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Read about the latest news and events from the Institute!

The seventh installment of The Senate Project will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026 at the Kennedy Institute in Boston, MA with Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Martha MacCallum, anchor of The Story with Martha MacCallum, will moderate a discussion on bipartisan legislation and finding common ground that airs on FOX Nation. Stream live on our website at 11:00 am ET.

Join the Kennedy Institute on Friday, November 6th at 5:30pm ET for an evening with acclaimed author Nathaniel Philbrick as he discusses his latest work, “The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and Making of the Modern World.” In “The Rush,” Philbrick explores how the California Gold Rush and the pursuit of wealth helped set the nation on a path toward the Civil War—and how the forces unleashed during this pivotal period continue to shape American culture today. Author Robert Cocuzzo will moderate the conversation, which will be followed by a book signing with the author. Ticket options include admission only or admission with book purchase.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate (EMKI) announced today that U.S. representative and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will receive the Edward M. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization at their Annual Dinner on November 8. Pelosi is the second recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors leadership and service to the nation that inspires civil discourse and bipartisan solutions. The inaugural recipient was former President Joe Biden in 2025.

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Kennedy Institute explored how Senator Edward M. Kennedy and his staff played a unique role in the Commonwealth’s response in the weeks and years that followed.

Former members of Senator Kennedy’s staff, who worked closely to coordinate his office’s efforts, and Massachusetts family members who lost a loved one in the attacks shared firsthand accounts that shine a light on how the Senator’s efforts supported families, mobilized assistance, and helped navigate unprecedented challenges. The response served as a model that continues to inform public service and disaster response today.

Over the course of one frantic, late-July weekend, 98 teens representing all 50 states put their busy lives on hold to try to do something remarkable.

The students, most of them high school juniors and seniors, gathered in a precise replica of the U.S. Senate chamber and attempted what the real, adult Congress has largely failed to do: draft and pass “legislation” to help the nation’s K-12 schools navigate the questions and chaos created by artificial intelligence.

The Kennedy Institute hosted the 2026 Stone Social Impact Forum, featuring a timely conversation with Tracy Palandjian, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Finance, on the role of finance in expanding economic opportunity and building pathways to upward mobility. The discussion was moderated by David M. Rubenstein—investor, philanthropist, author and Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group. Click on the image to watch the video.