Staff

Kevin Turpin II is the president of National Journal. As the former senior vice president of National Journal, Turpin led the product development, strategy research, digital, and marketing teams. In this role, he oversaw product research, evaluated potential partnerships, and established operational infrastructure for the new product pipeline. For more than a decade working at National Journal, Turpin has produced successful proposals to increase profit margins, identified efficiencies in vendor relationships, and created new revenue lines for the organization. Turpin also built a strategic advisory group of 60 government affairs executives from Fortune 100 corporations and influential trade associations; resulting in the launch of National Journal’s Leadership Council. He is also responsible for the launch of Policy Brands Roundtable and the Network Science Initiative. He began his career gaining deep insights into the Washington media market and the needs of public policy professionals while serving in roles ranging from sales to manager of signature National Journal products such as The Hotline. A proud Hoya, Turpin is a graduate of Georgetown University

Afzal Bari serves as the vice president of strategy and operations, where he oversees the product development, marketing, events, operations, the Presentation Center, and the Leadership Council's research functions. Afzal was previously a lead technology analyst at Bloomberg Government and advisor to several startups. He also spent five years with the Corporate Executive Board in its technology practice and its sales operations consulting division. Afzal holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland College Park. He lives in Chevy Chase, Md. with his wife Sofia and their two young children.

Katie Collins is the chief business development officer of National Journal. In this role, she manages the company’s relationships with heads of government affairs at Fortune 500 companies and leaders of industry trade associations and oversees business development strategy.

In her previous role as vice president of development, Katie successfully launched the Network Science Initiative and managed National Journal’s strategic advertising relationships. She also helped lead the transition of National Journal’s client base from individual subscriptions to organizational memberships as National Journal shifted from a media company to a consulting model providing research and advisory services.

Katie’s prior experience spans nearly 15 years in business development and advocacy at National Journal, Corporate Executive Board, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Katie is a graduate of Georgetown University. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband.

Chris Dornfeld is vice president of digital strategy at National Journal, where he’s responsible for crafting and executing the vision for NJ’s interactive offerings as head of the digital products team. Prior to National Journal, Chris held senior leadership roles in engineering and analytics at Manifest and co-founded a DC-based web development firm. Chris holds a B.S. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon and is widely recognized for typing very fast and very loud. He lives in Washington.

Michael D. Gottlieb is president and general counsel of Ballast Research and chair of the National Policymakers’ Network. A veteran of both Republican and Democratic administrations, Mr. Gottlieb has served every branch of federal government in his career as an attorney and policy adviser.

Most recently, Mr. Gottlieb served as special assistant and associate White House counsel to President Barack Obama. While at the White House, Mr. Gottlieb advised the president, vice president, and senior White House Advisers on a range of national policy issues, including those related to transportation and infrastructure, national defense and homeland security, privacy and technology, immigration, healthcare, and civil rights. He has worked on behalf of the president with every federal agency, either on specific questions of law and policy or in the implementation of government-wide executive actions and directions.

Prior to his work at the White House, Mr. Gottlieb practiced law before the United States Supreme Court and clerked for the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by President George W Bush. Mr. Gottlieb also worked in the executive branch under the Bush administration and spent several years consulting in the healthcare sector. He has taught at a variety of colleges and universities.

Mr. Gottlieb is a captain in the United States Air Force Reserve Corps and holds graduate and professional degrees from Yale Law School, Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Yale College, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of London. He has been honored with awards from the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission, the LGBT Bar Association, the United States Air Force Air University, and Judge Advocate General’s School. He is married to Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered.

Luke Hartig is executive director of National Journal’s Network Science Initiative.

Prior to joining National Journal, Luke served as senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council (NSC), where he was responsible for advising White House leadership on counterterrorism matters, co-managing the NSC’s counterterrorism policy and analysis team, and coordinating U.S. Government counterterrorism policy and programs. Luke previously served as the deputy director for counterterrorism operations and as a foreign affairs specialist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Luke has also served in various positions with the State Department, Office of Management and Budget, Government Accountability Office, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, and San Diego County. Luke began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala.

Luke holds a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in international relations from Boston University. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow at the Truman National Security Project, and was named a Next Generation Leader by the Center for a New American Security in 2013.

Luke lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons.

Dave is the vice president of revenue and service where he oversees the new business teams for membership, advertising, events, and Network Science Initiative. Dave joins National Journal from CEB where he served in a variety of management and business development capacities. While at CEB, Dave was part of the rapid launch of several programs focused on finance executives following the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley. He led the newly formed renewal team for the launch of CEB's Middle Market offering in 2007 and most recently served as the national sales leader over CEB's finance practice. Dave attended University of Maryland, College Park after growing up in nearby Silver Spring and abroad in a Foreign Service family. Dave currently works, resides, runs, exercises, and eats in Washington, D.C.

Gina Kim is general manager of Presentation Center and Research at National Journal. In this role, she provides the vision and drives the strategy for the product suite, leading a team of content producers and managers. Gina previously spent five years at Grant Thornton, including four years as director of public policy and external affairs. Gina also served as research director at CEB, managing quantitative and best-practice research studies for senior-most finance executives. During a six-year tenure at The NASDAQ Stock Market, she held a variety of research and strategy positions, including roles in the corporate client group and office of the vice chairman. Gina holds a master's degree in labor economics from Cornell University, where she was a Sage Graduate Fellow, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters.

