American Reboot

When facing technical difficulties with your computer, the easiest solution is often just to reboot it. But can you hit control, alt, delete on a political party? In his book, American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done, former Republican congressman and CIA officer William Hurd argues you definitely can. Dubbed “the future of the GOP” by Politico and Texas Monthly, Hurd reveals his secrets to success in turning red a large district that has traditionally voted blue. He provides a clear-eyed path forward for America, grounded by what Hurd calls "pragmatic idealism"—a concept forged from enduring American values to achieve what is actually achievable. From his critical analysis of the GOP’s foggy vision for the future to discussing the impact of rapid technological advancements, Hurd will tackle five seismic problems facing the U.S. as outlined in his book. Join us as Hurd shares his unique experience as a Black republican in the House, with a vibrant career in intelligence, articulating what domestic policy can look like by appealing to the middle and empowering people. William Hurd served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 23rd congressional district from 2015-2021. He is currently a managing director at Allen & Company and most recently served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Additionally, he is growing the U.S. transatlantic partnership with Europe as a trustee of the German Marshall Fund and an OpenAI board member. Hurd worked for the CIA from 2000 to 2009, completing a tour of duty as an operations officer in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. He has a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in international relations from Texas A&M University. Moderated by Lee Cullum, journalist at Public Media of North Texas (KERA/PBS) and Senior Fellow at the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate