The Common Good Town Hall “Bridging America’s Divides”

The Common Good Town Hall

“Bridging America’s Divides”

with

Steven Brill, Frank Bruni, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Former Congressmen David Jolly (R-FL), George Packer, Heather Cox Richardson, Former Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Andrew Yang

MODERATED BY

John Heilemann

JUNE 4TH FROM 6-8PM

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Enough with squabbling. We want solutions. 

National division continues to pose a growing threat to U.S. democracy. And it’s not just those of us at The Common Good who are troubled by this. According to The Common Good Survey on Division, a staggering 72% of Americans share this concern. It thwarts our nation’s progress and obstructs our ability to grapple with crucial issues head-on. We may be divided, but this is an urgent challenge that affects us all. 

To tackle division and forge a brighter, more united future, two burning questions must be answered: What are the underlying causes of our nation's division? And, more importantly, what actionable solutions hold the promise of healing it? 

We’ve gathered some of the nation's foremost minds who have given these issues a great deal of thought for a very important and special Town Hall. They’ll offer their insights on what’s driving toxic partisanship in politics, igniting culture wars, and fomenting anger, hate, and eroding trust in our institutions, truth, and each other.  Even better, they'll propose solutions for bridging America’s divides.

Scroll down to stream the Town Hall now. 

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MEET OUR PANELISTS

Steven Brill, described as a “brilliant, award-winning reporter and bestselling author,” wears many hats: lawyer, entrepreneur, and journalist. Brill has a knack for diving deep into the pressing issues of our time. His upcoming book, The Death of Truth, explores how the erosion of shared truths and facts is fueling the rise of conspiracy theories and hoaxes, undermining our trust in leaders, institutions, and experts. But Brill doesn’t just diagnose the problem; he also offers a path forward to rebuild our collective faith in truth. Brill has a history of tackling complex topics with insightful analysis. His groundbreaking TIME special report, “Bitter Pill: How Medical Bills Are Killing Us,” earned a National Magazine Award in 2014 and laid the groundwork for his 2015 bestseller, America’s Bitter Pill, which delves into fixing our broken healthcare system. His other notable works include Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America’s Schools (2011) and After: The Rebuilding and Defending of America in the September 12th Era (2003). Brill’s latest bestseller, Tailspin: The People and Forces Behind America’s Fifty-Year Fall–and Those Fighting to Reverse It, continues his tradition of addressing critical societal issues. In 2018, Brill co-founded NewsGuard Technologies with Gordon Crovitz, a service dedicated to evaluating the credibility of news websites. The duo had previously collaborated on Journalism Online. Brill also founded and managed Court TV, The American Lawyer Magazine, and Brill’s Content magazine, solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in both legal and journalistic fields.

Frank Bruni “has not written about just one thing, but seemingly about all things.” With an impressive three-decade career, including over 25 years at The New York Times, Bruni has become a nationally renowned op-ed columnist, celebrated journalist, and bestselling author. His diverse body of work includes deep dives into American politics, food, family, war, vision loss, religion, and LGBTQ issues. At the Times, Bruni served as the Rome bureau chief and White House correspondent, where he was the lead reporter covering George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. He later penned Ambling into History, a bestseller about Bush. Bruni is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Age of Grievance. This book, praised by New York Times opinion columnist Bret Stephens as “the most astute diagnosis of the rage, recrimination, and revenge culture that ails our country,” also offers a hopeful prescription for redemption. Bruni’s exploration of the culture of grievance reveals its deep impact on America’s current divisive climate. Beyond his writing, he remains active as a contributing opinion writer for the Times, sharing his insights at least weekly. Additionally, Bruni serves as the Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University and frequently appears as a television commentator.

Alyssa Farah Griffin holds the unique distinction of being the only person to serve as a top spokesperson for the President, Vice President, and the Department of Defense within a single administration. She also made history as the youngest Pentagon Press Secretary. In her role as White House communications director, Griffin played a pivotal part in significant initiatives, such as strategizing the communications for a Supreme Court Justice confirmation and managing public messaging for Operation Warp Speed, the rapid vaccine development program. During her tenure as Pentagon Press Secretary, Griffin accompanied the Secretary of Defense on important international trips, including a secret visit to Afghanistan to announce peace talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban. She also served as Senior Advisor, preparing the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for congressional hearings. In 2020, Griffin resigned from her role as White House communications director, expressing discomfort with the public messaging surrounding the election results. She told Politico, “I wasn’t comfortable being a part of sharing this message to the public that the election results might go a different way. I didn’t see that to be where the facts lay.” After her resignation, Griffin joined The View as a co-host and became a political commentator for CNN. She has emerged as a prominent Republican critic of the former President. Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney commended Griffin on The View, stating, “You gave people the courage that they could come forward and talk to the committee, and it was really, really important.”

