PAST EVENTS
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.
Recap: Final Presidential Debate Panel
After a tumultuous first debate, the final face off will be the last, perhaps best, chance for President Trump or Vice President Biden to tell the American people why he should be elected the next president of the United States. Can we expect a serious discussion of their policy differences or another breakdown in decorum?
Whatever happens, these confrontations do shape the national conversation and the upcoming election -- and The Common Good had the extraordinary panel of political experts to analyze the impact on voters, who are already starting to head to the polls. Join ace strategist @PaulBegala and election outcome seer @RachelBitecofer. Moderated by Emmy nominated journalist @CynthiaMcFadden.
In keeping with the theme and general ethos of 2020, we had a few last-minute changes. Fortunately, the inimitable author, strategist and pollster Doug Schoen stepped in, along with the razor-sharp election whisperer, Rachel Bitecofer, as well as the brilliant, Emmy award-winning journalist, Cynthia McFadden, as moderator. And we’re lucky they did, as there’s plenty to unpack from the final (*phew*) presidential debate.
McFadden: Forget the formalities - Was there a winner?
Schoen contends that while Trump showed some much-needed discipline and restraint, ultimately Biden did what he needed to do and simply “held up.” And although the race might tighten a bit, the fundamental dynamics of the race won’t significantly change. Trump did the best he could given the facts on the ground, specifically the negative fallout of the pandemic. Ultimately, the candidates mostly spoke to their respective base, with Biden reaching out a bit to all Americans, but, notably, as a proud Democrat. With 45 million votes already, many experts are predicting record turnout for this election. Contrary to popular belief, however, Doug doesn’t see evidence that more turnout will invariably benefit Dems; and while Biden still has a clear advantage, swing states are closer than the overall popular vote.
Rachel, on the hand, said there probably wasn’t a winner of last night’s debate, just a loser - the American people. That was right before she soberly reminded us that our democracy is off the rails, that our president lies constantly and about important things, and that this enormous departure from American presidential history and norms has proven challenging for the media to cover in the face of the need for journalistic impartiality. While Trump was the consensus loser from the first debate, Rachel notes that this debate was mostly unnoteworthy. Partisans saw what they wanted to see – either a Trump win or a Biden win. Therefore, pure independents should be asked, but Rachel asserts they mostly don’t exist.
Are there still Undecided voters? (very few) What about Independent voters? (not really)
According to Doug, at this point in the race, Undecided Voters are low-information voters who feel alienated by the current system. They represent about 6% or 7% of voters.
Rachel argues that, based on her research, Independents aren’t actually independent. Actually, they almost always “lean” one way or the other (just like us, except they’re not political junkies). Moreover, Independents often are just as settled as partisans, they’re just more embarrassed about their partisanship.
Warning: Entering THE WEEDS
Rachel describes a theory that postulates: In our polarized era, Independents have an anti-status quo bias, meaning that the status quo always sucks for these voters. Therefore, they’re likely to break away from the current status quo. In this case, that would mean Independents will break in favor of the Democrats. In fact, per Rachel, the pandemic is likely to enhance the traditional 55%/44% vote for change by Independents.
Check Out Rachel’s article https://newrepublic.com/article/156402/hate-ballot
Cynthia brings up voter Trust, citing “Democracy is like Tinkerbell; once you stop believing she dies.”
Both Doug and Rachel are worried about the integrity of election and health of our democracy; however, they diverge slightly on the causes. While Doug focused on foreign interference in our election; Rachel emphasizes the institutional erosion - in the Senate, in the lack of government accountability and responsiveness, and in Trump’s open warfare on the election itself.
By the way, this warfare isn’t just Trump being Trump. Rachel also voiced concern about RNC and DOJ coordination. She paints the scenario whereby the conservative media machine declares Trump ahead on election day voting - knowing that Dems are more likely to vote by mail, Republicans in person - and then they launch a bevy of lawsuits to discredit mail-in votes that have yet to be counted.
Additional Thoughts from our Panel
Flash point? Biden’s comments on oil - specifically that we should transition away from it - could provide Trump with an opening to highlight the radical approach of The Green New Deal and Biden’s perceived equivocation on fracking.
Audience Question: Will it hurt Biden in PA?
Doug said Trump should wield that comment in a hyper-targeted way in Pennsylvania.
Rachel said those comments are more important in Texas, whose economy is more reliant on oil.
