The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Steve Coll

The Common Good was pleased to present a special discussion with Steve Coll, Pulitzer Price-winning journalist, Dean of Columbia School of Journalism, and staff writer at The New Yorker, generously hosted by Rubén Kraiem, Partner, Covington & Burling. Coll briefed us on America’s covert involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its impact on our intervention there, as detailed in his recent New York Times best seller, Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Coll knows the true story of this regional conflict — how our own intelligence and military services have often been at odds with each other, the nature of Pakistan’s often duplicitous relationship with the US, as seen in efforts by Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), and their covert support for the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Coll’s analysis of these covert operations is extremely timely as we remain enmeshed in the region.

“The dance of blame, with the US swaying at one moment towards Pakistan and the next towards Afghanistan, is a choreography familiar to CIA chiefs, US presidents and writers who have tackled the subject. Coll refuses to follow this tired tune, and the result is masterful”

— The Guardian

Steve Coll was appointed Dean of Columbia Journalism School in 2013 after serving as president of New America Foundation (2007-2012. He joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2005 and continues to write for the publication on politics, national security, and the media. Coll is also the author of eight nonfiction books, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and a former reporter, foreign correspondent and senior editor at the Washington Post (1985-2005).

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Special Screening of “Letters from Baghdad” and Panel Discussion

The Common Good was pleased to present a special screening of the film, “Letter from Baghdad,” followed by a panel discussion with moderator Alex Witt, MSNBC anchor, the film’s award-winning filmmakers, Sabine Krayenbühl & Zeva Oelbaum, and former Middle East bureau chief at Newsday, Mohamad Bazzi.

“Letter from Baghdad” is the story of a true original-Gertrude Bell- who was sometime called “female” Lawrence of Arabia. Bell shaped the modern Middle East after World War 1 in ways that still reverberate today. She was arguably the most powerful woman In the British empire in her day. The film is narrated and executive produced by Academy Award-winning actor Tilda Swinton.

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“Letters from Baghdad provides a sturdy, often exhilarating bridge between the present and a past that not only isn’t distant, but isn’t even really past. ”

— Washington Post

“Letters from Baghdad reaffirms Bell’s legacy as pivotal in the West’s understanding of the Middle East ”

— LA Times

Sabine Krayenbühl (Director/Editor) is an award winning editor with over 20 theatrical documentaries and narrative features to her credit, many of which have premiered at prestigious festivals around the world. Her work includes Oscar and Independent Spirit Award nominated My Architect for which she received an American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Award nomination. (1)

Zeva Oelbaum (Director/Producer) is an award winning producer and photographer. She recently produced Ahead of Time, a feature documentary about centenarian journalist Ruth Gruber which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before garnering six Best Documentary awards. Her photographs are in international public collections including the Bibliothèque nationale de France and The Brooklyn Museum and two monographs of her work have been published by Rizzoli Int’l Publishers. (1)

Mohamad Bazzi is adjunct senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is also an assistant professor of journalism at New York University, where he teaches international reporting. He was the 2007-2008 Edward R. Murrow press fellow at CFR. (2)

Alex Witt hosts the MSNBC show “MSNBC live with Alex Witt” on Saturday’s and Sundays. In the wake of the September 11th attacks on America, Witt broadcast from the world Trade Center and has continued to follow the war on terrorism in the Middle East and in Iraq. Alex was a Consultant on the third and final season of Aaron Sorkin “The Newsroom” on HBO.

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(1) Material from the Letters from Baghdad website.

(2) Material from the Council on Foreign Relations.

A Conversation with Rob Riemen, “To Fight Against This Age: On Fascism and Humanism”

The Common Good presented a special conversation with Rob Riemen, public intellectual and founder of the Nexus Institute in Amsterdam. Riemen offered a thoughtful meditation on the rise of authoritarian and xenophobic strains in many corners of contemporary Europe and beyond, and how the romanticization of authoritarianism in the western societies contributes to the steady erosion of democratic ideals. We ignore the new global changes at our own peril, is a warning that Riemen has sounded for some time that resonance in our hemisphere as well. Reimen’s latest book, “To Fight Against This Age: On Fascism and Humanism”, is already a bestseller in many countries.

