Rewired: The New Power Structure in Washington

For the first time, the Dole Institute will host the Dole Forum in our nation’s capital. Dole Institute Visiting Fellow and former Washington Executive Editor of the Wall Street Journal Jerry Seib will moderate an exclusive conversation about the new power structure in Washington.

Join us virtually on Tuesday, February 18, at 3 p.m. CST/ 4 p.m. EST for this exclusive conversation.

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan.

Rahm Emanuel was confirmed as the 31st United States Ambassador to Japan on December 18, 2021. Before this role, he served as the 55th Mayor of Chicago until May 2019, where he implemented significant educational reforms, including extending the school day and year, and introducing universal pre-kindergarten and free community college. His tenure also saw a focus on public safety, corporate relocations, and major infrastructure projects like the O’Hare International Airport modernization and the Chicago Riverwalk development. Prior to his mayoral role, Emanuel was President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff, helping to pass key legislation such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act. He also served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois and was a senior advisor in President Bill Clinton’s administration, contributing to significant legislative achievements. Emanuel holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and Northwestern University and has a background in finance. He is married to Amy Rule, with whom he has three children.

Alex Latcham is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and has worked for President Trump for over eight years, most recently as the Director of Congressional Engagement for his historic 2024 campaign. In this role, Latcham oversaw the campaign’s engagement with members of Congress, regularly advised President Trump on political races and endorsements, and served as the campaign’s primary liaison to the NRCC, NRSC, and RGA. During the 2024 Republican primary, Alex Latcham served as the Early States Director, planning and directing all campaign activity and staff within the early four nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. In this role, Latcham contributed to historic victories that enabled President Trump to quickly and decisively secure the Republican nomination. During President Trump’s first term, Latcham served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Political Director. In this role, Latcham managed President Trump’s political and official engagements across the nation and regularly worked with national and state political parties, cabinet members, members of congress, state constitutional officers, and other key industries and organizations to strategically advance the administration’s political and policy priorities. From 2014-2016, Latcham was political director for the Republican Party of Iowa and was part of a small team responsible for the successful planning and execution of the record-setting 2016 Iowa Republican Caucuses. Alex Latcham holds a B.A. in Political Science from Drake University.