Let's Find Common Ground

Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer joins Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad to discuss women's rights in the Middle East and her documentary film "Be My Voice," which chronicles her movement against Iran's policy of mandatory head covering for women. Featuring: Barbara Boxer - Former U.S. Senator (D-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Masih Alinejad - Journalist, Author, Women's Rights Activist Kamy Akhavan - Executive Director, USC Center for the Political Future

Education expert Alan Arkatov joins current and former school officials Lisa Korbatov, Nick Melvoin, Pedro Noguera, and Darline Robles to discuss the mixing of school boards, parental involvement, and appropriate content in today's often hyper-partisan school board environments. Featuring: Alan Arkatov - Katzman/Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation; Center EDGE Founding Director, USC Rossier School of Education Lisa Korbatov - Former President, Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education Nick Melvoin - Vice President, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Pedro Noguera - Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education Darline Robles - Former Superintendent of LA County Office of Education

America has the highest rates of incarceration in the world. Once people leave prison the hope is that they'll be law-abiding, productive members of society. But all too often this isn't the case – four in ten prisoners are back behind bars within three years of release. In this episode, we meet two men who want to fix the US's flawed re-entry process. And they come from very different backgrounds. Former prison warden and overseer of regional prisons, Daren Swenson, has spent his career in corrections. Georgetown University professor Marc Howard is a reformer who has long campaigned for the rights and humanity of incarcerated people. They were brought together by Convergence Center for Policy Resolution to come up with solutions that take into account both the dignity of people re-entering society and the public safety implications of their release.

Congressman Jamie Raskin Talks "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy" CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to discuss the latest in the House select committee hearings investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill, the importance of bipartisan cooperation, and the legacy of his late son and father. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Jamie Raskin - U.S. Representative (D-MD); Author, "Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy"

What is the military's role in protecting democracy? The question took on a new sense of urgency in the months after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2020. A deep partisan divide opened up over what actually happened on that day, how to describe the chaotic events, and who should be held responsible. After decades of service in the U.S. military, retired Brigadier General Steven Anderson decided to speak out about the threat of future insurrections and the possibility that a coup might succeed next time. "There is a significant threat being posed to our nation and our democracy," he says. While some of those arrested and charged in the attack were veterans or even active members of the military, General Anderson says America's armed forces can make a constructive contribution in the future. In this podcast, he tells us that The Pentagon should order a civics review for all members— uniformed and civilian— on the U.S. Constitution and electoral integrity. We also discuss how the military can foster diversity and common ground.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by John Chiang, former California State Treasurer, and David Crane, former advisor to Gov. Schwarzenegger, to assess California's governance and government services amid rising housing costs and tax rates, and the future of the so-called "golden state." Featuring: 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 John Chiang - California State Treasurer (ret.); former California State Controller; Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future David Crane - President, Govern for California; Lecturer in Public Policy, Stanford University

Black History Month is a celebration of the remarkable contributions of black Americans to our nation. Some of our guests share their personal thoughts and stories about the lessons of history. We learn about the legacy of the civil rights movement, and recent calls for social change, justice, reform, and respect. This episode includes extracts from past podcasts and a Common Ground Committee public event. Podcast guests featured: Professor Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X and the author of the memoir "Growing Up X", Dr. Brian Williams, Associate Professor of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Hawk Newsome, Cofounder, and Chair of Black Lives Matter Greater New York, Errol Toulon, Sheriff of Suffolk County New York, and Caroline Randall Williams, a poet, author, teacher and Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. We also share moving extracts from a conversation between Donna Brazille and Michael Steele for a Common Ground Committee forum in 2018. As the first Black chairs of the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee, respectively, their views represented different perspectives. But in tackling essential questions of race and governance, they found many points of agreement.

