Fly On The Wall

Hello flies! Welcome back to a brand new season of The Fly! We are so excited to kick start this season with a very special guest, Meg Kinnard! Meg is a national politics reporter with a 20 year career at The Associated Press. She anchored the first-ever general election livestream coverage for the AP, and was also the first AP reporter to appear on the AP’s TikTok account. Austin and Sarah sat down with Meg for a dynamic conversation about her time at The AP, the importance of nonpartisan political news, and the future of podcasting. Meg has covered Congress, campaign advertising, the 2024 GOP presidential primary, and so much more. She is also a Georgetown alum, where she was famously a member of the GU College Democrats AND the GU College Republicans. This is a must-see episode, so everyone take a listen!!! Also, stay tuned for many more exciting episodes this upcoming season!

Welcome back flies! This week we are buzzing back in with a special edition episode featuring California’s outgoing senator Laphonza Butler! Reporting from the Hart Building of the Senate Office, sit down with Will and Sarah as they dive into Butler’s expansive political journey- growing up in Mississippi, graduating from the HBCU Jackson University, and moving from Baltimore to California. Butler begins with her passion for the labor movement, motivated by ideals of the Civil Rights Movement and inspired by her own mother to fight for worker’s rights. Rebuilding the trust of California’s laborers, Butler eventually became President of the California SEIU State Council in 2013. With organization at the root of Butler’s success, she discusses her transition to working for Emily’s List, one of the nation’s largest political action committees dedicated to electing Democratic women candidates to office. Working in both the labor movement and political consulting, Butler discusses her approach to balancing grassro

In the final episode of The Fly's Post-Election Analysis Special, Andrea Smith brings together a diverse set of voices to unpack the results of this year’s election. With a deep dive into what led to the GOP's red wave, Andrea first sits down with Rick Wiley, a seasoned Republican strategist who shares insights on the winning message that propelled the party to victory, especially after the turbulent years following January 6th and the Roe v. Wade decision. Next, Andrea converses with Reed Howard and former CNN reporter Sarah Mucha about the Democrats' communication strategy—and where they faltered, particularly in key battleground states. The conversation delves into the challenges facing Democrats and what went wrong on the ground. Finally, Andrea speaks with Liam Richichi, president of Michigan State College Democrats, to gain a crucial Gen Z perspective on the election’s outcomes in a critical swing state. His reflections on voter engagement offer a sharp critique of the Democratic Party's direction and

Today we are buzzing back in with GU politics fellow Ashley Gunn! Gunn has not only served as a special assistant to the president, the senior director of cabinet affairs for Donald Trump’s administration, but she had worked the behind the scenes of every republican convention since 1991. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Ashley’s take on the people behind our government, the experience of being a woman in politics, and the importance of balancing family and career.

We are incredibly honored to bring to you a very special, 2-part episode. Today, all across the country, Americans are voting in one of the most consequential and unique elections in American history. From the near assassination of Former President Donald Trump to President Biden passing the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian Woman to lead a major party, we wanted to capture everything that has led up to today and what we can expect to see tonight. We spoke with Symone Sanders Townsend, the host of Symone on MSNBC and former Chief Spokesperson for Vice President Harris about her experience working campaigns and her takes on how both campaigns have operated. This week, history will be made, and America will change forever. How will America change? We will only know until all the votes are counted. Thank you for being here for this historic episode, and without further ado, we present our Election Day Special!

In part one of our election special, Senior Fly Andrea Smith sits down with former CNN embed Sarah Mucha and Reed Howard, Chief Public Affairs Officer for The Future Caucus. Together, they dive into the fascinating world of swing state voters, focusing on groups like Nikki Haley supporters in Pennsylvania and Gen Zers in Michigan. You’ll get an insider’s perspective on how different this presidential election cycle is compared to the last two, and learn how well (or not) each candidate is running their campaign. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the planning and strategy of a campaign, this is your chance to hear all the behind-the-scenes details from those who have been in the thick of it!

NEW week, NEW episode!

Welcome back to The Fly! There’s no better way to kick off Season 16 than with Rick Wiley, a seasoned GOP political strategist and Spring 2024 GU Politics Fellow. Rick has worked behind the scenes of some of the most high-profile political campaigns in the U.S., most notably as the National Political Director for Ambassador Nikki Haley's presidential campaign. In this episode, Rick dives deep into the strategic mind of a political campaign, offering a front-row seat to the highs and lows of navigating today’s intense political landscape. Join us as Rick shares his personal stories from the campaign trail, his thoughts on early voting and vote-by-mail, and his thoughts on the future of effective political messaging.

Welcome back to the Fly! There is no better way to end the season than with Dr. Fauci. As leader of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years, he has been on the frontline of nearly every major disease since the 1980s. His research and dedication have helped save tens of millions of lives. As Dr. Fauci has been widely covered, he gets candid in this episode about many of his life and professional experiences, from personal relationships with presidents—he has advised seven of them—to his actions during the AIDS/HIV epidemic and his close relationship with LGBTQ+ activists to the long nights leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fauci becomes personable and opens up about his lovely relationship with his wife and gives us college students much-needed and very sentimental advice. This is truly an episode you don’t want to miss! If you want to hear what is on his personal gym playlist or the secret to a long, happy, and loving relationship, tune in now! Have a great sum

Welcome back, flies! We have a very special episode this week, because we have not one but two guests!! First, we sat down with Waleed Shahid, a Senior Democratic Strategist and former Spokesperson for Justice Democrats, about the future of the Democratic party, including "The Squad." Next, we sat down with Allegra Kirkland, the politics director for Teen Vogue. Kirkland shared her thoughts on the impact of the pandemic, the key to voter turnout, and the stakes for 2024. This is a special-edition, must-listen episode that you don't want to miss!

