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More than 60 countries and half the world’s population–an estimated 4 billion people–will go to the polls in 2024, voting in all levels of elections: presidential, legislative, and local. During a tense period rife with geopolitical upheavals worldwide, this election year will be one of the most consequential in recent memory.
As part of Meridian’s Election Briefing Series, POLITICO and Meridian will team up to analyze key elections shaping the trajectories of the United States and the European Union. Through two engaging panel discussions, esteemed experts will shed light on the multifaceted dimensions of these electoral contests, exploring their implications not only for domestic governance but also for global geopolitics. Join us as we delve into the complexities of these pivotal elections and their potential impacts on economics, trade, and global alliances.
If you have any questions regarding the program, please reach out to our team at ExternalAffairs@meridian.org.
8:30 AM Registration and Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Speaker: Natalie Jones, Executive Vice President, Meridian International Center
EU Parliament Elections Briefing
Moderator: Kevin Baron, Editorial Director, POLITICO
Speakers: Nicholas Vinocur, Editor-at-Large, POLITICO Europe (virtual)
Suzanne Lynch, Author, Global Playbook, POLITICO Europe (virtual)
Gavin Bade, Trade Reporter, POLITICO
Audience Q&A
9:45 AM U.S. Elections Briefing
Moderator: Kevin Baron, Editorial Director, POLITICO
Speakers: Alexander Burns, Head of News, POLITICO
Charlie Mahtesian, Senior Politics Editor, POLITICO
Meridith McGraw, National Political Correspondent, POLITICO
Brakkton Booker, National Political Correspondent, POLITICO
Audience Q&A
Closing Remarks
10:30 AM Program Adjourns
Gavin Bade, Trade Reporter, POLITICO
Gavin Bade is a reporter on the Pro Trade team covering the administration and Congress’ approach to industrial policy and other trade issues. He previously was on the Pro Energy team covering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, electricity markets and state policy.
He was previously senior reporter and editor at Utility Dive, an energy trade publication. Gavin is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he edited the campus alt-weekly, the Voice.
Kevin Baron, Editorial Director, POLITICO
Kevin Baron is the editorial director of POLITICO Live, overseeing editorial programming and content for events. Baron is the former founding executive editor of Defense One, originally an Atlantic Media news organization, which he led from 2013 to 2023, overseeing all editorial operations, coverage, events, and product development. He is also a frequent on-stage host and moderator at international policy events and a regular on-air global security and political affairs analyst.
Brakkton Booker, National Political Correspondent, POLITICO
Brakkton Booker is a National Political Correspondent with POLITICO. He writes on the intersection of race, politics, culture and power. He is also the author of The Recast newsletter he helped launch in 2021. Prior to joining POLITICO he spent more than 17 years at NPR, serving in various roles including a National Desk reporter. During the nationwide protests following the police killing of George Floyd, he led NPR’s America Reckons with Racial Injustice vertical, where he tracked high-profile encounters of Black Americans and law enforcement.
Alexander Burns, Head of News, POLITICO
Alexander Burns is the head of news at POLITICO. He has covered politics and power for more than a decade, including as national political correspondent for The New York Times during the 2020 presidential election. In 2022, he co-authored the bestselling book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden and the Battle for America’s Future.” Burns writes POLITICO’s Tomorrow column, which explores the future of politics and policy debates that cross national lines.
Suzanne Lynch, Author, Global Playbook, POLITICO Europe
Suzanne Lynch is POLITICO’s Global Playbook Author. She joined POLITICO Europe after more than four years as the Washington Correspondent for the Irish Times. She was based in Brussels between 2013 and 2017 as European Correspondent for the Irish Times. Born and raised in Ireland, she holds a PhD in English Literature from Cambridge University. She has worked as an arts, features and financial reporter in addition to her role as a foreign correspondent.
Charlie Mahtesian, Senior Politics Editor, POLITICO
Charles Mahtesian is POLITICO’s Senior Politics Editor. He returned to POLITICO in 2015 after spending two years at NPR, where he served as Politics Editor and Deputy Washington Desk Chief. Prior to that, he spent five years directing POLITICO’s political coverage. Mahtesian has served as the editor in chief of National Journal’s Almanac of American Politics and worked as a national correspondent for Governing magazine.
Meridith McGraw, National Political Correspondent, POLITICO
Meridith McGraw is a national political correspondent for POLITICO. Her current coverage focuses on the 2024 presidential race, former president Donald Trump, and Republican politics. Meridith joined POLITICO in 2019 as a White House reporter after working as a White House producer and reporter for ABC News. She began her career at ABC News as a Frank Reynolds Fellow and went on to cover Capitol Hill, work as a producer for ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” and contributed to two Emmy-award winning teams.
Nicholas Vinocur, Editor-at-Large, POLITICO Europe
Nick Vinocur is based in Brussels and is POLITICO’s editor at large. He also authors the Friday edition of Brussels Playbook. Previously, he oversaw the publication’s policy output and agenda setting Pro teams after heading POLITICO’s technology coverage in Europe. Vinocur brings both a European and a transatlantic perspective to his work and is passionate about the role of journalism in protecting and promoting democratic values.
The Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement accelerates collaboration between international diplomatic corps and U.S. public and private sector leaders to cooperate on solutions to global economic and security issues. With more than 60 years of close relationships with the diplomatic community, Meridian is uniquely positioned to convene dialogues among leaders across borders, parties, and industries. These conversations are essential in today’s polarized society to achieve consensus and sustainable, mutually-beneficial solutions.
Please click HERE to view more information on the Center.
For a full list of past Meridian Diplomatic Engagement Events, visit www.Meridian.org/diplomacy
