Let's Find Common Ground

In the third installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, Spring 2021 CPF Fellows Barbara Comstock and Todd S. Purdum are joined by former Fellow Ron Christie (Fall 2019) to discuss how new far right outlets are challenging Fox News, the influence of these new far right outlets on conservatism, and why conservatives don't trust "mainstream" outlets. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke. Featuring: Ron Christie: Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and CPF Fall 2019 Fellow Barbara Comstock: Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Todd S. Purdum: Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow

She lived in liberal Seattle and covered science, climate change and the environment for NPR for more than a decade. Then in 2018, journalist Ashley Ahearn made a big jump, moving with her husband to one of the most conservative counties in rural Washington State. In this episode of "Let's Find Common Ground," we hear about the profound rural-urban divide in America, and what Ashley discovered about her new neighbors and herself when she switched from the city to the country, now living on a 20-acre property with a horse and a pickup truck. We also discuss how politics and views of the land and climate differ greatly according to where people live. Recently, Ashley Ahearn launched her 8-part podcast series, "Grouse", which looks at life in rural America through the lens of the most controversial bird in the West— the greater sage-grouse. One of her great passions is storytelling, and helping scientists better communicate their research to the broader public.

When Joe Biden became president he wanted to bring Americans together, to forge unity. But maybe unity isn't what we should aim for. Our guest this week says instead of focusing on that elusive goal, Americans need to concentrate on what's damaging all of us: toxic polarization. In this episode we look at what toxic polarization is and how to end it, person by person. Peter Coleman has advised the Biden administration on how to detoxify America. He is a mediator and psychologist who specializes in conflict resolution. A professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, he is the author of the forthcoming book, The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.

In the second installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, Spring 2021 CPF Fellow Shaniqua McClendon is joined by former Fellows Barbara Boxer (Fall 2020) and Dan Schwerin (Fall 2018) to discuss current progressive policies and debates and the future of progressivism in the U.S. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke. Featuring: Barbara Boxer: Former U.S. Senator (D-CA) and CPF Fall 2020 Fellow Shaniqua McClendon: Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Dan Schwerin: Director of Speechwriting, Hillary Clinton and CPF Fall 2018 Fellow

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by historians Sylvain Piron and Jay Rubenstein, former Congressman Denver Riggleman, and Marley Clements, co-creator of "QAnon: The Search For Q" on Vice, to examine the similarities between the Apocalyptic and Millenarian cults in the Middle ages to modern conspiracies around Y2K and QAnon. Featuring: Mike Murphy - Co-Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Marley Clements - Documentary filmmaker, political strategist, and co-founder of Bunker Crew Media Sylvain Piron - Director of Studies and Chair of Intellectual History of Medieval Societies at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris, France Denver Riggleman - Former U.S. Congressman (R-VA); CEO of Riggleman Information and Intelligence Group (RIIG); Author, "Bigfoot... It's Complicated" Jay Rubenstein - Director, USC Center for the Pre-Modern World and Professor of History at the University of Southern California

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by historians Sean L. Field and Julien Théry, filmmaker Kristin Pichaske, and best-selling Author Michael Shermer to discuss the history of the Templars and how similar trends target America's civic institutions, drawing on events from the Kennedy assassination to 9/11. Featuring: Robert M. Shrum - Director of USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics Sean L. Field - Professor of History at the University of Vermont Kristin Pichaske - Award-winning Filmmaker, "Pulling The Thread;" Associate Professor of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago Julien Théry - Professor of History at Université Lyon II Louis Lumière in Lyon, France Michael Shermer - Best-Selling Author and Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine

CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan is joined by historians Elizabeth A.R. Brown and Dallas Dennery and psychology experts Sara Gorman and Norbert Schwarz to explore how beliefs in conspiracies shaped the politics and psychology of the medieval world and our current political climate. Featuring: Kamy Akhavan – Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Elizabeth A. R. Brown - Professor Emerita of History at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center, CUNY Dallas Denery - Author, Professor of History at Bowdoin College Sara Gorman - Mental health expert; Author of " Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore The Facts That Will Save Us" Norbert Schwarz: Provost Professor, Department of Psychology & Marshall School of Business; Co-Director, USC Dornsife Mind & Society Center

