Shadow Politics, January 31, 2021
Shadow Politics with Senator Michael Brown and Maria Sanchez
Guest, Eli Zupnick, Fix Our Senate Spokesperson
Headlined Show, Shadow Politics January 31, 2021
THE FILIBUSTER - Protector of the Minority or Tool for Obstructionists with guest Eli Zupnick. Eli is now the spokesman for Fix Our Senate – a coalition of liberal and labor groups formed to advocate for filibuster elimination, which has launched a six-figure ad campaign and plans to deploy field operatives in states where Democratic senators have expressed reluctance to ditch the rule. This group stands in opposition to the Senate rule that allows any senator to block legislation by extending debate. We'll discuss with him a long-standing rule that has dominated legislation in the United States Senate. Tune in as we debate whether this is a protection for the minority or a tool designed to derail the majority. Join in as we list the pros and cons of ending this rule and consider what it might mean for the DC statehood bills.
Guest, Eli Zupnick
Eli Zupnick is an experienced communications strategist who has spent his career working with candidates and elected officials to help them win races, enact their policy and legislative agendas, manage crises, and get their messages out clearly and effectively. Eli began strategic communications consulting following ten years in the United States Senate, including six years as Communications Director for Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Assistant Democratic Leader and third ranking Democrat in Senate leadership.
As a strategic communications consultant, Eli has worked with nonprofits and advocacy organizations to help them develop communications plans, manage crises, roll out new projects and initiatives, and secure favorable coverage in major news outlets. He has written and placed op-eds that have appeared in the Washington Post and other major publications.
As Sen. Murray’s Communications Director, Eli managed communications for her personal Senate office, Democratic leadership office, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member office. He led the communications strategy and execution around the passage of numerous bipartisan bills, including her signature K-12 education law that replaced No Child Left Behind. He was on the front lines of Senate Democrats’ messaging and strategy in the fights against President Trump’s attempts to repeal health care reform, defund Planned Parenthood, and jam the courts with extreme judges.
Prior to that role, Eli was Communications Director for the Senate Budget Committee, where he managed communications for Sen. Murray and committee Democrats through the rollout and passage of the Senate Democratic budget, the 2013 government shutdown, and the Murray-Ryan bipartisan budget deal. Prior to that, Eli was press secretary for Senator Murray and lead spokesperson for her work on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the Supercommittee).
In addition to his work in the Senate, Eli has extensive political campaign experience. He took time off from the Senate to serve as senior communications advisor for Sen. Chris Murphy's 2012 successful election in Connecticut as well as Rep. Bruce Braley's 2014 Senate race in Iowa, and then to run communications for Sen. Murray's successful re-election campaign in 2016. Prior to that, he was a press staffer on the 2008 Obama campaign in multiple states and worked on local races in New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Eli is a native New Yorker and graduated from Queens College with a degree in Political Science and Philosophy.
Shadow Politics
Shadow Politics is a grass roots talk show giving a voice to the voiceless. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation's Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. Shadow Politics will provide a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog.
We need to start a new conversation in America, one that is more inclusive and diverse and one that will lead our great nation forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At Shadow Politics, we hope to get this conversation started by bringing Americans together to talk about issues important to them. We look forward to having you be part of the discussion so call in and join the conversation. America is calling and we're listening… Shadow Politics is about America hearing what you have to say. It's your chance to talk to an elected official who has spent more than 30 years in Washington politics. We believe that if we start a dialog and others add their voices we will create a chorus. Even if those other politicians in Washington don't hear you — Senator Brown will. He's on a mission to listen to what America has to say and use it to start a productive dialog to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. If we are all part of the solution we can solve any problem.
