Two strong voices in American politics, veteran Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author George F. Will, bring their perspectives to the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on March 31 as a part of the Lesher Foundation’s Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series.
The event is the third in the series this season and will feature both of their diverse political backgrounds in a discussion format moderated by KTVU Fox 2 anchor and political reporter Greg Lee, according to series producer Michael White.
“2025 is the 20th anniversary of Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series,” said White. “In honor of this milestone, executive producer and founder of the series, Steve Lesher, wanted to bring back former speakers – but with a twist.”
Will has previously participated in the series, but this is the first time he will be paired with someone who hasn’t been to the Lesher Center – Brazile.
That’s not to say that these two are new to appearing together and tackling politics and culture. Brazile and Will were regulars on the ABC News show “This Week,” where they sat as panelists representing the liberal left – Brazile – and the conservative right – Will.
Brazile, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1959, expressed an interest in the world of politics starting with her involvement in local community political matters at the age of 9.
Former acting chair of the Democratic National Committee, Brazile worked closely with Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign in 2016 and served as former Vice President Al Gore’s campaign manager in his bid for the presidency in 2000, becoming the first African American woman to serve as the manager of a major party’s presidential campaign. Brazile now works at Georgetown University as an adjunct assistant professor in the Women and Gender Studies Department and as an ABC News contributor.
Will, born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1941, has been a conservative voice and intellectual for decades and served as the editor for the National Review in the 1970s. He won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1977 for his work as a columnist at The Washington Post and he still writes a twice-weekly political column for the publication to this day. The Wall Street Journal once referred to him as “the most powerful journalist in America.”
But Will and Brazile are connected by one thing: their dislike of Trumpism. Both supported Democrat Kamala Harris in the last election and have choice words for President Donald Trump.
“From the French word ‘petite,’ meaning ‘small,’ comes the English word ‘petty,’ which describes the Trump administration,” said Will in his March 5 column.
Similarly, when Brazile was asked her opinion in The Washington Post on the presidential debate between Trump and Harris in September, she didn’t pull any punches, saying that he attacked Harris for reasons beyond her politics.
“He loves attacking Black women,” said Brazile. “He enjoys the attack because it gets him where his base thinks that’s fighting. … That is not fighting. I know what it is to fight for freedom. I know what it is to fight for voting rights. I know what it is to fight for reproductive rights, for environmental justice. That’s not fighting. That’s insulting people. That’s derogatory.”
With national news changing daily, KTVU’s Lee will have many topics to choose from during the speaking event.
“Greg has already submitted his questions for review by (Brazile and Will),” said White. “But given the dynamics of our current political environment, new questions will most likely be added.”
As with all events in the speakers series, selected questions from the audience will also be asked.
The Newsmakers: Lesher Speakers Series will take place in the Hofmann Theatre at the Lesher Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale on the Lesher Center’s website.
Emma Mayta Canales is an 11th grader at Deer Valley High School in Antioch. Ishita Khanna is a 10th grader at Heritage High School in Brentwood. This story was made possible by support from the Lesher Foundation, its Newsmakers speaker series, and the Bay City News Foundation. Stories are produced independently by the CCYJ news team.
