DC Communicators Forum: A Conversation with Puck

There is no topic talked about more in Washington than the midterms and which party will be in charge of which chamber in 2027.

At ROKK’s latest DC Communicators Forum, we were joined by Leigh Ann Caldwell, Puck’s Chief Washington Correspondent, Marianna Sotomayor, Puck’s Capitol Hill Correspondent and Ali Hattamer, Executive Director at Puck. Moderated by ROKK Partner and Co-Founder Rodell Mollineau in front of over 25 leading communicators and public affairs professionals in Washington, DC, they discussed what corporate America should to keep an eye on leading up to and following the midterms, the dynamics playing out in Congress now and what differentiates Puck as a news organization in Washington.

Corporate America in a Post-Midterm Environment

ROKK’s research has shown that 73% of voters blame not only the administration but also corporations for rising costs across the board. Based on her reporting, Marianna believes that Democrats, should they take control of one or both of the chambers in Congress, will begin to investigate those corporations that have close ties with the President and administration in 2027. Although Democrats have not shared a clear agenda, they have signed that they have tracked which companies they will put under the most scrutiny first. Legislatively, the focus is on affordability and kitchen table issues rather than recent rollbacks on DE&I.

A Different Type of Newsroom at Puck

Leigh Ann, Marianna and Ali also discussed how Puck gives journalists the editorial freedom to explore the topics they’re interested in–and what they believe their audience wants. Journalists dedicate time to deep reporting rather than the daily news beat. 

“Because we have these very insidery, personality driven voices, they’re covering these power corners but they’re covering them in a way that the top of the top of America want to know” Leigh Ann shared. Puck doesn’t aim to have the largest number of journalists but rather those that have loyal audiences who place their trust in both the journalist and Puck as a news source.

Learn More About the DC Communicators Forum

ROKK Solutions hosts conversations between Washington’s most influential voices and industry leaders, providing insights into how public affairs and communications are being shaped and where it is headed. Interested in being a part of future conversations? Get in touch with our team.