Warschaw Conference 2025 | America 250: Young or Old Democracy?

The USC Center for the Political Future is proud to host its annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Conference, this fall titled “America 250: Young or Old Democracy?” This conference will take place on Tuesday, November 18 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm in the Town & Gown Ballroom and features top experts from politics, government, media, and academia to explore the most pressing issues in America’s political landscape. Panels will explore what’s ahead in politics, including the 2026 Midterms, Trump’s first year in office, and whether Democrats can make a comeback. Free lunch from Town & Gown Ballroom will be provided.

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Check-in
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM: Welcome Remarks
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Panel #1: Is Reaching Across the Aisle Now A Reach Too Far?

• Bob Shrum (Moderator) – Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
• Dick Gephardt – Former Congressman & Leader, House Democratic Caucus

10:55 AM – 12:15 PM: Panel #2: The Democrats: Coming Back or Cracking Up?

• Mike Murphy (Moderator) – Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future
• Shaniqua McClendon – Vice President of Political Strategy, Crooked Media
• Neera Tanden – President and CEO, Center for American Progress
• Raúl Torrez – Attorney General, State of New Mexico
• Tad Devine – Democratic Strategist

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch + Student Panel
1:00 PM – 2:20 PM: Panel #3: From George Washington to Donald Trump and Beyond

• Elex Michaelson (Moderator) – Weeknight Anchor, CNN. Fmr. Anchor, The Issue Is, Fox 11 LA
• Mike Donilon – Senior Advisor, President Joe Biden
• Ed Goeas – Fmr. President & CEO, The Tarrance Group
• Jeffrey Jenkins – Provost Professor, Public Policy, Political Science & Law, USC
• Richard North Patterson – American Fiction Writer; Attorney

2:30 PM – 3:50 PM: Panel #4: Redistricting: Are Politicians Choosing Their Voters?

• Sasha Issenberg (Moderator) – Journalist; Author
• Christian Grose – Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC
• David Simas – Managing Director, Emerson Collective; Fmr. President, Obama Foundation
• Amy Thoma Tan – President, Cobalt Public Affairs
• Jim DeBoo – Founder, DeBoo Strategic Affairs; Fmr Chief of Staff, Governor Gavin Newsom

4:00 PM – 5:20 PM: Panel #5: From The Off-Year to the Midterms

• Mark Campbell – Political Strategist; Fmr. Campaign Manager, Glenn Youngkin
• Jon Favreau – Host, Pod Save America & Offline with Jon Favreau
• Seema Mehta – Political Writer, Los Angeles Times
• John Heilemann – National Affairs Analyst, NBC News & MSNBC; American Journalist

5:20 PM – 5:30 PM: Closing Remarks