The Bully Pulpit: Recent Episodes
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
At the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, we bring together top Republicans and Democrats to transcend partisan divisions and explore solutions to our most pressing national and global challenges.
Join veteran strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy along with other Center staff and major voices in the Bully Pulpit for fun conversations that advance civil dialogue and practical politics.
When President Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase bully pulpit, bully meant “wonderful”; and Roosevelt, according to the Oxford Dictionary, was envisioning “an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.” Hear from famous people who’ve known success and setbacks, whether they worked for Donald Trump or Barack Obama, G.W. Bush or Bill Clinton, the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. The conversations go behind the curtain with elected officials, campaign staff, journalists, academics, pundits, and political operatives. Every exchange is guided by standards central to the Center’s mission: Respect each other and respect the truth. Opponents are adversaries, not enemies. And if you lose, don’t burn down the stadium.
The Bully Pulpit was formerly called Election R&D. All our podcast episodes are available at https://electionrd.libsyn.com/website.
The Bully Pulpit is a member of the Democracy Group network of top political podcasts about democracy, civic engagement, and civil discourse. https://www.democracygroup.org/
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Paulist Productions Vice President Father Tom Gibbons and USC Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies President Richard Wood for a discussion on the politics of the conclave to select Pope Francis' successor. They discuss how the next Pope will be selected, what are the political calculations involved in the selection process, and how the Catholic Church under new leadership could and should influence the world.
Featuring:
- Father Tom Gibbons: Catholic Priest; Vice President, Paulist Productions; Creator of the TV program “Isaac Hecker and the Journey of Catholic America”; Former Administrator of St. Peter's Church in Toronto, Canada
- Richard Wood: President of the USC Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies; Expert in religion and democracy; Author of "A Shared Future: Faith-Based Organizing for Racial Equity and Ethical Democracy" and "Faith in Action: Religion, Race, and Democratic Organizing in America"
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins renowned foreign policy experts Ben Rhodes and Max Boot for a discussion on pathways to peace in the Middle East. They discuss the current conflicts in the Middle East, the prospects of a two-state or single state solution, the future of Gaza, and the role of the U.S. in ending the conflicts and fostering a peace process. This event is part of the CPF "Combating Antisemitism and Other Forms of Hatred" series. Featuring:
- Max Boot: Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Author of New York Times Bestsellers "The Road Not Taken" and "Reagan: His Life and Legend"
- Ben Rhodes: Former Deputy National Security Advisor; Co-founder and Co-chair of National Security Action; Host of Crooked Media's "Pod Save the World"; Author of "After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made"; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Bill Deverell: USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Science
- Beong-Soo Kim: USC Interim President; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, USC
USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability Director Joe Árvai joins former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm for a discussion on how to move forward with climate change and energy issues under the Trump administration and how Democrats and Republicans can help push climate action forward. This discussion is part of the Climate Forward conference in partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. Featuring:
- Jennifer Granholm: Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and First Female Governor of Michigan; One of Time’s Most Influential People 2024
- Joe Árvai: Director, USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and former U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) for a discussion on the state of climate policy under the Trump administration and how Democrats and Republicans can cooperate to tackle climate change issues. This conversation is part of the Climate Forward conference in partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability.
Featuring:
- Barbara Boxer: Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)
- Garret Graves: Former U.S. Representative (R-LA)
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins media experts, Martin Gurri, Adam Nagourney, and Gordon Stables, for a discussion on how the changing media landscape has contributed to global populist trends. They discuss the transformation of the media landscape, the role of the elites in the media and politics, and media's impact on the state of democracy globally. Featuring:
- Martin Gurri: Former CIA Analyst; Author of "The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium"
- Adam Nagourney: National Political Reporter for The New York Times; Author of "The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn and the Transformation of Journalism" and "Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America"; Fall 2019 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Gordon Stables: Director, USC Annenberg School of Journalism
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins immigration experts, Andrew Arthur, Steven Davis, Deisy del Real, Ed Goeas, and Ehsan Zaffar, for a discussion on the future of immigration policy. They discuss the current immigration system and policies, amnesty, immigrant's contribution to the U.S. economy, and immigration reforms possible in today’s political climate. We are immensely grateful to Sue and Jeff White for launching this nonpartisan dialogue series at USC.
Featuring:
- Andrew Arthur: Resident Fellow in Law and Policy at Center for Immigration Studies
- Steven Davis: Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Hoover Institution, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)
- Deisy del Real: International Migration Scholar; USC Assistant Professor of Sociology
- Ed Goeas: Republican Pollster and Strategist, Spring 2025 Fellow; USC Center for the Political Future
- Ehsan Zaffar: Professor at ASU’s College of Law; Executive Director, The Difference Engine; Civil Rights Attorney
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci for a discussion on current events and the first month of the second Trump administration. They discuss the state of the Republican and Democratic parties, the impact of Trump's domestic and international actions, and even touch on Bitcoin. Featuring: · Anthony Scaramucci: Former White House Communications Director; Founder & Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital; Founder of SALT; Author of four books · Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins bestselling author and CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin for a discussion on presidential pardons and Toobin's new book "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy." They discuss famous pardons throughout history and the latest pardons from Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Featuring: Jeffrey Toobin: CNN Chief Legal Analyst; Bestselling author of "True Crimes and Misdemeanors," "The Oath," "The Nine," "Too Close to Call," "The Run of His Life" (made into the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson), and "A Vast Conspiracy"
Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Author Sasha Issenberg joins political and media experts, Jane Coaston, Reince Priebus, Simon Rosenberg, and Chuck Todd, for a conversation on what to expect during Donald Trump's second term as president. They discuss Trump's first actions as president, his influence on politics, how the Democratic Party has changed over time, and how politics is always shifting. This discussion is part of the Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics “The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next?” in partnership with POLITICO, PBS’ "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover," and C-SPAN.
Featuring:
- Sasha Issenberg (Moderator): Groundbreaking Author on Modern Campaigns & Marriage Equality
- Jane Coaston: Journalist; CNN Contributor; Host of Crooked Media’s “What A Day"
- Reince Priebus: Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee
- Simon Rosenberg: Political Strategist; Author/Creator of Hopium Chronicles
- Chuck Todd: Chief Political Analyst, NBC News
Democratic Strategist Tad Devine joins political and polling experts, Dale Butland, John Della Volpe, Mike Madrid, Carissa Smith, and Stephanie Young, for a conversation exploring how Kamala Harris and Democrats performed during the 2024 general election. They discuss the Democratic Party's messaging, how candidates connected—or didn't—with key voting demographics, and what polling revealed about voters. This discussion is part of the Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics “The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next?” in partnership with POLITICO, PBS’ "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover," and C-SPAN.
Featuring: Tad Devine (Moderator): Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 Presidential Campaign Dale Butland: Democratic Strategist; Former Press Secretary and Ohio Chief of Staff for US Senator John Glenn John Della Volpe: Author; Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics Mike Madrid: Latino Pollster and Voting Expert; Author of “The Latino Century” Carissa Smith: Former Senior Public Engagement Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement Stephanie Young: Former Deputy Assistant to President Biden; Senior Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris
FOX 11 News Anchor Elex Michaelson leads a panel of political and media experts to examine why and how Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump's and Kamala Harris' campaign strategies and messaging, and how the Democratic and Republican parties reached voters. This discussion is part of the Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics “The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next?” in partnership with POLITICO, PBS’ "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover," and C-SPAN.