With American democracy in crisis, can students save the day? For college students it can be frightening to consider the prospects for a better tomorrow. But addressing the problems in our political system will require the next generation to be more engaged and less polarized. BridgeUSA was formed by college students to tackle the crisis head-on, with campus-based chapters at colleges around the country. This non-profit group hosts discussions and events, champions ideological diversity, teaches constructive engagement, and aims to promote a solution-oriented political culture. BridgeUSA's chief goal is to develop a new generation of political leaders who value empathy and the common good. Guests for this episode are Manu Meel, a recent graduate of U.C. Berkeley and Chief Executive Officer of BridgeUSA, and Jessica Carpenter, a senior at Arizona State University, who runs brand management and communications at BridgeUSA.

Jennifer Hook, USC Sociology Professor, is joined by U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez and policy experts Brencia Berry and Vicki Shabo to discuss the state of national paid leave, policy changes under the Biden Administration and ways to advance the issue. Featuring: Brencia Berry - Political Director, PL+US Paid Leave For the United States Jimmy Gomez - U.S. Representative (D-CA) Vicki Shabo - Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab at New America Moderated by Jennifer Hook - Professor of Sociology, USC

Spring 2021 Center Fellow Shaniqua McClendon is joined by North Carolina Representative Rachel Hunt and Former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to discuss the importance of electing more women to national, state, and local offices, and how political parties are addressing issues important to women voters. Featuring: Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Rachel Hunt - North Carolina Representative (D-Mecklenburg) Shaniqua McClendon (Moderator) - Political Director at Crooked Media and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

By almost any measure, Congress is much more rigidly divided along partisan lines than it was 30 years ago. Politicians run nationalized campaigns, not local ones, and frequently demonize the other side. We examine ways to find common ground among lawmakers, and those who work on Capitol Hill, with two deeply experienced Washington insiders. Betsy Wright Hawkings served as chief of staff for four Republican members of Congress over 25 years and helped build bipartisan coalitions on a range of vital issues. She is now Managing Partner of Article One Advisors, a consulting firm focused on giving organizations strategic advice on how Congress functions. Tamera Luzzatto served as former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief of staff in the U.S. Senate from 2001 to 2009. Before that, she was on the staff of Democratic Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV for 15 years. Today, she is Senior Vice President of government relations at Pew Charitable Trusts.

Former California Republican Party Chairman James Brulte is joined by current and former California Treasurers Fiona Ma and John Chiang to discuss the future of California's economy post-COVID, homelessness, transportation, climate change, and other major issues affecting California's future. Featuring: James Brulte (moderator) - Former California Republican Party Chairman; former CA State Senator and Assembly member John Chiang - California State Treasurer (ret.) (D-CA); former California State Controller; Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future Fiona Ma - California State Treasurer (D-CA); former CA State Assemblymember and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly

Center Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by a group of experts to discuss how both parties should reorient their platforms to speak to minority voters as they become the majority in the U.S. and the higher numbers of voters of color who voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Featuring: Musa al-Gharbi - Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology at Columbia University Robert A. George - Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion Mike Madrid - Republican strategist; Spring 2019 Fellow, Center For the Political Future Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media and Spring 2021 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

In the first installment of the CPF Fellows Roundtable Series of 2021, CPF Fellows Barbara Comstock, Shaniqua McClendon, and Todd S. Purdum discussed the institutional aspects of American democracy from the Senate and the filibuster to gerrymandering and political parties. This discussion was moderated by CPF Fellows Manager, Harry Burke. Featuring: Barbara Comstock: Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Shaniqua McClendon: Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Todd S. Purdum: Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow

"All lives will matter when Black lives matter," says our guest, Hawk Newsome, in this passionate, challenging, and fascinating podcast episode. The co-founder and Chair of Black Lives Matter Greater New York answers the skeptics and makes the case for a movement that has grown in scale and significance since widespread protests erupted last summer after the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. A devout Christian who has spent much of his life campaigning for racial and social justice, Hawk Newsome, discusses his views on love vs. violence, systemic racism, and how he reached out to Trump supporters during a tense rally in Washington in 2017. The conversation transcends the simple designations of left and right and seeks to find meaningful solutions that respond to the realities faced by people and communities. In our podcast, we mentioned this story about what Hawk does during weekends.

Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by authors Thomas Frank and Theodore R. Johnson, Strategist Patrick Griffin, and Former Congresswoman Mimi Walters to discuss how Donald Trump built the second-largest voting bloc in U.S. election history Featuring: Thomas Frank - Political Analyst; Author of "The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism" Patrick Griffin - Founding Partner and CEO, Merrimack Potomac + Charles (MP+C); Fall 2019 Visiting Fellow, Center for the Political Future Theodore R. Johnson - Fellows Program Director at the Brennan Center for Justice; Author of "When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America" Mimi Walters - Former U.S. Representative (R-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow, Center for the Political Future

Kelly Johnston and Rob Fersh disagree strongly on many issues and voted differently in the 2020 election. But they are friends and wrote recently that they "agree on major steps that must be taken for the nation to heed President-elect Biden's welcome call for us to come together." Both believe that constructive steps must be taken to help build trust among Democrats and Republicans, despite deep polarization and a firm resistance to bipartisanship from both ends of the political spectrum. They encourage open dialogue between sectors and interest groups whose views diverge in an effort to deal with divisive political discourse. Kelly Johnston is a committed Republican and a former Secretary of the U.S. Senate. Rob Fersh founded Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, and previously worked for Democrats on the staffs of three congressional committees. Both are guests on "Let's Find Common Ground". They discuss bridge-building and why this work is so urgently needed now in an era of political gridlock. Click on bonus audio as Rob describes the process at Convergence.

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by the Center's Spring 2021 Fellows to recap President Joe Biden's inauguration and share their insights on the country's future under the Biden Administration. Featuring: Barbara Comstock - Former U.S. Representative (R-VA) and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Shaniqua McClendon - Political Director, Crooked Media and CPF Spring 2021 Fellow Todd S. Purdum - Former New York Times Reporter and Staff Writer at The Atlantic; CPF Spring 2021 Fellow

The vital task of finding common ground in American politics became much more difficult in the traumatic days after the violence and mayhem at the U.S. Capitol. While many Americans viewed the pro-Trump crowd as thugs, others thought of them as patriots. This podcast is the first in a new series on dealing with polarization. We speak with professor Tania Israel, author of "Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work." Dr. Israel is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and past-President of the Society of Counseling Psychology. In this episode, we discuss practical, concrete steps listeners can take to have meaningful conversations that reach across deep divisions. In a time of anger, deep divisions, and even political violence, how do we begin to de-polarize America? What is our personal role in finding common ground? Are there practical steps all of us can take? "One of the things I recommend is being curious. Try to find out more about what's behind what somebody says," Tania Israel tells us.

James Baker was at the center of American political power for three decades. His resume is exceedingly impressive— Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and White House Chief of Staff, twice. He ran five presidential campaigns. Baker's accomplishments were far-reaching— he helped end the cold war, reunify Germany, assembled the international coalition to fight the Gulf War, and negotiated the rewriting of the U.S. tax code. Quite simply, he was "The Man Who Ran Washington," which is the name of a highly-praised new book, co-authored by our guests, New York Times chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker (no relation), and his wife, Susan Glasser, staff correspondent for The New Yorker. In this episode, we discuss how Washington has become a more angry, and anxious place. We learn about Baker's track record of successful governance, his steely pragmatism, why the art of compromise is crucial to almost any negotiation between powerful rivals, his deep friendship with the first President Bush, and Baker's opinion of Donald Trump.

From tragedy and disruption caused by COVID-19, to impassioned pleas for racial justice heard across the country, and the deep divisions in our politics, 2020 was a year like no other. On "Let's Find Common Ground", we've shared a remarkable range of thoughtful, personal and surprising conversations about some of the most important topics of our time. We revisit a few of the most memorable and special moments in this year-end episode. Among the highlights: Houston's Chief of Police Art Acevedo and New York City civil rights activist and mayoral candidate, Maya Wiley, discuss ways to find common ground on police reform. Eva Botkin-Kowacki of The Christian Science Monitor reveals how environmental activists and farmers use different language to discuss the threat of a changing climate. Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Abigail Spanberger explain how they work together to pass laws and find solutions to controversial issues in a dysfunctional Congress. We also listen to fascinating insights from an inter-racial couple, Errol and Tina Toulon, about how they are viewed by others.