Congressman David Jolly, who represented Florida’s 13th district from 2014 to 2017, made a name for himself as a pragmatic and independent voice within the GOP, often willing to break from party lines. Known for “speaking the truth” and being “the one Congressman willing to compromise,” Jolly has become a prominent advocate for reducing partisan rancor and promoting solutions-oriented leadership. Although he held several traditionally Republican views, Jolly prioritized pragmatic solutions over rigid ideology during his time in office. Jolly’s congressional career ended in 2016 after an electoral redistricting made his district more Democratic-leaning, leading to his defeat by Democrat Charlie Crist. Following his loss, Jolly grew increasingly critical of the Republican Party’s alignment with former President Trump. In 2018, he left the GOP, asserting, “You can’t be never-Trump and be a Republican,” as he believed the party had become too entrenched in Trump’s divisive politics. Since leaving Congress, Jolly has used his platform to advocate for reforms to America’s two-party system. Through his writings in major outlets like Time, The Washington Post, CNN, and the Tampa Bay Times, he has championed the idea of a multi-party democracy, arguing, “Most leading nations have multi-party democracies…and voters feel better represented.” Jolly currently serves as a political commentator for MSNBC and CNN and works as Executive Vice President at Shumaker Advisors Florida LLC. Before his congressional career, he worked for Rep. Bill Young and as a lobbyist in D.C. He is also the editor of A Divided Union, a book examining the challenges to bipartisanship. Jolly’s journey from a Republican congressman to a vocal critic of partisan politics highlights his commitment to pluralistic governance and his belief in policy-based decision-making over party allegiance.

George Packer is not just an acclaimed journalist and award-winning author; he’s a storyteller with a passion for unpacking the complexities of American politics, culture, and foreign policy. Currently a staff writer at The Atlantic, Packer joined the publication in 2018 after a distinguished 15-year tenure at The New Yorker. His work blends sharp analysis with compelling narrative, bringing clarity to our turbulent times. Packer has written ten books, with his latest, Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal, earning high praise. The National Peace Corps Association, paying homage to Packer’s own time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, lauded the book for its “stunning, synthesizing prose” and its insightful exploration of America’s challenges and potential paths forward. Throughout his career, Packer’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the National Book Award, the Hitchens Prize, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His intellectual curiosity and dedication to his craft have also earned him fellowships at prestigious institutions like the American Academy in Berlin and the New York Public Library. Packer’s journey began at Yale College and was shaped by his service in the Peace Corps, experiences that continue to inform his nuanced perspectives. Whether dissecting the intricacies of foreign policy or delving into cultural critiques, Packer’s work is marked by a deep commitment to understanding and articulating the forces shaping our world.

Heather Cox Richardson captured the internet’s attention in 2019 with her nightly newsletter, Letters from an American. She is a celebrated historian, bestselling author, and Professor of History at Boston College. When the pandemic disrupted her book tour for How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America, Richardson turned a setback into an opportunity, launching a newsletter that would transform America’s political discourse. Her insightful chronicles, which use historical context to shed light on today’s political landscape, have attracted over a million followers on Substack, making it the platform’s largest newsletter. In 2022, Richardson was honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year and was invited to the White House to interview President Joe Biden. Her career spans a wide range of historical periods, documented in her award-winning books that cover topics from the European settlement of North America to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. Her latest bestseller, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, has been praised by Jane Mayer as “a vibrant, and essential history of America’s unending, enraging, and utterly compelling struggle since its founding to live up to its own best ideals.” Richardson’s work is not only popular in print; it has also appeared in esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Her ability to connect past and present has made her a crucial voice in contemporary political discourse.

Congressman Tim Ryan has experienced the effects of divisive rhetoric and culture wars up close, having served as the representative for Ohio’s 13th district from 2003 to 2023. Despite Mahoning Valley, part of his district, shifting red in favor of former President Trump, Ryan, a Democrat, maintained strong support among his constituents, winning ten congressional races before stepping down to run for the U.S. Senate. Although he lost that tough race to J.D. Vance, who had aligned closely with Trump, Ryan’s success as a Democrat in a predominantly red state is a testament to his dynamic leadership in the House, his steadfast advocacy for working-class Americans, and his efforts to build bridges between Democrats and Republicans. “What he is in his own way — not my way — is he is trying to stand with the working class of Ohio — trying to stand with them and take on powerful special interests,” noted Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Nationally, Ryan became known for his positions on renewable energy, education reform, and mental health care. His forward-thinking approach earned him a reputation as a relatable and pragmatic leader who sought common ground and pursued practical solutions to complex challenges. After his political career, Ryan founded We The People, an advocacy group dedicated to fostering unity, reform, and reconciliation in American society and organizing voters frustrated with partisan politics. He also contributes as an opinion writer for Newsweek. Ryan’s tenure in Congress and his post-political efforts highlight his commitment to bridging divides and championing the needs of the working class, making him a notable figure in contemporary American politics. 

Andrew Yang catapulted onto the national stage with his audacious plan for Universal Basic Income (UBI). A former presidential and mayoral candidate, co-chair of the Forward Party, and bestselling author, Yang’s innovative ideas sparked widespread discussions on automation, income inequality, and the future of work. Continuing his mission to improve the lives of everyday Americans, Yang tirelessly fights to address economic challenges and empower communities. Before founding the Forward Party, Yang established Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization that successfully lobbied Congress for direct cash relief during the pandemic. In recognition of his public service, Yang received the Vilcek Prize for Excellence in 2021. A prolific author, Yang has published five books, including The War on Normal People and Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy. He also hosts the podcast Forward with Andrew Yang, where he continues to share his insights and advocate for a more inclusive and equitable political landscape.

