In front of his fireplace, Eamon Javers \u201994 dials into the CNBC control room using a \u201cpadcaster,\u201d an iPad on a tripod with a light attached to the top. Thanks to technology, the Washington correspondent is able to continue broadcasting live from home during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, everyone online can pick apart my bookshelf and reading habits,\u201d he joked to Alison King Haley \u201984, P\u201923 during a webinar on April 20. The virtual Q&A featured Javers, who described his experience covering politics and the White House. Haley, a political reporter for NBC Boston, moderated the event, which was hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and Colgate Professional Networks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Javers and Haley discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the field of reporting. \u201cIn terms of practicality, reporting from home is almost the same,\u201d Javers said. \u201cIf this had happened 10 years ago, we never would have been able to do this, but we\u2019ve all just gotten to the point where the kids and the dog are normal parts of the workday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a White House reporter, Javers has faced some difficulties working from home because he can\u2019t physically go to the White House as he usually would. He also noted the congressional ramifications of COVID-19, pointing out that congress initially had no method of remote voting. \u201cThe reality is, the leadership in congress doesn\u2019t want to confront the loss of political power it would represent,\u201d he said. \u201cThe ability to physically cajole members of congress, to set the schedule and force them to stay in session overnight and vote as late as 1 a.m., that\u2019s one of the real brass tacks and sources of power for congressional leaders these days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Javers believes that the pandemic will have a dramatic impact on the political world. \u201cLike during the 2008 financial crisis, a relatively mild event compared to what we have now, we\u2019re seeing extreme political movements on the wings,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re already seeing armed militia forces storming statehouses protesting state closures, and we\u2019re seeing people advocating for an immediate universal base income. That\u2019s all unpredictable, and we don\u2019t know where it\u2019s going to land, but it\u2019s going to have a seismic effect on politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n