The Steamboat Institute has announced Caroline Downey and Mene Ukueberuwa as Fellows for Public Policy and American Exceptionalism for 2026-2027.

Downey is a columnist at National Review, while Ukueberuwa is a politics editor at The Free Press.

“The Steamboat Institute fellowship exists to advance free thought, civil discourse and honest journalism, and both Mene and Caroline will do this with excellence everyday,” said Hadley Heath Manning Director of Steamboat Institute’s Fellowship for Public Policy and American Exceptionalism in a news release.

The fellowship honors late journalist Tony Blankley and his legacy, and the duo will be honored at the Institute’s 18th Annual Freedom Conference.

The conference will be held Aug. 28-29, in Beaver Creek.

The Steamboat Institute was founded in 2008 by Rick Schubert-Akin and Jennifer Schubert-Akin, and promotes limited government, limited taxation, fiscal responsibility, individual rights, individual responsibilities, free-market capitalism and strong national defense.