Featuring:
Elex Michaelson (Moderator): FOX 11 News Anchor; Host of California’s Statewide Political Talk Show "The Issue Is"
Chris Cadelago: POLITICO's California Bureau Chief; Former White House Correspondent
Ed Goeas: Republican Pollster and Strategist
Betsy Fischer Martin: Executive Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University; Former "Meet the Press" Executive Producer
Jessica Millan Patterson: Chairwoman of the California Republican Party
CPF is proud to announce that our "The Bully Pulpit" podcast and the Common Ground Commtitee’s "Let’s Find Common Ground" podcast are now merged into one powerhouse program. The new “Let’s Find Common Ground” podcast brings together America’s leading politicians, strategists, journalists, and academics from across the political spectrum for in-depth discussions where we respect each other, and we respect the truth. CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Common Ground Committee Co-Founder and former CEO Erik Olsen to discuss the merger and what to expect from future podcast episodes. Featuring:
- Erik Olsen: Co-Founder and Former CEO, Common Ground Committee
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy welcome the Spring 2025 CPF Fellows to USC for a virtual discussion of Donald Trump’s inauguration and what a second Trump term may look like. The conversation features: Bob Shrum (moderator) - Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Ed Goeas – Republican Pollster and Strategist Betsy Fischer Martin – Executive Director, Women & Politics Institute at American University; Former "Meet the Press" Executive Producer Jonathan Martin - Senior Political Columnist and Politics Bureau Chief at POLITICO Anthony Rendon – Former Speaker of the California State Assembly Cameron Trimble – Former White House Director of Digital Engagement; Founder of Hip-Politics
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Tad Devine (Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign) and Steve Grand (Republican political consultant) to discuss the 2024 presidential election results and which issues mattered the most for Democrats and Republicans and third party voters. In partnership with the USC Capital Campus and USC Price Center for Inclusive Democracy. Featuring:
· Tad Devine: President, Devine Mulvey Longabaugh Media; Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign · Steve Grand: Republican political consultant; Cofounder and President of Wilson Grand Communications · Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Todd Purdum (author; former New York Times Washington Correspondent), David Simas (former CEO of the Obama Foundation), and Carissa Smith (former Senior Public Engagement Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement) for a discussion on the 2024 election campaign strategies and what to expect on Election Night. They discuss the candidates' closing messages, how the race looks according to the polling data, and how each candidate will likely close their campaign. Featuring: - Todd Purdum: Author; Former New York Times Washington Correspondent; Former National Editor for Vanity Fair; Spring 2022 CPF Fellow - David Simas: Former CEO of the Obama Foundation; Former Director of the Office of Political Strategy & Outreach under the Obama Administration - Carissa Smith: Former Senior Public Engagement Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement; Fall 2024 CPF Fellow - Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, for a discussion on democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Middle East at a critical moment in the region’s history. Featuring: - Reza Pahlavi: Crown Prince of Iran; USC Alum (‘85) - Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife - Moh El-Naggar: USC Dornsife Interim Dean
Election 2024: Where Are We Now? CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Jane Coaston, journalist and CNN contributor, and David Simas, former CEO of the Obama Foundation, for a discussion on how the 2024 election looks with less than two weeks to go. They discuss how each candidate is performing in the polls, the importance of the presidential debate, and each campaign's strategy and messaging.
Featuring: - Jane Coaston: Journalist; CNN Contributor; Lead Host of Crooked Media's Daily News Show “What A Day"; Fall 2024 CPF Fellow - David Simas: Former CEO of the Obama Foundation; Former Director of the Office of Political Strategy & Outreach under the Obama Administration - Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF hosts a panel discussion on "Experiencing Hatred: True Stories to End Hate and Educate" as part of our "Combating Antisemitism and Hatred Series." The series explores the struggle against antisemitism in the context of countering hate, reducing violence, promoting empathy, and nurturing civil dialogue. Featuring:
- Jeff Blattner: US Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Former Judiciary Committee Chief Counsel for Sen. Edward Kennedy; Fall 2024 CPF Fellow
- Rob Eshman: Contributing Editor of The Forward; Former Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Journal
- Ron Galperin: Former Controller and CFO for the City of Los Angeles; Former CPF Fellow
- Aziza Hasan: Executive Director, Muslim Jewish New Ground; Former member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
- Todd Levinson: Host of “Healing Race” podcast; Producer at MainStream Nation
- Aaron Nir: CEO of Sanei International; CPF Board of Councilors Member
- Pedro Noguera: Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education
- Marylouise Oates: Novelist, Activist, Former LA Times Journalist
- Dov Wagner: Rabbi and Director of the USC Chabad Jewish Center
- Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, Center for the Political Future
CPF Director Bob Shrum and Marylouise Oates, former activist and LA Times journalist, join former First Lady staffers Anita McBride, Noelia Rodriguez, and Tina Tchen for a discussion on the influence of presidential First Ladies on politics, policy, and American society. Featuring:
- Anita McBride: Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush
- Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Director of Communications for First Lady Laura Bush; Former CPF Fellow
- Tina Tchen: Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the Obama Foundation; Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama
- Marylouise Oates: Former Activist and LA Times Journalist who covered First Ladies
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy share their reactions on the historic presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and the implications for the 2024 presidential election. They discuss who won, how their debate performance helps or hurts their campaigns, and voters' reactions to their messaging. Featuring: * Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife * Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2024 CPF Fellows, Jeff Blattner, Mike Bonin, Jane Coaston, Lea Endres, and Carissa Smith, for a discussion on recent political trials, the historic presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, and how the 2024 presidential race is shaping up. Featuring: * Jeff Blattner: Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for U.S. DOJ * Mike Bonin: Former LA City Councilmember * Jane Coaston: Journalist and CNN Contributor * Lea Endres: Co-Founder and CEO of NationBuilder * Carissa Smith: Former White House Senior Public Engagement Officer * Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife * Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins Albert Gore, Zero Emissions Transportation Association Executive Director, and David Schwietert, Alliance for Automotive Innovation Chief Policy Officer, for a conversation on the polarized politics of electric-powered vehicles and what polling around this big divide reveals about the future of transportation. Featuring:
- Albert Gore: Executive Director, Zero Emissions Transportation Association
- David Schwietert: Chief Policy Officer, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Debra Kahn, POLITICO California Policy Editor, joins former California Senator Fran Pavley, Pulse Fund Managing Partner Tenzin Seldon, and lawyer and environmentalist Joanne Witty for a conversation on the impact of climate change on the 2024 election and beyond. This discussion is part of the "Climate Forward 2024: Climate at the Crossroads" conference, sponsored by USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and CPF, in collaboration with POLITICO. Featuring:
- Fran Pavley: Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute; Former California State Senator
- Tenzin Seldon: Founding and Managing Partner, Pulse Fund
- Joanne Witty: Lawyer; Environmentalist; Co-Chair, Political Committee of the Environmental Defense Action Fund
- Debra Kahn: California Policy Editor, POLITICO
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Neera Tanden, Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden, for a conversation on climate policy in the Biden-Harris Administration, the ClimateCorps, and practical solutions to climate change. This discussion is part of the "Climate Forward 2024: Climate at the Crossroads" conference, sponsored by USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and CPF, in collaboration with POLITICO. Featuring:
- Neera Tanden: Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins education experts, Pedro Noguera, Macke Raymond, and Dr. Darline Robles, for a conversation on education reform and policy. They discuss the politics of public education, the role of parental rights, why some public schools are failing, what makes some charter schools successful when others struggle, whether or not taxpayer funds should be used to provide vouchers to parents who send students to private schools or home school, and which educational reforms should be supported, studied, or rejected. In partnership with USC Rossier School of Education, USC Price Center for Inclusive Democracy, USC Political Union (a Bridge USA chapter), and USC Political Student Assembly. Featuring:
- Pedro Noguera: Dean, USC Rossier School of Education
- Margaret “Macke” Raymond: Director, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University
- Dr. Darline P. Robles: Professor of Clinical Education, USC Rossier School of Education; USC Associate Dean for Equity and Community Engagement; Former Superintendent, Los Angeles County Office of Education
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Jonathan Martin, POLITICO senior political reporter, joins political experts, Nick Troiano and Kimberly Wyman, for a conversation on the state of democracy, election reforms, and the structural challenges of American politics.
