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The 2023 Sedona Forum

The McCain Institute convened its 10th annual Sedona Forum on May 5-6, 2023, featuring lawmakers, journalists, military leaders, business executives, and more. The 2023 Sedona Forum theme, “Indispensable Power,” examined the diplomatic, military, and economic means employed to protect democracy, human rights, and the global competitive edge.

CBS News served as a broadcast media partner, and POLITICO served as a digital media partner.

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2:30 pm - 2:40 pm

Welcome Remarks

• Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute
• Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University

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Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas Dr. Michael M. Crow
2:40 pm - 2:50 pm

A View from Arizona

Introduction by Rick Davis, Partner, Stonecourt Capital & Chairman, Board of Trustees, McCain Institute

• Gov. Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s 24th Governor
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Rick Davis Gov. Katie Hobbs
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Democracy Delivers: An Economic Case for an Uncertain Era

• Sec. Janet Yellen, United States Secretary of the Treasury

In Conversation With:
• Moderator: Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University (TBC)
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Sec. Janet Yellen Dr. Michael M. Crow
3:50 pm - 4:30 pm

Weapons of War: Combating Sexual Violence

Introduction by Kristen Abrams, Chief Program Officer, McCain Institute
• Dr. Denis Mukwege, President & Founder, Panzi Hospital and Foundation

In Conversation With:
• Sheryl Sandberg, Founder, Lean In
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Kristen Abrams McCain Institute Headshot Kristen Abrams Dr. Denis Mukwege Sheryl Sandberg
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Democracy in the Balance

• Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, United States Senator, Arizona

In Conversation with:
• Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Democracy Reporter Based in Arizona, The Washington Post
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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
5:00 pm - 5:15 pm

Presentation of the In The Arena Award

Presentation by Gov. Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s 24th Governor

• Hans Vestberg, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Verizon
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Gov. Katie Hobbs Hans Vestberg
7:05 pm - 8:45 pm

The Sedona Leadership Dinner

Welcome Remarks by Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute

Presentation of the Courage & Leadership Award:
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Remarks by Jack McCain, Board Member, McCain Institute
Tribute Video to Alexei Navalny

Presentation by David Axelrod, Founding Director, University of Chicago Institute of Politics, CNN Senior Political Commentator, & Professor of Practice, Arizona State University

• Remarks: Ms. Dasha Navalnaya

Keynote Conversation:
Introduction by Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute

• Sec. Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State

In Conversation with:
• Sen. Mitt Romney, United States Senator, Utah

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Remarks and Video Introduction:
• Kristen Abrams, Chief Program Officer, McCain Institute

Tribute Video to Secretary Henry Kissinger

Conclusion:
 • Rick Davis, Partner, Stonecourt Capital & Chairman, Board of Trustees, McCain Institute

Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas Jack McCain David Axelrod Dasha Navalnaya Sec. Antony Blinken sed-_0041_thumbnail_headshot_official Sen. Mitt Romney Kristen Abrams McCain Institute Headshot Kristen Abrams Rick Davis
8:40 am - 8:45 am

Opening Remarks

• Rick Davis, Partner, Stonecourt Capital & Chair, Board of Trustees, McCain Institute
• Scott Jablow, Mayor of Sedona

Rick Davis Scott Jablow
8:45 am - 9:00 am

An Update from Ukraine

Virtual Remarks from Dmytro Kuleba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine

In Conversation With:
• Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute

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Dmytro Kuleba Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas
9:05 am - 9:45 am

Democracy and the Digital Revolution

Introduction by Lev Gonick, Chief Information Officer, Arizona State University

• Sen. Joe Manchin, United States Senator, West Virginia
• Damon Wilson, President & CEO, National Endowment for Democracy

Moderator:
• Sarah Margon, Director, Foreign Policy, Open Society Foundations

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Sen. Joe Manchin Damon Wilson Sarah Margon Lev Gonick
9:45 am - 10:30 am

Global Hot Spots: Russia & Middle East

Introduction: “Support Ukraine” video

• Garry Kasparov, Chairman, Renew Democracy Initiative
• Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs & Middle East Studies, SAIS
• Amb. David Pressman, United States Ambassador to Hungary

Moderator:
• Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute

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Garry Kasparov Vali Nasr Amb. David Pressman Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas
10:45 am - 11:30 am

Tools of Statecraft: Wrongful Detainees and Hostage Affairs

• Amb. Roger D. Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, U.S. State Department
• Sen. Peter Welch, United States Senator, Vermont

Moderator:
• Seung Min Kim, White House Reporter, The Associated Press

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Roger D. Carstens Sen. Peter Welch Seung Min Kim
11:30 am - 12:15 pm

US Deterrence Strategy in Asia

• Rep. Brendan Boyle, United States Congressman, Pennsylvania’s 2nd District
• Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States
• Sen. Mark Kelly, United States Senator, Arizona

Moderator:
• Courtney Kube, Correspondent, NBC News

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Rep. Brendan Boyle Jon Finer Sen. Mark Kelly Courtney Kube
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

"A Cause Greater Than” Lunch: Political Courage

Tribute Video to Senator Joe Lieberman

Introduction by Steve Duprey, Former Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party

• Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire’s 82nd Governor

In Conversation With:
• Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, Director, University of Chicago Institute of Politics & Board Member, McCain Institute

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Gov. Chris Sununu Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Steve Duprey
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Surviving “America First”

• Rep. Jason Crow, United States Congressman, Colorado’s 6th District
• Amb. Alexandra Hall Hall, Former Ambassador to Georgia, Writer, Byline Times, & Co-host, "Disorder" Podcast
• Amb. Martin Kimani, Kenyan Ambassador to the United Nations

Moderator:
• Josh Rogin, Columnist, The Washington Post

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Rep. Jason Crow Alexandra Hall Hall Amb. Martin Kimani Sed-_0040_Josh-Rogin Josh Rogin
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Law of the Sea Versus China's Maritime Adventurism

• Adm. Linda Fagan, Commandant, United States Coast Guard
• Sen. Todd Young, United States Senator, Indiana

Moderator:
• Paul Kane, Senior Congressional Correspondent, The Washington Post

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Adm. Linda Fagan Sen. Todd Young Paul Kane
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Can Transparency Curb Corruption?

• Sen. Bill Cassidy, United States Senator, Louisiana
• Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, United States Southern Command
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator, Rhode Island

Moderator:
• Roberto Patiño, Founder, Mi Convive and Director, Institute 2100

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Sen. Bill Cassidy Gen. Laura Richardson sed-_0004_thumbnail_Whitehouse_official_photo Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Roberto Patiño
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm

Analysis of US Elections: 2024 and Beyond

• David Axelrod, Founding Director, University of Chicago Institute of Politics, CNN Senior Political Commentator, & Professor of Practice, ASU
• Rick Davis, Partner, Stonecourt Capital & Chair, Board of Trustees, McCain Institute

Moderator:
• Kelly O’Donnell, Senior White House Correspondent, NBC News

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David Axelrod Rick Davis Kelly O’Donnell
5:00 pm - 5:15 pm

Closing Remarks

• Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director, McCain Institute

Dr. Evelyn N. Farkas