As part of our “Women on Wednesdays” series, please join the Women & Politics Institute for a virtual conversation with Democratic strategist Lis Smith, author of the new book Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story and WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin.

Lis Smith, former senior advisor in communications to presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, will discuss her new book Any Given Tuesday, which offers a “rollicking irreverent look behind look behind the scenes of American politics from one of the most sought-after operatives in the Democratic Party.” Tune in to hear about Smith’s often unorthodox career, what it’s really like behind the curtain, and how, after everything, she still thinks it's possible to effect positive change. Order the book here

Lis Smith is a veteran of twenty political campaigns with extensive experience in public affairs, media relations, and crisis communications at the local, state and national levels. She most recently worked as a senior advisor in communications to presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Prior to working on Buttigieg’s campaign, she’d worked on campaigns for everyone from former President Barack Obama to Senate Claire McCaskill and Governors Andrew Cuomo, Terry McAuliffe, Ted Strickland, Jon Corzine and Martin O’Malley. She’s also served as an on-air commentator for MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, and CBS and has had opinion pieces published in the New York Times and Vanity Fair.

Lis is a graduate of Dartmouth College, having received a double major in government and anthropology. She grew up in Bronxville, New York and currently resides in New York City’s West Village.

Betsy Fischer Martin is an Emmy-winning journalist and former TV news executive. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs, where she teaches courses on campaigns and elections. During her earlier career in television news, she spent 23 years at NBC News serving as the longtime Executive Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert and as the Managing Editor of NBC News Political Programming.

A native of New Orleans, Fischer Martin did her undergraduate and graduate work at American University in Washington, DC. She is a cum laude graduate of their School of Public Affairs and earned a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the AU School of Communication.

“Women On Wednesdays”: Lis Smith - “Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story”