Midterm and presidential elections may look different, but together they shape the direction of American politics and the balance of power in Washington. Astead Herndon draws on his experience covering multiple national election cycles to explain how voters, candidates, and parties approach these pivotal moments differently. Astead examines how turnout, campaign strategy, voter priorities, and shifting coalitions can produce very different outcomes from one cycle to the next. He also explores how midterm results can influence governing, party strategy, and the political environment leading into a presidential race. Blending on-the-ground reporting with broader political analysis, this timely keynote helps audiences understand what election results reveal about the electorate and what they may signal about the future of American politics. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How midterm and presidential elections differ in turnout, strategy, and voter behavior

• How election outcomes can reshape governing and the balance of political power

• What changing voter coalitions and recent trends may signal about future elections Read Less ^

American politics is being reshaped by changing voter coalitions, shifting priorities, and new sources of political influence. Astead Herndon, Political Analyst and Editorial Director at Vox, draws on years of campaign trail reporting and conversations with lawmakers, strategists, and voters to explain what is driving the national political landscape. Astead examines how the Democratic and Republican parties are evolving, what demographic and generational shifts may mean for future elections, and how grassroots movements influence political strategy. He also explores the growing role of media narratives and the gap that can emerge between national political coverage and what voters are actually responding to on the ground. Blending reporting, analysis, and firsthand perspective from battleground states, this timely keynote gives audiences a clearer understanding of the forces shaping American politics and where they may lead next. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How voter coalitions within both major parties are changing

• What media narratives, demographic shifts, and grassroots movements reveal about national politics

• What on-the-ground reporting can tell us about voter enthusiasm and participation Read Less ^

Political media is undergoing a fundamental transformation as trust declines, audiences fragment, and traditional news organizations compete with independent outlets, digital creators, podcasts, and social platforms for attention. Astead Herndon examines the state of political journalism in America and the forces reshaping how political news is reported, distributed, and understood. Drawing on his experiences inside major national newsrooms, working with smaller independent outlets, and reporting directly from communities across the country, Astead offers a wide-ranging view of what different media models get right and where they fall short. He explores the economic pressures facing journalism, the growing divide between national narratives and voters’ lived experiences, and the ways new voices and platforms are challenging traditional ideas of political authority. Astead also considers what these changes mean for journalistic independence, public trust, and the media’s responsibility to help Americans understand a complex political landscape. Combining personal insight with a broader assessment of the industry, this timely keynote offers a candid look at where political media is headed and what it must do to remain credible, relevant, and connected to the public. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How economic pressures, changing technology, and fragmented audiences are transforming political journalism

• What mainstream news organizations and independent media can learn from one another

• How political media can rebuild trust and better connect national coverage to the experiences of voters and communities Read Less ^

Race and identity remain powerful forces in determining who participates in American politics, how coalitions are built, and whose voices shape the national conversation. Astead Herndon draws on years of reporting from campaigns and communities across the country to examine how race, representation, and belonging influence voter behavior and political strategy. Astead explores how demographic change and generational differences are reshaping party coalitions while cultural debates increasingly affect the way voters understand their political identities. He also looks at how candidates and movements navigate questions of representation in an electorate that is becoming more diverse and politically complex. Combining historical context with on-the-ground reporting, this timely keynote helps audiences better understand how identity and power continue to shape the future of American democracy. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How race and identity influence voter behavior and political coalitions

• How demographic and generational change are reshaping political participation

• Why questions of representation and belonging remain central to American politics Read Less ^