In this episode of What's At Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui analyze the first – and maybe only – presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris with Alex Sternhell, Principal at Sternhell Group and Democratic strategist. They discuss the heated exchanges on immigration as well as the candidates' stances on tariffs, taxes, and corporate America. The election could hinge on whether the candidates' debate performance sways voters in crucial swing states. 

Tune in for a breakdown of what’s at stake in the final weeks before Election Day (with a bonus track on Taylor Swift!). Tune in

What does financial literacy look like in the digital age? This week on What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis hosts author and content creator Kyla Scanlon for a live discussion of her new book, “In This Economy” with the Penta team in our Washington, D.C. office. Kyla is known for making complex economic concepts accessible – she uses her unique platform to bridge the knowledge gap from the academic world to the real world. 

In this episode, Kyla sheds light on the significant disconnect between positive economic indicators and the often-negative public sentiment. She dives into the structural issues that contribute to this disparity, from housing affordability to the rising costs of elder and childcare. Don't miss Kyla's insightful analysis and practical solutions to some of today's most pressing economic challenges.

 Across the landscape of our society—whether it's business, sports, entertainment, or politics—it's very rare for all the eyes of the world to stop and concentrate their attention on one event, one moment.

Presidential debates are one of those very rare moments.

Last night’s first—and only?—presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump offered viewers in the U.S. and around the globe the chance to compare the candidates and hear their pitch to voters on why they deserve another four years.

That was last night. This morning? The fallout.

Is this typical "Inside-the-bubble" hysteria or a bigger moment that will shake up the race? The political universe is in a frenzy, with everyone ranging from the Trump and Biden campaigns to down ballot candidates and armchair pundits assessing the impact the debate will have on the trajectory of the race. 

On today’s episode of What’s At Stake, we’ll do that and go a little deeper. We’ll review the debate performances, analyze the strategies of both campaigns going forward, and also assess the immediate and longer-term ramifications last night will have on the business community as we get closer to November and the next Administration. 

On today's Macrocast, hosts Ylan, John, and Brendan are joined by Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, to break down the debt ceiling deal and its implications for fiscal and monetary policy going forward. Plus, the group dives into this month's surprisingly strong jobs report. Does the Fed have one more hike in it, or will it finally let up? 

Read Penta's May Jobs Day fact sheet here. 

This week on What's at Stake, host Elliott Owensby is joined by Penta experts Andy Whitehouse and Jill Craig to dive into the complicated mergers and acquisitions landscape companies are facing today. With a focus on the crucial role of communications and public affairs, they explore the complexities of completing transactions in today's uncertain macroeconomic environment while effectively managing stakeholder expectations.

What are the key developments shaping the M&A landscape in the US and EU? What are the ingredients of a successful M&A public affairs approach? And how can effective communication enhance the success and longevity of deals? Tune in as Elliott, Andy, and Jill share their expertise on these questions and more. 

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan tackle the looming issue of the approaching debt ceiling X-date, discussing the Treasury's decision to delay note auctions and the ripple effects the situation has had on the market. What can we expect from the Fed in the back half of this year? Does the White House have an ace up its sleeve in negotiations? And what does the "Taylor Swift economy" have to do with any of this? Tune in to this week's Macrocast to find out. 

In this installment of What's at Stake, we are going to our archives and re-visiting an episode perfect for recent graduates hoping to land a job in D.C. Penta President Matt McDonald spoke with Tom Manatos, Head of Federal Affairs at Block and the mind behind Tom Manatos Jobs, and Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. The trio break down the D.C. job landscape, explain the importance of building your network, and offer their best advice for young professionals trying to make it in our nation's capital. 