From the outside, Congress appears broken. Bills get bogged down in partisan fights, leaders openly smear each other, and animosity between members is at an all-time high. But our guests show that if you look closer, you'll find a group of dedicated politicians working together across the aisle to craft workable legislation and get things done. Republican Congressman Don Bacon represents Nebraska's 2nd District. Democrat Kurt Schrader represents Oregon's 5th District. Both are members of the congressional Problem Solvers Caucus, a group equally split between Democrats and Republicans who are committed to finding common ground on key issues. In our surprisingly candid conversation, we get a peek behind the curtain at what's really going on in Congress, how the infrastructure bill was passed into law, and the harmful effect the media has on Americans' view of politics.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join the Spring 2022 CPF Fellows to unpack the latest SCOTUS headlines and trends. They discuss everything from the Supreme Court's denial of President Trump's executive privilege over the January 6 insurrection to their upholding Texas' abortion law to their blocking Biden's federal vaccine mandate. They also explore what the growing division among the Justices means for the future of the majority conservative court. Ralph Neas - Former Executive Director, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Senior Counsel on Voting Rights, The Century Foundation; Spring 2022 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Todd S. Purdum - Journalist, Former National Editor and Political Correspondent for Vanity Fair; Spring 2022 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Amy Turk, LCSW - Social Worker; CEO, Downtown Women's Center; Spring 2022 Fellow, 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

This year the federal government is expected to collect more than $3.5 trillion in taxes— a vast amount of money by any measure. One of the key functions of Congress is to pass a budget. But often that seems close to impossible. Lack of agreement over federal spending regularly threatens to bring about government shutdowns that have a negative impact on millions of Americans. Yet few of us can even begin to understand the byzantine budget process. Both of our guests in this episode have worked with other policy experts to make the budget process function better, with greater efficiency and transparency. Alison Acosta Winters is a fiscal conservative and was most recently a senior policy fellow at Americans for Prosperity. Emily Holubowich is vice president for federal advocacy at the American Heart Association, and often supports more government spending. Brought together by Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, Alison, Emily and other stakeholders from diverse backgrounds spent months working together to come up with several major proposals for overhauling the budget process. This podcast is one of a series of episodes co-produced in partnership with the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution. Each show highlights the common ground that resulted from one of Convergence's structured dialogues across differences.

One year after the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol, we take a close look at America's political divide with two journalists who covered the calamitous events on that day and the responses to them. Our guests are Christa Case Bryant, Congressional correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, the Monitor's National political correspondent. We discuss whether America is more polarized than it was one year ago and the prospects for finding common ground in Congress and across the country. A Washington Post - University of Maryland opinion poll published on New Year's Day confirmed that Americans have totally different views of the 2020 election results. While large majorities of Democrats and independent voters say there was no evidence of widespread fraud, more than 60% of Republicans say there was. In their reporting throughout the year, both of our guests sought answers to complex questions about what caused people to storm the Capitol, and why Democrats and Republicans have opposing views about voter access and election laws. In this episode, we also examine the role of the media and individual reporters in covering the state of polarization in America today.

In a world of crises and catastrophes, we look at a handful of extraordinary problem solvers: People who use their passion and personal experience of life to make a difference. Dave Scott, Engagement Editor at The Christian Monitor, tells us about remarkable individuals who use generosity, hope, and innovation to inspire others to uplift their fellow human beings. With origin stories and personal anecdotes, we hear how listening and trust are essential elements in constructive change and finding common ground. This special year-end episode includes excerpts from the Monitor's new podcast, "People Making a Difference". We hear about what a 12-year-old can teach us about empathy and kindness; how the Sewing Machine Project has repaired thousands of lives around the world, and why LavaMaeX is providing hot showers, pop-up care villages, and radical hospitality for homeless people in California. Co-hosts: Richard Davies and Ashley Milne-Tyte.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join former Chief of Staff Mike Pettit, to honor the legacy of Senator Bob Dole, who died on Dec. 5, 2021. Dole was one of the longest-serving Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. He was a Vice Presidential and Presidential candidate, and received the Congressional Gold Medal. Featuring: 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 Mike Pettit - Former Chief of Staff and Presidential Campaign Adviser for Sen. Bob Dole