Biden has already walked it back and pivoted to ending subsidies for oil, which makes more political and practical sense. Although Trump has footage and will use it.
Switching to forecasting for Congressional Races
Rachel has the following states flipping Senate races to Dems: Arizona to Mark Kelly, Colorado to John Hickenlooper, Maine to Sarah Gideon, North Carolina probably to Cal Cunningham (very close, but early African American turnout is high).
There are tantalizing possible Tossups for Dems: Iowa to Theresa Greenfield, Alaska to Al Gross, South Carolina to Jaime Harrison, Kansas to Barbara Bollier.
But not Kentucky – White, low college-educated electorate
RE: Trump’s claim that Rs take the house – Trumps makes a lot of stuff up. No evidence, but hasn’t stopped him before. He’s just trying to keep people optimistic.
Rachel said just as there are best practices with pandemic response, there are best practices for electioneering – Base mobilizing being one of them, and usually every nominee comes out of the primary and repositions toward the center in the general election campaign.
However, Trump does things that are antithetical to winning elections:
Trump is still running a base strategy – worked last time, but it frustrates his handlers that they can’t get him to change course. He did tone down his temperament.
Final points: Rachel’s Minimal Effects Theory – Presidential campaigns don’t have a lot of room to influence voters in a hyper-partisan political landscape.
Trump has tamped down his voter erosion, but his first debate performance hurt the Senate Republicans. Trump is is seen as bad on race, empathy, police violence – not serious, empathetic voice. He’s adding to the criminality myth of black male. However, he has a bolder, better argument than Criminal Justice Reform – letting them out of prison. It’s a challenge for Trump as an incumbent to label Biden as the insider.
Rachel makes this point clear - Republicans are great at messaging, Dems struggle – they too often speak to the head, not the gut.
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Rachel Bitecofer
A true election whisperer, Dr. Bitecofer received national acclaim for her prediction of the results of the 2018 United States midterm elections more closely than most other forecasters. She has continuously helped to predict and analyze elections and data making her one of the most sought after political scientists in the country.
She continuously appears on tv, including CNN, MSNCB, along with media outlets like NYT, NPR and the Washington Post.
Dr. Bitecofer is famous for her main thesis that modern elections are not decided by the swing vote, but rather negative partisanship, which prioritizes defeating the other side over any specific policy objective. Under her theory, shifts in voter turnout decide everything, and the "swing" mainly comes from whether voters decide to vote at all rather than deciding who to vote for.
Doug Schoen has been one of the most influential Democratic campaign consultants for over thirty years. A founding partner and principal strategist for Penn, Schoen & Berland, he is widely recognized as one of the co-inventors of overnight polling.
Schoen was named Pollster of the Year in 1996 by the American Association of Political Consultants for his contributions to the President Bill Clinton reelection campaign.
His political clients include New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, and his corporate clients include AOL Time Warner, Procter & Gamble and AT&T. Internationally, he has worked for the heads of states of over 15 countries, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and three Israeli Prime Ministers.
He is the author of multiple books, most recently publishing, The End of Democracy. He is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and various other newspaper and online publications. He is also a Fox News Contributor, making appearances on various news programs several times a week.
Cynthia McFadden was named co-anchor of ABC News' "Nightline" in October 2005. She joined ABC News in February 1994 as the network's legal correspondent. Two years later she was named a correspondent for "PrimeTime," and was made a co-anchor of the broadcast in 2004.
McFadden took an exclusive and rare look inside the new Ku Klux Klan and covered the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn. She has reported extensively from Africa and India on the HIV-AIDS pandemic; from China on the environmental costs of that country's rapid economic growth; and on the illegal sale of women and young girls into sexual slavery. Her investigation into horrific human rights abuses in several Mexican mental hospitals led to a major overhaul of that government's institutions for the mentally ill.
McFadden led the first investigation by a major news organization into one of America's darkest secrets, the forced sterilization of 60,000 to 100,000 American citizens; tracked five accused murderers to their hiding places in El Salvador, where she interviewed two of them; and investigated the use of female contraceptives to treat convicted rapists.
She left ABC in 2014 and is currently the senior legal and investigative correspondent for NBC News. She has won a Peabody and an Emmy, along with countless other awards.
