On the AGenda

Consumer Protection, FinTech, and Federal Overreach with Iowa AG Brenna Bird

Iowa AG Brenna Bird [https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/about-us/about-attorney-general-brenna-bird] credits growing up on a farm — getting up early, taking care of the animals, learning how to get things done — as the most valuable training she's ever had. Now Iowa's top law enforcement official, Bird joins hosts Shannen W. Coffin [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/shannen-coffin.html] and Benjamin M. Saul [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/benjamin-m-saul.html] of Steptoe to discuss the wide-ranging work of her office — from a cold case unit tackling 400+ unsolved homicides to combating a surge in imposter and romance scams. Bird explains how she balances consumer protection with financial innovation, offers FinTech firms practical advice on engaging constructively with state AG offices, and describes her Farm and Freedom Team's push against overreach from both the federal government and certain large states like California. Her message to businesses: build the relationship before you need it. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Brenna Bird [https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/about-us/about-attorney-general-brenna-bird] | Facebook [https://web.facebook.com/BirdforIowa] | X [https://x.com/brennabird] ☑️ State of Iowa Office of the Attorney General [https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/attorney-general's-office_2] | Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/AGIowa] | X [https://x.com/AGIowa] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/AGIowa] ☑️ Shannen W. Coffin [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/shannen-coffin.html] ☑️ Benjamin M. Saul [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/benjamin-m-saul.html] ☑️ Steptoe [https://www.steptoe.com/en/] ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-agenda/id1853907483] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6GdfEaIrEYCKJPLukD6Q9i] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SteptoeLLP/]

Guardrails, Not Roadblocks: Regulating AI and Emerging Tech with Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti

Tennessee's top law enforcement officer is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court — not elected — and serves an eight-year term. “It's a very different system, but it's worked really well for Tennessee,” AG Jonathan Skrmetti [https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/about-the-office/general-skrmetti.html] explains in this conversation with hosts Elyse Echtman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/elyse-d-echtman.html] and Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html]. He describes the office as nerdy, legally obsessed, and “a great place to be.” AG Skrmetti describes the AG’s role in Tennessee, including the appointment process, his 8-year term and his broad mandate in representing state entities, the governor, and the judiciary (at times), as well as his consumer protection role for millions of Tennessee citizens. He discusses his office’s approach to enforcement and its stance on regulating emerging technologies, saying, "We want to foster innovation and ensure that technology moves forward in beneficial ways, so we have to provide guardrails without fundamentally inhibiting the development of technologies. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Jonathan Skrmetti [https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/about-the-office/general-skrmetti.html] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-skrmetti-50a2782b] ☑️ Office of the Tennessee Attorney General [https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral.html] on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tennessee-attorney-general-s-office/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/agtennessee/?hl=en] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/tnattygen/] | X [https://x.com/AGTennessee] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/TNAttyGen/] ☑️ Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] ☑️ Elyse Echtman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/elyse-d-echtman.html] ☑️ Steptoe [https://www.steptoe.com/en/] ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-agenda/id1853907483] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6GdfEaIrEYCKJPLukD6Q9i] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SteptoeLLP/]

Inside the Attorney General’s Office: Kris Kobach on Enforcement, Digital Threats, and Constitutional Duty

Kansas Attorney General https://www.ag.ks.gov/about-us/attorney-general-kris-w-kobachKris Kobach [https://www.ag.ks.gov/about-us/attorney-general-kris-w-kobach] leads an office driven to combat fentanyl trafficking and protect children from digital threats. In this conversation with hosts https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.htmlMichelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] and https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/crystal-robles.htmlCrystal Robles [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/crystal-robles.html], AG Kobach reveals how the office approaches its mission through strategies like enlisting the Midwest's first fentanyl-sniffing dogs and filing consumer protection lawsuits against social media platforms. Tune in for his tales from the frontlines, including his role as chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association and the only two conflicts he’s had with the Democratic governor. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Kris Kobach [https://www.ag.ks.gov/about-us/attorney-general-kris-w-kobach] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kriswkobach/] | X [https://x.com/KrisKobach1787] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/KrisKobach] ☑️ Office of the Kansas Attorney General [https://www.ag.ks.gov/] on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kansasag] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ksagoffice/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/OAGKansas/] | X [https://x.com/KSAGOffice] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/AGKansas] ☑️ Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] ☑️ Crystal Robles [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/crystal-robles.html] ☑️ Steptoe [https://www.steptoe.com/en/] ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-agenda/id1853907483] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6GdfEaIrEYCKJPLukD6Q9i] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SteptoeLLP/]

NAAG’s Mission, from the Man Who Executes It: Executive Director Brian Kane

The mission of the National Association of Attorneys General, or NAAG, is summed up in these three words: convene, train, and support. Executive Director Brian Kane [https://www.naag.org/person/brian-kane/] visits with hosts Eric Berman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/eric-berman.html] and Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] to explain what those words mean for attorneys general nationwide. He describes the organization’s remarkable growth, expanding from 126 programs in his first year on the job to over 200 programs planned for 2026. And he offers practical advice for corporate leaders navigating multi-state investigations and insights about building relationships with AGs before problems arise. Check out NAAG’s event calendar [https://www.naag.org/events-training/event-calendar/] to learn more and register for programming this year. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Brian Kane [https://www.naag.org/person/brian-kane/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kane-174a8b5/] ☑️ National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) [https://www.naag.org/] on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-association-of-attorneys-general/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NAGTRI] | X [https://x.com/NatlAssnAttysGn] ☑️ Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] ☑️ Eric Berman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/eric-berman.html] ☑️ Steptoe [https://www.steptoe.com/en/] ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-agenda/id1853907483] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6GdfEaIrEYCKJPLukD6Q9i] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SteptoeLLP/]

Building New Jersey's First Solicitor General's Office, with Jeremy Feigenbaum

Jeremy Feigenbaum [https://www.njoag.gov/about/leadership/jeremy-feigenbaum-bio/] didn't just become New Jersey's first solicitor general—he invented the job. After arriving at the New Jersey attorney general's office, Jeremy recognized that the state was “losing out” by not having a solicitor general. He interviewed 20 to 30 solicitor generals across the country and used their insights to draft a proposal for establishing the office in New Jersey. His vision became reality when he was appointed to the role in July 2020. In this conversation with hosts Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] and Eric Berman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/eric-berman.html], Jeremy discusses arguing the high-stakes birthright citizenship case before the US Supreme Court, working with SGs across the ideological spectrum, and remaining a “perpetual optimist” in the face of clashes with the second Trump administration. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Jeremy Feigenbaum [https://www.njoag.gov/about/leadership/jeremy-feigenbaum-bio/] ☑️ State of New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety [https://www.njoag.gov/] ☑️ Michelle Kallen [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/michelle-kallen.html] ☑️ Eric Berman [https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/eric-berman.html] ☑️ Steptoe [https://www.steptoe.com/en/] ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-agenda/id1853907483] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6GdfEaIrEYCKJPLukD6Q9i] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@SteptoeLLP/]