Asma Khalid, award-winning political correspondent and host of the BBC news podcast “The Global Story,” will visit Iowa State University on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, as the 2026 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics. Khalid will present “Our American Experiment – 250 Years On” at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.
The presentation will discuss the state of American democracy in the context of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, considering both the domestic environment and global challenges.
“Ms. Khalid is an experienced reporter with a deep knowledge of American and global politics. We are so honored to host her,” said Karen M. Kedrowski, Catt Center director.
Khalid is the host of BBC podcast “The Global Story,” which explores the intersection of global and American affairs. Based in Washington, D.C., Khalid is a former NPR White House correspondent and co-host of “The NPR Politics Podcast,” with extensive coverage of U.S. elections from 2014 through 2024. Before joining NPR’s political team, Khalid was a reporter for Boston’s NPR station WBUR.
Khalid has reported internationally in Pakistan, the UK, and China, and is a frequent guest on TV news programs such as ABC’s “This Week,” CNN’s “Inside Politics” and PBS’s “Washington Week.” Her reporting has been recognized with the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, as well as awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Gracie Award.
A native of Crown Point, Indiana, Khalid is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington and the University of Cambridge.
In addition to the Catt Center, the lecture is co-sponsored by the Center for Cyclone Civics, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Department of Political Science, Department of History, and Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government). The event is free and open to the public.
The Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics was established in 1995 to honor the Iowa native and longtime political and civic leader. The chair brings nationally known political leaders, scholars and activists to Iowa State to enrich the experiences of students and educate citizens about the role of women in the political process.