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“Extremely relevant, urgent call to receive true democracy and acknowledge the perils of the fascist ideology”

— Kirkus Review

“This is a book for the people who want the West to regain its moral high ground, and who want to think hard about how to help help achieve that. ”

— Anne Applebaum

“Rob Riemen is one of the great modern champions of the enlightenment and the best of its legacy. ”

— Sean Wilentz, author & historian

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Rob Riemen, a European public intellectual and cultural critic, is the founder, president and CEO of the Nexus Institute, a leading international center for philosophical debate and and intellectual discourse. The Nexus Institute was founded in 1994 by Riemen to stimulate intellectual debate in the European tradition of humanism. The Nexus Institute is widely acknowledged for the quality of its insight into contemporary issues and an approach that offers the appreciation of the humanistic culture and philosophy as a counterweight to the dominance of commercial values in today’s society. Riemen has lectured around the world and is also an international best-selling author with a number of critically acclaimed publications.

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“Trump – Year One” Panel

The Common Good hosted a panel of specialists for a stimulating examination of one of the most extraordinary first 12 months in modern presidential history.

We brought the best and the brightest to break it down – with questions like; What is the impact of this President on our politics, on our institutions, on our economy, on our democratic norms and values, on our international power and prestige? Where are we now? Where are we headed?

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Douglas Brinkley is an award-winning presidential historian and best-selling author covering American Presidents including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. He is currently professor of history at Rice University and a CNN Presidential Historian. The Chicago Tribune has dubbed him “America’s new past master.”

Roger Cohen is a New York Times columnist with an international perspective. Cohen was a foreign correspondent for more than a decade before becoming foreign editor of the New York Times, and has been a columnist there since 2009. Mr. Cohen has written several books including: “Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo,” an account of the wars of Yugoslavia’s destruction, co-authored a biography of Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and a family memoir. Raised in South Africa and England, he is a naturalized American.

David Frum is Senior Editor at the Atlantic Monthly. He served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush, and later a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, He is the author of nine books, including the New York Times bestseller The Right Man. David Frum’s latest book is Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic. Frum has been listed as one of the most influential public intellectuals in North America.

Dana Perino served as White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush. She currently serves as co-host of FOX News Channel’s “The Five” and anchors “The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino.” While at the network, Perino has contributed to live top-rated election and political coverage. She is the president of Dana Perino and Company, and a frequent public speaker on political trends.

Edward Rollins has long been considered one of America’s premier political strategists and communication experts. He has managed political campaigns for candidates and initiatives in this country and around the world. Mr. Rollins managed President Ronald Reagan’s 49 state landslide reelection campaign in 1984 in which President Reagan won more electoral votes than any President in history.

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Hurricanes, Climate, and Responsible Energy Policies for the Future

The Common Good Hosted a conversation with Dr. Lawrence Rocks, who provided us with an in-depth presentation on “Hurricanes, Climate, and Responsible Energy Policies for the Future”. Dr. Rocks is a distinguished chemist and energy expert who was instrumental in creating the US Department of Energy. Works of his, such as The Energy Crisis, have been cited by the Environmental Protection Agency and major publications such as The New York Times. He is one of the most credible and tireless voices of environmental protections. This event was hosted by Richard Farley.

Dr. Lawrence Rocks is a world renowned chemist, energy expert, and author. He authored the acclaimed book, The Energy Crisis and was influential in the creation of the US Department of Energy by the Carter administration. Dr. Rocks has been featured in Time Magazine and National Review. and has addressed the United Nations, appeared on the Today Show, To Tell The Truth, The Mike Douglas Show and the column in King Features Syndicate.

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Syrian Civil War: End in Sight? : Ambassador Robert Ford

Ambassador Robert Ford provided an update on the Syrian Civil War, including current critical policy choices and possible outcomes. Ford discussed the roles of the various players, from Syrian President Bashar al- Assad and ISIS, to the U.S, Russia, Iran and Turkey, calling on his experience and his deep expertise in Arab politics and diplomacy. This event was hosted by Robert Pietrzak and Maureen White.

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Robert Ford is a distinguished career diplomat who left the U.S. department of State after thirty years of service in April 2014. His accomplishments were recognized with the Distinguished Service award, the State Department’s highest award, a Presidential Honor award in 2012 for his stewardship of the American Embassy in Damascus during a crisis period, and the Profile in Courage award in 2012 from the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for human rights work. Ford served as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria (20121-2014), to Algeria (2006-2008) and also served as Deputy Ambassador of Iraq and Bahrain. Other foreign posts included in Egypt, Turkey, and Cameroon. He served in Morocco at the beginning of his career as a Peace Corp Volunteer. He is now a scholar at the Middle East Institute where he writes and speaks about Iraq, Syria and North Africa. He is also a fellow at Yale University Jackson institute where he teaches Arab politics and diplomacy.

