Padilla - Curated thoughts from curious thinkers

Public Relations News & PR Firms Coverage

Latest PR firm news, commentary & professional development.

Last Updated: Fri., Jul. 17, 2026 @ 4:40 pm

Category: Public AffairsReturn to Latest News

Hegseth Puts Stress on the Wrong 'T'

Fri, Jul. 17, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

Pete HegsethDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth gets it wrong... New York governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to take a one-year pause in permitting data centers is a winning issue for her... JD Vance fails to bail out Trump from the mess that he created.

On the Move: Edelman Names Moses Vice Chairman

Fri, Jul. 17, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Jarrod MosesEdelman names United Entertainment Group CEO Jarrod Moses as vice chairman. Moses will continue in his role at UEG... Burson brings on Matthew Wagner, who was most recently global client relationship manager and energy sector lead at Edelman, as EVP and global client leader... The Key PR appoints Jodi Maroney as principal. Maroney joins the agency after a 25-year run at Access Brand Communications.

Dimon Worries About ‘Tectonic Plates’

Wed, Jul. 15, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

Jamie DimonJPMorganChase chief Jamie Dimon warns of lurking risks that could upend Wall Street's gravy train... Iran foreign minister praises Trump's looney "guardian of the Strait" idea... State Dept. scolds NYC's international affairs unit for overplaying its hand... Historian Timothy Snyder graciously puts his '"Hitler and Stalin" lecture series online to alert people that "it" could happen here.

On the Move: Global Strategy Group Hires Praytell's Taratuta

Wed, Jul. 15, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Claudio TaratutaGlobal Strategy Group names Claudio Taratuta as an EVP of the L@B, its in-house creative and media agency. Taratuta joins GSG from Praytell, where he was a founding team member... ROKK Solutions appoints Kris Havens as EVP of intel and insights. Havens was most recently a partner at Penta Group... Cliff House Maine brings on William Courtney Lowe as chief business development and brand strategist. Lowe joins Cliff House Maine from Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, where he was VP of marketing & business development.

On the Move: Narrative Strategies Recruits Silverstein

Tue, Jul. 14, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Adam SilversteinNarrative Strategies names Adam Silverstein as managing director in New York. Silverstein was most recently head of media relations & thought leadership at Scient Public Relations... Mission North brings on Alex Hunter as EVP of health and innovation... Baird & Warner, a family-owned independent real estate services company that serves the Chicago area, appoints Jeanette Cutler as CMO.

Biden Aide Joins Seven Letter

Mon, Jul. 13, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Greg HonanGreg Honan, who worked in the Biden White House as director of message planning and chief of staff for its office of communications, is joining public affairs firm Seven Letter as a managing director.

Lockheed Martin's Motherway Moves to USAA

Thu, Jul. 9, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

Mara MotherwayMara Motherway, who was VP of strategy and business development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, has joined USAA as senior VP and head of government relations.

Ballard Partners Reps German Defense Giant

Thu, Jul. 9, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

RheinmetallBallard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.

Edelman's Daudani Takes Job at McGuireWoods

Wed, Jul. 8, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Rayhan DaudaniRayhan Daudani, who led the earned media specialty for Edelman’s global energy practice, is coming on board at public affairs firm McGuireWoods Consulting, serving as an SVP on its advocacy team.

US Jews Like Mamdani More than Netanyahu

Wed, Jul. 8, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

MamdaniNew York mayor Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken critic of Israel, is more popular among American Jews than prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu... Donald Trump is the first leader since Benito Mussolini in 1934 to intervene publicly in his national team’s favor... It's surprising that JD Vance hardly uses the word "Catholic" in his memoir about his conversion to Catholicism.

PR Firm News: Karsh Hagan, Madden Media Join Forces as KHM

Wed, Jul. 8, 2026

By Steve Barnes

MaddenKarsh Hagan and Madden Media join forces as KHM... Endeavor Communications opens an office in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamford, CT... Big Red Oak, a Toronto-based communications firm, and D.C. area-based PA firm New Hill Consulting have launched a joint service exclusively for companies in the nuclear energy sector... The Pollack Group has partnered with Brandi AI, a platform for enterprise brand intelligence, AI visibility and Generative Engine Optimization.

On the Move: Ovid Therapeutics Hires Fort as CSO

Wed, Jul. 8, 2026

By Steve Barnes

Victoria FortOvid Therapeutics names Victoria Fort, a veteran of GCI Health, Ruder Finn and Chandler Chicco, as chief strategy officer and chief of staff to the CEO... The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives names RJ Karney VP, head of government affairs... NINICO promotes Sarah Farrant to president. She succeeds agency founder and president Nicholas Adams, who will transition to the role of executive chairman.

Japan Remains #1 in US Impact

Fri, Jul. 3, 2026

By Steve Barnes

BGR Impact IndexJapan has kept its position as the country with the strongest ties to the U.S. for the third consecutive year in the recently released 2026 BGR Impact Index.

Washington PA Firm Adfero Closes

Wed, Jul. 1, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

AdferoAdfero, the DC-based public affairs shop that served the healthcare, technology and energy sectors, closed its doors on June 30.

The Billion-Dollar Presidency

Wed, Jul. 1, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

TrumpCoinDonald Trump claims we are all profiting from Wall Street's rising prices, but the billion-dollar president sure did a lot better than the rest of us... Venezuela hopes the $300M in US reconstructiion aid will follow the same growth trajectory as the White House's East Wing ballroom project.

Mercury Handles DC Push for Israeli Think Tank

Mon, Jun. 29, 2026

By Kevin McCauley

MisgavMisgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy has hired Mercury Public Affairs for government relations advice and services, including outreach to government officials and potentially US media outlets.

The Communications Dilemma for University Presidents

Wed, Jun. 24, 2026

By Andrew Jarrell

Andrew JarrellTo successfully navigate a higher education landscape in which the level of scrutiny is constantly rising, university presidents need to establish a consistent framework for determining when an official response is—and is not—required.