Political Speakers

Paul Ryan served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representative and as Speaker of the House from 2015 to 2019. Known for his meteoric rise in politics and often praised for his seriousness and honesty, Ryan is a committed conservative and public servant who has spent his life advocating for real solutions that expand opportunity for Americans. Before serving as Speaker of the House, he was Chair of the House Budget Committee, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and a U.S. Vice Presidential candidate. He is exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau.

With more than ten years of government service, Mick Mulvaney has been at the forefront of U.S. economic policymaking and politics at the highest levels. Most recently, he was President Trump’s White House Chief of Staff for more than a year – advising the President on politics and policy decisions. Mulvaney also served as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, managing and executing the President’s policy, budget, management, and regulatory objectives across the Executive Branch. For part of his tenure at the OMB, he additionally ran the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he got a first-hand look at one of the most powerful, and controversial, federal regulators.

From town hall meetings on the campaign trail in Iowa to private meetings in the Oval Office, Josh Earnest spent a decade advising and advocating for President Obama. Today, he takes audiences behind the scenes and offers his engaging and honest analysis of the current (and future) political landscape.

Dana Perino was the White House’s first female Republican press secretary and one of the most widely-respected members of President George W. Bush’s senior cabinet. She is currently a popular political commentator and a co-host—and the breakout star—of Fox’s The Five, a ratings phenomenon and the top show in the timeslot. She is also the host of Fox's The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino. Her commentary is also regularly found in major publications. Perino analyzes politics, the upcoming election, and current events in the same energetic style that has made her so popular on TV. Small in stature but big on personality, she consistently gets rave reviews.

Nicolle Wallace is host of Deadline: White House, chief political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, a best-selling author, and the former White House director of communications under President George W. Bush. Her West Wing colleague, presidential political adviser Mark McKinnon, called her a “rare talent in politics.” Funny and charming, she shares insights on the biggest issues of the day paired with stories from her time in the White House and on the campaign trail. Wallace is a master storyteller as she offers audiences the rundown they need to stay in the know.

Charlie Cook is a political analyst and commentator, the publisher of the Cook Political Report, and a columnist for the National Journal. For more than two decades he has been a trusted and accurate voice on all things political. Once deemed “the Picasso of election analysis” by the Wall Street Journal, Cook’s expertise and encyclopedic knowledge of American politics has been featured on myriad news outlets. Using poll numbers, economic indicators, and historical data, Cook discusses today’s political and legislative environments in a balanced, non-partisan way.

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, joined the network in January 2013. His one-hour weekday program The Lead with Jake Tapper debuted in March 2013. The program seeks to examine and advance stories that demonstrate Tapper's own curiosities and interests with headlines from around the country and the globe, from politics to money, and sports to popular culture.

Jonathan Capehart is a journalist and television personality who has worked as a policy advisor to Michael Bloomberg’s campaign, a national affairs columnist, and was a member of the Daily News editorial board which won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. He currently writes for The Washington Post’s PostPartisan blog and is a contributor for MSNBC.

Ana Navarro is a well-known Republican strategist and a political analyst for CNN, CNN en Español, Telemundo, and co-host of ABC's The View. Tampa Bay Times called her “a sought-after voice in Republican politics and an adviser for any presidential hopeful,” saying, “with confidants Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio she is poised to play a big role in the GOP response to immigration reform and Hispanic outreach.” Respected on both sides of the aisle for her straight shooting and candor, Navarro is frequently called upon for her spot-on commentary. She is in touch with the political issues people are talking about, and in presentations, she discusses the latest hot button issues in politics, giving audiences an insider’s view of the upcoming elections and a roadmap for where the country is headed.

Part journalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Ronald (Ron) Brownstein explains the complexities of American politics with lucid precision. As a CNN Senior Political Analyst, Senior Editor for the Atlantic, and Contributing Editor for National Journal, he produces sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media, healthcare, energy, the press' impact on Americans, and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history. Brownstein provides an insider’s look into politics and the media and has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of six best-selling books, and his articles on politics, public policy, and culture have appeared in myriad of major publications and on many broadcast news outlets.

Political strategist Donna Brazile is the former interim chair of the DNC, as well as the former vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation at the DNC, an adjunct professor, current Fox News contributor, best-selling author, syndicated columnist, and television commentator. She was also the first African-American woman to manage a presidential campaign. Her southern charm, big personality, and hilarious anecdotes make her an instant audience favorite. Oprah’s O magazine chose her as one of its “20 remarkable visionaries” and Washingtonian named her one of its “100 most powerful women.” Brazile is known for her ability to analyze the political climate and attract supporters, and she addresses this and the political mood of the country.

Mike Allen is one of Washington’s most influential and well-connected journalists. He is the co-founder and executive editor of Axios, a new company delivering news and insights on politics, business, media, and tech. The company, whose name means “worthy” in Greek, specializes in high-quality news and analysis easily shared among the country’s influential readers and across social platforms. In addition to starting Axios, Allen was a co-founder at POLITICO, the digital media company that upended and revolutionized political and policy journalism in Washington, New York, and Europe.

Jim VandeHei is a media entrepreneur and expert on American politics. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Axios, a new media company delivering news and insights on politics, business, media and tech. The company, whose name means “worthy” in Greek, specializes in high-quality news and analysis easily shared among the country's most influential readers and across social platforms.