Best Governmentrelations Podcasts (2025)

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2025 Virginia Election Preview with David Hallock, Two Capitols Consulting 35:03

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8d ago35:03

35:03

In this week's episode, Maggie Mick hosts David Hallock, president of Two Capitols Consulting in Virginia. With 30 years of experience working in the Virginia Governor's office and General Assembly, the United States Senate, and the private sector, David is one of the most seasoned and respected operatives in the Commonwealth. Maggie and David walk…

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New Jersey Gubernatorial Election Preview with Bill Maer, Public Impact Strategies 27:58

17d ago27:58

27:58

In today's episode, Maggie Mick hosts Bill Maer, senior partner wtih Public Impact Strategies. Bill is a well-respected New Jersey lobbyist and onetime political operative with a career spanning more than 30 years. He was appointed to Governor Phil Murphy's 2018 Transition Committee to advise the incoming Administration on State related policies. M…

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Remembering Charlie Kirk with Sen. Julia Coleman 24:21

1M ago24:21

24:21

On today's special episode, Maggie Mick hosts Minnesota state Sen. Julia Coleman to reflect on the life and legacy of her friend and mentor Charlie Kirk. The conversation took place on September 12, two days after he was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Sen. Coleman began her pol…

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Meet Amanda Nguyen, President & CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance 23:40

2M ago23:40

23:40

On today's episode, Maggie Mick hosts Amanda Nguyen, President & CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance. Amanda, an accomplished attorney and seasoned government affairs executive, recently took the helm at ADSA. The two discuss Amanda's time working in a state legislature, her path to Washington, D.C. and raising her daughter as a single m…

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Why Political Lives Last Longer than Any Individual Campaign, with Vartan Dijhanian 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

In today's episode, Maggie Mick sits down with Vartan Dijhanian, Director of Global Government Affairs for LAM Research. Vartan has worked on political campaigns since middle school and went on to serve on the staff for multiple Members of Congress before transitioning to the private sector. A native of Lebanon, he has a deep appreciation for Ameri…

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Pigskins and Politics with T.J. Birkel 44:37

2M ago44:37

44:37

In this week's episode, Maggie Mick hosts T.J. Birkel, Head - Government Affairs, West, for Kroger and host of his own podcast, Common Fan. They chat about T.J.'s time on Capitol Hill, his transition to the private sector and state affairs, building businesses and of course, Nebraska football. Go Big Red.…

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Meet New Mexico Speaker Javier Martinez 30:12

3M ago30:12

30:12

On today's episode, Maggie Mick is joined by New Mexico Speaker Javier Martinez. They discuss his ascent into politics and legislative leadership, the issues that matter most to him, how he leads his chamber, the big issues that the legislature tackled this session and what's ahead in 2026.

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NCSL Marks 50 Years with Tim Storey 39:13

3M ago39:13

39:13

In today's episode, Maggie Mick welcomes back to the show Tim Storey, CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures to mark the organization's 50th anniversary. The two discuss the origins of NCSL, its impact on states as well as thousands of state legislators and staff, current programs and NCSL's important role in states rights. Tim also s…

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Meet Nneka Chiazor, New President at the Public Affairs Council 30:33

4M ago30:33

30:33

In today's episode, Maggie Mick is joined by Nneka Chiazor, the newly installed President for the Public Affairs Council. The two discuss Nneka's career, her vision for the Council moving forward, and she shares all the ways any professional in public or government affairs can get involved. More about upcoming Public Affairs Council events here.…

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A Tribute to Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman with Cristine Almeida 26:30

4M ago26:30

26:30

In the wake of the tragic political assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, Maggie Mick sits down with Cristine Almeida of Almeida Public Affairs in St. Paul, Minnesota. The conversation explores Speaker Hortman's career and legacy in Minnesota as well as the impact of her death reverberating in the community of state…

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Reconciliation & Medicaid: What's at Stake for States with Barrett Thornhill and Brock Ingmire 46:27

