What’s Next for American Democracy? — William Kristol & María Teresa Kumar moderated by Judy Woodruff
William Kristol, María Teresa Kumar, and Judy Woodruff will examine the state and future of American democracy in a candid public conversation. The discussion will consider what may lie ahead in the coming weeks and months, whether democratic institutions can withstand current pressures, what kind of pro-democracy coalition is needed, and the compromises and sacrifices that coalition may require.
The speakers approach the subject from different political and professional backgrounds but share the view that democracy is under threat and must be protected through people working together. Kristol and Kumar are senior fellows of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, while Woodruff is its Kay Fanning Fellow in Journalism and Democracy. The Kettering Foundation is a nonpartisan operating foundation focused on advancing inclusive democracies worldwide.
William Kristol is editor-at-large of The Bulwark and writes its daily “Morning Shots” newsletter. He founded Defending Democracy Together and previously founded and edited The Weekly Standard. A former senior official in the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, he has taught politics at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard and holds degrees from Harvard.
María Teresa Kumar is the founding president and co-founder of Voto Latino and Voto Latino Foundation, organizations that have registered nearly 1.8 million voters. She is an Emmy-nominated MSNOW analyst, a Kettering Foundation senior fellow, and a board member of several organizations, including Steve Madden, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Her previous and current public-service roles include work with President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and the National Task Force on Election Crises.
Judy Woodruff, the moderator, is a senior correspondent and former anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour. She has reported on American politics and public life for more than five decades and is the recipient of major honors including a Peabody Journalistic Integrity Award and an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. Since leaving her anchor role in 2023, she has worked on “Judy Woodruff Presents: America at a Crossroads,” a reporting project about political division and the experiences of Americans, while continuing coverage of disability-related issues.
When: Friday, October 30, 2026
Showtime: 7:00pm
Tickets: Free
Seating: First come, first served.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Lineup: William Kristol and María Teresa Kumar, with Judy Woodruff moderating
Giveaway: The first 100 attendees who visit the registers before the event will receive a complimentary Charles F. Kettering Foundation tote bag and a copy of Timothy Snyder’s *On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century*.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will try to accommodate requests made up to the event.
Run time: Not provided.
Age guidance: Not provided.