The MoMa, REACT to FILM and The Common Good at  presented a screening of the Academy Award short-listed documentary “Ai WeiWei: Never Sorry.” “Ai WeiWei: Never Sorry” is the inside story of a political dissident for the digital age who inspires global audiences and blurs the boundaries of art and politics. The screening was followed by a Q&A with director Alison Klayman.

The Common Good was proud to present a special screening of an extraordinary film, “ETHEL,” about the life and work of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and, as the film proves, a force in her own right. The screening was followed by an informal conversation with the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy and others.

Former Republican Senator from Wyoming Alan Simpson, co-chairman of the Simpson-Bowles plan and a key figure in the budget reform debate, spoke to members of The Common Good. The plain spoken former senator provided an intimate briefing on the impending “fiscal cliff” and prospects for a bipartisan solution to these problems.

The Common Good hosted former TARP Special Inspector General Neil Barofsky for a candid discussion of the bank bailout and aftermath and why citizens should not only feel shortchanged about what was supposed to be done with the billions spent on TARP, but the system vulnerabilities that still remain.

The Common Good was fortunate enough to host Grover Norquist for a live talk about politics, government spending, fiscal conservatism, and, of course, taxes and tax reform.

The Common Good held a lunch discussion with Col. Jack Jacobs, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, best-selling author and respected commentator on national security and foreign affairs, and Colin Kahl, Middle East expert at Georgetown University, who will brief us on “Middle East Hot Topics” – Iran’s nuclear game, Pakistan as danger zone, easing NATO and US troops out of Afghanistan and other key areas.

The Common Good hosted a luncheon with globally-recognized economist Dambisa Moyo, as she discusses her recent book Winner Take All: China’s Race for Resources and What It Means for the World.

Thanks to Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century (DL21C), The Common Good presented a unique event with Jodi Kantor, award-winning New York Times correspondent and author of the bestselling book The Obamas, about the President and First Lady’s years in the White House. Jodi discussed her latest book The Obamas and shared her insights on the president’s first term and give a more personal picture of the powerful couple. 

Thanks to Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century (DL21C), The Common Good was pleased to present a unique event with Joel Benenson, lead pollster and senior strategist to President Barack Obama. Joel Benenson shared his insights on his work on the President’s historic 2008 run, how the race is shaping up this year, and took a look at New York politics and the role of the women’s vote in the election this November.

The Common Good hosted a lunch discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carl Bernstein, expert legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker, Jeffrey Toobin and former Assistant Surgeon General and Senior Global Health Advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal.  They will discuss the implications of the Supreme Court decision regarding Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

The Common Good hosted a lunch discussion with Chris Hayes, host of Up with Chris Hayes on MSNBC, about his new book Twilight of the Elites, which analyzes how our institutions have imploded, spawning a lack of trust between citizens and the elites. Chris spoke about the shortcomings of contemporary American financial and social meritocracy, with the intelligence and humor we’ve come to expect from him.

One of nation’s most candid, smart and disarming politicians, former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, joined The Common Good to talk about his new book, A NATION OF WUSSES: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great.

The Common Good hosted controversial reformed Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff for a luncheon discussion and Q&A about reforming lobbying practices in U.S. national politics after the release of his highly acclaimed book Capitol Punishment.

The Common Good hosted author Todd Gitlin for a lunch discussion with about his new book Occupy Nation and how the protest movement has shaped the political landscape. One of the major leaders of the original movement, Jesse LaGreca, also joined the discussion and provided an insider’s perspective.

The Common Good had a luncheon discussion with former Governor of Virginia, former head of the DNC, and current Senate candidate Tim Kaine.

New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance joined The Common Good for a lunch discussion about cybercrime, counter-terrorism, youth crime reduction, and technological improvements in not just fighting, but reducing, crime.