Today's Macrocast is a special one! First, Ylan interviews Raphael Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with whom she spoke earlier this week at the 2023 Federal Reserve Financial Markets Conference. The pair discuss how the Fed makes predictions and decisions to tackle economic crises. Bostic explains that the Fed has amended the way they survey the private sector, including engaging local business leaders early, in order to identify coming economic trends, like inflation and lay-offs. During the latter half of the episode, Ylan is joined by her co-hosts Brendan and John from Markets Policy Partners and Bryan DeAngelis, partner at Penta and host of What's at Stake, to recap this week's Macrocast Live panel discussion. The discussion featured Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Director of of the CBO and Chief Economist of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and current President of the American Action Forum, and Wendy Edelberg, former Chief Economist at the CBO and current Director of The Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow of Economic Study at the Brookings Institution who shared their predictions and perspectives on the debt ceiling, looming default, and more. 

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Stratton Kirton hosts Penta Partners Andrea Christianson and Rory O’Donnell, who have both done extensive work on agriculture, food, and trade. With supply chain shocks, Russia's war in Ukraine, and climate change, there is a renewed spotlight on global food production and supply chains. In the U.S., Congress is writing a multi-year farm bill that will help shape what kind of food U.S. farmers grow, how they raise it, and how it gets to consumers. Similarly, in Europe, the agriculture and food sectors have been engaged in long-running initiatives to improve supply chain sustainability practices as pressure on the industry mounts.

Penta's experts tackle the questions at the forefront of industry leaders' minds:  Amidst all the competing demands and complex challenges facing the agri-food sector, what should the sector's top priorities be? Which stakeholders have wielded the most influence on food policy topics, and what might be the best strategy to engage them? 

Listen now to find out more.

This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan sit down with Jeanna Smialek, Federal Reserve and Economics reporter for the New York Times and author of the book "Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Crisis." The group explores the challenges the Fed tackled  during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has been navigating the political and economic aftermath since. As pandemic-era policy winds down, how can the Fed stay above the political fray? And how will upcoming discussions about the debt ceiling impact markets and federal policy? Tune in to find out.

Check out Jeanna's book here. 

On the latest episode of "What's at Stake," Bryan DeAngelis hosts Penta Partner Lauren Wolfson and Managing Director Melissa Manson. With the Biden administration set to officially terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, the group reflects on the changes to the way we work that have occurred since the pandemic began over three years ago, and explores the challenges and opportunities this new era brings. 

Penta's experts begin by discussing which of their remote work predictions at the start of the pandemic have held up over time and which ones have become irrelevant or outdated. Later, they dive into why business leaders are pioneering the future of "phygital" office spaces and how companies can encourage clearer boundaries and maintain work-life balance for their employees in a remote or hybrid work environment.

Questions remain about where this new era will take us: Will client meetings be scheduled in the metaverse? How are labor market forces impacting hybrid work plans across industries? And is your company guilty of "flex-washing?" Listen now to find out. 

On today's Macrocast, Ylan and Brendan host Wendy Edelberg, director of the Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. They break down this morning's latest jobs day numbers, which signal an optimistic outlook for the labor market, even as the economy shows signs of cooling. On the flip side, the group warns of the impact of inflation expectations on wages as the Fed continues to hike interest rates. Plus, how will political dynamics affect market volatility amidst these shifting tides? Tune in to find out.

Take a look at Penta's latest jobs day report here.

On May 6, King Charles will have his formal coronation in London, nearly eight months after he ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation has been highly anticipated by royal watchers around the world, though not without criticism from some. 

On today's episode, Bryan DeAngelis hosts Louise Stewart, a Penta Strategy partner based in London, to consider the real implications of the new king. They discuss the role of the modern British monarchy socially and economically in the United Kingdom. Bryan and Louise also break down what role the throne plays geopolitically for Great Britain, particularly during the post-Brexit era and with increasing calls for devolution from the regions of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations.

Finally, Bryan and Louise dive into how they would advise the royal family in navigating strategic communications and what everyone should be looking out for on Saturday when Charles is formally crowned in Westminster Abbey.

What happens when voter indecision grips a nation during a high-stakes election featuring two well-known incumbents? Join Bryan DeAngelis, Partner at Penta, as he sits down with Daniel Cox, Director and Founder of the Survey Center on American Life, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to dissect this unprecedented scenario through the lens of new polling. They explore how the dynamics of this election are shaping voter sentiment, contributing to a growing sense of pessimism about America's future among citizens. 