Covid-19: Then, Now, and What's to Come
Covid-19 has changed all aspects of our society throughout the entire country and the world, and continues to do so today. How did we get here? What should we expect now? And where are we going? Are just some of the questions on the forefront of everyone’s minds. Join The Common Good for Covid-19: Then, Now, and What’s to Comes moderated by HHS Deputy Asst Secretary for Health Rear Admiral (ret) Susan Blumenthal, MD with Dr. Daniel R. Lucey from Georgetown University and a leading scholar in infectious diseases, and former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden as we learn about the origins, the spread and what the future will be like as a result of Covid-19.
Covid-19 has changed all aspects of our society throughout the entire country and the world, and continues to do so today. How did we get here? What should we expect now? And where are we going? Are just some of the questions on the forefront of everyone’s minds. Join The Common Good for Covid-19: Then, Now, and What’s to Comes moderated by HHS Deputy Asst Secretary for Health Rear Admiral (ret) Susan Blumenthal, MD with Dr. Daniel R. Lucey from Georgetown University and a leading scholar in infectious diseases, and former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden as we learn about the origins, the spread and what the future will be like as a result of Covid-19.
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Dr. Tom Frieden, MD, MPH served as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Commissioner of the New York City Health Department.
As Director, he led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work that ended the Ebola epidemic, launched initiative that will prevent 500,000 heart attacks and strokes, sounded the alarm and accelerated progress addressing the epidemic of opioid use, and increased effective action on the front lines to find and fight winnable battles and protect and improve health in the United States and around the world.
As Health Commissioner, he led health transformation in New York City which increased life expectancy by 3 years. He created plans to combat HIV and increased tobacco control resulting in the saving of countless lives.
He currently serves as President and CEO of Resolve To Save Lives which aims to prevent epidemics and save 100 million people from cardiovascular disease.
How to Defeat Trump's Plan to Overturn the Election
Articles by Frieden:
How to Defeat Trump's Plan to Overturn the Election
Amid Trump's Post-Election Chaos, Hold Lawyers to Account
How Trump Could Lose the Election — And Still Remain President
Daniel Lucey MD, MPH graduated from Dartmouth College and Medical School, completed Internal Medicine Residency at UC San Francisco 1982-1985, and an Infectious Disease Fellowship and Masters in Public Health (MPH) in 1988 at Harvard.
He worked in the US Public Health Service for five years at the NIH and FDA. Since 2003 he has travelled overseas every year, mostly to Asia and Africa, to meet with colleagues involved with outbreaks of infectious diseases e.g., SARS, H5N1 avian flu, pandemic H1N1 human flu, Nipah virus, anthrax, MERS, H7N9 avian flu, and Ebola (in Sierra Leone and Liberia).
In 2014 he joined the O’Neill Institute as a Senior Scholar. Since 2004 he has taught a course on Global Emerging Infectious Diseases at GUMC and organized cross-campus symposia on infectious diseases at the Medical Center and School of Foreign Service. His proposal to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History was recently approved for development of an exhibition on Global Zoonotic Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Susan Blumenthal has served as U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, the country’s first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health, Director of the Office on Women’s Health, and as Senior Global Health Advisor in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She is an internationally recognized medical expert and leader who has been a major force in bringing important public health issues including women’s health, global health, disease, obesity, and violence prevention, and mental illness to increased scientific and public attention, helping to place them at the top of our nation’s health care agenda.
Dr. Blumenthal has also been involved in the national public health response to terrorism, emergency pandemic preparedness, biotechnology issues, and emerging disease threats including AIDS and COVID-19. She is currently a Senior Fellow in Health Policy at New America where she is focused on a broad range of issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, applying technology to advance public health, health reform implementation, food insecurity, women’s health, and global health. Additionally, Dr. Blumenthal serves as Senior Policy and Medical Advisor to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research and is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts and Georgetown Schools of Medicine.
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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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.”
"RNC Post-Convention Roundup" with Dan Rather, Margaret Hoover, & Alex Castellanos
Join The Common Good as we breakdown the past four day Republican National Convention. Brilliant political experts and commentators Dan Rather, Margaret Hoover, and Alex Castellanos discuss the RNC and what occurred.
Join The Common Good as we breakdown the past four day Republican National Convention. Brilliant political experts and commentators Dan Rather, Margaret Hoover, and Alex Castellanos discuss the RNC and what occurred.
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"DNC 2020" with Dan Rather, Ron Brownstein, and Karen Finney
Join The Common Good as we breakdown the four day Democratic National Convention. Brilliant political experts and commentators Dan Rather, Ron Brownstein, and Karen Finney discussed the DNC and what occurred.
