In this episode, the flies sat down with John Anzalone, Chief Pollster of the 2020 Biden Campaign, Tony Fabrizio, Chief Pollster of the 2016 and 2020 Trump Campaigns, and Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director of the Pew Research Center, to pull back the curtain on all things polling in this day and age. This conversation is one that you don't want to miss, with perspectives from both partisan and nonpartisan pollsters explaining the integral roll polling plays in political campaigns and what that looks like within our polarized political atmosphere.

Tony Fabrizio, Jocelyn Kiley, and John Anzalone

For the Season 10 finale, the flies were joined by GU Politics Fellow Rebecca Pearcey to discuss her career, her extensive experience in the campaign world, her advice to young people interested in entering politics, and more! Don’t miss this great conversation with Rebecca.

Rebecca Pearcey: "Don't Overthink It, Just Keep Moving"

In this episode, the Flies talk with GU Politics Fellow Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Communications Director for the Trump Administration. She shares expertise and experience working in the communication field, discusses her views on American Conservatism and the Republican Party.

Alyssa Farah Griffin: "The Existential Threats to Our Democracy"

For the Season 11 Finale, the flies sit down with Congressman Jamie Raskin for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District. Raskin shares why he is in public service, his experience leading President Trump’s second impeachment, and his views on bipartisanship. Tune in for one of our most impactful interviews from this season.

Jamie Raskin: "It's When Things Look the Worst that You Need to be Out There"

This week, the Pod interviews GU Politics Fellow Alex Lundry, Chief Analytics Officer for Jeb Bush for President, Director of Data Science for Romney for President, and Co-Founder of Tunnl. Lundry shares his experience as a data scientist and how data can inform strategy. Lundry also discusses the role of data in the midterms and provides some predictions. Take a listen now!

Alex Lundry: "Being the Voice of Data"

In this flytastic episode of The Fly, the flies sat down with Chris Stirewalt, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, weekly columnist for The Dispatch, political editor at NewsNation, and GU Politics Fellow. In the episode, Chris spoke about his journey in the journalism industry, the current polarization of the media, and much more! This is surely an episode you don't want to miss so listen now!

Political Analyst Chris Stirewalt: "Many people don't ask the right questions"

This week flies sat down with the PBS NewsHour White House Correspondent and CNN Analyst Laura Barrón-López. 

Laura is a rising star in journalism who knew she wanted to be a journalist since she was 12. She began in local journalism in California early in her college career and, after graduation, moved to DC after receiving an opportunity to be a reporter for E&E News. Since then, she has worked for PBS, Politico, CNN, The Hill, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Examiner.

Journalism is the key to protecting our democracy. Tune in as we talk about what it’s like covering the President of the United States. Hear Laura’s insights about the state of democracy and journalism following the 2020 Election and January 6th and how that will impact how journalists cover the 2024 race.

This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Laura Barrón-López: “Reporting the truth is not always going to make people happy”

Welcome back to the Fly! There is no better way to end the season than with Dr. Fauci. As leader of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years, he has been on the frontline of nearly every major disease since the 1980s. His research and dedication have helped save tens of millions of lives. As Dr. Fauci has been widely covered, he gets candid in this episode about many of his life and professional experiences, from personal relationships with presidents—he has advised seven of them—to his actions during the AIDS/HIV epidemic and his close relationship with LGBTQ+ activists to the long nights leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fauci becomes personable and opens up about his lovely relationship with his wife and gives us college students much-needed and very sentimental advice. This is truly an episode you don’t want to miss! If you want to hear what is on his personal gym playlist or the secret to a long, happy, and loving relationship, tune in now! Have a great summer!

Dr. Anthony Fauci: "We could see the tsunami in the distance"

Welcome back to The Fly! There’s no better way to kick off Season 16 than with Rick Wiley, a seasoned GOP political strategist and Spring 2024 GU Politics Fellow. Rick has worked behind the scenes of some of the most high-profile political campaigns in the U.S., most notably as the National Political Director for Ambassador Nikki Haley's presidential campaign. 