Bryan and Daniel also focus their attention on voter behavior. They analyze Biden's focus on abortion and reproductive health in contrast to voter concerns about the economy and inflation. Additionally, they discuss the public's evolving views on immigration policy and changing demographics within the Democratic party, and how these factors could influence the upcoming election.

This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan sit down with John Dick, CEO and Founder of Civic Science, to dive into the latest economic sentiment index from Penta and Civic Science. The group also explores what the new GDP and PCE figures mean for consumers and the broader economic outlook. Recession fears are rising, but will the Fed tap the breaks or carry out another rate hike? And how do markets' fears of debt ceiling chaos play into the outlook? Tune in to find out.

This week on What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis hosts Penta Partner Meghan Pennington and Managing Director Ylan Mui to dissect the looming battle over the U.S. debt ceiling. With an uncertain "X date" approaching, and President Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the "five families" of the Republican caucus at odds, the stakes are getting higher every day. The group navigates the murky waters of debt ceiling negotiations in Congress and discusses whether the divides within the Republican caucus might play into Biden's hands. They also delve into the market's reaction to the looming crisis and explore how companies can engage with policymakers to move things forward in Washington. 

As the tension mounts, they ask the key questions: What's the backup plan if McCarthy's strategy fails? Will Democrats budge on their demand for a "clean" debt ceiling hike?" And how can companies position themselves ahead of the inevitable appropriations debate later this year? Tune in now to stay ahead of the game

The topic: the debt ceiling. On this edition of the Macrocast, our host Ylan Mui is joined by John Fagan and Brendan Walsh of Markets Policy Partners, as well as Zach Moller, Director of Third Way's Economic Program. The group delves into the looming debt ceiling, analyzing the political landscape, and predicting how the markets will react. From a hard-to-pin-down X date–the day on which the federal government is no longer able to meet its fiscal obligations–to "break glass strategies," the group draws on its decades of experience observing Congress, the Treasury, and markets to offer their predictions on how McCarthy's majority and the Biden administration will navigate the impending debt ceiling negotiations.

Generative AI is here and here to stay. Opportunities abound for adopters—but businesses need to consider the ways in which they are vulnerable to AI-driven risks, including risks to their brands. On today's episode of What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis, Andrea Christianson, Oliver Edelmann, and Blake McGill break down Penta's new framework to help companies assess the brand risks of AI. After describing some of the scenarios when a brand may be at risk from AI, Bryan, Andrea, Oliver, and Blake discuss how Penta is helping companies think through minimizing that risk.

The group discusses how companies convening the right group of experts, including staff from legal, HR, IT, communications, and other departments, is crucial to ensure that the company's brand is not negatively impacted by its use of, or policy on, AI technology. Companies must also audit their current and future use of AI to triage areas of potential internal, external, and personal risk. Despite the risks, the group explains that generative AI technology is here to stay, and companies must engage to minimize brand risks.

For more on how companies should think about the impact of AI on their brand, read our full AI brand risk framework.

This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan dive into the latest from the Federal Reserve and this week's IMF-World Bank spring meetings, exploring whether the FOMC's predictions and current macroeconomic indicators point to signs of a recession. The group also discusses Speaker Kevin McCarthy's upcoming speech laying out the U.S.'s debt limit plan, as well as their thoughts on the global trend towards an economic downturn and the expanding debt issue in emerging markets.

Read Penta's latest ESI report here.

Today on What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis, partner at Penta based in Washington, D.C., is in London to interview two of the leaders of Penta's international financial services work, partners David Cook and Victoria Walsh. David and Victoria share how their experiences helping government institutions and businesses in Europe communicate around the biggest financial services developments in recent history–including the 2008 Financial Crisis–inform their thinking about stakeholder engagement. 

The group discusses the outlook for inflation, the recent turmoil in the banking sector, and the potential for changes in financial regulation around the world. Bryan, Victoria, and David also talk about how Penta's strategy and intelligence services can support financial services companies during these turbulent times.

