PAST EVENTS
The Common Good New York City Mayoral Candidate Speaker Series with Maya Wiley
The Common Good’s New York City Mayoral Speaker Series presents a Conversation with candidate Maya Wiley. Moderated by Honorary Advisory Board Member Tom Rogers.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Common Good New York City Mayoral Candidate Series presents a Conversation with candidate Maya Wiley. You may have seen Maya Wiley on MSNBC where she’s served as Legal Analyst, but she has major experience in the office of the Mayor. As Counsel to the Mayor, she fought for NYC on civil and immigrant rights, women and minority-owned business contracts, universal broadband access, and more. Moderated by media pioneer Tom Rogers.
Thursday, March 25,
5:00pm-6:00pm ET
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Maya Wiley is a nationally recognized racial justice and equity advocate. She is a leader in city government and in spurring democratic change. As Counsel to the Mayor, she delivered for New York City on civil and immigrant rights, women and minority owned business contracts, universal broadband access and more. After leaving City Hall, she held police accountable as Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and worked to improve public education as a Co-Chair of the School Diversity Task Force. At the New School, where she served as a University Professor, she founded the Digital Equity Laboratory on universal and inclusive broadband.
Maya is a veteran of both the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU, was a former Legal Analyst for NBC News and MSNBC — where she argued against Trump’s attacks on our civil liberties and democratic norms — and was the founder and president of the Center for Social Inclusion. Maya was also Senior Advisor on Race and Poverty at the Open Society Foundations, the largest funder of human rights work the world over.
Tom Rogers, a true innovator and leader in the field of television, news and entertainment, Tom Rogers is the founder of CNBC and a CNBC contributor, as well as the founder of MSNBC, when he served as the first President of NBC cable. He is the former CEO of TiVo and is currently Chairman of Engine Media, a broad based sports, esports, and news content & distribution company. He can also be credited for as bringing Netflix and Amazon to the TV screen. He is the former Senior Counsel to the House Telecommunications Committee where he oversaw the FCC and media industry. He is also an Editor-at-Large for Newsweek.
He has been inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame and has won an Emmy Award for contributions to the development of advanced television and advanced advertising.
The Civil Rights Movement with Reverend Al Sharpton
The Civil Rights Movement with Reverend Al Sharpton. In recognition of Black History Month, Reverend Al Sharpton will join the The Common Good to discuss The Civil Rights Movement - where we’ve been and how the fight continues. Moderated by Jill Iscol and Ralph Dawson. Thursday, March 18, 5:00pm-6:00pm ET.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Civil Rights Movement with Reverend Al Sharpton. In recognition of Black History Month, Reverend Al Sharpton will join the The Common Good to discuss The Civil Rights Movement - where we’ve been and how the fight continues. Moderated by Jill Iscol and Ralph Dawson.
Thursday, March 18, 5:00pm-6:00pm ET.
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Reverend Al Sharpton,is an internationally renowned civil rights leader, Baptist minister, politician, talk show host, and founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), which has more than 100 chapters across the country. Reverend Sharpton is also the host of “PoliticsNation” on MSNBC; a nationally syndicated daily radio show “Keepin’ It Real”; and a nationally broadcast radio show on Sunday titled, “The Hour of Power.”
A disciple of the teachings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Reverend Sharpton has been at the forefront of the modern civil rights movement for nearly half of a century. He has championed police reform and accountability, calling for the elimination of unjust policies like “Stop-and-Frisk.” Reverend Sharpton also has a brief history of advocating for voting rights, equity in education and healthcare, LGBTQ rights. Sharpton’s advocacy efforts and “tell it like it is” personality led to him being hailed as a “champion for the downtrodden" by former and first African American President Barack Obama
U.S.- French Relations
U.S. - French Relations with the French ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, for a discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to France, Jane Hartley.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Ambassador Philippe Étienne, France’s Ambassador to the US joins The Common Good for a discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley. Among the topics they’ll explore: the Transatlantic Alliance, NATO, trade, security, terrorism, populism, Brexit, and vaccine distribution. This will be an important conversation that about America’s relationship with it’s oldest ally.
Wed. March 10th at 5pm EST
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Philippe Etienne is the Ambassador of France to the United States. He previously held numerous posts within the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, notably including Ambassador of France to Romania (2002-2005), Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs (2007-2009), Permanent Representative of France to the European Union (2009-2014), Ambassador of France to Germany (2014-2017) and most recently, Diplomatic Adviser to the President (2017-2019).
Philippe Etienne is an expert on the European Union and continental Europe. He has held posts in Moscow, Belgrade, Bucharest, Bonn, Berlin and Brussels. He has also served as an adviser in the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on several occasions.
A graduate of the École Normale Supérieure and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (“Voltaire” Class, 1980), Philippe Etienne also holds the Agrégation (teaching diploma) in Mathematics, has a degree in Economics and is a graduate of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Serbo-Croatian).
He speaks English, German, Spanish, Russian and Romanian.
He is an Officer of the Legion of Honor and a Commander of the National Order of Merit.
Jane Hartley served as Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco from 2014 – 2017 during some of the most difficult times for France. She was confirmed to both posts by the U.S. Senate in September 2014.
Previously, Jane Hartley was Chief Executive Officer and a Founding Principal of Observatory Group, an international economic and political advisory firm providing analysis of key government policies affecting the global capital markets. Before founding Observatory Group, Ms. Hartley was Chief Executive Officer of the G7 Group. As CEO, Ms. Hartley built G7 Group into a premier research firm providing macroeconomic and political analysis to investors in the global market. The G7 Group put together a network of global policymakers and distributed analysis to most of the major central bankers and finance ministers as well as major financial institutions.
Jane currently serves as a member of the Visiting Committee at the Kennedy School at Harvard University as well as the Executive Committee and the Dean’s Council. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Jane is a member of the Board of Overseers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street) and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Center for American Progress.
The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards
The Common Good Forum is an annual program presenting headline issues and the most important, forward-looking ideas affecting public policy and our lives. We are building a remarkable roster for our annual event, with participants from government, media, business, foreign affairs and tech, as well as public policy activists.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Common Good Forum is an annual program presenting headline issues and the most important, forward-looking ideas affecting public policy and our lives. We are building a remarkable roster for our annual event, with participants from government, media, business, foreign affairs and tech, as well as public policy activists.
For the first time the TCG Forum and American Spirit Awards will take place online over Zoom. Icons, leaders, legends and role models from all areas will speak on issues impacting our nation. Our Forum will focus on three of the defining issues of the 21st century - inequality, climate change, and democracy at home and abroad.
The American Spirit Awards continue to be an iconic award that is given to those who have experienced and posses the best of the American spirit. During this turbulent time we have seen the very best of the American spirit and are thrilled to honor those who have exhibited such qualities.
Listen to podcast below:
Watch the video below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Ray Dalio
Famed investor and philanthropist, Ray Dalio is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates. the world's largest hedge fund,
Mr. Dalio will receive the American Spirit Award for Business Leadership.
AMBASSADOR (ret.) BILL TAYLOR
Diplomat, veteran and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor is vice president, Strategic Stability and Security at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He recently served as chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance and support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. Ambassador Taylor also famously and bravely served a key witness in the Ukraine impeachment inquiry.
Ambassador Taylor will receive the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Chelsey Earnest and The Staff of Kirkland’s Life Care Center
Earnest was one of the many nurses, doctors, and other health care workers who risked their lives to save others. Chelsey volunteered at the Life Care Center and, with their dedicated staff, fought to save the facility’s residents, even as patients and staff too became ill with terrifying speed.
We are proud to award Chelsey Earnest and the brave staff of Kirkland’s Life Care Center with our American Spirit Award for Courageous Service in the Pandemic.
Margaret Hoover and John Allon
Our hosts for the evening, Margaret Hoover, is a journalist, best-selling author, and host of PBS's Firing Line, Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Daily Beast, CNN.com, and FoxNews.com. She is also currently a CNN political contributor. John Avlon is a journalist and political commentator. He is a Senior Political Analyst and anchor at CNN.
