Mckay Coppins, a political writer at Buzzfeed, visited BYU campus on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, to give a lecture at the David M. Kennedy Center about current political issues facing the country.
Coppins spoke about the increasing change in foreign policy in recent years and his interaction with members from the Republican Party and their opinions toward foreign policy, as well as other political issues.
The political writer was introduced to the audience as a great reporter and distinguished writer in journalism. Coppins graduated from BYU and is now a senior political writer at Buzzfeed.
He began his lecture by referring to fall of 2013, when he interviewed Rand Paul about a fundamental shift in the Republican Party.
“A new brand of republican reform of foreign policy and security is more libertarian focused,” Coppins said.
An example of the changes happening concerns senator John McCain’s stance on foreign policy from going around the world fighting justice to limiting war involvement and Rand Paul’s liberal view of limiting war efforts, according to Coppins.
“There has been a shift in foreign policy due to a change in current events and politics in our country,” Coppins said.
Coppins spoke about interviewing different presidential candidates such as Jeb Bush, Rand Paul and other Republican candidates. Most of the discussions involved their stance on foreign policy and different political views they have.
In light of the recent events of Paris and the war in Syria, Coppins addressed concerns that many presidential candidates are changing their views toward foreign policy.
Different views can be viewed as liberal and conservative in regards to the foreign policy, according to Coppins.
“The thing to watch is if there is a third way that somehow wiggles through liberalism and conservative policies,” Coppins said.
Featured on Coppin’s profile page on Buzzfeed are different stories he has written in regards to politics in the time he has been at Buzzfeed.
He has been able to cover Mitt Romney’s presidential race campaign and interview other high profile names in the Republican Party throughout his time at Buzzfeed.
Coppins is also the author of a new book called “The Wilderness” that covers Republican efforts to return the White House.