Lesley Martinez is managing director of marketing at National Journal where she is responsible for developing NJ’s marketing strategy and vision and overseeing marketing operations and events. Prior to National Journal, Lesley spent six years at CEB where she managed demand generation, acquisition marketing, and retention strategies for their finance clients both in the large enterprise and smb space. Prior to CEB she was at The Chronicle of Higher Education/The Chronicle of Philanthropy managing marketing efforts for corporate advertisers and new product launches. Lesley is a D.C. native and attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

Jackie Breuer is a dedicated advisor at National Journal. She was born and raised in the Silicon Valley, California before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend American University. She graduated with a B.A. in international relations with a focus in the Middle East and North Africa and a minor in Arabic language. She consulted for the federal government before coming to National Journal. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Allen is a strategic engagement associate for National Journal. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University, majoring in international relations and economics. Before working at National Journal, she interned in the new business development department of Home Shopping Network. Originally from Tampa, Florida, she currently resides in Reston, VA.

Christie is a manager of business development with National Journal. Originally from Baltimore, Christie graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she earned a B.A. in political science and a minor in philosophy. Prior to National Journal, she spent four years at the Advisory Board Company across a variety of account management roles. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Mattie Carter is an associate dedicated advisor with National Journal. Originally from Kansas City, Mattie graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in journalism and political science in 2018. As an undergraduate, Mattie served as student body vice president, where she oversaw a body tasked with generating and allocating more than $24 million in student fees each year. Some of her proudest accomplishments as student body vice president include establishing an on-campus food pantry and a student hardship fund.

Charlie Dillon is a dedicated advisor with National Journal. Charlie graduated from Georgetown University, where he earned a B.A. in government and was co-captain of Georgetown's baseball team. Originally from Chicago, Charlie currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Sonja Erchak is a fellow on the member services team at National Journal. Sonja graduated from Georgetown University in May, 2018 with a B.A. in english and psychology. Before joining National Journal, Sonja worked at Quinn’s Auction Galleries selling fine and decorative arts. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, she now resides in Washington, D.C.

Mookie serves as a product analyst for National Journal's Leadership Council. Previously, he held internships with the Library of Congress and the NBA; he also taught for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Mookie graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in commerce and foreign affairs. He was raised and resides in McLean, Virginia.

Cate is an associate manager of business development with National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a national accounts recruiter for VACO and then as a recruiter for the talent and culture team here at Atlantic Media. Cate graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2015 with a B.A. in environmental policy and a minor in anthropology. She is originally from Nashville, TN.

Aleksia Ilic Forster is an associate director for National Journal, working with the federal government including all agencies and Capitol Hill.

Dan Kennedy is a membership development associate with National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, Dan was part of the Leadership Management Program at the Aramark Corporation. Dan graduated from Bucknell University with degrees in english and psychology and a minor in philosophy. He grew up in East Longmeadow, MA and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Rob McArdle is a dedicated advisor at National Journal. A Virginia native, he attended the University of Richmond where he graduated with a B.A. in political science and also worked for a lobbying and public relations firm. Prior to National Journal, Rob was a client manager for an investment research services firm, first in Raleigh, NC and later in San Francisco. He currently lives in Washington, D.C.

MaryGrace Wajda is a dedicated advisor on the member services team. Prior to joining National Journal, MaryGrace worked as an account manager for Gartner. Originally from upstate New York, MaryGrace graduated from Union College with a B.A. in classics and philosophy.

Jack Woltman is a membership development associate at National Journal. He recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in international relations and french. Originally from Upstate New York, he now resides in Washington, D.C.

Brendan Bordelon is the tech and cybersecurity policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he worked as a tech and cybersecurity reporter at Morning Consult and as a political reporter for National Review. He hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and now resides in Washington, D.C.

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Ronald Brownstein, a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of presidential campaigns, is a National Journal contributing editor and a senior editor at The Atlantic. Prior to joining Atlantic Media, Brownstein was the national affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has also served as the Times' national political correspondent and the author of the weekly Washington Outlook column. Brownstein is a National Journal alumnus, having served as the magazine's White House and national politics correspondent from 1983-1986, and then as its west coast correspondent through 1989. In addition, he currently serves as a senior political analyst for CNN and also served as an electoral analyst for ABC News during the 2012 election. Previously, he served as a political analyst for CNN from 1998 through 2004 and has appeared on the Sunday shows of all four broadcast networks as well as other programs on cable and broadcast. His sixth and most recent book, The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America, was published by Penguin in November 2007. Brownstein was twice named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, receiving that recognition for his coverage of both the 1996 and 2004 presidential campaigns. In addition, he is the recipient of several journalism awards, including the Exceptional Merit in Media award from the National Women's Political Caucus, the Excellence in Media award from the National Council on Public Polls in 2005, and the Journalist of the Year award from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2005. In 2007, the American Political Science Association presented him its Carey McWilliams award for lifetime achievement, granted to honor a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.

