The Future of Alliances with David L. Cohen, former Ambassador to Canada

The Andrea Mitchell Center and the Penn Political Union are excited to host David L. Cohen, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and Senior Advisor to the CEO of Comcast, for a conversation on alliance management and the relationship between media and democracy. Moderated by Marie Harf.

Before his appointment by Joe Biden as U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Cohen served in senior executive roles at Comcast, overseeing corporate communications, legal affairs, government and regulatory strategy, and public impact initiatives. Earlier in his career, he was Chairman of Ballard Spahr and Chief of Staff to Edward G. Rendell during his tenure as Mayor of Philadelphia.

Drawing on his experience across government, law, media, and business, Cohen will discuss how alliances shape international cooperation and the evolving role of media institutions in democratic societies. The conversation will also explore the current state of the U.S.–Canada relations, the ‘Donroe’ doctrine, and AI’s impact on the modern media landscape.

This event is especially relevant for students interested in public policy, international relations, media, law, and political economy.