Sean O’Brien

Sean O’Brien

Sean O’Brien is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. He has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations as a senior official in the Pentagon, the White House and the House of Representatives. He can be reached via twitter at @hope_history.

Recent Work

February 5, 2020
by Sean O'Brien
Iowa 2020 Is a Drag, Not a Disaster

The Iowa Democratic Party did exactly the right thing. In the midst of an awful scenario of its own making,... Read More

The Iowa Democratic Party did exactly the right thing. In the midst of an awful scenario of its own making, party officials took a step back to ensure that when the final votes are tallied, the announced result would be accurate. That took courage and focus.... Read More

February 8, 2019
by Sean O'Brien
The Humanity of Walter Jones

Walter Jones has always been one of my favorite members of Congress, even though I agree with him on almost... Read More

Walter Jones has always been one of my favorite members of Congress, even though I agree with him on almost nothing. I’ve always admired his independence, and his self-fulfilling declaration that he didn’t come to Washington to be a Chairman. It’s been well documented that Walter... Read More

October 31, 2018
by Sean O'Brien
Missing the Moment

It was a cold Midwestern night but the campaign rally was filled to capacity. The man they had all come ... Read More

It was a cold Midwestern night but the campaign rally was filled to capacity. The man they had all come to see, the one who’d electrified them with promises and slogans... Read More

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More From The Well

March 28, 2024
by Dan McCue
Silicon Valley-Based Firm Launches ‘Radar as a Service’

BELMONT, Calif. — At first the idea sounds about as un-Silicon Valley as one can get. After all, the basic... Read More

BELMONT, Calif. — At first the idea sounds about as un-Silicon Valley as one can get. After all, the basic concept underlying radar was proven in 1886, when a German physicist named Heinrich Hertz showed that radio waves could be... Read More

New Poll Results Show Americans Are Concerned About Political Division and What Can Be Done to Fix It

As we head into this election year with a likely rematch between two relatively unpopular candidates, it may seem political divisions... Read More

As we head into this election year with a likely rematch between two relatively unpopular candidates, it may seem political divisions are higher than ever. Many controversial issues like immigration, taxes and debate over foreign aid dominate the news, so much... Read More

March 28, 2024
by Dan McCue
Elections Task Force Prosecutes 2020 ‘Vigilantes,’ Seeks More Civic Dialogue

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A 46-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for sending death threats to... Read More

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A 46-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for sending death threats to an Arizona election official. The sentencing of Joshua Russell, of Bucyrus, Ohio, came after he pleaded guilty to one count... Read More

March 28, 2024
by Tom Ramstack
Disney World Settles with Florida After Its Opposition to 'Don’t Say Gay' Law

ORLANDO — The company that runs Walt Disney World reached a settlement Wednesday with appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis... Read More

ORLANDO — The company that runs Walt Disney World reached a settlement Wednesday with appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who were exerting controversial regulatory control over the huge tourism complex. The settlement resolves some of the disputes that arose... Read More

Biden Announcing New Rule to Protect Consumers Who Purchase Short-Term Health Insurance Plans

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect consumers who buy short-term health insurance plans that critics say amount to junk. A... Read More

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect consumers who buy short-term health insurance plans that critics say amount to junk. A new rule finalized by the Democratic president's administration will limit these plans to just three months. And the plans can... Read More

US Changes How It Categorizes People by Race and Ethnicity. It's the First Revision in 27 Years

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — For the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes people by race and... Read More

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — For the first time in 27 years, the U.S. government is changing how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity, an effort that federal officials believe will more accurately count residents who identify as Hispanic and of Middle Eastern... Read More

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