At a time of increasingly urgent calls for climate action, the world also faces ever-rising demand for energy. How can these two trends be reconciled as we experience soaring gas prices and supply chain disruptions? Our guest is Pulitzer Prize-winning author and energy expert Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of IHS Markit and chairman of CERAWeek, which CNBC has described as "the Super Bowl of world energy." Dr. Yergin says the energy transition is very complicated, and the degree to which the world still depends on oil and natural gas is not well understood. In this episode, we look at the prospects for common ground among environmentalists and energy industry executives. We examine why a new map of energy and geopolitics is emerging. Daniel Yergin explains how future innovations in green energy could prove to be just as surprising as the "shale revolution" in oil and gas which transformed the American economy and ended an era of energy shortage.

Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by Ben Rhodes, former Obama advisor, to discuss his latest book on America's role in rising global authoritarianism, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to today, and the urgency to fight for what he thinks the U.S. should be. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Ben Rhodes - Author; Co-Host of "Pod Save the World;" Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, Obama Administration; Spring 2020 CPF Fellow

Elex Michaelson, FOX News LA anchor, is joined by CA Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson and media heavyweights David Chalian, Chris Matthews, and Ron Christie to discuss what's at stake for seats in both the House and Senate, advantages for the Republican Party, and needed optimism for the 2022 Midterms. Featuring: Elex Michaelson - Host, "The Issue Is;" Co-Anchor, FOX 11 News LA David Chalian - Vice President of Political Coverage and Political Director, CNN Ron Christie - Political Analyst, BBC World News; Fall '19 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Chris Matthews - Former Political Commentator; Former Host of Hardball With Chris Matthews Jessica Millan Patterson - Chairwoman, California Republican Party

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by USC professors Nina Rathbun and David Kang, journalist Markos Kounalakis, and foreign policy expert Kori Schake to assess the historic Afghanistan withdrawal, tensions with China, and compare Biden's success with Trump's. Featuring: Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC Analyst David C. Kang - Maria Crutcher Professor in International Relations, Business, and East Asian Languages and Cultures; Director, Korean Studies Institute, USC Dornsife Markos Kounalakis - Foreign Affairs Columnist, Author, and Scholar; Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University Kori Schake - Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute; Former Foreign Policy Advisor for John McCain's presidential campaign Nina Srinivasan Rathbun - Professor of International Relations, USC Dornsife

What happens when people of opposing viewpoints and diverse backgrounds work in teams, have conversations, or even sit across the table from each other at family gatherings? How do they come together and listen to others who see the world very differently? In this special episode, we compile a series of inspiring stories from past shows. Mother and daughter Robbie Lawler and Becca Kearl share deep love and respect but vote for different parties. Psychologist Tania Israel explains practical, proven ways to go beyond your bubble and get out of opinion silos and comfort zones. Race reconciliator Daryl Davis and former white supremacist Ryan Lo'Ree discuss their remarkable work together to deradicalize members of hate groups. Co-authors, Republican Jordan Blashek and Democrat Chris Haugh, recount their unlikely friendship that blossomed not despite, but because of their political differences. Radio and podcast journalist Ashley Ahearn talks about what she learned from her new friends and neighbors after moving from progressive Seattle to a conservative ranching country in rural Washington State. All on "Let's Find Common Ground." After deep skepticism, Dr. Gisèle Huff, a longtime proponent of school choice, and Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, came together to work on a new vision for the future of education.

