Invited NYC: The Common Good Forum - Bridging the Bipartisian Divide

On Friday, May 12th, the highly prestigious Common Good Forum convened at the renowned University Club of New York. The Common Good Forum, founded by trailblazer Patricia Duff, helps to bring influential multi-partisan leaders together, to discuss the nation’s security threats, economic growth, tech innovations, and the current state of United States democracy. The Common Good, itself a non-partisan organization seeks to promote reasoned national debate and support the free exchange of ideas from across divided partisan lines.

Notable speakers included Secretary of State John Kerry, former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Maloney, Women’s March organizer Teresa Shook, Marc Busch, Anthony Scaramucci, and Ambassador Jane Hartley. These leaders, along with other established attendees, were able to share their experience with members across the political spectrum.

At the prominent event, the American Spirit Award (ASA) was presented to former Secretary of State, John Kerry, for his distinguished public service. In his acceptance speech, Kerry stressed that both parties must put aside their differences, and come together to solve problems for not just the American people, but all human beings.

The Common Good history stretches back to the 1988 “Show Coalition”  in where entertainment business leaders banded together to connect and discuss issues of politics and public policy. From there, Writers, Directors, Producers, Politicians from all walks of life joined together to host initiatives of their own. The Common Good, officially established in 2007, serves to increase conversation about hard-hitting issues. Through these conversations, the organization hopes to move our country forward, together.

- Invited NYC reporter Annegail Moreland, READ MORE

Business Insider: Top Democrats say they won’t vote on a new FBI director until a special prosecutor is appointed

Speaking at The Common Good forum in New York on Friday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Trump’s firing cast a dark shadow over the investigation, and she urged Republicans to “join in calling for an independent prosecutor in Trump campaign’s connections with Russia.”

“I believe that we should not actually vote on an FBI Director replacement until there is a special prosecutor,” Gillibrand said. “I think it’s really important. Because what is happening is a subversion of justice.”

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein could appoint a special counsel, who could subpoena documents and potentially seek criminal charges, but could still be fired by the president. 

- Business Insider reporter Maxwell Toni, READ MORE

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The Street: Complacent Markets Will Reach a Breaking Point Eventually

“When you’re stuck in one of these moments of stasis, you know you’re going to break out somehow on one side or the other,” Bernstein said while speaking at The Common Good Forum in Midtown Manhattan on Friday.

The U.S. economy began to reaccelerate last summer, and financial markets are already reflecting anticipated good news to come. The S&P 500 has climbed about 15% over the past year, and earnings are expected to grow 10% this year and next.

“If current expectations hold true, what’s really going on is that the market today is basically pricing in what it believes will happen over the next two years,” Bernstein said

- The Street reporter Emily Stewart, READ MORE

Observer: John Kerry Slams Donald Trump For Scrapping Trans Pacific Partnership

“Something that I in the administration, and the president, worked extremely hard on through the years was the TPP, the Trans Pacific Partnership,” said Kerry, who accepted an award in Manhattan today from the nonprofit The Common Good. “You can say ‘I don’t like Clause C, or E,’ or whatever. You go and negotiate. It was just thrown out, completely thrown out. In doing so, we walked back eight to ten years of our work American efforts and credibility in the region.”

Kerry predicted “a long-term downward payout” from the current administration’s decision, which will limit the U.S.’s ability to promote its interests abroad in the future. The TPP was designed to counter the growing influence of China, but critics on both ends of the spectrum warned about the loss of American sovereignty, and exposing U.S. workers to competition with those in poorer nations with weaker workplace regulations.

- Observer reporter Will Bredderman, READ MORE