Jon Meacham
Jon Meacham is an american writer, reviewer, historian, presidential biographer, and pulitzer prize-winning author. Meacham has led a life discussing and analyzing leadership on past American presidents and historical events, while providing thoughtful and engaging conversations. He also continues to contribute as a writer for The New York Times Book Review, contributing editor of Time, and has written pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Garden & Gun.
Mr. Meacham will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Thought Leadership.
Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, planetary scientist, author, and science communicator. Dr. Tyson has been an influential voice surrounding the subjects of astrophysics and aerospace. Additionally, his interests and research has contributed to the fields of cosmology, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, bulges, and stellar formation.
Dr. Tyson’s work also spreads in the world of filmography as being host for multiple science based shows most notably NOVA, Cosmos, and StarTalk. As well as an abundant of appearances in other documentaries and TV shows.
Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson will be presented with the American Spirit Award for Public Integrity. which recognizes Dr. Tyson’s exceptional commitment to honesty, truth, and science.
Lt. Col (ret.) Alexander Vindman
United States Army Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Alexander Vindman is a highly decorated service member and former deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC).
Vindman was brought to national attention after his actions when he testified before the United States Congress regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal. His testimony provided evidence that resulted in a charge of abuse of power in the impeachment of 45th President Donald Trump.
Mr. Vindman will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Dr. Fiona Hill
Former U.S. National Security Council official, Fiona Hill is a British-American foreign affairs specialist and academic. Hill’s position on the council specialized in Russian and European affairs. Dr. Hill received national attention when she in November 2019 was a witness in the House hearings regarding the impeachment inquiry during the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
Additionally, Hill also was awarded her Ph.D. in history from Harvard University and currently, is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
Dr. Fiona Hill will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Ambassador (ret.) Marie Yovanovitch
American diplomat and senior member of the United States Foreign Service. Ambassador Yovanovitch has a remarkable career working as a representative of the United States into countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and the Ukraine. Yovanovitch was also a key figure in Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Ambassador Yovanovitch will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Clarissa Ward
Ward accomplished American television journalist and chief international correspondent for CNN. Ward over the years has reported on some of the biggest international events over the past decade. Holding a degree from Yale University, Ward also holds an honorary doctor of letters degree from Middlebury College.
Before taking on her role for CNN, Ward had formerly worked with CBS News, based in London. As well as previously also being the Moscow-based news correspondent for ABC News.
Clarissa Ward will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Courage for Journalism.
Ken Burns
Ken Burns and his collaborators have produced and directed some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made. A renowned and prolific American filmmaker, Burns is known for using archival footage and photographs in his films, which often showcase major events in U.S. history.
Mr. Burns will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Public Integrity, which highlights his exceptional commitment to honesty, truth, and storytelling.
Photo Credit:Evan Barlow
(Ret.) Senator Bob Corker
An American businessman and politician the Honorable Bob Corker served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2015 to 2019.
Senator Corker will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Public Service.
How to Lead
The Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman David M. Rubenstein and psychologist Adam Grant joined The Common Good to discuss what they have learned about leadership and the characteristics it takes to be a great leader.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for a conversation with The Carlyle Group co-chairman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein as we explore the hallmarks of good leadership from our best political leaders, CEOs, founders and other giants, including the understanding of good - and bad - leadership in the U.S. Presidency and the political arena. We are incredibly fortunate to have Adam Grant, best-selling author, speaker, professor at Wharton, as our moderator for this conversation.
For the past five years, David M. Rubenstein—author of The American Story, visionary cofounder of The Carlyle Group, and host of The David Rubenstein Show—has spoken with the world’s highest performing leaders about who they are and how they became successful. How to Lead distills these revealing conversations into an indispensable leadership guidebook. The essential leadership playbook. Learn the principles and guiding philosophies of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, and many others through illuminating conversations about their remarkable lives and careers.
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David M. Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private investment firms. He is a 1970 graduate of Duke University and a 1973 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. He served as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments before becoming the Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy during the Carter Administration. He also practiced law in both New York City and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rubenstein is Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Council on Foreign Relations; a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation; a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; a Trustee of the National Gallery of Art, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Brookings Institution, and the World Economic Forum; a Director of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and President of the Economic Club of Washington, among other board seats.
Mr. Rubenstein is an original signer of The Giving Pledge; the host of The David Rubenstein Show; and the author of The American Story and How to Lead.
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is one of TED's most popular speakers, his books have sold millions of copies, his talks have been viewed more than 25 million times, and his podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant has topped the charts. His best-selling books include Originals, Give and Take, and Think Again.
His pioneering research has inspired people to rethink fundamental assumptions about motivation, generosity, and creativity. He has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40, and has received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation.
Adam received his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their three children.
Economic Forecast for 2021
Byron Wien, Vice Chairman of Blackstone and Joe Zidle, Managing Director and the Chief Investment Strategist at Blackstone come together for an unprecedented conversation on the economy. Join us with these legends of the industry, experts of Wall Street and icons in the economic world for a special forecast on the economy and the markets given the many unusual factors - Covid, a new Administration and the continued political divide, raging unemployment, etc. What are we likely to see in the next few months and what can we hope for?
ABOUT THE EVENT
Byron Wien, Vice Chairman of Blackstone and Joe Zidle, Managing Director and the Chief Investment Strategist at Blackstone come together for an unprecedented conversation on the economy. Join us with these legends of the industry, experts of Wall Street and icons in the economic world for a special forecast on the economy and the markets given the many unusual factors - Covid, a new Administration and the continued political divide, raging unemployment, etc. What are we likely to see in the next few months and what can we hope for?
Thursday, February 11th, 2021
5pm ET
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Byron Wien is Vice Chairman of Blackstone’s Private Wealth Solutions group where he acts as a senior adviser to both the Firm and its clients in analyzing economic, social and political trends to assess the direction of financial markets and thus help guide investment and strategic decisions.
He has been known for being "the most widely read analyst on Wall Street," "the No. 1 strategist by SmartMoney.com based on his market calls." and was named to the Smart Money Power 30 list of Wall Street’s most influential investors, thinkers, enforcers, policy makers, players and market movers. He was also named by New York Magazine as one of the sixteen most influential people in Wall Street.
He previously served as Chief Investment Strategist for Pequot Capital and before that served for 21 years as Chief (later Senior) U.S. Investment Strategist at Morgan Stanley. In 1995, Mr. Wien co-authored a book with George Soros on the legendary investor’s life and philosophy, Soros on Soros – Staying Ahead of the Curve.
Joe Zidle is a Managing Director and the Chief Investment Strategist in the Private Wealth Solutions group. He has been on CNBC and is known for his ability to spot trends in reams of data.
He previously spent nearly a decade at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, most recently serving as Head of Investment Strategy for Global Wealth Management and Deputy Director of the Research Investment Committee, where he was responsible for creating and communicating global investment strategies to the firm's private client division across all major investment disciplines. He was also with Richard Bernstein Advisors, as an independent investment advisor, where he was responsible for portfolio strategy, asset allocation, investment management and marketing to major wealth management firms and independent RIAs.
Should the People Pick Our President?
Author and member of The New York Times editorial board, Jesse Wegman and famed commentator from The New Yorker Rick Hertzberg joined us to discuss the popular vote versus the Electoral College in presidential elections. In two of the last six presidential elections, the candidate with fewer national votes won the presidency. If we stay the course is a crisis of legitimacy inevitable? What are the viable alternatives?
NYT editorial board member Jesse Wegman joined The Common Good for a conversation as we discussed his book and possible reforms of the presidential vote and the Electoral College. The way we vote for the only official whose job it is to represent all Americans is neither fair nor just. Major reform is needed―now. Isn't it time to let the people pick the president?
