the critical issue of mental health in the workplace. With poor mental health leading to significant productivity losses and high turnover, it's an issue businesses can't afford to ignore. This episode spotlights Bechtel's $7 million partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, aimed at addressing the high suicide rates in the construction industry. The episode features a panel Ylan mod...
Aug 16, 2024•53 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Penta managing director Ylan Mui discusses the ways that AI is reshaping the landscape for small businesses with Imani Augustus, the director of the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity, a partnership between Third Way and the National Urban League. Imani explains how entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of generative AI to improve customer service, marketing, and daily operations. They also tackle the ethical questions and operational hurdles surround...
Aug 09, 2024•28 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, managing partner Andy Whitehouse talks to our director of marketing, Owen McNamee, about the complex strategies behind consumer branding and sponsorships at the Olympics. Together, they look at the opportunities for brands and athletes to create harmonious partnerships while still working in their best interests. They also discuss how brands seek to reach their objectives while navigating within the tight parameters set by the International Olympic Comm...
Aug 01, 2024•28 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui talk to Penta Senior Partner Stacy Kerr about the entry of Vice President Kamala Harris into the presidential race and the implications of her campaign for families, businesses, and other stakeholders. Together, they parse through her policy differences with President Biden as well as how she could change the electoral map for Democrats. And of course, they play the popular Washington parlor game of predicting who she ...
Jul 26, 2024•34 min
Join hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui, along with Penta Senior Partner Kevin Madden, on this week's episode of What's at Stake as they discuss how corporate executives and political leaders are navigating the turbulent aftermath of the attack on former President Donald Trump. With the Republican National Convention underway, they explore the possibility of unity despite heightened political tension. The group then took a look at the future of Republican politics, the nomination of Sen. J.D. Va...
Jul 18, 2024•38 min
On this week's episode of What's at Stake, host and head of Penta's D.C. office, Bryan DeAngelis, is joined by U.K. Penta colleagues and political experts Mark MacGregor and Andy Williams to dive into yesterday's U.K. election results. They discuss the priorities of Labour's parliamentary candidates, highlighting differences between grassroots candidates and Labour leadership on issues like industrial action and net-zero targets. The discussion also includes details of Labour's strategies for th...
Jul 05, 2024•35 min