In this episode, Rick dives deep into the strategic mind of a political campaign, offering a front-row seat to the highs and lows of navigating today’s intense political landscape. Join us as Rick shares his personal stories from the campaign trail, his thoughts on early voting and vote-by-mail, and his thoughts on the future of effective political messaging.

Rick Wiley: "With time, you just keep moving"

NEW week, NEW episode! 🪰This week, we sat down with the acclaimed American free speech activist Mary Beth Tinker!

Tinker is renowned in classrooms and courtrooms alike for her role in the 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which solidified students’ right to free speech. In this exciting new episode, she walks us through her experience with civil rights activism, her take on current events like the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and her advice for a new generation of activists. Be sure to BUZZ IN for a discussion you and your AP GOV teacher won’t want to miss!

Mary Beth Tinker: "History will look back and wonder, what did you do?"

Today we are buzzing back in with GU politics fellow Ashley Gunn! Gunn has not only served as a special assistant to the president, the senior director of cabinet affairs for Donald Trump’s administration, but she had worked the behind the scenes of every republican convention since 1991. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Ashley’s take on the people behind our government, the experience of being a woman in politics, and the importance of balancing family and career.

Ashley Gunn: “We are more alike than we are different”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day flies! Buzzing in with a brand new episode, just as lucky as a pot of gold ☘️Join Abigail and Chloe as they sit down with Cecilia Kang, an award-winning Technology Correspondent at The New York Times, with unique expertise in the intersection of technology and public policy. She has broken news that led to regulatory investigations into Apple, Google, and Amazon, and interviewed top executives such as Tim Cook, Sheryl Sandberg, and Reed Hastings. Cecilia has over 20 years of experience in journalism, covering U.S. and international technology, economics, and business news.

Curious to know what America’s best defense against AI could be? Tune in to hear Kang’s approach to translating complex technology issues for broad audiences, as well as the global race to dominate artificial intelligence. 🪰🎤 

Cecilia Kang, NYT Technology Correspondent: 'Color, Color Color! Show, Don't Tell.'

Hello flies!! Welcome back to a brand new episode!! It’s cherry blossom season in D.C, and time for another great episode with an all-star guest!! This week, Kenneth and Julian sat down with Tony Fabrizio, a Spring 2025 GU Politics Fellow! Fabrizio was the Chief Pollster for Donald Trump for President in 2024, 2020, and 2016. He has helped elect Presidents and Prime Ministers on five continents. The flies discussed messaging for the 2024 campaign, the changing media landscape, and the most effective ads against the Harris campaign.  This is a must- see episode so make sure to take a listen!! 🪰🪰🪰🌸🌸

Tony Fabrizio, Chief Pollster, Donald Trump for President: 'Nothing Works Better Than a Candidate's Own Words'

Have you heard the buzz? We’re back with a brand new episode! This week, Chloe and Sarah sat down with one of the foremost American campaign managers and political strategists, Quentin Fulks! Quentin has played an instrumental role in the Democratic Party. He served as Principal Deputy Campaign manager for both the Biden/Harris and Harris/Walz 2024 presidential campaigns. He also led the successful 2022 reelection campaign of Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, and helped flip Illinois from red to blue as Deputy Campaign Manager for Governor JB Pritzker in 2018. 

Tune in to hear Quentin’s reflections on the Harris/Walz presidential campaign and the Democratic Party’s next steps, and his advice for aspiring political operatives!

