Read BGR’s full summary and analysis of President Trump’s tariff announcement delivered earlier today on “Liberation Day.”
Category: International and Trade
BGR Welcomes Bassam Barabandi as Senior Advisor
Washington, D.C. (March 31, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier lobbying and public affairs firm, today announced that Bassam Barabandi is joining the firm as a Senior Advisor. Barabandi has extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs and over two decades of expertise in public diplomacy, policy analysis, and strategic advising. His career includes working with high-level government entities and international organizations, specializing in navigating complex political environments and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
“Bassam’s background and experience make him an excellent addition to the BGR team,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “He will offer our clients a unique perspective on events and issues with global impact.”
Mr. Barabandi is the Co-Founder of People Demand Change Inc. Born in Damascus, Syria, with familial ties to Deir Azzour Province, he worked in the Syrian diplomatic civil service for 14 years before leaving the Syrian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2013 to co-found PDC.
His diplomatic career included roles such as First Secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., head of political affairs at the Syrian Embassy in Beijing, China, and a post at the Syrian Government’s UN mission in New York City. He also liaised with organizations such as the World Bank, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the U.S. Congress.
Since the Syrian revolution in 2011, Mr. Barabandi has been a strong advocate for Syrian citizens, ensuring unhindered access to consular services regardless of political affiliation. He has collaborated with members of Congress, media outlets, and the U.S. Government to expose and sanction Assad regime officials, companies, and businessmen implicated in human rights violations by freezing their assets. Additionally, he has provided regular updates on the situation in Syria—especially regarding foreign fighters and Iranian interference—offering comprehensive analysis and strategic recommendations to decision-makers in the United States and Europe.
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BGR Group Welcomes Chamber’s Scott Eisner to Bipartisan International Practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2023) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere lobbying and public affairs firm, is welcoming Scott Eisner, a highly accomplished executive with over two decades of experience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as a Senior Vice President with the International and Trade Practice on November 1st. With his extensive global business knowledge, deep legislative and executive branch ties, and trade policy expertise, Scott is a powerful addition to the firm’s already robust bipartisan team.
“BGR is well known and well regarded for its international work and Scott will be a tremendous asset to the team,” BGR International Practice Co-Head Lester Munson said. “Scott’s in-depth knowledge of international market dynamics and his proven track record of strategic advocacy places BGR Group at the forefront of delivering impactful, tailored solutions to our clients worldwide, particularly in Africa. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
Scott joins BGR from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he served as a Senior Vice President and most recently, President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC), the business community’s leading advocacy group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Africa trade relations. In this role, he directed the strategic activities of the Chamber’s USAfBC as it engaged with senior-level U.S. government officials, international business leaders, and African governments. He is also a former member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Trade Advisory Committee on Africa. Previously, Eisner was head of operations for the Chamber’s International Affairs Division and vice president, African Affairs. Before that, he was deputy chief of staff at the Chamber, where he oversaw the Executive Office and was the senior staffer to the Chamber’s president and CEO. He began his career at the Chamber as director of programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, formerly known as the National Chamber Foundation.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Eisner had a diverse career across multiple sectors, including time in politics working on Sen. John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign and his reelection to the Senate in 2004. He worked for the International Republican Institute in Malawi, Africa, where he trained political parties on communications and campaign tactics. He was also director of business development for the Kronk Boxing Gym, home to numerous world champions, including Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns and Lennox Lewis.
In 2019, Eisner was selected to be a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a program that brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges, both at home and around the world, and who are interested in exploring lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Scott currently serves on the advisory board for City Year South Africa, Africa Leadership Academy USA, the Woodrow Wilson Center Africa Program Advisory Council, and The George Washington University – Elliott School of International Affairs.
Eisner graduated with a degree in political science from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two daughters.
Key Takeaways from House TikTok Hearing
By Alex Bedwell
March 24, 2023
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing focused on TikTok this week. The company’s CEO Shuo Chew testified and received difficult questions from members on both sides of the aisle. Here are some key takeaways from the hearing.
Will TikTok Be Banned?