John Heilemann is known to have a “knack for asking candidates thought-provoking, creative questions that virtually no one has ever thought to ask.” He is the creator and host of the heralded and Emmy nominated political docuseries The Circus, a national affairs analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, and most recently joined Puck News as Partner and chief political columnist.  He is the co-author of two New York Times No. 1 best sellers, Game Change and Double Down; both of which are widely regarded as “two of the most successful and influential books in history on presidential politics” and “the definitive accounts of the 2008 and 2012 elections, respectively.” Game Change was adapted by HBO Films and went on to win five Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, and a Peabody Award. Heilemann is also the former managing editor of Bloomberg Politics and host of MSNBC and Bloomberg TV's daily political news and analysis program “With All Due Respect”. Before joining Bloomberg, Heilemann was a staff writer and columnist at New York Magazine, The New Yorker, Wired, and The Economist. His magazine writing has also appeared in Vanity Fair, GQ, Time, The New Republic, and The Washington Monthly, and been anthologized in The Best American Political Writing and The Best American Crime Writing.

Hazards Ahead: How the New Supreme Court Will Impact America?

Hazards Ahead: How Will the New Supreme Court Change America?

with 

with Jeffrey Toobin, Jennifer Rubin, and Kimberly Atkins Stohr

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 5:00-6:00 PM EST

We are thrilled to host Supreme Court expert Jeffrey Toobin of CNN and Washington Post political columnist, Jennifer Rubin, with our moderator, attorney and reporter, Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Recent Supreme Court decisions have upended the legal, political, and cultural landscape - and more dramatic change is certainly ahead. Join our TCG panel as they discuss the vast potential impact of this new court on privacy, personal freedoms, government regulation, reproductive rights, the environment, gun control, access to voting, and other charged issues.

Jennifer Rubin is a lawyer, political commentator and columnist for the Washington Post, Rubin is the author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump.” Rubin was long known as a conservative political commentator but switched in recent years and become an advocate for moderate Democrats. Her blog at the post, “The Right Turn,” has been called a “must read” for political watchers. Most recently she has been a critic of the Supreme Court on her blog, specifically regarding the partisanship of the Supreme Court.

Jeffrey Toobin is the chief legal analyst for CNN and has also worked at the New Yorker from 1993 to 2020. Toobin’s expertise on the Supreme Court stems from having reported and written about it extensively, including writing two books about the Court, “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court,” and “The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court.” Before becoming a journalist, Toobin served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn, and as an associate counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh.

Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a Lawyer and senior opinion writer at The Boston Globe. Stohr is also an MSNBC contributor. She has served as the Boston Herald’s Washington bureau chief, guest host of CSPAN’s morning call-in show “Washington Journal,” and a Supreme Court reporter for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and it’s sister publications. Previously, Stohr was the first Washington, DC-based news correspondent for WBUR. Before launching her journalism career, she was a trial and appellate litigation attorney in Boston.

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The Gen Z impact

About The Event

We are thrilled to have the dynamic We are thrilled to have John Della Volpe, the dynamic Director of Polling at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics, and a top authority on understanding American youth, together with two young and inspiring leading voices of Gen Z: Santiago Mayer, political strategist and Executive Director of Voters of Tomorrow, and Jing-Jing Shen, a Harvard student studying Chemistry and Government and 2021 Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project. Our discussion will be led by another national expert on youth, David Burstein, the CEO & Co-Founder of Run for America.

The Washington Post has referred to John Della Volpe as one of the world’s leading authorities on global opinion and influence among young people, especially Millennials. We’ll discuss their anger at the serious problems being left them, their aspirations, and how to harness their passions to create the change we need moving forward.

Coming of age at a moment of division and disinformation, these teenagers and college students have organized around issues that impact their daily lives, from gun control to climate change to racial justice. Our youngest citizens are the most diverse and most educated in history, making them more connected to the world around them than ever before - and they are not afraid to disrupt the status quo. How do they engage in our democracy? What are the issues that will drive their actions and their vote?

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Biden: Year One

About The Event

We are thrilled to have former presidential advisor David Gergen, a political analyst from the Atlantic Ron Brownstein, former GOP communications director Tara Setmayer, and Time magazine’s national political correspondent Molly Ball, join us for an important look back at Joe Biden’s first year as president, examining the successes and failures, low points and the highlights of the administration so far. Our expert panel will discuss how America has changed under President Biden, and share their thoughts on what is to come in 2022 and beyond.

What are we likely to see from the next 3 years of the Biden Presidency? What is the outlook for 2022? Join The Common Good for a smart and substantive discussion about how Biden is doing, how it fits in the historical context, and how he can do better.

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Meet and Greet with Huma Abedin

About The Event

Huma Abedin has led an extraordinary life and career that has spanned positions at the White House, the Senate, and the State Department as a top aide, advisor, and close confidant to former Secretary of State, US Senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Although Abedin has strived to stay out of the public eye, her recent best-selling memoir Both/And shares a poignant narrative of her family background and childhood in Saudi Arabia, her tumultuous marriage to political figure Anthony Weiner, and her work for stateswoman and candidate Clinton, that led her to serve as vice-chair of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign for President of the United States and deputy chief of staff to Clinton when she was U.S. Secretary of State, among other important roles.

