Dialogue Across Difference: Recent Episodes
Dialogue Across Difference Podcast by Center for the Study of Politics and Governance
Podcast hosted by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Conversations feature elected officials, academic thinkers, and public leaders on topics that range from healthcare to housing, governance theory, national security, and leadership in public affairs. Dialogue Across Difference illustrates the Center’s purpose of bringing multiple perspectives to the fore, of providing space for conversation on key issues of the day, and a chance to listen and learn from our differences.
Political divisions, policy quagmires over the budget and affordability, as well as the uncertainty fueled by the fighting in the Middle East are shaping America's future. Theda Skocpol—a preeminent scholar of American politics—analyzes the current and future directions and uncertainties as the 2026 mid-term elections approach.
Half a century ago Walter Mondale joined a push to create a predictable and rational budgeting process in Congress. What happened to those high expectations? Congress rarely adopts annual budgets as intended, with government spending and tax cuts driving America's deficit toward the breaking point. The country's operations now rely on dare-devil bargaining that shuts the government down and unsettles vital programs. And just around the corner, Social Security insolvency looms. What can be done to bring sanity to congressional budgeting?About the series:The Mondale Dialogues is a series of events that project the decency and fairness that guided the public life of Walter F. Mondale and the principles he long fought for. They feature prominent local, national, and international luminaries working on pressing issues of our time. Students, faculty, community members, as well as our online global audience, will find the Mondale Dialogues engaging, informative and thought-provoking.Event made possible by Penny and Bill George and the George Family Foundation.
The Polycene era, which we have just entered, will be the first era in human history in which humanity must govern, innovate, collaborate and coexist at a planetary scale to thrive, because all of our key challenges -- governing A.I., curbing nuclear proliferation, managing climate change and managing a world where more people than ever will be living outside their birth nations are planetary in scale. It will take everyone, everywhere, rowing together. “The decisive test of our age,” Oxford economist Eric Beinhocker remarked to me, “is whether we will recognize this in time.” We will only pass that test if America takes the lead. No other nation has (or at least had) the respect and power to do so than America. But America can only lead if we get back to our great national project of making ``out of many, one.'' We are off our project. We need to model how to create 'one' from 'many' again, especially since the 'many' is now far more diverse. We look more like the world and the world looks more like us than ever before. If we go first and model that for the world, everything is possible.
Health care costs are now rising faster than inflation, wages, and the overall economy. Government programs are being scaled back rather than expanding to cover these costs. To make progress, we need to focus on the delivery of medical care and insist that payment be tied to the value of the services. Two of the country’s leading experts on redesigning U.S. health care to focus on value will join us for a discussion with Minnesota legislators to identify a practical agenda for action.About this series:For over ten years the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance has convened a series of public forums to explore health care reform issues. By fostering discussions among policy makers, stakeholders, and citizens, these forums examine the challenges and opportunities in health care reform and help ensure Minnesota’s legacy as a leader in individual and community health. This series is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Donald Trump's reliance on racial resentments and coercion are not new to America but familiar to its history. Slavery and enduring racial disparities, the expulsion of immigrants including legal residents, and suspension of constitutional rights are recurring themes since the Republic's founding. America is not defined, however, by backlash alone. Again and again, Americans recovered by fighting for the rights to speak, assemble, and vote and demanding civic inclusiveness and representative institutions of governance. What are the lessons of America's history of illiberalism and democratic resurgence in the age of Donald Trump?This Event was held in collaboration with Westminster Town Hall Forum
American politics faces enormous challenges. Partisan divisions are at historic levels not seen since the Civil War. Some politicians are using redistricting to choose their voters and elections are awash in money. Russ Feingold, former US Senator from Wisconsin, joins us to talk about America's future. In addition to his Senate career, he served as a U.S. special envoy to Africa and taught in the law schools of Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and Marquette. He also served as president of the American Constitution Society. In 2022, he co-authored The Constitution in Jeopardy.
St Augustine forged the sacred foundations of Western Christianity – from original sin to God’s grace. Pope Leo’s spiritual home is in the Augustinian religious order.Augustine was born in Africa and his identity as an African permeates his founding role in Christianity’s beginnings. Catherine Conybeare’s Augustine the African tells his life story, revealing profound questions about Christianity and identity that bear on contemporary debates about race.Professor Conybeare is joined by scholars of premodern religion and contemporary debates about race.Joining the conversation will be:-Professor Andrea Sterk-Professor Andrew Gallia-Professor Dwight Lewis Jr.
Over the past 40 years, the campaign to “get tough on crime” has been redesigned to generate vast revenue streams for governments and corporations. Today, practices that criminalize, police, and punish serve a second purpose as tools of resource extraction, disproportionately targeting low-income communities of color.Legal Plunder by Joshua Page and Joe Soss investigates the origins, operations, and consequences of this enterprise.The authors are joined by a panel of policy makers, researchers, and commentators that span the ideological spectrum from the left to libertarian including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and George Mason University Law Professor Ilya Somin in an event moderated by University of Minnesota Professor Karen Ho.
President Biden's National Security Advisor - Jake Sullivan - reflects on the administration's policies and on the future of America on the world stage.About the series:The Nakasaka Dialogues stimulate conversations about the state of public life and encourage progress toward our shared bonds.This event series is made possible by a generous contribution from Humphrey School of Public Affairs alumnus Kiyoshi Nakasaka.--This recording has been edited for brevity and clarity, including a 2-minute disruption during the remarks. Inquiries about the event can be directed to cspg@umn.edu.
Speech on campus is treacherous. It is scrutinized by universities unnerved by the risk of punishment by the federal government. Speech faces another threat – a left-oriented conformist spirit on many campuses that recognizes certain ideas and rules out others on such topics as Israel and Gaza, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” transgender issues, and more.Pamela Paul, a courageous New York Times columnist who bucks the progressive cannon from the left, visits to implore students and faculty to be advocates for debate – and provides support for those willing to take the risks of speaking up.
DescriptionWhat is Donald Trump's economic policy? Stephen Moore argues that the President's reductions in taxes and regulations will boost economic growth, reduce inflation, and improve the standard of living of all Americans.About this series:Conservative Voices at the Humphrey School is a lecture series that highlights prominent conservative thinkers and public officials from a variety of policy areas and backgrounds. The series is presented by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance whose mission is to generate dialogue across difference by stimulating vigorous and civil debate.Event made possible by the Minnesota Business Partnership.
The inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20th is a critical juncture in American politics. The occasion invites serious conversations about American history, politics, and democracy.We welcome you to join the conversation with four prominent observers:•Tom Edsall (New York Times, Columnist)•Jacob Hacker (Department of Political Science, Yale University)•Mae Ngai (Department of History, Columbia University)•Nadia Urbinati (Department of Political Science, Columbia University)The moderators are Lawrence Jacobs (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota) and Desmond King (Department of Politics and Nuffield College, Oxford University)
Now that Donald Trump is the president-elect and Republicans will have full control of Congress, President-elect Trump’s government appointees and changes in congressional leadership will determine the policy direction of the incoming Congress and administration.Vin Weber and Trent Lefkowitz from Mercury Public Affairs will map out the new power centers in Washington DC in a conversation moderated by Larry Jacobs.
