Pulling Back the Curtain on Washington's Influence Economy
The Deciders Launches Tuesday, March 17
Five years ago, I launched The Friday Reporter because I fundamentally believed that conversations with journalists matter.
At the time, the media industry was in the middle of profound change. Newsrooms were shrinking, beats were shifting and the relationship between reporters and the people they cover was evolving quickly. I wanted to create a space where those conversations could happen openly — where journalists could talk about their craft, their challenges and the stories shaping Washington.
What I didn’t know then was how much I would learn in the process.
Over the last five years, hosting the show has given me an opportunity to demonstrate how important relationships are in Washington. Reporters, communicators, lobbyists and advocates all show that in every conversation I have hosted.
What I’ve also learned is that the daily news cycle — while important — isn’t always what people most want to understand. Headlines tell us what happened, but news coverage no longer illustrates how decisions are actually made, or who is shaping the strategy behind the scenes.
That realization is what led to my newest project.
On Tuesday, March 17, I’ll be launching a new show called The Deciders, alongside Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Brody Mullins, with the incredibly talented Dave Tobey as executive producer.
The Deciders is built around a different kind of conversation.
Instead of reacting to the news of the day, we’ll be peeling back the curtain on the people and strategies shaping Washington’s influence economy — the insiders who are rewriting the playbook for effective advocacy in a rapidly changing political and media landscape.
Just as importantly, the show represents a step forward in how I’m thinking about storytelling.
This won’t be a home-studio podcast. Each episode will be a tightly produced, 25–30 minute video conversation — thoughtfully edited and designed to give viewers a clearer understanding of how influence actually works in Washington today.
If The Friday Reporter helped illuminate the world of journalism, The Deciders will explore the world that surrounds it — the strategists, advocates and decision-makers whose work often shapes the stories we eventually read about.
And for those who have followed The Friday Reporter since the beginning, don’t worry — that show isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it will continue to grow and expand.
But sometimes new conversations require new formats.
And sometimes the most interesting stories in Washington aren’t happening at the podium — they’re happening behind the curtain.
That’s where The Deciders comes in.
I can’t wait to share it with you.