Finally sharing her experiences and lessons after decades as an extremely private but elite insider in the world of politics and policy, Abedin joins The Common Good for an exclusive, members-only in-person event hosted and moderated by legendary venture capitalist Alan Patricof.

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Financial Forecast 2022 with Byron Wien and Joe Zidle

About The Event

Byron Wien, Vice Chairman of Blackstone, and Joe Zidle, Managing Director and the Chief Investment Strategist at Blackstone, return together for an important and timely conversation on the economy, the markets, and political and international events that may affect your portfolio, your business or simply your peace of mind.

These renowned experts join us for a special forecast examining many of the unusual factors of 2022, including growing political division, the ongoing impact of Covid, and a reckoning with America’s low-wage workers.

Moderated by Anthony Scaramucci.

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Byron Wien: Known as "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, policymakers, players and market movers. 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 e was also named by New York Magazine as one of the sixteen most influential people on 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.

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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.

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Anthony Scaramucci is the Founder and Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital. Prior to founding SkyBridge in 2005, Scaramucci co-founded investment partnership Oscar Capital Management, which was sold to Neuberger Berman, LLC in 2001. Earlier, he was a vice president in Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs & Co. In 2016, Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In November 2016, he was named to President-Elect Trump’s 16-person Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee. In June 2017, he was named the Chief Strategy Officer of the EXIM Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for a period in July 2017. Scaramucci is the author of four books: The Little Book of Hedge Funds, Goodbye Gordon Gekko, Hopping Over the Rabbit Hole (a 2016 Wall Street Journal best seller), and Trump: The Blue-Collar President.

Kati Marton: The Chancellor

About The Event

Kati Marton, an acclaimed journalist and author The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel, joins The Common Good to discuss the incredible and enduring legacy of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Moderated by former US Ambassador to Germany, John Emerson. This definitive biography details the remarkable rise and political brilliance of the most powerful—and elusive—woman in the world.

The Chancellor is at once a riveting political biography and an intimate human story of a complete outsider—a research chemist and pastor’s daughter raised in Soviet-controlled East Germany—who rose to become the unofficial leader of the West.

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Kati Marton is an acclaimed journalist and author, as well as an activist advocate for human rights and the freedom of the press. She is an award-winning former NPR and ABC News Correspondent, the former chairwoman of the International Women’s Health Commission, a director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Marton has published eight books, which have been translated into five languages. Her Cold War Memoir Enemies of the People: My Family’s Journey to America was a National Book Critics Circle finalist in 2009.

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John Emerson is currently the Vice Chairman of Capital International, Inc., following a four year leave to serve as US Ambassador to Germany. Serving as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 2013 through 2017, Emerson was Chief of Mission Germany, which includes the operation and activities of the Embassy, five consulates and nearly 2,000 employees, as well as coordinating with the U.S. military command in Germany. He interacted with the highest levels of the U.S. and German governments, as well as with the EU and NATO leaderships.

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Gamechanger? Russia’s Growing Aggressiveness with Fiona Hill

About The Event

Russia has been amassing troops on the border with Ukraine, threatening a massive invasion. NATO and EU nations have threatened severe economic sanctions, and have moved troops and weapons into Ukraine to help the fledgling democracy's defense. Will we see the outbreak of war in Europe? What will the effect be for the United States and our allies?

Dr. Fiona Hill, former Senior Director for Europe and Russia at the United States National Security Council, is a leading expert on Russia and international affairs. She will discuss recent developments with Russia, Kazakhstan , and Ukraine as well as her excellent book There’s Nothing For You Here.

Moderated by Mary Boies.

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Dr. Fiona Hill is a leading expert on modern Russia, a guardian of U.S. security through smart diplomacy, and a powerful advocate for the principled approach to public service. Risking her career and reputation, she offered her nonpartisan testimony about the president's actions in Ukraine.

Her new book There is Nothing For You Here, describes how declining opportunity has set America on a grim path. She is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. From 2006 to 2009, she served as a national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at The National Intelligence Council. She is co-author of “Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin”.

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Mary Boies has held major roles in law, business, NGOs, and government. She is Counsel to Boies Schiller Flexner LLP where she specializes in antitrust and corporate commercial litigation. She has served as Vice President at CBS Inc., General Counsel of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board, Assistant Director of the Domestic Policy Staff at the White House, and Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce.

She is also a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and served on its Board of Directors and chaired its Committee on Nominations and Governance.

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Kissinger in the Middle East - Lessons in Diplomacy

About The Event

Palestinians, though three presidents have tried and failed.

To understand the role of American diplomacy in the Middle East, Ambassador Martin Indyk returned to the origins of America-led peace efforts and the man who created the Middle East peace process - Henry Kissinger. Based on his research into American and Israeli archives, interviews with Kissinger, and his own years of experience as the US ambassador to Israel, Indyk’s new book, Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy, offers the key to securing stability, and with that, peace in the Middle East.

