Where to Turn When the Political Climate Heats Up

Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, Amy Walter is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the non-partisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. She speaks with aplomb about congressional culture and the Washington political scene as a whole. Walter discusses the politics of policy on higher education, Washington’s dysfunction, and the people and strategies behind events unfolding in Congress and the White House. Today, her analysis of the current political environment is trusted and respected by Democrats and Republicans alike. She knows how to get beyond bluster and spin to unearth what really matters in the political arena.

Please join us on Monday, August 11th for Amy Walter's Keynote address. This Keynote session will start at 8:15 am.

About Amy Walter

For more than 25 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, she is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the non-partisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, where she provides analysis of the issues, trends, and events that shape the political environment. A contributor to the PBS NewsHour, she provides weekly political analysis for the popular “Politics Monday” segment and is a featured contributor for the network’s election and convention special coverage events. She is also a regular Sunday panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and CNN’s Inside Politics, and appears frequently on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel. From 2017 until early 2021, Walter was the host of the weekly nationally syndicated program “Politics with Amy Walter” on The Takeaway from WNYC and PRX. She’s also the former political director of ABC News.

Political History. Before ABC, she was the editor-in-chief of The Hotline, Washington’s premier daily briefing on American politics. There she served as the political publication’s primary voice for three years, and she provided regular analysis of the national political environment in her weekly National Journal column, On the Trail. Walter has provided election night coverage and analysis since 1998 and was a member of CNN’s Emmy-award winning election night team in 2006.

Accolades and Education. Named one of the “Top 50 Journalists” by Washingtonian magazine, as well as one of its “50 Most Powerful Women,” Walter was dubbed one of the most powerful people in politics in George magazine for her insights into the mechanics that make the political machine run. She also won the Washington Post’s Crystal Ball Award for her spot-on election predictions and has been frequently quoted as a congressional election expert in newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and the New York Times. Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report founder and contributor and political analyst for National Journal and NBC News, said, “Today, her work is trusted and respected by Democrats and Republicans alike...she has a proven track record of success, which is essential for those whose jobs depend on accurate political forecasting.”

Walter graduated summa cum laude from Colby College. She was also honored by her alma mater her with an honorary PhD, and now serves on the Board of Advisors. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, where she was an inaugural fellow.

The Future of American Politics: Trends, Insights, and a Path Forward

To guide Americans through this election cycle, Paul Begala looks beyond the headlines and focuses on the trend lines: the shifting tectonic plates of American society that are causing our political earthquakes. Begala analyzes these tumultuous times with humor, insider knowledge, and deep experience. Begala has literally been in the room where it happens, having served in senior roles in the Clinton White House and on Capitol Hill. As a veteran CNN contributor and having taught at three universities, Begala brings a historical perspective to today’s politics and our fractured media landscape. A regular on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” he also brings a strong dose of wit and humor to all his speeches. The grandson of an immigrant maid, Begala has lived the American Dream, and he leaves audiences with a sense of hope and optimism that, despite our divisions, that dream endures.

Please join us on Monday, August 11th for CNN's Political Analyst and Commentator, Paul Begala during lunch on Monday.

About Paul Begala

Paul Begala is a political commentator, a professor of public policy, an author, and political strategist. He is a commentator for CNN, where he is part of the political team that has won both an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. In addition to appearing on-air, Paul writes commentary for CNN, which is the world’s most-read news organization website. Over the years, he has also been a frequent guest on Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

Begala is a Scholar with the University of Virginia Center for Politics and has previously taught at three universities: The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught in the School of Journalism; the University of Georgia, where he taught in the School of Law; and Georgetown University, where he was an Affiliated Professor in the McCourt School of Public Policy. He is also a regular guest lecturer at the National War College.

Begala is the author of six books about politics, several of which were New York Times bestsellers. In the 1990’s he helped his friend John F. Kennedy, Jr. launch the political magazine George and wrote the “Capitol Hillbilly” column.

Begala served in 1992 as a senior strategist for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign and as Counselor to the President in the White House, helping coordinate policy, politics, and media. Before working for Pres. Clinton, Begala worked on Capitol Hill and advised campaigns across America. In 2012 he played a crucial role in the Obama-Biden re-election campaign. He has also done campaign work overseas, including in Israel, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Begala is a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin, where he received his bachelor's degree in Government and his law degree. Paul was the student body president at UT and remains a loyal Longhorn fan. In his free time, Paul enjoys hunting, fly fishing, and working on his farm. Most of all, Paul loves spending time with his wife, Diane, and their four sons.