During the hearing on Thursday, members of the committee expressed their firm belief that TikTok could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party, leaving the future of the app in the U.S. uncertain. The Biden administration had already threatened a national ban, and the U.S. government had banned TikTok on government devices. The committee’s conviction was reinforced by a Wall Street Journal report, released just hours before the hearing, which stated that the Chinese government would not approve a TikTok sale. Lawmakers outside the committee are also not convinced, but a national ban would face significant legal and public opinion challenges. Previous attempts to ban TikTok were blocked in court due to free speech concerns, and millions of its users in the U.S. are unlikely to want to give up the fast-growing and popular apps.
Doubts regarding the feasibility of ‘Project Texas’
To address concerns about Chinese influence, TikTok has announced a new plan called Project Texas, which involves moving all data from U.S. users to servers located within the U.S. As part of the plan, the tech company Oracle would have access to TikTok’s source code and act as a third-party monitor. TikTok aims to complete the project by the end of the year, but some lawmakers doubt this is possible due to the large amount of source code that needs to be reviewed. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), who is also a software engineer, expressed concern that Project Texas may not have the technical capability to provide the necessary assurances.
China’s Relationship with TikTok
At the hearing, lawmakers repeatedly questioned Chew about China’s alleged influence over TikTok, citing it as a potential national security concern. Both House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) referred to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, as a “Beijing communist-based parent company.” Chew maintained that the Chinese government does not control ByteDance and that there is no evidence that the government has accessed or requested access to U.S. user data. He also stated that TikTok does not remove or promote content at the request of the Chinese government. However, some legislators pointed out that Chinese engineers may still have access to some U.S. data due to the company’s reliance on “global interoperability.” Despite these concerns, Chew denied that TikTok posed a national security threat, stating that many of the risks are theoretical and hypothetical.
Content Moderation
Lawmakers also addressed broader social media concerns during the hearing, focusing on TikTok’s ability to moderate harmful messaging, misinformation, and inappropriate content. Several legislators presented TikTok videos that promoted self-harm or suicide. Chew said that TikTok employs 40,000 moderators to monitor harmful content and utilizes an algorithm to identify controversial material. Additionally, the company plans to have “third-party validators” assess its algorithms and grant researchers access to study and monitor the content. However, Chew acknowledged that TikTok is not perfect in its moderation efforts, stating that the company works hard to improve its methods.
Kids’ Safety and Mental Health
Another frequent focus of the hearing was the safety of TikTok’s younger users, considering the app has exploded in popularity with this age group in recent years. According to the Pew Research Center, most teenagers in the United States use TikTok. Specifically, 67% of individuals aged 13 to 17 have used the app, and 16% of that age group use it “almost constantly.” Lawmakers cited reports that drug-related content has spread on the app, allowing teens to purchase dangerous substances easily online. Chew said such content violates TikTok policy and that they are removed when identified. Others cited self-harm and eating disorder content, which have been spreading on the platform. TikTok is also facing lawsuits over deadly “challenges” that have gone viral on the app.
BGR Group Announces Two Key Promotions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 6, 2023) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today announced that Lester Munson has been named Co-Head of the firm’s International and Trade Practice and Chelsea Mincheff has been promoted to General Counsel.
“Les and Chelsea have been outstanding colleagues and contributors to BGR’s success,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “We are proud of their accomplishments and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions.”
As Co-Head of the International and Trade Practice, Lester assists corporations, foreign governments, and advocacy groups advance their policy objectives. He also leads the firm’s foreign assistance practice, which provides advisory and government relations services to companies, advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations. As a former senior United States Agency for International Development (USAID) official and veteran of multiple congressional committees, Lester provides clients with a unique set of skills and experience to advance their goals.
Lester joined BGR Group in November 2015 after a 26-year career on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch. He had most recently been Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he led policy, oversight, legislative, and communications efforts for a staff of 25 and negotiated committee priorities with the White House, the State Department and Congressional leadership.
Previously, Lester was Chief of Staff for Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois. At the time, Senator Kirk was a leading Republican voice in the Senate on Iran and other national security issues.