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Martin S. Indyk is a Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, he was the John C. Whitehead Distinguished Fellow in International Diplomacy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. Indyk served as the U.S. special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from July 2013 to June 2014. Prior to his time as special envoy, he was vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program and a senior fellow and the founding director of the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings.

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Robert Hormats has served five U.S. presidential administrations, including as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador, and Senior Economic advisor to Dr. Henry Kissinger, General Brent Scowcroft and Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski on the National Security Council staff in the White House. He served as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment with Secretary Clinton His experience in the financial sector includes 25 years at Goldman Sachs (International) rising to the level of Vice Chairman.

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January 6 Attack on the Capital One Year Later

About The Event

On January 6, 2021, our nation watched in shock as a group of rioters stormed the US Capitol, intent on disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes and formalize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.

What have we learned about this unprecedented event in American history? The investigation is still ongoing but much has been uncovered about how it was planned, the people who carried it out, and some of the leaders involved in the attempt to stop the peaceful transition of power.

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Congressman Adam Schiff has emerged as one of the most consequential members with leadership on many major issues. He now serves on the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol tasked with discovering the fact, circumstances, and causes of the attack.

He is widely respected as a leader on national security and foreign policy especially for his role as Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He has worked to harden our defenses against foreign interference in our elections.

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Congresswoman Madeleine Dean is a highly respected member and thought leader in the House. She served as one of the impeachment managers in the second trial against Donald Trump just weeks after she sat in the House gallery as protesters attempted to break into the chamber.

Prior to serving in Congress, Dean opened her own legal practice and taught writing and ethics at La Salle University. First elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 4th district in 2018, she has become known for her work fighting gun violence.

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Congresswoman Jane Harman is President Emerita of the Wilson Center, one of the world’s most highly regarded think tanks, and a former long-time member of Congress who served on the House Intelligence Committee and the Homeland Security Committee's intelligence subcommittee. She is an internationally recognized authority on U.S. and global security issues, foreign relations, and lawmaking. Harman is also the author of the recent book Insanity Defense which chronicles how four administrations have failed to confront some of the toughest national security policy issues and what we can do to keep the nation safe.

The Future of News in a Post-Truth World

About The Event

The ubiquity of social media has also brought the explosive spread of false ‘facts’ and increased distrust in traditional news — so much so that disinformation, especially combined with strong partisan feeling, has become an existential threat to our democracy.

Political beliefs now determine not only the candidates you choose to support, but also the facts you will accept; and the media you consume influences not only the opinions you will hear, but also the truths you will believe.
Can the government take action to regulate misinformation without impinging on the right to free speech? Can we hold social media companies to account for the devastating impact of their algorithmic news feeds? To what degree, if at all, should immunity continue to exist for internet companies? What does the future of news look like when we cannot agree on a common truth?

Join The Common Good to explore how we can save truth, free speech, and the news, in conversation with an incredible group of experts including former Congressman David Jolly, former Dean of Harvard Law School Martha Minow, and former Chairman of the FCC Newton Minow. This panel will be moderated by Rick Salomon. 

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Former Congressman David Jolly served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2014 – 2017. Known for his fierce independent streak and bipartisan approach, Jolly has held virtually every position in Congress, from intern to Member, and has worked outside the Congress as an attorney and political consultant, as well as in specialty finance. Today, Jolly serves as Chairman of the Serve America Movement and can often be seen as a policy and politics analyst on MSNBC and NBC. Jolly's work has been published in Time, USA Today, Roll Call, the Washington Post, and CNN.com, among many other news sources. Renouncing his affiliation several years ago with the Republican Party, Jolly is now an Independent.

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Martha Minow is an expert on Constitutional Law, the former Dean of Harvard Law School, and the 300th Anniversary University Professor at Harvard University.  She writes and teaches about digital communications, democracy, privatization, military justice, and ethnic and religious conflict, and is an expert in human rights and advocacy for racial and religious minorities and for women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her newest book, Saving The News, offers a detailed argument of how our government has interfered in America's media landscape and charts a path for reform.

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Newton Minow is a pioneer in broadcasting, and a former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission with over five decades of experience in all aspects of the communication industry. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama, and the Woodrow Wilson Award for public service. He has served on the Boards of Encyclopedia Britannica, the Chicago Tribune, the RAND Corporation, CBS Corporation, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and many more. In his speech criticising broadcasters for not doing more to serve the public interest, he famously coined the phrase television as the “vast wasteland.”

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Richard Salomon, a Harvard-trained lawyer and CEO of Vantage Point Consultants, has advised 400 of the Fortune 500 on ways to optimize the expenditure of corporate legal dollars. A co-founder of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Salomon sits on many other Boards from the Of Many Institute at NYU, to the Interfaith Youth Corps, and the President's Council of the Auburn Theological Seminary. He is a frequent moderator and speaker at many venerable institutions, including the 92nd St Y, Temple Emanu-El's Streicker Center, the University of Chicago, the Cornell Institute of Politics, the Illinois Holocaust Museum, the Alliance For Justice, and, of course, The Common Good.

Meet Representative Abigail Spanberger

About The Event

Representative Abigail Spanberger flipped a Republican district in 2018 and has taken issue with the sweep of the Biden agenda.

