This week on The Lobby Shop, the team dives into the storm brewing in Washington as Congress heads into August recess. Josh Zive and Paul Nathanson dissect President Trump’s latest tariff moves and their ripple effects on American manufacturers already navigating a volatile trade landscape. Meanwhile, Liam Donovan and Dylan Pasiuk forecast the high-stakes battle over government funding, with a shutdown threat looming large. From economic jitters to political brinkmanship, this episode delivers the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve—don’t miss it.

In this episode of The Lobby Shop, the team welcomes back Axios national political correspondent Alex Thompson, co-author (with CNN’s Jake Tapper) of the explosive New York Times bestseller Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

Thompson shares the inside story of how he and Tapper uncovered internal divisions, strategic missteps, and high-stakes decision-making inside the Biden White House.

Hear why Thompson believes this story goes beyond just one election—and why the questions it raises still demand attention.

Whether you’re deep in the weeds of politics or just trying to understand how we got here, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of The Lobby Shop, Liam Donovan provides an update on the budget reconciliation process in Congress, and the team dives into the proposed House cuts to energy programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, proposed Medicaid reductions, and the ongoing debate over SALT deductions—along with the challenges the legislation faces in the Senate and a tight legislative timeline. Josh and Paul also examine the current state of the Trump Administration’s tariffs, including the temporary easing of the U.S.–China trade war, multiple Section 232 investigations, and the complex policy landscape companies must navigate amid evolving tariff rules.

The Lobby Shop team turns their focus on the ongoing budget reconciliation process in Congress that will shape the Trump administration’s economic agenda. Hosts Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, and Liam Donovan provide a quick update on the latest tariff developments before diving into the reconciliation process and the shifting legislative dynamics between the House and the Senate. Then, Liam does a deep dive on how economic pressures are reshaping political strategy, and what it all means for government funding timelines and the looming debt ceiling. Tune in for a Liam-style breakdown of the often confusing reconciliation process in the next couple of weeks.

CATO’s Scott Lincicome—one of the most informed and outspoken voices on trade and tariffs—returns to The Lobby Shop to unpack the Trump Administration’s recent wave of tariff announcements. The group dives into the effectiveness of tariffs as a tool for reshoring manufacturing and addressing trade deficits, as well as the business community’s relatively muted response. Listen for an entertaining and insightful conversation with the always engaging Scott Lincicome!

In the aftermath of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements, the Lobby Shop team breaks down the philosophy behind President Trump's new tariffs and the real world ramifications for both domestic and foreign policy. The team also examines reactions from the private sector and Congress, including the potential impact on the timing for the Republicans' plan to move forward on a tax package. With a multitude of scenarios playing out at once, the Lobby Shop team discusses the one question on many Americans minds: where do we go from here?