Christina Bellantoni, is joined by USC Professor Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, strategists Ben Tulchin and Juan Rodriguez, and commentator Charlie Sykes to weigh the Biden Administration's achievements and fumbles, the fallout from November elections, and the need for bipartisan action for real change. Featuring: Christina Bellantoni - Director of USC Annenberg's Media Center; Professor of Professional Practice, USC Annenberg Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro - Dean's Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations; Director, Center for Leadership by Women of Color Juan Rodriguez - Campaign Manager for Gov. Gavin Newsom; Partner, Bearstar Strategies Charles Sykes - Founder and Editor-at-Large, The Bulwark; Host, The Bulwark Podcast Ben Tulchin - President and Founder of Tulchin Research; Pollster, Strategist for Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign and Eric Adams' 2021 Mayoral Campaign

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by Lawrence H. Summers, President Obama's National Economic Council Director, to reflect on the parallels between the current COVID-19 economic fallout and the 2009 recession, and explore solutions for rising inflation. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Lawrence H. Summers - Director of the National Economic Council for President Obama; 71st Secretary of the Treasury for President Clinton; Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus, Harvard University

Sometimes the future can seem dark. The pandemic drags on. Climate change is upon us. Political polarization remains toxic. When stories of division fill the headlines it's easy to feel like the only way is down. But what if that's not true? What if we gave less airtime to voices of doom and more to voices of hope? Our guests on this episode are Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas. Zachary is the founder of The Progress Network, Emma is its executive director. The Progress Network focuses on what's going right with the world and amplifies voices of optimism. Zachary joins us from New York and Emma from her adopted home in Greece, where she's gained an outsider's perspective on the US. Emma and Zachary are also the hosts of the podcast 'What Could Go Right?'

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by USC Professors Monalisa Chatterjee, Shannon Gibson, and Robert O' Brien to discuss the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland and the proposed solutions for a path forward. 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 Monalisa Chatterjee - Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife Shannon Gibson - Associate Professor of International Relations and Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife Robert O' Brien - (Incoming) Fulbright Research Chair of Public Diplomacy, USC Center on Public Diplomacy

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by USC Professor Morteza Dehghani, former Facebook executive Katie Harbath, strategist Cheryl Hori, and attorney John Patzakis to discuss the rapid changes in technology and their effects on politics including fundraising, campaigning, voting, free speech, and polarization. Featuring: Robert 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 Morteza Dehghani - Associate Professor of Psychology, USC Dornsife Katie Harbath - Founder and CEO of Anchor Change; Former Public Policy Director for Global Elections at Facebook Cheryl Hori - Founder and Chief Strategist, Pacific Campaign House John Patzakis - Executive Chair and Chief Legal Officer, X1

Climate change is one of the most divisive issues in our country today. But this wasn't the case 20 years ago. How did we get here? Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist and chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy as well as a professor at Texas Tech University. And she's the author of a new book called Saving Us - a Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. In this episode, Katharine explains how climate change became so polarizing, and how each of us can play a part in bridging the divide by starting conversations (even if we never use the words 'climate' and 'change' together.) She gives examples of how she, an evangelical Christian, talks to other Christians who may dispute the reality of climate change. Katherine says altering the status quo is easier than we think: the most important thing we can do to curb climate change is talk about it.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by Linda Chavez, Pete Peterson, Theodore Johnson, and Ralph Neas to dive into the pros and cons of voting processes nationwide and explore common sense solutions. Featuring: Robert 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 Linda Chavez - Conservative commentator; Chair, Center for Equal Opportunity Theodore Johnson - Fellows Program Director at Brennan Center for Justice, New York University Ralph Neas - Senior Counsel on Voting Rights, Century Foundation Pete Peterson - Braun Family Dean's Chair, Pepperdine University School of Public Policy; Senior Fellow, Davenport Institute

As an ER doctor, Jay Baruch has been treating Covid patients since the start of the pandemic. He still sees many patients sick with Covid in his ER - the vast majority unvaccinated. It might seem reasonable for him to share the anger and frustration that many vaccinated Americans feel about the unvaxxed. While Jay wants everyone who is eligible to get the shot, he says judgment does nothing to persuade the hesitant to get the vaccine, and that there is a better way to respond. Jay is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University's Alpert Medical School. He is also a writer. In this episode he discusses his desire for a more open dialogue about vaccination, one that involves listening to people's stories, empathizing with their concerns, and recognizing that all human beings are complicated.

