Editorial Board

Charlatan is an independent publication focused on power, policy, and consequence. It is shaped by a small editorial board responsible for its direction, standards, and judgment — convening to determine coverage priorities, themes, and the direction of each edition. Its work is not organized around headlines alone, but around the underlying dynamics that drive them.

Editorial Approach​

Since 2008, Charlatan has covered the events shaping politics, economics, and global affairs with a single aim: to interpret developments in a way that reveals structure, motive, and consequence.
Charlatan draws on publicly available information, historical context, and informed analysis. Its editorial voice emphasizes clarity, continuity, and perspective — not a comprehensive record of sources, but a sustained reading of how things unfold. When reporting touches contested ground, editorial judgment is applied rigorously: claims are weighed, context is established, and conclusions are earned rather than asserted.
All work is reviewed and approved by the editor prior to publication, with contributing editors advising on subject matter and interpretation. Accuracy is essential; when errors occur, they are corrected promptly and transparently. Charlatan maintains full editorial independence — its judgments formed without influence from advertisers, sponsors, or external interests. Contributors are expected to disclose relevant conflicts of interest. Readers may submit corrections or inquiries directly to the editorial team.

Drew Gowing Editor

Drew Gowing is the editor-in-chief of Charlatan. A former Press Secretary on Capitol Hill, Gowing wrote daily briefings on politics, economics, and global affairs for members of Congress and senior staff. A student of philosophy, Gowing's focus on political reporting and institutional structure relies upon framing events as part of larger systems — where power moves, decisions are shaped, and outcomes emerge.

Judge Heather Ferguson Managing Editor

Heather Ferguson is managing editor of Charlatan. She presides over the Roanoke Valley's District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, where questions of law, family, and institutional authority are decided at the human scale. Her work informs Charlatan's examination of how legal and governmental structures operate in practice — not as written, but as applied.

David Record Publisher

David Record is the publisher of Charlatan. He began his career at the Boston Stock Exchange and went on to establish computer networks at Oechsle International Advisors during the formative years of the technology revolution. His experience at the intersection of finance, information systems, and institutional infrastructure informs Charlatan's understanding of how power and capital move through connected systems.

Brenda Wensil Contributing Editor

Brenda Wensil is a contributing editor at Charlatan. A Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, she has held senior roles in financial services and at the U.S. Department of Education — experience that spans both private institutional pressure and federal policy execution. Her work at Charlatan focuses on leadership, organizational behavior, and how institutions make decisions when the stakes are high.


Published weekly from Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlatan reaches more than a quarter of a million readers across 26 countries each Sunday.