Public Affairs Trends

Public Affairs Trends explores the ideas, technologies, and strategies shaping communications, public affairs, polling, media, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Featuring conversations with industry leaders, communicators, policymakers, researchers, and innovators from the United States and around the world.

Public Affairs Trends is a government podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 13 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Public Affairs Trends, a government show with 13 episodes published.

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  Episode #14

  Disrupting Politics: Katie Harbath on Tech, Democracy and AI's Impact

  Sep 25, 202616 min

  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.

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  Episode #13

  Beyond the Data: The Art and Science of Modern Persuasion

  Sep 18, 202617 min

  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.

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  Episode #12

  Public Affairs in the AI Era: Megan Bloomgren on Data, Coalitions and C-Suite Strategy

  Sep 11, 202620 min

  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.

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  Episode #11

  First Friday, September 2026: The New Public Affairs Playbook: Prepare Earlier, React Less

  Sep 4, 202613 min

  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 Group on 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 CampaignHQ on 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.

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  Episode #10

  Can You Trust the Polls? Inside the High-Stakes Battle to Measure Public Opinion

  Aug 28, 202625 min

  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.

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