Featuring:
- Nick Troiano: Founding Executive Director, Unite America
- Kimberly Wyman: Former Secretary of State, Washington State; Election Security Expert CISA
- Jonathan Martin: Senior Political Reporter, POLITICO
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins Sasha Issenberg and Michael Rich for a conversation on the growing prevalence and impact of misinformation and disinformation in our politics. Featuring: · Sasha Issenberg: Award-winning Author on Modern Campaigns & Marriage Equality · Michael Rich: President and CEO, RAND Corporation (2011-2022) · Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
FOX 11 News Co-Anchor Elex Michaelson joins political experts, John Anzalone, Stephanie Cutter, and Jessica Millan Patterson, for a conversation on the 2024 general election, including the key voting issues this election, Donald Trump's appeal to voters, and the role of third parties.
Featuring:
- John Anzalone: Founder, Impact Research; Biden Pollster
- Stephanie Cutter: Co-Founder, Precision Strategies; Obama 2012 Deputy Campaign Manager
- Jessica Millan Patterson: Chairwoman, California Republican Party
- Elex Michaelson: Host "The Issue Is"; Co-Anchor, FOX 11 News
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins political and media experts, Chris Cadelago, Jane Coaston, John McConnell, and Carissa Joy Smith, for a conversation on the 2024 primary elections and its impact on the upcoming general election.
Featuring:
- Chris Cadelago: POLITICO's California Bureau Chief; Former White House Correspondent
- Jane Coaston: “The Argument” Podcast Host, The New York Times; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- John McConnell: Senior Speechwriter for President George W. Bush & Vice President Dick Cheney; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Carissa Joy Smith: Vice President of FOX Corporation for Government Relations
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Spring 2024 CPF Fellows, Douglas Brinkley, Jane Coaston, Ron Galperin, and Tim Miller for a lively discussion on the 2024 primary elections, presidential race, and campaigns.
Featuring:
- Douglas Brinkley: Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities & Professor of History, Rice University; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Jane Coaston: “The Argument” Podcast Host, The New York Times; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Ron Galperin: Former Controller and CFO, City of Los Angeles; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Tim Miller: Political Consultant; Jeb Bush 2016 Campaign Director; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney for a conversation on his new book, “The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn, and the Transformation of Journalism,” and the role journalism plays in politics. In partnership with USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.
Featuring:
- Adam Nagourney: National Political Reporter, The New York Times; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Democratic campaign strategist Addisu Demissie and former Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus for a conversation on the 2024 presidential race. With Election Day on November 7, the discussion explores the election’s potential impact on control of Congress, state legislatures, governorships, and the 2024 presidential race.
Featuring:
- Addisu Demissie: Principal and Founder of 50+1 Strategies; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Reince Priebus: Former White House Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Republican National Committee; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Kamy Akhavan: Executive Director, Center for the Political Future
CPF's inaugural discussion of our Combating Antisemitism and Hatred Series features CPF Director Bob Shrum, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bret Stephens, and former Los Angeles elected official Zev Yaroslavksy. The series explores the struggle against antisemitism in the context of countering hate, reducing violence, promoting empathy, and nurturing civil dialogue. Featuring:
- William Deverell: Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences, USC Dornsife
- Bret Stephens: Opinion Columnist for The New York Times; Editor-in-Chief of Sapir
- Zev Yaroslavsky: Former Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 3
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
For the 2023 USC Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy participate in an insightful and entertaining discussion on the latest political news. Featuring:
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins a panel of public health experts for a discussion on post-pandemic health inequities in America. Featuring:
- Sofia Gruskin: Director, USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health
- Sujeet Rao: Former Senior Policy Advisor, White House COVID-19 Response Team; Director, USC Dornsife Public Exchange Health and Wellbeing Practice
- Dr. Bradley Stoner: Head of the Department of Public Health Sciences, Queens University; Former President of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2023 CPF Fellows Arnon Mishkin and Reince Priebus for a conversation on polling and its ability or inability to predict voting outcomes as the 2024 presidential race approaches.
Featuring:
- Arnon Mishkin: Political Analyst and Director of the Fox News Election Decision Team; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Reince Priebus: Former White House Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Republican National Committee; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2023 CPF Fellows, Addisu Demissie, Arnon Mishkin, Mike Schmuhl, and Betty Yee, for a lively discussion on former President Trump’s indictments, what this means for President Biden, and how the 2024 presidential race is shaping up. The conversation also explores their USC study groups and impressive careers in politics.
Featuring:
- Addisu Demissie: Principal and Founder of 50+1 Strategies; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Arnon Mishkin: Political Analyst and Director of the Fox News Election Decision Team; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Mike Schmuhl: Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party; Former Campaign Manager for Pete Buttigieg 2020; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Betty Yee: Former California State Controller and Board of Equalization member; Fall 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on the politics of globalization. They discuss the war in Ukraine, challenges from China, the 2008 global financial crisis, and America’s role in globalization.
Featuring:
- Gordon Brown: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education; World Health Organization (WHO) Ambassador for Global Health Financing
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on the politics of globalization. They discuss the war in Ukraine, challenges from China, the 2008 global financial crisis, and America’s role in globalization.
Featuring:
- Gordon Brown: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education; World Health Organization (WHO) Ambassador for Global Health Financing
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
USC Wrigley Director Joe Árvai joins former White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and New York Times Opinion Columnist Bret Stephens for a conversation on finding common ground in climate conversations. They discuss how climate science leads to action, COVID-19's impact on climate change, the economic impact on climate action, and messaging around climate change.
Featuring:
- Gina McCarthy: First Ever White House Climate Advisor; Former EPA Administrator
- Bret Stephens: Opinion Columnist for The New York Times; Editor-in-Chief of Sapir
- Joe Árvai: Director, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies
- Bruce Bond: Co-Founder, CEO, & Board Chair of Common Ground Committee
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Representatives Val Demings and Adam Kinzinger for a conversation on the politics of climate with the goal of finding common ground. They discuss political barriers to enacting climate action, climate legislation passed by Congress, and how environmental legislation can help achieve climate justice. Featuring:
- Val Demings: Former U.S. Representative (D-FL)
- Adam Kinzinger: Former U.S. Representative (R-IL)
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Bruce Bond: Co-Founder, CEO, & Board Chair of Common Ground Committee
In honor of Women’s History Month, CPF hosts a discussion with former California State Senators Martha Escutia and Fran Pavley on the role of women in politics and the challenges they face as leaders. They discuss how they got involved in politics, Sen. Pavley's landmark work on environmental and climate change legislation, and how they overcame challenges they faced as women legislators in the California Assembly and State Senate.
Featuring:
- Fran Pavley: Former California Senator (2008-2016); Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute
- Martha Escutia: Former California Senator (1992-2006); Vice President, USC State Government Relations and Special Counsel; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Kamy Akhavan: Executive Director, Center for the Political Future
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union Ambassador to the U.S., for a conversation on the history and current status of the European Union and United States relationship. They discuss EU support for Ukraine, the latest on the post-Brexit Windsor Framework, important human rights issues, and advice for young people who want to get involved in public service.
- Stavros Lambrinidis: European Union Ambassador to the United States
- Kamy Akhavan: Executive Director, Center for the Political Future
- Alison Dundes Renteln: USC Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Public Policy and Law
In honor of Black History Month, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) hosted an all-star panel discussion with Spring 2023 CPF Fellow Stephanie Young and activists Angela Rye and Brittany Packnett Cunningham on their careers, political impact, and challenges. On Tuesday, February 21, these women discussed the importance of Black History Month, how race and identity impact politics, and the current political roadblocks affecting our democracy. This event was in partnership with VoteSC, USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, and USC College Republicans.
