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

The United States has one of the highest news avoidance rates in the world. Tens of millions of Americans don't read, watch or listen to the news each day. The media are held in low regard by the public. So, is there a better way to report and analyze current events that satisfies readers' interests? We hear from Mark Sappenfield, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, the paper's National Political Correspondent. We're releasing this podcast less than two weeks before the midterm elections— a time when many news outlets have amped up their coverage, speculated about winners and losers, and put additional emphasis on the nation's deep partisan divides. To date, this episode of Let's Find Common Ground is our most downloaded episode. We discuss evolving news values with The Monitor and how reporters and editors are striving to highlight constructive solutions that unite rather than divide. We also hear about election coverage and why the media need to challenge readers, build trust, and report the news truthfully. In this episode, we mention Common Ground Scorecard— a tool that helps voters learn which elected officials and candidates are seeking common ground on vital issues. The President, Vice President and every Senator, Member of Congress, and governor has a personal rating. Learn more: commongroundscorecard.org.

Rigid polarization and political division are among the biggest challenges facing our country. Young people often feel that tribalism is better than unity and that conversations across political and cultural divides are impossible. College students Clare Ashcraft, who comes from a conservative background, and Jackson Spencer Richter, who calls himself a committed liberal, are active members of BridgeUSA, a national movement of students working to emphasize the importance of empathy, understanding, and ideological diversity. In this episode we hear about students' personal experience of cancel culture, the impact of social media on Generation Z, and why many young people actually feel that free speech can harm or threaten their safety. We also learn about efforts to find common ground, equip students with skills to find solutions across divides, and build bridges with others of different backgrounds and points of view. 

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

Polarization is not just a problem for Congress and our political system, it’s also taking a toll in the workplace. Employees are falling out with each other over politics and fiery issues in the culture wars.  Organizations are trying to stem the discord. Some have banned political talk at the office. Others have taken a public stand on an issue of the day in an effort to ‘do the right thing’.  Simon Greer, our guest on this show, says edicts like this won’t help, though more thoughtful approaches can. Simon is the founder of Bridging the Gap, a group that helps college students develop the skills to communicate well across differences. He also consults with organizations who face these same challenges among their workforces. He explains how he went from ‘bomb thrower’ to bridge builder over the course of his career, tells stories from his work with employers and employees, and outlines the very personal reason for his belief in the humanity of the other person. 

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

Our guests on today’s show are part of the school shooting generation. Each grew up with active shooter drills and concerns that their school could be next, concepts that were unthinkable when most of today’s politicians were in the classroom.  Sophie Holtzman and Jackson Hoppe are sophomores at George Washington University. They are also joint vice presidents of their college’s chapter of BridgeUSA, a group that brings students of different ideologies together to have open discussions on political issues.  Sophie, a liberal, and Jackson, a conservative, share stories of being raised in the South, their experiences with guns, and how listening to others’ opinions on the topic is a vital first step to finding common ground. 

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