The McCain Institute is pleased to host the launch of the report, “Defending American Democracy in the Digital Age.” This hybrid public event will take place on Wednesday, September 18, from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET at the McCain Institute at the Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington, D.C. It will also be livestreamed. Written in partnership with the Cronkite School for Journalism and Mass Communication, the report sheds light on the growing threats posed by disinformation campaigns targeting our core institutions and American democratic values.
The launch event will feature two panels on the recommendations outlined in the report and Arizona’s impact on the national political and electoral conversations. Experts from academia, civil society, media, and local government will draw on their experiences to share valuable insights into how misinformation is being weaponized to undermine public trust, and the steps needed to strengthen democratic resilience.
Welcome remarks will be delivered by the McCain Institute Director for Democracy Programs Paul Fagan.
Panel moderators:
Kristy Roschke, Director of the News Co/Lab, ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Mike Brand, McCain Institute American Democracy Fellow
Panelists:
Rachael Dean Wilson, Managing Director, Alliance for Securing Democracy and US Elections at German Marshall Fund
Jim Ludes, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Exec. Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy
Jane Andersen, Executive Director, The Conservative Agenda for Arizona
Steven Richer, County Recorder of Maricopa County
Dianna Náñez, Executive Director, Arizona Luminaria