This episode was originally released on October 27, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's Eyes on Washington podcast series, Energy attorney Taite McDonald is joined by Jonathan Silver, current Senior Advisor at Guggenheim Partners and former Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO). Their conversation kicks off with a discussion about an article in The Hill, co-authored by Mr. Silver, titled Clean Energy Industry Has Come A Long Way Since Solyndra Bankruptcy. The piece touches on the drama accompanying Solyndra's bankruptcy 10 years ago, the lessons it still holds for Congress and how the LPO has turned the tide on clean energy investments since then.During this discussion, Mr. Silver provides insight on how the LPO got started and its role in commercializing innovative technology, creating new jobs and battling the climate crisis. They also discuss key LPO accomplishments impacting the industry and provide advice for companies looking to apply for a loan in the future.

This episode was originally released on October 25, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's Eyes on Washington podcast series, Senior Policy Advisor Lauren Maddox sits down with Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute at the Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Kuzmich provides background on the center and highlights the major policy initiatives taking priority at the Bush Institute, including immigration. She touches on President Bush's role at the institute and how his passion for painting is driving policy conversations. They also discuss the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, a leadership development program headed by Ms. Kuzmich. The conversation wraps up with a discussion about Ms. Kuzmich's path to policy work at the Department of Education and tips for how young professionals can kick start their career in Washington, D.C.

This episode was originally released on September 29, 2021 | In honor of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group is proud to partner with the Black Women's Health Imperative for a four-part podcast series on sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a genetic disease that causes red blood cells, which are normally round, to become C-shaped like a sickle. It is a progressive and debilitating disease that can cause pain crises, organ damage and a shortened lifespan, and it disproportionately impacts communities of color, occurring in approximately one in every 365 Black or African American individuals in the United States. This series, co-hosted by Holland & Knight Senior Policy Advisor Shawna Watley and Black Women's Health Initiative Senior Project Manager Alanna Murrell, will offer discussions on sickle cell disease within the Black community, the latest trends and policy affecting those living with the disease and the new technologies, therapies and treatments that are being developed to target its underlying causes. We hope this series proves educational for listeners and sheds light on this important issue.The first episode in this series features a discussion with Sonya Elling and Dr. Anjulika Chawla, M.D., FAAP, of bluebird bio, a Massachusetts-based company focused on developing gene and cell therapies for severe and rare genetic diseases including sickle cell. Dr. Chawla shares her experience working with patients who have sickle cell disease, from her first time encountering someone with sickle cell when she was in med school to her current work at bluebird, and emphasizes the need for greater education and awareness about the disease in both the medical and nonmedical communities. She also talks about the advancements in understanding and treatment of the disease, touches on the issue of long wait times at the ER for patients and explains new treatment and curative options to note.

This episode was originally released on July 27, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's Eyes on Washington Podcast, Partners Francisco Sánchez, Nasim Fussell and Vice President for Trade and International Competitiveness at American Clean Power Association (ACP) Vanessa Sciarra present the second episode of a two-part series. This episode focuses on trade policy challenges to U.S. infrastructure goals. Speakers discuss the tariffs implemented by the Trump administration, the Biden administration's current infrastructure goals and complications rooting from the United States' position on trading with China.

This episode was originally released on June 30, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's Eyes on Washington Podcast, Partners Jim Davis, Francisco Sánchez and Vice President for Trade and International Competitiveness at American Clean Power Association (ACP) Vanessa Sciarra present the first of a two-part series on Clean Energy Opportunities and Challenges. This episode focuses on opportunities created for the clean power sector in President Biden's American Jobs Plan. Speakers discuss increasing the domestic footprint for clean energy, high-paying job creation in the sector and potential outcomes of bipartisan infrastructure legislation.

This episode was originally released on June 22, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, tax attorneys Nicole Elliott, Josh Odintz and Chris Armstrong discuss the tax gap. They explain what the tax gap is, how it came to be and its present-day implications. Our hosts also touch on the ProPublica leak and how it might impact the ability of the IRS to shrink the tax gap.

This episode was originally released on June 7, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight’s "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, Public Policy & Regulation attorney and co-chair of the firm's Israel Practice Meital Stavinsky spoke with U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-22) about the current relationship between the United States and Israel and what the future might look like for the two countries. Their conversation highlighted opportunities for investment in high tech and infrastructure development given the existence of programs like the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act and the Abraham Accords. They also covered the impact and future of the bilateral commercial and defense relationship between Israel and the United States. They touched on the varying levels of support for the relationship as of late, as well as opportunities for future collaboration. Additionally, they described Israel’s wealth of innovation in a number of developing industries as a key opportunity for the U.S. and other allies in the region.

This episode was originally released on May 14, 2021 | In this episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, Tax Partners Nicole Elliott and Josh Odintz talk all things tax and tequila. This episode focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court case of CIC Services, LLC v. Internal Revenue Service. Our hosts discuss the much-anticipated SCOTUS decision, potential outcomes and future impacts on tax policy, plus provide a few fun tequila facts.

This episode was originally released on May 13, 2021 | In the final episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's "The First 100 Days of the Biden Administration" podcast series, Practice Group Leader Rich Gold and Public Affairs Advisor Devin Barrett invite four former Congressmen from both sides of the aisle to recap the start of the new presidency. Ron Klein, Jim Davis, Tom Davis and Tom Reynolds provide a general overview of what the Biden Administration has accomplished so far through several different lenses. This bipartisan panel looks at tangible successes based on what campaign promises President Biden made, notable achievements in the context of COVID-19 and how the accomplishments of this administration stack up to those of prior administrations at the same 100 day milestone. Each attorney also designates a letter grade to the Biden Administration's first 100 days as a whole and provides a brief prediction as to whether the infamous infrastructure bill, a recurring roadblock in previous presidencies, will see the light of day in Congress.

This episode was originally released on May 3, 2021 | In this episode of "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation attorney Ronald Klein sits down with U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) to discuss cannabis legislation. Rep. Perlmutter provides background on the current state of cannabis law at both the federal and state level around the United States and details how things have changed since THC was named a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act in 1971. He also describes his efforts, alongside other member of Congress, to pass legislation at the federal level that would allow financial institutions to do business with marijuana establishments without violating federal banking laws and the Controlled Substances Act. Otherwise known as the SAFE Banking Act, this piece of legislation would give safe harbor to financial institutions, allowing them to provide their services to businesses in the marijuana industry and get the cash that is currently being generated, off the streets.