Quentin Fulks, Principal Deputy Campaign Manager, Biden/Harris & Harris/Walz, "The Landscape is Changing"

Hi Flies! Welcome back to a brand new episode! It’s finals season here at Georgetown, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give you a great new episode! This week, Abigail and Julian sat down with Heather Nauert, a Spring 2025 GU Politics Fellow.  Nauert is a journalist and former spokesperson for the State Department. She began her career as a broadcast journalist, working for major outlets such as ABC News and Fox News, where she served as a correspondent and co-host of the morning show Fox & Friends. In 2017, she transitioned to public service, joining the U.S. Department of State as its Spokesperson under President Donald Trump. Join us for a fascinating conversation about Nauert’s transition from journalism to government, the impact of foreign correspondence, and changes in the Trump administration’s foreign policy in the second administration. Julian and Abby also discussed the impact of 9/11, her experience visiting North Korea, and so much more! This is a must-see episode, so make sure to take a listen!

Heather Nauert, Former State Department Spokesperson: "Newscasters Are At Their Best in a Crisis"

Welcome back flies!! It’s the end of another great semester here at Georgetown which means it’s the season finale of The Fly! What a better way to end the season than with GU Politics Fellow Don Graves! Graves served as the 19th Deputy Secretary of Commerce under the Biden-Harris Administration from May 2021 to January 2025.  He previously served as Counselor to President Biden during the 2020 campaign and held senior roles in the Obama-Biden Administration, including Executive Director of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he oversaw programs like the CDFI Fund and the Small Business Lending Fund. Austin and Chloe spoke with Graves about the future of the federal workforce, the value of the private and public sectors, and Graves’ political experience in both Detroit and Puerto Rico. Graves also spoke on his experience drafting major policy like the CHIPS Act, and the importance of government accountability and results.  This is a must-see season finale, so tune in! 
We’ve had so many great guests this season, and cannot thank everyone enough for coming onto the podcast this semester. See you all in the fall and have a great summer!!

Don Graves, Former Dep. Sec. of Commerce, "We Have the Most Effective Government in the World"

Welcome back, Flies! For the first episode of Season 18, we met with a special guest: FOX News original Trace Gallagher!

Gallagher has been a member of FOX News since its creation in 1996. Gallagher is an anchor and Chief Breaking News Correspondent for “FOX News @ Night,” where approximately 1.5 million households watch his reporting each night. He is truly an international expert, having reported on everything from the Israel-Hamas war to the second inauguration of President Trump. 

Tune into this episode to hear Gallagher’s insider scoop on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Democratic heavyweight Gavin Newsom, and the key to success in broadcast journalism. Special thanks to Fly Team member Sarah for this great interview!

Trace Gallagher, Fox News @ Night Anchor, "When You Have Credibility, It's Everything"

There is a big buzz in that air for Episode 2 of Season 18! Jamaal Bowman, former middle school principal turned US Representative for New York’s 16th Congressional District joined us for a special episode on activism. Before entering politics, Bowman founded Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a middle school focused on a restorative justice approach for their students. In the 2020 Democratic primary, Bowman's defeat of 16-term incumbent, Eliot Engel, showed the strength of grassroot campaigning. Once in Washington, Bowman quickly became an influential progressive figure for his viewpoints on education, racial equity, and US foreign policy in Israel. Known for his authenticity and dedication to his community, Bowman was a key player in policies surrounding education and labor reform. In 2024, Bowman lost to pro-Israel candiate George Latimer in what was recorded as the most expensive House of Representives primary in US history. Since then, Bowman has launched the Built to Win PAC, and has used his platform to advocate for systemic change in education and human rights policy. Join us to hear a down-to-earth perspective on current political issues of education, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and labor reform. This is a must-listen episode for those interested in activism or a career in politics!

Jamaal Bowman, Former U.S. Representative, "Imagine a Better World"


