2025 And The Future of Democracy
Pictured: promotional graphic for 2025 & the Future of Democacy. Credit: WHUT.
Chair of the Gwendolyn S. & Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy and former Chair of the RNC, Michael Steele leads a candid conversation titled 2025 and the Future of Democracy with guests Cornell Belcher, Jonathan Capehart, and Joe Walsh.
SPEAKERS
Pictured: Michael Steele in front of the American flag. Credit: Howard University
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
Pictured: Cornell Belcher in a suit. Credit: Howard University
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.
Pictured: Jonathan Capehart in a suit. Credit: Howard University.
Jonathan Capart
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart has been a member of The Washington Post editorial board since 2007. At PBS, Capehart serves as a commentator on “The PBS NewsHour” and is featured on the popular Friday segment. He writes about politics and social issues, hosts the podcast “Capehart” 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.
Pictured: Joe Walsh in a suit. Credit: Howard University
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.