4M ago46:27

46:27

Today, we are rebroadcasting a recent MultiState virtual client event hosted by Maggie Mick on the budget reconciliation bill which contains President Trump's domestic policy agenda currently moving in the U.S. Senate. In May, the House narrowly passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" — which would cut taxes, increase border and military spending, …

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SGAC Celebrates 50 Years! 23:23

5M ago23:23

23:23

On today's episode, Maggie Mick hosts Fred Zeytoonjian, President of the State Government Affairs Council. This year, SGAC celebrates its 50th anniversary. Fred shares an 101 on SGAC and how the organization is marking this milestone year with a national campaign to celebrate the state government affairs profession and raising funds for Faces of Vo…

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Meet Machalagh Carr – who has held some incredible jobs on Capitol Hill; General Counsel on the Ways and Means Committee, General Counsel for the Speaker of the House and Ultimately Chief of Staff for ... 41:49

5M ago41:49

41:49

Machalagh Carr is a trusted and discreet counselor with decades of private sector and government experience. She has nimbly navigated the intersection of congressional investigations and oversight, law, geopolitics, international anticorruption measures, and policy, and served as the top staffer in Article I as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the Hous…

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On the Front Lines – Representing X at State Capitols – Meet Jordan Rodell. 38:19

5M ago38:19

38:19

Jordan Rodell is a seasoned public policy professional specializing in technology and free speech advocacy. She currently serves as Public Policy Manager at X (formerly Twitter), where she leads legislative and executive engagement efforts across the U.S. Prior to this, she was the State Policy Manager at the Computer & Communications Industry Asso…

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How the state AGs are Asserting in 2025 33:49

6M ago33:49

33:49

During The Political Life podcast's legislative session recess, we bring you another rebroadcast of a recent MultiState virtual event. To gain insights on trends and a better understanding of the state of play with attorneys general, MultiState's Maggie Mick and Kelley Drye & Warren's Paul Singer, AG Practice Chair, hosted a conversation on March 2…

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Securing the Internet: A Conversation with Chris Locke, Internet Society Foundation 12:15

7M ago12:15

12:15

Join Lim May-Ann, Director of Multilateral Relations, Data Policy, and Partnerships at Access Partnership and special guest Chris Locke, EVP at Internet Society and Managing Director of the Internet Society Foundation, for an insightful discussion on what it takes to build a secure and open internet. Chris shares his perspective on the critical cha…

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Sustainable Data Centres and Impactful Energy Policy 27:19

8M ago27:19

27:19

Podcast guest: Professor LEE Poh Seng, Executive Director, Energy Studies Institute, NUS. In this episode, Dr. Lee Poh Seng, head of Singapore’s Energy Studies Institute, speaks about data centres and effective energy policy. Taking Singapore as a case-study, he underscores the importance of green energy imports, innovative green energy solutions l…

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Meet Jacque Robinson-Baisley, currently the Director of External Affairs for Cordoba Corp. in their Education and Facilities Sector. 30:32

8M ago30:32

30:32

Meet Jacque Robinson-Baisley, currently the Director of External Affairs for Cordoba Corp. in their Education and Facilities Sector. Jacque also served as Vice Mayor and Councilmember for the City of Pasadena – that was recently devastated by the wildfires. Jacque is a tenured leader with over two decades of experience in stakeholder engagement and…

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Meet Will Melofchik- the new CEO of National Conference of Insurance Legislators – NCOIL. 32:02

9M ago32:02

32:02

For this week's episode, we are rebroadcasting a webinar hosted by Maggie Mick and Brock Ingmire and features new National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), Will Melofchik. Will was installed as CEO on January 1. He was formerly NCOIL's General Counsel. Previously, Will was a Regulatory Officer in the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs U…

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This week We Sit Down with Speaker Brian Evans of Arkansas!! 37:16