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Alex Clearfield is a staff correspondent for National Journal and National Journal Hotline. Before joining National Journal in 2017 he was a writer and researcher for CQ Roll Call covering the 2016 congressional elections and writing profiles of members of Congress. He is a native of Voorhees, NJ and graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a political science degree.

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Zach Cohen covers the Senate for National Journal, after having served as the Senate races reporter for National Journal Hotline. Before joining National Journal in 2014 as its digital editor, he interned at The Washington Post, Time Magazine, USA Today and PBS MediaShift and wrote about politics and government for New Voices. Zach was born and raised in New Jersey and got his bachelor's degree in international relations from American University, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Eagle, the school newspaper.

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George E. Condon Jr. is White House correspondent for National Journal. He joined National Journal at the beginning of the Obama administration, covering the White House for CongressDaily. Prior to that, he covered the White House and national politics as Washington bureau chief for Copley News Service and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Condon has interviewed nine presidents and reported from 88 countries. He led the team that won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for coverage of the corruption of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Condon is a past president of the White House Correspondents Association and the Gridiron Club and past chairman of the National Press Foundation. He is a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Charlie Cook is editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter he founded in 1984, and since 1998, a political analyst for National Journal, where he writes two weekly columns. In 2010, Charlie was a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association's prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." Charlie served as a Resident Fellow in 2013 at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

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Harrison Cramer is National Security Correspondent, covering defense and foreign policy issues. He previously was a National Journal fellow, and before that held internships at The Century Foundation and The Council on American Islamic Relations. Harrison is originally from Wellesley, Mass., and graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in political science and Arabic.

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Brian Dabbs is the energy and environment policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he covered the same topics at Bloomberg BNA. Prior to that, Brian reported on U.S. trade policy and corresponded from East and North Africa. He has a bachelor's degree from Western State Colorado University and a master's in journalism from Georgetown. Brian grew up near Annapolis, MD.

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Tom DeFrank is a contributing editor at National Journal and was Washington bureau chief of the New York Daily News from 1996 to 2012. DeFrank was Newsweek's senior White House correspondent for a quarter century, covering eight Presidents and 12 Presidential campaigns. He has reported on the resignation of one President, the impeachment of a second, and was an eyewitness to assassination attempts against a third. His reporting has been praised as "riveting." ABC News calls him "excellent, well-connected and influential," and "legendary." The American Journalism Review rated him "one of the unsung stars of Washington journalism." And President Gerald R. Ford called him "one of the finest journalists I have ever known. Everyone I know feels the same way: you are fair, trustworthy and professional."

His 2007 book on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford, "Write it When I'm Gone," was a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. In 2006 DeFrank won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for distinguished Presidential reporting. He co-authored Secretary of State James A. Baker III's memoirs and "Quest for the Presidency 1992," Newsweek's critically-acclaimed look at the 1992 Clinton-Bush election. He has been a student of the Presidency since 1968, when he took his first Presidential trip with Lyndon Johnson as a Newsweek intern. He traveled extensively with Richard Nixon and was assigned to Vice President Gerald Ford in October 1973. A few weeks before Nixon's resignation, he was reassigned to the White House and remained when Ford became President in August 1974.

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Jennifer Duffy is a Senior Editor for The Cook Political Report, where she is responsible for U.S. Senate and Governors races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report, "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."Jennifer has 26 years of experience in campaign politics, the last 23 of which have focused on non-partisan political analysis. In 1985, she served as Press Secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee; she joined The Cook Political Report in 1988 as its first Assistant Editor. While continuing to work as the Report's contributing editor, Jennifer also was a senior account executive with Hill and Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide and an associate with the lobbying firm of Cassidy & Associates.In 1995, Jennifer rejoined Cook & Company full-time. She has served as an off-air analyst for NBC News on Election Nights from 1996 through 2012. Jennifer has been quoted in numerous publications and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, and C-SPAN's "Washington Journal." In June of 2011, BusinessInsider.com named her one of the 13 savviest political analysts in the country. She is a frequent public speaker on elections and national political trends.A native of Rhode Island, Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government from Georgetown University in 1985. In May of 2012, Rhode Island College awarded her an honorary Doctorate in Social Science.

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Jeff Dufour is a senior editor for National Journal, overseeing the "What We're Following" news feed as well as several features for the print version of National Journal Daily. Prior to National Journal, he was a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner. He also spent six years as the Washington, D.C. editor for UrbanDaddy, the lifestyle media company. He began his journalism career in 1998 at American Healthline, then a National Journal product. He has been a panelist and guest on television and radio outlets, including NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show" and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Erin Durkin is a health care correspondent at National Journal covering Congress. She previously was the managing editor and reporter for FDA Week covering food, drug, and device regulation. Durkin also contributed to a project at The Center for Public Integrity by analyzing Medicare Advantage data. Originally from Baltimore, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in 2013.

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Drew Gerber is a staff correspondent with National Journal Hotline, covering Senate races. A Chicago area native, Drew was previously a Hotline fellow and before that interned at The Washington Post and the Spokane Spokesman-Review. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and global health.

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Justice Gilpin-Green is the digital editor for National Journal Hotline. Before joining the Hotline team in 2016, she worked as a copy editor at Roll Call, a state government reporter at the Columbia Missourian and Jefferson City News Tribune, and a reporter for the Jerusalem Post. She graduated from Mizzou School of Journalism.

