Sheila Krumholz, Former Executive Director of Open Secrets

Sheila Krumholz is the former Executive Director of Open Secrets. Open Secrets is a nonprofit, independent, and nonpartisan organization located in Washington, DC, that tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on public policy. Open Secrets is the nation’s premier lobbying research group dedicated to providing lobbying data and analysis to strengthen democracy. Ms. Krumholz’s career with Open Secrets and a predecessor organization (Center for Responsible Politics) spanned thirty-five years. She became Open Secrets Executive Director in 2006. In 2022, Ms. Krumholz was named one of Washington D.C.’s 500 most influential people. Ms. Krumholz is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she received a degree in international relations and political science. Ms. Krumholz provides an overview of the nature and purpose of lobbying and insight into the lobbying efforts of the NCAA and Power 5 conferences.

Note: This interview was conducted on February 8th, 2023, when Ms. Krumholz served as Open Secret’s Executive Director. Ms. Krumholz retired from Open Secrets in May 2023.

00:00 Sheila Krumholz's background and Open Secrets

01:32 Open Secret's purpose and history

05:40 Lobbying 101

11:46 The "Revolving Door" in Washington DC

13:54 Lobbyists regulation and disclosure requirements

18:03 Top lobbying firms in Washington that work for the NCAA and Power 5 and nature of their work

25:03 Importance of coordinated messaging

28:22 Scripted nature of Congressional hearings

36:03 Lobbying talent of individual NCAA and Power 5 lobbyists

41:45 The Purdue Pharma-NCAA lobbying connection

46:11 The power of setting the narrative and terms of debate in Congress

51:00 What athletes can do to make their voice heard

54:34 Will the NCAA and Power 5 throw up their hands and walk away from Congress?

56:56 Believing in democracy

Note: For hyper-linked timestamps, please view the podcast on our YouTube channel.