

Let's Find Common Ground
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
The Bully Pulpit has merged with the Let's Find Common Ground podcast. As the tone of public discourse becomes increasingly angry and divisive, Let's Find Common Ground offers a healing path to reaching agreement and moving forward. 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 for fun conversations that advance civil dialogue and practical politics. 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 13, 2025 • 1h 17min
Immigration: Is There a Way Forward? - Sue and Jeff White Dialogues
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

Feb 28, 2025 • 59min
Let's Find Common Ground with Anthony Scaramucci
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

Feb 22, 2025 • 1h 2min
"The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy" - Book Talk with CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin
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

Feb 12, 2025 • 1h 3min
"The Future Lies Ahead": The Second Trump Presidency
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

Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 5min
How Democrats Lost the Plot
Dale Butland, a seasoned Democratic strategist, joins polling experts John Della Volpe and Mike Madrid to dissect the Democratic Party's recent challenges. They analyze why women’s support has dwindled and explore the shifting voting trends among Latino youth. The trio emphasizes the necessity for authentic engagement with diverse communities. They argue for a revival of Rooseveltian principles to address economic inequities and critique the party's messaging strategies amidst a complex media landscape. It's a compelling discussion on reconnecting with voters.

Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 4min
Trump's Historic Comeback
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

Feb 11, 2025 • 14min
Bully Pulpit Podcast and "Let's Find Common Ground" Podcast Merge Into One Super Podcast
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

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 5min
Inaugurating A New Future?
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

Nov 26, 2024 • 58min
Election 2024: What Mattered Most?
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

Nov 4, 2024 • 36min
Election 2024: The Last Lap
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