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The Press, Fake News and Politics: Chris Ruddy

The Common Good presented an intimate conversation with Christopher Ruddy, CEO and President of Newsmax Media, Inc., one of the nation’s leading online news companies. His influence on the news narrative and with President Trump makes him a force to be reckoned with. The event was introduced by Peter Maroney and co-hosted by James Higgins.

Christopher Ruddy is CEO of Newsmax Media, Inc. one of the nation’s leading online news companies. In 1998, Mr. Ruddy founded Newsmax Media, a broadcasting and multimedia publishing company whose content covers news, politics, health, lifestyle and finance. His Newsmax TV channel is carried in over 35 million U.S. cable homes and the company’s flagship website, Newsmax.com, is consistently ranked as one of the country’s most trafficked and influential news websites. Forbes has called Newsmax a “news powerhouse.”

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Conversation with Admiral (Ret.) Mike Mullen

The Common good was honored to present an intimate conversation with Admiral (Ret.) Mike Mullen, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, with hosts Maureen White and Tom and Ingrid Edelman.

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Admiral (Ret.) Michael Mullen has much to share on national defense, foreign affairs, and our nation’s security - from combat readiness to economic strength. Considered one of the most influential Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in history, he has contributed much to the evolution of our defense thinking. Mullen was only the third officer in the Navy’s history to be appointed to four different four-star assignments, including the Chief of Naval Operations; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples; and Vice Chief of Naval operation. He retired form the Navy after over 43 years of service. He serves on many boards and is now a Professor at Princeton University

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Rethinking the Afghanistan War with Erik Prince

The Common Good was proud to host an intimate discussion with Erik Prince on his thought-provoking strategy for a new operational approach in Afghanistan with an introduction by Edward Cox and a welcome by Chele Chiavacci Farley, co-hosted by Richard E. Farley.

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Erik Prince is an influential private expert, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and US Navy SEAL veteran. He is Chairman of Frontier Services Group, a global equity group, and a former head of Blackwater, Throughout his career, he has provided global security and logistic solutions to the US government and others. He is also a New York Times bestselling author.

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"No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination and the Making of Modern Israel"

The Common good is proud to present an intimate conversation and celebration with Chemi Peres on the new memoir written by his father, Shimon Peres, former President and Prime Minister of Israel. This event was hosted by Marcia Riklis.

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Shimon Peres, a leading statesman in his country and around the world, penned the book, “No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination and the Making of Modern Israel”, shortly before his death late last year, intertwining the historic moments of his own life and Israel’s - and the future he hopes for his nation. Shimon Peres was one of Israel’s founding fathers and for more than six decades was an architect of its ascent from a fragile state to a global power. In 1994, he was awarded the Nobel Peace for his extraordinary efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians. in 1996, he founded the groundbreaking Peres Center for Peace and Innovation to focus on developing and implementing imaginative peacebuilding programs around the world. Peres died in September 2016, shortly after finishing his work on this book. He was ninety-three year old.

“By his unyielding detemination and principle, Shimon Peres time and again helped guide his beloved country through the crucible of moral challenge. But it was by his innate humanity, his decency, that Shimon inspired the world over”

— Former President George H. W. Bush

“Shimon Peres started as Israel’s brightest student, became one of its best teachers, and ended up its biggest dreamer...THis book captures my friend’s lifelong belief in our potential to rise above our wounds, our resentments, and our fears to make the most of today and claim the promise of tomorrow”

— Former President Bill Clinton

“Shimon Peres was a giant of Israel’s foudning generation, a tireless advocate for peace, and an eternal optimist who lived his life with a sense of hope and possibility...All of us have much to learn form his story, which now belongs to the ages.”

— Former President Barack Obama

Chemi Peres, son of the late president of Israel, Shimon Peres, is one of Israel’s foremost venture capital and innovation pioneers. He is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pitango Venture Capital. Prior he served 10 years in the Israeli Air Force Chemi is currently the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace.

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Citizen Action Sweeping the Country: INDIVISIBLE

The Common Good has examined many types of activism on the left and the right as part of our mission to encourage effective participation in our system.