9M ago37:16

37:16

Rep. Brian S. Evans serves as Speaker of the House for the 95th General Assembly. He is serving his fourth term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 68 which includes the city of Cabot, as well as portions of Lonoke County. For the 94th General Assembly, he served as Chair of the House Education Committee. Speaker Evans is in logistics whe…

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Meet the leader of GOPAC - David Avella. 20:38

10M ago20:38

20:38

David Avella is the Chairman of GOPAC, the Republican Party's premier organization dedicated to educating and electing Republican leaders. The GOPAC network invested nearly $33 million in the 2023-2024 election cycle. A seasoned communications professional and political leader, Avella has spent his career working to advance free enterprise, job cre…

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Meet Mat Lapinski – the CEO of Crossroads Strategies 26:21

10M ago26:21

26:21

Mathew Lapinski is CEO of Crossroads Strategies, LLC. Mat represents a broad spectrum of clients across multiple practice areas. With two decades of advocacy experience, he is an expert in navigating Washington's federal legislative and regulatory institutions. Beginning as a lobbyist for health care and insurance interests, Mat now covers a broad …

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Meet Bill Kramer – the Election Expert with MultiState 30:33

11M ago30:33

30:33

Bill Kramer has been with MultiState since 2011. Recognized for his wide breadth of state legislative and policy knowledge, Bill oversees the firm's research services, advises clients on strategic government affairs initiatives, develops and manages coalitions and associations, and pens the weekly Morning MultiState newsletter, among other problem-…

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This Week Meet the Dynamic and Intelligent Leigh Walton. 26:48

11M ago26:48

26:48

Leigh Walton is Vice President of Global Government and Regulatory Affairs for Pitney Bowes. As Vice President of the Global Government and Regulatory Affairs team, Leigh leads the company's work in influencing public policy to increase opportunities for its shipping, mailing, and financial services businesses as well as to mitigate risks to those …

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What’s Next for AI Governance? 10:19

11M ago10:19

10:19

In this episode of the Access Partnership podcast, Meghan Chilappa, Policy Counsel, and Matthew Sharp, Senior Manager at Access Partnership, reflect on key insights from a recent roundtable discussion on International AI Governance: Best Practices and Future Challenges, held in Brussels. This invitation-only event brought together policymakers, ind…

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What's Going On in Missouri? Well, to find out we talk to Sarah Schlemeier Henke. 28:45

11M ago28:45

28:45

Sarah Schlemeier Henke attended the University of Missouri from 2010-2014, where she graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Health Sciences and minors in Psychology and Service Learning. After working in the nonprofit sector in grant-funded positions, Sarah was hired by a lobbying firm before transitioning to the Gamble & Schlemeier team. Seeing …

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Meet Kellie Rittershausen - Executive Director for the National Lieutenant Governors Association. 24:47

11M ago24:47

24:47

*Recorded on October 1, 2024.* This is a rebroadcast of a MultiState webinar 'Meet the Exec' with Kellie Rittershausen, new executive director of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). Kellie Rittershausen serves as the Executive Director of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), overseeing all functions and services o…

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Meet Ches McDowell – Managing the GR team at Checkmate Government Relations. 32:30

12M ago32:30

32:30

**This episode was recorded prior to the 2024 election** Ches McDowell leads the Checkmate Government Relations team and focuses primarily on the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Congressional Delegation. He has delivered victories for clients in health care, financial services, entertainment, technology, outdoor sports, aviat…

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Simon Wlodarski has served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he is working for Bank of America. Tune in to hear his story. 22:49

12M ago22:49

22:49

SIMON WLODARSKI, is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and is a member of the U.S. State and Local Government Relations Team, overseeing State/Local Government Relations for the company in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. In this regional role with the company, Simon works on public…

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Meet Tre Hargett – the Secretary of State from the Greatest State in the Union! 35:52

1y ago35:52

35:52

Tre Hargett was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2009 to serve as Tennessee's 37th Secretary of State. He was reelected to four-year terms in 2013, 2017, and 2021. Secretary Hargett is the chief executive officer of the Department of State with oversight of approximately 300 employees. With his role on fifteen boards and commissions; ov…

