Podcast
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joins hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer to share his experience leading through some of the most intense political challenges in recent memory and his thoughts on the future of American democracy.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy holds a unique vantage point on one of the most transformative eras in American politics. Having led a historic, 15-ballot effort to secure the Speakership in January 2023, McCarthy successfully steered the nation through critical moments, including negotiating a resolution to the debt ceiling crisis and passing bipartisan fiscal deals to prevent a government shutdown.
Now, joining Terms of Engagement hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer, McCarthy offers his deep insights into the evolving dynamics of the GOP. From the complexities of the MAGA movement and foreign policy tensions with Iran to the future of American elections, McCarthy shares his firsthand experience leading through some of the most intense political challenges in recent memory and his unique perspective on the future of American democracy.
Coming soon!
Kevin McCarthy, the 55th Speaker of the House, won the post after a historic 15 ballots in January 2023. In Congress, he held nearly every elected leadership position in the House Republican conference and served under three Presidents, during two economic crises, and through consistent political upheaval. After starting a small business at the age of 21 in his hometown of Bakersfield, CA, McCarthy entered politics, serving two terms in the California State Assembly before being elected to the U.S. House, where he served for 17 years before being elected speaker in 2023. He was voted out of the job in a revolt led by hardline GOP members and resigned less than a year later. Now in addition to being a GOP fundraiser and political commentator, McCarthy also serves as Founder and Chairman of ALFA Institute, a policy think tank on issues including artificial intelligence, advanced defense and aerospace technology, energy and critical mineral resources, bioscience, and health. He also serves as Chairman of Watchtower Strategies, a public affairs firm focused on corporate strategic and crisis communications.
Archon Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance with a focus on public participation, deliberation, and transparency. He has authored five books, four edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in professional journals. He received two S.B.s — in philosophy and physics — and his Ph.D. in political science from MIT.
Stephen Richer is the former elected Maricopa County Recorder, responsible for voter registration, early voting administration, and public recordings in Maricopa County, Arizona, the fourth largest county in the United States. Prior to being an elected official, Stephen worked at several public policy think tanks and as a business transactions attorney. Stephen received his J.D. and M.A. from The University of Chicago and his B.A. from Tulane University.
Stephen has been broadly recognized for his work in elections and American Democracy. In 2021, the Arizona Republic named Stephen “Arizonan of the Year.” In 2022, the Maricopa Bar Association awarded Stephen “Public Law Attorney of the Year.” In 2023, Stephen won “Leader of the Year” from the Arizona Capitol Times. And in 2024, Time Magazine named Stephen a “Defender of Democracy.”
The views expressed on this show are those of the hosts alone and do not necessarily represent the positions of the Ash Center or its affiliates.
Coming soon!
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