While the spotlight remains on the presidential race, the upcoming congressional elections will play a pivotal role in determining which policies the next president can successfully pass. Majority party control in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate is up for grabs. Join University of Minnesota Associate Professor and congressional scholar, Kathryn Pearson, alongside congressional expert Professor Wendy J. Schiller, director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Brown University, as they explore the high-stakes battle for control of Congress and what we can expect in the upcoming elections.
As election day approaches, the presidential contest remains unpredictable. Joe Biden’s unexpected decision to drop out of the race and pass the torch to Kamala Harris has energized the Democrats, but will it be enough to lead them to victory, or will Donald Trump make a return to the Oval Office? Democratic campaign strategist Rebecca Pearcey and Republican consultant Kirsten Kukowski analyze the high-stakes strategies and challenges each party faces in the 2024 election.
Support by Black and Latino voters for Democrats has declined somewhat in polls and in recent elections, raising questions about the scale, possible sources, and broader implications for American party politics. How does the current moment compare to the past? Is this part of a general shift away from the Democratic Party and towards Republicans by conservative and working class voters? And to the extent that changes are afoot, what might explain them?Daniel HoSang, Alvin Tillery, and Chloe Thurston, leading experts on political ideology, voter behavior, and racial politics, join the conversation.
Helping low income Americans move up economically remains an important challenge for policy makers. This is especially true in rural America. Robert Doar, President, American Enterprise Institute, visits to discuss today's conservative responses to poverty and limited economic mobility. His visit is part of the Conservative Voices at the Humphrey School series with Vin Weber and Larry JacobsAbout this series:"Conservative Voices at the Humphrey School" will highlight prominent conservative thinkers and public officials from a variety of policy areas and backgrounds. The series is presented by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance whose mission is to generate dialogue across difference by stimulating vigorous and civil debate. Prior guests include Ramesh Ponnuru (Senior Editor, National Review); Aimee Guidera (Secretary of Education, Virginia); and Stephen Hadley (National Security Advisor, George W. Bush).
Can the United States continue to conduct free and fair elections? Richard Hasen, the Gary T. Schwartz Endowed Chair in Law and Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA School of Law and Jennifer Morrell, partner at the Elections Group, will consider risks to the fair counting of ballots and the prospect that some voters and candidates may not accept election results as legitimateYou can find a list of nonpartisan election information resources from Jennifer Morrell here: https://z.umn.edu/NonpartisanElectionResources
As the Democratic Party gathers in Chicago for its national convention, its prospects in the 2024 elections are dampened by its loss of the working class and the center of the American electorate. Author and editor-at-large at Talking Points Memo John Judis dissects the sources of this abandonment and how Democrats can avoid political disaster in the days ahead.
The momentous 2024 elections will be awash with reporting on existential questions about our democracy as well as relentless polling numbers and campaign intrigue. Minnesota native James Hohmann, a respected editorial writer and columnist at the Washington Post, joins us to help break down the inside stories of the 2024 elections.
Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, discusses China, Russia/Ukraine, and the Middle East in a conversation moderated by former Congressman Vin Weber and Professor Larry Jacobs.
Women will be a driving force in the epic elections in 2024 for president and congress. Anna Greenberg, one of the premier political consultants in the country, joins Professor Kathryn Pearson to pinpoint the critical issues and dynamics at play.Anna Greenberg has worked on numerous prominent Democratic campaigns including those of Minnesota Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. She won the “Pollster of the Year” award from the American Association of Political Consultants and has served on the boards of two premier survey research organizations - the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and the American National Election Study. Greenberg received a BA in Government from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.
Finding common ground in Washington is rare and urgent. Rob Portman has a record of passing more than 200 bills that were signed into law by Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden. His leadership is exemplified by the 2021 infrastructure bill that builds an economic lifeline to the future, support to defend Ukraine’s freedom in the face of growing Republican resistance, and courageous defense of his son’s decision to come out as gay. In conversation with moderator Larry Jacobs, Rob Portman will draw on his three decades of experience working for two Republican Presidents and serving in Congress as a Republican Representative and US Senator to identify his approaches to achieving bipartisan progress.About the Series:The Nakasaka Dialogues stimulate conversations about the state of public life and encourage progress toward our shared bonds.This event series is made possible by a generous contribution from Humphrey School of Public Affairs alumnus Kiyoshi Nakasaka.
Many Americans are on fire about the stakes in the 2024 elections. But what about those in the "other America" who are not interested? Who are they and why are they sitting out elections? We are joined by Professors Yanna Krupnikov who studies Americans who are less involved in day-to-day political outcomes and Markus Prior who investigates the sources and impacts of political interest. Professor Taylor Carlson moderates.
Science has been thrust into elections and political fights among lawmakers. Vaccinations against Covid, measles, and other contagious illnesses have provoked protests on the left and, especially, the right. Have Americans lost trust in science and the hope it once offered to bring progress? Why has science become another casualty of the fights between Democrats and Republicans? Join us for a discussion of these issues with the University of Rochester's Jamie Druckman and Cary Funk, past research director at Pew Research Center.
How does representative democracy in practice hold up to academic theories of how democratic representation should work? Lisa Disch is a professor of democratic theory who has crossed over to serve in government as a City Council member in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a middle-sized bright blue college town in a purplish state. Councilmember Disch reports on what the academy is missing or just gets wrong.
Animosity toward Joe Biden is at record highs among Republicans as they were among Democrats toward Donald Trump when he was in the White House. In the 2024 presidential election, we are likely to see more than 9 out of 10 voters who identify with the Democrat and Republican parties vote for their party's candidate. Why are Americans so polarized? Will voters defect from their Democratic or Republican party affiliations to support "the other" presidential candidate or a candidate representing the Green Party or No Labels party?
Joe Biden joined the United Auto Workers on a Detroit picket line, a historic first for a sitting President. Thousands of workers have voted in favor of unions at Amazon and Starbucks, and public support for unions approaches an all-time high. But the share of workers represented by a union declined last year. Why isn't unionization growing? Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham, University of Minnesota Law School Professor Charlotte Garden, and Kathy Megarry, the Vice President of Human Resources & Labor Relations, discuss in a conversation moderated by University of Minnesota History Professor Will Jones.
Does American democracy face dire ongoing challenges that threaten honest elections and effective government responsive to the majority? While the 2020 and 2022 elections were fair, doubters continue to spread unfounded charges of massive election fraud, restrict voter access, and subvert honest election administration and tabulations. What responses are appropriate and feasible? Join us for a lively conversation with a panel of political scientists on the future of American democracy.
Polls show Biden and Trump in a toss up, if both run again. Both candidates showcase weakness: Biden's disapproval ratings are high for the economy and inflation and his age remains an issue while Trump is likely to be campaigning from a courtroom and may struggle among swing voters. Third-party candidates are lining up who may drain votes from both sides. Meanwhile, will the chronic chaos in the House hurt GOP prospects to hold its majority or derail the Party's advantages in US Senate contests? Prominent national campaign consultants Rebecca Pearcey and Kirsten Kukowski break down the strategies and odds facing each party in the 2024 elections.*Due to an error in recording, at 42:23 approximately 30 seconds is missing from the audio, we apologize for the inconvenience.
