UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The James Jimirro "Open for Debate" Series, designed to challenge assumptions and facilitate conversations around divisive issues, will be held 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 25 in the HUB-Robeson Center on Penn State’s University Park campus.
This event, hosted by the Presidential Leadership Academy housed in Schreyer Honors College, is free and open to the public, but tickets are limited.
The series is predicated on the belief that minds can be opened — or even changed — when two (or more) sides of an issue are examined intelligently, respectfully and thoughtfully. During this interactive event, attendees will hear different sides of three divisive topics presented by high-profile political commentators.
- "Media Bias: Why Care and What Can We Do?"
- "Climate Politics: Who Pays, Who Acts, Who Decides?"
- "Immigration and the Law: Do We Prioritize Order or Opportunity?"
This year’s speakers are Molly Jong-Fast, an American writer, journalist, author, political commentator and podcaster; and Scott Jennings, a prominent conservative political commentator on CNN.
Attendees will engage in respectful, open-minded dialogue around the topics through small group interactions facilitated by Spud Marshall, facilitator and founder of My Creative Community LCC.
Aiming to reinvigorate informed exchanges around polarizing issues, Penn State Bellisario College of Communications graduate and longtime volunteer James P. Jimirro, class of 1958, funded the annual dialogue series to enhance efforts already underway to reaffirm free speech as a cornerstone of Penn State's mission.
About the speakers
Jong-Fast is the author of two novels: "Normal Girl" and "The Social Climber's Handbook." After the 2016 election, Jong-Fast began focusing her writing on politics, becoming a regular contributor to the Forward, the Bulwark, Playboy, Glamour and Vogue. In December 2019, Jong-Fast become an editor-at-large at the Daily Beast, hosting the podcast "The New Abnormal." In 2022, Jong-Fast joined Vanity Fair as a special correspondent and began hosting the "Fast Politics iHeart Media" podcast. In January 2024, Jong-Fast joined MSNBC News as a political analyst.
Jennings, as CNN's senior conservative commentator, covers the network's election and major event coverage. His career spans decades at the intersection of politics and media: An adviser on four presidential campaigns, he served as special assistant to President George W. Bush and played pivotal roles in high-profile Senate and Congressional races. He is a prolific writer, featured in publications like the LA Times and Gannett. He has taught at Harvard's Kennedy School and is a founding partner of RunSwitch Public Relations, Kentucky's largest PR and public affairs firm.