Brownstein Podcast Series

With control of both the House and Senate in play and potential shakeups in several governor races, the 2026 midterms could usher in a new political era well beyond the 2028 presidential election. From redistricting warfare and populist primary upsets to shifting oversight priorities and offbeat paths to bipartisan collaboration, our team gives their predictions on how the results will tilt the balance of power at every level of government.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has emerged as a key testing ground for the Trump administration's approach to government reform, including workforce reductions and efficiency initiative policies. Our team will examine how VA has changed since the 2024 election, the major challenges facing the department and what the upcoming midterm elections could mean for VA stakeholders.

The ability to anticipate congressional inquiries is becoming a critical component of effective government relations and risk management strategies. In this episode of Brownstein’s congressional oversight and investigations series, our panel unpacks the political and legal dynamics driving Hill scrutiny. Our team explores how the midterm elections could reshape committee priorities and analyzes the compliance considerations influencing Congress's investigative authority.

Congressional oversight is becoming more aggressive, more public and more reputationally consequential. Industry leaders who understand the risks—and engage experienced legal, government relations and communications advisors early—are better positioned to manage investigations and protect their interests. In our first podcast in a series on congressional oversight and investigations, our team breaks down how and when companies should be prepared when the Hill comes knocking.

Policy debates over Colorado's comprehensive AI law have played out like an epic over the last two years—with working groups, competing proposals, volleying amendments, and now, SB 26-189, a much narrower replacement for the first-of-its-kind AI consumer protection passed in 2024. Tune in as Brownstein's Sarah Mercer, Jack Hobaugh, Josh Weiss and Sloane Whelan take a deep dive into the history of the state law and how we got to this point, what the replacement bill actually does, and how companies should engage in the policy process and balance compliance and liability before the bill takes effect in January 2027.

Agricultural conversion is one of the most critical land use issues in California. Tune in as Brownstein’s Amy Steinfeld and Ginger Andersen dive into the topic, from thoughtful policies to how to protect agricultural lands, and what it means for the state, especially the Central Coast.

Master-planned community development projects are becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming, making early planning even more vital to a successful project. Listen in as Brownstein's Greg Vallin interviews Brian Hart, director of engineering at Redland, on the ins and outs of master-planned community development, the difference in working with developers and landowners and critical due diligence steps.

As the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session comes to a close, the real estate industry is bracing for a new wave of change. Tune in for a Brownstein panel discussion unpacking the most impactful legislation passed this session and what it means for property owners, developers, investors and operators across Colorado.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the White House’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose unilateral tariffs, the Trump administration has moved quickly to preserve its economic leverage by pivoting to other trade authorities, including temporary duties under Section 122 and broader investigations under Sections 301 and 232. Our team unpacks how this strategy is taking shape, where the greatest risks now lie and what business leaders can do to protect their interests.

Expansive or unstable soils can be a difficult and expensive problem for developers and homebuilders, particularly along the Front Range in Colorado. Listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with Hubert Farbes, partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, to explain expansive soils, discuss lessons learned from recent litigation experience, and provide best practices for risk mitigation/litigation avoidance.