Vice President Walter Mondale was a pioneer in US housing policy. He championed the Fair Housing Act (1968) to outlaw discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, and family status.How has this landmark law for fair housing impacted our challenges today with affordability and access? How does the Fair Housing Act empower communities today?This extraordinary program brings together national and state leaders in housing - Greg Squires (George Washington University) and Ingrid Gould Ellen (New York University) join Minnesota experts Edward Goetz (University of Minnesota, Humphrey School), Myron Orfield (University of Minnesota, Law School), Shannon Smith Jones (Greater Twin Cities United Way), and Maureen Michalski (Ryan Companies).About this Series:The Mondale Dialogues are a series of events that project the decency and fairness that guided the public life of Walter F. Mondale and the principles he long fought for. They feature prominent local, national, and international luminaries working on pressing issues of our time. Students, faculty, community members, as well as our online global audience, will find the Mondale Dialogues engaging, informative and thought-provoking.Event made possible by Penny and Bill George and the George Family Foundation
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has made excellence in education a top priority and his Secretary of Education, Aimee Rogstad Guidera, is responsible for making this vision a reality in the state's schools. The foundation of their work is the conviction that parents matter in all decisions impacting a child's health, education, and well being.Congressman Vin Weber and Professor Larry Jacobs moderate the conversation with Secretary Guidera.
The lack of right-of-center professors on University campuses limits the range of ideas explored, stifles debate, and may discourage students from articulating and pursuing conservative ideas. One promising approach to restoring balance is to build within universities programs and centers devoted to exploring the key questions of social and political life without ruling out conservative answers. Their purpose is to intentionally create places for wide-ranging debate. Join us for a discussion with Ramesh Ponnuru, editor of the National Review, as he makes the case for restoring intellectual diversity on University campuses. Former Congressman Vin Weber and Professor Larry Jacobs will moderate. This event was rescheduled from June due to an illness.
About this series:
Conservative Voices at the Humphrey School will highlight prominent conservative thinkers and public officials from a variety of policy areas and backgrounds. The series is presented by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance whose mission is to generate dialogue across difference by stimulating vigorous and civil debate.
In the inaugural Nakasaka Dialogue, Thomas Friedman and Professor Larry Jacobs discuss the major issues facing the U.S. and the world.The Nakasaka Dialogues stimulate conversations about the state of public life and encourage progress toward our shared bonds.
From the 1800s through the middle of the 2Oth century, federated fraternal orders based in regularly meeting local lodges and supralocal headquarters and conventions allowed Americans of all backgrounds to combine for mutual aid and civic assertion. African Americans were super-organizers and joiners within this fraternal world. Forming federations that spanned states, regions, and often the nation as a whole, Blacks created some orders paralleling major white orders but also large numbers of their own distinctively named orders. Through these orders, they built economic security, worked for social advancement, and pushed back against the social exclusions, cultural insults, and political restrictions of Jim Crow segregation. Women played a much stronger role in African American “fraternalism” than in white variants, and Black orders had an unusually strong focus on community service, while also serving as an organizational sphere where individual male and female leaders could develop and display business and civic talent.Professor Theda Skocpol presents original research - including membership badges from Black fraternal orders - connecting mutual-aid associations in the South with the Civil Rights movement. This talk includes personal stories of amazing discoveries, along with a larger explanation of why these associations, most of them no longer with us, are an inspiring part of U.S. and African American history that must not be lost.
Partisan gridlock in the U.S. Senate, exemplified by the present day, “no-effort” filibuster, has made it difficult for the Senate to pass meaningful legislation and respond to the needs of the country. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) favors the "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" solution - talk. Senators who want to filibuster should need to stand up on the floor of the Senate to hold up action on bills they object to. Restoring the "talking filibuster," Senator Merkley argues, would bring the Senate back to the deliberative body it was designed to be, restore the incentives for both parties to seek compromise, and, in the process, help renew and strengthen our democracy. Join us for a conversation with Senator Jeff Merkley and Professor Larry Jacobs as they explore the history and debates of the filibuster.
The Democrats' success in the 2022 elections gave them full control of Minnesota state government for the first time since 2014 and a long list of priorities to act on. So far, this legislative session has been one of the busiest in recent history. Join us for a conversation with political reporters Briana Bierschbach of the Star Tribune and Brian Bakst of MPR on what the Minnesota Legislature is working on, successes so far, potential pitfalls coming, and projections of how the session may wind up. Prof. Larry Jacobs will moderate.
Access to Health Care After the Pandemic Emergency by Dialogue Across Difference Podcast by Center for the Study of Politics and Governance
A New Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2023 with a profound change: Republicans are in the majority in the US House of Representatives. What will be the consequences for domestic and foreign policy and politics? A terrific panel featuring Sarah Binder, Kathryn Pearson, and Michael Minta will explore.
Hateful conflict permeates our politics and, too often, our private lives. It infects our ability to think clearly and consumes our time and energy.
Amanda Ripley's groundbreaking journalism and books are being taken up by citizens and legislators to chart a new way forward. In this conversation with the award-winning Krista Tippett - a collaboration between On Being and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs - they explore why we get trapped in conflicts and how we can break the spiral.
How will the headwinds facing Democrats play out in the state's legislative races this fall? Will Republicans be able to win back the Minnesota House and the Governorship? Star Tribune political reporter Briana Bierschbach and political science professor Kathryn Pearson discuss the latest news and predictions of Minnesota's state elections.
Latinx voters are the fastest growing voting block of the US. electorate. How will they influence the outcome of the upcoming 2022 midterm elections? Mark Hugo Lopez of the Pew Research Center will examine the attitudes and voting patterns of this diverse group of voters.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, is leading efforts to secure voting rights and protect our democracy. Join us to hear her speak about the state of American democracy, its future, and what we as citizens can do to protect it.
Voting in the midterm elections is under way. Will Democrats hold control over Congress or will a "wave" election sweep Republicans to House and Senate majorities? Prominent national campaign consultants Rebecca Pearcey and Kirsten Kukowski break down the strategies and odds facing each party in the 2022 elections.
Election officials are facing threats from people who work in or around election systems. This “Insider Threat” poses new challenges to address. Colorado’s experience dealing with an Insider Threat led to legislation earlier this year both to protect election systems and those who do the protecting. Dr. Judd Choate, Colorado’s Election Director and Humphrey School CEA faculty member, will lay out Colorado’s legislative response to the insider threat and the threats facing election officials.
Keith Ellison and Norm Ornstein discuss how to integrate mental health awareness into public safety moving forward.
*The first minute of audio did not record, so the audio will begin with the conversation already in progress
Minnesota can reduce incarceration and improve police performance by taking mental health seriously. Sound far-fetched? It’s happening in Miami-Dade County where Judge Steve Leifman has transformed the way the criminal justice system and police respond to people with serious mental illness. A remarkable conversation will identify how Minnesota can join the revolution in public safety-- saving lives and money.
The panel is made up of: Sen. Rich Draheim (R), Minnesota Senate Daniel H. Gillison Jr., National CEO, NAMI Mindy Greiling, Author, “Fix What You Can: A Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son” Sen. Ron Latz (DFL), Minnesota Senate Judge Steve Leifman, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida Chief Kelly McCarthy, Mendota Heights Police Department & Chair, Minnesota POST Board Norm Ornstein, Emeritus Scholar, American Enterprise Institute Moderated by: Larry Jacobs
New Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Dr. Cedric Alexander sits down with Professor Larry Jacobs and Norm Ornstein to discuss the future of Public Safety in Minneapolis and how to integrate mental health awareness.
Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (6th CD) chairs the National Republican Campaign Committee. Congressman Emmer is leading the GOP effort to retake the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. He discusses his work in Congress and the NRCC with Professor Larry Jacobs.
Are you ready for the 2022 Elections? Prominent political consultants from the Democratic and Republican parties preview the upcoming midterm elections and how both parties are strategizing for them.
Why has the unequal economic status of Black Americans persisted into the 21st century? Glenn C. Loury, Merton P. Stolt Professor of the Social Sciences at Brown University and host of The Glenn Show, proposes we need to specify the right "model" for thinking as economists about the long-term persistence of racial economic disparities. An advocate for a united approach to addressing racial disparities, Loury says, “Changing the definition of the American 'we' is the only real solution for the racial inequality problem that afflicts our society."
Following Loury's presentation, CLA Economics Professor Christopher Phelen will facilitate a discussion on persistent racial inequalities in the US. Questions from the audience will be welcomed.
This event is co-sponsored by the Public Life Project, Department of Economics, and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs Center for the Study of Politics and Governance under the direction of Larry Jacobs.
Join us for a conversation with USA TODAY Washington Bureau chief Susan Page on her new book, Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power. Page focuses on the rise of Nancy Pelosi into congressional politics and her ability to maneuver into the position of Speaker of the House, the first woman to hold the gavel. Professor Kathryn Pearson will moderate.
The US spends more on health care than other countries and yet Americans stand out for poorer health – as measured by life expectancy, chronic heart disease, and the rates of death among mothers and babies. The Biden administration is pursuing an ambitious response: deliver greater value for our health care dollars and improve the care and health of black, indigenous, and populations of color. Liz Fowler, a leader of the Biden Administration's strategy, visits to discuss a new generation of collaborative care and incentives to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities among diverse Americans throughout the country and in Minnesota.
In the aftermath of the 2020 elections, election audits have taken center stage. They have been used to demonstrate the integrity of an election and, conversely, used in an attempt to demonstrate an election was flawed. Jennifer Morrell, an expert in election audits, will moderate a conversation with election officials that will explore the changing landscape of election audits - best practices, challenges, and opportunities.
Judge Steve Leifman of Miami-Dade County, Florida, has transformed the way the criminal justice system and police in this huge county deal with those with serious mental illness, saving lives and saving money at the same time. The best practices he and his team have crafted, embodied in a film called Definition of Insanity (www.doifilm.com), can be adapted to the needs and resources of every community. Judge Leifman moderates a conversation with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Norman Ornstein, whose family foundation spearheaded the documentary, about criminal justice reform, police reform and mental illness.
Joe Biden is walking a tightrope. He was elected on promises of effectiveness, empathy, and unity. Yet, his unpopularity now rivals Donald Trump's after the public backlash against his handling of the bloody Afghan withdrawal, persistence of Covid surges, threats of inflation, and Democratic infighting over his ambitious legislative agenda. Prominent Republican conservatives Rich Lowry and Vin Weber stop by.
Health reform is a big part of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan. Sweeping proposals have been negotiated carefully among Democratic leaders and party factions. Join us to hear how these changes may impact access, the cost of health care, and state and federal budgets. This program brings together keen observers of health reform in Washington DC, Jim Capretta from the American Enterprise Institute and Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown University to dissect what is happening.
Organizing communities of color, working people, the disaffected, and politicos on the left and right has lit up our politics - from protests around George Floyd to the January 6th mobilization. What separates these different forms of organizing and are they improving public life or threatening it? A leading progressive organizer - Marshall Ganz - reflects on the high points of success, disappointments, and disasters. Damon Shoholm will discuss community organizing in Minnesota.
Rent stabilization is on the ballot in both Minneapolis and St. Paul next month. How does rent stabilization work? What are advocates hoping to see come from the ballot initiatives and are those hopes realistic? And, how are groups in the two cities organizing to influence the outcome? Professor Edward Goetz of the Humphrey School, and the lead author of the report to the Minneapolis City Council on rent stabilization will be speaking with Jennifer Arnold, director of Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia and a leader of the campaign in favor of the Minneapolis ballot initiative.
Dr. Alvin Tillery, Dr. Michael Minta and Dr. Jamil Scott discuss the growing power of Black and Latinos in Congress in relation to the BLM protest movement and if Congress and more mainstream Black and Latino civil rights organizations are addressing the priorities of the BLM movement.
When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem in 2016 to protest police violence and racial inequity, he did more than shake up the NFL and the world of pro sports. His actions also sparked an unreported movement in high schools and colleges across the country. Join us to consider Kaepernick's impacts on sport, politics, and culture.
Professor Douglas Hartmann moderates a conversation with Dave Zirin, who is the author of "The Kaepernick Effect".
Many Democrats would like to wish away the large portion of the country that remains enthusiastic supporters of former President Donald Trump. That won't work. Trump loyalists are among the most likely to vote in the 2022 midterm elections and may help flip Congress to Republican control. Why are they loyal to Trump? Can Democrats lure them away?
Democratic pollster and former Yale University Professor Stanley Greenberg joins us to talk about his research on Trump voters.
We are accustomed to words and numbers as forms of communication. Photography is a visceral medium to express love, outrage at injustice, and a future of righteousness and morality. Nationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Bobby Rogers joins award-winning poet Douglas Kearney for a searching conversation.
To see the photos, view this event on Youtube at z.umn.edu/Photography2021,
The fireworks from the 2020 elections are still fresh in our minds and yet politicians and their advisors are hard at work strategizing for the next election. Democrats are focused on retaining their narrow majority in the US House and protecting their working majority in the US Senate. But midterm elections often go against the party controlling the White House and Republicans see plenty of opportunity to regain control of Congress. Why does that matter now? Both parties are currently steering policy in Congress to help their chances in November 2022.
Join prominent Republican and Democratic consultants and campaign leaders to understand the behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
Big promises, scary threats, and green shoots of hope are all at work in Congress and the White House. Famed Washington observer and scholar Sarah Binder joins U of M political scientist Kathryn Pearson to make sense of it all.
There is a common refrain that in an ideal election it is easy to vote and hard to cheat. Signature verification has been the gold standard of remote voter identity verification for decades. Technological innovation creates new opportunities and challenges.
This webinar will explore current policies and future options for states and localities to ensure that voter verification is accurate, accessible, equitable, and feasible. Panelists will consider the benefits and drawbacks of signature matching, personal identification number requirements, photo identification requirements, third party identity verification, and step-up verification systems.
Panel: Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor, State of Washington Paddy McGuire, Mason County Auditor, State of Washington Rachel Orey, Policy Analyst, Bipartisan Policy Center
As we emerge from COVID-19’s dark shadow, the pandemic is serving as a broad catalyst for change in consumer expectations and a reordering of work, business and the economy. The US health care system sits at the center of COVID’s reckoning and newly added urgency for lasting change. Inequities in access to care and the enormous challenges in caring for the persistently ill are top priorities as government and stakeholders explore the public health “lessons learned”.