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Charles Green served as editor of National Journal from 1999 to 2013. During his tenure, National Journal and its reporters won numerous awards, including the National Magazine Award, the National Headliner Award, the Gerald R. Ford Award, the Military Reporters and Editors Award, the Aldo Beckman Award, the American Graphic Design Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, and an Editor & Publisher award for online journalism.

Green joined National Journal in 1997 as deputy editor after 17 years in the Knight Ridder Washington bureau. At Knight Ridder he covered Congress, the White House, politics, and social issues before becoming a news editor and coordinating the bureau's coverage of the 1996 presidential election.

Before joining Knight Ridder, Green worked as a reporter and editor at the Hagerstown (Md.) Morning Herald and a reporter at States News Service. Green, a graduate of the University of Maryland, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 1992 for a series he wrote on Medicaid. He was part of teams of journalists who won the George Polk award for coverage of the Iran-contra affair and the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for coverage of flooding in Fort Wayne, Ind.

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Jerry Hagstrom is a columnist for National Journal. He writes and publishes The Hagstrom Report, a daily email newsletter on agriculture and for DTN, an Omaha-based agricultural news service.

Prior to his role as a columnist, Hagstrom covered agriculture and politics for National Journal. In the 1980s he pioneered the magazine's coverage of the political consulting industry. He is the author of Beyond Reagan: The New Landscape of American Politics; To Be, Not To Be Seen: The Mystery of Swedish Business; and, with Neal R. Peirce, of The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today.

Hagstrom grew up on a North Dakota farm homesteaded by his grandparents. He is a graduate of the University of Denver and has been a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University and a research fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University. He lectures frequently in the United States and abroad. The American Journalism Review has named Hagstrom one of its "unsung heroes" for "sterling work in the shadows" covering agriculture.

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Matt Holt is a fellow with National Journal Hotline. Before joining the Hotline team, Matt interned for NBC's Meet the Press and worked at CNN. A Rhode Island native, he graduated from American University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science.

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John Irons is the graphic artist for National Journal. Previously, he worked in the advertising department of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. After moving to D.C., he spent seven years was a graphic artist at CQ Roll Call, where he edited photos and created graphics and illustrations for CQ Today, CQ Weekly, Roll Call and various websites. He also was the lead designer on publications of CQ Almanac, Politics in America, The New Member Guide and others. John joined National Journal in May of 2016.

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Josh Kraushaar is the political editor for National Journal, and pens the weekly "Against the Grain" column. Kraushaar has held several positions since joining Atlantic Media in 2010, including as managing editor for politics at National Journal, and as executive editor and editor-in-chief of The Hotline. In addition to his management of The Hotline, Kraushaar plays a critical role in shaping National Journal's overall political coverage.

Prior to working at National Journal, he was a political correspondent for Politico, where he reported on congressional campaigns and managed the "Scorecard" blog devoted to up-to-the-minute coverage of elections. Kraushaar has also served as the editor of House Race Hotline, for which he covered the 2006 election cycle.

Kraushaar has appeared as a political analyst on television and radio, including FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, National Public Radio and C-SPAN.

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Ally covers House races for National Journal Hotline. Before joining National Journal, she was an intern for NPR's Washington Desk. A D.C. native, she graduated in 2015 from Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and political science. Ally has also written for USA TODAY and the Gannett newspapers, Texas Tribune and The Star in Johannesburg.

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Daniel Newhauser is a staff correspondent for National Journal, where he primarily covers the House of Representatives. He was formerly a House leadership reporter for Roll Call, where he started as an intern in 2010 and quickly earned a slot as a beat reporter.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Newhauser traveled further West to study journalism at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and write for newspapers including the East Valley Tribune and the Green Valley News & Sun.

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Ben Pershing is editor of National Journal. Before joining National Journal in 2014, he was a reporter at the Washington Post for six years, covering Congress as well as campaigns in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Prior to that, Pershing was at Roll Call for 10 years as a reporter and editor. He is a Los Angeles native and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

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Madelaine is the governors reporter for National Journal Hotline. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Madelaine earned a B.A. from the University of Chicago in political science. Prior to joining National Journal she was a political intern at ABC News covering the 2016 Iowa Caucuses. Madelaine also participated in a yearlong fellowship at the UChicago Institute of Politics in which she studied the leadership methodology of Sargent Shriver. Madelaine currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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Mini Racker is an Editorial Fellow. She previously worked at the Los Angeles Times, where as a political reporting intern she covered the legislative session in Sacramento, writing stories on diverse topics such as start times for state high schools and fears that census takers will undercount millions of Californians in 2020. Originally from Philadelphia, she was a mechanical engineering major at Stanford, but also found time to write poetry and report for the Stanford Daily.

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Stuart Taylor, Jr. is a journalist focusing on legal and policy issues and has coauthored two critically acclaimed books. He occasionally practices law and has taught at Stanford Law School.

Taylor's journalistic career began at the Baltimore Sun from 1971 to 1974. After detouring to Harvard Law School and a Washington law firm (Wilmer, Cutler, & Pickering) from 1974-1980, he wrote for The New York Times, from 1980-1988; American Lawyer Media from 1989-1997; National Journal and Newsweek, from 1998-2010; and many other publications on a freelance basis. He has been interviewed on all major broadcast networks.