Center Fellow Gloria Molina is joined by Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, strategist Cesar Martinez, and USC Professor Mindy Romero to discuss the growing impact of Latino voters and assess how political parties are reaching them, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Featuring: Gloria Molina - Fall 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future; Former LA County Supervisor and CA Assemblymember Cesar Martinez - Media strategist for Jeb Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns Mindy Romero - Founder and Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy; Research Assistant Professor at USC Price School of Public Policy Antonio Villaraigosa - 41st Mayor of Los Angeles; Partner and Co-Chair, Mercury Public Affairs

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by attorneys and redistricting experts Benjamin Ginsberg and Michael Li, former CA Assemblymember Gloria Molina, and USC Professor Christian Grose to examine the challenges of redistricting across the country and its implications for the 2022 midterm elections. Featuring: Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy- Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst Benjamin Ginsberg - Election Lawyer; Former National Counsel for Bush-Cheney Presidential Campaigns Christian Grose - Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy, USC Dornsife & Sol Price School of Public Policy Michael Li - Senior Counsel for Democracy Program, NYU Brennan Center for Justice Gloria Molina - Fall '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future; Former CA Assemblywoman; LA County Supervisor

Unlike the vast majority of journalists who cover U.S. politics, columnist Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. Twice a year she leaves her home in western Pennsylvania and drives thousands of miles across the country on back roads, visiting towns and rural communities that are often ignored by the national media. In this episode, we learn about the perspectives of voters who support Donald Trump and the populist coalition that reshaped the Republican Party. Selena, a columnist for the Washington Examiner and the New York Post is the author of "The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics". She previously wrote for The Atlantic and Pittsburgh Tribune Review. While on the road, Zito goes to high school football games, attends church services, and eats at local diners. "One of the things that makes my reporting different is that I try to treat each story that I write as though I am from the locality," she tells us. Hear some of the insights and views of those who live in what Salena calls 'the middle of somewhere.'

Common Ground Committee is part of a robust and growing national movement of bridge builders, who are working to reduce incivility and toxic polarization in America today. We look in-depth at this diverse, vital coalition. Who's involved and how are they tackling racial, cultural, and political schisms that threaten American democracy? Our guest, Nathan Bomey, is a reporter for USA Today, and author of the new book, "Bridge Builders: Bringing People Together in a Polarized Age." In this interview, we hear stories about people from many walks of life who are building the structure of a new, more united America. "Despite its transformational qualities, bridge building often attracts considerable resistance," says Bomey. "In many cases, that's because bridges promise to disrupt the status quo for people who previously benefited from or preferred social isolation." This episode looks at a constructive way forward.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by journalists Carla Marinucci and Seema Mehta, strategist Roger Salazar, and USC Professor Jennifer Cryer to assess the campaign to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. They unpack how the effort gained momentum, weigh criticisms for and against the recall, and discuss potential outcomes of the upcoming election. Featuring: Robert Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy, Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst Jennifer Cryer - Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife Carla Marinucci - Senior Writer, POLITICO California Playbook Seema Mehta - Political Writer, Los Angeles Times Roger Salazar - Political Strategist; Former Campaign Press Secretary for CA Gov. Gray Davis

The need to find common ground for improving race relations has rarely been more urgent than it is today. In this episode, we share profound insights from an interracial couple and an African-American scholar and poet. Caroline Randall Williams wrote a widely-read opinion column for the New York Times that added fresh insight to the debate over Confederate monuments and how America remembers its past. As a Black southern woman with white ancestors, she brings an innovative and passionate first-person point of view. We also share the deeply personal story of Errol Toulon, the first African-American Sheriff of Suffolk County, New York, and his wife, Tina MacNicholl Toulon, a business development executive. She's white. He's black. Tina tells us what she's learned since their marriage in 2016 about racism, "driving while Black," and other indignities that are often part of a Black person's daily life. This episode includes edited extracts from longer interviews that were first published in 2020.