Rep. Spanberger (D-VA) began her career in public service, serving as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigating money laundering and narcotics cases. From 2006 to 2014, she worked overseas as a CIA operations officer focused on issues of national security including intelligence gathering on terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

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Known for her impressive record at the CIA, and her work to further our national security, Representative Spanberger is undoubtedly a rising star in the Democratic party.

Abigail Spanberger represents Virginia’s 7th District, covering an area around Richmond and Central Virginia.  She is 

Representative Spanberger is a Vice-Chair and the Democratic Whip of the Problem Solvers Caucus. She was elected to Congress in the 2018 elections, flipping a swing district in the process. Representative Spanberger began her career in public service, serving as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigating money laundering and narcotics cases. From 2006 to 2014, she worked overseas as a CIA operations officer focused on classified matters of national security that included intelligence gathering on terrorism and nuclear proliferation. She worked at home and abroad to collect vital intelligence, keep our country safe, and work in furtherance of our national security priorities.

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Jane Harman is an internationally recognized authority on U.S. and global security issues, foreign relations, and lawmaking. Among her many achievements, Harman is a Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita of the Wilson Center, one of the world’s most highly regarded think tanks.

Harman recently completed a decade as its first female President & CEO. Congresswoman Harman has long been a national expert at the nexus of security and public policy issues, and has received numerous awards for her distinguished service, including the Defense Department Medal for Distinguished Service, the CIA Agency Seal Medal, the CIA Director’s Award, and the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal.

Rising Leader Series with Representative Chrissy Houlahan

About The Event

Representative Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator, is the first woman ever to represent Pennsylvania's 6th District in Congress. In 2018, Houlahan flipped the district blue, which had previously been held by a Republican for over two decades.

Join us to hear her thoughts on the historic infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better legislation as they churn through Congress as well as her other legislative priorities..

Thursday, November 4th, 2021

4:00pm-5:00pm EST

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Chrissy Houlahan is a U.S. Representative, Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator who is continuing her career in public service as the first woman ever to represent Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District. Chrissy is the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who came to America with nothing.

She grew up in a military family. Her father and grandfather flew P3’s in the same Navy squadron. She earned her engineering degree from Stanford with an ROTC scholarship that launched her service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves.

Chrissy later earned her M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT. Chrissy is a leader driven by a spirit of service. She’s a mom, a longtime resident of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and a first-time congressional representative heading to Washington to solve real world problems for the people and communities of Pennsylvania.

Meet and Greet with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul HYBRID EVENT

About The Event

Join The Common Good to meet Governor Kathy Hochul, and learn more about her transition to power, and her plans for the state. Presented by Patricia Duff at her home in NYC.

Events this summer roiled the state’s governance, but now it is her turn to lead. 

In August, 2021 Kathy Hochul took office in the wake of her predecessor’s resignation and an ongoing pandemic. Now, her lifelong dedication to empowering women is aligned with her historic role as the first female Governor of New York. 

Kathy Hochul has been a dedicated public servant for decades, rising from Erie County Clerk to U.S. Congresswoman, and then to Lieutenant Governor. In her first 45 days as New York’s Governor she has led the state with intelligence and integrity, taking swift and decisive action to fight the surging Delta variant, help New Yorker’s recover from Hurricane Ida, and confront the crisis on Rikers Island.

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Meet Alvin Bragg with Tom Allon

ABOUT THE EVENT

Alvin Bragg has spent the better part of two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. He served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General in New York State where he oversaw some of the office’s biggest cases, including suing Harvey Weinstein and his company for the existence of a hostile work environment;  challenging the Trump administration over the census; and bringing significant criminal charges in bribery, securities fraud, and Medicaid fraud. 

Alvin Bragg has spent the better part of two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. He is now running for Manhattan District Attorney. Join The Common Good to learn more about Bragg’s impressive record and his plans for the district, moderated by City & State publisher Tom Allon.

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The Future of Roe v Wade

ABOUT THE EVENT

The durability of Roe vs. Wade has perhaps never been more at risk than it is today. Texas’ new abortion, which effectively bans most abortions, deputizes private citizens to sue those involved in performing abortions and offers a financial incentive for them to do so. Because SCOTUS declined to prevent this bounty system from taking shape in America’s second most populous state, lawmakers and executives in at least seven other states have said they are considering similar statutes.

The Common Good is joined by former State Senator Wendy Davis. Davis, who’s worked tirelessly to ensure women’s reproductive rights with legal expert Kimberly Atkins Stohr on the controversial topic.

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

5:00pm EST-6:00pm EST

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Wendy Davis was a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 10. She assumed office in 2009 and left office in 2015. Davis ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat to represent Texas’ 21st Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020. Davis received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Prior to assuming her position in the state Senate, Davis served on the Fort Worth City Council.

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Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer at The Boston Globe. She is also an MSNBC contributor.Before launching her journalism career, she was a trial and appellate litigation attorney in Boston. Previously, Kimberly was the first Washington, DC-based news correspondent for WBUR. She has also served as the Boston Herald’s Washington bureau chief, guest host of C-SPAN’s morning call-in show “Washington Journal,” and a Supreme Court reporter for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and its sister publications. She has appeared as a political commentator on a host of national and international television and radio networks.