On today's Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan discuss this morning's "Goldilocks" March jobs report and the not-too-hot, not-too-cool labor market. Later, the group explores the impact of OPEC's production cuts on gas prices, which are rising just in time for spring break season, and examines the potential risks associated with de-dollarization. Finally, this week's episode wouldn't be complete without a discussion of former President Trump's indictment and the subsequent market reaction.

Read Penta's March Jobs Day Fact Sheet here.

In this edition of What's at Stake, Andrea Christianson hosts Emily Duncan, senior vice president of federal affairs at American Electric Power (AEP), for a conversation on how AEP is taking on the complex challenges and opportunities facing the energy industry today.

Emily's career has spanned a range of key areas within the industry. Though she began her career in energy law; over the past 15 years, she has worked on legislative and regulatory issues in sectors like natural gas, nuclear, and electric power. In today's episode, Emily and Andrea discuss AEP's partnerships with communities and local stakeholders in the company's rural operating regions and how a diverse energy supply is key to guaranteeing reliable energy access across the U.S. Emily also outlines the potential of a new technology called bidirectional charging to transform the country's electric vehicle infrastructure.

Where does Emily see opportunities for more efficient use of the power grid? How is the CHIPS Act impacting energy supply chains? And for which energy source does Emily have a soft spot? Listen now to find out. 

The takeaway: the news is affecting consumer behavior, as indicated by major drops in confidence in the job market and in the overall U.S. economy. On today's Macrocast, Ylan, John, and Brendan host John Dick from Civic Science discuss the latest economic sentiment index, which shows that layoffs and banking crises in the headlines could be driving pessimism and lower spending among consumers. Later on, the group delves into tightening bank regulations as the Fed and FDIC tackle a shaken landscape.

Take a look at Penta's latest ESI analysis here.

On March 10, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed after what many are calling a bank run, triggering the second largest bank failure in U.S. history. Since then, regulators and policymakers have searched for answers, mid-sized banks across the country have struggled to assuage fears over their stability, and Swiss investment firm Credit Suisse has been taken over by UBS as the SVB fallout has rippled through the economy.

On this episode of What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis, a partner at Penta, and Ylan Mui, a managing director at the firm, are joined by Aaron Klein to discuss the impacts of SVB's collapse and–as Aaron sees it–the failure of our banking regulatory system. Aaron Klein is currently a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, focused on financial technology and regulation, payments, macroeconomics, and infrastructure finance and policy. Between 2009 and 2012, Klein served as the deputy assistant secretary for economic policy at the Department of Treasury, where he helped develop and secure the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

The group discusses how the Fed failed to implement proper oversight of SVB, Michael Barr's pre-written testimony, and if we should be allowing more banks to fail. They also answer the question: Was this the first bank run of the social media age

Read more from Aaron Klein here.

Today on What's At Stake, we have a special episode hosted by Mark MacGregor, managing director out of Penta's London office, who speaks with four of his strategy colleagues from across the globe: Marykate Maguire, an associate in the Dublin office; Ruairidh Fraser, an associate in the London office; Grace Boyle, an associate in the Washington, D.C. office; and Emily Wilson, an associate in the New York City office. 

The conversation, spanning several time zones, covers what it's like to be a young professional at Penta, including day-to-day work, how colleagues communicate across offices, and training and mentorship. Marykate, Ruairidh, Emily, and Grace also share their favorite parts about working at Penta and advice for other young professionals starting their career. 

Tune in here to learn more! Additionally, learn more about and apply to the grad programme Marykate and Ruairidh participated in here.

On today's Macrocast, our new host Ylan Mui, managing director at Penta, sits down with John Fagan and Brendan Walsh of Markets Policy Partners to break down the Fed's latest 25 basis point rate hike. The trio points out that it was unique that Chairman Powell spoke so candidly about the Fed's uncertainty on how to adjust rates moving forward. Ylan, John, and Brendan discuss the state of the U.S. economy more broadly, including with respect to how the current commotion in the banking sector might spill over to other countries and sectors. The group finishes the episode by chatting about the odds of regulators taking action in the  banking sector, Yellen's testimony on Capitol Hill, and the state of the U.S. bond market. 

