To say that the current presidential election cycle has been devoid of serious policy debate would be an understatement. However, the electoral mayhem of 2016 has brought to light deep divisions among American citizens over issues that go to the heart of the national character, from immigration to race relations to First Amendment rights on college campuses. To help explain this unique moment in our nation's history—and what it has meant for American politics—we are pleased to welcome MI senior fellow Jason Riley to the Young Leaders Circle (YLC) on Wednesday, October 5.

Riley has become one of the nation's leading journalists and political commentators, with a particular focus on race relations. He is the author of Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed (Encounter Books, 2014). Since joining MI in 2015, Riley has authored a regular column for the Wall Street Journal, convened conferences examining issues such as welfare reform and problems facing the African-American community, and lectured at college campuses nationwide (save for when he has been disinvited—something you can expect him to discuss). Prior to joining MI, Riley spent more than 20 years at the Wall Street Journal, where he was named a senior editorial writer in 2000 and a member of the editorial board in 2005.