Twice in the last five elections, the Electoral College has overridden the popular vote, calling the integrity of the entire system into question―and creating a false picture of a country divided into bright red and blue blocks when in fact we are purple from coast to coast. Even when the popular-vote winner becomes president, tens of millions of Americans―Republicans and Democrats alike―find that their votes didn't matter. And, with statewide winner-take-all rules, only a handful of battleground states ultimately decide who will become president. Jesse Wegman draws upon the history of the founding era, as well as information gleaned from campaign managers, field directors, and other officials from twenty-first-century Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns, to make a powerful case for abolishing the antiquated and antidemocratic Electoral College.
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Jesse Wegman serves on the editorial board for The New York Times where he has written about the Supreme Court and legal affairs since 2013. He was previously a senior editor at The Daily Beast and Newsweek, a legal news editor at Reuters, and the managing editor of The New York Observer.
His recent book has been heavily praised with Publishers Weekly saying "Wegman combines in-depth historical analysis and insight into contemporary politics to present a cogent argument that the Electoral College violates America’s ‘core democratic principles’ and should be done away with…" The New York Times wrote, "People have been arguing against the Electoral College from the beginning. But no one… has laid out the case as comprehensively and as readably as Jesse Wegman does.”
Rick Hertzberg is an award-winning journalist, best known as the principal political commentator for The New Yorker magazine. He is credited with helping to redesign and revitalize the magazine. He is an accomplished writer and believes that America’s system of winner-take-all elections, federalism, and separation of powers is out of date and damaging to political responsibility and democratic accountability.
He previously served as the editor of The New Republic where under his editorship magazine twice won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence, the magazine world’s highest honor. He went on to serve as the chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter where he wrote speeches that at one point increased the presidents approval rating by 11 points. Forbes credited Hertzberg as " one of the "25 Most Influential Liberals in the U.S. Media."
The Presidential Pardon
Former US Attorney, Joyce Vance, brilliant legal mind and MSNBC contributor, and Harvard Law professor and contributor to The New Yorker, Jeannie Suk Gersen will dissect the presidential pardon for us -its use and misuse. Time to reform this singular privilege? This is top of mind for President Trump and should be for you too.
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The Presidential Pardon: Event Write-up
As we held this event, it was an historic day. President Trump was getting impeached for a second time, The Common Good had the honor of hosting former US Attorney, Joyce Vance, and Harvard Law professor, Jeannie Suk Gersen, for a conversation about the presidential pardon (we promise we didn’t orchestrate the timing).
Of course, with so little time remaining in the Trump presidency, it was safe to assume that we have a few more pardons in store - the question of whom will be pardoned remains to be seen. (But now we know.)
As with our state governors, the pardon is a feature that can seem wildly capricious or merciful absolution. The president has the right to pardon basically anyone - maybe even himself, although our guests assured us that would probably not pass the smell test. So what’s the idea behind granting a president with such tremendous power? I urge you to watch the video or yourself as Joyce Vance and Jeannie Suk Gersen really get into the weeds here. Not to mention, we have an extraordinary exchange with former Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, who successfully prosecuted someone who was recently pardoned by President Trump.
The original concept, highlighted in the Federalist papers by Alexander Hamilton, is that criminal law is harsh and can very well be applied too severely. Therefore, there may be moments that require clemency. The fear, moreover, of impeachment was meant to guard against misuse of the pardon.
What kind of pardon is Inappropriate?
The presidential pardon power is so broad that outside of impeachment and probably a self-pardon, really anything goes.
What does a good pardon look like?
During President Obama’s administration, Joyce Vance worked on reversing the racially disparate sentences on crack cocaine versus powdered cocaine by granting clemency - a reduction in the sentencing. Clemency and pardons are exercised under the same authority.
“Justice and mercy - what the pardon is supposed to do” - Joyce Vance
Professor Suk Gersen calls Trump’s pardon of Michael Fynn, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone corrupt. Or Vance calls it semi-public dangling of pardons during the Meuller investigation.
But both our guests agreed that Trump uses the law to “harm (his) enemies and reward (his) friends.”
Nixon was the only president to receive as presidential pardon - Ford said he wouldn’t do it but then he did.
Path Forward
Trump could resign and Pence could pardon him and that would be a fully effective pardon. Might ruin Pence’s political career, but would legally doable.
A self-pardon, issued by the President himself, defies logic and is unlikely to hold up. DOJ agrees with Vance here.
States are of course a different story when it comes to pardons and you can expect more action from certain state attorneys general.
Ultimately, a self-pardon would be ineffective, but family members would be fair game. President Clinton actually provided precedent for that action. There are many different species of pardon, but the power is broad.
With hindsight being what it is, we encourage you to watch the video in light of President Trump’s full list of final pardons.
ABOUT THE EVENT
As the Trump Administration comes to an end, there is a burning question we are all wondering: can the President pardon himself, and will he? An idea that has never been tested, we bring you one of the strongest legal minds and experts in this area, Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney and MSNBC contributor and Harvard Law professor and contributor to The New Yorker, Jeannie Suk Gersen to discuss this topic and help us full understand the practicality to this never-before-tested idea.
Joyce Vance served as the U.S. Attorney for North Alabama and was one of the first women nominated to the role of U.S. Attorney under President Obama. Her career has made her name be credited with pursuing public corruption prosecutions with integrity. Vance adopted a "smart on crime" approach to violent and recidivist crime, intending to prosecute the most significant cases facing the district so that communities would be safer. As U.S. Attorney, she was responsible for overseeing all federal criminal investigations and prosecutions in north Alabama, including matters involving civil rights, national security, cybercrime, public corruption, health care and corporate fraud, violent crime and drug trafficking.
She has gone on to join MSNBC as a contributor and frequently provides on-air commentary regarding developments in legal issues that involve the Trump.s, including the ability to self-pardon. administration.
Jeannie Suk Gersen is a professor at Harvard Law School and is known for her specialty in a large range of topics (including constitutional law, criminal law and procedure). She has written countless articles three books, one of which, At Home in the Law, was awarded the Law and Society Association's Herbert Jacob Prize for the best law and society book of the year.
In 2010, she became the first Asian American woman to receive tenure at Harvard Law School.
She is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker, focusing on legal and policy issues. She served as a law clerk to Justice David Souter on the United States Supreme Court, and to Judge Harry Edwards on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The White Working-Class Political Revolution
Author David Paul Kuhn and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb examined the drift of the white working-class voter from the Democratic party to the Republican party and the enormous impact it has had on U.S. politics. Together, they’ll help explain what drove these voters, and how that schism continues to exacerbate class conflict and political polarization today. In light of the most recent election, this will surely be a timely and essential conversation. The conversation was moderated by the brilliant journalist Clyde Haberman.
There’s no getting around it; this week has been a deeply troubling, emotionally draining one for most Americans. Beginning with an audio recording of President Trump pressuring the Georgia Secretary of State to find votes that don’t exist, to an armed insurrection that overtook the Capitol and attempted to derail the peaceful transfer of presidential power, and ending with a record breaking number of daily coronavirus deaths.
Our inimitable moderator, Clyde Haberman, began our conversation by appropriately asking our guests, author David Paul Kuhn and former Virginia Senator, Jim Webb, what they made of it all. The former Senator astutely observed the nature of mobs and how they differ from the actions of individuals. Kuhn correctly reminded us not to mistake a few thousands extremists with the 74 million people who voted for Trump. We have, afterall, a two party system, but we are not a two party country. Many voters are anti-liberal, and not necessarily conservative. It’s a mixed bag of voters - some support a path for citizenship and some support a wall for example.
LBJ was the last president to win the white vote, so what happened?
Kuhn emphasizes the context and chaos of the time as a contributing factor to white working-class voters leaving Democrats for Republicans. Nixon appealed to them, while Democrats focused on making inroads with African Americans, LGBT, and more recent immigrant communities. Today, the Democratic coalition includes many wealthy, college educated whites as well.
