Mark McKinnon

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Mark McKinnon

Associate Lecturer in Public Policy

Mark McKinnon, chief media advisor to President George W. Bush during the 2000 and 2004 elections, is an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy. He is an award-winning media producer and communications strategist who has served as principal media advisor for corporate and political campaigns in the United States, Latin America and Africa. McKinnon directed the advertising effort for George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. He is Vice Chairman of Public Strategies, Inc. and President of Maverick Media. President Bush recently nominated McKinnon to serve as a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. McKinnon has been awarded more than 30 Pollie and Telly awards, honoring the nation’s best political and public affairs advertising. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and teaches at the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. At the Kennedy School, McKinnon will teach “Modern Political Communications: From the White House to the Blogosphere.”

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Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with Ken Burns

Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with Ken Burns

Attend the 2026 Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with preeminent documentary filmmaker Ken BurnsShorenstein Center Director, Nancy Gibbs, will hold a fireside chat with Burns in the JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School.

Event

JFK Jr. Forum, HKS
6:00 PM

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The Future of Federal Funding at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

The Future of Federal Funding at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

For decades, U.S. colleges and universities where at least 25% of undergrads are Hispanic have received federal grants to help them expand educational opportunities and improve graduation rates for Hispanic students. In September, however, the U.S. Department of Education slashed funding for these schools, formally designated as “Hispanic-serving institutions.” Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit making its way through the courts argues that distributing public money to higher education institutions based on their percentage of Hispanic students is discriminatory and violates the U.S. constitution. This free webinar focused on the fate of hundreds of public and private colleges and universities, which, together, serve most of the nation’s Hispanic undergraduate students.

Event

Zoom webinar
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

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SCOTUS, tariffs, and the administrative state: What journalists need to know

SCOTUS, tariffs, and the administrative state: What journalists need to know

Next Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Learning Resources v. Trump, a case central to the fate of President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariff regime imposed since he took office in January. Join The Journalist’s Resource and Econofact for an hourlong, on-the-record webinar about the potential economic consequences of the case, important legal arguments, and the history and future of administrative authority in the U.S.

 

Event

Zoom webinar
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

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BISG Book Talk with Judd Kessler (“Lucky By Design”)

BISG Book Talk with Judd Kessler (“Lucky By Design”)

Join the Behavioral Insights Student Group (BISG) in conversation with Judd Kessler on his recently published book, “Lucky By Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want.”

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HKS campus, Taubman Building - T-520 Nye B & Zoom
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Dubious News and the Aging American: Understanding Discernment and Engagement Among Older Adults

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In this talk, Professor Lyons will explore the question “Why do older adults engage more with misinformation online, even when they often identify falsehoods correctly in surveys?” This event is part of the Speaker Series on Misinformation, co-sponsored by the Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School and the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University.

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