{"id":25262,"date":"2025-09-05T11:11:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T18:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=25262"},"modified":"2025-09-29T11:58:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:58:25","slug":"political-discussions-explore-democracys-biggest-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/political-discussions-explore-democracys-biggest-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Political discussions at USC Dornsife explore democracy\u2019s biggest questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/cpf-events-top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/cpf-events-top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/cpf-events-top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/cpf-events-top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Experts on a stage discuss issues before a large audience\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future frequently brings together scholars, policymakers, politicians and others to explore pressing issues of the day. (Photo: Kayla Wong.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=politics\">Politics<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Political discussions at USC Dornsife explore democracy\u2019s biggest questions<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Upcoming events feature bipartisan panels on courts, elections, national service and America\u2019s political future.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.use.edu\">USC Dornsife News<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">September 5, 2025<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 1.058837 1.0874543 2.51831502 1.6884158 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M16.9,13.4l7.4-8.7h-1.8l-6.5,7.5L11,4.8H5l7.8,11.4L5,25.2h1.8l6.8-7.9l5.5,7.9h6L16.9,13.4\n\tL16.9,13.4z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">X<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Linkedin\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_linkedin\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m25 21.4220779c0 1.974026-1.6038961 3.5779221-3.5779221 3.5779221h-11.84415582c-1.97402598 0-3.57792208-1.6038961-3.57792208-3.5779221v-11.84415582c0-1.97402598 1.6038961-3.57792208 3.57792208-3.57792208h11.84415582c1.974026 0 3.5779221 1.6038961 3.5779221 3.57792208zm-14.5584416-12.21428569c-.98701295 0-1.60389606.61688311-1.60389606 1.48051949-.12337663.8636364.49350649 1.4805195 1.48051946 1.4805195.987013 0 1.6038961-.6168831 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The USC Dornsife <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/\">Center for the Political Future<\/a> (CPF) hosts a series of events aimed at fostering civil dialogue across the political spectrum. Dedicated to promoting respectful conversation, bipartisan engagement and fact-based analysis, the center regularly brings together scholars, policymakers, journalists and advocates to explore the country\u2019s most pressing issues.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next several weeks, the center will host thought-provoking discussions by leaders and experts with diverse perspectives on topics ranging from the health of American democracy and the future of national service to the role of the courts and the art of bridging political divides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h2><strong>Upcoming CPF Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>CPF Open House and Welcome Dinner<\/h3>\n<h4>Sept. 9, 4 to 6 p.m.<\/h4>\n<p>The CPF team explains how students can get involved with the USC Political Union, Trojan Democrats, USC GOP and more. Open to students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/cpf-open-house-and-welcome-dinner-2124\">More info and register<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>Gen Z and Democracy: Disillusioned and Disengaged?<\/h3>\n<h4>Sept. 11, noon to 1 p.m.<\/h4>\n<p>Maddy Roth (I Am a Voter), Jahnavi Rao (New Voters) and Laura Brill (The Civics Group; former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg) explore the forces reshaping Gen Z voters\u2019 approach to civic life and evaluate if they are adapting or realigning politically. Open to the public.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/gen-z-and-democracy-disillusioned-and-disengaged\">More info and register<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>Civic Fair for National Voter Registration Day<\/h3>\n<h4>Sept. 16, all day.<\/h4>\n<p>Student political organizations join community groups including Common Cause and the L.A. County Registrar to encourage civic participation. Open to students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/national-voter-registration-day-2025\">More info and register<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>Conversation and Book Signing with Former Sen. Joe Manchin<\/h3>\n<h4>Sept. 18, 2 p.m.<\/h4>\n<p>Former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and Bob Shrum (CPF director) discuss Manchin\u2019s new memoir, <em>Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense<\/em>, and explore his Senate and White House experiences. Open to the public.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/book-launch-signing-former-senator-joe-manchin-in-conversation-with-bob-shrum\">More info and register<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>U.S. Presidents and Civility<\/h3>\n<h4>Sept. 29, noon to 1 p.m.<\/h4>\n<p>Fred Ryan (Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute chair; former Reagan chief of staff) and Bob Shrum (CPF director) discuss civil discourse, reflecting on examples such as President Reagan\u2019s partnership with Speaker of the House Tip O\u2019Neill to President Obama\u2019s dialogue with critics. Open to the public.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/us-presidents-and-civility\">More info and register<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>How\u2019s Trump Doing? What About the Democrats?<\/h3>\n<h4>Nov. 6, 2 to 3 p.m.<\/h4>\n<p>Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy (CPF director and co-director, respectively) hold a balanced and witty conversation about the latest political headlines. Open to alumni, students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/hows-trump-doing-what-about-the-democrats\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3>Pizza and Politics Series<\/h3>\n<h4>Tuesdays from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4.<\/h4>\n<p>CPF Fellows go deep on current events, their careers, and whatever attendees raise for discussion. Open to students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.usc.edu\/event\/pizza-and-politics-series-699\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h2><strong>Additional upcoming events to watch for:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Courts and the Future of Democracy <\/strong>\u2013 Sept. 29. Skye Perryman (Democracy Project), Franita Tolson (USC Gould School of Law dean) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN legal analyst).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dialogue Across Difference: Scaling Your Passion Building a Movement <\/strong>\u2013 Oct. 13. Book talk with Shannon Watts (Moms Demand Action) and Benji Backer (Nature Is Nonpartisan CEO and founder).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Warschaw Conference: America at 250 \u2014 Young or Old Democracy? <\/strong>\u2013 Nov. 18. This conference covers U.S. history, presidential politics, redistricting, and elections, featuring Bob Shrum (CPF director), Richard Gephardt (former U.S. Rep.) and other experts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Presidential Power from Reagan to Trump and Beyond <\/strong>\u2013 Nov. Bob Shrum (CPF Director), Frank Lavin (former Reagan political director) and other invited guests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a class=\"cta-link\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/about-our-events\/upcoming-events\/\">View the CPF Calendar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: Ileana Wachtel and Darrin S. Joy contributed to this article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/galas-honoring-political-strategist-and-scholar-bob-shrum-raise-nearly-1m-in-support-of-civil-discourse\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Galas honoring political strategist and scholar Bob Shrum raise nearly $1M in support of civil discourse<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/us-and-iran-how-decades-of-mistrust-led-to-open-warfare\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >US and Iran: A brief history of how decades of mistrust and bad blood led to open\u00a0warfare<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/how-the-national-security-council-functions-when-presidents-consider-war\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How the National Security Council typically functions to plan and fully assess risks when presidents consider going to\u00a0war<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Upcoming events feature bipartisan panels on courts, elections, national service and America\u2019s political future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":25263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[503,54],"class_list":["post-25262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-center-for-the-political-future","tag-events"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Political discussions at USC Dornsife explore democracy\u2019s biggest questions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Upcoming events feature bipartisan panels on courts, elections, national service, America\u2019s political future and more\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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