According to Kuhn, entities like The Lincoln Project were not as successful at bringing Republican voters over to Biden as they could have been because they emphasized the wrong things. Rather than highlighting how Trump, in many ways, governed like a traditional, business friendly conservative, they focused on just what a lousy president he is. Historians may very well come to that same conclusion, but that just didn’t resonate with the white working class. Ultimately, People ultimately go to their sides when forced to choose their corners - Kuhn uses feminists supporting Clinton post-affair as an example of this.
Both commended Biden for bringing down the national temperature, striking the right tone and appealing to blue collar white voters, even if it was late.
There is a sad phenomenon taking place in America's white working class. Decreasing life expectancy, increasing divorce rates, stagnant incomes, rising alcohol and drug abuse, or as Nobel Prize Winning economist Angus Deaton has called it, Deaths of Despair.
How do Democrats win back these disillusioned voters?
Kuhn and Webb argue that Democrats need to lessen the cultural weight and emphasize common cause and needs - infrastructure, social safety nets, early education and broadband. The needs of the white working class don’t look that different from those of black and brown working class communities.
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David Kuhn is a political analyst and writer who has written several books that have been heavily praised, including his most recent one that was named on The New York Times "100 Notable Books of 2020." Kuhn has served as the chief political writer for CBS News online, a senior political writer for Politico as well as chief political correspondent at RealClearPolitics. He has also written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, National Review, New Republic, among other publications, and regularly appears on networks ranging from BBC to Fox News.
His book is credited by famed strategist James Carville as “perhaps the best book ever on how Democrats lost the white working class” and in the WSJ, Senator Webb stated that Kuhn was an “unacknowledged prophet” for the “consistency” of his longtime “warnings about the reasons white working people were moving away from the Democrats [which] were largely dismissed by the news media and party elites.”
Jim Webb is the former Democratic Senator from Virginia He wrote, introduced, and guided to passage the Post-9.11 GI Bill, the most significant veterans legislation since World War II, and co-authored legislation which exposed 60 billion dollars of waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan wartime-support contracts. A long-time advocate of fixing America’s broken criminal justice system, Mr. Webb was spotlighted in The Atlantic as one of the world’s “Brave Thinkers” for tackling prison reform and possessing “two things vanishingly rare in Congress: a conscience and a spine.” He went on to give a response to the State of the Union which has been regarded as one of the stronger State of the Union responses in recent memory.
He previously served as Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan and is the recipient of the Purple Heart. Webb is also an Emmy Award winning journalist, a filmmaker, and the author of ten books. Since retiring, Webb is continued to be a prolific writer and has written for many national journals including USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Clyde Haberman has served as a journalist with The New York Times since 1977. His assignments included staff editor of The Week in Review; Metro reporter; City Hall bureau chief; and foreign correspondent in Tokyo and Rome, and bureau chief in Jerusalem. He is known and received tremendous praise for his coverage of the Attica prison rebellion, the fall of Ferdinand Marcos, the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the 1993 Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians, the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the rise of Islamic terrorism in the Middle East.
He was part of a Times team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News, awarded for coverage of the prostitution scandal that led to Eliot Spitzer's resignation as New York governor. He continues to be a NYT columnist and writes the Retro Report essays for The New York Times.
Chris Whipple: The Spymasters
Join us for a discussion with the New York Times bestselling author of The Gatekeepers, on his new book The Spymasters as we get a a remarkable, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to run the world’s most powerful intelligence agency, and how the CIA is often a crucial counterforce against presidents threatening to overstep the powers of their office.
Chris Whipple tells the story of an agency that answers to the United States president alone, but whose activities—spying, espionage, and covert action—take place on every continent.
We at The Common Good are extremely fortunate to have hosted this intimate, comprehensive and timely conversation between author and journalist, Chris Whipple and author and historian, Kai Bird, about the CIA - its innerworkings, successes and failures, role in American history, and ultimately its fundamental purpose. For an institution with so much brand recognition - the Rolls Royce of government if you will - it remains a mystery to most. However, not to these two guests - it’s clear from their research, their writing and this conversation that Chris and Kai are two of the most knowledgeable observers of the CIA living today.
To illustrate the extent of the CIA’s secrecy, Kai opens with a simple question - How many people work at the CIA?
We actually don’t even know that, but Chris’ educated guess is in the tens of thousands.
What is more clear, however, is the CIA’s role in some pivotal moments in American history.
Chris and Kai discuss Richard Helms, the quintessential spymaster - he was a career intelligence officer, who viewed the president as his only client; he was also a great dancer and loved dry martinis.
Helms was also, however, implicated in the flawed Domino Theory that ultimately drew America deeper into Vietnam - the theory purported that if one country fell to communism, the surrounding countries would also fall.
Citing another intelligence failure, Chris and Kai examine President Carter’s biggest foreign policy blunder - Iran.
American intelligence community missed the Iranian revolution entirely, illuminating a complete misunderstanding of internal Iranian Politics.
This of course had immediate consequences for American hostages, but one can also draw a line back to the Iranian revolution to explain much of American/Iranian relations today.
Fascinatingly, Chris and Kai opined that MBS of Saudi Arabia today may be mirroring the Shah of Iran in the 1970s.
They cite The Bay of Pigs and Weapons of Mass Destruction to be other monumental intelligence failures.
Intelligence Failures versus Policy Failures
Chris and Kair joked that there are only policy successes and intelligence failures - meaning the CIA gets blamed a lot, but in reality, the failure often happens when an administration either fails to act or acts in correctly in response to accurate intelligence.
In weeks leading up to 9/11, the CIA, specifically George Tenet and Cofer Black, provided the Bush administration with credible evidence that Al-Qaeda was planning to attack America at home. The Bush administration mostly ignored the warning and the rest is history.
More recently, and perhaps even more consequentially, the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment warned the Trump administration about the likelihood of an airborne, flu-like global pandemic that would kill millions and devastate the world, economically and geopolitically. As we all know now, that’s exactly what is happening.
Chris called President Trump, the “unbriefable” president in response to a question about Russian bounties on American soldiers. Moreover, Trump’s disdain and skepticism for the intelligence community is uniquely dangerous.
We had some fascinating and illuminating questions from a superb group of guests, so we do encourage you to watch the event in its entirety. However, some highlights include.
Gillian Sorenen, Ted Soresnen’s widow, asked about assassinations, their records and the importance of transparency in an institution shrouded in secrecy.
How has the CIA evolved and where is it today?
Since, 9/11 there’s been an internal battle for the soul of the CIA: Is it an information gathering agency or a paramilitary organization?
Chris noted President Obama’s escalation of drone usage in his first term despite rhetoric that would suggest otherwise.
The creation of the DNI in 2004 to coordinate between 17 intelligence agencies has also been an important development
What does the CIA need right now in its next leader?
Someone who avoids group-think, brings fresh eyes to old problems (Middle East)
Chris cited some contenders: Darrell Blocker, Michael Morell and Sue Gordon, but noted that the lag in Biden’s announcement has been odd.
Interestingly, Chris mentions Pete Buttigieg as someone who would have been good.
Leon Panetta was the gold standard - “an iron fist in a velvet glove”
Gina Haspel is a “fascinating figure” - and importantly, has surrounded herself with women as deputies, so for the first time ever, there are women effectively running the CIA.
With recent cyber attacks and political interference, where is intelligence heading as it relates to Russia and Putin? Why haven’t we hit back harder?
President Obama decided not to pull the larger trigger, and was followed by a president who a lot of people in the intelligence community think is compromised - financially or otherwise.
President Obama didn’t want to retaliate even though we could have taken down the Russian economy with a cyber attack, because we are better at offense than defense. It would have meant an escalation that we might not have been ready for.
This current hack is likely to be a monumental intelligence failure - we just don’t know the extent yet.
In memory of John le Carré, we're watching the Cold-War spy thriller “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Netflix) this weekend.