Join The Common Good as we breakdown the four day Democratic National Convention. Brilliant political experts and commentators Dan Rather, Ron Brownstein, and Karen Finney discussed the DNC and what occurred.
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"The Economy in Crisis - When the Worst is Yet to Come" with Glenn Hutchins and Andy Serwer
With massive unemployment, more businesses closing permanently, and the most devastating three-month collapse on record, what is next? The Common Good was joined by brilliant investor and business legend Glenn Hutchins, co-founder of the hugely successful Silver Lake Partners, Vice Chairman of Brookings, former Senior Advisor to President Clinton and board member of the NY Fed. The conversation was moderated by Andy Serwer, the former managing director of Fortune and the current Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo! Business.
With massive unemployment, more businesses closing permanently, and the most devastating three-month collapse on record, what is next? The Common Good was joined by brilliant investor and business legend Glenn Hutchins, co-founder of the hugely successful Silver Lake Partners, Vice Chairman of Brookings, former Senior Advisor to President Clinton and board member of the NY Fed. The conversation was moderated by Andy Serwer, the former managing director of Fortune and the current Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo! Business.
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Glenn Hutchins has earned respect and success at the top of the business world, philanthropy, and public service. He is chairman of North Island and a co-founder of Silver Lake, and also served as chairman of the board of SunGard Data Systems, Inc. and Instinet, Inc. and a director of Nasdaq, Inc. Previously, Mr. Hutchins served President Clinton in the White House as a special advisor on both economic and health-care policy. He was also a director of Harvard Management Company and co-chairman of Harvard University’s capital campaign.
Andy Serwer is the editor in chief for Yahoo Finance, where he oversees all editorial content from breaking news to in-depth stories to original video programming. He was previously the managing editor of Fortune and worked at Time Inc. for 29 years. He has been a regular guest on MSNBC’S Morning Joe and CNBC’s Squawkbox and many other TV and radio programs.
Serwer's daily online musings have earned him a reputation as one of the sharpest and most entertaining market commentators anywhere. According to an article in the May 22, 2000, New Yorker, "Achaea had Homer, the Spanish Civil War had Hemingway, California had the Beach Boys, and now our hyperactive stock market has its own poet-singer--Andy Serwer." He was named 2000 Business Journalist of the Year by TJFR, who called him "perhaps the nation's top multimedia talent, successfully juggling the roles of serious journalist, astute commentator and occasional court jester."
"What is the President's Endgame?" with Eric Swalwell & Dennis Mehiel
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15) joined The Common Good for a riveting conversation as we discuss his new book "Endgame: Inside the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump." We got an inside look into what went on during the impeachment, recent revelations made by other government leaders, along with discussing the 2020 election. Moderated by business leader and philanthropic icon Dennis Mehiel.
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15) joined The Common Good for a riveting conversation as we discuss his new book "Endgame: Inside the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump." We got an inside look into what went on during the impeachment, recent revelations made by other government leaders, along with discussing the 2020 election. Moderated by business leader and philanthropic icon Dennis Mehiel.
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Eric Swalwell is serving his fourth term representing California's 15th Congressional District, in the East Bay near San Francisco. Elected to Congress at age 31, he now serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Judiciary Committee, and co-chairs the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
In his first term he introduced three bills and had two signed into law -more than any other freshman congressman. He has since continued to have great success and has been credited as a leader within the party. Swalwell ran for the Democratic nominee for president focusing heavily on gun control but eventually dropped out. He recently published the book "Endgame: Inside the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump."
Dennis Mehiel is one of the Democratic Party’s most visionary, effective and experienced leaders in the fields of business, government, politics and philanthropy. His close friends, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and dozens of other national Democratic leaders and Presidential candidates can attest to his vision and effectiveness. He has chaired and been involved with numerous committee's including the Battery Park City Authority and founded ShowUp in 2018 to increase participation in the 2018 midterm election.
Mehiel’s governmental and political skills arise from decades of business and charitable activities. As Chairman, CEO and principal shareholder of Sweetheart Cup Company – then North America’s largest producer of disposable tabletop products for the “away-from-home dining” market, he brought the Company back from the brink of bankruptcy and preserved 8,000 jobs. During his long career in the corrugated packaging business he twice built the largest independent producer in North America.