Join a discussion with Professor Michael Chernew, Harvard Medical School and Star Tribune reporter Chris Snowbeck, to explore how COVID can catalyze innovation to pay for the expanded medical care with fresh thinking about restraining the cost of treatment that supplies little or no value.
Georgia, Texas and other states are pursuing legislation that will make it more difficult to vote, especially for voters of color. Less attention has been paid to a second threat: giving the legislature a greater hand in who counts votes and how they are counted. Will this reform improve or damage the integrity of elections and the confidence of voters in their results?
An impressive panel joins us: - Richard L. Hasen, Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science, University of California, Irvine - Michael T. Morley, Associate Professor, Florida State University College of Law - Moderated by Tammy Patrick, Senior Advisor, Elections Program, Democracy Fund
Independent music venues across the nation were devastated by COVID - the first to close and among the last to open. In response, venue owners, operators, and musicians banded together to form the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), securing government aid in December 2020. However, many venues are still struggling to get back on their feet. What will it take for live music to return?
Musician and writer Dessa joins Minnesota music entrepreneur Dayna Frank and Minnesota Public Radio's arts reporter Euan Kerr.
Observers of state and national politics who lament the lack of racial and ethnic representation of elected officials should pay attention to Minnesota cities. Over the past few elections racially and ethnically diverse candidates have won elections and bring new perspectives to Minnesota city government. A panel of distinguished city officials include: - Councilmember Nadia Mohamed, St. Louis Park - Mayor Najwa Massad, Mankato - Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez, Richfield - Moderator: Ricardo Lopez, Senior Political Reporter with the Minnesota Reformer
Money is the gas that pays for the consultants, staff, and advertising that equips candidates and their campaigns to get their messages out. Minnesota's competitive races have drawn increased spending on campaigns in the last two cycles. That's not all. When the campaign season is over and the legislative session begins, outside groups, political parties, and individual donors press their interests and influence in the legislative process, particularly in committees. Not surprisingly, elected politicians remember who gives cash. This panel will discuss the increased spending on federal and state elections in Minnesota, impacts on the Minnesota legislature, and reform proposals. Associate Professor Kathryn Pearson will present a new report documenting the vast sums of money flooding Minnesota politics and the potential impacts on the legislature. Professor Pearson will be joined by George Beck, and Ricardo Lopez.
Commentators report a simple story about Congress: it is rigidly divided like the Hatfields and McCoys. The results are either liberal or conservative legislation or stubborn deadlock. Not so far. Frances Lee finds that bipartisanship remains the key to legislative success on Capitol Hill as does compromise. Professor Lee brings her fresh interpretation of Congress to the current battle in Congress over Joe Biden’s liberal agenda.
It’s fashionable to declare that capitalism is in decline – or even broken - because it isn’t working for those who need it most. But both individual firms and business leaders are now pushing back with exciting proposals for new directions. The next era of capitalism is the topic of an extraordinary conversation with former Best Buy Chairman and CEO Hubert Joly who makes the case for “shareholder capitalism” in his book, The Heart of Business. He is joined by Harvard Business School Professor Rebecca Henderson, author of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire.
Things have not gone well for the Republican Party. It lost the races for president and control of both houses of Congress after the two Democrats won the Georgia runoff elections. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty joins us to make the case for changing the GOP's current direction. He argues that the winning path combines conservative principles and populism to modernize the Republican brand. Democrats use government to advance equal outcomes while Republicans try to stop government overreach from trampling our liberties.
How will President Biden proceed administratively and legislatively to build on the ACA? Will advocates for the Public Option prevail and, if they fail, will they be pragmatic or stop any reform? How will health care providers and the larger health care industry respond? And, by the way, the Supreme Court will be deciding a lawsuit aimed at declaring the ACA unconstitutional—again. One of Washington’s shrewdest health policy observers, Len Nichols, joins the Center for the Policy and Governance in this virtual event.
This webinar covers key changes in absentee and mail voting last year, as well as in-person voting options like early voting and vote centers. How are states responding this year—staying the course, returning to previous norms, or fine-tuning their processes? The event is co-hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Humphrey School's Certificate in Election Administration (CEA) program.
Donald Trump tapped a reservoir of radical hate by scapegoating immigrants and Black Americans victimized by police violence, lying about the presidential election results, and mobilizing a mob to assault Congress. Even as Trump swung away, a powerful story about American democracy emerged. The 2020 election demonstrated the durability of law, the courage of the free press, and the civic determination of Americans who organized and voted in record numbers. One of America's iconic observers of American public life - Kathleen Hall Jamieson - joins us to talk about the state of American democracy and its future.
President Joe Biden entered the White House with dire news blasting around him. The coronavirus continues its rampage across America, and the economy is on its knees. The President's much-promised "unity" is being tested by opposition from Republicans and Democrats, who either want more progressive or moderate policies. What are President Biden's prospects? Washington sage Norm Ornstein joins us, as well as Former Vice President Walter Mondale; Professor Larry Jacobs moderates.
James Hohmann joins us the day before Joe Biden's inauguration to preview its organization and significance. Drawing on his experiences in Washington, he also discusses Donald Trump's likely impact on the Biden administration and Republican Party and previews the new president's prospects to advance his policy agenda.
The path to empowering Black people lies in the growth of Black equity, wealth, and capital. A growing number of feasible strategies offer a tangible path forward to create financial systems and structures that work equally well for everyone.
Prof. Larry Jacobs moderates a conversation with Gary Cunningham, President and CEO of Prosperity Now.
Kate DiCamillo, writer of stories for children, visits to read from her work and talk about the solace and hope that literature offers. The two-time Newbery Award winner is joined by John Schumacher, part-time lecturer at Rutgers University and the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic, who will moderate this special event.
Nationally renowned writer Charles Baxter reads and discusses his just-released novel, The Sun Collective, which introduces us to compelling characters who struggle to make sense of a disorienting world and—against the backdrop of the Twin Cities—to form meaningful relationships and communities. U of M English professor and novelist Julie Schumacher moderates a reading and conversation with Baxter.
Join us for a discussion of U.S. foreign policy with Jake Sullivan, incoming National Security Advisor for President-elect Biden and a former deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former Vice President Walter Mondale will join the conversation; Professor Larry Jacobs will moderate.
The 2020 elections whipped up animosity toward pollsters. What did pollsters get wrong? What did they get right? And, why aren't pollsters more accurate? Larry Jacobs is joined by two national stars - prominent survey researcher Columbia University's Robert Y. Shapiro and Kathy Frankovic, former CBS polling chief.
"Democracy is dying" has become a watchword in America today. The reality is that American democracy has endured recurrent crises since the 1790s. Suzanne Mettler joins us to reveal the unique threat today - the worst features of past decay and disruption are all present today.
Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University. She is an award-winning author of six books on American politics and public policy. Her most recent book, co-authored with Robert Lieberman, is Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy.
Globalization can be both good and bad, but it is not something that individuals or countries can opt out of. The next president will face enormous challenges on numerous fronts. How can American interests be realistically advanced?
Join Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations and former advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell and President George H.W. Bush, for a discussion of America's future in the world. Former Vice President Walter Mondale will join the conversation; Professor Larry Jacobs will moderate.
