Let’s Find Common Ground

Latest Episodes:

Finding Common Ground on the Politics of Climate Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Representatives Val Demings and Adam Kinzinger for a conversation on the politics of climate with the goal of finding common ground. They discuss political barriers to enacting climate action, climate legislation passed by Congress, and how environmental legislation can help achieve climate justice. Featuring:

Val Demings: Former U.S. Representative (D-FL)
Adam Kinzinger: Former U.S. Representative (R-IL)
Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
Bruce Bond: Co-Founder, CEO, & Board Chair of Common Ground Committee

Women in Politics: Martha Escutia with Fran Pavley Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

In honor of Women’s History Month, CPF hosts a discussion with former California State Senators Martha Escutia and Fran Pavley on the role of women in politics and the challenges they face as leaders. They discuss how they got involved in politics, Sen. Pavley's landmark work on environmental and climate change legislation, and how they overcame challenges they faced as women legislators in the California Assembly and State Senate.

Featuring:

Fran Pavley: Former California Senator (2008-2016); Environmental Policy Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute
Martha Escutia: Former California Senator (1992-2006); Vice President, USC State Government Relations and Special Counsel; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Kamy Akhavan: Executive Director, Center for the Political Future

Break Out of Your Bubble to Build Friendship and Empathy Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Our last show focused on finding common ground when talking to strangers. In this show we explore friendship and empathy with two guests who are friends themselves, a Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor.

Father Tim Holeda leads Saint Thomas More Co-Cathedral, and Latricia Scriven is pastor of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, both in Tallahassee, Florida.

As religious leaders, our guests offer a perspective many people don’t have these days. They grapple with moral questions in their work that we often don’t consider, and draw on the wisdom of ancient texts to help them navigate our complicated modern world.

Tune in to hear more on this latest episode of Let’s Find Common Ground. Thank you to The Village Square and The Village Square's God Squad, a politically diverse group of faith leaders, for making this show possible.

Please tell us what you think! Share your feedback in this short survey. For every survey completed, we’ll plant 5 trees. Common Ground Podcast Feedback Survey (qualtrics.com)

Conversation with Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union Ambassador to the U.S. Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan joins Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union Ambassador to the U.S., for a conversation on the history and current status of the European Union and United States relationship. They discuss EU support for Ukraine, the latest on the post-Brexit Windsor Framework, important human rights issues, and advice for young people who want to get involved in public service.

Stavros Lambrinidis: European Union Ambassador to the United States
Kamy Akhavan: Executive Director, Center for the Political Future
Alison Dundes Renteln: USC Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Public Policy and Law

Break Out of Your Bubble: Talk to a Stranger Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Most of us live comfortably in our bubbles, interacting with people who think and often look like us. We may sift out others who don’t fit our mold.

A long pandemic hasn’t helped: Covid has made many people wary of being around strangers, let alone talking to them. If you live in a city you operate by invisible rules where you pay just enough attention to a stranger, allowing each of you the space to carry on politely…and distantly. But our guest on this episode says taking the time to talk to people you don’t know can bring unexpected pleasures, and lead to more openness and tolerance.

Kio Stark is a qualitative researcher and the author of the book When Strangers Meet. She says when you engage with another person in a store, on a park bench, in line at the DMV, you are getting a peek into someone else’s world and entering into a shared humanity. You’re forging a connection that may help you see the world from another person’s perspective.

As Kio says, “a conversation with a stranger can open up your idea of who you think of as part of the society in which you live.”

Hear more on the latest episode of Let’s Find Common Ground.

Please tell us what you think! Share your feedback in this short survey. For every survey completed, we’ll plant 5 trees. Common Ground Podcast Feedback Survey (qualtrics.com)

Mass Shootings and Guns: Seeking Common Ground: Patrik Jonsson and Ryan Busse Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

In the first eight weeks of this year, America’s epidemic of mass shootings and gun crimes showed no signs of reprieve. In fact, the crisis may be getting much worse. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks firearms violence in the U.S., there have been at least 90 mass shootings since January 1.