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Chris Whipple is one of the most accomplished multimedia journalists of our era: a writer, documentary filmmaker, and speaker. He is a multiple Peabody and Emmy Award–winning producer at CBS’s 60 Minutes and ABC’s Primetime.
He is currently the chief executive officer of CCWHIP Productions and is a frequent guest on MSNBC and CNN. Chris served as the executive producer and writer of Showtime’s 2015 documentary film The Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs.
His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Politico, theDaily Beast, and many other publications.
Kai Bird is an author and columnist who has written on numerous topics and won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography on Oppenheimer. His books have received critical acclaim and popular success, including The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames, which was a New York Times best-seller. His memoir, Crossing Mandelbaum Gate: Coming of Age Between the Arabs and Israelis, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
In January 2017 he was appointed Executive Director and Distinguished Lecturer of CUNY Graduate Center's Leon Levy Center for Biography. He is also the recipient of the McArthur Genius Grant for research and writing.
Kurt Andersen: Evil Geniuses
Join us, Wednesday, November 18, 4pm ET for a discussion with the instant hit and bestseller from the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, and Publishers Weekly, Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America by Kurt Andersen. In this deeply researched and brilliantly woven cultural, economic, and political chronicle, Andersen offers a fresh, provocative, and eye-opening history of America’s undoing, naming names, showing receipts, and unsparingly assigning blame. Moderated by special correspondent for Vanity Fair, Joe Hagan.
Event Recap
While the last four years in America have certainly felt crazy and chaotic, the best-selling author of the recent book, “Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History,” Kurt Andersen, contends that the insanity actually started much earlier, beginning back in the 1970s. Joined by rock-star Vanity Fair journalist, Joe Hagan, Kurt traces where America went wrong, what exactly happened and how we can get back to a more equitable, prosperous and ultimately more sane America.
Who are the evil geniuses and how did we get here?
Joe Hagan, who had previously interviewed Kurt for Vanity Fair, correctly notes that America seems particularly ‘unmade” in 2020.
As Kurt sees it, we are struggling with two sets of problems:
Americans have an increasingly problematic relationship with empirical facts. Without a broad agreement on what’s real and what’s fake, civic discourse, democracy and well, the common good (I had to) all invariably suffer.
The rigging of our economic system by big corporations, the courts and “hyper-capitalists,” exemplified by (to name a few) Milton Friedman, The Federalist Society, Business Roundtable, the Koch brothers and Citizens United. Collectively and gradually, these individuals and institutions created an economic and accompanying belief system that centered on maximizing profits at the expense of the public, the environment and our democracy. This strategic confederacy amounted to a repudiation of big government, shifting the paradigm from New Deal politics to rugged individualism and trickle down economics. Reagan personified this sentiment, but the seeds were planted well beforehand.
Corporate hedonism of the 1980s replaced the free-love, everything goes counterculture of the 1970s.
White Kurt certainly doesn’t hold back from scolding the GOP, he also blames Democrats (and himself) or “useful idiots” for perpetuating this rigged system and turning their backs on blue collar workers, who got pummeled by outsourcing, automation, and union-bashing (I would add rising healthcare and higher education costs).
Democrats and Republicans merged, philosophically, on economics, leaving the GOP with an opening to exploit cultural wedge issues and lure many of these disillusioned Americans over to the GOP.
Kurt uses Reagan’s decision to fire striking air traffic controllers set a tone for how business could handle strikes and unions going forward. He also mentions the 1982 SEC decision that allowed publicly traded companies to buy their own stock to inflate their stock prices, which hadn’t been allowed since The Great Depression, as an illustrative moment.
Addressing this encroaching sense of loss, Republicans sold Americans this nostalgic tale of returning to an “It’s a Wonderful Life” version of America. The GOP used nostalgia to sell a bill of goods that ultimately didn’t work.
So in the face of all this, people, understandably, wanted to know what could be done.
Kurt said that Democrats needed to focus on the economy, but in a larger, more holistic sort of way. It’s not just about wages or employment numbers - the system is rigged and inequality is out of control. Dems have to meet the people where they are - look at the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s - and recognize the centrality of economic issues in peoples’ lives.
Cultural and identity issues, while important, should play second fiddle in terms of messaging and priorities.
He noted Elizabeth Warren’s brilliance and accuracy in diagnosing our ills; however, he conceded that she might not have been the right candidate.
Kurt also pointed to other advanced capitalist democracies as models. Dems shouldn’t kowtow to conservatives and scare easily when they proclaim socialism - look at free market countries in Scandinavia that combine robust capitalism with strong, effective social safety nets. The issues, because they were created, can be undone.
What we’re watching: Totally Under Control:Film-maker Alex Gibney scrutinises the US response to the pandemic. (Hulu, Amazon)
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Kurt Andersen is a remarkable writer who is known for his work as the host of the erstwhile Peabody-winning public radio program Studio 360. He regularly appears as a commentator on MSNBC, and has delivered TED talks. He served as a summer guest Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, and still contributes regularly to the Times. He has also been also a regular columnist and critic for New York, The New Yorker and TIME.
As an editor, Kurt co-founded the transformative satirical magazine Spy and served as editor-in-chief of New York. He also co-founded Inside, a digital and print publication covering the media and entertainment industries, oversaw a relaunch of Colors magazine, co-founded the online newsletter Very Short List, and served as editor-at- large for Random House.
His writing have been praised with awards including forTurn of the Century which won the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Heyday which won the Langum Prize for the best American historical fiction.
Moderated by Joe Hagan, special correspondent for Vanity Fair. He has written for New York, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Hagan recently interviewed author, Kurt Andersen, where they unpack his newest book Evil Geniuses and unravels how the right helped create a wildly inequitable society—and how Americans could hold the government accountable for overlooking their economic interests.
His work includes long-form profiles and investigative exposés of some of the most significant figures and subjects of our time, including Beto O’Rourke, Hillary Clinton (her first post–secretary of state interview), Karl Rove, the Bush family, Henry Kissinger, Dan Rather, Goldman Sachs, The New York Times, and Twitter. In 2010, he discovered the diaries of singer Nina Simone and wrote about them for The Believer magazine. He lives with his family in Tivoli, New York.
Post Election Roundup
After approximately two years, $14 billion (yes, you read that right) and countless hours of our attention, the 2020 campaign is finally coming to a close. While it seems Joe Biden may have won the presidency, as of writing this, several states are still counting ballots and President Trump is still contesting the results. Today, we’re bringing you a panel that truly meets this historic moment. Our all-star panel includes The Cook Report founder, Charlie Cook, Co-Founder of the Lincoln Project, Rick Wilson, and former Senator and SNL writer Al Franken, with award-winning journalist for The Washington Post, Jonathan Capehart, as our moderator.
Post-Election Recap
Happy Friday! Well, we (almost) made it. After approximately two years, $14 billion (yes, you read that right) and countless hours of our attention, the 2020 campaign is finally coming to a close. While it seems Joe Biden may have won the presidency, as of writing this, several states are still counting ballots and President Trump is still contesting the results. Today, we’re bringing you a panel that truly meets this historic moment. Our all-star panel includes The Cook Report founder, Charlie Cook, Co-Founder of the Lincoln Project, Rick Wilson, and former Senator and SNL writer Al Franken, with award-winning journalist for The Washington Post, Jonathan Capehart, as our moderator.
“PUT A FORK IN IT”, Charlie Cook
Reassuring many, Charlie made no qualms about it - Biden won the election. While each media organization has a specific, sometimes arduous set of criteria that they must meet before calling a state (or an election for that matter), political analysts don’t, and Charlie coolly pointed out that the uncounted ballots are disproportionately from Biden-friendly districts and therefore, the only logical conclusion is a Joe Biden victory.
Al Franken, seeming to speak for many, complained that inaccurate polling made for a terrible election night.
While Charlie agreed that it was the “strangest election I’d ever seen,” he reminded us that the end result was not surprising; rather, it was the route taken that was so weird.