A sold out audience greeted INDIVISIBLE founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg for a rare joint appearance at The Common Good. The pair highlighted the evolving methods that their fledgling project has harnessed in moving millions across the country to action. Longtime activist leaders Mark Green, Gail Furman, and attorney/author Richard Farley co-hosted the event.

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Ezra Levin is co-Founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project. Previously, Ezra worked as a poverty policy wonk and advocate. He most recently served as the Associate Director of Federal Policy at Prosperity Now, and was Deputy Policy Director for Congressman Lloyd Doggett and an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Homeless Services Division of the San Jose Housing Department.

Leah Greenberg is co-founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project. She most recently served as Policy Director for the Tom Perriello for Governor of Virginia campaign. Previously, she managed the Partnership for Freedom, a $6 million public-private partnership on human trafficking, served as an Advisor to the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review process, coordinated interagency engagement for the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and worked on the Hill for Congressman Tom Perriello.

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The Russia Investigation with Congressman Adam Schiff and Secretary Jeh Johnson

Newsmaker and rising congressional leader, Congressman Adam Schiff, appeared with special host & TCG Honorary Board Member Secretary Jeh Johnson for an elegant luncheon and briefing. Congressman Schiff, the Ranking Minority Member on the House Intelligence Committee and Russia Investigation Task Force, gave the latest on the Russia election interference probe, the growing threat to liberal democracies from a rise in authoritarianism, prospects for the Midterm elections, and many other consequential topics. Financial advisor Peter Maroney and TCG Founder Patricia Duff co-hosted the event.

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Congressman Adam Schiff is the ​Ranking Minority Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and spearheads the Russia Investigation Task Force. As the U.S. Representative for California’s 28th District, Schiff has focused on growing the economy, bolstering national security, strengthening our communities, helping small businesses, and improving education, safety and health care. In his 9th term, Schiff served as State Senator for California’s 21st District, chairing the Judiciary Committee, the Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Joint Committee on the Arts. Before serving in the Legislature, Schiff served with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in LA for six years.

Former Secretary Jeh Johnson has distinguished himself in both public service and private corporate law practice. He served in the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2017) with vast responsibilities for homeland security, immigration, natural disaster relief, and many other critical policy areas. Prior to becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson served as General Counsel of the Department of Defense (2009-2012) and General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force under President Clinton (1998-2001). Earlier in his career, he was Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1989-1991). Currently, he is a partner with the law firm of Paul Weiss. We are honored to have added Secretary Johnson to The Common Good Honorary Advisory board this year.

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Special Screening and Conversation on “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press”

The Common Good screened ‘Nobody Speak: The Trials of the Free Press’, followed by a lively discussion on threats to freedom of the press with director Brian Knappenberger and legendary first amendment defender, James Goodale, best known for his courageous and brilliant leadership role in the Pentagon Papers, developing protections for reporters and their sources, as well as National Security Act limits,

The film starts with the legal proceedings of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, who (with the financial backing of billionaire Peter Thiel) had filed a lawsuit against Gawker Media, seeking $100 million in damages for releasing a sex tape featuring him and Heather Clem. Gawker Media subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as a direct result of the lawsuit. Thiel had reportedly wanted to bring Gawker down for having published an article nine years earlier which outed him as gay.

The film then covers an incident where casino mogul Sheldon Adelson bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal, while keeping his identity as the buyer a secret, even to the journalists employed by the company. The management also did not reveal the new owner of the company to the employees, and denied that the Adelson family was involved when asked about the possibility. Adelson himself had also denied his ownership in an interview with CNN. This caused a couple of its journalists to start investigating it on their own by calling their contacts. They eventually uncovered that Sheldon Adelson was indeed the new owner, and after publishing an article with the revelation, were forced to step down.

Brian Knappenberger is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, known for The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, and his work on Bloomberg Game Changers.

James C. Goodale was the former vice president and general counsel for The New York Times and, later, the Times' vice chairman. He is the author of Fighting for the Press: the Inside Story of the Pentagon Papers and Other Battles. The book was named twice as the best non-fiction book of 2013 by Alan Rusbridger, editor in chief of The Guardian, and Alan Clanton, editor of the online Thursday Review. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit cited "Fighting for the Press" in its decision May 7, 2015, limiting the controversial National Security Agency (NSA) domestic phone monitoring program.

