The Wolves of K Street Podcast offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at Washington’s political influence industry.
Through interviews with special guests and exclusive reporting from their book, authors Brody and Luke Mullins explore the history and development of the modern lobbying industry and provide insight and analysis on the current events impacting K Street.
Whether you’re interested in learning how Washington really works, or already a DC insider, The Wolves of K Street Podcast is for you.
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Episode 12: All the Worst Humans
For decades, companies and industries relied on their Washington lobbyists and trade associations to lead their influence efforts.
But Trump doesn’t like talking to lobbyists and trade association chiefs.
Trump wants to skip the middleman and go right to the CEO.
That’s required CEOs to take on a new and sometimes uncomfortable role: Chief Advocacy Officer.
On this week’s edition of The Wolves of K Street Podcast, former Trump White House advisor Joe Grogan talks about Trump’s preference to talking directly to CEOs.
Grogan explains how the president’s direct outreach to CEOs – which often takes place after midnight on his cell phone – changes how the White House functions – and how the influence business works.
Episode 11: How Populism Made It More Difficult for Lobbyists
For decades, companies and industries relied on their Washington lobbyists and trade associations to lead their influence efforts.
But Trump doesn’t like talking to lobbyists and trade association chiefs.
Trump wants to skip the middleman and go right to the CEO.
That’s required CEOs to take on a new and sometimes uncomfortable role: Chief Advocacy Officer.
On this week’s edition of The Wolves of K Street Podcast, former Trump White House advisor Joe Grogan talks about Trump’s preference to talking directly to CEOs.
Grogan explains how the president’s direct outreach to CEOs – which often takes place after midnight on his cell phone – changes how the White House functions – and how the influence business works.
Episode 10: The CEO as Chief Advocacy Officer (Copy)
For decades, companies and industries relied on their Washington lobbyists and trade associations to lead their influence efforts.
But Trump doesn’t like talking to lobbyists and trade association chiefs.
Trump wants to skip the middleman and go right to the CEO.
That’s required CEOs to take on a new and sometimes uncomfortable role: Chief Advocacy Officer.
On this week’s edition of The Wolves of K Street Podcast, former Trump White House advisor Joe Grogan talks about Trump’s preference to talking directly to CEOs.
Grogan explains how the president’s direct outreach to CEOs – which often takes place after midnight on his cell phone – changes how the White House functions – and how the influence business works.
Episode 09: Is the GOP Becoming Pro-Union?
Donald Trump had the head of the Teamsters speak at the 2024 Republican Convention. He’s named some pro-labor officials to his administration. And an increasing number of Republicans in Congress are supporting pro-union legislation.
Is the Republican Party becoming more pro-union under Donald Trump?
Episode 08: Donald Trump as Chief Merger Reviewer
Donald Trump has fundamentally changed the way government power is held in Washington -- by concentrating more authority in the White House than at any point since Watergate more than a half-century ago.
In this episode, we example how Trump now plans to expand his grip in a new area – corporate mergers – by making himself a key decision-maker in the fight between Netflix and Paramount over the ownership of Warner Bros.
Episode 07: The Unintended Impacts of Reforms
Congress is always trying to clean up Washington and fix the system.
But every attempt at reform has created unintended consequences. In this episode, we discuss how efforts to get big money out of politics has hurt the Republican and Democratic parties, opened the door to the influence of billionaires -- and hurt our democracy.
Episode 06: Paul Manafort, Hunter Biden and the Rise of Foreign Lobbying
Brody and Luke Mullins explain the rapid growth of the foreign-lobbying industry, whether Hunter Biden's lobbying activity broke the law -- and why so many American lobbyists are hired by foreign countries.
We get the answers from New York Times reporter Ken Vogel and discuss "Devil's Advocates," his incredible book about the industry.
Episode 05: Corporate America Goes on the Attack
After 50 years of watching government regulations expand into their businesses, U.S. corporations mount an offensive in Washington in the mid-1970s.
We break down a pivotal turning point: When the infamous lobbyist Tommy Boggs used novel lobbying tactics -- including an editorial in the Washington Post -- to block a new regulation on sugary cereals.
Episode 04: The Rise of Tommy Boggs and the Smoke-Filled Room
Meet Tommy Boggs, the first lobbyist of the modern era.
Boggs was a cigar-chomping Southerner who redefined how the lobbying game was played in the 1970s and 1980s and founded Washington's preeminent lobbying firm, Patton Boggs.
Episode 03: Lobbying Donald Trump
Everyone wants to know how to influence Donald Trump.
So we decided to ask one of the few people who worked for Donald Trump in his first term – and his second term.
Harrison Fields reveals the secrets to getting to Trump on this week’s The Wolves of K Street Podcast.
Harrison tells us what tactics work -- and what doesn’t.