The seismic shifts in American conservatism since 2016 have toppled many longstanding Republican orthodoxies on issues ranging from trade to government spending to organized labor. Debates once considered fringe are now center stage, while views once considered conservative gospel have been pushed to the margins. With these issues shaping the 2024 election cycle up and down the ballot, many journalists and pundits are asking for help understanding conservatism’s evolving economic vision and political calculus.

This half-day symposium will provide leading political reporters, editors, and commentators with an inside perspective on the changing right-of-center. The event will provide a unique opportunity for influential members of the media to hear from the conservatives defining these debates and from their own peers with experience covering them. The day’s discussions will provide rare clarity on where conservative economic and political thought is headed, how these trends connect with 2024 campaigns, and what stories deserve more attention at this critical inflection point.

Introduction by Oren Cass, American Compass

The Economic Debate
How is conservative thinking about economic policy and the role of government changing?

• Julius Krein, editor, American Affairs
• Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies, American Enterprise Institute
• Moderated by Rana Foroohar, Financial Times

Click here to watch.

The Political Reality
What does this economic debate mean for political leaders and how is it being translated into electoral politics in 2024 and beyond?

• Tim Chapman, senior advisor, Advancing American Freedom
• Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer, National Review
• Moderated by Jerry Seib, The Wall Street Journal

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The Media Narrative
How can the media better understand the reality of American life outside the Beltway, and what are reporters missing about these shifting economic and political debates? 

• Emily Jashinsky, director, National Journalism Center
• Idrees Kahloon, Washington bureau chief, The Economist
• Moderated by David Leonhardt, The New York Times

Click here to watch.