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Rachael Eckles – Policy and Public Affairs Expert, lawyer, bioethicist and Author of Trading Secrets and its sequel, Risky Assets. Rachael is currently working on the third book in the series. 26:31

1y ago26:31

26:31

Rachael Eckles has worked in the health care industry for over twenty years. A lawyer and bioethicist by training, she began her career in clinical research, ran a hospital medical ethics committee, and began a bioethics program at a pharmaceutical company. Her love of shaping the environment evolved into a career in policy and government affairs. …

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"You have to Learn to Lobby on behalf of Yourself". Meet Suzanne Swink. 34:29

1y ago34:29

34:29

Suzanne Swink is Vice President of Government Relations for KORE Power, the leading U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of battery cell technology for the clean energy industry. In this role, she is responsible for the company's legislative and regulatory strategy for federal and state affairs, community engagement, and sustainability. Ms. Swink …

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Accelerating AI Skills for the Future of Work with AWS 28:37

1y ago28:37

28:37

Emmanuel Pillai, Head of ASEAN – Education & Training at Amazon Web Services, discusses how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries across the Asia Pacific. AI is creating new opportunities and challenges, pushing organizations and workers to adapt to an increasingly dynamic workforce. A study commissioned by AWS and conducted by Access Par…

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Reflecting on 9/11 with Garrett Graff the author of "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11. 58:06

1y ago58:06

58:06

Today we are joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff who has spent two decades covering politics, technology, and national security, and is now recognized as one of the nation's most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians. His award-winning work—including nine books on topics ranging from president…

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How do you get a job on Capitol Hill? Take a sabbatical and move to Washington, DC - meet Amy Efantis who did just that and has never looked back. 34:49

1y ago34:49

34:49

Amy is currently SVP of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations at Ascension. Amy is an experienced leader who has guided successful teams in the U.S. and abroad & believes strongly in servant-leadership; over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C. leading organizations, managing budgets, imaging strategy and developing people; 10+ years of l…

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This week we sit down with Steve Yeager, Speaker of the Nevada Assembly, one of the key political leaders in a battleground state. 41:13

1y ago41:13

41:13

Description: Steve Yeager has been serving as the speaker of the Nevada Assembly since 2022. Yeager graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001 and then attended Cornell Law School, graduating in 2004. After law school, Yeager practiced law and later worked as a chief deputy public defender of Clark County until his election to the Nevada Ass…

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More interviews from NCSL 33:31

1y ago33:31

33:31

In this week's episode, you will continue to join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville.By James O'Brien

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TPL Travels to Kentucky for NCSL 11:57

1y ago11:57

11:57

In this week's episode, you will join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville. We'll take you into the policy sessions, along the rows of the exhibit hall, and the various social event…

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Meet Jack Quinn, One of the Best 35:31

1y ago35:31

35:31

Jack Quinn: Head, State Government Affairs for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Jack Quinn leads Regeneron Pharmaceutical's state policy, advocacy, regulatory, and political activity across all 50 states. Born-and-raised in Buffalo, NY, Jack attended Siena College and SUNY Buffalo Law School. After being admitted to the New York Bar, Quinn served as a pro…

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Jerry Cornfield got his start as a crime reporter in San Francisco- today he breaks down elections in the state of Washington - not that the two are related! 40:09

1+ y ago40:09

40:09

Jerry Cornfield started as a crime reporter in San Francisco and spent the better part of the last four decades covering politics and government in California and Washington. He worked in media for 12 years in Santa Barbara, reporting for daily and weekly newspapers, serving as editor-at-large for Santa Barbara magazine, producing and hosting a dai…

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How do you oversee a 50 state Government Affairs operation with over 500 members and be ranked one of the most effective year after year? Meet Bobby Patrick, VI from AdvaMed - who helps make it all happen ... 26:25

