Truth on Trial: Implications for Communicators – Part III (On-Demand Video) Watch On-Demand The intensity of the political divide is making it harder than ever for brands and non-profits to cut through the clutter and get their message out. They are being pushed to take positions on controversial issues. How are legal issues intersecting with the need to tell their story? What are best practices to cut through the clutter? How is this effecting the political, media and communications landscape? “Truth on Trial” is just one of a series of forums put on by the Schar School of Policy & Government, whose panelists are among the most influential legal, communications, and media experts in the country. The February 26 “Truth on Trial” forum follows two extremely well-attended (live and online) moderated events launched last summer. Panels Public Affairs in the Digital Age The Intersection of Law and PR Media and Communicators Speakers Mark J. Rozell, Dean, The Schar School of Policy & Government (HOST) Douglas Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media (MODERATOR) Michael Caputo, Strategic Communications Expert Maria Cardona, Principal, Dewey Square Group Peter Carson, Managing Director, Public Affairs, North America, Weber Shandwick | Powell Tate Ty Cobb, Former White House Special Counsel to President Trump Gabriel Debenedetti, National Correspondent, New York Magazine Suzanne Rich Folsom, Former General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & SVP-Government Affairs, U.S. Steel Alexander Howard, Independent Writer & Open Government Advocate Richard S. Levick, Esq., Chairman & CEO, LEVICK Terry McAuliffe, Former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia / The Schar School of Policy & Government Stefan Passantino, Former Deputy White House Counsel to President Trump Steven Pearlstein, Columnist, The Washington Post / Professor, George Mason University David K. Rehr, Ph.D., Professor of Public Policy, Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University Lisa Osborne Ross, President, Edelman Washington D.C. Frank Sesno, Director, Professor of Media and Public Affairs and International Affairs, George Washington University Michael Zeldin, Legal Analyst, CNN Watch On-Demand Host Mark J. Rozell, Dean, The Schar School of Policy and Government | George Mason University | @MarkJRozellGMU Mark J. Rozell is the author of nine books and editor of twenty books on various topics in U.S. government and politics including the presidency, religion and politics, media and politics, and interest groups in elections. His latest books are: Catholics and U.S. Politics after the 2016 Elections: Understanding the “Swing” Vote. New York: Palgrave/MacMillan Press, 2017 (edited with Blandine Chelini-Pont and Marie Gayte). God at the Grass Roots, 2016: The Christian Right in American Elections. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017 (edited with Clyde Wilcox). Religion and the American Presidency. New York: Palgrave/MacMillan Press, 2017 (revised and updated 3rd edition) (edited with Gleaves Whitney). The New Politics of the Old South: An Introduction to Southern Politics (revised and updated sixth edition). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017 (edited with Charles S. Bullock III). The President’s Czars: Undermining Congress and the Constitution. University Press of Kansas, 2012 (with Mitchel A. Sollenberger). The Oxford Handbook of Southern Politics. Oxford University Press, 2012 (edited with Charles S. Bullock III). Interest Groups in American Campaigns: The New Face of Electioneering (3rd edition). Oxford University Press, 2012 (with Michael Franz and Clyde Wilcox). Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy and Accountability (3rd edition). University Press of Kansas, 2010. He has testified before Congress on several occasions on executive privilege issues and has lectured extensively in the U.S. and abroad. In recent years he has lectured in Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, and Vietnam. Dean Rozell writes frequent op-ed columns in such publications as the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, New York Daily News, and Politico. He is often asked to comment about his areas of expertise for print and broadcast media. He may be reached at [email protected] or 703-993-8171. Moderator Doug Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media | @DSSimon Doug Simon is the CEO of award-winning video influencer marketing firm D S Simon Media. His firm advises and executes broadcast and social media video communications campaigns on topical issues for senior leadership of brands and non- profits. His firm has completed more than 100 projects for DC based industry groups and non-profits and has been involved with political campaigns on the local and national level since 1992. His firm pioneered Social Media LIVE™–multi-camera video production featuring an organization’s leadership with influencers distributed live to up to 30 social media sites simultaneously. Its unique approach to guiding clients, PRketing®, which connects communications to marketing results, was awarded a trademark by the US patent office. Doug is frequently quoted in top media across platforms. Television appearances include Reuters, Dateline NBC, PBS, CNN, Fox News Live and WNBC. He’s appeared on NPR and been quoted in USA Today and on The Huffington Post in addition to numerous trade publications. Doug’s video commentary on the 2012 political conventions was picked up by the humor site Funny or Die. Doug is the President-Elect of the PRSA-NY Chapter and he was a three-time president of the Publicity Club of New York. Additionally, he is the Founder of SPOKEies® the first ever awards program to recognize in-house spokespeople for representing their brands with authenticity and building trust. Doug began his broadcast career at NBC Sports, where he served as Talent Assistant to Bob Costas. His hobbies include performing stand-up comedy at New York’s top clubs and rooting for terrible sports teams including the Jets and Knicks while still remaining optimistic. Michael Caputo, Strategic Communications Expert | @MichaelRCaputo Strategic communications expert Michael R. Caputo is a former senior advisor to the campaign of President Donald J. Trump. Michael is the Managing Director of Zeppelin Communications. He has 30 years of global communications experience with government, political campaigns, trade associations, and Fortune 500 corporations. Lauded by the New York Times for his “high octane brain,” he is also the only executive in history who has worked for both the White House and the Kremlin. This, in concert with his work as a senior advisor to then-candidate Donald J. Trump, has led to his involvement as a witness in recent Russian collusion investigations. Michael’s work has been commended by reporters across the spectrum for spirited, creative and unrelenting advocacy of his clients. He appears each week on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business, and is quoted regularly in leading newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and more. Michael worked with field grade Army officers as an enlisted public affairs specialist for the 25th Infantry Division and has counseled senior leaders like presidential candidate Jack Kemp, US President George HW Bush, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Hollywood director David Lynch, and leaders of the US, Russian and Ukrainian national legislatures. He is a Journalism graduate from SUNY Buffalo and lives with his wife and children in Buffalo and Miami Beach. Maria Cardona, Principal, Dewey Square Group | @MariaTCardona Maria Cardona is a Principal at the Dewey Square Group (DSG) and Founder of Latinovations, the Latino Strategies Practice of DSG. A seasoned Democratic Strategist, and CNN/CNN en Español Political Contributor, Cardona is a public affairs and communications professional with over two decades of experience in public relations as well as political, governmental, campaign, community and coalition building arenas. Cardona also heads DSG’s Public Affairs Practice, combining public policy, communications, coalition building, constituency outreach, government relations, traditional and new media at this premier national public affairs firm. Maria is also known for her work as a political commentator, and is currently a CNN and CNN en Español political contributor, who appeared frequently on MSNBC, FOX, Univision and Telemundo as a public policy expert and providing political analysis on all manner of national issues, prior to signing on exclusively with CNN. She is regarded as one of the nation’s top 100 most influential Latinos. Cardona joined DSG as a principal in 2005, helping DSG’s corporate, non-profit and trade association clients develop strategic partnerships at the national, state and local level, especially within the Latino community. One of the most well- known and respected Latina political operatives and activists in the country, Cardona leverages her expansive insight and long standing recognition in the Latino community to ensure DSG clients are well represented and that they understand the myriad of opportunities that exist for exposure among this growing and increasingly influential market. Since founding DSG’s Latinovations, she guides clients on “best practices” to building support for their positions, products and brands within the Hispanic community. While at DSG, Cardona served as a Senior Advisor to the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign, serving as a campaign surrogate and spokesperson and representing the campaign on major national TV, radio as well as