Gloria Molina, former LA County Supervisor, CA Assemblymember, and Fall 2021 Fellow at the Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss the future of Los Angeles. LA County made history last year with an all-women Board of Supervisors elected to lead the largest local legislative body in the nation. Molina was the first Latina elected to the Board of Supervisors (1991) and the first Chicana elected to the California State Assembly (1982). In 1987, she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. She shares her experiences from her storied career in politics and looks ahead to the future of LA, from the nearly $35 billion budget, mayoral candidates, homeless crisis, and pandemic fallout. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst Gloria Molina - Former LA County Supervisor and CA Assemblymember; Fall 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

The takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan; a more aggressive China and Russia; a newly-elected hardline President in Iran: All are all major challenges facing President Joe Biden and his Administration. Our podcast guests are Ned Temko, who writes the weekly international affairs column "Patterns" for The Christian Science Monitor, and Scott Peterson, the Monitor's Middle East bureau chief. Both are highly experienced and well-traveled foreign correspondents, who bring depth and expertise to coverage of global affairs. Among the many topics covered in this episode: Similarities and differences to Trump's "America First" approach, the implications of the rapid withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, why China is the biggest overseas challenge for the Biden Administration, relations with America's allies, and the increased threat to human rights in Asia and Middle East. Join us to gain fresh insight on the rapidly evolving international situation.

Everyone wants the best education for their children. But parents and teachers don't always agree on how to get there. In this episode, we hear from two education leaders whose views clashed when they first met. Gisele Huff is a philanthropist and longtime proponent of school choice, including charter schools. Becky Pringle spent her career in public education. A science teacher for three decades, she is now President of the National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union. After some deep initial skepticism, these women and other leaders came together and developed a transformational vision for US education. Along the way, they developed a deep respect for one another, and a friendship that has helped each of them through personal tragedies. This episode is co-produced in partnership with Convergence Center for Policy Resolution— one of a series of podcasts that Common Ground Committee and Convergence are producing together.

America's long-term care system needs much more than a facelift. Is there a common path to solutions? Most baby boomers who retire today can expect to live years longer than their parents or any previous generation. That's the good news. But there's a greatly increased need for long-term care as they age. The current system is in crisis and needs much more than a facelift. In this episode, we hear first from a policy expert, Howard Gleckman, of the Tax Policy Institute, who explains why solutions to this crisis have been so hard to find. We also interview Stuart Butler and Paul Van de Water on their differences over paying for long-term care, and how they came to find common ground. This podcast was co-produced in partnership with Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and is one of a series of podcasts that Common Ground Committee and Convergence are producing together. Convergence brings together key stakeholders of an issue to develop policies that deliver the most value to the greatest number of people. These projects emphasize collaboration and often result in friendships among people with strongly held opposing positions. Convergence recently published Rethinking Care for Older Adults, a report with recommendations to improve care, housing, and services for seniors.

What steps are needed to cause people to leave white supremacist and other hate groups of their own volition? In this deeply personal podcast episode, we explore the tactics and commitment needed to be successful in this work. Daryl Davis, an award-winning Black musician, race reconciliator and renowned lecturer, has used the power of human connection to convince hundreds of people to leave white supremacist groups. His fellow guest, Ryan Lo'Ree, a former white supremacist, is now an interventionist working to deradicalize people who have been lured into right and left-wing extremism. These two men, who came from very different backgrounds and belief systems, discuss their life experiences, lessons learned in their work, and what motivates them to convince people to change their convictions. Watch the recording of the Common Ground webinar with Daryl and Ryan: "Turning Racism and Extremism into Hope and Healing." Listen to our 2020 podcast with Daryl: "KKKrossing the Divide – A Black Man Talks With White Supremacists." Read Nicholas Kristof's profile of Daryl in The New York Times— "How Can You Hate Me If You Don't Even Know Me?"

Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Fall 2021 Fellow at the Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss the intersection of sports, politics, and community engagement. Whiteman also highlights the power of diversity in advocating for resources and opportunities for marginalized populations. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Mike Murphy - Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; MSNBC Political Analyst Nichol Whiteman - CEO, LA Dodgers Foundation; Fall '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future This event is part of the National Week of Conversation #ListenFirst.

We learn about two brave and successful attempts to get Americans of differing backgrounds and political convictions to engage in personal face-to-face conversations. America Talks and the National Week of Conversation, both held in mid-June, were part of expanding efforts to push back against deep divides and toxic polarization. In this episode, we discuss lessons learned, insights gained, and the vital difference between talking and listening. Our guests are Kristin Hansen, Executive Director at Civic Health Project and Director at AllSides, and Mizell Stewart, Vice President, News Performance, Talent & Partnerships for Gannett and the USA Today Network. Both were involved in this new initiative.

American democracy is being challenged by hyper-polarization, widespread distrust of competing parties, and extremists who seek to weaken democratic values and institutions. In a recent poll, only one-in-six Americans said our democratic system is working very well, while nearly two-in-three voters told a Pew Research Center survey that major reforms are needed. "I certainly feel we are more vulnerable than we have ever been in the modern era," says our podcast guest, constitutional law scholar, Rick Pildes, a professor at New York University's School of Law, and author of the book, "The Law of Democracy: Legal Structure of the Political Process." In this episode, we discuss proposed changes aimed at strengthening democracy— from ranked-choice voting and reform of political primaries, to limiting gerrymandering, and campaign finance reform.

Young Americans, aged 18-29, believe that the threat from climate change is real regardless of their ideological leanings, compared to older Americans. Recent polling shows that Republican voters, born after 1980, are much more likely than older Republicans to think that government efforts to reduce climate change have been insufficient (52% vs. 31%). In this episode, we ask: can the youngest generation of voters put aside partisan differences and agree on policies needed to protect climate and the environment as well as address the needs of businesses and the economy? We discuss the role of government, business, and how to find on common ground. Our guests are Danielle Butcher, a conservative political executive and a leader of the American Conservation Coalition, and a liberal, Andrew Brennen, who is a National Geographic Explorer and Education Fellow, who co-founded the Kentucky Student Voice Team.

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by Jane Harman, former Congresswoman and author of "Insanity Defense," to discuss how four presidential administrations have failed to confront some of the toughest national security policy issues. Congresswoman Harman also shares her views on the Democratic Party's platform and how to make progress in a closely divided Congress. Featuring: Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Jane Harman - Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita, Wilson Center, Stanford University; Former Congresswoman (D-CA); Author, "Insanity Defense: Why Our Failure to Confront Hard National Security Problems Makes Us Less Safe"

Elex Michaelson, Fox 11 News co-anchor, is joined by journalist Todd Purdum, strategists Rachel Bitcoffer and Mark Mellman, and Shaniqua McClendon, political director at Crooked Media, to discuss whether Democrats will lose seats and legislative control in the midterms and which candidates are shaping the race for the presidency in 2024. Featuring: Elex Michaelson - Co-Anchor, Fox 11 News and Host, "The Issue Is: With Elex Michaelson" Rachel Bitecofer - Elections Analyst and Strategist; Editor, The Cycle; Founder, Strike PAC Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media; Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Mark Mellman - CEO, Mellman Group; Former President of the American Association of Political Consultants Todd Purdum - Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

Banks & businesses are betting big on sustainable investments. Can they help politicians bridge the gap on climate change? When Joe Biden talks about the challenge of fighting climate change, he mentions jobs: not green jobs or renewable energy jobs, but "millions of good-paying union jobs." The new administration is working to reframe the conversation about the environment at a time when many of Wall Street's largest banks and corporations are betting big on sustainable investments — from electric cars and trucks to new kinds of renewable and carbon-free energy. On Let's Find Common Ground, we interview journalists Stephanie Hanes and Mark Trumbull of The Christian Science Monitor, and learn the latest on the changing landscape in the great debate over the environment and climate. Can business help politicians from both major parties bridge some of their differences? Listen to find out.

