# Rethinking Influence in Washington with Brody Mullins

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-influencer-6371343/rethinking-influence-in-washington-with-brody-mullins
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-influencer-6371343/rethinking-influence-in-washington-with-brody-mullins.md
Podcast: [Chief Influencer®](https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-influencer-6371343)
Published: 2026-02-25T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2631f52
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/d2631f52/f7ed8e38.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/chief-influencer-6371343/episodes/rethinking-influence-in-washington-with-brody-mullins
Duration seconds: 2745

## Resource

Anthony Shop sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Brody Mullins to explore how corporate America transformed Washington — and how influence itself is being redefined yet again. Drawing from his book The Wolves of K Street, Brody explains how corporations had surprisingly little sway in Washington prior to the 1970s. Economic turmoil during the Carter era triggered a turning point, prompting companies to build sophisticated lobbying operations, invest heavily in campaign contributions, and shift from relationship-based “inside influence” to broad, public-facing “outside influence” campaigns designed to shape constituent opinion. But the rules are changing again. Brody argues that under President Donald Trump, power has reconcentrated in the White House, creating what he calls an “audience of one” environment. Traditional committee-by-committee lobbying has given way to direct executive access, while media fragmentation and the collapse of traditional gatekeepers have transformed how influence campaigns operate. From Google’s successful grassroots mobilization to TikTok’s failed imitation, Brody unpacks why some influence efforts break through, and others backfire, and why authenticity, especially from real constituents, still matters most in a noisy, AI-driven world. Takeaways: Start with where power actually sits. Influence strategies must adapt to the current power structure — whether that’s 535 lawmakers or one decision-maker. Before launching any campaign, leaders should map the true centers of authority and align their tactics to the individuals who actually control outcomes. Access is not the same as persuasion. Writing a check may get you in the room, but it doesn’t guarantee policy outcomes. Influence ultimately depends on the strength…

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## Transcript

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