"The Coming Election Breakdown & Fixing an Already Broken Social Media" with Tom Rogers and Jessica Rogers Ecker
Media mogul and expert Tom Rogers, creator of MSNBC and CNBC, along with his millennial daughter Jessica Rogers Ecker joined The Common Good for a unique event where we discussed social media, the youth vote and the 2020 election. What impact will the youth vote play in the upcoming election, how will social media be a factor in this election and so much more.
Media mogul and expert Tom Rogers, creator of MSNBC and CNBC, along with his millennial daughter Jessica Rogers Ecker joined The Common Good for a unique event where we discussed social media, the youth vote and the 2020 election. The impact will the youth vote play in the upcoming election, how social media will be a factor in this election, and so much more.
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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.
Jessica Ecker is a graduate of Columbia University and Columbia Law School. After law school, she clerked for Hon. Michael M. Baylson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and then Hon. Cheryl Ann Krause of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She is currently a litigation associate at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City.
"Trump, the Republican Party, and the American Future" with Sarah Longwell and Susan del Percio
Founder of Republican Voters Against Trump and publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell joined TCG for a lively discussion, moderated by political strategist, Susan Del Percio, about President Trump and the future of the GOP.
Sarah Longwell, political strategist, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT), and publisher of the right-leaning opinion and news website, The Bulwark, spoke to Susan del Percio about her focus groups, her priorities, and the Never-Trump movement. Sitting at tables with conservative intellectual heavyweights and discussing the cancerous effect of Trump got old for Sarah and inspired her to say to the group, which included Bill Kristol and Charlie Sikes, “let’s do something.”
Sarah concedes that she originally and naively thought the establishment Republicans would serve as a guardrail against Donald Trump and that there would be a more formidable primary challenger to him; today, however, it’s clear that neither were true.
Sarah harkened back to her days in communications to devise focus groups around the country with the intent of getting into the minds of “reluctant Trump voters” - what drove them to Trump and what would persuade them to leave him in 2020?
Focus group participants readily admitted Trump’s erratic behavior and questionable character were problematic.
“Women, who voted for him and then went home and cried, were persuadable.”
Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT)
Recognizing that personal stories move people, RVAT’s goal was to compile intimate testimonials from people who had voted for Trump in 20126, but were not going to in 2020. Sarah admits that it was hard at first, taking 4 months to get the first 100 videos, but after the launch, people saw they weren’t alone and videos poured in.
“There’s not enough tax cuts and conservative judges in the world to justify Donald Trump,” Sarah Longwell
Trump won 3 states by 77k votes in 2016, so Sarah’s goal remained hyper-focused and grounded in reality - eliminate 3% of Trump’s support among Republicans. In order for Republicans to get the message, however, Biden needs a landslide victory. And that message, according to Sarah, is that Republicans should be electorally punished for their faustian bargain with Trump, someone who is actively subverting our Democracy.
“I believe in liberal democracy more than I do marginal tax rates,” Sarah Longwell
Sarah predicts that Independents will break against Trump, because he now has a record to run on and it’s a bad one. Covid-19 has real consequences, and it will be harder to generate excitement to shake things up again - “I feel already pretty shaken right now! (we all do)”
When asked why she doesn’t just become a Democrat, Sarah reminds us that she is still a conservative - a strong American presence in the world, free markets and limited government. Moreover, Democrats are experiencing something similar to Republicans right now, but they’ve done a better job of suppressing it’s populist, far left contingent.
“Polls are not gospel,” Sarah Longwell
Biden has to play to win, which means Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and NOT Texas, which is expensive and unlikely. If he’s going to stretch anywhere, have it be Georgia.
Sarah is mostly staying out of the Senate races, noting that it has been hard to watch so many moderate republicans get run out of the party.
What happens to the GOP after Trump loses?
It depends on the margin of his loss. There’s an opportunity to have a fight for the soul of the party, but unless Trump goes to prison, he’s not going anywhere. The party is doomed if he becomes a kingmaker, which is likely at this point.
What’s possible if Republicans hold the Senate?
Rule of Law reforms
Anti-corruption legislation
Modest movement on Healthcare
Narrow senate majority is a foil for Biden. Excuse for Biden to go far too left, where he is comfortable.
What is Trump’s argument that he can run on against Biden?
Trump wanted to run on the economy, but can’t now, so he’s trying cultural wedge issues. However, talking about monuments when Americans can’t send their children to school or afford groceries isn’t a winning strategy.
