2025 and the Future of Democracy presented by the King Chair in Public Policy

Moderator Michael Steele, the Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy will be joined by an esteemed group of political and media influencers to discuss the state of democracy and implications for the future.

Moderator: 

MICHAEL STEELE
Former Lt. Governor of the state of Maryland and Former Chair of the Republican National Committee

Panelists: 

• CORNELL BELCHER
  Writer and Political Strategist
• JONATHAN CAPEHART
  Journalist and TV Host
• JOE WALSH
  Radio Host and former United States Representative

MORE ON OUR SPEAKERS:

• Michael Steele:  In 2003, Steele made history when he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Maryland, making him the highest-ranking African American Republican elected to office and the only African American lieutenant governor in the nation at that time.  Following an unsuccessful U.S. Senate run in 2006, Steele was selected to serve as chair of the Republican National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead a national political party, a role he held from 2009 to 2011.  
• Cornell Belcher: President of brilliant corners Research & Strategies and is one of the premier strategists in national progressive politics as well as in the rebranding of corporate America. He is also a former political contributor to CNN, having provided political analysis to them for six years. Cornell served as Pollster for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) under Chairman Howard Dean making him the first minority to lead in that role for either national Party. He also served on the polling team for both Obama presidential campaigns. Over the years, Cornell has worked with both Senate and House Democrats as Senior Political Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in the 2002 cycle and Special Projects Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in the 2000 cycle. And Cornell served as Women VOTE! Coordinator for EMILY’s List in the 1998 cycle, helping to put together communication and GOTV operations targeting women voters all over the country.
• Jonathan Capart: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart has been a member of The Washington Post editorial board since 2007. He writes about politics and social issues, hosts the podcast “Capehart” (formerly named “Cape Up”) and anchors the weekly Washington Post Live show “First Look,” which is also streamed on “The Choice MSNBC” on Comcast’s Peacock streaming service. Capehart is also an MSNBC contributor and the anchor of “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.” His MSNBC special “A Promised Land: A Conversation with Barack Obama” was nominated in 2021 for an Emmy for Outstanding News Discussion & Analysis. At PBS, Capehart serves as a commentator on “The PBS NewsHour” and is featured on the popular Friday segment
• Joe Walsh: U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 8th congressional district from 2011 to 2013. In 2020, he ran as a Republican presidential candidate. He is also a radio and podcast host.