Founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Zeteo Media; former Host, MNSBC
Discussion Group Topic: Who’s Afraid of a Tough Question? Debate, Division, and Democracy in a Polarized Age
Mehdi Hasan is an award-winning British-American journalist, broadcaster, and author. He is the founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of the new media company Zeteo. Mehdi is also a Guardian columnist, host of ‘Head to Head’ on Al Jazeera English and the best-selling author of ‘Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking’. He previously worked as an anchor at MSNBC and columnist for The Intercept.
Global Head of Product Public Policy, TikTok
Discussion Group Topic: The Politics of Digital Innovation: Navigating Disruptive Technologies
Stephen Martinko is the Global Head of Product Public Policy at TikTok,where since 2020 he has helped steer the company through high-stakes challenges shaping international debates on technology, security, and digital governance. Previously, Martinko co-chaired the transportation and infrastructure policy practice at the global law firm K&L Gates and served as Executive Director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, one of the nation’s busiest inland ports. He spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill in senior leadership roles, including as Deputy Staff Director of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chief of Staff to former Chairman Bill Shuster. Martinko earned his B.A. with honors from Brown University and his M.A. from the National Defense University.
10th White House Homeland Security Advisor (1st Trump Administration); Distinguished Fellow and Board Member, Atlantic Council
Discussion Group Topic: National Security in an America First World: From AI to the Arctic
Dr. Julia Nesheiwat brings over 20 years of leadership and expertise in international energy, national security, and environmental diplomacy as a former U.S. diplomat, White House official, and U.S. Army veteran. Julia is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and serves on multiple corporate advisory boards. She previously served as Commissioner on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission reporting to the White House and Congress on domestic and international Arctic issues. Before serving as Homeland Security Advisor in the White House, Julia was the first Chief Resilience Officer for the state of Florida. Previously, she was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for building the State Department’s first Energy Resources Bureau and implementing energy policies worldwide. She also served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy and senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Energy.
Former Chief of Staff, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX); Co-President, Marshall & Popp
Discussion Group Topic: How Policy Issues Such as Health Care Become Larger Political Movements
Monica Popp, a founding partner of Marshall & Popp, is a prominent strategist with over two decades of policy experience across the legislative and executive branches at both the state and federal levels of government. Monica has served in numerous roles, including Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX); professional policy staff to the House Energy & Commerce Committee; health and tax policy advisor for Senator DeMint (R-SC); and as a political appointee within the Bush Administration at the US Department of Health & Human Services. She began her career in public service as the lead federal health advisor to Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL). She holds a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University and is an undergraduate of Texas A&M University.
Former U.S. Senator (D-MT)
Discussion Group Topic: American Democracy at 250: Is It Still Working?
Jon Tester served as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Montana from 2007 to 2025. A third-generation organic farmer near Big Sandy, he previously served in the Montana Senate from 1999 to 2007, serving as whip, minority leader and Senate president during his Montana Senate tenure. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 by defeating incumbent Conrad Burns, he won reelection in 2012 and 2018 before losing to Republican Tim Sheehy in 2024. Known as a political moderate, Tester was most proud of his work for veterans, agriculture, a strong military and solid infrastructure investment. He currently works as an MSNBC political analyst, the podcast host of Grounded with Jon Tester and Maritsa Georgiou, and a policy consultant.
Former RNC Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor; Executive Director, Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee
Discussion Group Topic: Parties, Power, and Polarization: What to Expect in the Midterm Elections
Richard Walters is a Partner at FGS Global. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the Trump- Vance Inaugural Committee, board member of the Trump-Vance Transition, and Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Prior to those roles, he served as one of the senior executives in charge of the 2024 Republican National Convention, overseeing the planning and execution of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as the Chief of Staff for the Republican National Committee, where he was responsible for building and managing a national political operation.
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The GU Politics Fellows offer students a rare peek behind the curtain into the way politics and public service actually work. Students will be challenged, informed and inspired through weekly discussion groups, office hours and small group conversations. Opportunities to engage are open to all Georgetown students.
Want to get involved with our Fellows?
- Attend their discussion groups | For eight weeks, our Fellows host weekly 90-minute, off-the-record discussions with members of the Georgetown community. You’ll talk about big ideas and the specific details needed to put them into practice… and be shocked by the special guests and experts they’ll bring. Discussion groups begin the week of February 9. Read their discussion group topics here.
- Visit them in office hours | Imagine being mentored by politicos at the top of their field. Hang out with our Fellows one-on-one to chat about news of the day and how to get your start in public service or answers to your burning questions about behind-the-scenes moments in politics you can’t hear anywhere else. This opportunity is open to all Georgetown students and faculty. Office hours begin the week of January 26.
- Join their Student Strategy Teams | Collaborate closely with one of the Fellows by joining their team of five students who craft discussion group topics, help with research and campus outreach, and partner with the Fellow to brainstorm fresh ideas to make politics work better. Learn more and apply.
- Attend their Capitol Campus Conversations | Our Fellows also hold off-the-record discussion groups at 125 E St. each semester and engage with the Capitol Campus community through strategy teams and office hours.
Mark your calendar for our Meet the Fellows Open House — the first chance to meet these leaders in person, learn more about their backgrounds and hear what they have planned for the semester. The Fellows open house will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm in the Copley Formal Lounge.
