This fall, The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) launched the second year of its Media Accelerator Fellowship, welcoming a new cohort of 17 talented early-career journalists. Over the course of this nine-month program, running from September to May, Fellows will engage with policy leaders and veteran journalists to strengthen their reporting skills, develop their professional beats and explore the foundational principles of a free society.
It has been such a wonderful and humbling experience to be included in this year’s cohort of the TFAS Media Accelerator Fellowship. I am thankful to have another opportunity in the D.C. area to continue making friends and connections within the industry, as well as think critically and discuss the important issues affecting young journalists.” – Kamden Mulder, National Review
This Fellowship operates under TFAS’s Center for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), a program dedicated to training journalists who embody integrity, intellectual rigor, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of liberty.
The 2025-26 Fellowship kicked off with an opening dinner on September 17, featuring a panel discussion on the state of today’s media. Moderated by Ryan Wolfe, director of the Center for Excellence in Journalism, the panel included Tim Carney, Novak ’03, of Washington Examiner, Vic Matus of the Washington Free Beacon and Steve Hayes ’94, Novak ’00, of The Dispatch. The panelists shared stories from their decades of reporting in Washington newsrooms, offering Fellows valuable insights into the evolving media landscape and the importance of principled journalism. With humor and hard-earned wisdom, the panelists offered Fellows both wisdom and laughter.
This year’s Media Accelerator Fellow and TFAS alumnus Charles Hilu, PPF ’23, reflected on the camaraderie of the opening panel.
“I loved seeing the connection between the speakers on our first panel,” Hilu said. “You could tell that their years of reporting in Washington, D.C., brought them together and made them friends. I’m excited to grow closer to my Media Accelerator cohort and build friendships that will last throughout my career.”
The Fellowship includes monthly sessions that help Fellows sharpen their reporting skills and develop specialized beats. The first session, held on October 1, featured Kurt Couchman ’02, PPF ’07, senior fellow in fiscal policy at Americans for Prosperity. He led a discussion on building a beat in economic policy, with Fellows studying foundational texts like Hayek’s “The Use of Knowledge in Society” and Frédéric Bastiat’s “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen.”
Kurt Couchman also appeared on TFAS’s Liberty + Leadership Podcast, where he discussed the pressing risks posed by the nation’s growing debt and outlined his new book, “Fiscal Democracy in America: How a Balanced Budget Amendment Can Restore Sound Governance.” Couchman shared timely insights on how fiscal insolvency threatens future generations, the economic consequences of intergenerational debt burdens, and the political challenges to achieving bipartisan fiscal reform.
As part of the Fellowship, participants will take part in two off-site retreats designed to strengthen both their professional skills and their understanding of the role of a free press in a free society. In November, Fellows will travel to Annapolis, Maryland, for a fall retreat focused on professional development. The weekend will include sessions on beat reporting, source cultivation and career advancement, with remarks from Gerard Baker, editor-at-large at The Wall Street Journal, who also made an appearance on the Liberty + Leadership Podcast as TFAS media fellow.
In April, Fellows will reconvene in Richmond, Virginia, for the spring retreat, “Liberty & Responsibility in the Media,” featuring Noah Rothman of National Review. These immersive retreats offer Fellows the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, build lasting connections and reflect on the journalist’s responsibility in advancing the principles of liberty.
Kamden Mulder, a current Media Accelerator Fellow and William F. Buckley Fellow at National Review, shared her appreciation for the experience and the relationships being formed throughout the program.
“It has been such a wonderful and humbling experience to be included in this year’s cohort of the TFAS Media Accelerator Fellowship,” Mulder said. “I am thankful to have another opportunity in the D.C. area to continue making friends and connections within the industry, as well as think critically and discuss the important issues affecting young journalists.”
Hannah Florence, continuing education program manager at TFAS, emphasized the strength of this year’s cohort and the mission-driven purpose of the Fellowship.
“We’re thrilled with this year’s class of Media Accelerator Fellows,” Florence said. “Together, they represent a cohort of young professionals that exemplify excellence in their writing and a commitment to the principles of liberty. The Fellowship is designed to empower the work of courageous young journalists, and we are excited for what these fellows will accomplish this year and beyond.”
This inaugural year of the TFAS Media Accelerator Fellowship was made possible through the generous support of TFAS donors. To join TFAS in investing in courageous journalists shaping the future of media for years to come, please visit TFAS.org/support.