For decades, environmental activists have cast themselves as defenders of the planet against greedy, profit-hungry corporations. At the same time, many conservatives have ridiculed the science of climate change, and warned against the economic costs of the Green New Deal and similar initiatives. In this podcast, we explore a new narrative with two environmental campaigners. Bill Shireman and Trammell Crow are authors of the book, "In This Together: How Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists and Activists Are Uniting to Tackle Climate Change and More." Bill Shireman is President of the non-profit Future 500, which brings together people of all points of view to discuss environmental reform. He teaches leadership and negotiations at UC Berkeley Haas Business School, and is a founding member of BridgeUSA. Business leader and developer Trammell Crow is the President of the Crow Family Foundation. He is a founder of Texas Business for Clean Air and a member of the Clean Capitalist Leadership Council. "We have our conflicts, but we are not at war with each other," says the In This Together website. "Together we will be solution focused, not divisive, as we champion freedom, justice, prosperity, and sustainability for all."

In a time of deep and sometimes bitter political division, what are the most effective ways to have conversations with family members who vote for a different party or don't see the world the way that you do? In this episode of "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast, we explore the challenges and opportunities faced by many families, especially as they come together during the holidays. Our guests are Becca Kearl, a Joe Biden supporter, and her mom, Robbie Lawler, who went for Donald Trump. Becca is a Managing Partner at the non-profit group, Living Room Conversations. She is a founding member of the Utah Dialogue Practice Network. Becca is also fully engaged in the non-profit venture of raising five kids with her husband in Provo, Utah. Robbie Lawler is a mother of six and was named National Mother of Young Children in 1996. She has received awards for community projects she worked on, and most recently was events coordinator for the Law School at Brigham Young University. She lives with her husband in Alpine, Utah. We share tips and ideas about how to have difficult or awkward conversations with those you love. Find more constructive suggestions here from Living Room Conversations.

Center Co-Director Mike Murphy is joined by top Republican strategists, journalists, and historians to examine the growing divisions within the Republican Party and explore strategies forward. Featuring: Douglas Brinkley - Author; Professor of History at Rice University; Presidential Historian for CNN Jessica Millan Patterson - Chairwoman, California Republican Party Karl Rove - Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, George W. Bush Administration Anthony Scaramucci - Entrepreneur, Founder of SkyBridge and SALT Conference, Former White House Communications Director, Trump Administration Bret Stephens - Opinion Columnist, New York Times; Author

CPF Director Bob Shrum is joined by strategists Stephanie Cutter and James Carville, Journalist Adam Nagourney, and Cristobal Alex, Senior Advisor for Joe Biden's presidential campaign to examine Biden's winning campaign strategy.

Voters sent decidedly mixed messages in the 2020 election. This episode looks at what we can learn from then about how divided the country is — or isn't. Voters in cities, suburbs and rural parts of the country went to the polls in record numbers. We discuss the extraordinary level of interest in the presidential campaign, and reasons why President-elect Biden won five million more votes than President Trump. Our guests are Christa Case Bryant, a national political reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, a National Political Correspondent in Washington on the newspaper's national news desk in Washington. Both traveled extensively during the 2020 campaign, listening to voters and politicians in battleground states. They share their rich and moving experiences on the frontlines of the campaign, and what they learned from the many people they met along the way.

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by journalist Adam Nagourney, Republican strategist Mike Madrid, and USC Professor Jane Junn to discuss the future of polling, the Republican Party, and the latest election results. Nagourney has been the Los Angeles Bureau Chief of the New York Times since 2010 and Madrid is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a longtime Republican political strategist with an expertise in Latino voting trends and analysis. Junn is a USC Professor of Political Science and the Associates Chair in Social Sciences, who has authored five books on political participation and public opinion in the United States.

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy talk to journalist Cynthia McFadden about the presidential election with a focus on election security and voting mechanisms. McFadden is a broadcast journalist who is the Senior Legal and Investigative Correspondent for NBC News. She was an anchor and correspondent for ABC News, who co-anchored Nightline and occasionally appeared on ABC News special Primetime.