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Special Private Screening and Conversation on "The Battle of Mosul"

The Common Good welcomed Bernard-Henri Lévy to discuss his film “The Battle of Mosul” and what is currently occurring in Mosul. This event was hosted by Nazee Moinain.

The film begins in October 17, 2016, in the middle of the Plain of Nineveh during the first day of the battle to liberate Mosul form the Islamic State. The film ends after the eastern half of the city has been liberated. Between these two dates. Bernard-Henri Lévy and his team made multiple excursions into the field. Whether in the company of the Kurds or the specials forces of the Iraqi Gold Division, they were present in the theater of operations at every crucial step in the battle. The film leaves several questions unanswered, such as: Will the liberation of Mosul spell the definitive defeat of ISIL?

“(Lévy is) Accorded the kind of Adulation in France that most countries reserve for their rock starts. ”

— The Guardian

Bernard-Henri Lévy is a philosopher, activist, and filmmaker, and one of the most esteemed and bestselling writers in Europe. He had penned more than 30 books, including works of philosophy, fiction, and biography. Lévy has advised French presidents since François Mitterand and has served on diplomatic missions for the French Government.

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The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards 2017

The Common Good Forum assembled some of the brightest thinkers in the US for a dynamic overview of our rapidly changing landscape. We put the spotlight on public policy choices and exciting developments affecting us all – making the nation and the world safer, creating shared economic prosperity, and bolstering our democratic values.

WOMEN’S BREAKFAST

Felicia Taylor – Moderator

One Woman Posts – The World Responds
Presentation of American Spirit Award for Citizen Activism by Silda Wall Spitzer to Teresa Shook, who inspired the Women’s March

Remember the Women!
Building the Women’s History Museum
Special report from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and Congressional Commissioners Jane Abraham, Mary Boies & Emily Rafferty

Empowering Women – What’s Next?
Remarks by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand followed by Q&A

POLITICS AND PRESS

Press Under Fire – Panel

Steven Brill – Moderator – Journalist, Author, Founder, American Lawyer & CourtTV
Floyd Abrams, First Amendment expert
Elizabeth Spayd, Public Editor, New York Times
John Podhoretz, Editor, Commentary Magazine

Protests, Populism, & New Political Landscape – Panel

Ari Melber – Moderator – Chief Legal Correspondent, MSNBC
Shaunna Thomas, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, UltraViolet
David Burstein, CEO & Co-Founder of Run for America
Max Read, Senior Editor, New York Magazine

THE ECONOMY

New Era of Global Trade
Marc Busch, US Trade Expert; Int’l Business Diplomacy, Georgetown University; former advisor to Marco Rubio’s Presidential Campaign

Economic Investment Environment  
Seth Masters, Chief Investment Officer, Bernstein Global Wealth Management

GLOBAL THREATS & OPPORTUNITIES

Jim Hoge – Moderator

China – N. Korea
Orville Schell – Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.- China Relations, Asia Society

France – Europe
Ambassador Jane Hartley – Former US Ambassador to France

Presentation of American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service
Senator John McCain – Senator for Arizona, Awardee
Chele Chiavacci Farley – Presentation of Award – Managing Director, Mistral Capital International

ECONOMY - THE BIG PICTURE

Growing the Economy and Jobs – Comments on the Trump Agenda
Omeed Malik – Moderator – Managing Director, Global Head of Capital Strategy, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Anthony Scaramucci – Founder, SkyBridge Capital, President Trump Transition Team

GLOBAL THREATS & OPPORTUNITIES

Introduction

Jonathan Tepperman – Managing Editor, Foreign Affairs Magazine

Homeland Security in the Trump Years
Secretary Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Security

Presentation of American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service
Secretary John Kerry, former Secretary of State

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Discussion on Challenges and Opportunity in Congress

Peter Maroney of Bernstein Private Wealth Management hosted a talk with Rep. Joe Kennedy III discussing challenges and opportunities in congress.

Peter Maroney is an investment adviser in the New York offices of AB Bernstein. After a decade of national political experience at the most senior levels, including serving as National Finance Chair for John Kerry’s presidential campaign at the Democratic National Committee, Peter has spent the last decade in financial services in senior strategic and advisory positions. In his role as an investment advisor, he works closely with individuals, family offices, foundations and institutions to understand their investment needs, their goals and their values. Peter currently serves on the advisory boards of The Common Good and Run For America.