Presidential polls got the degree wrong, but the direction right and getting the degree wrong has implications for down ballot voting, not so much for the Electoral College, because most states are winner take all.
In summary, there was lots of party line voting, with Maine being the only state in which the Presidency and the Senate went in opposing directions (for now - looking at you Georgia).
In addition to the hyperpartisanship, there was also tremendous voter turnout. Charlie credits targeted voter registration as playing an important role.
Al Franken wasn’t having any of the sympathy for pollsters, and neither was Chris Rock apparently. Al told us about a conversation he had with Chris (we’re close like that), in which Chris described noted pollster, Nate Silver, as the closer (baseball) who the manager really likes, but always gives up a home run. Fair or not, we invite Chris to elaborate on a panel in the future.
Al added that he was unsure how the presidential election would impact the TWO senate runoff races in Georgia, but that expects an “inky,” weird period between now and then.
NOW FOR THE SURPRISE
Republicans were expected to be blown out in House races, especially in suburbs, but instead, Republicans actually gained seats.
Rick Wilson and Charlie Cook reminded us of a few factors: Many of these seats were moderate to rightward leaning in the first place, with Trump on the ballot (as opposed to 2018), voters could vote against Trump, while supporting their Congressperson, and a lot of the Democratic messaging didn’t help either.
“Defund The Police” - Although a misnomer, resonated with suburban voters who were fearful of civil unrest, moving them back to Trump.
Packing The Court - Similarly off-putting and Republicans seized.
Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) pleaded with fellow Dems to never use the word Socialism again.
More Conor Lambs, fewer AOCs if you want these moderate districts.
Green New Deal - Has become pejoritve to many, symbolizing big government and threatening older industries.
Al Franken agreed that we need more nuanced language to frame the debate about climate change, noting that most Americans recognize the scale of the threat it poses and that our response can really be a Win/Win.
CHARLIE COOK ISN’T INTO “TRUMP PORN” (new term for us)
Therefore he didn’t watch Trump’s press conference where he simultaneously claimed voter fraud and touted the GOP’s electoral victories.
Rick joined us a few minutes late as he was trying to “land the plane” that is our democracy. Rick confidentently described the next few months as such:
Donald will act like a child and do dangerous, dumb things.
*Not all children are like this*
Biden will put his hand on that bible in a covid safe ceremony and be sworn in. “It’s over except for the MAGA world’s crying.”
Litigation: At the very least, Trump will make noise with the hopes of reaching the Supreme Court and although his legal team is led by Guiliani and most constitutional lawyers think their case is spurious, The Lincoln Project is responding with their own legal team.
The Lincoln Project cannot work directly with the Biden Campaign by law. However, they anticipated this moment, so are well-prepared.
Attorney Marc Elias is also all over this, as Al Franken adds that the fight is large.
FUTURE OF THE GOP?
Rick quoted his friend and fellow Lincoln Project Co-Founder, Steve Schmidt, describing the GOP as a “Dwarf star” that gets progressively smaller and crazier (these guys love and are great with analogies)
It’s hard to scale when you have a “dear leader” model and then your “dear leader” loses. Moreover, Rick contends that the GOP is hopelessly broken and cannot be fixed. The GOP needs “a hard reconciliation with the country and with the culture.”
However, Rick does believe the country needs a center-right party, but for now he is
focused exclusively on beating Trump and then Trumpism, or in other words, to paraphrase, they “killed the big zombie, and are now going after the smaller zombies, the Ron Johnsons, Marcos and Hawleys.” The Lincoln Project will remain a political organization to fight them.
Al Franken playful interrupted Rick to remind him that the soul of the GOP that he is fighting for was never actually there, continuing with “Where were you in 2004? They’re all zombies”
Rick mostly agreed.
Q&A
Judith Miller
Trump got half of this country, his die-hards aren’t going away. Were people voting against Trump? What will it take for Trump’s supporters to break with him?
AF: Two information sources. Conservative media machine. No easy solution.
CC: Ideological silos on both sides - we need common news, common thread. This whole project doesn’t work without it.
RW: Roger Ailes - love him or hate him - he’s a television genius.
Hermetic bubble of Fox and talk radio that unifies and energizes the party completely, and then Social media exponentially amplifies the message of crazy people.
When there’s an “agenda” behind everything, nothing can’t be substantiated and we can’t function as a democracy.
Panel agrees that we have to rethink anti-trust law.
Tools are morally agnostic until they are not.
What happened in Kentucky and SC?
CC: Places in the south that are changing - some that aren’t
Changing States
Sunbelt - NC, AZ, CO TX, GA are following VA
Jamie Harrison was a great candidate, but he got a lot of votes because Lindsay proved to a fake, untrustworthy politician.
Law of diminishing returns on campaign spending. After what’s really needed, can actually be hurtful.
South Carolina is going to be South Carolina. Plausible to get close, but those last couple of points are hard.
States that Aren’t
LA, MS, AK, TN, AL KY, SC
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Charlie Cook is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on American politics and U.S. elections. He is the editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report which serves as one of the leading sites and informational platforms for election predictions and results in the United States. He is also a political analyst for NBC News and National Journal.
Since the 1984 US presidential election, Cook has provided election night commentary for various television networks. The Wall Street Journal has referred to Cook as “the Picasso of election analysis” and the Washington Post has called him "perhaps the best non-partisan tracker of Congressional races.”
In 2010, Charlie was the co-recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics."
Rick Wilson is a longtime Republican political strategist, infamous negative ad-maker, and commentator. He has successfully worked for numerous GOP campaigns including, presidential, senate, mayoral and gubernatorial. Since 2015, he's been a leading conservative critic of Donald Trump. He went on to co-found The Lincoln Project, a group of Republican and conservative leaders who are critical and oppose Donald Trump.
A pioneer of and leader in the Never-Trump movement, Wilson released the best-selling Everything Trump Touches Dies in August 2018. In the book, Wilson brings his dark humor and biting analysis to confront the absurdity of American politics in the Age of Trump. He mercilessly takes down Trump and exposes the damage Trump has done to the country, to the Republican Party Wilson served for decades, and to the conservative movement that has abandoned its principles for the worst president in American history.
Wilson writes several opinion and columns for newspapers like The Daily Beast, Politico, and The Federalist.
Al Franken is an American comedian, politician, media personality, and author who served as a United States senator from Minnesota. He gained notoriety for his work on Saturday Night Live.
After leaving SNL, Franken went on to become a political activist including hosting a radio show, offering commentary and insights and writing several books. He supported military members and often worked on entertaining soldiers. He decided to run for the Senate and win. While in the Senate he supported same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and gun control. In addition, Franken was active in health care reform and fought to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
After leaving the Senate, he now hosts his own radio program The Al Franken Show on SeriousXM which covers global affairs, politics, the 2020 presidential election, and entertainment.
Jonathan Capehart is an American journalist and television personality. He writes for The Washington Post's PostPartisan blog and is a contributor for MSNBC.
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Capehart was a researcher for NBC's The Today Show. Subsequently, he worked for the New York Daily News (NYDN), serving as a member of its editorial board from 1993 to 2000. At the time of his hiring, Capehart was youngest ever member of that newspaper's editorial board. In 2000, he left the NYDN to work at Bloomberg News. Afterward, he advised and wrote speeches for Michael Bloomberg, during Bloomberg's 2001 run for the mayoralty of New York City.
He joined the staff of The Washington Post as a journalist and member of the editorial board in 2007. He continues in that capacity and is a contributing commentator for MSNBC. He also hosts the Cape Up podcast, in which he talks to newsmakers about race, religion, age, gender, and cultural identity in politics.
The Election That Could Break America
After Election Day, what should we expect? The list of possibilities is keeping experts on both sides of the aisle getting ready to take action. The Common Good hosts, “The Election That Could Break America” with Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Bart Gellman, and moderated by Tom Rogers. You will not want to miss Gellman dive into his most recent much-talked-about article in The Atlantic and his insights into the unprecedented scenarios that we may encounter post-election.
