Setting the Table for 2026: Tariffs, Messaging, and the Midterm Map

The votes are in. What do the 2026 midterm election results mean for Washington and the policy landscape ahead?In this special episode of The Lobby Shop, recorded during Bracewell's award-winning PRG Pulse Post-Election Webinar on November 4, 2026, the Policy Resolution Group's lobbyists, lawyers and strategic communications professionals, along with special guests, break down the election results and their implications for the 120th Congress, the Trump administration's agenda and key policy priorities.The discussion covers energy and environmental policy, including permitting reform and critical infrastructure; trade and tax policy; and congressional oversight and investigations.Featuring: Dee Martin, Scott Segal, Joseph Brazauskas, Holt Edwards, Megan Greer, Thomas Moyer, Paul Nathanson, Andrew Shaw, Tim Urban, and Josh Zive.Alongside Bill Antholis, CEO of the Miller Center of Public Affairs, and John Lee, Chief of Staff for Rep. Nikki Budzinski.

In this episode of The Lobby Shop, hosts Paul Nathanson and Josh Zive welcome back Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg. Following his company's landmark victory in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, Woldenberg discusses his new lawsuit at the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging the Trump administration's Section 301 tariffs. Plus, hear his thoughts on the constitutional limits of executive authority, what these disputes mean for American businesses, and why the fight over tariffs is far from over.

In this episode of The Lobby Shop, hosts Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, and Liam Donovan are joined by Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen to discuss  their book Simplify, released today, September 15. They discuss the experiences and observations that led them to write the book, why so many leaders and organizations become trapped by unnecessary complexity, and how simplifying priorities, communication, and decision-making can unlock better results.

Co-hosts Josh Zive, Dylan Pasiuk, and Paul Nathanson welcome back Liam Donovan—fresh off his appearance on Ezra Klein’s podcast—to break down the 2026 midterm landscape. The discussion includes each party’s path to a majority with a spotlight on key races, the importance of candidate quality, President Trump’s approach to endorsements, and what it all could mean for the legislative agenda in the final stretch of the current Congress.

On this episode of The Lobby Shop, hosts Caitlin Sickles, Paul Nathanson, and Dylan Pasiuk are joined by Glenda Crookes, Executive Director of the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC), a Massachusetts-based program founded in 1971 that serves approximately 300 children and adults with autism, developmental disabilities, and severe behavioral challenges, many of whom have been unsuccessful in other treatment settings. Crookes discusses JRC’s history, mission, and individualized treatment model, including the center’s continued advocacy for court‑approved access to electrical stimulation devices (ESDs) as a treatment of last resort for a small number of individuals with life‑threatening self‑injurious and aggressive behaviors for whom all other interventions have failed.

In this episode of The Lobby Shop, hosts Caitlin Sickles, Paul Nathanson, Dane Pedersen and Omar Nashashibi, are joined by Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg following the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources v. United States, striking down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Woldenberg discusses why he stepped forward as the lead plaintiff, the stakes behind the case, and what the ruling means for companies seeking tariff refunds. The conversation also explores how the administration may recalibrate its trade strategy—and what comes next for businesses navigating an uncertain tariff environment. This is a joint episode with the Talking with One Voice podcast.

Politico’s Jonathan Martin joins The Lobby Shop hosts Josh Zive and Liam Donovan to unpack the first contests of the 2026 election cycle. They break down key races in Texas, as well as North Carolina and Arkansas and what the early results could mean for the fight for Congress.

The Supreme Court just upended a core piece of the administration’s tariff strategy. Co-hosts Josh Zive and Paul Nathanson break down what the 6-3 Court ruling means, which tariffs are affected, how the President is responding, the other trade tools still on the table. What should companies be doing now as the next phase of tariff policy takes shape? Tune in!

Kicking off the first The Lobby Shop episode of 2026, hosts Josh Zive, Caitlin Sickles, Dylan Pasiuk, and Liam Donovan take stock of the political forces already shaping the year ahead. The conversation spans looming Supreme Court decisions on IEEPA tariffs, the communications challenges facing parties heading into a midterm year, and what recent elections signal for House and Senate control. The group also examines government funding deadlines, legislative strategy in an election year, and why expectation management may matter as much as policy outcomes in the months to come.

With the federal government reopened, Lobby Shop hosts Josh Zive, Paul Nathanson, and Liam Donovan break down the political fallout and how both parties are repositioning. They then turn to the Virginia and New Jersey election results and what they signal for the 2026 midterms, assess ongoing redistricting battles, and discuss how the economy—including inflation and tariff policy—may shape voter sentiment.