The NBPLF is excited to announce the 28th season of The Witte Lectures, running from January to April 2025. This highly regarded lecture series will commence in January, bringing a new wave of thought-provoking discussions. With an impressive lineup of nationally recognized speakers, this season promises to ignite community conversations on the most pressing and relevant topics. Attendees are invited to engage in live, dynamic, and compelling dialogues within the award-winning library.
BRET STEPHENS
Here and Now: Where We Are and Where We Are Going in the Post-Election
Friday, January 24, 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 25, 2:00 PM
Bret Stephens, a distinguished American journalist and columnist, is celebrated for his incisive and often provocative commentary on political and social issues. His career began at The Wall Street Journal, where he served as deputy editorial page editor and foreign-affairs columnist before joining The New York Times in 2017 as an op-ed columnist. Stephens is the author of America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder and has received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for commentary and three honorary doctorates.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN
Today is the Greatest Day for Women in Sports – Until Tomorrow: The Story of Title IX and the Empowerment of Women in Sports
Friday, February 21, 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 22, 2:00 PM
Christine Brennan, a renowned sports columnist for USA Today and commentator for CNN, ABC News, PBS NewsHour, and NPR, is acclaimed for her reporting on the impact of Title IX. Her extensive coverage of the Olympic Games and her insightful commentary highlight the advancements and ongoing challenges in women's sports. Brennan’s work underscores the transformative effect of Title IX in promoting equality and opportunity for female athletes.
JULIETTE KAYYEM
National Security, Climate Migration & Pandemics: Managing Risks in a Borderless World
Friday, March 28, 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 29, 2:00 PM
Professor Juliette Kayyem, a leading expert in crisis management and homeland security, is the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. With a background that includes serving as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and as Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts, Kayyem is also a CNN Senior National Security Analyst and author of The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.
M. CHRIS FABRICANT
Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System
Friday, April 18, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 19, 2:00 PM
Chris Fabricant, a prominent attorney and advocate for criminal justice reform, addresses the critical issue of flawed forensic science in his book Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System. Fabricant’s research and analysis expose the dangerous impact of pseudo-scientific evidence on wrongful convictions, underscoring the urgent need for reform to ensure justice and accuracy in the legal system.
Newport Beach Public Library Foundation
1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach. (949) 717-3892
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from the blog
- 01.11.26 – Lunch & Learn at Zov’s Bistro Focuses on Brain Health
- 01.11.26 – Dry January, Done Right at Khan Saab
- 01.08.26 – Strickland’s Ice Cream Celebrates 90 Years and Two Sweet Years in Costa Mesa
- 01.08.26 – THE NOTEBOOK Musical Set for Segerstrom Hall in 2026
- 01.04.26 – THE DAILY HEALING Presents Healing House Lido
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- 12.21.25 – A Coastal Take on Christmas at Huntington Holiday House
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