With just days to go before the 2020 election, we invited a Trump supporter and a Biden backer to join us in the same (virtual) room, and share the personal reasons behind their vote. We have a lively, spontaneous and surprisingly friendly discussion about the President's controversial personality, the final debate, and big policy and leadership differences between the two candidates. John Pudner is voting for Donald Trump. He is Executive Director of Take Back Our Republic, a non-profit group and a member of Bridge Alliance. John spent three decades managing Republican political campaigns, and was the eldest of 9 children growing up in a 3 bedroom house in inner city Richmond, VA where he attended a conservative, Catholic high school whose alumni included Steve Bannon. Now John is the father of 9 children. Philippa P.B. Hughes is voting for Joe Biden. She produces and creates art projects, and is CEO, Chief Creative Strategist and Social Sculptor at CuriosityConnects.us, a non-profit organization that designs pop-up galleries and physical spaces that bring people together who might not normally engage in dialogue and thoughtful interaction. Philippa is the daughter of a conservative Vietnamese mother and a white father who was a lifelong union member. She also grew up in Richmond, but until our podcast conversation had never met John.

This panel examined the impact climate change has had on primary elections and the 2020 presidential election and the issue's relevance to voters during an economic crisis, the pandemic, and racial justice movements. Featuring: Michelle Lujan Grisham - Governor of New Mexico, former US Representative (D-NM) Bina Venkataraman - Editorial Page Editor, The Boston Globe; Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation, Obama Administration Christine Todd Whitman - Former New Jersey Governor and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Bush Administration

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy are joined by Republican media strategist Patrick Griffin to discuss the final Presidential Debate between President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden. Griffin was a Fall 2019 Visiting Fellow at the Center for the Political Future. He is a founding partner and CEO of Merrimack Potomac + Charles ( MP+C), one of New England's leading integrated public affairs and strategic communications firms. He has worked as a Republican media consultant for four U.S. presidential campaigns including Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.

With just days to go before a bitterly contested election, we speak with two Members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat, who are reaching across rigid partisan divides, recognizing the value of compromise and seeking constructive change. Democrat Abigail Spanberger is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th Congressional District, and is serving her first term. In 2018, she defeated a Republican incumbent to win the district, which includes most of the northern suburbs of Richmond. Brian Fitzpatrick is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional district. His district includes all of Bucks County, a mostly suburban area north of Philadelphia. Reps. Spanberger and Fitzpatrick both score highly on the new Common Ground Scorecard rankings.

Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by political strategist Doug Thornell and journalists Ronald Brownstein and Asma Khalid to discuss President Trump and Joe Biden's dueling Town Halls, following Trump's refusal to participate in a virtual presidential debate originally scheduled for the same day. Brownstein is a Senior Political Analyst at CNN and serves as Atlantic Media's Editorial Director for Strategic Partnerships in charge of long-term editorial strategy. Khalid is a political correspondent for NPR who co-hosts The NPR Politics Podcast. Thornell is Partner and Head of SKDKPolitical, having served as a media strategist to the Democratic National Committee, Congressional Black Caucus, and various House, Senate, and gubernatorial campaigns.

Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy plus special guest Karen Finney discuss the highlights and lowlights of the Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris and what each candidate needs to do to win the general election. Finney worked for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign as Senior Spokesperson and Senior Advisor for Communications and Political Outreach. She was also Communications Director for Senator Tim Kaine. Finney was the first Black spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee and is currently a CNN political commentator

President Trump's "America First" policy has led to a U.S. withdrawal from many global institutions. For decades after World War II, American leadership in the world was taken for granted. Today, the future of American hegemony is deeply uncertain. In this election briefing, we explore the future of foreign policy with two highly experienced journalists, Peter Ford and Howard LaFranchi. Based in Paris, Peter is global affairs correspondent for The Christian Monitor. Prior to his current job, he spent a decade as Beijing Bureau Chief. Howard has been The Monitor's diplomacy correspondent in Washington D.C. since 2001. We discuss the U.S. pullback from the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, America's exit from the Paris climate accord, deteriorating relations with China, and the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on America's role in the world.