This week, Penta acquired Copperfield Advisory, a communications, brand, and strategy consulting firm based in New York, further cementing Penta's position as the world's first and foremost comprehensive stakeholder solutions firm. Andy Whitehouse, senior partner at Penta and former managing partner and founder at Copperfield, joins Penta President Matt McDonald on this week's episode of What's at Stake to break down what this acquisition means for Penta and its clients. Andy joins Penta with over 20 years of experience in strategic communications. Before joining Copperfield, he was chief communications officer at IBM, Willis Towers Watson, and McKinsey & Company, and worked to tackle poverty and social exclusion as a UK government policymaker.

The Copperfield team brings extensive C-suite experience and issue fluency to Penta, deepening the firm's expertise and offerings in disciplines including brand positioning, transaction communications, talent strategy, and crisis preparedness. Matt and Andy start out the conversation by discussing Copperfield and Penta's complimentary outlooks on the importance of data-driven decision-making and insights. Later, they dive into Andy's extensive experience advising major companies and developing public policy in a range of key sectors including financial services, private equity, tech, healthcare, and philanthropy.

Read more about Penta’s acquisition of Copperfield here.

On today's Macrocast, hosts Bryan DeAngelis, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan are joined by Penta's Oliver Edelmann to unpack another big week of macroeconomic news. The group unpacks the latest turmoil in the banking sector, saga of Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic Bank, and the banking sector more broadly, and discusses the potential reactions from the Federal Reserve. They also explain why consumer sentiment might impact the Fed's response, delving into insights from Penta and Civic Science's latest ESI analysis.

On February 27, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new trade agreement between the UK and European Union (EU) called the Windsor Framework. This comes after years of confusion and empty shelves resulting from the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol, which has been criticized for making it difficult to import goods to Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. 

Penta Partners Kevin Madden and Rory O'Donnell sit down to decipher some of the nuances surrounding the Windsor Framework, the Northern Ireland protocol, and why these trade agreements have such a charged history. The two outline how the Windsor Framework will change the current Northern Ireland Protocol, particularly with respect to the Irish sea border. They also explain what the new "red lane, green lane" system will look like for the movement of goods on the Irish isle.

Kevin and Rory then outline some of the political responses to the new framework in the region. How will Stormont–the Northern Ireland Assembly–respond? And if the Windsor Framework is implemented, how might it positively impact the future of investment and opportunity in Northern Ireland and beyond?

There's been no shortage of gripping macroeconomic developments this week. On today's Macrocast, hosts Bryan DeAngelis, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan dive into the February jobs report and what it can tell us about women in the workforce, before breaking down some key takeaways from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's semi-annual testimony before Congress. In the second half of the show, the group takes on this morning's astonishing meltdown at Silicon Valley Bank. 

Read Penta's February Jobs Day Fact Sheet here.

On today's Macrocast, Bryan, John, and Brendan host John Dick from Civic Science and Ylan Mui, a managing director at Penta. Ylan just joined Penta by way of CNBC, where she covered economic and regulatory policy for six years. The group discusses the latest economic sentiment index, which shows consumer optimism ticking down from the record high two weeks ago and more evidence of a "hangover" in spending following the post-COVID surge. Plus, the group  looks ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Powell's upcoming testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, where Democrats like Sherrod Brown are likely to press Powell on the threat to employment posed by rate hikes. 

Take a look at Penta's latest ESI analysis here.

In this edition of What's at Stake, Penta Partner Stratton Kirton interviews the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Principal Energy Specialist David Elzinga about the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM).

Countries around the world have committed to lowering their emissions over the coming decades. While the U.S. and Europe are approaching the transition to clean energy as developed nations, countries across southeast Asia and Africa are attempting to meet their climate commitments while their populations boom. The Asian Development Bank's ETM is an innovative program specifically designed to help developing nations transition more quickly to clean energy in a just and tailored way.

ETM aims to harness private and concessional capital to accelerate the retirement or repurposing of Southeast Asian fossil fuel plants and crowd in investment for clean energy alternatives.

