Political Messaging and the 2024 Election

This panel discussion will provide an insider's look at the art of political messaging in the context of presidential campaigns. The event features Moynihan Public Scholars Christina Greer, Professor of Political Science at Fordham University, and Laurence Pevsner, former director of speechwriting for US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Joining them is esteemed journalist and former speechwriter Walter Shapiro, known for his extensive experience covering presidential campaigns. The panelists will explore the intricacies of creating impactful political messages, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, drawing from their extensive expertise in speechwriting, campaign strategy, and political journalism.

Christina Greer | Moynihan Public Scholar, The City College of New York

Christina Greer is an inaugural Moynihan Public Scholar at The City College of New York and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University, Lincoln Center (Manhattan) campus. Her research and teaching focus on American politics, Black ethnic politics, campaigns and elections, and public opinion. She is the author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream and co-editor of Black Politics in Transition: Immigration, Suburbanization, and Gentrification. Greer writes a weekly column for The Amsterdam News, and is a frequent political commentator on several media outlets. She is the co-host of the New York centered podcast FAQ-NYC and host of the podcast quiz show The Blackest Questions at thegrio.com.

Laurence Pevsner | Moynihan Public Scholar, The City College of New York

Laurence Vivek Pevsner is an inaugural Moynihan Public Scholar at The City College of New York. Previously he was Director of Speechwriting for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, where he oversaw over 650 speeches. During the 2020 election, Pevsner served in the Biden-Harris campaign’s writers room, scripting TV ads for the largest political paid media operation in history. He cut his teeth at West Wing Writers, a premier progressive speechwriting and strategy firm. He currently writes a prize-winning column Sorry Not Sorry in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency on the state of public apologies.

Walter Shapiro | Staff Writer, The New Republic

An award-winning political journalist, Walter Shapiro has covered the last twelve presidential campaigns, Shapiro is a staff writer at the New Republic and a columnist for Roll Call. He has been a lecturer in political science at Yale since 2013. He is the author of two books: One-Car Caravan on the 2004 presidential race and Hustling Hitler, the story of his con-man great-uncle. He was a presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, a failed candidate for Congress, and a part-time standup comedian. He lives in New York and is married to biographer Meryl Gordon.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

259 Convent Avenue, 259 Convent Avenue, New York, United States