Taylor has won numerous journalism honors and has often been called one of the nation's leading legal journalists. He is known for breaking with both liberal and conservative conventional wisdom.

In 2012, Richard Sander and Taylor wrote Mismatch: How Affirmative Action Hurts Students It's Intended to Help, and Why Universities Won't Admit It. They have filed related amicus briefs in the Supreme Court. In 2007, Taylor and KC Johnson wrote Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Fraud.

Taylor graduated from Princeton University in 1970 and from Harvard Law School in 1977.

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Hanna Trudo is a staff correspondent for National Journal Hotline covering national politics. Before joining National Journal, she covered nightly breaking news at POLITICO during the 2016 presidential election as a senior producer for its website. Hanna has written for The New Republic, WIRED, Foreign Policy, PBS FRONTLINE, The Boston Globe, and Marie Claire, among others, and was a 2014 Gerald Loeb Award finalist in investigative reporting for a year-long series published with ProPublica. She hails from New Hampshire.

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Kyle Trygstad is editor of National Journal Hotline. An Arlington, Va., native, he previously served as an editor, features writer and campaign reporter at Roll Call. Before that he reported for Real Clear Politics, was a researcher for The Almanac of American Politics and interned at The Hotline.

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Amy Walter is the national editor of The Cook Political Report where she provides analysis of the issues, trends and events that shape the political environment. Her weekly column appears at CookPolitical.com.

Over the past 14 years, Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. She joins The Cook Political Report after a successful stint as political director of ABC News. Before ABC, Walter served as editor-in-chief of National Journal's Hotline where she served as the political publication's primary voice. She provided regular analysis of the national political environment in her weekly NationalJournal.com column, On the Trail.

This is Amy's second tour of duty with The Cook Political Report. From 1997 to 2007, she served as senior editor where she covered the U.S. House.

A regular panelist on PBS's "Washington Week with Gwen Ifill," Ms. Walter has provided political analysis on almost every major political television program. She was a member of CNN's Emmy Award-winning election night team in 2006.

Walter was named one of DC's "50 Top Journalists" by Washingtonian Magazine in 2009 and honored with theWashington Post's Crystal Ball award for her spot-on election predictions in 2000. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Colby College where she graduated summa cum laude.

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David Wasserman is House editor for The Cook Political Report, where he is responsible for handicapping and analyzing U.S. House Races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."

Nate Silver of the New York Times' FiveThirtyEight Blog has written: "Wasserman's knowledge of the nooks and crannies of political geography can make him seem like a local," and the Los Angeles Times recently called David a "whip smart" and "scrupulously nonpartisan" analyst whose "numbers nerddom was foretold at a young age."

David has served as an analyst for the NBC News Election Night Decision Desk in 2012, 2010, and 2008, and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN, and NPR. His commentary on House races has been cited in numerous print and online publications including Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and RealClearPolitics.com.

In April 2011, David authored "Better Know a District," the The Cook Political Report's comprehensive 2012 redistricting outlook. He also serves as an associate editor of National Journal magazine and a contributor to the Almanac of American Politics 2014. A frequent speaker and guest lecturer, David has shared his insights into the latest political trends with audiences at Georgetown's Government Affairs Institute, the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, and American University, among others.

Prior to joining The Cook Political Report in June 2007, David served for three years as House editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a widely respected political analysis newsletter and website founded by renowned Prof. Larry J. Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. In that role, David led the publication to correctly predict Democrats would score a gain of 29 House seats in November 2006. He also served as an off-air analyst for BBC America's Election Night coverage of the 2006 midterm races.

David has also worked on numerous political campaigns, including competitive races in Iowa, South Dakota, and Virginia. A native of New Jersey, he holds a B.A. in government with distinction from the University of Virginia and was awarded the 2006 Emmerich-Wright Outstanding Thesis prize for his study of congressional redistricting standards.

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Mackenzie Weinger is National Journal's policy editor. She previously covered national security at The Cipher Brief and reported on politics and media at Politico. Her work has also appeared in the Financial Times, World Politics Review, and The Washington Diplomat, among others. Mackenzie is a Los Angeles native and has a master’s degree in war studies from King’s College London and a B.A. in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Casey Wooten covers tax policy for National Journal. He previously covered agriculture and tax issues for Bloomberg BNA, and served as an energy and banking reporter at Houston Business Journal. A Houston native, he has a B.A. from the University of Houston and a master's in journalism and public affairs from American University.