“It’s not as fun to own the libs when you can’t own a house or a car because of a wrecked economy, “ Sarah Longwell
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Sarah Longwell has served as a defining member of the Voters Against Trump movement and gained national attention as a Republican strategist and active voice in Republican politics. She is the head of the Republicans for the Rule of Law, part of Defending Democracy Together, which has and does advocate against Trump. She also served as the first female member of the board for the Log Cabin Republicans and would go on to serve as chairwoman of the board.
Sarah Longwell has been involved in national politics for several decades. After moving to DC she worked and eventually became the Vice President and Communications Director of Berman and Company. She later went on to create her own successful communications firm, Longwell and Associates.
Susan Del Percio is a New York-based Republican strategist and founder of Susan Del Percio Strategies, she has advised dozens of candidates in New York and elsewhere on successfully communicating messages to an electorate. Ms. 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 and holds a Masters degree in political communications.
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.
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.
"The Law, the Vote, and the 2020 Election" with Solicitor General Neal Katyal, Moderated by Kay Koplovitz
Legal scholar and former Principal Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal joined The Common Good to discuss all the new legal challenges facing the 2020 election. Moderated by business legend and co-founder of Springboard Enterprises Kay Koplovitz, the two led a fascinating conversation, headlined by pressing issues such as mail-in ballot and combating the spreading of misinformation.
Legal scholar and former Principal Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal joined The Common Good to discuss all the new legal challenges facing the 2020 election. Moderated by business legend and co-founder of Springboard Enterprises Kay Koplovitz, the two led a fascinating conversation, headlined by pressing issues such as mail-in ballot and combating the spreading of misinformation.
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General Neal Katyal served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States, where he argued several major Supreme Court cases involving a variety of issues, such as his successful defense of the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, his victorious defense of former Attorney General John Ashcroft for alleged abuses in the war on terror, his unanimous victory against eight states who sued the nation's leading power plants for contributing to global warming, and a variety of other matters. As Acting Solicitor General, Neal was responsible for representing the federal government of the United States in all appellate matters before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals throughout the nation. He served as Counsel of Record hundreds of times in the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also the only head of the Solicitor General's office to argue a case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, on the important question of whether certain aspects of the human genome were patentable.
Neal has also served as a law professor for over two decades at Georgetown University Law Center, where he was one of the youngest professors to have received tenure and a chaired professorship in the university's history. He has also served as a visiting professor at both Harvard and Yale law schools.
Ms. Kay Koplovitz is the founder and former Chairman & CEO of USA Networks, the SyFy Channel (formerly Sci-Fi Channel), and USA Networks International, today a multi-billion-dollar cable television network. Ms. Koplovitz ran the network for 21 years before stepping down in 1998. As founder of USA Networks, Kay is the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams: licensing and advertising.
Since 2000, Kay has served as Chairman of Springboard Enterprises, where under her leadership, the venture-catalyst accelerator has been bringing women founders leading transformational businesses to full parity in raising capital. The value of Springboard Enterprises has been validated by a strong 19-year track record of success with over $10 billion capital raised, 190+ exits, and 20 IPOs. Companies in the portfolio include technology and life sciences, and in 2014, Ms. Koplovitz co-founded the New York Fashion Tech Lab bringing promising technology companies in collaboration with the fashion and retail industry.
Springboard Enterprises was born after Ms. Koplovitz’ was appointed as Chairman of the bipartisan National Women’s Business Council (1998 NWBC) by President Clinton. During that time, Kay discovered that there were few venture capital and funding options for women entrepreneurs.
"Coming Back from Crisis" with Governor Larry Hogan and Former Secretary Jeh Johnson
Governor Larry Hogan joined The Common Good for a conversation to discuss the pandemic. Moderated by former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, the two discussed the state and federal response; unrest, racism and police brutality. Join us for expert insights into the 2020 political landscape and the direction of our country as well as many other issues of national interest.
Governor Larry Hogan joined The Common Good for a conversation to discuss the pandemic. Moderated by former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, the two discussed the state and federal response; unrest, racism and police brutality. Join us for expert insights into the 2020 political landscape and the direction of our country as well as many other issues of national interest.
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Governor Larry Hogan is a lifelong Marylander who is the son of Congressman Lawrence Hogan (MD-5). As a young man, Governor Hogan worked on his father’s campaigns, at first stuffing envelopes and knocking on doors, and eventually helping to manage them. .Hogan continued to work for his father when he was County Executive of Prince George's County.