Republican strategist Vin Weber and Democratic strategist Justin Buoen discuss the election results that are reported on Election Day and anticipate the coming battles over the counting of ballots. Professor Larry Jacobs will moderate.
Republican strategist Vin Weber and Democratic strategist Justin Buoen break down the final week of the 2020 national elections.
Donald Trump promised to "Make America Great Again" and yet disarray and decline abound. Over the past 6 months, the President failed to slow the Coronavirus as our allies have done and the economic decline set a record. Still more profoundly, the President and his political allies have undercut the sources of American prosperity and global influence - our cutting edge education and scientific infrastructure along with our success in cultivating a level of social harmony in a diverse country that has eluded our European allies. President Trump's Middle East agreement is historic but received little public acclaim because of the chaos and division that he fueled.
Award-winning author and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman joins us to discuss this and other issues.
A record number of women ran in the Democratic presidential nominating contest in 2020; Senator Kamala Harris is running for Vice President; and a record number of women are running for the U.S. Congress in 2020. Yet, women are still underrepresented at every level of office, and two white men are vying for the Presidency. What explains women's gains, persistent underrepresentation, and the future for women in politics?
University of Virginia Politics Professor Jennifer Lawless has published extensive research on women & politics, and she will discuss gender dynamics in the 2020 elections and women's underrepresentation. University of Minnesota Political Science Associate Professor Kathryn Pearson will moderate the discussion.
Former Senator Al Franken joins us to talk about the approaching elections and what the Coronavirus reveals about America.
For generations, the U.S. Attorneys General have described the Justice Department as serving the broad interests of the American people—instead of a political tool of the sitting president. Attorney General William Barr stands out to his critics as one of the country's most partisan Attorneys General, repeatedly serving the political and personal interests of President Trump. As the U.S. faces a divisive election already marked by legal challenges, what is the role of the US Attorney General and the Justice Department? How does veteran Attorney General Barr see this? How does he respond to critics? As election day approaches, the questions become more urgent: Will the Attorney General take steps that appear to promote President Trump's reelection—or will he maintain what former Attorney General Griffin Bell called “a neutral zone” to preserve the integrity and credibility of a department with unique responsibilities across all three branches of government?
The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger reports on new questions about Attorney General Barr being raised on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, and the implications for the 2020 election.
Good elections are secure elections—but what does that mean? Does it mean that election processes help eligible people vote, while thwarting anyone else? Does it mean accurate vote tabulation—and being able to prove that the counting was done right? Does it mean keeping voters safe at the polls? Does it mean giving the voting public a sense of security in a time of disinformation and misinformation? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Learn from national elections experts about cybersecurity, election validation and audits, healthy polling places and communicating about security.
Panelists: Wendy Underhill, Director for Elections and Redistricting, National Council of State Legislatures Matt Masterson, Senior Cybersecurity Advisor, Department of Homeland Security Jennifer Morell, Director of Elections Validation Project, the Democracy Fund Maurice Turner, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission
This online event took place on August 13, 2020.
The Democratic and Republican parties are holding their national conventions to formally nominate their candidates. The Chair of the Democratic National Convention, Tom Perez, discusses the convention and presidential campaign with Justin Buoen (campaign manager for Sen. Amy Klobuchar's presidential run) and Vin Weber (former Republican Member of Congress and national political consultant). The Republican National Committee was invited to participate and declined.
American conservatism champions individual freedom, limited government, and social and religious traditions. A number of conservatives—including George Will and Peter Wehner—recoil from President Donald Trump, singling out his erosion of the US. Constitution, budget discipline, and the dignity of his office. Wehner and scholar David Hopkins join us to discuss the state of American conservatism today.
The coronavirus is stretching our health care system and forcing re-examination of long-followed practices. Telehealth is advancing rapidly and clinical trials and treatment protocols are being assessed at unprecedented speed. As the pandemic develops, will it also reduce inequities in the delivery of care, reorient care toward treating the whole person, and link the payment of hospitals and doctors to the value and cost-effectiveness of patient treatment?
Join us for a discussion with a distinguished panel including Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Craig Samitt, as well as Minnesota State Senators Michelle Benson and Matt Klein.
The support of white Americans for the Black Lives Matter movement may contribute to the Democratic Party winning elections in November. Republicans disagree. They see an opportunity to use the remedies proposed by Black Lives Matter—especially the dismantling of police departments—to rally white voters.
University of Minnesota political science professor Michael Minta leads a distinguished panel to sort out the implications of Black Lives Matter on the 2020 elections. Panelists include Ashley Jardina from Duke University, Christopher Parker from the University of Washington, and LaFleur Stephens-Dougan from Princeton University.
President Barack Obama's former strategist David Axelrod and star Republican strategist Vin Weber size up the advantages and disadvantages of Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Trump. Biden's vice presidential pick, summer conventions, and fall campaigning are some of the topics.
Minnesota boasts a history of progressivism, yet its racial inequalities are nation-leading. How and why is this the case? This panel discussion features Professor Samuel Myers Jr., Professor Joe Soss, and MayKao Hang, president and founding dean of the University of St. Thomas's College of Health.
Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (6th CD) chairs the National Republican Campaign Committee. Congressman Emmer is leading the GOP effort to retake the majority in the US House of Representatives. He discussed his work in Congress and the NRCC with Professor Larry Jacobs.
This event took place online on June 23, 2020.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm has been a leader of Minnesota's response to the novel coronavirus and joined us to discuss the Walz administration's policy.
Scott Keefer, Vice President of Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota closed the event. Professor Larry Jacobs moderated the conversation.
America is facing a double-whammy: a public health emergency and an economic depression that is eliminating health insurance for millions of unemployed. How can America preserve health insurance? Policy makers are weighing three options: preserve the current employer-based insurance, strengthen President Obama's program of offering subsidies to purchase private insurance, or creating a government-run health insurance system.
Joel Ario, former Obama health official and a consultant at the Manatt firm, will assess each of these options. He will be joined by the the Deputy Majority Leader in the Minnesota State Senate and chair of the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, Sen. Michelle Benson.
The campaign for the 2020 presidential election will be unlike any in our lifetime as candidates respond to the Coronavirus and unprecedented economic collapse. What issues, campaign themes, and candidate strategies will dominate? Have your expectations about likely outcomes changed? Three months ago, media commentators often described President Donald Trump as a favorite to win reelection. Have today's public health and economic crises made the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden the favorite?
Anna Greenberg, Ph.D., is the managing partner at the public opinion research firm GQR. She has been a pollster on many campaigns including Congressman Dean Phillips, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Previously, she taught public opinion and survey research methodology at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Vin Weber is a partner at Mercury where he provides strategic advice to institutions with matters before the legislative and executive branches. Previously, he represented Minnesota in the U.S. House from 1981-1993. He is one of the most prominent and successful strategists in the Republican party and enjoys strong bipartisan relationships across the different branches of government.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) is the highest ranking Republican in the Minnesota legislature at a time when the state faces the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime. Senator Gazelka has raised questions about the economic and budgetary costs of DFL Governor Tim Walz's response to the Coronavirus. What are the practical alternatives?
This conversation took place via zoom.