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Alexander Vindman: Here, Right Matters

ABOUT THE EVENT

What happens when a civil servant’s loyalty to the Constitution puts him at odds with arguably the most powerful person in the world?

The Common Good is honored to welcome back Lt. Col (ret.) Alexander Vindman. Earlier this year, we had the privilege of awarding Vindman with the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service; and we can’t think of anyone more deserving. 

After years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman rose to become the National Security Council Director for European Affairs and former deputy assistant to the president. In November 2019, Vindman, found himself at the center of a firestorm for his decision to report the infamous phone call that led to the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump. His strength of character was evidenced as he testified in the public impeachment hearings as he declared during the trial, “Here, right matters.” 

His new memoir, Here, Right Matters, is a stirring account of Vindman's childhood as an immigrant growing up in New York City, his career in service of his new home on the battlefield and at the White House, and the decisions leading up to, and fallout surrounding, his exposure of President Trump's abuse of power. 

As an immigrant, raised by a father who fled the Soviet Union in pursuit of a better life for his children, Vindman learned about respect for truth throughout his education and military service. His decision to speak up about the July 25th call was never a choice: it was Vindman’s duty, as a naturalized citizen and member of the armed forces. In the wake of his testimony, he would endure furious partisan attacks on his record and his loyalty. But far louder was the extraordinary chorus of support from citizens who were collectively intent on reaffirming an abiding American commitment to integrity.  

Join The Common Good and a true American hero for a discussion of integrity, patriotism, that infamous call, and truth above all else. Moderated by Chess Grandmaster, Garry Kasparov.

Wednesday, September 22nd

5:00pm EST-6pm EST

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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 received the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service at our 2021 American Spirit Awards.

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Garry Kasparov, one of the world’s greatest chess champions in history, fled Russia in 2013 after Putin’s crackdown on reform efforts led by Kasparov and others. Kasparov currently serves as chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, and has authored numerous works on the Putin regime and artificial intelligence.

Garry Kasparov joined The Common Good to discuss Russia and the dangers Vladimir Putin and his regime pose to the world in Defending Democracy: John Avlon, Philip Bobbitt, Ian Kahn, Garry Kasparov, and Bret Stephens. Kasparov also spoke at The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards 2018.

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Pandemic Update with Dr. William A. Haseltine

About The Event

Covid-19 is unfortunately still very much with us. It is ravaging parts of this country,particularly in places with relatively low vaccination rates. However, we’re also seeing more breakthrough cases that many of us imagined. As our future with Covid-19 remains uncertain, we thought it’d be a good time to bring back Dr. William A. Haseltine to provide a briefing - where we are and where we’re going. Moderated by Honorary Advisory Board Member, Susan Del Percio.

Thursday, September 9th, 2021

4:00pm-5:00pm EST

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Dr. William A. Haseltine is a scientist, businessman, author and philanthropist. His contributions to HIV/AIDS and genome research established Haseltines repute as a scientist. After his time as a professor at Harvard Medical School, he founded Human Genome Sciences and served as chairman and CEO. In 2001 he was listed as one of the 25 most influential business people and in 2015 was listed as one of the 100 most influential leaders in biotechnology. He has authored many books, the most recent being A Family’s Guide to Covid and Covid Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CV-PTSD): What It Is and What To Do About It

Haseltine has been a scientific voice throughout the pandemic. He is adamant about his opposition the herd immunity strategy and has advocated for other solutions to minimize the COVID death rates. 

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Susan Del Percio is a nationally recognized crisis communication expert and public affairs strategist. She is a political analyst for MSNBC, columnist for OZY media, and a consultant for the award-winning HBO show, The Newsroom.

Del Percio has served as a media spokeswoman on many campaigns, both political and corporate. With nearly 30 years of experience in the political, government, nonprofit, and private sectors, she is a trusted advisor who helps leaders develop, execute, and win purposeful campaigns. Her unique insights on government procedure, regulatory environments and public policy are highly sought after, but her passion for problem solving sets her apart.

Del Percio attended The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards on May 21st, 2018, and spoke on the panel “Political Landscape: Future of Elections, Campaigns, & Parties” alongside John Della Volpe, former Congressman David Jolly, and Bill Schneider, with moderator John Harwood. She returned to participate in the Post Vice Presidential Debate Panel on October 8, 2020 and was joined by nationally known strategists from both sides of the aisle: Tara Setmayer, Hilary Rosen, and Stan Greenberg to have an incredible conversation following the debate.

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Afghanistan

About The Event

20 Years, 2 Trillion dollars and countless lives - was it finally time to leave Afghanistan? Join The Common Good as we explore the consequences -humanitarian, security, political - of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Wednesday, August 25th, 2021

5:00pm EST - 6:00pm EST

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Peter W. Galbraith is a former US Ambassador to ­Croatia and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations in Afghanistan. He is the author of two books on the Iraq War, The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End and Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America’s Enemies.