This week flies sat down with the PBS NewsHour White House Correspondent and CNN Analyst Laura Barrón-López. Laura is a rising star in journalism who knew she wanted to be a journalist since she was 12. She began in local journalism in California early in her college career and, after graduation, moved to DC after receiving an opportunity to be a reporter for E&E News. Since then, she has worked for PBS, Politico, CNN, The Hill, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Examiner. Journalism is the key to protecting our democracy. Tune in as we talk about what it’s like covering the President of the United States. Hear Laura’s insights about the state of democracy and journalism following the 2020 Election and January 6th and how that will impact how journalists cover the 2024 race. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Buzz buzz… sit down with fellow flies Kenneth and Sarah to listen to an engaging conversation with Pentagon Correspondent and the Washington Post’s National Security writer Dan Lamothe. In this episode, Dan discusses how he made his foray into the world of journalism, starting with local reporting and moving toward covering the U.S. military, its people, and its operations. For over 15 years, Dan has covered the Armed Forces, consistently traveling to Afghanistan and shadowing senior U.S. defense officials at home and abroad. Tune in to hear more about Dan’s experience with reporting about war and how it has shaped his writing today.

We are zooming in with another incredible interview! Val Demings is a profile in public service. Demings was Orlando’s first woman Chief of Police and served as the Congresswoman for FL-10, where she was a house impeachment manager for Donald Trump’s first impeachment and was there that day on January 6th. She was also on President Biden’s shortlist for Vice President and ran for US Senate against Senator Marco Rubio in 2022. Tune in to hear candid talk about public safety and crime from a former police chief, the political future of Florida, what it was like becoming a House Impeachment Manager, and what it was like to be in Congress on January 6th. I promise, you do not want to miss this episode!

Welcome back to another incredible episode. This week, Flys sat down with Machalagh Carr, former Chief of Staff to Kevin McCarthy. Carr is an experienced legal counselor who served as General Counsel for the Speaker and office of the Republican Leader. Additionally, she has held numerous roles across a number of congressional oversight committees. Tune in to hear inside details about the McCarthy speakership and how law and politics are changing in America’s current political climate. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Welcome back! Here to start off our season: Chase and Sarah joined our very first fellow, Deanne Millison! They had a lively conversation about Deanne’s experience starting off in law school and transitioning into the political sphere. Hear more about Millison’s roles as the Chief Economic Advisor for Vice President Harris, her work with the impeachment proceedings of Pres. Donald Trump, and her time with Mayor Rahm Emanuel for her hometown of Chicago. Buzz into the episode to hear more about Millison’s journey from local government to the hilltop!

Hello Flies, and welcome back! It's a new year and time for a new season of The Fly! We have an exciting roundup of Fellows and guests this season and can't wait to get started. For our very first episode, Chase and Julian sat down with Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Secretary of State. They had a fascinating conversation about election security, including Secretary Raffensperger's interactions with Donald Trump in the 2020 Presidential election. They also discussed Georgia's economy, the state's future, and how they will continue to hold safe, fair, free elections. It's a must-listen-to season opener, and we hope you enjoy!

Hello flies! We’re buzzing into Thanksgiving break with a brand new episode! This week flies interviewed Brenda Gianiny, President of Axis Research Inc. and a Republican pollster for notable Republicans such as Liz Cheney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mitch McConnell, Bush-Cheney 04, and more! We talked about Brenda’s experience as a pollster and how issues like abortion, Trump’s indictments, Jan. 6th, and more are impacting the GOP primary, competitive down-ballot races, and the 2024 Presidential race. Become a fly on the wall and get the inside scoop on polling and upcoming elections. You do not want to miss this episode!

Welcome back, flies! As Thanksgiving approaches, we have another great episode for you with one of our GU Politics fellows! This week, we sat down with Emily Horne, the Former Spokesperson for the National Security Council under the Biden Administration. She also is the Former Head of Global Policy Communications at Twitter, and the Founder and CEO of Allegro Public Affairs. Emily shared her thoughts on misinformation, the future of social media, and the disguised role of state actors on social media during elections. Tune in to hear her opinion on social media regulation and the importance of a peaceful transfer of power. This is a must-see episode, so make sure to take a listen!

Buzz buzz, fellow flies! This week’s episode features another GU Politics Fellow, Craig Minassian! Darius and Sarah dive into Craig’s journey of merging the seemingly distant realms of politics and entertainment. Tune in to hear more about Craig’s experience as a producer and consultant for Comedy Central, MTV, ABC, and ESPN, working with Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, in addition to his ten years of involvement with the Clinton Foundation. This is a must-listen!

Hello Flies! Welcome back to another episode! This week, we sat down with another GU Politics Fellow, Joe Hack! Hack graduated from Georgetown in 2009, so we were happy to welcome him back to the hilltop! Hack is the Former U.S. Senate Chief of Staff (Sen. Fischer, R-Neb.), as well as a Senior VP for The Daschle Group and the CEO of Swann Street Consulting. Austin and Chase had a great conversation about taking on the responsibility of Senate Chief of Staff at only 27 years old, as well as his views on the changing Republican Party and his institutional faith in the Senate. This is a must-see episode, so enjoy!