Joe Kennedy III represents the Fourth District of Massachusetts in Congress. Currently in his second term, he represents a diverse district that spans from the suburbs of Boston to the more industrial towns of Massachusetts’ South Coast. As member of the influential House Energy & Commerce Committee, Joe has prioritized economic opportunity for working families. A vocal advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, vocational schools and community colleges, he has authored several pieces of legislation in Washington aimed at improving access to our modern economy, including the Perkins Modernization Act and STEM Gateways Act.

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History in the Making: Post-Election Panel 2016

The Common Good was honored to host panelists Carl Bernstein, Kellyanne Conway, and Governor William Weld and moderator Alan Schwartz in a post-2016-election panel on the new political landscape.

The 2016 election was historic and change-making in many ways. Our panel examined the trends and events that led to the election results and how the new political landscape may shape America’s future.

Carl Bernstein is a legendary journalist renown for his reporting alongside Bob Woodward at the Washington Post on the ‘Watergate’ scandal in 1972 that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. He is also author or co-author of six books, including a major biography of former Secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Kellyanne Conway is the Senior Advisor for President-Elect Donald Trump. As Campaign Manager, Ms. Conway is widely credited with playing a critical role in the Trump victory and is the first woman to lead a successful presidential campaign. Ms. Conway has worked in political strategy and polling for many years. The leaders she has worked for include Jack Kemp, Fred Thompson, Dan Quayle, Newt Gingrich, and Mike Pence.

William Weld served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997, having formerly been the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and head of the US Department of Justice Criminal Division. Governor Weld was the Vice-Presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party during the 2016 election running alongside Gary Johnson

Alan Schwartz is a Managing Partner and current Executive Chairman of Guggenheim Partners, a full service financial institution headquartered in New York and Chicago with more than $250 billion under management. Schwartz served previously as the CEO of Bear Sterns.

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The Changing World Order: Richard Haass

With President Trump, foreign policy issues are front and center. New ballistic missiles tested by North Korea, possible Russian interference in our election, a US attack on a terrorist site in Yemen and loss of a Navy Seal, new restrictions on visitors from six Middle Eastern nations, conflicting statements of policy to European allies and others from various administration officials - these are just some of the most recent issues raised within the first two months of the new administration.

Richard Haass addressed the current issues and the critically important long-term trends around the globe that challenge the relative stability of our post-World War II geopolitical and economic framework. How do we navigate, as Haass puts it, a “world in disarray”? A timely discussion with one of the globe’s top foreign policy practitioners, authors, and thought leaders.

Dr. Richard Haass is at the apex of expertise and leadership in foreign affairs and national security as President of the Council on Foreign Relations- a position he has held for fourteen years. Until 2003, Richard Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell on a broad range of foreign policy concerns. Richard Haass is also the author or editor of eleven books on American foreign policy, including his recent book, A World in Disarray. He regularly writes and speaks on global issues.

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Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy

The Common Good hosted a special conversation with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse about his new book, Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy, along with the protection of the oceans, political campaign spending, small business growth, and protecting American liberties from warrant-less wiretapping.

Senator Whitehouse’s new book, Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy exposes how our government has been infiltrated and disabled by corporate power. Whitehouse explains how corporations have been able to threaten our elected representatives with million-dollar “dark money” election attacks to stack the judiciary — even the Supreme Court — in “business friendly” ways; to “capture” the administrative agencies meant to regulate corporate behavior; and to relate a corporate “alternative reality” on public health and safety issues like climate change.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been the US Senator representing Rhode Island since 2007. He has served as his state’s U.S. Attorney and as the state Attorney General, as well as its top business regulator. Senator Whitehouse is a passionate advocate for the environment, particularly protection of the oceans, and is renown for his advocacy of transparency in political campaign spending, small business growth, and protecting American liberties from warrant-less wiretapping.

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Special Meeting with Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Irbec M.P.

Dr. Yusuf Ziya Irbec M.P. held a special meeting with The Common Good for a briefing on the Turkish Government. The meeting was hosted by Steven Buffone.

Dr. Yusuf Ziya Irbec was born in Kas, Antalya in 1959. He was an economist, foreign policy specialist and academic. He served as a Member of the Turkish Parliament for Antalya since 2007 and as an Executive Board Member of the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) in which he was the Deputy Convener of Peace and Democracy Program.

He served in the Turkish Parliament as Member, Clerk Member and Vice-Chairman of the European Union Harmonization Commission. He also served as a Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the European Union.

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