Throughout the episode, David and Stratton discuss the details of ETM, the ADB's commitment to fighting climate change, and why the energy transition in different parts of the world requires varied solutions. David also shares his advice for people looking to enter the clean energy space. 

To learn more about ETM, visit the ADB's homepage on the project.

The Federal Reserve's next moves are on the minds of business leaders everywhere. Some experts warn of a recession, others hold out hope for a "soft landing," and there's plenty of data to support both sides of the argument. For many Fed watchers, that can make it difficult to understand the Fed's thinking.

To cut through the noise, Bryan DeAngelis hosts three experts on the Federal Reserve for this episode of What's at Stake. John Fagan and Brendan Walsh, co-founders of Markets Policy Partners and Macrocast co-hosts, and Brai Odion-Esene, founder of SW4 Insights, join the show. 

The group explains why we're living through a uniquely challenging time for the Federal Reserve, as it tries to balance its competing mandates of reducing inflation and maintaining employment. They discuss which indicators influence the Fed's agenda the most and whether the Fed's preferred inflation metrics truly reflect Americans' experience.

Listen to the most recent episode of the Macrocast with Markets Policy Partners here.

Learn more about Markets Policy Partners here and SW4 Insights here.

On today's Macrocast, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and John Fagan are joined by Jill Craig, a partner in Penta's Brussels office, to take a look at new data on the Fed's (former?) favorite inflation rating and whether the market might finally be listening to its signaling. In the second half of the show, Jill shares a European perspective on the war in Ukraine as the group looks back on the year since Russia's invasion.

Read Penta's new Q4 2022 GDP Fact Sheet here.

How should businesses engage with policymakers in 2023? On today's episode of What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis talks to Meghan Pennington, a partner at Penta, and Michael Griffin, chief research officer of intelligence at Penta, about Penta's new Washington Insights Review.  The Washington Insights Review is based on hundreds of conversations with DC policymakers and highlights their perspectives on policy issues and best practices for government affairs. 

The group discusses the necessity of a two-way relationship between businesses and policymakers and the importance of organizations finding moments to proactively engage with policymakers. Authenticity when engaging with policymakers is also key, the group explains, especially for issues related to ESG and DEI. 

For more on the top takeaways from the report, listen to the episode, and download the full Washington Insights Review.

Learn more about Penta Policy Insiders.

This week on What's At Stake, tune into another episode of our Artificially Intelligent Conversations series. Each month, Penta Partners Andrea Christianson and Chris Mehigan will dissect the AI latest news and developments from each side of the Atlantic, helping you understand how AI will affect stakeholder management, policy, and more. This week, they host Nicole DeCario, Director of AI & Society at the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) to cover AI literacy, policy, and industry norms.

Nicole discusses how AI2's commitment to open-source language models aims to shape a more transparent and collaborative future in AI research, distinct from the closed doors of industry norms. Her insights reveal a pressing need for ethical frameworks and a nuanced understanding of AI technology in order for U.S. regulators to craft effective policy. You don't want to miss this episode!

On today's Macrocast, hosts Bryan DeAngelis, John Fagan, and Brendan Walsh are joined by Penta Director Oliver Edelmann to discuss whether the economic outlook for the U.S. is truly improving on the heels of a uniquely upbeat reading of consumer economic sentiment. Penta's latest Economic Sentiment Index (ESI) found that consumers are more optimistic about the economy, but are we really due for a soft landing? The group also discusses potential changes to President Biden's economic council and the new Chinese sanctions against American companies.

Read Penta's latest ESI report here.

This week on What's at Stake, Bryan DeAngelis is joined by Alberto Lopez Valenzuela and Innes McFee, managing director of macro and investor services at Oxford Economics, to dive into new updates from a joint study on labor trends released by Penta and Oxford Economics–the beginning of an exciting partnership between the two firms. 

The group breaks down key insights from the report, which analyzed daily sentiment data to pinpoint economic turning points in real time and identified a trend of slowing growth in labor markets across many advanced economies. New data analyzed by Oxford Economics in the weeks since the report's release seem to confirm this trend, presenting a thought-provoking case for stakeholder sentiment as a leading economic indicator. 

