The Beltway & Beyond

President Trump last week signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, freeing up almost half-a-trillion dollars in additional relief funds to deal with the pandemic and its blow to the American economy. Less than three months since the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S., the country's reported fatalities make up a quarter of the world's known coronavirus death toll. Meanwhile, as many states still struggle to secure critical test kits, governors across the political spectrum continue to lack persuasive arguments to safely reopen the country and have asked that the federal government step up its support for state efforts.

Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Jim Schultz discuss how the crisis continues to reshape the American economy and life as we know it.

Less than seven months before the November election, the issue of reopening the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is a high-wire act for the president. The politics of the situation is hanging over the health data, as a swift economic restart could backfire politically for Trump if it causes a flare up. Meanwhile, governors across the political spectrum are also facing growing pressure to revive economies decimated by the coronavirus. But if they drew praise for taking quick action to protect public health, taking responsibility for when and how to reopen the country could prove far more politically perilous.

Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Jim Schultz discuss what lies ahead, as the ongoing public health crisis continues to test both the economy and the public’s patience.

In a matter of months, the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our society and changed our entire way of life. As hospitals across the country have become overwhelmed, and industries, transport networks and businesses have closed down, the macroeconomic consequences seem dire. The public health and economic crises caused by pandemic will test our political institutions and our willingness to sacrifice for the common good, too.

Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Jim Schultz discuss the roots of these crises and what it will take to overcome the daunting challenges that lie ahead.

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly evolved from a health crisis to a financial and economic one, shuttering businesses, upending entire industries, and resulting in staggering unemployment filings. The Democratic Party announced on Thursday that it will postpone the Democratic National Convention because of the coronavirus. As the scope and scale of the pandemic and its impact remains unknown, Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Jim Schultz, break it all down and discuss how the crisis may impact politics and the November election.

Exactly one week after The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, “phase three” legislative response to the COVID-19 crisis, was passed, members of Cozen O'Connor's Coronavirus Task Force – including Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Steven Dickinson, Robert Magovern, Michael Schmidt, Christopher Raphaely, and Jeff Vogel, analyze the impact of the CARES Act on specific industries and provide practical and legal guidance to businesses in those industries for maximizing the financing options available to them under the Act. Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), who served as the COO of the US Treasury’s TARP program during the 2008 financial crisis, and Mark Alderman, CPS Chairman, moderate the discussion.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate voted on Wednesday to adopt a massive economic-stimulus package. The bipartisan bill would offer some $2 trillion to help many sectors weather the expected physical and economic toll from the coronavirus. House passed the bill today.

Howard Schweitzer, the CEO of Public Strategies who served as COO of the Treasury’s TARP program during the 2008 financial crisis, Jim Schultz, who worked in the Office of White House Counsel, and Mark Alderman, CPS Chairman, dig into the COVID-19 relief bill and what it might mean for a large swath of the economy.

The coronavirus crisis has challenged all levels of government. Understandably, government action has so far centered on the public health crisis and protecting workers and lower income Americans. At the same time, the government is beginning to focus on the vast financial and economic implications of this pandemic. Work has already begun on a stimulus package to address such implications.

Howard Schweitzer, the CEO of Public Strategies who served as chief operating officer of the U.S. Treasury’s TARP program during the 2008-09 financial crisis, and Mark Alderman, CPS Chairman, break it all down and discuss what to expect next during these unprecedented times.

The coronavirus crisis has escalated in the U.S. and all levels of government must respond. But how? And can our elected officials mesh crisis management with the divisive political climate? Howard Schweitzer, Jim Schultz, and Mark Alderman break it all down, based on Howard’s experience with managing the 2008-09 financial crisis as Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Treasury’s TARP program and Jim’s experience in the Trump White House Counsel and as General Counsel to the Governor of Pennsylvania during Super-storm Sandy.

Super Tuesday is over and, although the Democratic contest is far from over, former vice president Biden is, for today, the front–runner. Can Bernie Sanders, who benefited from a fractured field in early contests but suffered from the moderate consolidation on Tuesday, still close the gap? Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, is joined by Patrick Martin, CPS Midwest Director, and Kaitlyn Martin, CPS Government Relations Advisor, to discuss how the trajectory of the race may unfold in the coming day

Less than a week before Super Tuesday, the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination remains fluid, yet the 78-year old Senator already looks like the favorite to clinch the nomination. Bernie’s ascendancy is forcing a sudden reckoning among the Democrats, as they wonder if he is equipped to beat Trump in November: are his opponents devoid of any ideas on how to stop him? Is Biden still a player? And is Buttigieg more viable? What about Bloomberg’s role? Is anybody going to drop out after South Carolina?

Howard Schweitzer and Mark Alderman, respectively CEO and Chairman of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, are joined by Jim Schultz, former White House Counsel, to discuss what may happen next.