Welcome back to the Fly for our third episode of Season 18! Rob Flaherty is a Georgetown University Fall 2025 Fellow who is a leading political strategist. He previously served as Former Assistant to President Joe Biden, as well as his Director of Digital Strategy. When President Biden exited the presidential race in 2024, Flaherty took over as Deputy Campaign Manager for Harris for President in her historic 107 day battle for the White House. Flaherty is a 2013 graduate of Ithaca College, whose career in politics was sparked after watching West Wing and from there, joined local campaigns in New York. As a young professional, Flaherty also worked on Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for governor of Virginia. Later, Flaherty moved to the national stage where he became Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke’s Digital Director in 2020, Creative Director at Priorities USA, and Deputy Director of Digital Communications for Hillary for America. Flaherty runs a fellow’s discussion group currently titled "The Politics of Attention: Media, Campaigns, and Our Broken Information Environment.” Flaherty sat down with the Fly to discuss these topics and more, ranging from how he started in politics, his work in the White House and on the campaign trail, digital media strategy wins and losses, and how the traditional media and press has evolved, as well as its implications for the political landscape in the United States. This is a must-listen episode with many fun tid-bits and insights into the White House and digital media!

Rob Flaherty, Deputy Campaign Manager, Joe Biden 2024, "You Don't get a Trophy for Cutting the Margins"

Get ready for Episode 4 of Season 18! 🪰🪰
Listen to Georgetown University 2025 Fall Fellow Amy Howe! Amy Howe is an accomplished journalist and legal analyst, best known for her work SCOTUSblog. She is the co-founder of SCOTUSblog, where she helps break down complex Supreme Court decisions and is a leading voice on the intersection between law and public life. Before turning to journalism. Amy Howe has argued over two dozen merit cases before the Supreme Court and has taught at Harvard Law, Stanford Law School and American University’s Washington College of Law. Amy has covered the Court for more than a decade and has earned both a Peabody Award and a National Press Club Journalism Award for Breaking News! Tune in to get a behind-the-scenes at the Supreme Court and the life of a journalist!

Amy Howe, Author of SCOTUSblog, "The 64,000 Question"

Hi Flies, welcome back to Episode 5 of Season 18! On this episode, we have Congressman Adam Smith, a democrat from Washington state’s 9th district on the podcast. Representative Smith recently spoke at an event hosted by Georgetown’s Initiative for U.S-China dialogue, and discussed the U.S/China relationship and its importance. Representative Smith was born here in Washington, D.C and grew up in Washington State. In 1987, Congressman Smith graduated from Fordham University with a degree in political science and went back to Washington state to pursue his law degree at the University of Washington. After law school, Congressman Smith worked in both private and public law, notably practicing for Cromwell and Mendoza and Belur, before becoming a prosecutor and later a judge. At 25 years old, Mr. Smith was the youngest state senator ever elected, serving there until 1996 before being elected to Congress in 1997. Mr. Smith is currently the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Notably, and related to this episode of the podcast, Mr. Smith created the bipartisan congressional caucus for effective foreign assistance to advocate for reforms in foreign aid. In this episode, Mr. Smith discussed U.S-China relations regarding his leading of the first United States House delegation to China in six years, U.S-China diplomacy, the airstrikes conducted by the Trump administration in the Caribbean, and Mr. Smith’s role being one of the first Democrats to call for President Biden to drop out of his 2024 campaign. This episode, which you can find on Spotify, is one you won’t want to miss out on!

Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), "The Slow Walk Into an Authoritarian Government is Absolutely Happening"

Welcome back, flies! We hope you had a spook-tacular halloween 👻 🎃 This week we sat down with Mark Green, the former Ambassador to Tanzania. 

Green’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Green began his political career as a congressman for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district, where he served as Assistant Majority Whip. During the second Bush administration, he worked to promote international development as the Ambassador to Tanzania. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the Administrator of USAID—leading its humanitarian aid efforts.  

As a malaria survivor, child of South African immigrants, and former school teacher in Kenya, Green brings a dynamic perspective to the table. TUNE IN to learn about his take on humanitarianism, free enterprise, and the Trump administration’s dismantlement of USAID. 

Ambassador Mark Green, "I Don't Do Wish Projection"

Tune in to this week’s episode with a fellow podcaster, Jamelle Bouie! Co-host of his own podcast, Unclear and Present Danger, and columnist for the New York Times, Jamelle Bouie, provides perspective on history and politics. 

