Institute of Politics

This year, the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School marks six decades of connecting students with leaders, varied viewpoints, and the practice of public service. hks.harvard.edu/more/hks-magaz…

The @HarvardIOP welcomed global leaders, media voices, and cultural figures for 77 wide-ranging JFK Jr. Forums this year. Missed the conversations? Check out some highlights ➡️ ken.sc/4uWQoIa

“But in the end public service is about people: your impact will depend on your vision and ambition, but also your ability to bring others with you. And if you look forward with optimism, if you lay out a vision of a better future, you can each make a difference.” —@zannymb during the 2026 Address to Graduate #HKSGrad

Join us in congratulating the 2026 Bloomberg Harvard Summer Interns in partnership with @HarvardIOP! Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, these @Harvard College students will spend the summer working in city halls across the country alongside Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellows. Over 10 weeks, they’ll gain hands-on experience supporting projects that improve service delivery, sustainability, and outcomes for residents. This year marks an exciting milestone as all interns will be working on site—strengthening their understanding of local government and deepening their connection to the communities they serve. We’re excited to see what they accomplish make this summer. Congratulations to the 2026 interns! 👏 Learn more about this year's cohort: bit.ly/4a55xPB.

HKS's @BenSchneer explains gerrymandering in the U.S., Louisiana v. Callais, and what these changes mean for voting districts in Louisiana and nationally ken.sc/3Rq4P9b

Tennis legend and activist @BillieJeanKing, honored with @HarvardCPL's Gleitsman Citizens Activist Award, described the “battle of the sexes” and shared what President Obama told her in the Oval Office ➡️ ken.sc/3PdbNxx

And in 2001, Ted Turner was honored by the @ShorensteinCtr's Goldsmith Awards, earning the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism — joining the likes of Bill Kovach, Mike Wallace, Bob Woodward, and Lesley Stahl.

In October 1992, Turner — alongside his wife, actress and activist Jane Fonda — took to the Forum stage to discuss “Environmental Opportunities for the Entrepreneur and the Activist.”

Ted Turner, the late media mogul, philanthropist, & CNN founder, not only made his mark on the American media landscape, but did so right here in the IOP's JFK Jr. Forum. Turner's first Forum appearance was in 1985 to address the evolving channels of communication.

The @HarvardIOP closed out the academic year in the JFK Jr. Forum last night with former Chancellor @OlafScholz. His timely reflections on the bilateral and transatlantic relationship were the perfect capstone to a semester of extraordinary dialogue in one of America’s premier venues for public discourse.

📺Watch the full conversation: youtube.com/live/ZsFlH1F7W…

We were honored to welcome Olaf Scholz, former Chancellor of Germany, to conclude our 2025-26 academic year in the JFK Jr. Forum! Chancellor Scholz sat down with Professor Daniel Ziblatt, @EuropeAtHarvard Director, to discuss peace and order in a new era of multipolarity.

“We don’t need more performers in Washington. If you want to do something, come on in.” —@MittRomney, discussing the state of political parties in the U.S. & possible pathways for another 250 years of democracy @HarvardIOP ➡️ ken.sc/3R5l1wj

Insightful discussion last week on the new Harvard Youth Poll - shedding new light on the political lives of young Americans. Grazie @nedprice, @dellavolpe, Sophia Robertson, Andres De Marco, for this presentation with U.S. and foreign colleagues.

Just 15% of young Americans trust the government to do the right thing all or most of the time—the lowest recorded level in 25+ years of polling, according to the latest Youth Poll by the @HarvardIOP ken.sc/4cVMFDu

This annual award honors leadership in social activism that has improved the quality of life in the U.S. Watch the full award presentation and conversation: youtube.com/live/nA-VR3l3C…

Billie Jean King, sports icon and equality champion, was honored with @HarvardCPL's 2026 Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award in recognition for her extraordinary public leadership in advancing gender equality.

"Young people have consistently felt unheard; now they feel unheard and actively in crisis." – Sophia Robertson, Student Chair, Harvard Public Opinion Project, IOP ➡️View the poll: ken.sc/poll-s26

"The Harvard Youth Poll serves as a critical barometer about the attitudes and opinions of young Americans, and this year’s data underscores a profound sense of unease." – Beth Myers & Ned Price (@nedprice), IOP Interim Co-Directors ➡️View the poll: ken.sc/poll-s26