Featuring:
- Angela Rye: Attorney, Activist, CEO of IMPACT Strategies
- Brittany Packnett Cunningham: Speaker, Political Analyst, Social Justice Champion
- Stephanie Young: Executive Director, When We All Vote; Spring 2023 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on how the United Kingdom Parliament operates and the special relationship between the United States and the UK. They discuss the powers of the Speaker of the House of Commons, how elections and political parties work in the UK, and advice to students who want to get involved in politics. Featuring:
- Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP: Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Spring 2023 CPF Fellows, Bill Carrick, John McConnell, Hank Plante, Ira Reiner, and Stephanie Young, for a lively discussion on current events, their careers, and their USC study groups.
Featuring:
- Bill Carrick: Political Strategist for Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, & Dianne Feinstein; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- John McConnell: Senior Speechwriter for President George W. Bush & Vice President Dick Cheney; Spring 2023 Parikh Family Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Hank Plante: Emmy & Peabody Award-Winning TV Reporter & Anchor; Spring 2023 Bohnett Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Ira Reiner: Former District Attorney for Los Angeles County; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Stephanie Young: Executive Director, When We All Vote; Spring 2023 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins political insiders and strategists for a discussion on the 2024 presidential election. The panelists also talk about how candidates and campaigns are shaping up for the upcoming election, the possibility of a Joe Biden 2024 campaign, and Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Featuring:
- Tad Devine: President, Devine Mulvey Longabaugh Media; Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign
- Jon Favreau: Co-Founder of Crooked Media; Former Head Speechwriter for President Barack Obama
- Shaniqua McClendon: Vice President of Politics, Crooked Media; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Corrin Rankin: California Republican Party's Central Valley Vice Chair
- John Thomas: Republican Strategist, President of Thomas Partners Strategies
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
FOX 11 News Co-Anchor Elex Michaelson joins political insiders, strategists, and education experts for a discussion on how California and Los Angeles were impacted by the elections. They also talk about the Los Angeles mayoral election, the future of Gavin Newsom’s political career, control of the Senate, and the future of the Democratic and Republican parties in California.
Featuring:
- Barbara Boxer: Former U.S. Senator (D-CA); Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Addisu Demissie: Principal and Co-Founder, 50+1 Strategies; Political Strategist, Gavin Newsom's 2018 gubernatorial campaign and Cory Booker's 2020 presidential campaign
- Christian Grose: Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC Dornsife; Academic Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy
- Ira Reiner: 39th Los Angeles County District Attorney; Former Los Angeles City Attorney and Controller, Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Tom Ross: President and CEO, Swing Strategies political consulting firm
- Elex Michaelson: Host, "The Issue Is"; Co-Anchor, FOX 11 News; Winner of multiple Emmy and Golden Mic awards
Award-winning journalist Hank Plante joins political insiders, journalists, and education experts for a discussion on the 2022 midterm election results. Panelists also talk about Nancy Pelosi stepping down as House Democratic leader, the reliability of polling, and messaging strategies of both political parties. Featuring:
- Elan Carr: Former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism; Former Deputy District Attorney of Los Angeles; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bill Carrick: Political Strategist, President Bill Clinton, Robert Luna, Eric Garcetti, Dick Riordan, Dianne Feinstein, and more
- Seema Mehta: Staff Writer for the Los Angeles Times covering the 2022 midterm elections
- Symone Sanders: Former Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Lynn Vavreck: Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy, UCLA; Contributing Columnist to The Upshot at The New York Times
- Hank Plante: Emmy and Peabody-winning political journalist
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Democratic political icon James Carville and former White House Chief of Staff and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus for a Common Ground Committee discussion on the 2022 midterm election results and the state of our democracy. They discuss the biggest takeaways from the midterm election, Carville's take on a Biden second run, and Priebus' experiences in the Oval Office.
Featuring:
- James Carville: Political Icon
- Reince Priebus: White House Chief of Staff (2017), Chairman of the RNC (2011-2017)
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins authors Patricia Turner and Gabriel Debenedetti for a discussion on their books about the Obama presidency. Turner’s book, “Trash Talk: Anti-Obama Lore and Race in the Twenty-First Century,” focuses on the cultural and racial reaction to Barack Obama’s election. Debenedetti’s book, “The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama,” focuses on the relationship between Barack Obama and Joe Biden over the years. They discuss Obama’s influence on Biden’s 2016 presidential run, misinformation and conspiracy theories on Barack and Michelle, and Trump’s influence on Obama’s public opinion.
Featuring:
- Gabriel Debenedetti: New York Magazine National Correspondent; Author
- Patricia Turner: UCLA Professor of World Arts, Culture/Dance, & African American Studies; Arthur Ashe Legacy Project Director, UCLA; Author
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Alison Dundes Renteln: Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Law, and Public Policy
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins an all-star panel discussion on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the politics of Supreme Court decisions. They discuss the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the impact of Roe v. Wade on voters and the midterm election, the upcoming Supreme Court cases, and if Roe can be restored.
Featuring:
- Lee Epstein: Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law, USC Gould School of Law
- Jessica Lall: President and CEO, Central City Association of Los Angeles; Fall 2022 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Mark Schoofs: Pulitzer prize-winning Professor of Journalism, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
For the 2022 Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy have a balanced and witty conversation about the latest political headlines. They discuss Joe Biden's administration, the state of the Democratic and Republican parties, and the midterm election and what it means for the 2024 general election.
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) to discuss his new book “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us,” which is a roadmap to facing America’s digital divide and offering greater economic prosperity to all. They also discuss the digital economy, technological innovation, progressive capitalism, and the future of American democracy.
Featuring:
- Ro Khanna - U.S. Representative (D-CA) for California’s 17th Congressional District
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, CPF hosts an all-star panel discussion with Fall 2022 CPF Fellow Noelia Rodriguez, Hector Hernandez, and Maria Romero-Morales as they discuss their experiences working in the White House and their careers, including the challenges and discrimination they faced, as trailblazing Mexican Americans.
Featuring:
- Hector Hernandez: Former Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
- Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Communications Director to Laura Bush; Chief of Staff, Metrolink; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Maria Romero-Morales: Assistant Chief Diversity Officer for Communication, Community and Student Engagement, USC
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join our Fall 2022 CPF Fellows, Elan Carr, Jessica Lall, Ira Reiner, Noelia Rodriguez, and Maria Salinas for a lively discussion. They talk about the midterm elections (many predictions were made!), Los Angeles mayoral and sheriff elections, bridging the partisan divide, and their upcoming USC study groups.
Featuring:
- Jessica Lall: President and CEO, Central City Association of Los Angeles; Fall 2022 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Elan Carr: Former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism; Fall 2022 Polak Foundation Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Ira Reiner: Former District Attorney for Los Angeles County; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Communications Director to Laura Bush; Chief of Staff, Metrolink; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Maria S. Salinas: President and CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join two of our five Fall 2022 CPF Fellows, Jessica Lall and Elan Carr, to discuss current events, their careers, and their upcoming USC study groups. They discussed the Los Angeles mayoral race, California's COVID response, diplomacy, and how to move away from polarization.
Featuring:
- Jessica Lall: President and CEO, Central City Association of Los Angeles; Fall 2022 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Elan Carr: Former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism; Fall 2022 Polak Foundation Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join two of our Fall 2022 CPF Fellows, Ira Reiner and Noelia Rodriguez, to discuss current events, their careers, and their upcoming USC study groups.
Featuring:
- Ira Reiner: Former District Attorney for Los Angeles County; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Communications Director to Laura Bush; Chief of Staff, Metrolink; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join journalists Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns to discuss their latest book and the degree to which the two-party system has been strained to the point of disintegration.
Featuring:
Jonathan Martin - Co-Author, "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future"; National Political Correspondent, New York Times
Alexander Burns - Co Author, "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future"; National Correspondent, New York Times; Political Analyst, CNN
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Center Director Bob Shrum joins a panel of energy experts and industry leaders to discuss the latest national policies advancing cleaner energy and curbing the effects of climate change, in commemoration of Earth Day.
