Matt Mackowiak's Mack On Politics

China’s influence operations in the United States is the topic for the 257th episode.Our returning guest is New York Times best-selling author and investigative journalist Peter Schweizer, author of the new book, “Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win”. In this conversation we explore how China identifies influence targets, which industries are most valuable, what China really wants, whether this problem is truly a bipartisan one, and what can be done about it.You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Handed-American-Elites-Helping-China/dp/0063061147.

In the 256th episode, we explore a building movement that is not receiving the national focus that it deserves: The National Popular Vote Compact (nationalpopularvote.com). Our guest is former State Senator Ray Haynes (R-CA), president of the Institute for Research on Presidential Elections and a national spokesman for the National Popular Vote movement.Enough states have banded together to provide 195 electoral votes for the national popular vote, and once they hit 270, the national popular vote winner will be elected President of the United States as the sole determining factor for the first time in American history. Hear how the movement is progressing, how they answer critics, and when this may actually happen.

Award-winning author and journalist Toby Harnden is the guest for the 285th episode. He is the author of the new bestseller, “First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11”. On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, in this conversation we look back to how the war in Afghanistan began, what role the CIA played, what the war cost, and how the war ended. The “Mack on Politics” podcast is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Interview subjects can be pitched by emailing matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

In this episode we speak to author and journalist Michael Shellenberger, whose next book is “San Fran Sicko”, which examines how our major cities are objectively failing.

The war on small business is the subject of the 283rd episode.Our guest is Carol Roth, bestselling author and small business advocate. Her new book is, “The War on Small Business: How the Government Used the Pandemic to Crush the Backbone of America”.In this episode we discuss how CDC guidelines and state and local emergency orders made big business essential and small business discardable, whether PPP was sufficient, how small businesses can prepare for the next pandemic and whether cryptocurrency is an option small business access to capital in the future.Email matt@potomacstrategygroup.com if you have guest ideas for a future podcast episode.

Longtime MSNBC “Hardball” anchor and bestselling author Chris Matthews is our guest for the 282nd episode.His new memoir is entitled, “This Country: My Life in Politics and History”. In this conversation we explore:His career path from the Peace Corps to being a Capitol Police officer to working in the U.S. Senate, the White House, for Speaker Tip O’Neill and then 20 years as a cable news TV hostWhether the U.S. Senate remains the “world’s greatest deliberative body”Whether the filibuster should be eliminatedHis assessment of President Biden’s first termWhat he learned after 20 years hosting “Hardball” Please give us a 5 star rating in the iTunes store and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Guest ideas? Email: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

The Middle East is the subject of episode 281.Our guest is former Trump White House Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt. In this episode we discuss:- The state of the cease fire- Egypt’s role in negotiating it- President Biden’s role- Why Hamas is doing this- How Iran is involved- How Iron Dome protects Israel- Whether the Abraham Accords are holding up- What we can make of Bibi’s future- Whether there is any reason for hope for Middle East peace Please give us a 5 star rating in the iTunes store and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Guest recommendations? Email: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

Ohio is the subject of the 280th episode.Our guest is former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH), who was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018.In this conservation:Is Ohio a battleground state?Why did Trump win Ohio decisively twice?What our guest makes of the legacy of Ohio Gov. John KasichOur guest’s view of the COVID response in OhioWhether our guest thinks the U.S. Senate race in 2018 was winnable in retrospectWhether our guest will run for Governor or U.S. Senate in 2022What he thinks when he looks back to his time in Congress Subscribe to the “Mack on Politics” podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Email comments, feedbacks, complaints and guest ideas to: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

A discussion of how political campaign tactics can help you grow your business — that’s the subject of the 279th episode. Our returning guest is Go BIG Media CEO and bestselling author Phillip Stutts, author of the new book, “The Undefeated Marketing System: How to Grow Your Business and Build Your Audience Using the Secret Formula that Elects Presidents”. In this conversation we examine how tactics used by winning campaigns can be quickly and thoughtfully utilized in business.

Leadership and mentorship are the subjects of the 278th episode. Our guest is my longtime friend Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush and author of the new bestseller, “Everything Will Be Ok: Life Lessons for Young Women”. In this episode we discuss why she wrote the book, the importance of mentorship, how to manage relationships and how to get the career you want.

How the PPP program saved Main Street is the subject of the 277th episode.Our guest is former Acting Associate Administration of the Small Business Administration Bill Briggs, who administered the PPP program.In this conversation we review what the program was, how and why it worked, what it was like at SBA over the past year, and how we government can better support small business in the future.

The US-China relationship is the subject of the 276th episode.Our guest is Josh Rogin, foreign policy columnist for The Washington Post and author of the new book, “Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the 21st Century”. In this conversation we examine the state of the bilateral relationship, whether tariffs worked, how the US is attempting to decouple its economy from China’s, whether TPP could be revived, how COVID broke the US-China relationship and whether a new bipartisan consensus on China has developed on Capitol Hill.

Our subject for the 275th episode is the U.S. Senate.Our returning guest is U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN).In this conversation we size up the recently passed COVID stimulus bill, evaluate vaccine deployment, and discuss Biden’s Cabinet, security at the U.S. Capitol and energy issues.

The Biden campign is the subject of the 274th episode. Bestselling co-author Jonathan Allen, an NBC News analyst, wrote “Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency” along with The Hill’s Amie Parnes. In this conversation we look back to the Democratic primary, how close Biden came to dropping out in NH, how he came back, how he chose Harris, how he won and where things stand today.

The energy crisis in Texas is the subject of the 273rd episode.Our guest is Jason Isaac, director of Life: Powered at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a former four-term State Representative from central Texas.We discuss why the electric grid failed, to what extend wind and solar contributed to this failure, how Texas can prevent this from happening in the future, how the Governor and legislature might respond, and where the story goes from here.

Virginia and the economic recovery are the subjects of our 272nd episode. Our guest is my old friend Pete Snyder, investor, businessman and Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia. In this conversation we discuss his business career, his recent experience helping save small businesses during the economic shutdown, why he’s running for Governor, why he wants to immediately reopen the schools, and where he wants to lead the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Congress is the subject of the 271st episode.Our guest is freshman Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX), a member of the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees.In this conversation, we discuss the first two weeks of the Biden administration, dive deep on the energy industry, and look back at the Jan. 6 domestic terrorism event at the U.S. Capitol.

The electoral college is the subject of the 270th episode. Our guest is 35-year veteran of the conservative movement Pat Rosenstiel, who serves as senior advisor to the National Popular Vote Compact (http://www.NationalPopularVote.com). In this conversation we explore arguments for and against a national popular vote, examine how it would work, consider misperceptions, and take stock of when (or if) it will become a reality.

In the 269th episode, we examine the events of the week and consider how things have changed.My guest is Ron Christie, former senior advisor for Vice President Dick Cheney, former Capitol Hill aide, and senior fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. We discuss the domestic terrorism event at the Capitol, Trump’s role in it, the prospect of impeachment, the question of how the effects his legacy, and look forward to the Bide administration, the 2022 midterms and ponder the next presidential race.

COVID in New York nursing homes is the subject of our 268th episode.Bestselling author Janice Dean, senior meteorologist for Fox News channel is out guest. She’s become a reluctant activist in New York State after Gov. Cuomo’s policy of sending COVID positive patients into nursing homes harmed her own family. In this discussion we examine what happened to her family, what questions she has now, whether she wants to meet with Gov. Cuomo, and what the response has been.