Warschaw Conference 2026: A Supersized Tsunami, and What's Next?

The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future hosts its annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics on November 18, 2026 in Town & Gown at USC. Select panels may be aired on C-SPAN, as we bring together top experts from politics, government, media, and academia to explore the most pressing issues in America’s political landscape.

This year’s theme is “Warschaw Conference 2026: A Supersized Tsunami, and What's Next?” Join us in person, on Zoom, or on Facebook on November 18, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. You won’t want to miss this incredible lineup of political VIPs.

Schedule:  

10:00-10:40am: Panel #1: Did Anyone See This Coming?

1. Elex Michaelson (moderator) -  Anchor, CNN & CNN International
2. Adam Nagourney - National Political Reporter, The New York Times
3. Stan Greenberg - Pollster; Political Strategist; Founding Party, Democracy Corps & Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research
4. Barbara Boxer - Former U.S. Senator and Representative, California
5. Andrea Mitchell - Chief Foreign Affairs & Chief Washington Correspondent, NBC News

10:50-11:30am: Panel #2: The Big Surprises: The Latino Vote? The Dummymander? Election Integrity? 

1. Elex Michaelson (moderator) - Anchor, CNN & CNN International
2. Mike Madrid - Co-Founder & Principal, Grassroots Lab; Fall 2026 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
3. Jeff Toobin - Contributing Opinion Writer, The New York Times; Fall 2026 Fellow, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
4. Jessica Levinson - Professor of Law, Loyola Law School; Legal Analyst, CBS News, KTLA; Columnist, MSNBC; Former President, LA Ethics Commission
5. Christian Grose - Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC 

11:40am-12:40pm: Lunch

12:40-12:55pm: Award Presentation: Center for the Political Future Award in Civility and Politics posthumously to Alan Greenspan 

1:00-2:15pm: Panel# 3: Democrats On the Road to 2028

1. Melanie Mason (moderator) - California Bureau Chief POLITICO, Co-Author of POLITICO’s California Playbook 
2. Mike Donilon- Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden; Fall 2026 Fellow, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
3. Addisu Demisse - Founding Principle, Consultant, 50+1 Strategies; Campaign Manager, Democratic Strategist
4. Steve McMahon - Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Purple Strategies
5. Shaniqua McClendon - Vice President of Political Strategy, Crooked Media
6. Bill Carrick - Founder, Carrick Consulting, Inc.; Strategic and Media Consultant

2:25-3:20pm: Fireside Chat: How Did it Come to This and Where is it Going? A Conversation with Reince Priebus 

1. Bob Shrum (moderator)- Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
2. Reince Priebus - President & Chief Strategist, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Michael Best Strategies LLC

 3:30-4:45pm: Panel #4: The Road to GOP Recovery:

1. Mike Murphy (moderator) - Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
2. Matt Mackowiak - Chair, Travis County Republican Party; Co-Founder, Save Austin Now; GOP Strategist and Operative
3. Alex Castellanos -  Co-Founder, Purple Strategies; Consultant, GOP Strategist, Campaign Operative
4. Jeffrey Gunter - Board-Certified Dermatologist; Former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland; Former Clinical Professor of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC.
5. Ron Christie - Founder, CEO, Christie Strategies LLC; Author  

Event venue & nearby stays

USC Town and Gown, 665 West Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States

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