Featuring:
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Ted Bardacke - CEO, Clean Power Alliance
Ivan Penn - Energy Correspondent, New York Times - Jason Rondou - Director of Resource Planning, Development & Programs at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Aura Vasquez - Chair of Climate Action Committee, Sierra Club Los Angeles Chapter; Former Commissioner, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to discuss her decades-long efforts to bridge partisan divides and promote sustainability efforts, and her thoughts on Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Featuring:
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Lisa Murkowski - U.S. Senator (R-AK)
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Sangita Shresthova, research director at Civic Paths Group, and Monica Guzman, journalist and author, to discuss her latest book and share insights on how to better understand and connect with those whose opinions and beliefs vastly differ.
Featuring:
Kamy Akhavan - Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
Mónica Guzmán - Author, "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times," Digital Director, Braver Angels
Sangita Shresthova - Director of Research, Civic Paths Group at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer joins Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad to discuss women’s rights in the Middle East and her documentary film “Be My Voice,” which chronicles her movement against Iran's policy of mandatory head covering for women.
Featuring:
- Barbara Boxer - Former U.S. Senator (D-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Masih Alinejad - Journalist, Author, Women's Rights Activist
- Kamy Akhavan - Executive Director, USC Center for the Political Future
Education expert Alan Arkatov joins current and former school officials Lisa Korbatov, Nick Melvoin, Pedro Noguera, and Darline Robles to discuss the mixing of school boards, parental involvement, and appropriate content in today's often hyper-partisan school board environments.
Featuring:
Alan Arkatov - Katzman/Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation; Center EDGE Founding Director, USC Rossier School of Education
Lisa Korbatov - Former President, Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education
Nick Melvoin - Vice President, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
Pedro Noguera - Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education
Darline Robles - Former Superintendent of LA County Office of Education
Congressman Jamie Raskin Talks "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy"
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to discuss the latest in the House select committee hearings investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill, the importance of bipartisan cooperation, and the legacy of his late son and father.
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Jamie Raskin - U.S. Representative (D-MD); Author, "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy"
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by John Chiang, former California State Treasurer, and David Crane, former advisor to Gov. Schwarzenegger, to assess California's governance and government services amid rising housing costs and tax rates, and the future of the so-called "golden state."
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
John Chiang - California State Treasurer (ret.); former California State Controller; Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
David Crane - President, Govern for California; Lecturer in Public Policy, Stanford University
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join the Spring 2022 CPF Fellows to unpack the latest SCOTUS headlines and trends. They discuss everything from the Supreme Court’s denial of President Trump's executive privilege over the January 6 insurrection to their upholding Texas' abortion law to their blocking Biden’s federal vaccine mandate. They also explore what the growing division among the Justices means for the future of the majority conservative court.
- Ralph Neas - Former Executive Director, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Senior Counsel on Voting Rights, The Century Foundation; Spring 2022 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
- Todd S. Purdum - Journalist, Former National Editor and Political Correspondent for Vanity Fair; Spring 2022 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
- Amy Turk, LCSW - Social Worker; CEO, Downtown Women’s Center; Spring 2022 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join former Chief of Staff Mike Pettit, to honor the legacy of Senator Bob Dole, who died on Dec. 5, 2021. Dole was one of the longest-serving Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. He was a Vice Presidential and Presidential candidate, and received the Congressional Gold Medal.
Featuring:
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
- Mike Pettit - Former Chief of Staff and Presidential Campaign Adviser for Sen. Bob Dole
Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by Ben Rhodes, former Obama advisor, to discuss his latest book on America's role in rising global authoritarianism, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to today, and the urgency to fight for what he thinks the U.S. should be.
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Ben Rhodes - Author; Co-Host of “Pod Save the World;” Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, Obama Administration; Spring 2020 CPF Fellow
Elex Michaelson, FOX News LA anchor, is joined by CA Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson and media heavyweights David Chalian, Chris Matthews, and Ron Christie to discuss what's at stake for seats in both the House and Senate, advantages for the Republican Party, and needed optimism for the 2022 Midterms.
Featuring:
- Elex Michaelson - Host, "The Issue Is;" Co-Anchor, FOX 11 News LA
- David Chalian - Vice President of Political Coverage and Political Director, CNN
- Ron Christie - Political Analyst, BBC World News; Fall '19 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
- Chris Matthews - Former Political Commentator; Former Host of Hardball With Chris Matthews
- Jessica Millan Patterson - Chairwoman, California Republican Party
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by USC professors Nina Rathbun and David Kang, journalist Markos Kounalakis, and foreign policy expert Kori Schake to assess the historic Afghanistan withdrawal, tensions with China, and compare Biden's success with Trump's.
Featuring:
- Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Analyst
- David C. Kang - Maria Crutcher Professor in International Relations, Business, and East Asian Languages and Cultures; Director, Korean Studies Institute, USC Dornsife
- Markos Kounalakis - Foreign Affairs Columnist, Author, and Scholar; Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University
- Kori Schake - Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute; Former Foreign Policy Advisor for John McCain's presidential campaign
- Nina Srinivasan Rathbun - Professor of International Relations, USC Dornsife
Christina Bellantoni, is joined by USC Professor Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, strategists Ben Tulchin and Juan Rodriguez, and commentator Charlie Sykes to weigh the Biden Administration's achievements and fumbles, the fallout from November elections, and the need for bipartisan action for real change.
Featuring:
- Christina Bellantoni - Director of USC Annenberg's Media Center; Professor of Professional Practice, USC Annenberg
- Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro - Dean's Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations; Director, Center for Leadership by Women of Color
- Juan Rodriguez - Campaign Manager for Gov. Gavin Newsom; Partner, Bearstar Strategies
- Charles Sykes - Founder and Editor-at-Large, The Bulwark; Host, The Bulwark Podcast
- Ben Tulchin - President and Founder of Tulchin Research; Pollster, Strategist for Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign and Eric Adams' 2021 Mayoral Campaign
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by Lawrence H. Summers, President Obama's National Economic Council Director, to reflect on the parallels between the current COVID-19 economic fallout and the 2009 recession, and explore solutions for rising inflation.
Featuring:
- Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Lawrence H. Summers - Director of the National Economic Council for President Obama; 71st Secretary of the Treasury for President Clinton; Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus, Harvard University
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by USC Professors Monalisa Chatterjee, Shannon Gibson, and Robert O' Brien to discuss the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland and the proposed solutions for a path forward.
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Monalisa Chatterjee - Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife
Shannon Gibson - Associate Professor of International Relations and Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife
Robert O’ Brien - (Incoming) Fulbright Research Chair of Public Diplomacy, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by USC Professor Morteza Dehghani, former Facebook executive Katie Harbath, strategist Cheryl Hori, and attorney John Patzakis to discuss the rapid changes in technology and their effects on politics including fundraising, campaigning, voting, free speech, and polarization.
Featuring:
Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Morteza Dehghani - Associate Professor of Psychology, USC Dornsife
Katie Harbath - Founder and CEO of Anchor Change; Former Public Policy Director for Global Elections at Facebook
Cheryl Hori - Founder and Chief Strategist, Pacific Campaign House
John Patzakis - Executive Chair and Chief Legal Officer, X1
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by Linda Chavez, Pete Peterson, Theodore Johnson, and Ralph Neas to dive into the pros and cons of voting processes nationwide and explore common sense solutions.
Featuring:
Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Linda Chavez - Conservative commentator; Chair, Center for Equal Opportunity
Theodore Johnson - Fellows Program Director at Brennan Center for Justice, New York University
Ralph Neas - Senior Counsel on Voting Rights, Century Foundation
Pete Peterson - Braun Family Dean's Chair, Pepperdine University School of Public Policy; Senior Fellow, Davenport Institute
Center Fellow Gloria Molina is joined by Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, strategist Cesar Martinez, and USC Professor Mindy Romero to discuss the growing impact of Latino voters and assess how political parties are reaching them, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Featuring:
- Gloria Molina - Fall 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future; Former LA County Supervisor and CA Assemblymember
- Cesar Martinez - Media strategist for Jeb Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns
- Mindy Romero - Founder and Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy; Research Assistant Professor at USC Price School of Public Policy
- Antonio Villaraigosa - 41st Mayor of Los Angeles; Partner and Co-Chair, Mercury Public Affairs
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by attorneys and redistricting experts Benjamin Ginsberg and Michael Li, former CA Assemblymember Gloria Molina, and USC Professor Christian Grose to examine the challenges of redistricting across the country and its implications for the 2022 midterm elections.
