Public Policy

Yeah, dad jokes are how eye-roll [sic]. And we can only hope that the meetings of the newly established Congressional Dad Caucus are full of these same cheesy, corny puns that have come to be known as “dad jokes.”

This week I attended the Public Affairs Council’s (PAC) annual Advocacy Conference. The conference brings together nearly 500 public affairs professionals in one place to focus on such things as sharing best practices in crafting a grassroots advocacy program, offering tips for post-pandemic lobbying, and outlining strategies for managing a crisis from the public affairs perspective.

Last December, I appeared on the SCOA Americas Week ‘Enriching Lives through Volunteerism’ panel. It was a great opportunity for me to not only showcase the volunteer work that has become a passion of mine, but also express my gratitude to SCOA for encouraging my community service. In a nutshell, I co-founded a non-profit that incorporates the game of golf into the mental and physical rehabilitation programs of post-9/11 veterans.

Revelations that President Biden, like his predecessor Donald Trump, kept unauthorized documents upon leaving office have rocked Washington and dominated the news cycle this week. Regardless of whether the two cases rise to the same level of seriousness, the revelation has been a political gift to Republicans—most voters are not paying close attention to the nuances of the two cases, and it now looks like “all politicians do it.”

Revelations that President Biden, like his predecessor Donald Trump, kept unauthorized documents upon leaving office have rocked Washington and dominated the news cycle this week. Regardless of whether the two cases rise to the same level of seriousness, the revelation has been a political gift to Republicans—most voters are not paying close attention to the nuances of the two cases, and it now looks like “all politicians do it.”

A new year. A new Congress. A new Speaker. New committee assignments. Renewed calls for fiscal discipline. We’re hearing a lot about budgetary concerns in Washington these days.

We all make New Year’s resolutions. From eating better and drinking less to staying fit or crossing that exotic excursion off one’s bucket list, resolutions are something we all make but find difficult to keep.

Holiday get-togethers in Washington often include an eclectic mix of people from all across the political spectrum. Last weekend, my wife and I hosted a dinner with friends that included a high-ranking official from the Bush and Trump administrations, an immigration attorney, a Montgomery County Maryland elementary school principal, and the commanding police officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. As you might suspect, political opinions were all over the map…

Next week begins SCOA’s Americas Week, and I’ll be appearing on a panel about “Enriching Lives Through Volunteerism” on Thursday; I hope you’ll be able to join. While many of us volunteer in our daily lives, more and more companies, including SCOA, support volunteerism as well as engage in their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavors.

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was good. The general talk around the table was about how the kids are doing, playoff prospects for the Ravens and Commanders, and any upcoming anniversary, Christmas, or Hanukkah plans. We largely veered away from politics, and had all the normal conversations most families do…except for one. I suspect a discussion about modern-day, neo-Malthusians entered very few, if any, family conservations last Thursday.