On November 11, TFAS will host its 32nd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner in New York City, an evening dedicated to honoring courageous journalists and celebrating the essential role of a free press in a free society. The event will include the presentation of the Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Award for Courageous Journalism, the Thomas L. Phillips Career Achievement Award, and the announcement of the 2025 Novak and Rago Fellowship recipients. To learn more or to register, visit TFAS.org/jawards25.
For more information about the Fellowship, please visit TFAS.org/MAF.
Kara Clairmont
Contributing Writer – The Free Press
Kara Clairmont is a contributing writer with The Free Press. Previously, she was the Royal Correspondent for the Spectator magazine, where she covered the Trump family. Her work has appeared in The Times of London, The Washington Free Beacon, GQ, and The Daily Mail. She co-hosts the Mom Wars podcast with Bethany Mandel, where they discuss motherhood, relationships and family policy She is from Wales but now resides in Virginia with her husband and young daughter.
Hudson Crozier
Reporter – Daily Caller News Foundation
Hudson Crozier is a reporter at The Daily Caller News Foundation covering crime, terrorism and radical politics. A Texas native, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas in December 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in political science. He was previously an associate editor at Upward News, an outlet he helped build nearly from scratch after joining as a writer in 2021. His work has also appeared in The College Fix, The Daily Signal and the Washington Examiner. His honors include the Presidents Scholarship from the Radio Television Digital News Association and being named a finalist in the Hearst Television News Competition.
Kaelan Deese
Justice Department Correspondent – Washington Examiner
Kaelan Deese is a Justice Department correspondent for the Washington Examiner, where he covers federal courts, DOJ enforcement priorities and major legal disputes under the Trump administration. He has reported on national politics across three presidential administrations, with work that has helped shape public discourse on executive authority, the Supreme Court and civil rights law. A native of Oklahoma City, he is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Alex Demas
Reporter – The Dispatch
Alex Demas is a reporter at The Dispatch, where he covers money and influence in politics. Originally from Aspen, Colorado, he studied economics and political science at the University of Maryland and earned a master’s degree in political economy from King’s College London. Before joining The Dispatch, he worked as an investment analyst in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as a financial journalist in London.
Jonas Du
Fellow – The Free Press
Jonas Du is a fellow at The Free Press, where he writes about the American right, Gen Z culture and higher education. He graduated from Columbia University in 2025, where he founded and served as editor-in-chief of the Columbia Sundial. While at Columbia, Jonas participated in TFAS Student Journalism Association. He has appeared frequently on national media to discuss campus protests, including on FOX News, CNN and NewsNation. Jonas is a Foundation for Defense of Democracies media fellow, a Young Voices contributor and a National Journalism Center alumnus. His writing appeared in USA Today, National Review and Reason.
Peter Gattuso
Fact Check Reporter – The Dispatch
Peter Gattuso is a fact check reporter at The Dispatch, where he writes fact-check articles on a broad range of topics, including economics, immigration, science, tech and health policy. He also contributes to The Morning Dispatch newsletter. In 2024–25, he participated in the TFAS Joseph R. Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship. Before joining The Dispatch, he studied economics at Connecticut College and held internships at The Dispatch, National Review, the Cato Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Outside of work, he enjoys a night out at the ballpark with friends, attending concerts, hiking, traveling and spreading awareness about the economic drawbacks of the Jones Act to unsuspecting passersby.
Charles Hilu
Reporter – The Dispatch
Charles Hilu, PPF ’23, is a reporter at The Dispatch covering Congress. He writes profiles of members, explores key political debates and covers the day-to-day workings of the legislative branch. His current areas of focus include how President Donald Trump is reshaping the Republican Party into a more populist GOP and how Democrats are responding to a disappointing election cycle. Before joining The Dispatch, he was the Collegiate Network Fellow at The Washington Free Beacon and interned at National Review and the Washington Examiner while studying at the University of Michigan. Charles participated in 2023-24 Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship at TFAS. In his free time, he enjoys following the premier sports teams of his alma mater and the city of Detroit, as well as listening to show tunes.
Jim Hurson
Policy Analyst – BGR Public Relations and Engagement
Jim Hurson is a policy analyst with BGR Public Relations and Engagement, where he supports strategic communications and policy initiatives for a diverse portfolio of clients. Previously, he worked for Palladium Pictures, contributing to the research, production, distribution and promotion of short films for The Wall Street Journal, which have reached hundreds of thousands of viewers. Before joining Palladium Pictures in 2023, Jim founded JCH Productions, a media venture dedicated to character-driven narratives on American life, public policy and international affairs. He is a 2019 graduate of Davidson College, where he double majored in economics and German studies and received the Bremer German Language Award.