Featuring:
- Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy- Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst
- Benjamin Ginsberg - Election Lawyer; Former National Counsel for Bush-Cheney Presidential Campaigns
- Christian Grose - Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy, USC Dornsife & Sol Price School of Public Policy
- Michael Li - Senior Counsel for Democracy Program, NYU Brennan Center for Justice
- Gloria Molina - Fall '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future; Former CA Assemblywoman; LA County Supervisor
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by journalists Carla Marinucci and Seema Mehta, strategist Roger Salazar, and USC Professor Jennifer Cryer to assess the campaign to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. They unpack how the effort gained momentum, weigh criticisms for and against the recall, and discuss potential outcomes of the upcoming election.
Featuring:
- Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
- Mike Murphy, Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst
- Jennifer Cryer - Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife
- Carla Marinucci - Senior Writer, POLITICO California Playbook
- Seema Mehta - Political Writer, Los Angeles Times
- Roger Salazar - Political Strategist; Former Campaign Press Secretary for CA Gov. Gray Davis
Gloria Molina, former LA County Supervisor, CA Assemblymember, and Fall 2021 Fellow at the Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss the future of Los Angeles. LA County made history last year with an all-women Board of Supervisors elected to lead the largest local legislative body in the nation. Molina was the first Latina elected to the Board of Supervisors (1991) and the first Chicana elected to the California State Assembly (1982). In 1987, she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. She shares her experiences from her storied career in politics and looks ahead to the future of LA, from the nearly $35 billion budget, mayoral candidates, homeless crisis, and pandemic fallout.
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst
Gloria Molina - Former LA County Supervisor and CA Assemblymember; Fall 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Fall 2021 Fellow at the Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss the intersection of sports, politics, and community engagement. Whiteman also highlights the power of diversity in advocating for resources and opportunities for marginalized populations.
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst
Nichol Whiteman - CEO, LA Dodgers Foundation; Fall '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
This event is part of the National Week of Conversation #ListenFirst.
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by Jane Harman, former Congresswoman and author of “Insanity Defense,” to discuss how four presidential administrations have failed to confront some of the toughest national security policy issues. Congresswoman Harman also shares her views on the Democratic Party’s platform and how to make progress in a closely divided Congress.
Featuring:
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Jane Harman - Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita, Wilson Center, Stanford University; Former Congresswoman (D-CA); Author, “Insanity Defense: Why Our Failure to Confront Hard National Security Problems Makes Us Less Safe"
Elex Michaelson, Fox 11 News co-anchor, is joined by journalist Todd Purdum, strategists Rachel Bitcoffer and Mark Mellman, and Shaniqua McClendon, political director at Crooked Media, to discuss whether Democrats will lose seats and legislative control in the midterms and which candidates are shaping the race for the presidency in 2024.
Featuring:
Elex Michaelson - Co-Anchor, Fox 11 News and Host, "The Issue Is: With Elex Michaelson"
Rachel Bitecofer - Elections Analyst and Strategist; Editor, The Cycle; Founder, Strike PAC
Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media; Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Mark Mellman - CEO, Mellman Group; Former President of the American Association of Political Consultants
Todd Purdum - Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, journalists Robert A. George and Jeremy Peters, and President Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, to discuss how the impact of Republican voter support of the former president translates into influence within GOP leadership.
Featuring:
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) , Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Robert A. George - Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion
Mark Meadows - Former White House Chief of Staff, President Donald Trump and U.S. Representative (R-NC); Senior Partner, The Conservative Partnership Institute
Jeremy W. Peters - National Politics Reporter, New York Times; Contributor to MSNBC; Author, "Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted"
Michael Beschloss, presidential historian and best-selling author, is joined by Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Max Boot, national security analyst, USC professor Alison Dundes Renteln, and former Obama administration advisor, Ben Rhodes, to discuss President Biden's foreign policy goals and achievements 100 days into his presidency.
Featuring:
Michael Beschloss - Historian, Best-Selling Author
Anne Applebaum - Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian; Staff Writer, The Atlantic; Author, "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism"
Max Boot - Author, Columnist, and National Security Analyst
Alison Dundes Renteln - Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Public Policy and Law, USC Dornsife
Ben Rhodes - Co-Host of “Pod Save the World,” Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, Obama Administration; Spring '20 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by former Congressman Joe Kennedy III and strategists Karen Finney, Ron Christie, and Brian Goldsmith to discuss President Joe Biden's domestic performance for reviving the economy and reforming immigration, police, and gun policies.
Featuring:
Robert M. Shrum - Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Carmen H. & Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics
Ron Christie - CEO, Christie Strategies; Political Analyst, BBC; Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush; Former Deputy Assistant to Vice President Cheney for Domestic Policy; Fall 2019 CPF Fellow
Karen Finney - Democratic Strategist; Former Senior Advisor and Spokesperson for Hillary Clinton; Former Senior Advisor to Stacey Abrams
Brian Goldsmith - Media Consultant; Political Strategist
Joe Kennedy III - Former U.S. Representative (D-MA)
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by California Senators Ben Allen and Sydney Kamlager and Los Angeles Sustainability Officers Gary Gero and Dominique Hargreaves to discuss how Southern California should move forward on climate change issues and the role of institutions in reducing its impact.
- Robert Shrum - Director, USC Center for the Political Future; USC Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics
- Ben Allen - California State Senator, District 26
- Gary Gero - Chief Sustainability Officer, County of Los Angeles
- Dominique Hargreaves - Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
- Sydney Kamlager - California State Senator, District 30
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by Congressman Garret Graves, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, journalist Bina Venkataraman, and USC professor Wandi Bruine de Bruin to discuss how to communicate the urgency of environmental legislation and encourage bipartisan support for climate change solutions.
- Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst
- Garret Graves - U.S. Representative (R-LA)
- Katharine Hayhoe - Climate scientist; Founder and CEO of Atmos Research
- Bina Venkataraman - Journalist, author, science policy expert
- Wandi Bruine de Bruin - USC Provost Professor of Public Policy, Psychology, and Behavioral Science
In the third installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, Spring 2021 CPF Fellows Barbara Comstock and Todd S. Purdum are joined by former Fellow Ron Christie (Fall 2019) to discuss how new far right outlets are challenging Fox News, the influence of these new far right outlets on conservatism, and why conservatives don't trust "mainstream" outlets. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke.
Featuring:
Ron Christie: Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and CPF Fall 2019 Fellow
Barbara Comstock: Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Todd S. Purdum: Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
In the second installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, Spring 2021 CPF Fellow Shaniqua McClendon is joined by former Fellows Barbara Boxer (Fall 2020) and Dan Schwerin (Fall 2018) to discuss current progressive policies and debates and the future of progressivism in the U.S. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke.
Featuring:
Barbara Boxer: Former U.S. Senator (D-CA) and CPF Fall 2020 Fellow
Shaniqua McClendon: Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Dan Schwerin: Director of Speechwriting, Hillary Clinton and CPF Fall 2018 Fellow
CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by historians Sylvain Piron and Jay Rubenstein, former Congressman Denver Riggleman, and Marley Clements, co-creator of "QAnon: The Search For Q" on Vice, to examine the similarities between the Apocalyptic and Millenarian cults in the Middle ages to modern conspiracies around Y2K and QAnon.