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Mike Rogers is a former member of Congress representing Michigan's Eighth Congressional District, officer in the U.S. Army, and FBI special agent. He is a highly sought-after expert on national security issues, intelligence affairs, and cybersecurity policy. He advises multiple boards and academic institutions, working to enhance America’s strength and security. Mike built a legacy as a tireless and effective leader on counterterrorism, intelligence and national security policy from his years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he chaired the powerful House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).

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Matt Zeller is a consultant in Washington, DC. He is the author of Watches Without Time (Just World Books, 2012), a vivid description of what he experienced while serving as an embedded combat adviser with the Afghan security forces in Ghazni, Afghanistan, in 2008. Matt is a Captain in the US Army Reserve and a former officer of the Central Intelligence Agency. He was the Democrat candidate for Congress in 2010 in NY’s 29th Congressional District.

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Felicia Taylor is a retired anchor-correspondent formerly for CNN International’s World Business Today has contributed to the Business Updates unit for CNN. She was the co-host of Retirement Living TV’s Daily Cafe until November 2009. She joined WNBC in 1998 and left in September 2006. Felicia Taylor has covered pivotal moments in history including the Gulf War, Black Monday, the top 5 largest point drops on the Dow, the demise of Long Term Capital Management, the sub-prime mortgage meltdown, the demise of Bear Sterns and the global financial crisis beginning in 2008.

A Conversation with America’s Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton

About The Event

There is perhaps no greater authority on policing in America than Bill Bratton. But Bill Bratton is not only an expert on policing, he was also in the key position to assist in combating terrorism in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and subsequent terror threats in New York and Los Angeles.

Join The Common Good as Ken Auletta, best-selling author extraordinaire and famed columnist for The New Yorker, leads a conversation with Commissioner Bratton on Bratton’s new book, “The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America” as a jumping off point.

We’ll look at Bratton’s extraordinary career, how policing has changed (for good and bad) over the years, and get his thoughts on national security more generally.  Bratton was known for improving community relations with the police and significantly reducing crime rates.  How did he do it? Can we do it again?  With crime rates rising, particularly violent crime, we need to know.  Don’t miss this essential conversation.

During a 46-year career in law enforcement Bill Bratton, ever results-driven, instituted progressive change while leading six police departments, including seven years as Chief of the Boston and Los Angeles Police Departments and two nonconsecutive terms as the Police Commissioner of the City of New York. He is the only person ever to lead the police agencies of America’s two largest cities. In the words of our Honorary Advisory Board member and former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Bill Bratton is “America’s police commissioner.”

Wednesday, July 28 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm ET

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Commissioner Bratton was the 42nd police commissioner of the City of New York from January 2014 to September 2016. It was the second time he had held the post. During that time, he oversaw 32 months of declining crime, including historic lows for murders and robberies. Commissioner Bratton spearheaded a major technological overhaul, the Mobile Digital Initiative, which gave a smartphone with custom-designed apps to every officer and put a tablet in every patrol car. 

Commissioner Bratton also implemented major reforms to the NYPD’s counterterrorism program by developing two new units—the Critical Response Command (CRC) and the Strategic Response Group (SRG)—which now provide the city with more than 1,000 highly trained and properly equipped officers who are dedicated to counterterrorism, large-scale mobilizations, site security, and rapid deployment citywide.

In the 1990s, Commissioner Bratton established an international reputation for re-engineering police departments and fighting crime. As Chief of the New York City Transit Police, Boston Police Commissioner, and in his first term as New York City Police Commissioner, he revitalized morale and cut crime in all three posts, achieving the largest crime declines in New York City’s history. As Los Angeles Police Chief from 2002 to 2009, in a city known for its entrenched gang culture and youth violence, he brought crime to historically low levels, greatly improved race relations, and reached out to young people with a range of innovative police programs.

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Ken Auletta is an acclaimed journalist who has been a pillar at The New Yorker magazine since 1992, writing columns under Annals of Communication and major pieces on a variety of major personalities and trends.  Auletta has profiled the leading figures and companies of the Information Age, including Google, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, AOL Time Warner, John Malone, Harvey Weinstein, the New York Times, Sheryl Sandberg and Facebook; he has dissected media meteors that fell to earth, probed media violence, the political giving of communication giants, and explored what "synergy" may mean to journalism. His 2001 profile of Ted Turner won a National Magazine Award as the best profile of the year. He covered the Microsoft antitrust trial for the magazine. In ranking him as America's premier media critic, the Columbia Journalism Review concluded, "no other reporter has covered the new communications revolution as thoroughly as has Auletta." New York Magazine described him as the "media Boswell."  

In addition to his fine reporting and writing at The New Yorker, Auletta is the author of twelve books, including five national bestsellers: Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way; Greed And Glory On Wall Street: The Fall of The House of Lehman; The Highwaymen: Warriors of the Information Super Highway; World War 3.0: Microsoft and Its Enemies; and Googled, The End of the World As We Know It, which was published in November of 2009. His other books include: Backstory: Inside the Business of News; Media Man: Ted Turner’s Improbable Empire; The Streets Were Paved with Gold; and The Underclass. His twelfth book, Frenemies: The Epic Disruption of the Ad Business (And Everything Else), was published in June 2018.  

Be sure to check out Auletta’s 2015 article on Bratton entitled,“Fixing Broken Windows”

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