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Andy Elkins is a health policy analyst for the Network Science Initiative. He joined National Journal in 2018, following his graduation from the UNC Gillings Schools of Global Public Health as a Master of Science in public health in health policy and management. Andy is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, Columbia where he studied history and sociology. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Juliette Hackett is an analyst for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a research and strategy associate at a consulting startup. Juliette graduated from Princeton University in 2017 with a B.A. in sociology and certificates in American studies and gender & sexuality studies. She is originally from California and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Heimann is an analyst for the Network Science Initiative at National Journal. She graduated from Duke University in May 2017 with a B.A. in public policy and a double minor in economics and psychology. Rachel grew up in San Francisco and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Rao Komar is a research analyst at the Network Science Initiative. Rao graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in the Arabic language. During college, he worked as a freelance journalist, writing articles for Foreign Policy Magazine, the Atlantic Council, and the Brookings Institution's Lawfare site. In addition to working at National Journal, he serves as a spring fellow at National Security Action. Originally from Houston, Texas, he currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Heather McKeon serves as the director of National Journal's Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining Network Science Initiative in 2018, Heather served as the associate director for National Journal's membership program. Before National Journal, Heather worked in the front office for the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. Originally from Southern California, Heather attended California State University, Long Beach where she studied political science and played water polo.

Aiden is a fellow with the Network Science Initiative at the National Journal. She recently graduated from the University of Chicago, with degrees in history and political science. Prior to joining National Journal, Aiden interned at the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding. Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Aiden now lives in Washington, D.C.

Dan O’Brien is a senior finance policy analyst with National Journal’s Network Science Initiative. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in May 2016, with a degree in economics and business. While at Trinity, Dan worked as a journalist and managing editor at The University Times, the largest student publication in Ireland. He previously interned in investment banking at JPMorgan Chase. Originally from Philadelphia, Dan now lives in Washington, D.C.

Amber O'Rourke is an analyst for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a policy analyst at the Council on Competitiveness. Amber graduated from Northeastern University in 2017 with a B.A. in political science and international affairs and a minor in Japanese. She grew up in Virginia and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Adam Sherman is director of product management and strategy for National Journal’s Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, Adam conducted regulatory research at a financial services law firm and foreign policy research at the National Democratic Institute, and led the Obama re-election campaign’s grassroots efforts in Pittsburgh. Adam graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in government.

Rachel Topazian is the senior director of research for National Journal's Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, Rachel conducted bioethics research at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. She is a graduate of Wheaton College, where she studied philosophy.

Kendall is a health policy analyst for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting clients across the federal health market. Kendall graduated from the College of William & Mary in May 2016 with a B.A. in government and philosophy.

Adam Aldrich is a senior associate with National Journal's Presentation Center. Before joining National Journal, Adam worked as a wealth management intern at Merrill Lynch. A native Washingtonian, he graduated from Wesleyan University in 2017 with a B.A. in economics and French studies.

Jacob is a policy and data visualization associate at the Presentation Center. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a B.S. in economics and a master’s in international affairs. Prior to joining National Journal, he worked in international tax consulting for PwC. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jacob now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Shruthi is a policy and data visualization associate at the Presentation Center. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016 with a B.A./B.S. in biology and political science. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked in health care consulting. Originally from just outside of Chicago, Shruthi currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Julianna Bradley is a fellow with National Journal's Presentation Center, where she focuses on energy and environment policy. Originally from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Julianna graduated in December of 2017 from Brown University with a B.A. in environmental anthropology. Prior to her work for the National Journal, Julianna was a researcher at the Climate and Development Lab at Brown University where she focused on international climate policy and contributed to a book on capacity building programs under the Paris Agreement. She traveled to Bonn, Germany last fall as a student representative at the United Nation's annual conference on climate change. Julianna now resides in Washington, D.C.

Caitlin Chin is a fellow with National Journal's Presentation Center, where she focuses on technology policy. Prior to joining National Journal, she interned with Verizon and VMware, working on legislative and regulatory issues that affect the technology industry. She is originally from the Boston area, and graduated from the University of Maryland in May 2017 with a bachelor's degree in government and Spanish.

Madison DeLuca is a fellow with National Journal’s Presentation Center, where she focuses on energy and environment policy. Madison graduated from the University of Virginia in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in public policy & leadership and global development studies. Before joining National Journal, Madison served a term with the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program. As an AmeriCorps member, Madison researched and wrote reports on affordable housing and budgetary policy for the Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Originally from Houston, Texas, she now resides in Washington, D.C.

Gabrielle Fournier is the project manager for the National Journal's Presentation Center Concierge service. Prior to joining the National Journal, she was a clerk at the D.C. Court of Appeals. Gabrielle received a J.D. from Michigan State College of Law and a B.A. in history from James Madison University. Gabrielle's extended family is from Michigan, but she grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where she resides today.

David Hervey is a fellow with National Journal's Presentation Center, where he focuses on finance. Originally from San Diego, California, he is a graduate of Emory University, where he studied political science and economics. At Emory, David wrote his thesis about rationality in international relations, using the Melian Dialogue from Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War as a case study. Before coming to National Journal, David interned in Congressman Juan Vargas’ office.

Sean Lambert is a fellow in the National Journal Presentation Center, where he covers defense and cybersecurity. Prior to joining National Journal, he worked as a senior editor at college consulting company Admissionado. He graduated in 2017 from Oberlin College, where he studied comparative literature and creative writing. He grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts (snowiest town in America, 2015) and currently lives in Columbia Heights.

Taryn MacKinney is a senior associate with National Journal's Presentation Center. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Taryn graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in biological anthropology and English from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her work for National Journal, Taryn worked as a research assistant at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, as well as a researcher and book writer for Penn Law Professor Paul Robinson.