He later went to create a real estate firm which quickly became the leading land development firm in the state of Maryland, focusing on economic development and bringing hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs to the state. In 2011, Hogan founded the grassroots organization Change Maryland. What began as an idea between a few friends quickly grew into the largest grassroots organization in State history and the leading voice of support for tax relief, responsible budgeting, and economic growth.
Governor Hogan was elected in 2014 and became the first Republican Governor to be re-elected for a second term in half a century. He has received mass praise for his work towards bipartisanship, being efficient, and always putting the needs of Maryland families and businesses first. Its main focus is to get the State’s budget under control, eliminate waste and abuse in State government, provide tax relief to struggling Marylanders, and bring jobs and businesses back to the State.
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.
"Strategies to 270" with Douglas E. Schoen, Rick Tyler & Tom Rogers
Republican Strategist Rick Tyler and Democratic Political Analyst Douglas Schoen joined The Common Good for an elaborate conversation on how the Democrats and the Republicans are working towards their goal of winning the 2020 race to the White House. We are thrilled that Tom Rogers, founder of CNBC and MSNBC, former President of NBC Cable and TCG Honorary Advisory Board member joined us to moderate the conversations.
Republican Strategist Rick Tyler and Democratic Political Analyst Douglas Schoen joined The Common Good for an elaborate conversation on how the Democrats and the Republicans are working towards their goal of winning the 2020 race to the White House. We are thrilled that Tom Rogers, founder of CNBC and MSNBC, former President of NBC Cable and TCG Honorary Advisory Board member joined us to moderate the conversations.
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Douglas E. Schoen has been one of the most influential Democratic campaign consultants for over thirty years. A founding partner and principal strategist for Penn, Schoen & Berland, he is widely recognized as one of the co-inventors of overnight polling.
His political clients include New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, and his corporate clients include AOL Time Warner, Procter & Gamble and AT&T. Internationally, he has worked for the heads of states of over 15 countries, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and three Israeli Prime Ministers.
Schoen was named Pollster of the Year in 1996 by the American Association of Political Consultants for his contributions to the President Bill Clinton reelection campaign.
Rick Tyler is Co-Founder of Foundry Strategies, a political, strategic, and communications consulting firm specializing in helping their political and corporate clients reach their leadership potential by honing their communications skills. He is currently a Political Analyst for the MSNBC Cable News Network.
As the National Spokesman and Communications Director for Cruz for President, Rick was a senior member of Senator Ted Cruz’s 2016 campaign team. Before joining the Cruz for President campaign, Rick was an executive with The Strategy Group Company, an award winning nationally recognized political advertising and media placement firm.
For decades Tom Rogers has been a leader in media and technology. Rogers was the first president of NBC Cable (now NBCUniversal Cable) and executive vice president of NBC, as well as NBC's chief strategist. Among his many accomplishments, Rogers founded CNBC, the nation's leading business news channel and established the NBC/Microsoft cable channel and internet joint venture, MSNBC. He has also helped to change TV consumption through TiVo and had been a driving force in bringing Netflix and Amazon to the TV screen.
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
“Prospects for Business and the Economy" with Anthony Scaramucci & Fred Hochberg
Former White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci joined The Common Good for a vital conversation on the future of our economy based on the impact of the Coronavirus. Moderated by former Export- Import Bank President Fred Hochberg, the two provided TCG members with insight into the prospects of our businesses and the economy over the next 6 to 18 months.
Former White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci joined The Common Good for a vital conversation on the future of our economy based on the impact of the Coronavirus. Moderated by former Export- Import Bank President Fred Hochberg, the two provided TCG members with insight into the prospects of our businesses and the economy over the next 6 to 18 months.
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Mr. Anthony Scaramucci is the Founder and Co-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 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 EX-IM Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for a period in July 2017.
In 2016, Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In 2011, he received Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year – New York” Award in the Financial Services category and is the author of four books.
Mr. Fred Hochberg is a leading world expert on business, trade, and the economy. Under his leadership, the Ex-Im Bank supported more than 1.4 million American jobs and financed exports with a value exceeding $240 billion, while generating $3.8 billion in surplus revenue for U.S. taxpayers and reducing internal costs by nearly 30 percent.
Mr. Hochberg also spearheaded the Small Business Administration. Hochberg knows business: he served as an executive for the extremely successful catalog company, Lillian Vernon Corp., founded by his mother. He recently published a book on trade entitled, "Trade is Not a Four Letter Word."
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.