In this episode of the Public Affair Trends Podcast, host interviews Max Fose, President and CEO of Fose + McKay, a national marketing and public affairs agency.

Max shares insights from his 26-year career, discussing how the fundamentals of communication—his '3 C's' of creative, consistent content—remain crucial despite radical shifts in delivery platforms, from email to social media and AI.

He emphasizes the increased value of agencies understanding diverse disciplines like marketing, voter data, and media, highlighting the fast-paced nature of political campaigns.

Fose also explores the challenges and opportunities presented by fragmented media, the rise of influencer marketing, and the role of data and AI in tailoring messages, while stressing the paramount importance of credibility in an era of instant content generation and potential misinformation.

He also offers advice to younger practitioners on gaining experience and building a long-term, trusted reputation in public affairs.

This episode features Nicole Schlinger, founder and president of Campaign HQ, discussing the evolution of public affairs. She emphasizes the diminishing impact of traditional, top-down communication strategies in the current climate of declining trust and rising misinformation, especially on hyperlocal issues like data center development.

Schlinger advocates for identifying supporters and persuadable audiences earlier, leveraging human-to-human interaction through tools like telephone town halls, live calls, and texting to engage effectively, facilitate respectful dialogue, and understand authentic public opinion, proving that direct human connection remains vital amidst digital saturation and increasing polarization.

In October's First Friday edition of Public Affairs Trends, host Neil Hughes revisits conversations with Katie Harbath, Gerry Gunster, and Megan Bloomgren. Their insights explore preparing for difficult decisions, understanding the people behind the data, and building credible coalitions. Together, they highlight why listening, trust, and sound judgment remain essential as technology changes how public affairs professionals work.

Neil also covers Zack Laven's promotion to principal at Fulcrum, new Public Affairs Council research showing widespread AI adoption but limited formal measurement, and a Virginia experiment testing text messaging alongside door-to-door canvassing. The episode examines a shared challenge across these stories: determining whether new tools and increased activity produce meaningful results.

In this episode, host delves into the complex intersection of technology, politics, and public trust with guest Katie Harbath. Harbath, former head of Facebook's global elections work and author of "Disrupting Politics," shares insights from her front-row seat to pivotal moments like the 2016 election and Cambridge Analytica.

She discusses the 'impossible trade-offs' leaders face, the unintended incentives of the social media era, and the emerging challenges and opportunities presented by AI in political campaigns.

Harbath introduces her concept of 'panic responsibly' for navigating rapid technological change and emphasizes the critical role of individual agency and transparency in shaping the future of democracy amidst evolving digital landscapes.

Gerry Gunster, CEO of Gunster Strategies Worldwide, breaks down the evolution of political persuasion from the era of "Harry and Louise" to modern digital warfare. He explains why data-driven targeting can never replace qualitative listening and reveals the strategic missteps that led to the Brexit referendum result.

Megan Bloomgren, a partner at DCI Group, discusses the profound shifts in public affairs over her nearly 30-year career. She highlights the constant need for strategic positioning and action, emphasizing how data now accelerates these efforts. Bloomgren shares insights from her work transforming the American Petroleum Institute's narrative and advising top leaders through challenging transitions. She explains how effective public affairs requires strong judgment, data fluency, and a focus on demonstrable outcomes.

The episode delves into building authentic coalitions and the importance of integrated C-suite strategies to manage reputation and political risk. Bloomgren expresses excitement about AI's potential to revolutionize data analysis, audience segmentation, and content creation, calling herself a "data nerd" proud of the industry's dynamic evolution.

In this month's Public Affairs Trends First Friday Briefing, host Neil Hughes examines the latest developments shaping public affairs, government relations and strategic communications. Topics include Craig Stevens of DCI Groupon crisis coordination, Gov Business Review's look at the growing strategic role of public affairs, Nathan Gonzales and the Public Affairs Council on how John Fetterman could affect Senate control, and Nicole Schlinger of CampaignHQon why traditional public affairs campaigns are being challenged by data center development. Plus, a preview of Nicole Schlinger's upcoming appearance on the Public Affairs Trends podcast.

Veteran Republican pollster Micah Roberts, partner at Public Opinion Strategies, takes listeners inside the high-stakes world of public opinion polling. He explains how pollsters turn relatively small samples into meaningful insights, how the industry has evolved from landline calls to voter files and text-based surveys, and why reaching a representative audience is now more difficult and expensive.

Roberts also explores how social media can rapidly reshape public opinion, how researchers detect bots and unreliable respondents, and what listeners should examine before trusting a headline-making statistic. Looking ahead to the U.S. midterm elections, the conversation considers declining institutional trust, economic concerns, ideological shifts, and what polling must do to remain credible in an era of AI, misinformation, and political division.