On Nov. 17, Harvard Kennedy School’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted a conversation between Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the 55th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Graham Alison ’68, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and former Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School. Together, they examined how Donald Trump’s political tenure has reshaped […]
On Nov. 12, Harvard Kennedy School’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted a conversation featuring Professors Steven Pinker and Jennifer Lerner. The event centered on Pinker’s latest book, “When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life,” which explores how shared awareness—mutual understanding of what others know—shapes […]
Writer’s note: As the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum enters another month of inspiring conversations with distinguished leaders and experts, it faces a profound loss. Institute of Politics Director Setti Warren passed away suddenly on November 2, 2025, at the age of 55. Warren dedicated his life to public service, serving in the Navy during […]
On Oct. 21, Harvard Kennedy School’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted a conversation between United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo ’93 and former Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Lawrence H. Summers. Together, they examined the Biden administration’s approach to industrial policy—particularly its push to rebuild America’s semiconductor and technology sectors—while debating the tension […]
On Oct. 8, Harvard Kennedy School’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum hosted the 2025 S.T. Lee Lecture featuring George Yeo—Singapore’s former Minister for Information and the Arts, Health, Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs—in conversation with moderator Anthony Saich. Drawing on his experience steering Singapore’s foreign policy, Yeo explored the prospect of a U.S. decline […]
Harvard’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maggie Haberman in conversation with moderator Setti Warren on Sept. 25. The discussion traced President Donald Trump’s path from his early tabloid notoriety to his enduring hold over the Republican Party. Over the course of the evening, Haberman unpacked the blend of ambition, grievance, and […]
“Christian, conservative, Republican—in that order.” On Sept. 30, former Vice President Mike Pence described himself with these words as he took the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum stage for a conversation entitled “The Future of Conservatism and American Democracy.” The discussion was moderated by Professor Archon Fung, Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance […]
As America’s trade policies and fiscal stability face growing scrutiny, Harvard economics professor Jason Furman ’92 and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on April 23 took the stage at the Harvard Institute of Politics’ JFK Forum to discuss the future of the U.S. economy. Against a backdrop of rising tariffs, mounting national debt, and geopolitical tensions […]
In an era marked by political polarization and institutional distrust, many Americans are questioning the role of morals in public leadership. This reality took center stage during an April 14 discussion at the Harvard Institute of Politics JFK Forum, where Congressman James Enos Clyburn joined moderator Anthony Foxx to explore the importance of moral leadership […]
The Institute of Politics JFK Forum recently led a conversation examining how democratic institutions—legislatures, political parties, and judicial systems—have been slow to adapt to a new global context marked by digital disruption and widespread public distrust in government. Hosted on April 4, the panel brought together moderator Steven Levitsky, director of the David Rockefeller Center […]