The Penta Podcast Channel

This week’s episode of What’s at Stake tackles the mounting pressure on corporate America as President Donald Trump’s tariffs rattle the markets and stoke fears of a global economic slowdown. Penta CEO Matt McDonald joins hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui to discuss the response from the business community and frameworks for determining when and how to engage publicly.

Their conversation covered:

• Whether tariffs are a tool for negotiation or an end result
• The importance of "signposting" to determine next steps
• The impact of the markets on White House and corporate decision-making

This week's episode of What's at Stake delves into the creation and consumption of media amid the rapid advancement of AI. Sally Shin, venture partner at Comcast Ventures, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Andrea Christianson, to discuss the impact of this convergence on journalism and our daily lives.

Their conversation covered:

• Guardrails to protect intellectual property and the accuracy of AI-generated content
• Partnerships between publishers and AI companies
• Opportunities to leverage AI within news organizations
• The revolution that voice technologies and no-code tools could bring to content creation

This week's episode of What's at Stake explores the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency as the industry gears up for a transformative 2025 amid strong support from both the Trump administration and Capitol Hill. Ron Hammond, senior director of government relations and institutional engagement at the Blockchain Association, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Bryan DeAngelis to discuss the vibeshift in Washington and the industry's policy priorities. 

Their conversation covered:

• Policymakers' evolving perceptions of cryptocurrency
• Challenges and opportunities for stablecoin legislation
• Crypto interest from institutional investors 
• Building consensus across the crypto universe

This week's episode of What's at Stake crosses the Atlantic to discuss the impact of President Trump's tariffs with Penta's experts in Europe. Rory O’Donnell, a partner in the Brussels office, and Stuart Harbinson, a senior adviser who has represented Hong Kong to the World Trade Organization, joined Penta managing director Ylan Mui to examine the motivations behind the tariffs and the implications of global retaliation.

Their conversation covered:

• EU and Chinese perspective on trade tensions
• Potential economic consequences for consumers and businesses
• How the private sector can best navigate these turbulent times
• The potential end game for tariffs 

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Axios political reporter Hans Nichols sits down with Penta Washington office lead Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui to discuss President Trump's priorities and potential pitfalls during his first 100 days in office…for the second time.

The trio discussed several topics, including:

• Trump’s unique media strategy and how it differs from President Biden’s
• The effectiveness of the blitz of executive orders 
• The political chess game swirling around Trump’s nominees and Congress
• Insights on tariffs, tax reform, and potential legislative hurdles
• Public sentiment and tipping points on key issues

You can subscribe to Hans’ newsletter, Axios Hill Leaders here: https://www.axios.com/signup/hill-leaders