April 23, 2020
Members of Congress and state legislators routinely disagree along party lines over the size of government and individual responsibility. But the sharp divide is not only over policy issues; it has snowballed into an emotional hostility toward members of the other party. Democrats and Republicans see each other as members of disliked - even reviled - outgroups. How did the "Hatfield versus McCoy" mindset set in? Will it persist as Americans struggle to survive the shared threat of the novel Coronavirus? What is the place for principled debate in today's toxic political environment?
This event will feature Stanford Professor Shanto Iyengar, National Review senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru, and Humphey Professor Larry Jacobs.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar will join Professor Larry Jacobs to discuss her campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, the Senate's response to the Coronavirus, and her husband's recent successful battle with Covid-19.
The conversation also included former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, and was followed by analysis from University of Virginia Professor Jennifer Lawless
Fresh off large election wins, Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party colleagues are moving forward with Brexit after years of debate over its economic and social consequences. Largely forgotten in the rush for Brexit is the Republic of Ireland which held its own election on February 9. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement introduced twenty years of relative peace after generations grew up with the searing violence and mayhem known as “the troubles.” Will Brexit shatter the peace and reopen the venomous hatreds? The event will be moderated by MPR arts and culture reporter Euan Kerr.
Desmond King is the Andrew W Mellon Professor of American government at Nuffield College at Oxford University. He specializes in the study of racial inequality in the United States, as well as Federal Reserve policy and US immigration policy. King is both a fellow of the British Academy, as well as a member of the Royal Irish Academy.
Euan Kerr is an arts and culture reporter for MPR News. He is an editor at American Public Media and was previously the news director at KFAI Radio. He was also a reporter for BBC radio in his native Scotland.
April 1, 2020 Online Event
The Constitutional design of three branches checking each other is broken. Modern presidents have expanded executive power long before Donald Trump's inauguration. But the assumption the Framers made-- that loyalty to one's own institution and its role – no longer applies in an era of tribal loyalties when Republicans in both the House and Senate routinely unify as a block to support President Trump.The result: Trump is asserting new powers or stretching prior precedents to the breaking point. Why has Congress acquiesced and could we witness a resurgence?
This event will feature scholar of Congress Norm Ornstein and longtime political commentator Professor Larry Jacobs to discuss the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic and the response in Washington, D.C.
The rules of the presidential nomination process can seem endlessly complex with primaries versus caucuses, early primaries, delegate counts, and convention rules. But over the years the parties have developed informal rules as well, with norms and expectations about how the presidential nomination process will unfold. Who wins and who loses under the real rules? Join us for a conversation with Professor Julia Azari of Marquette University to discuss how the informal rules changed in 2016, and what it means for 2020? University of Minnesota Professor Kathryn Pearson will moderate.
February 24, 2020 Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Prof. Julia Azari is Associate Professor and Assistant Chair in the Department of Political Science at Marquette University. She teaches on the American presidency, political parties, and politics, and is a contributor to fivethirtyeight.com. Prof. Azari has PH.D., M.A. and M.Phil degrees in political science from Yale University, and a B.A. in political science for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The media are under attack. Is the so-called mainstream media biased by the liberalism of editors and journalists, as President Trump and conservative critics claim? Has Fox News abandoned journalistic standards to become just the loudest of many right-wing mouthpieces for President Trump and corporate America, as Democrats charge? Are communities of color justified in complaining that their perspectives are marginalized by a media far less diverse than the society it covers? And amid it all, have the economic struggles of media businesses, the rise of the internet and social media, fragmented the media along ideological lines in a way that leaves America no common source of trusted information?
Join us for a discussion of media bias with our panel of journalists and media experts.
Panelists: Eric Black, columnist, MinnPost Annette Meeks, founder and CEO, Minnesota Freedom Foundation Ka Vang, director of Impact and Community Engagement, MPR Moderated by D.J. Tice, commentary editor and opinion columnist, Star Tribune
Soaring insurance deductibles and medical bills have put growing strains on middle-class Americans. Is single-payer health care the answer? Or will costs just soar higher as millions move to government coverage? Award-winning journalist Noam Levey will discuss healthcare access and affordability in a conversation moderated by Professor Larry Jacobs.
Noam Levey is a national healthcare policy journalist writing for the Los Angeles Times. Based in Washington D.C., his writing has regularly appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun, has been published in Health Affairs and the Journal of the American Medical Association, and he is a regular guest on nationally broadcast public radio programs. He has written extensively about the 2010 Affordable Care Act as well as medicare, medicaid, and healthcare affordability. He received his degree in Middle Eastern history from Princeton University.
November 21, 2019 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
A record number of women ran for office - and won - in the 2018 midterm elections and more women than ever are vying for the Democratic Party's nomination to run for President in 2020. Yet, women are still underrepresented at every level of office, comprising only around a quarter of the U.S. Congress. What explains women's gains, and also women's persistent underrepresentation, and what does the future hold for women in politics?
Rutgers University Professor and Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) Scholar Kelly Dittmar will discuss CAWP's latest report, "Unfinished Business: Women Running in 2018 and Beyond," detailing the gender dynamics at work in the 2018 midterms. Relying on research on past elections, Professor Dittmar will also look ahead to the 2020 Elections. University of Minnesota Political Science Professor Kathryn Pearson will moderate.
November 6, 2019 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM Humphrey Forum, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Minnesota led the nation in 2018 for youth voter turnout, but even with an over 20% rise from 2014, that turnout was STILL under 45%. What does current research say will happen in 2020? Join us in an exploration of the successes in youth voter turnout and the data that show what has worked, and a look at how a more engaged young electorate may challenge the traditional approach to policy making and require new tactics for political outreach and engagement efforts. The event will feature Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University as well as Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and a student panel.
This event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Lead MN, and Students United.
October 15, 2019 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM Humphrey School of Public Affairs
What effect has President Trump had on conservatism, and what direction should it take after his time in office is over? Some conservatives argue that Trump is an aberration and conservatism will return to normalcy when he is gone. Others think that Trump has effected a lasting change in the definition of the Republican party, for good or ill. Still others think that the future of conservatism will be up for grabs, and have different ideas about what it should be.
Ramesh Ponnuru is a senior editor of National Review, which was founded by William F. Buckley Jr – who has also been called the founder of American conservatism. Buckley famously attempted to purge the conservative movement of “kooks” and bigots. Ponnuru will address whether Buckley’s conservatism has been permanently eclipsed by Trump’s.
The event was moderated by former Minnesota congressman Vin Weber.
Friday, October 4, 2019 Cowles Auditorium Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Program Minnesota is one of the country’s leaders in participation of eligible voters. What role does Minnesota’s vibrant culture of corporate responsibility play in our engaged citizenry? How does civic engagement benefit a company's bottom line? And how can Secretaries of State partner with companies to enhance nonpartisan efforts to increase voter participation? Researchers at Harvard University collaborated with several Minnesota businesses as part of an investigation of civic engagement and recently released the report, Civic Responsibility: The Power of Companies to Increase Voter Turnout. We will explore these questions and more with our panel.