Zach Kessel
Politics Editor – Washington Free Beacon
Zach Kessel, PPF ’23, is politics editor at the Washington Free Beacon. He previously served as a speechwriter for Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and was a William F. Buckley Fellow in Political Journalism at National Review. Zach was the 2023–24 TFAS Public Policy Fellow and a Krauthammer Fellow with the Tikvah Fund. He has also completed fellowships with the Public Interest Fellowship and the Alexander Hamilton Society. He is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Maggie Little
Reporter – The Lion
Maggie (Hroncich) Little is a reporter for the Herzog Foundation’s news publication, The Lion, covering D.C. news, education and the courts. She has also worked at and been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Signal, The Federalist, the National Journalism Center and The New York Sun. Maggie is a graduate of Hillsdale College, where she was editor in chief of the school newspaper, The Collegian. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and dog.
Kamden Mulder
William F. Buckley Fellow – National Review
Kamden Mulder is a William F. Buckley Fellow in Political Journalism at National Review and a recent graduate of Hillsdale College, where she earned a degree in American Studies and Journalism. She previously served as a reporting fellow for Michigan Enjoyer, a Michigan-based publication covering state politics, culture, and news, and worked as a reporting and editorial intern at The Federalist. She also contributes to IW Features. During college, she held various roles at The Hillsdale Collegian, including features editor. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, she now lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Melissa O’Rourke
Reporter – Daily Caller News Foundation
Melissa O’Rourke is a reporter at The Daily Caller News Foundation. Before joining the DCNF, she worked in regulatory compliance at PNC Bank in Chicago. She also spent nearly six years as a research associate at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a think tank promoting individual liberty and economic freedom in her home state. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Case Western Reserve University. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband.
Adam Pack
Reporter – Daily Caller News Foundation
Adam Pack is a reporter for The Daily Caller News Foundation, covering breaking news and original reporting on topics including House and Senate Republicans, campaigns and elections. He previously worked for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee as a research and press assistant. Adam graduated from Georgetown University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in international politics and a minor in Chinese. Though he wrote sporadically for campus newspapers, he did not pursue reporting until joining The Daily Caller News Foundation in October 2024. He is from Charleston, West Virginia, and has lived in Washington, D.C., for six years. In his free time, he enjoys running and reading.
Alexander Rosado
Donor Relations Associate and Database Manager – Hudson Institute
Alex Rosado is the donor relations associate and database manager at Hudson Institute. He also contributes to Young Voices as a finance fellow, analyzing and debating electoral affairs, consumer freedom and culture in print and on the airwaves. A native of Eastchester, New York, Alex previously worked at the Alexander Hamilton Society and has completed several political fellowships, including America’s Future CREATE Cohort on storytelling and narrative structure. He is a Gettysburg College graduate and enjoys media, museums and swimming in his free time.
Misty Severi
Evening Reporter – Just the News
Misty Severi is the evening reporter for Just the News, covering political and breaking news. She previously worked as a breaking news reporter for the Washington Examiner, where she led coverage of British prime minister elections and the royal family. Misty earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from California Baptist University in 2021, double majoring in history and global journalism. She freelanced at multiple local outlets during college and worked as an Associated Press stringer for the 2020 general election, the California primary and the Iowa caucus. A self-described “student of America,” Misty has traveled extensively across the United States, visiting 48 states in 21 months to study American history and contemporary diversity. Her diverse work experience includes time spent working in truck stops and restaurants in rural Montana and North Dakota, where she lived in a travel trailer—experiences that helped shape her work ethic.
Haley Strack
Staff Writer – National Review
A California native and Catholic convert, Haley graduated from Hillsdale College in 2023 with degrees in politics and journalism. Before joining National Review, she completed internships at Defending Education, The Washington Free Beacon and Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center, and was a 2023-25 Public Interest Fellow. She now covers politics, cultural affairs and education policy.
Alex Welz
Assistant Editor – Washington Free Beacon
Alex Welz ’21 is an assistant editor at The Washington Free Beacon after writing for National Review as a College Fix fellow in fall 2024. He graduated early from Mercyhurst University with degrees in intelligence studies and political science, then worked as an international logistics specialist at a global supply chain company before pursuing an master’s degree in national security studies at the University of Haifa in northern Israel. His academic research has focused on Middle Eastern history, conflicts and politics, while his professional ambitions involve advancing conservative thought and policy and cultural initiatives. Alex also participated in the 2021 TFAS D.C. Academic Internship Program in the International Affairs track. His work has appeared in The National Interest, The Wall Street Journal and Jewish News Syndicate.