Announcing the newest members of the Claremont family
September 13, 2024
Dear John,
We are delighted to announce the newest members of the Claremont family: the 2024 Speechwriter Fellows, a talented group of communicators who are influencing speechcraft and ideas within government, media, and conservative thought.
During the program, Speechwriter Fellows will study themes of America’s founding principles, natural law, equality, American identity, globalism, multiculturalism, identity politics, and the administrative state–all with the aim of becoming equipped with the tools necessary for a robust defense of the American Way of Life. Classes will be led by a combination of Claremont scholars and former presidential speechwriters.
As always, thank you for your support in making this program—and all of our programs—a success. We invite you to learn more about the new Fellows below.
Jacob Bliss is the Communications Director for Congressman Matt Gaetz. He is responsible for messaging from the Congressman’s office, the weekly newsletter, representing him in media interactions, and as a Producer of the Firebrand podcast. Before coming to Congress, Bliss was a political reporter for Breitbart News, where he covered the 2022 midterm elections, and worked in the Republican National Committee’s War Room during the 2020 presidential election. A Southern California native, Bliss has been an unlikely lifelong conservative and student of political rhetoric.
Micah Bock currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications for Congressman Lance Gooden. He is also the founder of The S.F.P. Group, leveraging his expertise to guide high-profile political and corporate clients through complex communication challenges. During his tenure on Capitol Hill Micah has utilized close relationships with national media, local press, and industry experts to build national narratives, navigate complex political crises, and consistently deliver effective communications products to decision makers at both the federal and state level. A graduate of Patrick Henry College, Micah earned his B.A. in Strategic Intelligence in National Security in 2020. In addition to his professional achievements, Micah is an avid traveler, amateur photographer, and enjoys long walks on the beach while scrolling X.
Jack Buck is a press assistant for Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) where he is responsible for crafting Rep. Green’s speeches, op-eds, talking points, press releases, and social media content. He has worked for Rep. Green since December 2021 from Tennessee’s 7th District and moved to Washington, D.C. in December 2023. Jack holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in American history from Auburn University.
Cole Carnick is a speechwriter for U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn. Previously, he served as a speechwriter for Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and as an associate editor for the Washington Free Beacon. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Michigan, where he served as editor-in-chief of the campus conservative newspaper, the Michigan Review.
Luke Grzywacz is a Michigan native and the legislative director for Michigan House Assistant Minority Leader Andrew Beeler. Luke graduated from Hillsdale College in June of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Politics and German and has been involved in Michigan state Republican politics ever since. He started in the Michigan legislature in November 2020 during the election certification crisis. During his time in the state House, Luke drafted legislation to ban Critical Race Theory in education, ban financial boycotts by banks, mandate merit based hiring for state contractors, and overhaul the criminal justice system by introducing mandatory minimum sentencing. Luke is married to his wife McKenna, and they have two sons, Magnus and Sigismund.
Michael Humeniuk is a professional ghostwriter and investigative journalist. Previously, Michael served as the head of communications for large scale protests in North America. Before then he was a private high-school teacher, apprentice cordwainer, commercial carpenter, and the chairman of a research group tasked with auditing intergovernmental economic organizations. Michael is currently on leave from medical school and has no plans of returning.
Angela Lingg is the Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) where she is responsible for shaping the Senator’s messaging and press strategy. Sen. Moran serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee of Veterans’ Affairs, and Angela also serves as the main press contact for the committee. She previously worked for Sen. John Kennedy (La.) and Rep. Lynn Jenkins (Kan.). She was the 2018 Overall Outstanding Graduate for the Elliott School of Communications at Wichita State University where she earned a degree in Journalism.
Sam Mangold-Lenett is a writer for the Tucker Carlson Network. He is a 2022 Publius Fellow and a former staff editor of The Federalist.
Johnny Rubin is a speechwriter for the House Committee on Ways and Means where he writes remarks and statements for Chairman Jason Smith (RMO). Previously, he worked for the House Budget Committee and then-Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC). A native North Carolinian, He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a B.A. in public policy.
John Wilson is Legislative Counsel to Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01), and the Executive Director of the Congressional El Salvador Caucus. He is also Head Writer for the Firebrand podcast which has amassed over 50 million views while streaming live across 7 platforms to over 5 million followers. John began his career delivering beer and hopes to end it on the buy side. He considers himself to the right of Reagan and to the left of God and aspires to reverse the decline of our great nation.
Kristen Ziccarelli grew up in Germany, Slovenia, Boston, Chicago, and Virginia, and serves as the Director of Production and Policy Analyst in the Center for Homeland Security and Immigration at AFPI. She previously worked at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany for three summer terms, and interned in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in 2020. Kristen attended the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for her Master’s in International Business and received Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Finance at Christopher Newport University
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Founded in 2017, the Claremont Institute Speechwriters Fellowship combines an education in the principles of the American Founding with a study of modern political speechcraft. Fellows meet over the course of the Columbus Day weekend to discuss and debate these important ideas. Upon acceptance into the program, fellows will receive a reading packet with designated primary texts and assignments, when applicable, for each course.