Holly is an associate at the Presentation Center. She graduated valedictorian from Franklin University Switzerland in 2017, with a double major in international banking & finance and international economics. Prior to joining National Journal, Holly worked at POPVOX and Market News International, covering economic legislation and monetary policy implications.

Daniel Stublen is the research manager for National Journal's Presentation Center. He graduated in May 2015 from Duke University with a B.A. in political science and French/francophone studies, as well as a certificate in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). Before joining the Presentation Center, Daniel was a fellow with National Journal's Network Science Initiative. Originally from Kitty Hawk, NC, he currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Danari White is a fellow with National Journal’s Presentation Center. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but lived two years in Guam and four years in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to graduating from Howard University, where she studied English and political science, she interned with the Department of Commerce, Environmental Integrity Project and other D.C.-based organizations. Danari enjoys creative writing and live music.

Paige Wulff is a health care policy fellow at National Journal. A St. Louis native, she graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in 2017 with a B.A. in political economy and international relations. Previously, she worked for the Massachusetts Health Connector and served as field staff for a Missouri senatorial campaign.

Christine Yan is an associate in National Journal's Presentation Center. She graduated from Princeton University in June 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a certificate in finance. She has lived in California, New Jersey, and Taiwan, and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

AJ Brown is a director of partnerships for Ballast Research. In this role, she consults with clients and grows partner relationships. Before joining Ballast, she held positions at two large, international law firms, the Federal Communications Commission and the Institute for Policy Integrity, in addition to clerking for a Federal District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. AJ received her B.A. in economics from Bates College, and her J.D. from Yale Law School.

Jason Clark serves as the senior director of strategy for Ballast Research. In this role he oversees the consulting, research, and new product functions of Ballast Research. He is also a senior advisor to the Policymakers Network, an organization focused on serving the needs of federal and state policymakers. He formerly held a number of positions with Ballast Research and National Journal, including director of product development, research consultant, and strategy & new product development associate. A native of Colorado, Jason worked in business consulting, product innovation, and strategic research before moving to D.C.

Andy Dennis serves as the outreach manager for Ballast Research. He develops and maintains communication channels to ensure an effective system for gathering research information is upheld. He previously conducted research and writing for a boutique public affairs firm. Before moving to D.C., Andy managed a Kentucky-based, youth-driven civic engagement nonprofit, where he developed curriculum and led students through leadership development programs.

Chris Farrow is a fellow at National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, he worked with institutional investors to help them analyze and report on the social impact of their portfolios. Chris graduated with a B.A. in economics in 2015 from Brown University.

Christian Garcia is a research analyst for National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining National Journal, he has held various research positions in the public policy, legal, and academic arenas. While working for the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and the United States Senate, Christian conducted research on economic competitiveness, job creation, and community revitalization. He has also worked as an analyst for a financial litigation firm and as a research assistant for Harvard University. Christian received his honors B.A. in government from Harvard University. He is a native of Weehawken, New Jersey.

Kerry Gibbons is a qualitative research specialist for National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a research associate on various K-12 and higher education projects at Hanover Research. Originally from Florida, Kerry graduated from the University of Chicago in 2015 with an A.B. in history and law, letters and society.

Elise Gurney is the director of research for Ballast Research. Elise has a background in data analytics and research management, and served as research coordinator at an economic consulting firm before joining National Journal. Elise received her B.A. in economics from Carleton College in 2013.

Sean Harper serves as senior director of partnerships & service for Ballast Research. Sean is responsible for working with National Journal's partner organizations to assist them in better understanding and effectively positioning their policy brand among decision makers in Washington. Before joining National Journal in 2014, Sean worked as the solutions development and client delivery manager for the consulting services organizations within both of Princeton Information Ltd. and Resolvit, LLC. Sean is a native of Silver Spring, MD and graduated in 2006 from the Boston College, where he holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in history.

Ava Hartmann is a research fellow at National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast Research, she conducted independent research on U.S. foreign aid policy and women’s health in Kathmandu, Nepal and has interned across various political spaces in Washington, D.C. Ava graduated from The George Washington University in 2018.

Nate Jacobs is a research analyst at Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, he worked in public opinion research, specializing in public health, education, and climate change. Nate graduated from Wesleyan University in 2013 with a B.A. in history, and is originally from upstate New York.

Trevor Jennings is an intern on the Ballast Research team. Originally from Olney, MD, Trevor is a rising senior at American University pursuing a B.A. in law and society. He previously interned at a technical consulting firm and also worked in auxiliary programs at the National Presbyterian School for two years.

Julia Kichorowsky is a fellow at National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, she interned at Centerview Partners, a strategic advisory firm based in New York City. Originally from the Boston area, Julia graduated from Yale in 2017 with an honors B.A. in history.

Amit Kumar is a consultant for Ballast Research. In this role, he conducts research and analysis at the federal and state levels for the Policy Brand Research team and helps partners to implement best practices from the research. Amit has experience in policy analysis and journalism, and prior to joining National Journal he conducted social media strategy and policy analysis at the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Amit holds a B.A. in broadcast journalism from the University of South Carolina and an M.A. in U.S. foreign policy and national security from American University.

