Mastering the Room

ABOUT SCOTT MACFARLANE
Scott MacFarlane is a congressional correspondent for CBS News, reporting for all broadcasts and platforms. MacFarlane brings a wealth of experience to the Capitol Hill beat having covered Washington, D.C. and the federal government for nearly 20 years. MacFarlane's meticulous and ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has included interviews with several defendants and members of the House committee investigating the attack. MacFarlane and his reporting have also contributed to the public release of some of the video exhibits used by federal prosecutors in court. MacFarlane has also produced documentaries on the history of two New York radio stations, WJPZ-FM and WAER-FM. He belongs to the WJPZ and WAER radio Halls of Fame. He previously served on the Board of Advisors of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. MacFarlane is a summa cum laude graduate of Syracuse University.

ABOUT MYAH WARD
Myah Ward is a White House reporter for POLITICO. She previously worked as a breaking news reporter, a senior digital producer and an editorial intern at POLITICO. Before joining the newsroom, Myah interned for the Charlotte Observer, Bloomberg and freelanced for the New York Times. Myah grew up outside of Charlotte, N.C. She studied journalism and political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.

When was the last time you felt like you knew what was going on in the world of politics? 

So how do you get a deeper understanding of the issues and the arguments that frame them? 

We created Mastering the Room, a podcast that showcases diverse points of view to help you get to the truths that are often drowned out by shouting and sound biting.

I'm not a politician. I'm not a journalist. I'm an academic. I teach this stuff because I live this stuff. After spending years on Capitol Hill myself. I'm Casey Burgat. I know what questions to ask, and maybe more importantly, I know what questions they don't want me to ask. 

Find Mastering the Room wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, where the next generation of political leaders learn from this generation's practitioners. 

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power. 

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. 

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets. 

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller  We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.