Welcome Doug Loon, President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Civic Responsibility Report Highlights Ashley Spillane, co-author of Harvard case study Civic Responsibility: The Power of Companies to Increase Voter Turnout and President, Impactual, LLC
Panel Discussion Isaac Reyes, Vice President of Government Affairs, Target Craig Samitt, President and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State Ashley Spillane, President, Impactual, LLC Lee Schafer, moderator and Columnist, Star Tribune Closing Paul Pate, Iowa Secretary of State and President, National Association of Secretaries of State
Monday, September 23, 2019 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Cowles Auditorium Humphrey School of Public Affairs 301 19th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55455
All around Minnesota, communities are redefining what it means to have a healthy economy and an engaged workforce. Tom Friedman has been traveling to towns in Minnesota and around the country to wonder why some are prospering, while others are losing population and jobs.
Tom Friedman’s presentation is the culmination of an 18-month event series, traveling around the state to explore how older workers could be part of the solution to our state’s workforce shortages as Baby Boomers retire.
Join us for the series conclusion on September 23rd to hear best practices and ideas for reviving towns in Minnesota.
Featuring: ● New York Times columnist Tom Friedman ● Courageous Conversations series moderator Gary Eichten ● Panelists from Southwest Minnesota, the Iron Range, and the Twin Cities
Brought to you by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, with generous support from the McKnight Foundation.
The US Women’s Soccer Team thrilled the world with their prowess on the field and leadership off of it. Their championship demonstrates the important impact of Title IX in funding and support for women athletics in schools and universities. Beyond soccer, women routinely eclipse male runners during marathons and other sports, pointing to a continuum of physical performance. The ambiguity of gender—as reflected in world class-athletes such as Caster Semenya—led the International Olympic Committee to adopt tests of testosterone levels and college athletic conferences to respond to intersex and trans-athletes. The physical ability and performances of women athletes are blurring historic and gendered divisions between men’s and women’s sports. Professor Mary Jo Kane will discuss the evolving state of women’s sport with Dr. Jamie Feldman, an expert in transgender medicine.
Mary Jo Kane is the director emerita of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport and a Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. She is widely published on media coverage and women's sport and is a recognized expert on the impact of Title IX.
Jamie Feldman, MD, PhD, is faculty in the University of Minnesota’s Program in Human Sexuality. She has chaired a Transgender Medicine and Research Committee and published on transgender hormone therapy and primary care.
Program: President Trump is using and expanding on executive powers that were initiated by his predecessors. Trump executive actions, taken without Congress or the courts, include military action in Syria, defying subpoenas, and invoking “emergency powers” to spend more on a border wall. At the same time, President Trump has violated many previous norms of presidential behavior. Bios: Charlie Savage is a Washington correspondent for the New York Times and a contributor to MSNBC. He has been awarded many honors for journalism including winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. He has written two books and taught a seminar on national security and the Constitution at Georgetown University.
Walter F. Mondale has a distinguished record of public service that includes Vice President of the United States, Ambassador to Japan, U.S. Senator, and Attorney General of Minnesota. Mr. Mondale is currently a partner with the international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.
Larry Jacobs is the director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies. His commentary and research has been published and discussed in a number of mass media outlets.
Program: A lot can be learned from how we use the internet. Our viewing patterns offer insights into our health, behavior, and our democracy. Social scientists are pioneering new collaborations with Facebook to get access to its data, under the banner “Social Science One”. As efforts progress toward developing partnerships questions have been raised about safeguards for privacy, ethical conduct, and independence from corporate interests. Bios: Gary King is the Director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science and a distinguished professor at Harvard University. He has written more than 170 journal articles, 20 open source software packages, and 8 books. His work has made him widely read across scholarly fields and beyond academia. William McGeveran specializes in data privacy, intellectual property, communications and technology, and free speech. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota Law School. Larry Jacobs is the Director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies. His commentary and research has been published and discussed in a number of mass media outlets.
Program: Presidents of the United States are the most powerful figures in America and, arguably, the world. The First Lady receives far less attention but exerts influence within the White House and stars in Washington’s shrouded political theatre.
Novelist Curtis Sittenfeld joins us for a conversation about the public visibility and private dramas of the First Lady – from Laura Bush to Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. She will also read from her novel American Wife – a fictional account of Laura Bush Bios: Curtis Sittenfeld is the bestselling author of five novels. Her books have been selected by The New York Times, Time, Entertainment Weekly, and People for their “Ten Best Books of the Year” lists, optioned for television and film, and translated into thirty languages. Ms. Sittenfeld has interviewed Michelle Obama for Time and has appeared as a guest on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” CBS’s “Early Show,” and PBS’s Newshour. She is a graduate of Stanford University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Larry Jacobs is the director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies. His commentary and research has been published and discussed in a number of mass media outlets.
Program: Professor Hahrie Han will examine the opportunities and substantial hurdles facing community organizers. Professor Han studies the way political and community organizations make the civic participation of ordinary people "Possible, Probable and Powerful." Her work explores how to increase grassroots power and capacity rather than short-term mobilizing. Kara Carlisle of the McKnight Foundation will moderate the program.
Bios: Professor Hahrie Han is a professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She specializes in the study of civic participation, organizing, and social change. Through her research, she partners with a wide range of civic and political organizations interested in organizing and building power for social change in the United States and around the world.
Kara Carlisle is the vice president of programs for the McKnight Foundation. In her position she drives impact across geographic and issue-specific areas including diversity, equity, and community engagement. She has previously worked with the W. K. Kellog Foundation 's Civic and Philanthropic Engagement team, and is a former board member of the National Association for Community Mediation in Washington, DC.
Professor Theda Skocpol of Harvard University is among America’s most acclaimed scholars of American politics. Her conversation will cover topics ranging from her new research on community responses to President Trump and her continuing research on the Tea Party and conservative networks.
Theda Skocpol is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University. She has served as the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Director of the Center for American Political Studies. She is the founder and director of the Scholar Strategy Network, a group of academics dedicated to using research to improve public policy. Among her most recent books are The Transformation of American Politics: Activist Government and the Rise of Conservatism, What a Mighty Power We Can Be: African American Fraternal Groups and the Struggle for Racial Equality, and Diminished Democracy: From Membership to Management in American Civic Life.
Since the 1970's conservative donors, activists, and business have been building networks to influence the state policy process. Professor Alexander Hertel-Fernandez from Columbia University will visit the Humphrey School to talk about why conservatives have been successful using organizations like ALEC to influence policy making while progressives have lagged behind.
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez is a political scientist who studies the effect that organized interests have on public policy. His book Politics at Work: How Companies Turn Their Workers Into Lobbyists examines how business are using their workforces to influence American politics. His most recent book is State Capture:How Conservative Activists, Big Businesses, and Wealthy Donors Reshaped the American States -- and the Nation. Copies will be available to purchase at the event.
The US Constitution mandates that the government -- which includes state universities -- should not discriminate against speakers based on their viewpoints. Should university panels include diverse perspectives, including conservatives who may unsettle students and faculty? What about advocates for extreme nationalist viewpoints whose presence invites large protests that impose substantial costs on universities and colleges? Has President Trump's recent executive order secured campus free speech (as advertised) or potentially weakened it?
Bios: Jane Kirtley is the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. She has written and spoken extensively on free speech and media ethics. Professor Kirtley has also written friend-of-the-court briefs in the US Supreme Court and published two books.
Isaiah Ogren is the Speaker of the Forum for the Minnesota Student Association. In that role he serves as a neutral arbiter for MSA legislation. He is an academic junior with majors in History and Individualized Study.