Gabby Marzke is a research fellow at National Journal's Ballast Research. Gabby graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2017 with a B.A. in gender studies. During her time there, she worked in outreach, education, and research for various political organizations on campus and in the local community.

Victoria Nolte is a research analyst with National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast Research, she conducted research in Germany, the UK, and France for her work as a research assistant at Jacobs University and the LSE Centre for Economic Performance, as well as her own academic work. She received a B.A. in international politics and history at Jacobs University Bremen and an MSc in economic history at the London School of Economics.

Daniel Okonkwo is a director of partnerships for Ballast Research. Daniel provides Ballast Research partners with strategic advice and develops new methods of client service. Prior to joining Ballast, Daniel was a founder and executive director of a social justice policy and advocacy non-profit organization. He also has experience as a federal lobbyist and as a trial lawyer at the Office of the Public Defender in Miami, FL. Daniel holds degrees from Yale University and Georgetown University Law Center.

Meghan Sullivan is a research analyst for National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining National Journal, Meghan worked in the office of Congressman Tom Suozzi as a legislative correspondent. Meghan graduated from Brown University with an honors B.A. in political science. She is a native of Syosset, New York.

Marko John Supronyuk is an associate consultant at Ballast Research in Washington, D.C. He joined National Journal after completing his master's degree at the University of Oxford, where he researched the Russian gas trade and the Kremlin's use of financial corruption and crime as tools of foreign policy. Having finished high school in the suburbs of Chicago, he went on to undergraduate studies as a scholarship holder at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained a degree in international relations & law. His college thesis was awarded first-class honors and covered the armed conflict in Ukraine, which he visited during the 2014 revolution and the 2015 war effort.

Olivia Till is a research analyst at National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, she interned with the International Cooperation team at OUSD(AT&L), as well as at the National Association for Japan-America Societies’ AIG High School Diplomats program. Olivia graduated in May 2017 from the University of Notre Dame with an honors B.A. in political science. She is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Allison Turnipseed is a research fellow with Ballast Research. Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, she is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a minor in public policy and management. Allison joined Ballast Research in January of 2019 after completing an internship in Washington D.C. with the United States House of Representatives.

Jacob Wellner is a fellow with National Journal’s Ballast Research. Before joining National Journal, Jacob interned in President Obama’s National Economic Council, where he worked on a portfolio that included fintech, financial regulation, housing finance, and consumer protection. A native of Washington, D.C., Jacob graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Katherine Westmoreland is the manager of quantitative research for Ballast Research, leading the design of survey instruments and ensuring data quality for all quantitative projects. Katherine's research background stems from previous work on statewide and national academic survey projects and training in market research. She attended Brigham Young University and majored in political science with a minor in nonprofit management. Katherine is a proud Portland, Oregon native.

Robert Townley is a developer for National Journal, focusing primarily on the stability and development of National Journal’s in-house content management system, and laying the groundwork for innovative future products and offerings. Prior to joining National Journal, he ran a children’s educational organization in his hometown of New York City. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, classical guitar, and listening to science fiction audiobooks while cleaning the house.

Jesse Chimes is National Journal’s marketing manager. He helps develop and implement strategies to expand National Journal’s membership base and strengthen its brand positioning. In previous roles, he led marketing strategy for a national healthcare association, managed digital content for a nonprofit founded by Microsoft, and produced a major market talk show for CBS Radio.

Jesse grew up just outside of Washington, D.C., graduated from American University in the District, and has no immediate plans to see what other cities actually look like.

Sarah Hofmann is executive assistant to the president at National Journal. She attended Elon University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in political science and international studies. Prior to joining National Journal, Sarah worked for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and on a 2016 presidential campaign.

Emma is a business fellow for the marketing team. Prior to working for National Journal, Emma worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign for president and at Edelman Public Relations. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, she is returning to the east coast for the first time after attending Stanford University, where she studied political science and classics.

Chloe is the senior marketing and events manager at National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, she was a copywriter at Experian’s internal creative agency in New York City and worked in marketing in Nantucket, MA.

After growing up in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, Chloe attended the University of Virginia where she received a Bachelor of Arts in American studies and government.

Padget Satterwhite is a fellow with National Journal's events Team. Padget graduated from Wofford College in May 2018 where she was an English major and business minor with a concentration in digital media studies. Prior to working for National Journal, Padget worked as a congressional intern, as well as an intern for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Brandon Stallings is National Journal’s senior manager of communications. In this role, he manages the company’s public relations, media relations, and external communications. Brandon previously worked at DCI Group, where he crafted strategic communications and writing content for federal and state issue advocacy campaigns on behalf of Fortune 500 companies and helped manage grassroots field operations. Brandon has also served in research and communications roles supporting candidates running for U.S. Congress and the Council of the District of Columbia. Brandon holds a B.A. in political science from Yale University. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Matt Tompkins is the marketing operations specialist for National Journal, where he is responsible for using his years of digital marketing experience across multiple verticals (including music, cybersecurity, education, and food & beverage, among others) to devise tactics and strategies to optimize National Journal's marketing practice.

Matt was born in New York City and raised in Georgia's 6th Congressional District. He attended the University of Georgia, where he studied music business and journalism. He currently resides in Crystal City, where he can be found frequenting Chick-fil-A.