Featuring:
- Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
- Marley Clements - Documentary filmmaker, political strategist, and co-founder of Bunker Crew Media
- Sylvain Piron - Director of Studies and Chair of Intellectual History of Medieval Societies at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris, France
- Denver Riggleman - Former U.S. Congressman (R-VA); CEO of Riggleman Information and Intelligence Group (RIIG); Author, "Bigfoot... It's Complicated"
- Jay Rubenstein - Director, USC Center for the Pre-Modern World and Professor of History at the University of Southern California
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by historians Sean L. Field and Julien Théry, filmmaker Kristin Pichaske, and best-selling Author Michael Shermer to discuss the history of the Templars and how similar trends target America’s civic institutions, drawing on events from the Kennedy assassination to 9/11.
Featuring:
Robert M. Shrum - Director of USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics
Sean L. Field - Professor of History at the University of Vermont
Kristin Pichaske - Award-winning Filmmaker, "Pulling The Thread;" Associate Professor of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago
Julien Théry - Professor of History at Université Lyon II Louis Lumière in Lyon, France
Michael Shermer - Best-Selling Author and Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine
CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan is joined by historians Elizabeth A.R. Brown and Dallas Dennery and psychology experts Sara Gorman and Norbert Schwarz to explore how beliefs in conspiracies shaped the politics and psychology of the medieval world and our current political climate.
Featuring:
Kamy Akhavan – Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
Elizabeth A. R. Brown - Professor Emerita of History at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center, CUNY
Dallas Denery - Author, Professor of History at Bowdoin College
Sara Gorman - Mental health expert; Author of " Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore The Facts That Will Save Us"
Norbert Schwarz: Provost Professor, Department of Psychology & Marshall School of Business; Co-Director, USC Dornsife Mind & Society Center
Jennifer Hook, USC Sociology Professor, is joined by U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez and policy experts Brencia Berry and Vicki Shabo to discuss the state of national paid leave, policy changes under the Biden Administration and ways to advance the issue.
Featuring:
Brencia Berry - Political Director, PL+US Paid Leave For the United States
Jimmy Gomez - U.S. Representative (D-CA)
Vicki Shabo - Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab at New America
Moderated by Jennifer Hook - Professor of Sociology, USC
Spring 2021 Center Fellow Shaniqua McClendon is joined by North Carolina Representative Rachel Hunt and Former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to discuss the importance of electing more women to national, state, and local offices, and how political parties are addressing issues important to women voters.
Featuring:
Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Rachel Hunt - North Carolina Representative (D-Mecklenburg)
Shaniqua McClendon (Moderator) - Political Director at Crooked Media and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Former California Republican Party Chairman James Brulte is joined by current and former California Treasurers Fiona Ma and John Chiang to discuss the future of California’s economy post-COVID, homelessness, transportation, climate change, and other major issues affecting California’s future.
Featuring:
- James Brulte (moderator) - Former California Republican Party Chairman; former CA State Senator and Assembly member
- John Chiang - California State Treasurer (ret.) (D-CA); former California State Controller; Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
- Fiona Ma - California State Treasurer (D-CA); former CA State Assemblymember and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly
Center Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by a group of experts to discuss how both parties should reorient their platforms to speak to minority voters as they become the majority in the U.S. and the higher numbers of voters of color who voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
Featuring:
Musa al-Gharbi - Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology at Columbia University
Robert A. George - Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion
Mike Madrid - Republican strategist; Spring 2019 Fellow, Center For the Political Future
Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
In the first installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, CPF Fellows Barbara Comstock, Shaniqua McClendon, and Todd S. Purdum discussed the institutional aspects of American democracy from the Senate and the filibuster to gerrymandering and political parties. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke.
Featuring:
Barbara Comstock: Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Shaniqua McClendon: Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Todd S. Purdum: Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by authors Thomas Frank and Theodore R. Johnson, Strategist Patrick Griffin, and Former Congresswoman Mimi Walters to discuss how Donald Trump built the second-largest voting bloc in U.S. election history
Featuring:
Thomas Frank - Political Analyst; Author of "The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism"
Patrick Griffin - Founding Partner and CEO, Merrimack Potomac + Charles (MP+C); Fall 2019 Visiting Fellow, Center for the Political Future
Theodore R. Johnson - Fellows Program Director at the Brennan Center for Justice; Author of "When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America”
Mimi Walters - Former U.S. Representative (R-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by the Center's Spring 2021 Fellows to recap President Joe Biden's inauguration and share their insights on the country’s future under the Biden Administration.
Featuring:
Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Todd S. Purdum - Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow
Center Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by top Republican strategists, journalists, and historians to examine the growing divisions within the Republican Party and explore strategies forward.
Featuring:
Douglas Brinkley - Author; Professor of History at Rice University; Presidential Historian for CNN
Jessica Millan Patterson - Chairwoman, California Republican Party
Karl Rove - Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, George W. Bush Administration
Anthony Scaramucci - Entrepreneur, Founder of SkyBridge and SALT Conference, Former White House Communications Director, Trump Administration
Bret Stephens - Opinion Columnist, New York Times; Author
CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by strategists Stephanie Cutter and James Carville, Journalist Adam Nagourney, and Cristobal Alex, Senior Advisor for Joe Biden's presidential campaign to examine Biden's winning campaign strategy.
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by journalist Adam Nagourney, Republican strategist Mike Madrid, and USC Professor Jane Junn to discuss the future of polling, the Republican Party, and the latest election results.
Nagourney has been the Los Angeles Bureau Chief of the New York Times since 2010 and Madrid is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a longtime Republican political strategist with an expertise in Latino voting trends and analysis. Junn is a USC Professor of Political Science and the Associates Chair in Social Sciences, who has authored five books on political participation and public opinion in the United States.
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy talk to journalist Cynthia McFadden about the presidential election with a focus on election security and voting mechanisms. McFadden is a broadcast journalist who is the Senior Legal and Investigative Correspondent for NBC News. She was an anchor and correspondent for ABC News, who co-anchored Nightline and occasionally appeared on ABC News special Primetime.
This panel examined the impact climate change has had on primary elections and the 2020 presidential election and the issue’s relevance to voters during an economic crisis, the pandemic, and racial justice movements.
Featuring:
Michelle Lujan Grisham - Governor of New Mexico, former US Representative (D-NM)
Bina Venkataraman - Editorial Page Editor, The Boston Globe; Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation, Obama Administration
Christine Todd Whitman - Former New Jersey Governor and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Bush Administration
CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by Republican media strategist Patrick Griffin to discuss the final Presidential Debate between President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden.
Griffin was a Fall 2019 Visiting Fellow at the Center for the Political Future. He is a founding partner and CEO of Merrimack Potomac + Charles ( MP+C), one of New England's leading integrated public affairs and strategic communications firms. He has worked as a Republican media consultant for four U.S. presidential campaigns including Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.
Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by political strategist Doug Thornell and journalists Ronald Brownstein and Asma Khalid to discuss President Trump and Joe Biden's dueling Town Halls, following Trump's refusal to participate in a virtual presidential debate originally scheduled for the same day.
Brownstein is a Senior Political Analyst at CNN and serves as Atlantic Media's Editorial Director for Strategic Partnerships in charge of long-term editorial strategy. Khalid is a political correspondent for NPR who co-hosts The NPR Politics Podcast. Thornell is Partner and Head of SKDKPolitical, having served as a media strategist to the Democratic National Committee, Congressional Black Caucus, and various House, Senate, and gubernatorial campaigns.
Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy plus special guest Karen Finney discuss the highlights and lowlights of the Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris and what each candidate needs to do to win the general election.
Finney worked for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign as Senior Spokesperson and Senior Advisor for Communications and Political Outreach. She was also Communications Director for Senator Tim Kaine. Finney was the first Black spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee and is currently a CNN political commentator
As the headlines and memes roll in, CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy discuss the highlights and lowlights of the chaotic first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. They also talk about each candidate’s likely strategies for the next two debates in October and the latest polling and trends in the general election.
