Professor of History and Italian Studies at NYU, Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, which looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence, and machismo—and how they can be defeated. She is the recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other fellowships, an MSNBC opinion columnist and commentator, and a regular contributor to CNN and The Washington Post. She also advised the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan.6 assault on the Capitol. Her newsletter about threats to democracy around the world is called Lucid and is available on Substack.

Wine and cheese reception at 3:30 at the Village Center.

Free and open to the public.