As the headlines and memes roll in, CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy discuss the highlights and lowlights of the chaotic first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. They also talk about each candidate's likely strategies for the next two debates in October and the latest polling and trends in the general election.

With Election Day a little more than one month away, Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy discuss the implications of the Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the latest polling within the battleground states, what to expect in the first Trump/Biden debate, and the President's comments on the peaceful transfer of power should Joe Biden win the election.

More than 8 out of 10 Americans think the country is divided, and a large majority says public debate has gotten worse in recent years. A recent survey found most voters agree that significant changes are needed in the fundamental design and structure of American government to make it work for current times. In this episode, we explore the urgent need for common ground with Amy Dacey, Executive Director of the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University, and Pearce Godwin, CEO of Listen First Project, and a leading member of Weaving Community. During the 2016 presidential election, Amy served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Democratic National Committee. She has managed national organizations and advised leading elected officials and candidates, including President Barack Obama and Senator John Kerry. Pearce is from a conservative political background, and formerly worked as an aide in the House and Senate and for Republican Party campaigns. We speak with both of them about the new Common Ground Scorecard, which rates candidates and elected officials on their ability to reach out beyond their base and engage with voters and other elected officials who come from another party or viewpoint.

Robert Costa, moderator of PBS's "Washington Week" and political analyst at NBC News and MSNBC, joins USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to share his insights on the 2020 presidential election, including where this race stands.

With only weeks to go before the 2020 election, many challenges remain to holding a free and fair vote in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. From likely surge in mail-in ballots, to changes in polling places for millions of voters and the urgent need for accuracy, we discuss whether the election will be a smooth exercise of democracy or result in a constitutional crisis. David Hawkings, Editor-in-Chief and Tristiana Hinton, Audience Development Editor, of The Fulcrum explain America's many different statewide systems of voting, and why it could take days or weeks for winners to be declared. We look at the disputes between Republicans and Democrats, including the possibility of a disputed result, and explore why many local election officials from both parties share common ground on the need for fair and accurate results. The Fulcrum is a non-profit, non-partisan digital news organization focused exclusively on efforts to reverse the dysfunctions plaguing American democracy. The Fulcrum and Common Ground Committee are members of Bridge Alliance, which acts as a connectivity hub for over 90 civic action organizations.

The Republican National Convention culminated with President Trump delivering his acceptance speech in front of an unprecedented back drop. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy share their takes on the convention's highs and lows, what to expect in the upcoming presidential debates, and answer live questions.

From devastating hurricanes to increasing destruction caused by wildfires, growing numbers of Americans are suffering from the impacts of drought, storms and other extreme weather events. On "Let's Find Common Ground" we're looking at some of the most important issues facing voters as they make their choices in the 2020 election. Climate change is a much more important issue for many voters now than it was in 2016. According to a recent poll by Pew Research Center, a record-high 60% of Americans say it is a major threat to the well-being of the United States. We gain a deeper understanding from journalists Eva Botkin-Kowacki and Eoin O'Carroll of The Christian Science Monitor. Both Eva and Eoin are staff reporters, covering science, technology and the environment. They tell us that climate change is no longer a theory. We are living with some of the early results.

Following the most unconventional Democratic political convention in history, Center Director Bob Shrum is joined by special guest Steve Schmidt to share the highlights and forecast the road ahead to November. Featuring: Steve Schmidt, Co-Founder, The Lincoln Project; Republican Political Strategist

How far apart are we as a nation? A liberal writer from Berkeley and a conservative military veteran decided to answer that question together during a series of long road trips in an old Volvo. They drove through 44 states and on nearly twenty thousand miles of road and highways, meeting an extraordinary range of people along the way. At a time of political gridlock and hyper-partisanship, Republican Jordan Blashek, and Democrat Chris Haugh formed an unlikely friendship that blossomed not in spite of but because of their political differences. The result of their road trips is the new book, "Union: A Democrat, A Republican, and a Search for Common Ground." In this podcast episode, we discover what they learned about the American politics, culture, civics, and the condition of our democracy. "Our honest takeaway is that we're not as far apart as imagined," Chris tells us. "Underneath a patina of difference and division, there is a common language."