Before joining the Times, Bouie began his career at The American Prospect magazine and then became the chief political correspondent at Slate magazine. From receiving the Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism and being elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Bouie has shaped national conversations on democracy and race. Some of Bouie’s most recent articles for the Times include “They Don’t Want to Live in Lincoln’s America” and “This Administration Is Silencing Its Critics.”

Listen to one of the most influential commentators in politics today as Bouie explores topics of the Constitution and the role of executive power in modern politics

Jamelle Bouie, NYT Opinion Columnist, "The Constitution is Living"

Welcome back to another episode of the Fly on the Wall! Today, we welcome Former Senator Laphonza Butler on the podcast!

Laphonza Butler is a former senator representing California, who Governor Gavin Newsom appointed to replace the late Senator Dianne Feinstein after her death in 2023. Born in Mississippi, Butler attended Jackson State University before beginning her career as a labor organizer. She has been actively involved in the United States labor movement throughout her public service career, serving as President of SEIU Local 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Before serving in Congress, former Senator Butler served as the president of Emily’s List which works to elect Democratic pro-choice women to government. Former Senator Butler has also been prominent in the private sector, working as Director of Public Policy for Airbnb. Former Senator Butler is a Fall 2025 GU Politics Fellow at Georgetown University and has hosted her weekly discussion groups on AI, Labor, and the Politics of the Future of Work, which she expands on in this must-listen-to podcast episode. 

Former Senator Laphonza Butler, "I'm Open to Every Opportunity"

Our latest episode is with Ankit Jain! Elected in 2024, Ankit Jain has served as the Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia and has stayed committed to advocating for statehood and expanding voting rights for DC. Before entering politics, Jain worked as a voting rights attorney and founded Young Democrats Ward 2 to encourage civil engagement in young people. Jain’s election as a shadow senator for D.C was historic as he was the first Asian-American and Indian-American elected to office in Washington, D.C. Listen more to hear everything there is to know about Congress from Ankit Jain!

Ankit Jain, D.C. Shadow Senator, "We fought a revolution to prevent this”

This week, we talked to Liz Sidoti, current Director of U.S. Communications for BP. Liz talks to us about her unique experience in the political world, both as a journalist for the Associated Press, and now working communications for BP. She has some great stories about her time on the campaign trail in '04 and '08, and what it was like coordinating emergency response communications after BP's location in Houston was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey.

Liz Sidoti: "Confident that, when I chose to jump, I could swim"

We're excited to welcome Josh Pitcock onto the pod for the first episode of Season 4! He's been with Vice President Mike Pence since 2005, serving as a close confidante and most recently, his White House Chief of Staff.

Get ready for an amazing season!

Josh Pitcock: "This is going to be a good night"

This week on the pod we have Jaime Harrison and Amos Snead, two veterans of Capitol Hill who decided to write a bipartisan book about their experiences - called Climbing the Hill. They have fantastic advice and amazing stories of what federal legislative politics is like, so be sure to listen!

Climbing The Hill: Jaime Harrison and Amos Snead

This week, the Flies are bringing you an interview with Amber Athey,  the Washington Editor for Spectator USA, and host of the “Unfit to Print” podcast by the Daily Caller, where she was formerly White House Correspondent. Amber is a Hoya and Tony Blankley Fellow at the Steamboat Institute.

Amber Athey: "I love the challenge of journalism"

In the next installment of our Summer 2020 Season, the Flies interview Drew Rodriguez, a Regional Organizing Director for Joe Biden for President. Since graduating from Georgetown, Rodriguez has worked on the campaign trail across the country, including in NV, SC, and FL.

Drew Rodriguez: "The stars were aligning"

Your weekly window into how the most impactful moments in politics unfold. From the Oval Office to the Clinton campaign war room to the hallowed halls of Congress to Maryland's Governor's Mansion, we bring you inside the rooms where the biggest decisions are made. Hosted by a couple of college kids still trying to learn how things get done in this complicated yet beautiful world of American politics.

The Fly Georgetown

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