After Election Day, what should we expect? The list of possibilities is keeping experts on both sides of the aisle getting ready to take action. The Common Good hosts, “The Election That Could Break America” with Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Bart Gellman, and moderated by Tom Rogers. You will not want to miss Gellman dive into his most recent much-talked-about article in The Atlantic and his insights into the unprecedented scenarios that we may encounter post-election.
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The Election that Could Break America - Recap
We thought we’d keep it light and fun for you all today; that’s why we invited Pulitzer prize- winning journalist, Bart Gellman, to The Common Good to discuss the election (yeah, that one). Media legend and Editor-at-large at Newsweek, Tom Rogers, moderated this important and all too timely discussion that centered on Bart’s recent and widely discussed article in The Atlantic, entitled, The Election that Could Break America. Tom was early (if not first) to note that Trump could very well subvert the election by staying in office no matter the outcome, and he has since written extensively about the topic in Newsweek with former Congressman Tim Wirth. Needless to say, we’re lucky to have two experts join us to discuss the election and potentially the future of our democracy.
Trump’s strategy is opacity, Bart begins ominously. Moreover, He will wield the power of incumbency to benefit his own reelection in a way that we’ve probably never seen before. While Trump will have a lot less running room if he loses by a landslide, we’re likely heading towards uncharted territory.
Gift of prophecy? No, just following the evidence; Bart asserts that no matter the outcome, Trump will not concede that he was defeated.
Both in prepared and off-the-cuff remarks, Trump has flatly said that the only way he could lose this election is if it is rigged against him.
“Our Constitution does not secure the peaceful transition of power, but rather presupposes it,” Bart Gellman.
Bart reminds us that SCOTUS didn’t determine 2000, it was Gore’s decision to ultimately concede.
SCOTUS, or at least Roberts, will be reluctant to weigh in, especially in the face of the court’s waning legitimacy. However, Bart can’t say the same for Kavannaugh at this point.
Bart suggests that if you ask most state legislators if they’d be willing to discard voters in their states, they’d probably say no. It’s hard to look in the mirror and do so; however, Trump’s genius is twofold; his manipulation of attention; and he enures people into grey areas, specifically norm-busting in a way they didn’t necessarily expect. And norms are the glue that keeps most of this together.
Ingredients for a Mess
Most states don’t allow mail-in-ballots to be processed before election day - it’s a slow process, so there will be a backlog. Florida, North Carolina, Arizona are important exceptions.
Trump has deliberately undermined trust in mail-in-ballots, creating a situation where many more Republicans will vote in person, while many more Democrats will vote by mail.
His strategy seems to be to disqualify votes that are counted “late,” locking in votes that are made day of, calling them valid.
Consequently, networks may be reluctant to determine a winner.
There’s no umpire; our elections are administered by thousands of localities. Bart soberly creates a scenario for us in which Trump attempts to blatantly steal the election: we would have mass demonstrations, with tens of millions of people. If they were peaceful, they (and democracy) would win. If they were violent, Trump could call on the troops and take advantage of the chaos.
Tom asks if there’s room for the business community to step in and while Bart acknowledges its potential efficacy, he also remarks “God help us if we are dependent on business leaders to figure out our elections for us.”
Similarly, it would be hard to imagine Republican party leaders diverging too far from Trump at any point in this process - they’re too enmeshed with his narrative.
Audience Question: What reforms can fix this?
The Electoral Count Act is a mess and in need of clarity.
We have a decentralized, underfunded election system that makes it inefficient and vulnerable to foreign threats, so money and some uniformity.
Further Reading from the Transition Integrity Project: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/7013152/Preventing-a-Disrupted-Presidential-Election-and.pdf
What We’re Watching this Weekend: City So Real (National Geographic/Hulu): This 5-part docu-series depicts a complex portrait of Chicago from the historic ‘19 mayor’s race to the tumultuous summer of ‘20.
Barton Gellman is a highly respected and much-honored author and journalist, a staff writer at The Atlantic, and Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation in New York. His awards include the Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy for documentary filmmaking, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
His recent articles from The Atlantic have been widely praised for the cogent look at the turmoil and chaos that could erupt from the 2020 election.
Gellman is responsible for many important stories. He led The Washington Post's coverage of the U.S. National Security Agency, which was based in large measure on top-secret documents provided to him by ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden. He published a book for Penguin Press on the rise of the surveillance-industrial state in May 2020.
Moderated by Tom Rogers, a true innovator and leader in the field of television, news and entertainment, Tom Rogers is the founder of CNBC and a CNBC contributor, as well as the founder of MSNBC, when he served as the first President of NBC cable. He is the former CEO of TiVo and is currently Chairman of Engine Media, a broad based sports, esports, and news content & distribution company.
He can also be credited for as bringing Netflix and Amazon to the TV screen. He is the former Senior Counsel to the House Telecommunications Committee where he oversaw the FCC and media industry. He is also an Editor-at-Large for Newsweek.
He has been inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame and has won an Emmy Award for contributions to the development of advanced television and advanced advertising.
Post Vice Presidential Debate Panel
In a season of surprises and unprecedented events, we heard from our VP nominees, Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris for their one-time debate this season. On Thursday, October 8th, 4pm-5pm ET, The Common Good hosted an incredible conversation to analyze the historic evening.
Democratic strategist @Hilary Rosen, Republican strategist, @Susan DelPercio, political commentator @TaraSetmayer, and legendary pollster @StanGreenberg reviewed the evening’s highs and lows and how the debate may affect their election fortunes.
In a season of surprises and unprecedented events, we heard from our VP nominees, Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris for their one-time debate this season. On Thursday, October 8th, 4pm-5pm ET, The Common Good hosted an incredible conversation to analyze the historic evening.
Democratic strategist @Hilary Rosen, Republican strategist, @Susan DelPercio, political commentator @TaraSetmayer, and legendary pollster @StanGreenberg reviewed the evening’s highs and lows and how the debate may affect their election fortunes.
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Hilary Rosen is a well-known strategist who effectively navigates the worlds of media, communications, business and politics. She is Vice Chair of the award-winning public affairs agency SKDKnickerbocker and an on-air CNN analyst.
Hilary formerly served as chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the leading trade association of America’s record companies. She became the first Washington editor-at-large and political director of The Huffington Post.
Throughout her career, Hilary has regularly been featured on power lists in a variety of sectors, including The New York Post’s Ladies Who Launch Entertainment Trends, Entertainment Weekly’s Annual Power List, The Hollywood Reporter’s Power 50 Women, The Washington Post’s Power 20 and National Journal’s Power Women in Washington. Hilary previously worked as Chief of Staff for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, as an assistant to New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne and has been an advisor to many elected officials over the years.
Tara Setmayer is a CNN Political Commentator, Contributor to ABC News and former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She is currently the host of the "Honestly Speaking with Tara" podcast. Tara regularly appears on CNN's prime time programs and contributes to ABC's The View, Good Morning America, and Nightline.
In 2017, Tara was named as a Board Director for Stand Up Republic, a non profit organization formed in the wake of the 2016 election of Donald Trump to unite Americans behind the defense of democratic norms, ideals and institutions.
During her time as a senior congressional staffer, Tara successfully led the national effort to free unjustly imprisoned Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean through a presidential commutation issued by President George W. Bush on his last working day in office. In addition to her communications duties, Setmayer handled policy issues on immigration and federal law enforcement.
Stanley Greenberg is a New York Times best-selling author and polling adviser to presidents, prime ministers and CEOs globally and right now, is conducting deep research in multiple countries. He was the senior pollster for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and President Nelson Mandela. Greenberg's corporate clients include Boeing, BP, Microsoft, and other global companies.
