BBC World News America Lead Anchor Katty Kay addresses the pre-convention breakfast audience.
OFFERING UP her understanding of current political events throughout the world, BBC World News America Lead Anchor Katty Kay confided in her Politics and Pancakes audience about her long-time passion to be a U.S. citizen. “My parents would take us camping in various parts of the world,” she recalled.
“I soon realized that Americans were living much better,” she said. “People from the U.S. would drive SUVs with air conditioning. They would bring this delicious gooey, chocolatey stuff. I decided then that any country that could produce such exquisite food had to be the promised land,” she quipped.
Arriving in the U.S. in 1996, Kay served as a BBC reporter in Washington, D.C. during the Clinton Administration. Clinton served during a time that was post-Cold War, with peace and pluralism, she noted.
“Fast forward to today,” she said. “The world is more complicated. We have power vacuums created around the world. I see politics in other countries and how politics is shaping up in D.C. There are more stories in a week with this administration than ever before. It’s a news madhouse, like crack in the political world.
“People from all over the world have their eyes on U.S. politics and Trump,” she warned. When the BBC aired the Judge Kavanaugh testimonies for six hours “our ratings went through the roof,” she reported. “People were wondering, ‘Is this a train wreck? Is this going to come off the rails?’”
The wave of female candidates in the midterm elections will be tracked and reported on by Kay. “When women run for office they win,” she noted. “Women propose more bills; women are super effective. There will be real change in the house. Yes, there could be three wise men and three wise women.”
Preparing to cover the midterms, Kay explained, “At the BBC, we are objective. It is part of our charter. We report facts and do not take sides.”
Local politicians and NVAR members enjoy getting to know Katty Kay before her Politics & Pancakes presentation.
The Politics and Pancakes crowd applauds NVAR 2018 President Lorraine Arora as she kicks off the early-morning program.
(L-R) Former Delegate Dave Albo (R), Arlington Co. Board Member Erik Gutshall (D), Arlington Co. Board Member John Vihstadt (I) and Senator Dave Marsden (D-Western Fairfax) exchange greetings before the program begins.
(L-R) Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th), former Delegate Tom Rust (R-Fairfax), NVAR President of the Board Lorraine Arora and NVAR President-Elect Christine Richardson have early conversation before “politics and pancakes” were served.
Following her speech, presenter Katty Kay and Congressman Gerry Connolly talk politics.
Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) greets NVAR Secretary/ Treasurer Nick Lagos and NVAR President of the Board Lorraine Arora before breakfast is served.
(L-R) NVAR President-Elect Christine Richardson, Fairfax County Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) and Arlington Board Member John Vihstadt (I) discuss Northern Virginia politics as they await the start of the Politics & Pancakes breakfast.