We take a close look at gun violence and the search for common ground. We learn why so many Americans love guns and say they need them for self-defense. We also hear about differences in regional attitudes to guns, and what happens to communities that witness mass shootings.

Our guests are journalist Patrick Jonsson and gun safety advocate Ryan Busse, author of “Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry That Radicalized America”.

Patrik Jonsson is the Atlanta-based correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor. He writes about The South, gun rights, race, extremist groups, natural disasters, and hockey. Ryan Busse grew up around guns — hunting and shooting with his father and had a long and successful executive career in the gun industry. Despite being a strong critic of the NRA, he's still a proud gun owner, hunter, and outdoorsman who lives in Montana.

Please tell us what you think! Share your feedback in this short survey. For every survey completed, we’ll plant 5 trees. Common Ground Podcast Feedback Survey (qualtrics.com)

Stephanie Young in Conversation with Angela Rye and Brittany Packnett Cunningham Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

In honor of Black History Month, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) hosted an all-star panel discussion with Spring 2023 CPF Fellow Stephanie Young and activists Angela Rye and Brittany Packnett Cunningham on their careers, political impact, and challenges. On Tuesday, February 21, these women discussed the importance of Black History Month, how race and identity impact politics, and the current political roadblocks affecting our democracy. This event was in partnership with VoteSC, USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, and USC College Republicans.

Featuring:

Angela Rye: Attorney, Activist, CEO of IMPACT Strategies
Brittany Packnett Cunningham: Speaker, Political Analyst, Social Justice Champion
Stephanie Young: Executive Director, When We All Vote; Spring 2023 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future

Conversation with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, for a discussion on how the United Kingdom Parliament operates and the special relationship between the United States and the UK. They discuss the powers of the Speaker of the House of Commons, how elections and political parties work in the UK, and advice to students who want to get involved in politics. Featuring:

Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP: Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife

Why Republicans are Losing Gen Z Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Almost 70 percent of Generation Z voted for Democrats in November’s midterm elections. As the years go by, Republicans are getting an ever smaller slice of the youth vote.

In the last episode, we looked at why Democrats are failing with rural voters. This time we ask why the GOP does so badly with young ones.

Generation Z is often described as overwhelmingly liberal. But our guests on this show - two young Republicans - say it’s not that simple, and that if the GOP engaged in better marketing and outreach, it could win over many of the young electorates.

Joe Mitchell is a former state congressman from Iowa, elected to the Iowa House of Representatives at the age of 21. He is also the president and founder of Run Gen Z, a nonprofit dedicated to recruiting and mentoring the next generation of conservative leaders as they prepare to run for office. Karoline Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire last year, securing the nomination in the state’s 1st Congressional District at the age of 25. Previously she worked in the White House as assistant press secretary to President Trump.

Joe and Karoline say Republicans don’t need to change their conservative message to win over young voters. Rather they argue that the GOP should appeal to Gen Z where they are, particularly on social media, and support the young candidates trying to reach them.

Please tell us what you think! Share your feedback in this short survey. For every survey completed we’ll plant 5 trees. Common Ground Podcast Feedback Survey (qualtrics.com)

Politics 2023 with CPF Fellows Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Spring 2023 CPF Fellows, Bill Carrick, John McConnell, Hank Plante, Ira Reiner, and Stephanie Young, for a lively discussion on current events, their careers, and their USC study groups.

Featuring:

Bill Carrick: Political Strategist for Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, & Dianne Feinstein; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
John McConnell: Senior Speechwriter for President George W. Bush & Vice President Dick Cheney; Spring 2023 Parikh Family Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Hank Plante: Emmy & Peabody Award-Winning TV Reporter & Anchor; Spring 2023 Bohnett Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Ira Reiner: Former District Attorney for Los Angeles County; Spring 2023 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
Stephanie Young: Executive Director, When We All Vote; Spring 2023 Barbara Boxer Fellow, USC 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

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