1+ y ago26:25

26:25

Bobby Patrick, VI is the Vice President of State Affairs, Regional Government, and Alliance Development at AdvaMed, the MedTech Association. He oversees AdvaMed's state affairs work and partnerships with external stakeholders, including patient advocacy organizations and physician groups. Previously, Patrick served as the vice president of strategi…

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Meet Sen. Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader in Connecticut 46:41

1+ y ago46:41

46:41

Senator Bob Duff is a state senator from Connecticut and has been the Majority Leader since 2015. Bob's Norwalk family ties go back five generations. His passion for public service began at the age of eight. That's when Bob voiced his concerns for the future of Duffy Field to then-mayor William Collins. Today, we still have Duffy Field — now rename…

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What do Murthy and the other recent Supreme Court decisions mean for Free Speech? For Trump? The Presidency? Carl Szabo from NetChoice breaks it all down for us. 31:55

1+ y ago31:55

31:55

As Vice President and General Counsel, Carl analyzes, advocates, and testifies on tech-related legislative and regulatory initiatives relevant to online companies. Carl is also an adjunct professor of internet law at the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. Before joining NetChoice, Carl was an intellectual property attorney at the lawfirm of Wi…

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What Can A Career Focused on Public Service Look Like? Meet Jordan See. 43:20

1+ y ago43:20

43:20

Jordan See is Head of Government Relations at Qualtrics. He is responsible for directing all government activities for Qualtrics' North American business operations. Jordan has over 14 years of experience working with the United States Congress, state legislatures, executive agencies, healthcare, and technology industries. Prior to joining Qualtric…

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Want to Write a book? Want to Speak at TEDx? Want to Head up a Government Affairs Office? Tune in and listen to Terri Broussard William's Journey. 34:47

1+ y ago34:47

34:47

Terri Broussard Williams has built her career on a solid reputation as an authentic, courageous, and impactful change agent. Throughout her journey as an award-winning corporate lobbyist, non-profit executive, and public speaker, Terri has transformed public and community service into a professional art form, positively impacting the lives of milli…

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Who will Replace Sen. McConnell as Leader of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate? CNN Contributor Scott Jennings Gives us His Thoughts and Much More. 43:51

1+ y ago43:51

43:51

In this week's episode, Jim O'Brien and Maggie Mick host Scott Jennings, an American conservative writer and commentator. A former political director to United State Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), we dive into McConnell's legacy as the longest serving Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate and leadership lessons passed on to mentees l…

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Meet Derek Brown, Candidate for Utah Attorney General 39:36

1+ y ago39:36

39:36

In this week's episode, Jim O'Brien and Maggie Mick interview Derek Brown, Republican candidate for Attorney General in Utah. In addition to diving into the issues facing Utahans, we learn about his career in Washington, D.C., time as a state legislator in Utah, and stints in the private sector.By James O'Brien

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Colorado passes the first AI bill in the country! Sarah Mercer breaks it down for us. 30:17

1+ y ago30:17

30:17

This week Maggie and Jim speak with Sarah Mercer a lawyer/lobbyist who works in Colorado and who spent a lot of her session working on the recently passed (and signed!) Artificial Intelligence (AI) bill. Sarah gives us the full breakdown. About Sarah: Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients t…

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Reid Wilson: "The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time" 34:28

1+ y ago34:28

34:28

Deemed "The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time" by Comedy Central, Wilson cuts through the spin and tells the truth about politics at the state-level. Reid Wilson is the founder, chief executive, and editor in chief of Pluribus News, https://pluribusnews.com, the nation's only independent news outlet covering state-level politics and policy. He is…

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Columbine is 25. A conversation with Monisha Henley of Everytown for Gun Safety. 25:26

1+ y ago25:26

25:26

April 20th marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, which at the time was deemed the worst in America's history. In this episode, Maggie hosts Monisha Henley, senior vice president of government affairs for Everytown for Gun Safety. Everytown was formed in 2014 following Columbine, the Sandy Hook Elementary sch…