He has been described as "the father of modern polling techniques," "the De Niro of all political consultants," and "an unrivaled international 'guru.'" Esquire Magazine named him one of the most important people of the 21st century. Republican pollster Frank Luntz says, "Stan Greenberg scares the hell out of me. He doesn't just have a finger on the people's pulse; he's got an IV injected into it. He's the best."
Susan Del Percio has served as a media spokeswoman on many campaigns, both political and corporate, and frequently appears on many local and national news outlets as a political analyst. Susan is also an MSNBC contributor. She served in the Giuliani Administration. Appointed as a Special Advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014, she initiated and implemented communication strategies, and advised and developed policy initiatives. Susan also served as Deputy Commissioner in the Giuliani Administration (1995-2001) prior to founding her firm in 2001. Her client list includes large and mid-size private corporations, Fortune 50 executives, leading elected officials, political organizations and candidates as well as non-profits.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the political, government, nonprofit and private sector arenas, she is a trusted advisor helping leaders develop and execute focused strategic communications and winning crisis management campaigns. Her unique insights on government procedure, regulatory environments and public policy is highly sought after, especially now, with public affairs, policy and media so thoroughly intertwined.
The First Presidential Debate Panel
Join us as we review the First Presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden. How are their performances going to impact voters, did it sway anyone and other insights from the night. Our panelists reviewed and analyzed the highs and lows of the face-off between the Democrat and the Republican nominee's and how the debate may affect each ticket’s election fortunes.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us as we review the First Presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden. How are their performances going to impact voters, did it sway anyone and other insights from the night. Our panelists reviewed and analyzed the highs and lows of the face-off between the Democrat and the Republican nominee's and how the debate may affect each ticket’s election fortunes.
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John Avlon is an author, columnist and commentator. He is a senior political analyst and fill-in anchor at CNN, appearing on New Day every morning. From 2013 to 2018, he was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast, during which time the site’s traffic more than doubled to over one million readers a day while winning 17 journalism awards.
Stephen Marshall wrote “Avlon talks about politics the way ESPN anchors wrap up sports highlights.” Columnist Kathleen Parker wrote, “Americans who are fed up with the Ann Coulter/Michael Moore school of debate and are looking for someone to articulate a commonsense, middle path, may have found their voice in John Avlon.”
He has written three books, one of which was hailed by TheModerateVoice.com as “the best political book ever on American centrist voters.” Avlon is also a co-founder of No Labels – a group of Democrats, Republicans and Independents dedicated to the politics of problem-solving and making government work again.
Ed Rollins is a giant in the political world, having served as campaign consultant and advisor for numerous congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and presidential campaigns and victories.
During the Reagan administration, he served as Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and Director of the Office of Political Affairs. He would go on to lead Reagan's re-election campaign in which he oversaw the 1984 election where Regan won 49/50 U.S. states
He was the first non-member of Congress to serve as the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Chief Political Advisor to the House Republican Leadership. He has gone onto manage successful campaigns for: Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Congressman George Nethercutt and Katherine Harris and currently serves as chairman of the Great America PAC.
He was inducted into the Political Consultants Hall of Fame in 201 and was was also the recipient in 2010 of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Doug Sosnik served as a senior advisor to President Clinton from 1994 to 2000, playing a key role in policy, strategy, political and communications decisions in the White House; his titles included Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy, White House Political Director and Deputy Legislative Director. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, Sosnik was the chief of staff for Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, and later worked with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Mr. Sosnik currently advises elected officials, corporations, foundations, universities, non-profits and philanthropists on strategic planning and crisis management. Clients include the National Basketball Association, the Motion Picture Association of America and CNBC, as well as advised over 50 U.S. Senators and governors.
Doug co-authored a New York Times bestseller, Applebee’s America: How Successful Political, Business and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community.
"Longest War - How Do We End It?" with Ret. Col. Christopher Kolenda & Secretary Jeh Johnson
For Nearly two decades America has been in war with Afghanistan. The Common Good was joined by Ret. Colonel Chris Kolenda, the man who pioneered a new approach to counterinsurgency, led soldiers in successful battles against the Taliban and was later hand picked by the US government to be involved in early talks with the Taliban. We covered the impact of the war, how it can be ended, and recent events with our military that have made headlines. Moderated by former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.
For Nearly two decades America has been in war with Afghanistan. The Common Good was joined by Ret. Colonel Chris Kolenda, the man who pioneered a new approach to counterinsurgency, led soldiers in successful battles against the Taliban and was later hand picked by the US government to be involved in early talks with the Taliban. We covered the impact of the war, how it can be ended, and recent events with our military that have made headlines. Moderated by former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.
Watch the video below:
Ret. Colonel Christopher Kolenda recently served as the Senior Advisor on Afghanistan and Pakistan to Under Secretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy, and three 4* Generals in Afghanistan. He was decorated with the Department of Defense’s highest civilian award for his work on strategy. In 2007-08, he commanded an 800-solider task force in Kunar and Nuristan provinces where he pioneered an innovative approach to counterinsurgency in one of the most violent areas of the country. His unit is the only one in the history of the war to have motivated a large insurgent group to stop fighting and join the government. His advice has been adopted by three Secretaries of Defense and the President of the United States. He was selected to be the Secretary of Defense’s representative in exploratory talks with the Taliban from 2010-2013. He is the only American to have fought the Taliban in combat and engaged them in high-level diplomacy.
He is the founder of the Strategic Leaders Academy, which helps nonprofits and small businesses maximize their impact by developing their Leadership, Culture, and Strategy. He is the editor and coauthor of Leadership: The Warrior's Art, which has appeared on the professional reading lists of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. His most recent book, The Counterinsurgency Challenge, maps the journey of a leader in a difficult and dangerous conflict.
Secretary Jeh Johnson was appointed by President Obama on December 23, 2013, following confirmation by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 78-16. Between 2013 and 2017 he served as Secretary of Homeland Security. Previously, Secretary Johnson was appointed by President Obama to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 through 2012. In that position, Johnson was one of the legal architects for the U.S. military’s counter terrorism mission during President Obama’s first term.
In 2010, Johnson co-authored a 250-page report that paved the way for the repeal by Congress of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law that prohibited gays from serving openly in the U.S. military. From October 1998 to January 2001, Johnson served in the Clinton Administration as General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force. From 1989 through 1991, Secretary Johnson was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted public corruption cases.
"National Security Threats" with Jane Harman and Michael Chertoff
Congresswoman- turned-Director of the Wilson Center, Jane Harman, joined former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff as we discussed national security threats and concerns facing the world. Terrorists don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.
Congresswoman- turned-Director of the Wilson Center, Jane Harman, joined former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff as we discussed national security threats and concerns facing the world. Terrorists don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.
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LISTEN:
Click to listen to our podcast, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a new episode!
Representing the aerospace center of California during nine terms in Congress, Jane Harman served on all the major security committees: six years on Armed Services, eight years on Intelligence, and eight on Homeland Security. During her long public career, Harman has been recognized as a national expert at the nexus of security and public policy issues, and has received numerous awards for distinguished service.
Jane Harman resigned from Congress in February 2011 to join the Woodrow Wilson Center as its first female Director, President and CEO. She is a member of the Defense Policy Board, the State Department Foreign Policy Board, and the Homeland Security Advisory Committee. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Trilateral Commission and the Advisory Board of the Munich Security Conference.
As Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, Michael Chertoff led the country in blocking would-be terrorists from crossing our borders or implementing their plans if they were already in the country. He was the co-author of the Patriot Act. Before heading up the Department of Homeland Security, Chertoff served as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Earlier, during more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted cases of political corruption, organized crime, corporate fraud and terrorism – including the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
After leaving DHS, Chertoff created the Chertoff Group and provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on a broad range of security issues, from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery. “Risk management has become the CEO’s concern,” he says. “We help our clients develop comprehensive strategies to manage risk without building barriers that get in the way of carrying on their business.”
The Common Good has been hosting events since 2006 that cover important issues of today, highlighting speakers who have worked to bolster our democracy and can provide great insight on the issues that matter.