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Writers Guild Theater, Beverly Hills, CA

Video: Karl Sonnenberg

Consider the challenge– and joy– of becoming President Biden’s White House press secretary after the tumult of the Trump years. Jen Psaki knows her way around Democratic presidential campaigns and White House press offices, having served in major press secretary roles for John Kerry, President Barack Obama, and President Joe Biden. After spearheading the press office for the BidenHarris campaign, she assumed her position of White House Press Secretary upon President Biden’s inauguration. Her knowledge and quick wit was a breath of fresh air after the revolving door of Trump’s press office and often illprepared press secretaries. She served under President Obama in any number of capacities, including Deputy Press Secretary, and Spokesperson for the United States Department of State.

You now see her on MSNBC, in her own popular show, Inside With Jen Psaki. In her new book, Say More, Psaki reveals the challenges and rigors of spinning plates in the White House and Department of State press offices, as well as on the campaign trails with Kerry, Obama, and Biden. A good and sharp sense of humor is clearly the first requirement.

Jon Favreau knows his way around the Oval Office too. He was President Obama’s speechwriter for four years, after having worked on Obama’s first presidential campaign in that capacity. When Trump was elected, Favreau and fellow Obama White House colleagues Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett and Dan Pfeiffer launched their landmark podcast, Pod Save America, and the enormously influential media company Crooked Media. Favreau also hosts Offline with Jon Favreau, as well as The Wilderness. The Crooked guys’ first book, Democracy or Else, will be published in late June.