Podesta Group

Selected News Clips

The New York Times
June 1, 2010

The New York Times dubs Tony Podesta the “superlobbyist.”

“In a capital fragmented by politics, the best lobbyists ‘are able to work across fields and across branches of government — and even across political parties,’ said Rogan Kersh, a New York University professor who studies lobbying.

‘A Tony Podesta isn’t going to wave a magic wand and make all of BP’s problems go away,’ he said, ‘but his clients are going to get a blueprint for how to succeed in official Washington.’”

MSNBC
May 14, 2010

"If you want something done in Washington, you go to Tony Podesta," says GQ's Ana Marie Cox on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

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GQ
May 14, 2010

Tony Podesta tops GQ’s “Monthly Power List,” and his peers understand why.

“‘Tony is one of the most influential and connected people in Washington, in terms of taking a client's agenda and presenting it,’ says one high powered lawyer who knows Podesta professionally. ‘He doesn't just talk on behalf of clients, he's a brilliant strategist.'

“He's particularly known for his way around the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, ‘Not just when it comes to judges. Just think of any business interest [who has an issue before the committee] and then insert Tony and stir.’ One corporate lobbyist calls him town's ‘best consigliere. He's the guy who tells you whether to take the gun or the canolli.’ But it's usually the gun: ‘He's a wartime general.’”

The Hill
May 11, 2010

The Hill calls Podesta Group principals Jaime Harrison and AJ Jones a "financial power pair."

Ms. JD
April 29, 2010

Online publication Ms. JD profiles Podesta Group principal Beth Inadomi, describing her as a "female powerhouse" in the consulting world.

The Atlanta Post
March 18, 2010

The Atlanta Post features Podesta Group principals Paul Brathwaite and Jaime Harrison in a piece called "Their Influence on Congress is Growing."

"The lobbying Brathwaite… and Harrison do is usually on behalf of the clients they represent or for issues they themselves feel passionate about. 'My work with clients are on the major issues facing the country,” said Braithwaite. 'Whether that is on the current health care reform efforts or financial regulatory reform, our goal is to inform policy makers on how their legislative proposals are going to impact them.'"

CNN

March 17, 2010

Podesta Group principal Jaime Harrison discusses the art of vote counting in the House of Representatives on CNN's "The Situation Room."

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Podesta Group Announces Addition of Three Key Strategists
March 12, 2010

Politico

March 9, 2010

Politico features the Podesta Group's recent "hacks and flacks" happy hour, at which reporters and congressional communications staff connected on Capitol Hill.

"The Podesta Group has also thrown a variant of the 'hack and flack' genre. A few weeks ago at the Pour House, dozens of Hill staffers mingled with the PR department of the group.

'I think we all rely upon electronic communications far too much. You kind of lose that ability to make connections,' said Missi Tessier, head of PR for Podesta Group."

Podesta Group Bolsters Health Care and Education Practices
January 22, 2010

The Hill
January 16, 2010

The Hill newspaper highlights Podesta Group's efforts to help Haiti:

"The Podesta Group is offering a matching contribution to CARE to whatever their employees donate to the humanitarian organization. Podesta is also collecting a number of goods to help the relief effort, such as medical supplies, hand sanitizer, dry milk and baby formula, through a campaign organized by the Embassy of Haiti."

The Hill

December 17, 2009

Tony Podesta is "[flying] high on K Street during the Obama era," according to The Hill.

Podesta Group Strengthens International and Political Teams With Addition of Former Washington Post Foreign Correspondent John Ward Anderson

December 17, 2009

GQ
November 2009

Tony Podesta one of only two lobbyists named to GQ's list of "The 50 Most Powerful People in DC."

Podesta Group Brings On Intellectual Property and Trade Strategist, Cristina Antelo September 25, 2009

Politico

September 10, 2009

Politico calls Tony and John Podesta one of Washington's "power pairs."

"The Podesta brothers are fixtures on the DC political landscape. Together, they started Podesta Associates in the late 1980s... Tony, one of the city's most influential lobbyists, is the chairman of the renamed Podesta Group."

ABC News

July 30, 2009

Podesta Group Principal Paul Brathwaite discusses President Obama's meeting with Henry Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley on ABC News.

Politico

July 10, 2009

Politico names Tony Podesta one of DC's "rainmaking politicos."

Podesta Group Announces Addition of Key Strategist, Oscar Ramirez

July 10, 2009

Roll Call

June 9, 2009

"[Tony] Podesta said the hires [of Paul Brathwaite, Walter Pryor, Donni Turner, Nicole Young, Jaime Harrison and AJ Jones] are just good business. "The fact that our firm is diverse among all our senior people helps us to provide better service to our clients," he said.

"Still the group agrees that diversity begets diversity. By creating a workplace in which race is a contributing - but not necessarily a defining - characteristic, they say Podesta has created an environment where minority consultants and Hill recruits are encouraged to step outside of stereotypical racial lobbying roles.

"...A North Carolina native, the Podesta Group's [AJ] Jones is perhaps the best example of how his firm's black lobbying team is smashing racial stereotypes in Washington."

