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The Great Transformation – Reimagining Our Institutions
Veteran political strategist Mike Madrid wasn’t surprised by the outcome of the 2024 presidential race. He’s been studying the nation’s politics and demographics for decades. “The election outcomes […] are part of a longer-term transformation of American [and] global society as we become fully ensconced in the digital age.,” he said during the Helen Edison…
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The Hard Push To End Gun Violence in America
For activist David Hogg, ending gun violence is very personal. Hogg was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 when 17 students and teachers were killed. It was the second-deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school. Following the tragedy at his school, Hogg cofounded March for Our Lives, one…
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Trump vs. Reagan
What do Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump have in common? Surprisingly, it’s their use of religion as a powerful political tool. Diane Winston, professor of journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, notes that Reagan was both a man of deep faith and a savvy politician who knew how to attract Christian votes.…
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The Supreme Court’s Influence on American Democracy
In a recent discussion, Michael Waldman from the Brennan Center for Justice examined the Supreme Court’s significant role in shaping American democracy. Waldman emphasized how pivotal the Court’s decisions have been throughout history, especially during times of political and social upheaval. While understanding our history is crucial, Waldman noted, it shouldn’t confine how we interpret…
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How the FBI Gave Rise to White Christian Nationalism
What happens when a professor of religious studies sues the FBI? For Lerone Martin, it ends up becoming the book “The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover: How the FBI Aided and Abetted the Rise of White Christian Nationalism.” “I started out thinking I was going to write a book on religious radio…how religious radio shaped…
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E.J. Dionne Reflects on America Today
In early May, journalist E.J. Dionne delivered the Burke Lectureship at UC San Diego, marking his ninth appearance on UCTV. Known for his political columns in the Washington Post, Dionne addressed America’s growing social isolation and loneliness, calling for a renewed focus on community and faith to heal the nation’s divisions. Dionne honored the spirit…
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Navigating the Political Landscape with Congressman Jamie Raskin
Congressman Jamie Raskin has been serving the people of Maryland’s 8th congressional district with pride since his election in 2016. Prior to his political career, he was a constitutional law professor at American University Washington College of Law for over 25 years, shaping the minds of future jurists. During President Trump’s tumultuous tenure, Raskin’s deep…
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American Democracy and the Crisis of Majority Rule
What happens when a government begins to restrict voting, violent threats are made against election workers, and an incumbent tries to overturn an election result? According to the international organization Freedom House, such efforts lower your country’s score on the global freedom index, which measures the strength of your democracy. A decade ago, the U.S.…
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For the People? Representative Government in America
It has become commonplace that democracy in the United States faces an existential threat. This belief has gained popular currency in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency, nourished by his conduct in office, the attempt to overturn the 2020 election, and continuing efforts to subvert the electoral process. Whether this is true only time will…
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How a Cross-border Existence Influenced Journalist and Writer Jean Guerrero
Journalist Jean Guerrero grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border. Her Puerto Rican mother put herself through medical school and met Guerrero’s Mexican father on her first day in San Diego. Guerrero says she’s always been drawn to cross-border issues having traveled back and forth across the border to Tijuana with her dad. However, Guerrero was…