What do these data mean, and how certain can we be of their value? How can business leaders use our data to better understand where the economy is headed? Tune in for insights that will change the way you think about stakeholder intelligence.

Read the full report from Penta and Oxford Economics here.

On today's Macrocast, hosts Meghan Pennington and John Fagan are joined by Loren Smith of Skyline Policy Risk Group to discuss the latest on the IRA and infrastructure spending, permitting reform and its impact on energy production, the debt ceiling, and more. Tune in!

This special edition of What's at Stake features some of Penta's most seasoned experts in political communications for a breakdown of President Biden's 2023 State of the Union address. Every State of the Union address is a big deal in the Beltway, but what does it really mean for the second half of President Biden's term? And what should business leaders take away from the speech?

Kevin Madden, a senior partner at Penta, hosts the conversation with Meghan Pennington, also a partner at Penta, and Michael LaRosa, a managing director. All three bring deep experience from the highest levels of political communications, having served on presidential campaigns, Capitol Hill, and the White House. They also bring perspectives from both sides of the political aisle. Tune in for more. 

On today's Macrocast, Stratton, John, and Brendan host  John Dick from Civic Science and Brai Odion-Esene, founder of SW4 Insights. They delve into the latest jobs report, recent central bank meetings, and takeaways from a fascinating earnings season.

John and Brendan explain how the Fed, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England were less aggressive in early 2023 than markets feared last year. Jobs are on the rise, but with the tech sector's lower-than-expected earnings, mass layoffs are grabbing headlines.

Read Penta's latest Jobs Day report here.

Tune in next week for more on US consumer sentiment, President Biden's State of the Union speech, and new earnings coverage.

In this edition of What's at Stake, Stacy Kerr and Stratton Kirton host Tara Carraro, senior vice president and chief communications officer at U. S. Steel, for a conversation on Tara's impressive career in corporate communications strategy and her work at U. S. Steel.

Tara explains how she must navigate a unique challenge: How can her team change perceptions of a company that is more than 120 years old? As chief communications officer, Tara is the voice of an iconic company, responsible for repositioning the brand of U. S. Steel for the future. Tara defines corporate communications as the marketing arm for the corporate brand and explains the important role that data plays in maximizing her team's impact.

What are the biggest changes Tara has seen throughout her career? What's next for U. S. Steel? And what is the next disruption in corporate communications? Tune in to glean invaluable insights from a leader in the field.

On this edition of What's At Stake, Bryan DeAngelis is joined by Fabian Astic, Global Head of DeFi and Digital Assets at Moody's Investors Service, to explore how traditional finance experts are thinking about crypto and blockchain technology today.

As the industry continues to innovate, Moody's is tracking global regulatory developments that can bridge the gap between the digital and traditional finance worlds. Bryan and Fabian discuss the exciting transformations in digital finance expected in the next few years – including the EU's DLT Pilot Regime for digital securities and Hong Kong's new licensing regime for crypto exchanges – and grapple with key questions facing policymakers and business leaders in the space. Will Congress push through long-awaited stablecoin legislation, or will the U.S. fall behind the global pace of progress? And what can investors seeking new ways to diversify their portfolios expect from the coming years? 

Tune in to hear about the crypto and blockchain developments shaking up the world of finance, whether companies are ready, and what work still needs to be done. 

On today's Macrocast, Stratton Kirton, partner at Penta, joins John and Brendan of Markets Policy Partners to discuss the latest GDP report, this week's earning's numbers, and some of the factors currently impacting the labor market, including immigration and the recent uptick in layoffs. How will these layoffs impact next week's Jobs Day numbers? The group talks about some of the reasons the impact might not be as drastic as some expect. 

Changes to some key positions in the Biden Administration are coming, and Stratton, Brendan, and John talk about their implications, especially given the current climate on Capitol Hill. This week was also a notable one for the war in Ukraine. The group talked about the potential economic and geopolitical ramifications of the Biden administration sending Abrams tanks, Russian food shortages, and potential Russian escalation of the war.

