Let’s Find Common Ground

Latest Episodes:

Special Episode: Lessons From the 2022 Midterm Elections Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

Democrats feared and Republicans expected a "red wave" election, but it didn’t happen.

Why was the outcome such a surprise? Who gets the credit and blame? How do results impact the near-term future? What are the prospects for finding common ground in Congress where both the Senate and House will have razor-thin majorities?

We discuss these questions with two of America’s most experienced political thinkers: Democratic consultant Bob Shrum and Republican strategist Mike Murphy. Both men serve as co-directors of The Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California.

Mike Murphy is one of the Republican Party’s most successful political media consultants, having handled strategy and advertising for more than two dozen successful gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns. Bob Shrum was once described as "the most sought-after consultant in the Democratic Party," by The Atlantic Monthly. He was the strategist in over 25 winning U.S. Senate campaigns, eight successful races for governor, and numerous campaigns for Congress and statewide offices.

Broken Media: The Roots of Today's News Crisis. With Chris Stirewalt Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

While many American consumers have given up their daily news habit, millions of others are now addicted to rage media— cable news and social media that push sensationalism, groupthink, and tribalism.

This trend of "news bubbles" is relatively recent. Over the past 30 years, the decline of many regional newspapers has given way to a new form of slick, easy, and profitable national opinion journalism that caters to narrow segments of the population.

In this episode, we look at the current state of the news industry and ask why the media and news consumers should insist on better journalism. Our guest is Chris Stirewalt, a columnist for The Dispatch, author, and former political editor for Fox News. Chris's new book is "Broken News: Why the Media Rage Machine Divides America and How to Fight Back."

The Obama Presidency: The Hope and The Legacy Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins authors Patricia Turner and Gabriel Debenedetti for a discussion on their books about the Obama presidency. Turner’s book, “Trash Talk: Anti-Obama Lore and Race in the Twenty-First Century,” focuses on the cultural and racial reaction to Barack Obama’s election. Debenedetti’s book, “The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama,” focuses on the relationship between Barack Obama and Joe Biden over the years. They discuss Obama’s influence on Biden’s 2016 presidential run, misinformation and conspiracy theories on Barack and Michelle, and Trump’s influence on Obama’s public opinion. Featuring:

Gabriel Debenedetti: New York Magazine National Correspondent; Author
Patricia Turner: UCLA Professor of World Arts, Culture/Dance, & African American Studies; Arthur Ashe Legacy Project Director, UCLA; Author
Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Alison Dundes Renteln: Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Law, and Public Policy

Abortion and the Supreme Court: Politics Over Law? Or Law Over Politics? Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins an all-star panel discussion on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the politics of Supreme Court decisions. They discuss the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the impact of Roe v. Wade on voters and the midterm election, the upcoming Supreme Court cases, and if Roe can be restored. Featuring:

Lee Epstein: Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law, USC Gould School of Law
Jessica Lall: President and CEO, Central City Association of Los Angeles; Fall 2022 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Mark Schoofs: Pulitzer prize-winning Professor of Journalism, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

Broken Media: Restoring Trust in News Coverage. Mark Sappenfield and Story Hinckley Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

The United States has one of the highest news avoidance rates in the world. Tens of millions of Americans don't read, watch or listen to the news each day. The media are held in low regard by the public. So, is there a better way to report and analyze current events that satisfies readers' interests?

We hear from Mark Sappenfield, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor, and Story Hinckley, the paper's National Political Correspondent. We're releasing this podcast less than two weeks before the midterm elections— a time when many news outlets have amped up their coverage, speculated about winners and losers, and put additional emphasis on the nation's deep partisan divides. To date, this episode of Let's Find Common Ground is our most downloaded episode.

We discuss evolving news values with The Monitor and how reporters and editors are striving to highlight constructive solutions that unite rather than divide. We also hear about election coverage and why the media need to challenge readers, build trust, and report the news truthfully.

In this episode, we mention Common Ground Scorecard— a tool that helps voters learn which elected officials and candidates are seeking common ground on vital issues. The President, Vice President and every Senator, Member of Congress, and governor has a personal rating. Learn more: commongroundscorecard.org.

Bridging Divides on College Campuses: Clare Ashcraft and Jackson Richter Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

Rigid polarization and political division are among the biggest challenges facing our country. Young people often feel that tribalism is better than unity and that conversations across political and cultural divides are impossible.

College students Clare Ashcraft, who comes from a conservative background, and Jackson Spencer Richter, who calls himself a committed liberal, are active members of BridgeUSA, a national movement of students working to emphasize the importance of empathy, understanding, and ideological diversity.

In this episode we hear about students' personal experience of cancel culture, the impact of social media on Generation Z, and why many young people actually feel that free speech can harm or threaten their safety. We also learn about efforts to find common ground, equip students with skills to find solutions across divides, and build bridges with others of different backgrounds and points of view.

How’s Biden Doing? What about the GOP? Oct 08, 2022

Show notes

For the 2022 Trojan Family Weekend, CPF Co-Directors and veteran political strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy have a balanced and witty conversation about the latest political headlines. They discuss Joe Biden's administration, the state of the Democratic and Republican parties, and the midterm election and what it means for the 2024 general election.

Congressman Ro Khanna: “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us” Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) to discuss his new book “Dignity in the Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us,” which is a roadmap to facing America’s digital divide and offering greater economic prosperity to all. They also discuss the digital economy, technological innovation, progressive capitalism, and the future of American democracy. Featuring:

Ro Khanna - U.S. Representative (D-CA) for California’s 17th Congressional District
Bob Shrum - Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

Bridging Divides at Work Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Polarization is not just a problem for Congress and our political system, it’s also taking a toll in the workplace. Employees are falling out with each other over politics and fiery issues in the culture wars.

Organizations are trying to stem the discord. Some have banned political talk at the office. Others have taken a public stand on an issue of the day in an effort to ‘do the right thing’.

Simon Greer, our guest on this show, says edicts like this won’t help, though more thoughtful approaches can.

Simon is the founder of Bridging the Gap, a group that helps college students develop the skills to communicate well across differences. He also consults with organizations who face these same challenges among their workforces. He explains how he went from ‘bomb thrower’ to bridge builder over the course of his career, tells stories from his work with employers and employees, and outlines the very personal reason for his belief in the humanity of the other person.

Hispanics in the White House: From the Secret Service to the First Lady’s Office Sep 24, 2022

Show notes

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, CPF hosts an all-star panel discussion with Fall 2022 CPF Fellow Noelia Rodriguez, Hector Hernandez, and Maria Romero-Morales as they discuss their experiences working in the White House and their careers, including the challenges and discrimination they faced, as trailblazing Mexican Americans. Featuring:

Hector Hernandez: Former Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Communications Director to Laura Bush; Chief of Staff, Metrolink; Fall 2022 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Maria Romero-Morales: Assistant Chief Diversity Officer for Communication, Community and Student Engagement, USC

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