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, journalists Robert A. George and Jeremy Peters, and President Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, to discuss how the impact of Republican voter support of the former president translates into influence within GOP leadership. Featuring: Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) , Spring '21 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Robert A. George - Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion Mark Meadows - Former White House Chief of Staff, President Donald Trump and U.S. Representative (R-NC); Senior Partner, The Conservative Partnership Institute Jeremy W. Peters - National Politics Reporter, New York Times; Contributor to MSNBC; Author, "Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted"

Michael Beschloss, presidential historian and best-selling author, is joined by Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Max Boot, national security analyst, USC professor Alison Dundes Renteln, and former Obama administration advisor, Ben Rhodes, to discuss President Biden's foreign policy goals and achievements 100 days into his presidency. Featuring: Michael Beschloss - Historian, Best-Selling Author Anne Applebaum - Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian; Staff Writer, The Atlantic; Author, "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism" Max Boot - Author, Columnist, and National Security Analyst Alison Dundes Renteln - Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Public Policy and Law, USC Dornsife Ben Rhodes - Co-Host of "Pod Save the World," Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, Obama Administration; Spring '20 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by former Congressman Joe Kennedy III and strategists Karen Finney, Ron Christie, and Brian Goldsmith to discuss President Joe Biden's domestic performance for reviving the economy and reforming immigration, police, and gun policies. Featuring: Robert M. Shrum - Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Carmen H. & Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics Ron Christie - CEO, Christie Strategies; Political Analyst, BBC; Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush; Former Deputy Assistant to Vice President Cheney for Domestic Policy; Fall 2019 CPF Fellow Karen Finney - Democratic Strategist; Former Senior Advisor and Spokesperson for Hillary Clinton; Former Senior Advisor to Stacey Abrams Brian Goldsmith - Media Consultant; Political Strategist Joe Kennedy III - Former U.S. Representative (D-MA)

Growing numbers of voters are fed up with politics as usual. In a recent survey, 62% of Americans say a third party is needed — up 5% from September of last year, and the highest it has ever been since Gallup polls first asked the question nearly twenty years ago. Our podcast guest, former two-term Florida Congressman David Jolly, says it's time to reexamine the system that reinforces the entrenched power of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Last year, Jolly was named Executive Chairman of the Serve America Movement (SAM), a growing organization that exists in some states as a third party, and in others as a non-partisan political reform group that backs office holders who work across party lines. SAM calls itself a big tent political movement that brings people together who have different ideologies but shared political principles. In this episode, David Jolly makes the case for his movement's ambitious goal: fixing our broken politics in America. "Multiparty democracies give greater voice to more people," David tells us. "We have allowed the two major parties to protect the duopoly themselves. The one thing that today's Democratic and Republican parties agree on is 'let's create the rules of the game in a way that we are only two major participants.'"

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by California Senators Ben Allen and Sydney Kamlager and Los Angeles Sustainability Officers Gary Gero and Dominique Hargreaves to discuss how Southern California should move forward on climate change issues and the role of institutions in reducing its impact. Robert Shrum - Director, USC Center for the Political Future; USC Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics Ben Allen - California State Senator, District 26 Gary Gero - Chief Sustainability Officer, County of Los Angeles Dominique Hargreaves - Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Sydney Kamlager - California State Senator, District 30

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by Congressman Garret Graves, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, journalist Bina Venkataraman, and USC professor Wandi Bruine de Bruin to discuss how to communicate the urgency of environmental legislation and encourage bipartisan support for climate change solutions. Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; NBC Political Analyst Garret Graves - U.S. Representative (R-LA) Katharine Hayhoe - Climate scientist; Founder and CEO of Atmos Research Bina Venkataraman - Journalist, author, science policy expert Wandi Bruine de Bruin - USC Provost Professor of Public Policy, Psychology, and Behavioral Science