With Election Day a little more than one month away, Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy discuss the implications of the Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the latest polling within the battleground states, what to expect in the first Trump/Biden debate, and the President’s comments on the peaceful transfer of power should Joe Biden win the election.
Robert Costa, moderator of PBS's "Washington Week" and political analyst at NBC News and MSNBC, joins USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to share his insights on the 2020 presidential election, including where this race stands.
The Republican National Convention culminated with President Trump delivering his acceptance speech in front of an unprecedented back drop. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy share their takes on the convention's highs and lows, what to expect in the upcoming presidential debates, and answer live questions.
Following the most unconventional Democratic political convention in history, Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by special guest Steve Schmidt to share the highlights and forecast the road ahead to November.
Featuring: Steve Schmidt, Co-Founder, The Lincoln Project; Republican Political Strategist
John Chiang, former California State Treasurer and Fall 2020 Fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss his career in politics, the pandemic’s lasting economic impact on California, and its implications for the November election and beyond.
Chiang served as California’s 33rd State Treasurer until 2019. As the state’s banker, he oversaw trillions of dollars in annual transactions, managed a $75 billion investment portfolio, and was the nation’s largest issuer of municipal bonds.
As State Controller during the Great Recession, his cash management decisions were instrumental in keeping California’s credit rating from plunging into junk status, and his actions saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Chiang aggressively used his audit programs to identify more than $9.5 billion of fraud, waste and abuse in government programs, the most by any Controller in California’s history.
He serves on several boards and will be teaching a course in the fall titled, “From Financial Crisis to COVID-19: California Policy Responses to the Financial Fallout” with the USC Center for the Political Future.
Mimi Walters, former Congresswoman (R-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to share some thoughts on the 2020 election and her decades-long career in public office.
From investment executive to elected official, Walters most recently served as U.S. Representative for District 45 in Orange County, until 2018. She also served in both the California State Senate and Assembly and got her start in politics as a city Councilmember and Mayor of Laguna Niguel.
In Congress, Walters sponsored legislation for wildfire disaster tax relief and the Survivor’s Bill of Rights that established key protections for survivors of sexual assault. She served on the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee where she was a member of the Communications and Technology, Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees.
She is the co-founder of the California Women’s Leadership Association, sits on several boards, and will be teaching a course in the Fall titled “So You Want to Run For Office?” with the USC Center for the Political Future.
As the pandemic has unfolded, social media has once again demonstrated how it can inform – or mislead – by encouraging the spread of literally deadly information. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy moderate a discussion on the implications of misinformation from political, social and engineering perspectives – and how it could alter the course of social media. In partnership with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences' Dornsife Dialogues series.
The panelists include:
- Kristina Lerman, Research associate professor of computer science and principal scientist at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Information Sciences Institute
- Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant professor of research preventive medicine and director of the Social Media Analytics Lab at Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Still reeling from a global pandemic, protests across America erupted in cities across all 50 states, sparking a worldwide movement in over 20 countries. Violence against black men and women, like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others, perpetrated by police has plagued this country for decades. The demand for systemic change for how cities are policed and how racism penetrates so much of American life has become a national, multicultural discussion. This panel explores how we got here and what actions are needed to move forward.
The panelists include:
Art Acevedo - Chief of Police, Houston Police Department; President, Major Cities Chiefs Association
Donna Brazile - Former Chair, Democratic National Committee (DNC); FOX News Contributor
Sydney Kamlager-Dove - California State Assembly member, District 54 (D-Los Angeles)
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Erroll Southers - Professor of the Practice in National & Homeland Security; Director, Safe Communities Institute; Director of Homegrown Violent Extremist Studies, USC Price
Moderated by: Ron Christie, BBC News Analyst; Fall ‘19 Fellow, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
Barbara Boxer, former U.S. Senator (D-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to reflect on her career and look ahead to the November election.
Boxer was elected to the United States Senate in 1992 during the “Year of the Woman." She served four terms and retired in 2017, having also served five terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and six years on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
Known as a “liberal firebrand,” Boxer has advocated for families and the environment for decades. She has consistently addressed the threat of climate change and attacks on women’s health and the right to privacy. She also authored landmark legislation for federally funded after-school programs.
Boxer is chairwoman for a global strategy firm, runs a political action committee, and in the Fall, she will be teaching a course called "Demystifying Governance and Politics" at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
Co-Directors of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the presidential election. Bob Shrum, the former senior strategist for Al Gore, John Kerry, and a host of Democratic senators and governors, and Mike Murphy, the former senior strategist for John McCain and Mitt Romney and a political analyst for NBC News, discuss the latest on changing voter attitudes toward the Trump administration, voting while sheltering in place and the dilemmas and opportunities of the Biden and Sanders campaigns.
Center Director Bob Shrum moderates a discussion exploring how the primary campaigns and developments in Washington are shaping the general election landscape.
The panelists include:
Rob Collins - Republican strategist; Former Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
Christian Grose - Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC Dornsife; Academic Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy
Betsy Fischer Martin - Emmy-winning journalist; Former TV news executive; Executive Director, Women and Politics Institute, American University
Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; political analyst for NBC News; former Senior Strategist for John McCain
Fifteen states, including California for the first time, cast their votes for the 2020 primaries on Super Tuesday, March 3. A round table of experts weighed in on the results in real-time and offered predictions on what to look for next.
The panelists include:
Christina Bellantoni - Director, USC Annenberg Media Center
Bill Carrick - Strategist for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and President Bill Clinton
Jeff Greenfield - Politics and Media Analyst; Spring '20 CPF Fellow
David Hill - Pollster and Strategist; Spring '20 CPF Fellow
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future
Ernest Wilson - Professor of Communication and Political Science; Former USC Annenberg Dean; Founder, Center for Third Space Thinking
Center Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by U.S. Representative Will Hurd, R-Texas. He is the only black Republican in the U.S. House, representing Texas' 23rd district that spans San Antonio to El Paso. In his three terms, he has broken from his party by supporting universal background checks for gun sales and the LGBT Equality Act, as well as opposing Trump's border wall. Rep. Hurd served as an undercover officer in the CIA in the Middle East and South Asia for nearly a decade. He shares his insights on the country's pressing national security issues, public service, and the future of the Republican party.
Center for the Political Future Executive Director Kamy Akhavan moderates a panel on the roots and rise of tribalism on American life, past and present, its impact on the state of politics and governance in America, and the role of political leaders in worsening the trend or reversing it.
The panelists include:
Ron Christie - Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney
Stevan Hobfoll - Author, “Tribalism: The Evolutionary Origins of Fear Politics”
Jonas Kaplan - USC Dornsife Assistant Research Professor of Psychology; Co-Director, Dornsife Neuroimaging Center
Alison Renteln - USC Dornsife Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Philosophy, Public Policy and Law
Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by John Della Volpe, Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics to discuss the impact of millennial voters on the 2020 election. In partnership with the Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.
Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. After the release of his book, "Trump: The Blue Collar President," he has again made headlines withdrawing his support of President Trump. Scaramucci shares where he stands now on Trump's re-election, the Democratic field, and the state of the Republican party.
At the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, veteran strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy regularly talk with top operatives on both sides of the 2020 contest and the journalists who are covering it. The conversations get behind the curtain -- because what seems to be happening in the campaign is often different than what really is.
What are the calculations in the war rooms of 2020? How is the media covering the race, and how is the coverage shaping the outcome? Hear from those who’ve known success and setbacks in presidential races. And laugh, too, at their stories of the inside maneuvers and blunders that shape the outcome. Every exchange is guided by standards central to the Center’s mission: Respect each other and respect the truth. Opponents are adversaries, not enemies. And if you lose, don’t burn down the stadium.
Election R&D will be there from the primary debates to election day, and then to a post-election, in depth analysis of the driving forces that led to victory and defeat.