Let's Find Common Ground

CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan joins gun safety activist Shannon Watts and environmental protection activist Benji Backer for a discussion on civic engagement, lessons from activism, and how to utilize your passion to enact social change. They discuss their books, how to work across the aisle to drive progress on causes, and how to build movements while reducing political polarization. This discussion is part of CPF's Dialogue Across Difference series. Featuring: - Benji Backer: CEO & Founder, Nature is Nonpartisan; Author of "The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future" - Shannon Watts: Founder, Moms Demand Action; Author of "Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age" and "Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World;" Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future - Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins legal experts Franita Tolson, Jeffrey Toobin, and Alexander "Sasha" Volokh for a discussion on the role and state of the judiciary today. They discuss the role of the courts in safeguarding checks and balances, the James Comey indictment, and how Donald Trump and his administration affect the Supreme Court. This event was in partnership with the USC Gould School of Law. Featuring: Franita Tolson: Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law at the USC Gould School of Law Jeffrey Toobin: Contributing Opinion Writer, The New York Times; 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" Alexander "Sasha" Volokh: Associate Professor of Law, Emory University; Former Law Clerk for Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Samuel Alito Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin for a talk on his new memoir, "Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense." They discuss Manchin's decision to become an independent, his public service and White House experiences, and the importance of bipartisanship today. This event, part of CPF's Jeff and Sue White Dialogue Series, was in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Featuring: - Joe Manchin: Former U.S. Senator from West Virginia - Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Fred Ryan, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Center on Civility and Democracy, for a discussion on civility and the presidency. They discuss how past presidents bridged divides when working with political leaders they disagreed with, the importance of civility in today's political climate, and how political leaders influence the public and Congress. This event was in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute.   Featuring: Fred Ryan: Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Center on Civility and Democracy; Chairman, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute; Co-Founder, Politico; Former Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Assistant Director Diego Andrades joins voting experts Laura Brill, Jahnavi Rao, and Maddy Roth for a discussion on the forces reshaping how young voters approach civic life and democracy. They discuss Gen Z's voting patterns, strategies for reaching young voters, and how Democrats and Republicans can capture Gen Z voters.   Featuring: Laura Brill: Founder & CEO, The Civics Center; Former Law Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg Jahnavi Rao: President & Founder, New Voters Maddy Roth: Executive Director, I Am A Voter Diego Andrades: Assistant Director, USC Center for the Political Future Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2025 CPF Fellows Jim DeBoo, Frank Lavin, April Ryan, David Simas, and Helen Torres, for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the Trump Administration, Gavin Newsom and California politics, and the impact of Trump's tariffs, ICE raids, and redistricting efforts. The conversation also explores the Fellows' study groups and their wide-ranging careers in politics and public service.   Featuring: -Jim DeBoo: Founder, DeBoo Strategic Affairs; Former Chief of Staff to Gavin Newsom; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Frank Lavin: Former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -April Ryan: Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -David Simas: Managing Director, Emerson Collective; Former President, Obama Foundation; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Helen Torres: CEO, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE); Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife -Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist

Discover the power of young leaders changing the world through nonprofits! USC alumni share their incredible journeys in the nonprofit sector and reveal what it really takes to make a difference. CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan joins nonprofit leaders for a conversation packed with invaluable advice and real-world stories. From raising funds to navigating career paths, these leaders open up about their challenges, triumphs, and the lessons they've learned along the way.   Featuring: Teya Hisel: Former Policy Manager, Downtown Women's Center; Founder, advocaSC; Incoming MSW Student, U Chicago Joanna Maniti: Founder/CEO, Cherish Hearts International; Former Director of Communications, Girls in Tech, USC Taylor Ryan: Intern, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Founder, Team Sabrina Inc.; Masters in Social Entrepreneurship, USC Class of 2025 Ava Sanchez: Account Coordinator, JCI Worldwide; Former Fellow, Coro Southern California; Founder/Mentor, Ava Edits Essays Kira Sano: Founder/Executive Director, KiraKira; Consultant, Upwork; Director, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network Kayla Williams: Founder, Little Bucketz basketball camp; Former Guard, USC Women's Basketball Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Instructor, USC Distinguished Leaders Program

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