As General Counsel, Chelsea will handle the firm’s compliance with lobbying, ethics, and disclosure regulations. She joined BGR in 2020 after serving as Legislative Director for Congressman Tom Rice (R-S.C.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. In that job, she helped set the Congressman’s legislative agenda, including for health care, Social Security, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and appropriations. She worked with agencies and state officials on major infrastructure projects and on relief in the wage of Hurricanes Dorian, Florence and Matthew.
From 2011 to 2017, Chelsea was Associate Attorney at the Mullikin Law Firm, LLC, a South Carolina-based government affairs firm. There, she analyzed congressional, state, and local legislation and developed strategies for the energy industry and large manufacturers.
Analysis: Democrats to Get 51-49 in the Senate – What Does It Mean?
With the Georgia Senate runoff results in, BGR Senior Vice President Fred Turner explores what the Democrats’ 51-49 seat Senate majority will mean in the 118th Congress.
READ: https://bgrdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Democratic-Majority-51-49-What-Does-It-Mean.pdf
BGR Releases Quarterly Outlook for September 2022
As Congress returns for the last month of legislating before the midterm elections in November, BGR’s practice groups examine what lies ahead. The BGR Quarterly Outlook for September includes a look at midterm election trends, a polling snapshot, races to watch, and the upcoming agenda in Congress and the states.
Analyzing the Impact of a Ukraine No-Fly Zone
There have been growing calls in recent days for the United States and NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky reiterated the plea on Monday, but what is a no-fly zone and how would it work? For that we turn to two former U.S. ambassadors to NATO. Retired Army Lt. General Doug Lute and Kurt Volker join Judy Woodruff to discuss.
WATCH
BGR Group Names Maya Seiden Co-Chair of International and Trade Practice
Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2021) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, has named Principal Maya Seiden Co-Chair of the firm’s International and Trade Practice. In her role, she advocates in the U.S. on behalf of foreign countries and individuals and advises companies on navigating challenges in the U.S. and overseas.
“Since joining BGR, Maya has been an incredible colleague and tremendous asset to clients across the firm,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “Her breadth of experience in government and the private sector makes her a unique and exceptional advisor on a myriad of issues. We are proud to name her Co-Chair of our International and Trade Practice.”
“Maya brings an insider’s experience and analytical perspective to every client and every situation,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “She is smart, hardworking, and savvy. BGR is privileged to have her on our leadership team.”
A veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations, Maya served in senior positions at the State Department, Energy Department and the White House. Outside of government, Maya held senior strategy, operations and communications positions in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
Prior to joining BGR in 2014, Maya served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, overseeing budget and strategic planning for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She led Secretary Clinton’s effort to elevate the State Department’s influence in economics and business promotion. During the Clinton administration, Maya was Special Assistant to Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Special Assistant in Cabinet Affairs at the White House.
In the private sector, Maya served as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at BlackRock, where she advised the firm’s Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer on management, communications and operations; worked on major mergers and acquisitions; and developed the company’s first government relations and public policy strategy.
From 2003 to 2007, Maya managed operations at New York University, overseeing the streamlining of operations and management, including the integration of long-term strategic planning and budgeting across the University and the expansion of the University to include international campuses. Previously, Maya advised companies on managing emerging issues and crises at Edelman Public Relations.
Maya received her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and her master’s degree in business administration from New York University.
Ukraine: Time for a True Strategic Partnership
The U.S. and Ukraine, and the West more broadly, need to get serious about putting the cards on the table that would deter Putin from any further military action.
Coming on the heels of Russia’s massive military build-up in and around Ukraine in April 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Kyiv this week is a strong show of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is also an opportunity to finally realize a genuine strategic partnership between the two countries.
Even in the best of times, Ukraine has often viewed the West as insufficiently supportive of Ukraine’s security and membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions, while the West has viewed Ukraine as insufficiently clear and committed to strengthening the rule of law and rooting out corruption.
The dynamic has not always been healthy. What Ukraine sees as legitimate aspirations (like NATO membership), the West has sometimes seen as unrealistic and pushy. And what the West sees as “tough love” in helping Ukraine on reforms and governance, the Ukrainians sometimes see as unrealistic and at times even unsympathetic interference in Ukrainian politics, which are complicated beyond belief.