Read Penta's GDP analysis here.

Check back next week for Penta's Jobs Day report.

On today's special episode of What's at Stake, John Fagan and Brendan Walshfrom Markets Policy Partners offer their take  on what investors should expect from financial markets over the coming year.. Looking beyond today's relatively calm market environment, the group sees  risks of a recession  and policy uncertainty that could intensify by the summer. 

In addition, the group offers predictions surrounding the future of Fed policy, China's impact on global markets, oil prices , and cryptocurrency. All of these factors are set against an increasingly uncertain fiscal and political situation here in the US. Tune in as MPP explains all this and more and shares key insights for the year to come. 

Watch the video version of MPP's conversation here.

On today's jam-packed Macrocast, guest host Meghan Pennington is joined by John and Brendan from Markets Policy Partners, former senior Treasury official Bob Dohner, John Dick of Civic Science, and Penta Senior Associate Matthew Robbins. The group discusses the latest Economic Sentiment Index, the Chinese economy, and the potential for a debt limit crisis.

Read Penta's latest ESI here. 

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Elliott Owensby sat down with Ripple's Head of U.S. Public Policy Lauren Belive to discuss all things crypto including Ripple's legal victory against the SEC and the company's recent announcement that it plans to launch a stablecoin later this year. 

Throughout the discussion, Lauren underscored the importance of crafting clear rules of the road for crypto in the U.S. To help bring that vision to reality, Bryan, Elliott, and Lauren discussed the role of crypto in the 2024 U.S. elections and how they hope their involvement with the crypto PAC Fairshake can make a difference during this pivotal election cycle for the industry. 

Check out the new episode now!

On today's episode of What's at Stake, Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council (CLC), and Catrina Rorke, CLC's senior vice president of policy and Research, join Stratton Kirton, partner at Penta. The group discusses today's climate policy landscape, specifically the intersection between climate and trade and the increasing appetite for climate solutions that leverage America's carbon advantage for better trade and climate outcomes. Greg and Catrina explain why the current political environment presents a unique opportunity for these policies.

The group breaks down a recent report CLC released on the carbon loophole, which refers to emissions associated with producing goods in one country that are consumed in another. The report finds that nearly a quarter of global emissions occur in the carbon loophole. Catrina and Greg explain how policymakers can close this loophole in order to incentivize more efficient production of globally traded goods.

Read more about the Climate Leadership Council here.

Read CLC's carbon loophole report here.

On this week's Macrocast, Brendan and Bryan are joined by Matt Dell Orfano from Telamonius Ventures to talk about the latest CPI trends, China's sudden reopening, and implications for the world economy. The group begins by diving into the latest CPI numbers and what they mean for ongoing housing market disruption and supply chain issues in other sectors. Matt also discusses the shortcomings of traditional econometric models and the need for real-world examples to back up economic outlooks. 

The group also touches on what China's recent and rapid reopening means for global manufacturing, deglobalization, and foreign investment. They discuss how manufacturing pushes like the CHIPS Act are reflective of a broader effort towards more domestic production, and share their optimism on America's private sector coordination to achieve that goal. 

Additional information:

• January 2023 Consumer Price Index
• Markets Policy Partners: Five Minute Macro

This week, Penta acquired Hume Brophy, a global public affairs, communications, and strategy firm, expanding Penta's global footprint as the world's first comprehensive stakeholder solutions firm. Conall McDevitt, Managing Partner of Penta Europe and Asia and former Hume Brophy CEO, and Jill Craig, Managing Director in Penta's Brussels office, join Parter Kevin Madden to discuss this news, as well as discuss how the strategy solutions field is shifting, geo-political influences, and what can be expected from Penta in the coming months.

The group first explores how the acquisition will enhance Penta's global reach and strategic expertise, adding offices in Brussels, Dublin, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Conall and Jill then discuss some of the biggest issues facing our clients in Europe and Asia in the next few months and years. Finally, Kevin weighs in on what business leaders should expect from  the new Congress and the remaining years of President Biden's first term.  

Read more about Penta's acquisition of Hume Brophy here.