Shows
Halls of PowerWho will win the forecasting model wars?While Vice President Kamala Harris was wrapping up the Democratic nomination, I spoke to a group about how we should forecast this election, given that the uncertainty and unprecedentedness of the 2024 race was already testing the limits of models built on historical data.Here’s a recording of that presentation, which you can also view here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hallsofpower.substack.com
2024-08-0529 min
Halls of PowerRunning as an unaffiliated mayoral candidate with Gene KininmonthRunning for office is difficult, but it’s even harder when you don’t have the support of a party apparatus behind you, or even someone else who can serve as the treasurer of your campaign.On this episode, we’re talking to someone doing just that. Gene Kininmonth runs a rowing program in High Point, North Carolina, and threw his hat into the ring on the day before the candidate deadline. We talk about what led him into politics, what it’s like being an unaffiliated candidate in a non-partisan-in-name-only race, and his tactics to break through...
2023-10-0329 min
Halls of PowerHow does the budget actually work with Liz Powell of G2G ConsultingOne of the themes of this show is that the Schoolhouse Rock version of a bill becoming a law is no longer an accurate depiction of reality (if an anthropomorphic piece of paper ever was). So what is the real version?In this epsiode, I talk with Liz Powell of G2G Consulting, which specializes in helping businesses and nonprofits access government sources of funding. She’s working inside Capitol Hill, in the House of Commons, and has seen the inner workings of the appropriations process (which those in the know apparently call “approps”).We talked...
2023-07-1829 min
Halls of PowerFrom interviewing al-Qaeda to mapping ESG, with Justin VelaI doubt that this episode will ever be matched in terms of the sheer diversity of experiences we discuss. I’m joined by a former colleague, Justin Vela of the ESG consultancy GEOSTREAMS, to talk about his career.As you’ll hear, he started freelancing on a major diplomatic incident, later snuck across the Turkish-Syrian border, became uneasy at the geopolitical aims of his employer, and eventually created a firm that helps companies manage their ESG goals. There were a lot of twists and turns for him and we talk about his thinking along the way and what...
2023-04-1248 min
Halls of PowerNavigating the Senate with Jason SmithWe all know that School House Rock’s version of how a bill becomes a law is no longer the whole truth. Now, policies often pass because they’re tacked on to a must-pass piece of legislation, a budget, or a reconciliation bill.So what does that mean for staffers? How do they do their jobs effectively if they now need to work a different process than what they learned in elementary school?For that, I spoke with Jason Smith, a veteran Senate staffer who has worked for Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, Sen. Patty Murr...
2023-03-3055 min
Halls of PowerBetter know a neighborhood with Kristen Halbert, former staff at Boston City Councillor Michelle WuWhat does it mean to represent a community on a day-to-day basis? Do you walk around the streets asking people their opinions? Or spend all your time in the local NextDoor group looking for what’s going on?It can be hard to know how to fully represent an areas while working in elected office, or for an elected official, especially as other time pressures, commitments, and projects require your attention.Kristen Halbert did this work for former Boston City Councillor-at-Large Michelle Wu, being tasked with working on behalf of the neighborhood of Roxbury in he...
2023-03-1636 min
Halls of PowerWorking in a world where your boss' election could cost you your job, with Chris Jones, President of PoliTemps🏛 Halls of Power is brought to you by Legislata, an informational platform for politics. Keep up with bills, share press releases, keep your team aligned, and even get through your inbox quicker. Sign up for free at app.legislata.com. Jobs in politics are inherently difficult. How to do that when you also might lose your job because of a red/blue wave? And what does it mean to have a career where staff is underpaid or not paid at all and yet there is still an oversupply of talent.Today, we’re speaking with Chris...
2023-03-0731 min
Halls of PowerBeing in office when government succeeds with Councillor-at-Large Jake Wilson, Somerville, MA🏛 Halls of Power is brought to you by Legislata, an informational platform for politics. Keep up with bills, share press releases, keep your team aligned, and even get through your inbox quicker. Sign up for free at app.legislata.com. Welcome to the first episode of of Halls of Power, a podcast and newsletter from Legislata that explores what working in the political ecosystem is actually like and advice about how to better navigate it. We’ll be bringing you weekly conversations with people about their careers, what they’ve seen, why they made the choices...
2023-02-2834 min
The Horse RaceEpisode 234: The Bird App11/3/22-- This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn are easing out of spooky season and into more T drama. Steve Poftak, current general manager of the MBTA, will be stepping down on January 3, only two days before a new governor will take office.
Later in the show, the team sets the stage for election day with the help of Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner. From the top of the ticket, to down ballot races, we run through what to watch in the upcoming week.
Then Chris Oates, founder of Legislata, drops by the pod to talk...
2022-11-0338 min