National Public Radio political correspondent Mara Liasson will analyze the results of the 2014 mid-term elections and explain what it all means in her public lecture, “What Just Happened? The 2014 Elections and Beyond,” on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Iowa State University.
Liasson is visiting Iowa State as the fall 2014 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics, which is coordinated and sponsored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. Her lecture, which is free and open to the public, starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.
“We’ve found that hosting a nationally known woman political reporter shortly after an election helps our university and local communities engage in a thoughtful dialogue about the results,” said Dianne Bystrom, Catt Center director. “We look forward to hearing Liasson’s thoughts about the Republican Party gaining control of the U.S. Senate as well as whether continuing gridlock or bipartisan compromise on some key issues will set the tone of Congress during the next two years.”
As a political correspondent for NPR, Liasson reports on politics and policy – focusing on the White House and Congress – and also covers political trends beyond the Beltway. Her reports are regularly featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.” Liasson also serves as a panelist on the “FOX News Sunday” public affairs program.
Prior to her current assignment, Liasson was NPR’s White House correspondent from 1992 to 2000. From 1989-1992, she was NPR’s congressional correspondent. Liasson has received numerous awards and honors for her reporting, including the White House Correspondents’ Association Merriman Smith Award in 1994, 1995 and 1997 for excellence in daily news reporting.
Liasson is the 26th woman leader to visit Iowa State through the sponsorship of the Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics, which was established in 1995 to honor the Iowa native and longtime political and civic leader. Smith – the first and only woman to chair the Republican National Committee – was a mentor, friend and role model to many in the world of politics, government and community affairs. The purpose of the chair is to bring nationally known political leaders, scholars, journalists and activists to Iowa State to enrich the experiences of students and educate citizens about the role of women in the political process.