Podesta Group Enlists Former Senior Government Official

June 5, 2009

The Hill

May 15, 2009

Tony Podesta and Jaime Harrison named to the list of best "Hired Guns" in Washington, DC.

Podesta Group Continues Expansion with Six New Senior Strategists

April 9, 2009

Legal Times

March 23, 2009

The Podesta Group featured in Legal Times and named number 6 on "The Influence 50" list of top lobbying firms.

National Journal

March 21 , 2009

The Podesta Group named number 11 on National Journal's list of "The Top 25 Lobbying Firms of 2008."

Podesta Group Strengthens Appropriations Team With Addition of Senior Financial Services Adviser

February 10, 2009

BusinessWeek

January 26, 2009

The Podesta Group named one of seven of the “Uber-influencers: The Lobbyists Likely to Thrive in the New Washington.”

Senior Congressional Policy and Press Strategist Israel Klein Joins Podesta Group

January 26, 2009

The Wall Street Journal
January 21, 2009

Tony named one of “Washington’s New Power Players,” as one of eight lobbyists in “The Obama Orbit.”

Financial Times

January 19, 2009

Tony Podesta and his wife dubbed “The Biggest ‘Power Couple’ on K Street.”

Roll Call Newspaper

January 15, 2009

“The iconic portrait of President-elect Barack Obama that appeared on T-shirts and buttons during his campaign will be on display Saturday at the National Portrait Gallery.

Los Angeles artist Shepard Fairey created the mixed-medium stenciled collage, which depicts Obama stoically gazing upward, the frame equally bathed in blue and red.

"The National Portrait Gallery acquired the piece as a gift from Washington, D.C., art collectors Heather and Tony Podesta. It is now a part of the gallery’s permanent collection, and it will be prominently displayed on the first floor so that it is one of the first things museum patrons see when they enter.”

Roll Call Newspaper

January 12, 2009

“What’s more, [Bob] Menendez (D-NJ) has a cadre of former staffers turned lobbyists likely to help ease his fundraising burden.

"He has a large network of K Street confidants, including former Chief of Staff Michael Hutton of Hutton Strategies, former Press Secretary Andrew Kauders of the Podesta Group, former Chief of Staff Ivan Zapien and former House Democratic Caucus Executive Director Jim Datri, head of the American Advertising Federation.”

Newsweek

January 5, 2009

Tony Podesta named “The Lobbyist” in Newsweek’s assessment of the new “D.C. Powers.”

Roll Call Newspaper

November 10, 2008

“[Rahm] Emanuel, [President Obama’s chief of staff,] has been known to consult with Democratic heavyweight… Tony Podesta of the Podesta Group, according to lobbyists.”

Politico Newspaper

November 6, 2008

“Some medium-sized lobby shops, including The Podesta Group, have been scooping up the early-moving Republicans to accommodate growing clienteles.

"'Most of our recent additions have been Republicans,' said Tony Podesta, a Democrat who founded the firm that bears his name. 'We look for the best talent, and these are people who are very effective strategists who don’t come along every day.'

"Podesta’s shop has been bipartisan since the Clinton administration…”

Politico Newspaper
September 30, 2008

The newest member of the Podesta Group team profiled in Politico piece titled, "Podesta Nabs Rising Democratic Star." According to Politico, "The powerhouse lobbying firm The Podesta Group, helmed by Tony Podesta, has signed on as a partner Jaime Harrison, director of floor operations and counsel for House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC)...

"...At 32, among the who's who of young Washingtonians, Harrison was profiled by Politico as a Politico Pro. And he was named one of The Hill newspaper's 35 Stellar Staffers Under 35, Roll Call's Fabulous 50 Staffers and National Journal's Hill people of 2007."

National Journal

September 27, 2008

"Jaime Harrison, the director of floor operations and counsel for House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), is leaving Capitol Hill to join the Podesta Group...

"Previously, Harrison was the executive director of the House Democratic Caucus and chief operations officer of College Summit, a nonprofit organization that works with communities to help low-income students enroll in college."

Rising Star of Democratic Party -- Jaime Harrison -- to Join Podesta Group

September 26, 2008

National Journal

August 27, 2008

“Whether it’s the Podestas’ humor, the dinner parties hat the couple host at their home in Northwest Washington, D.C., or the $3 million they have helped raise for Democrats and party committees during this election cycle, Heather and Tony are among the more popular figures in Denver this week.”

The Hill Newspaper
July 29, 2008

In a profile about the Podesta Group’s David Morrison, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) says this: “He was one of the best staffers I have ever worked with. He was great at working with people, listening and coming up with solutions for very delicate problems.”

Legal Times

July 21, 2008

Tony Podesta named one of the top ten lawyer-lobbyists of the last decade.

Podesta Group Continues Expansion with Addition of Senior Defense Appropriations Strategist

May 23, 2008

Nationally Recognized Nutrition Leader to Launch New Food and Nutrition Policy Practice at Podesta Group
April 29, 2008

The Hill Newspaper
April 24, 2008

Tony Podesta named to The Hill newspaper's "Best in Business: Hired Guns" list.

National