David Axelrod, a preeminent American political commentator and former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama, will speak at Hancher Auditorium as the Spring 2026 Levitt Lecturer, hosted by the UI College of Law.
Axelrod was the founding director of the University of Chicago's non-partisan Institute of Politics. He currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago, as a senior political commentator for CNN, and as a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. He is the host of "The Axe Files," a top-rated podcast featuring in depth conversations with public figures across the political spectrum. A former political writer for the Chicago Tribune, Axelrod produced media strategy and advertising for 150 campaigns across the U.S., culminating in President Obama’s historic elections. He is also the author of The New York Times best-selling memoir, Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.
This is a free public event, but attendees are asked to register and reserve tickets in advance.