"The black people I come from were owned and raped by the white people I come from," wrote author, poet and academic Caroline Randall Williams in a widely-read opinion column for The New York Times. As a Black southern woman with white ancestors, her view of the debate over how America remembers its past is deeply personal. This episode is the latest in our podcast series on racism and its painful legacy. Recent protests across the country have sparked renewed controversy over confederate statues, and the naming of military bases and public buildings that celebrate men who fought in the Civil War against the government of the United States. Should the monuments be repurposed or removed? We discuss ways to find common ground and better our understanding of the American history. Caroline Randall Williams is a writer in residence at Vanderbilt University. She is a resident and native of Tennessee. Some of her ancestors were enslaved. Others included a prominent poet and novelist, and a civil rights leader. She is the great-great grand-daughter of Edmund Pettus, who was a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan and U.S. Senator from Alabama.

John Chiang, former California State Treasurer and Fall 2020 Fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to discuss his career in politics, the pandemic's lasting economic impact on California, and its implications for the November election and beyond. Chiang served as California's 33rd State Treasurer until 2019. As the state's banker, he oversaw trillions of dollars in annual transactions, managed a $75 billion investment portfolio, and was the nation's largest issuer of municipal bonds. As State Controller during the Great Recession, his cash management decisions were instrumental in keeping California's credit rating from plunging into junk status, and his actions saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Chiang aggressively used his audit programs to identify more than $9.5 billion of fraud, waste and abuse in government programs, the most by any Controller in California's history. He serves on several boards and will be teaching a course in the fall titled, "From Financial Crisis to COVID-19: California Policy Responses to the Financial Fallout" with the USC Center for the Political Future.

What can we discover about personal pain caused by racism? In this episode, we speak with an inter-racial couple to find out what a well-educated white professional woman learned from her African American husband, a senior law enforcement official. Our guests are Errol Toulon, elected as first African American Sheriff of Suffolk County, New York, and Tina MacNicholl Toulon, a physician liaison and business development executive. She tells us what she's learned since their marriage in 2016, about racism, "driving while black", and other indignities that are all too often part of a black person's daily life. The need to find common ground and improve race relations has taken on new urgency with recent anti-racist protests and demands for profound change in America. Both Tina and Errol believe that education is a crucial ingredient in reaching a much better understanding about widespread racism. By speaking out publicly about their own experiences, they believe they're contributing to a vital discussion aimed at improving public understanding of a divisive and disturbing part of American life.

Outrage, grief, and despair over cases of police brutality and racism erupted nationwide, with growing demands for major reforms. The protests appeared to sway public opinion. A Washington Post poll in June found that 69% of Americans agreed that the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis suggests a broader problem within law enforcement. This episode brings together a police chief and a critic of law enforcement. Both discuss their hopes for better policing in the future, and find some areas of agreement on proposed changes, including greater diversity, better training, and firmer action against officers who step over the line. Art Acevedo is Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department. He now serves as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. MSNBC legal analyst Maya Wiley is a civil rights activist, former board chair of New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board, and senior vice president for Social Justice at The New School.

Mimi Walters, former Congresswoman (R-CA) and Fall 2020 Fellow at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, joins co-directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy to share some thoughts on the 2020 election and her decades-long career in public office. From investment executive to elected official, Walters most recently served as U.S. Representative for District 45 in Orange County, until 2018. She also served in both the California State Senate and Assembly and got her start in politics as a city Councilmember and Mayor of Laguna Niguel. In Congress, Walters sponsored legislation for wildfire disaster tax relief and the Survivor's Bill of Rights that established key protections for survivors of sexual assault. She served on the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee where she was a member of the Communications and Technology, Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees. She is the co-founder of the California Women's Leadership Association, sits on several boards, and will be teaching a course in the Fall titled "So You Want to Run For Office?" with the USC Center for the Political Future.

As the pandemic has unfolded, social media has once again demonstrated how it can inform – or mislead – by encouraging the spread of literally deadly information. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy moderate a discussion on the implications of misinformation from political, social and engineering perspectives – and how it could alter the course of social media. In partnership with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences' Dornsife Dialogues series. The panelists include: Kristina Lerman, Research associate professor of computer science and principal scientist at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Information Sciences Institute Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant professor of research preventive medicine and director of the Social Media Analytics Lab at Keck School of Medicine of USC.